Mission: Playtime! -- Nelly Buchet, Hardcover

Celebrate Mattel's 80th anniversary with this imaginative picture book that showcases the power of play by bringing together Barbie, He-Man, Polly Pocket, Thomas the Tank Engine, Hot Wheels, and more, in an unforgettable and laugh-out-loud story.

WHERE . . . IS . . . CHICKEN?!
It's almost bedtime and Syd's favorite toy chicken is nowhere to be found! With limited time and lots of imagination, Syd and his big sister Sadie launch Mission: Chicken in the Coop. And with a team of their favorite toys--including Barbie dolls, He-Man, Polly Pocket, Thomas the Tank Engine, Hot Wheels, and more-- "helping" along the way, these kids are in for the ultimate search-and-rescue mission. But things don't exactly go as planned when Skeletor (and Lucky the Dog) come storming in.

Packed with hilarious twists, punchy dialogue, and tons easter eggs on every page, this action-packed picture book is fun for grownups and kids alike. With its fast-paced humor and heartwarming sibling antics, it's a perfect pick for bedtime or anytime--and one you'll want to read again and again!

Author: Nelly Buchet
Publisher: Mattel
Published: 01/13/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.82lbs
ISBN: 9781640365896
Audience: Ages 4-8

About the Author
Nelly Buchet is the author of Cat Dog Dog, called a "picture book magnum opus" by Shelf Awareness. The book received starred reviews from Kirkus and The Bulletin and was named an American Library Association Notable Book, among others. She was awarded a Dalai Lama Fellowship and has taught nonviolent resolution in schools. Nelly lives in Berlin.

Clara Reschke believes being an illustrator is a significant and grandiose responsibility, as you speak directly to children, addressing essential topics with illustrations and whimsical visuals which can change how a kid relates to those subjects, creating empathy, belonging and understanding. The first person to truly nurture and understand Clara's love for books was her grandfather. Her favourite memories are of the many moments they would spend together crafting picture books, at first with pencils and paint and later with "Microsoft Paint". She has loved storytelling and drawing ever since. Clara graduated as a designer at UFSC with a year of study at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She worked as a designer for a Fun Design Company, where she presented designs for clients like Warner, Wizarding World and Peanuts. Since becoming a professional digital illustrator, Clara has illustrated children's books in Europe, Brazil and USA, worked for the animation industry, and with other incredible clients, including Whiskas and Unicef Brazil.