Tag Archives: cat

Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles by Susan Sullivan (Book Review)

When a sad and hungry kitty is rescued from a garbaggy place by a loving family, only to lose them again, he sets out to find them. On his journey, he encounters many strange and wonderful creatures including a slithery snake, a frisky frog, a friendly fish, a laughable lemur, a marvelous mantis, a testy turtle, a babbling bee, a wee worm, and a wise old owl. Along the way, he learns that he is a bit different than most cats and the other creatures aren’t so nice about his unique qualities.

While struggling with his identity, and weakened from his journey, the cat becomes more and more lost. He faces perilous danger and nearly gives up all hope. But after digging deep to find trust, and a little help and teamwork from his new friends, he finds more than he was hoping for.

In this beautifully illustrated tale of a cat without a tail, our hero learns how to believe in himself, overcome his fears, and feel comfortable in his own fur – with lots of adventures along the way. An inspiring story of courage, teamwork, and the long journey home.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

The World Animal Foundation claims that, shockingly, there are 60-80 million unowned or feral cats in the U.S. Susan Sullivan focuses on one homeless kitty in Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles. Before the black kitty met his owners, he lived on the streets. He feasted on rotten garbage, causing his coat to smell no better than the food he consumed. He was bullied, beaten, and understandably sad. All that changed the day the gentle man with shaggy hair scooped him up and promised to help him. The friendly human gave the lonesome, dirty, hungry cat a name (Bob). He made sure Bob was given medical care, a bath, a warm bed, and plenty of healthy food. Bob loved his new family, a blended home of cats and dogs. He felt safe. He felt loved. He felt like he belonged. 

Bob understood that sometimes his owners would leave for the day, but he also understood they eventually returned. However, one day, they didn’t, and Bob was consumed with worry. As pet owners, we see the joy in our furry friends when we return home. Kisses. Head butts. They show love in their own way. Bob loved his humans and was willing to brave the harsh outside world again for them. 

In every chapter, Bob meets new faces. He met some friendly animals and some rude animals. Art imitates life in this instance. No matter the reader’s age, you will encounter people who will lift you up and those who enjoy tearing you down. It’s important to remember the wise words of Oakley, the owl: “What others think doesn’t matter half as much as what you think.”

Bob did not have a tail, and many animals remarked about it, causing him to be ashamed of who he was and what he looked like. Bob didn’t know life with a tail, but these wild animals made him feel terrible about it. We see this type of behavior in humans. We focus on someone’s outward appearance and should be judging someone by their actions. Bob was a sweet, smart cat who loved his family with all his heart. He braved the turbulent waters, faced his fears, and never gave up looking for his “lost” humans. 

In the end, Bob was reunited with his family, and what a story he had to share with his furry brothers and sisters. He swam. He flew. He had an adventure that would widen any furry friend’s eyes with shock and disbelief. 

Bob Tales, Land of the Woody Warbles thirteen chapters are full of action, adventure, love, and gorgeous illustrations of animals and insects (artist: Lauren Reeves). I recommend sharing it with your child six years and older. Make it a part of your bedtime routine. 

Remember: adopt, don’t shop!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  

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Meet the Author

Susan Sullivan worked in Nuclear Medicine before teaching high school biology and anatomy for ten years. Bob, Susan’s tailless rescue cat, had wanderlust and his true adventures became the source of great stories. Susan enjoys being in nature and among animals, particularly when she is beekeeping.

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A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip by Nicky Edwards (Book Review)

One memorable Halloween Turnip, a rabbit, finds a hat and decides with the help of her animal friends, to keep it.

But the hat’s owner is a witch, and she needs it back to protect her cat friend, Pudding.

The witch and Pudding hunt for the hat and find Turnip and demand it back but the animals invoke the woodland lore of ‘Finders Keepers’ and call a woodland court to determine who should have the hat.

At the court we discover that the hat speaks, and it tells of being stuffed with magic and used as a cushion and poked with pins. Outraged the court decides Turnip should keep the hat.

That night, after a long talk, Turnip and the hat decide the hat should return to the witch on condition that it is treated well. The witch is so grateful she invites Turnip to become her apprentice.

The story celebrates friendship, compassion, and discovering one’s inner magic.


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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip is home to many spectacular characters. Pudding is a witch’s cat, her familiar, and a remarkable inventor. They developed a stroking machine to have pets as they lay in their cat’s bed and drift off to sleep. They created a cat-cloak of invisibility and a dog-repellent whistle. Since Pudding was a witch’s cat, every invention possessed some magic; thus, his creations got a mind of their own, like the self-winding ball of wool. Pudding is a very cool cat! 

