Davin

The Gordons, a father and son team in their first collaboration, rely on existing fairy tale heroes and hackneyed stereotypes to tell this tale-within-a-tale about toys that come to life and try to save a boy from a life-threatening fever during WW II. A team of three nervous male action figures--the Little Bugle Boy, the Blustery Sergeant Major and Perseus--venture to the attic to rescue beautiful Princess Helen, tied up by Blackbeard and the Dark Knight. Helen knows where to find a teddy bear named Davin, who has the power to make sick little boys well. In the attic, the three adventurers meet Chingachgook (the last of the Mohicans) and Robin Hood, two misplaced heroes who would rather have tea parties than rescue princesses and who complain persistently about allergies and ugly decor (""What kind of heroes are you guys anyway?"" the Bugle Boy demands. ""Why, British heroes, of course!"" retorts Robin Hood). They are joined by El Lobo, who rattles off B-movie dialogue in an almost parodic Spanish accent (""Hol' on, little amigo. I'n comeen' to help ju""). The action, already hard to follow, is continually interrupted by three children who are listening to their Grandma Goddess ostensibly read the story to them at bedtime. The narrative frame has a sticky coziness not without its charms, but the children's remarks rarely offer any insight, except when one complains, ""There aren't any girls."" Nor is there much to lure the reader. Ages 8-12. (Apr.)