The Toy Thief Written and Illustrated by: Andrew Sakata
Just a little backstory. This whole book came from a little conversation my cousin and I had. We were reminiscing about how some of our toys would seem to disappear when we were kids. Inspiration is everywhere. Thanks Alyssa Sakata! This one’s for you!
Searching and searching, This little Spirit goes. To find what was once his, Such a dear thing he knows.
House to house he flies, stealing little one’s toys.
A terror to all, all girls and boys...
What was he lookin for?
I’m not sure sweetie...
... That was the last page...
Aw, poor ghost... I’d hate to lose one of my toys...
I’m sure someone will help him.
Think so?
Of course, now get some sleep. Good night James.
Night Mom.
Uh oh...
M-mom? Is that you?
Sure, go back to sleep.
The name’s Donald, thank you. And Keep your pants on, I’m just looking.
Looking huh? THEN WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MR.BUTTONS?
Wait, whoa, a ghost? YOU’RE THE GHOST KID! DROP MY TOYS!
That one... looked like mine...
Wait. You don’t even know what you’re looking for?
So you just go around stealing kid’s toys?!
Um, well... Not exactly...
Oh come on kid, I only took one.
THAT DOESN’T MATTER THEY AREN’T YOURS.
Alright kid, you want him?
Come help me find mine!
NO! YOU TOOK HIM! NOW GIVE HIM BACK!
Alright alright, there. I put him back.
Still no excuse to steal...
It’s just... I just thought I finally found my toy...
Ugh, I know... I just...
I just wish I could find mine...
Alright. How about I help you search for whatever it is you’re missing?
Wha? Would you really?
Sure, how hard can it be?
Well I’ve been searching my entire AFTER-life...
But you weren’t searching with a pro.
Oh, the name is James, by the way.
Whatever.
Whoa wait, you don’t have ANY way of knowing if you’re close or not? No like, ghost powers?
No, I just get a hunch and I go for it.
And then you end up in any boy’s room, and steal their stuff.
What? Why girls?
Girls have pretty cool toys.
what?
Or girls rooms.
I’ve never SEEN it. it could’ve been anything!
So we’re searching through the woods for no actual reason...
The woods are crazy at night! What if we get lost? Or Killed?!
Hah, I’m a ghost. What if YOU get killed.
Oh wow... You’re totally right...
WHY DID WE GO TO THE WOODS IN THE FIRST PLACE?!
Come on, have some faith in me, I felt a good vibe.
AND WHAT, EXACTLY, FEELS GOOD ABOUT THIS?!
Well yeah ok, THIS doesn’t look that great... But THAT sure does!
I wouldn’t say GREAT. But it does beat this. Let’s check it out
Okay... it looked a lot better on the outside.
Ow- What the?
Is this?
I’ll give you that...
Bone? ...Looks like it...
Is that?
HISSSSSSSS!
GRAAAW!
AHHHHHHH!
JAMES! RUN!! I’ll distract him!
Over here! You fat mouse!
ARROOOOOOO!?
BUT YOU’RE A GHOST! Well don’t tell HIM that!
*pant pant*
phew...
Ah-WHOA!
WAHH
Oh man, this is bad...
*THUMP*
!
*Peeks* I wonder how Donald is holding up... *Looks right*
*Looks left*
WAAAH!~ Shhh!
Jeez! You scared me half to death!
no offense...
Be quiet! It’s coming this way!
... ...
Hm...
Pfff-hehe
Shh! Donald! Why on Earth are you laughing?
I’m sorry! I’m sorry!
Ahahah! Pffft
Hehe, you gotta keep it down! What if it hears you!
I know I’m sorry! This just reminds me of a time I was hiding from my Mom...
What did you do?
I think it’s gone... Hehehe...
This one time, my mom made a huge batch of cookies. She had to run out for something, and she said I couldn’t have any until dinner. But they smelled so good! And I love cookies when they’re warm... So I started eating them... And eating them...
I ate the WHOLE thing! What no way! How many?
24 or something. I was so sick.