Esme, the witch, has several problems she’s dealing with as the story progresses. First, she has overstuffed her hat with magic, and now it won’t fit over her thick hair. Not surprisingly, Esme fixed the hairy situation with magic. Next, she had a dreadful time keeping her broom in flight against the fierce easterly winds. Then came the misfortune of losing her hat, thanks to a gust of wind. Esme’s loss did become Turnip’s (the rabbit) gain. Turnip looked oddly adorable in human clothing. Clothing was fair game since humans either left it or lost the articles of clothing in Hare Wood, and the woodland animals live by the rule, “Finders Keepers.”

It didn’t take Turnip long to discover he found a witch’s hat, and with his friends’ encouragement, he invoked the sacred lore of the woodland: “Finders’ keepers, losers’ weepers.” While the three woodsy animals were off to a party, Esme had a major freak-out. This leads to another, more significant problem. 

Esme’s problems seem to compound while at the All Witches Eve celebration. Now, she must retrieve her hat or suffer the consequences. Kids will find the story captivating. The plot was wildly inventive. The sketches add the right amount of visual stimuli to keep all readers’ eyes glued to the pages, curious about who the Court will grant ownership of the magic hat. 

A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip teaches children that while having magic at your ready might be fun, there’s also a sense of joy, pride, and accomplishment when you construct something with your own hands. In a roundabout way, it also nudges readers regarding the importance of cleaning up and keeping track of your possessions because you don’t want the Finders Keepers rule to happen to you. 

I recommend A Tale from Hare Wood: Turnip to children six years and older. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

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Meet the Author

Hello, I’m Nic, and I’m delighted to introduce you to the first of my Hare Wood stories. Journey with Turnip as she embarks on an enchanting adventure after stumbling upon a witch’s hat. I’m excited to share the wonders of Hare Wood and eagerly await your thoughts and comments x.

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Toot the Flying Droodle: Part Dragon – Part Poodle (The Droodle Tales) by Julian Boram (Book Review)

Meet TOOT the DROODLE
Part Dragon-Part Poodle

He’s a small little thingy that’s kind and sweet
With a curly little tail, fuzzy ears and woolly feet
TOOT longs to fly UP, UP into the sky
He just can’t do it and he can’t figure out why

Come along and join TOOT on his uplifting adventure and find out if three magical beasties can help make his dreams come true.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

In the fantasy world, you never know what creature an author will come up with next. This unknown brings excitement, joy, and entertainment to many. Julian Boram, author and illustrator, has given readers a mythical being combining a dragon and a poodle. DROODLE, for short. Not a likely pairing, but the mash-up created a unique magical beast that children will love. 

Toot, the DROODLE, longs to soar like the other DROODLES. He wants to play with the others in the sky. Watching them from afar makes him feel lonely and sad. Many readers will empathize with Toot’s predicament. It’s never easy to watch others having fun and feel excluded. 

Toot isn’t the only animal in this imaginative tale with a mind-blogging mash-up. Children will meet SNOWL: part owl and part snake. The combination was weirdly wonderful. The owl’s forked tongue was oddly cute. Readers will also encounter a PHOW and a SWAT. You’ll have to read the story to discover their fantastical blends! 

As Toot chases after his kite, young listeners will be amazed by the gigantic flowers, bees, and even the trees! Nothing is ordinary in Toot the Flying Droodle. Julian Boram has also included a bonus game: find the DROODLE egg on every page. 

If your child is struggling with “fitting in” or having issues with a task, read them this book. If your child loves fantasy stories, again, read them this book. Toot the Flying Droodle is a fantastic, imaginative story that your child will want to read over and over! 

Amazon’s recommended reading age: 2-7 years. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤❤

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Meet the Author

An Aussie, currently living in London, Julian spends his time as a husband and father of two girls, and as a senior executive helping businesses grow in a new sustainable era.

Julian is an Award Winning Children’s Book Illustrator and has won several awards for his art and his large-scale portrait entries in the acclaimed Archibald and Moran Prize competitions have been written up in major newspapers.

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Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race by Debbie Hepner (Book Review)

Racee Acee is at it again with another fantastic race. This time she is teaming up with friends for a thrilling toboggan race. Some hilarious ideas come about as the team works together on a solution to make their sled go faster in the upcoming race. Curious and hungry puppies and dogs join the fun as the sled speeds down the snow-covered hill. Problem-solving, thinking outside the box, friendly cooperation, and TEAMWORK come together to get them to the finish line…But do they win?

Bub the cat is back for another fantastic race of his cute little life!

The Second book in the Racee Acee Series will delight readers of all ages.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Reedsy Discovery.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

It was an exciting time for Acee, Mia, Riley, and Tobias; the toboggan race was only three short days away. They were in strategy mode, brainstorming ways to make their sled go faster. The crew shared a couple of suggestions to give them the boost they needed to win. Then, all four mental lightbulbs went off, and they shouted the same answer simultaneously (no spoilers). I was sitting on the edge, waiting to see the outcome. 

The team initialized their master plan and quickly realized they needed to tweak their tactic. Back to square one! Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race by Debbie Hepner teaches children to think on their feet, adjust experiments accordingly, and rely on their team (friends) to help solve a problem. It enforces the importance of listening to one another and being open to new theories. Remember, no voice is more important than another. 

Racee Acee and the Toboggan showcases four young children’s determination to find the optimal material that lets them zoom down the hill at top speed. It was a trial and error process that required patience and calm heads. 

Do they win, or do they lose? The answer will have fans of the Racee Acee Series cheering with the crowd. Even though the book ended with a happy ever after, that’s not the point of the short read. The story’s point is not who won the race but how the events led them to cross the finish line. 

Racee Acee and the Toboggan Race by Debbie Hepner encourages creativity, thinking outside the box, teamwork, and perseverance. Hayley Moore created incredible illustrations that will capture and delight young viewers. I recommend the book for children 3-8 years. 

Be sure and check out Debbie Hepner’s other works. They are filled with action, adventure and are perfect for young readers. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

After retiring from teaching, I decided to write children’s books. I have published five books and won four awards, including one Global Book Award, two Independent Press Awards, and a Mom’s Choice Award. Adding to my collection of picture books, I’m also writing young adult chapter books.

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Paw and Order: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery (The Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series) by Chris Abernathy (Book Review)

What’s better than a K-9 cop? A feline detective. Detective Whiskers is out to prove himself, and keep his human from being framed for murder, or worse. He’ll need the help of his new animal friends and Sheila’s group of female sleuths. This cozy mystery set in a small town in Old Florida is purrfect for cat lovers and anyone who enjoys a fun beach read.

 

Who is really catching killers in Paradise Cove? It’s not the local police. The Paradise Cove Murder Society is getting the job done, with more help than they realize from a furry detective named Whiskers.

Sheila and her cat Whiskers are starting a new life in the perfect little Florida beach town that managed to avoid the big crowds, condos and chain stores. But as soon as they arrive the town has its first ever murder. Good thing Whiskers is a trained detective! Fred, Sheila’s husband of forty years, was a police detective who recently passed away, right before they were supposed to retire to the beach. After forty years of devoting herself entirely to being a good wife and mother she’s now left to put her life back together, but what kind of life will it be? In a fresh setting, and with some quirky new friends, she slowly begins to remember all of the dreams she had as a young woman. She has a second chance to chase those dreams, if she can stay alive and out of prison. When her next door neighbor is killed and the evidence points to Sheila, it’s time for Whiskers to step up.

Whiskers was Fred’s loyal assistant and he’ll need to remember everything he learned from his mentor to keep Sheila safe as she rediscovers herself. With the help of some unexpected new friends of his own Detective Whiskers sets out to prove to the world, and himself, that he is worthy of the shiny badge on his collar. If you love humorous cozy mysteries where pets take the lead and eccentric friends come together to solve crimes with just the right amount of suspense then the Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series is exactly what you’re looking for.

 

This book does not contain profanity or graphic descriptions of violence and bedroom scenes.
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours.  I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 

I’ve read numerous detective stories. Watch my fair share of crime shows too. I’ve seen a case played out through the eyes of the victim, lawyers, plaintiff, and (human) cops. However, Paw and Order is the first mystery novel where a cat runs the show. Where the storyline is shown through their eyes. 

Detective Whiskers talks to eyewitnesses, aka fellow animals, as they hunt for clues. The feline detective has many attributes that make him a hot ticket investigator. One, he can speak to eyewitnesses that humans can’t. You know, since humans can’t converse with animals in an actual conversation. Two, Whiskers can sniff out clues better than a dog. True. I  learned that cats have two organs that work together to help them detects scents. In fact, they can detect a smell from across a football field. AMAZING! Three, he doesn’t require cash payment. Belly scratch and donuts, yes. Moolah? Nope, no need. 

Sheila’s recently lost her husband. She nearly traded in her vacation home for prison bars. Thankfully, with her the help of her sweet, inquisitive kitty and the new gal pals, who make up the Paradise Cove Murder Society, the actual culprit was apprehended.  

Paw and Order is a cozy mystery that has many humorous moments. I laughed at the catnip discussion. And when Detective Whiskers questions Roddy, the mouse. There was some awkwardness regarding Whisker’s remarks about an attractive human. Other than that, a solid story that I recommend you read! 


Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 
 
 
 

Meet the Author

Chris Abernathy has narrated more than 200 audiobooks and now he is writing his own stories. He has been a storyteller his entire life — around campfires at a summer camp as a counselor, on the radio for more than 30 years, as an actor with background roles on major motion pictures and TV series, as a producer of short films for social media and more. Chris is married with two sons and lives on the Gulf Coast in Alabama. He is a dual national with citizenship in the US and UK and visits family in the Scottish Highlands as often as possible.

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