I hid! Like this! Oh but it was terrible. I was so sick but I couldn’t tell my mom, or she’d of killed me haha.
So what did you do?
Haha! I know the feeling. One time, I couldn’t sleep, right? And I was playing with my toys, and it must’ve been like, 3 in the morning. Something happened and I knocked over some toys, and my Mom rushed in because she thought someone broke in!
Aw man! Haha, what did she do? I was grounded for weeks. My toys were taken out of my room. She was really mad. Haha, that sucks!
Yeah...
*sigh*
Hey, James... I understand if you want to call it quits from here... I can take you back.
What?! You kiddin? After all that craziness?
Donald, we’re finding your toy!
Aw heh, thanks!
Oh man! I used to LOVE soccer!
Right?! So I had the ball, and...
Gross! You had to eat the whole bowl!?
295 peas, I counted. Ugh...
Aw I used to have 5 of these lil’ guys!
Huh... they’re kinda cute I guess...
(The feeling is so strong now... We must be getting close!)
Actually, this place is pretty familiar... That tree... this bush...
oh...
... “oh�?
Donald, you okay?
Do you want to know how I died?
...
sure...
... It was my 9th birthday, and my friends threw a surprise party for me...
(Is that when you got the toy?)
Sort of... My mom called and said that my Dad had left me a gift at home...
He was fighting in the war, and passed away just a couple days before... (Oh man...)
Yeah, I was so happy and sad at the same time... I just HAD to see what he left me! There was a pretty bad storm going on, but I didn’t live too far away...
That’s when I heard it. A blaring horn, and when I looked up, I was blinded and that’s it.
Oh man, you got hit by a car?
Yeah, and well... I just never got to say goodbye...
I’m sorry... you know, I never even met my father...
Yeah he died in the war too, when I was really little.
Really?
Aw, man...
But hey, I’m having a lot of fun. So if we don’t find it today, I can keep sneaking out at night...
What? Really?
Thanks but, I think our search is coming to an end...
Yeah, something is coming from my house...
Whoa that’s your house?
WAS my house.
5 Years and you never checked your own house?
Well I did when I first died, but it was just my mother and brother, it was so sad!
Oh man, no kidding... I didn’t even think about that...
But it seems like they’ve been gone for a while now...
No kidding, this place looks like a ghost town...
Hehe, technically it is!
Hah - But seriously, look at these cobwebs! It’s pretty creepy!
Maybe I should just stay here, and mess with people who come by...
That would be hilarious!
Here’s my old room... Wait...
IS THAT?!
Is that it?!
I... I think so... Grab it...
...
OPEN IT!
Happy Birthday, Donald.
You know it’s not actually my birthday.
Don’t ruin the mood.
What’s next?
So.
I’m not sure... I’ve been looking for this toy, and now i finally have it... I don’t know what’s next.
Well, you can come stay with me! Yeah? That’d be great!
J- James?!
Huh?
Wha? Donald?! What’s going on!?
I-I don’t know... But I don’t think I can come with Wait! Just... you! Drop the toy? I can’t!
Just drop the toy!
James, I CAN’T! I’m sorry, but I have to go...
I can... I can hear my Dad calling...
James, thanks for everything. Thanks for helping me feel alive again.
Hey no problem. It was a lot of fun... And... See if you can say hi to my dad for me...
I will. Thanks again, James.
Better hurry...
James?
James, I’ve told you a hundred times not to leave your toys arou-
JAMES?! WHAT. ON. EARTH!? James, you’re covered in dirt! Have you slept?!
ON THE GROUND WHERE YOU LEFT IT, MISTER. WHAT WERE YOU DOING LAST NIGHT!? Mom!
Mom, where did you get that?
I just had the craziest adventure, with the coolest kid!
DID YOU SNEAK OUT?!
JAMES YOU ARE GROUNDED FOR A MONTH MISTER. NO TOYS, NO GOING OUTSIDE, YOU CAN’T EVEN READ BOOKS. YOU’LL BE IN BED AT 8PM SHARP, NO DESSERT, BLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAHBLAH