Tag Archives: humor

January 20, 2025 · 7:00 am

The Three Little Piggies and The Big Bad Wolf’s Wonderful Luau by Henrique Meyer (Book Review)

Join the Big Bad Wolf in this delightfully twisted take on the classic story of the three little pigs. The Big Bad Wolf is hosting a luau, and with his sights set on the piggies as the main course, he huffs and puffs his way through their homes, collecting the piggies for his feast. This playful, humor-filled tale teaches children about creativity, resilience, and the power of clever thinking. Perfect for young readers who enjoy a fun twist on fairy tales and parents looking for a new favorite bedtime story. With charming illustrations and rhymes, this book is a deliciously fun adventure for the whole family!

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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 Three Little Pigs” is a classic fable about three pigs who built their homes with different materials. One day, a wolf came along and quickly blew down the first two houses made from straw and sticks. The third house, however, proved impossible to knock over thanks to its sturdy construction. No matter how many times the wolf huffs and puffs, the brick house remains erect. The moral of the tale is to illustrate the importance of patience and hard work.

Over the years, there have been variations to the famed story; in every tale I have read, the pigs always prevail victorious. But have you ever wondered what would happen if they didn’t? If this big, bad wolf finally caught their prize? The Three Little Piggies and The Big Bad Wolf’s Wonderful Luau took key elements from the famous, original story and put a dark yet funny spin on it. The three pigs in this rhyming story do build their homes out of straw, sticks, and bricks. The wolf huffs and puffs with one goal: destroy the homes and capture the oinkers. Like the original fable, the straw and stick houses fell quickly, while the brick home proved impossible to topple. Not to be deterred, this wolf had a plan B. You might recognize the cunning idea (somewhat) resembles a plan enacted by the big, bad wolf in Little Red Riding Hood.

Have you ever rooted for Wile E. Coyote to catch the Roadrunner? For Tom to best Jerry? For Sylvester to catch and eat Tweety Bird? If so, you’ll be pleased by this story’s outcome. Yes, the storyline is darker than the original; however, the illustrations kept the mood light. The wolf looked cute in his bright green Hawaiian shirt and apron. All the luau guests looked rather darling in their floral prints. I loved the image showing the predators dancing into the night after filling their bellies with a smorgasbord of meats. They looked so happy!

The Three Little Piggies and The Big Bad Wolf’s Wonderful Luau is a delightful, twisted take on a classic tale. With its charming illustrations and rhymes, the dark humor adventure book is ideal for children aged 3-8 years.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Henrique Meyer, born in Lajeado, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and raised in Florida, is a software engineer and technology consultant residing in Fort Lauderdale. Henrique enjoys spending time with his children, barbecuing, fishing, and traveling.

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January 15, 2025 · 7:00 am

Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors by Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors (Book Review)

Releasing May 6, 2025!

Benji and Briana, a brother and sister duo, begin a magical journey to the fantastical hospital in Surgeryland, or “Surgiland,” to cure Briana’s sniffles. But the fairies have a surprise in store—they also have a remedy for Benji’s pesky nose problems!

In Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors, readers will join this sibling pair as they explore the silly, slimy, and surprisingly fun world of snot and sneezes.

Mascot Books Purchase Link

Amazon Preorder Link

 

 

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

 

Snot comes in multiple colors and consistency. It can continuously drip out our noses like a leaking faucet. It can fill up numerous tissues with no end in sight. It can indicate an illness or produced when you consume hot or spicy food or cry. Snot can form due to seasonal allergies. It can be thick like molasses or clear and sticky. Whatever reason excessive boogers are formed, most of us want it gone. We definitely do not want a snot explosion like the one Briana suffered from. The poor little girl sneezed, and snot coated her from head to toe. The images were grossly funny, and kids will love them. Parents, too!

Thankfully, Briana’s brother is close by with a grand idea to cure her booger woes— let’s visit the Boogie Doctors! Benji and Briana embark on a magical journey to the fantastical hospital in Surgeryland (or Surgiland, as the kids like to say). On the yellow road to the castle that doubles as a hospital, the duo meet a doctor overseeing all boogie surgeries in this fantabulous world. They shared Briana’s nasal woes and discovered a case of the sneezes could be related to the seasons. To be specific, “The season of the birds, the bees, and the big allergies …” according to the three colorful, winged rhyming fairies.

The Boogie Doctor and his adorable medical helpers, the fairies, looked inside Briana’s nose to spot the snot problem. Even Benji sits and allows Doctor Boogie to insert a surgical camera up his nostril. I can practically hear kids say, “Eww or yuck,” when they see the forest of boogers on the monitor. It was another hilariously gross image that I enjoyed.

Not every ENT (ear, nose, and throat) visit will result in surgery. Some snot issues can be cured with medicine as was the case with Briana. But, if is needed, kids will be more relaxed thanks to Benji and Briana’s bravery in Surgeryland. I recommend sharing Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors with children two years and up. Parents and kids will laugh at the snotty mess. Readers will notice and love how each mucus word is enlarged, bolded, and shaded bright green and how other words pop off the pages using different font styles, colors, and sizes.

Join the siblings on their wondrous, magical adventure in Surgeryland as they visit a doc to stop Briana’s snot!

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

Mascot Books Purchase Link

Out May 6, 2025: Amazon Preorder Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors is an advocate, actress, physician and writer with a passion for storytelling that spans genres. Her work includes the heartwarming children’s book “Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors,” coming in spring 2025, and the deeply personal memoir “TOO MUCH,” which explores mental health challenges within the demanding fields of military and medicine.

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Cindy’s artistic journey began in her childhood in Honolulu. She explored her love of performance through acting in commercials, theatre, and competing in pageants. She later pursued acting in Los Angeles, earning a degree in theater at the University of Southern California. Her path then took her to military medicine, where she served as a physician in the United States Army. Her research to reduce opioid prescriptions has garnered national recognition through publications, speaking engagements at national conferences, and awards.

Now retired from the Army, Cindy is pursuing her lifelong passion for writing. Her diverse background and experiences inform her unique voice and allow her to connect with readers of all ages.

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TOO MUCH is available now everywhere books are sold online and in select retailers nationwide!

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January 10, 2025 · 7:00 am

Flyting 101: Poetic Justice by William Eckley (Book Spotlight)

Flyting 101: Poetic Justice is a lively and engaging guide to the ancient art of flyting—verbal duels of wit, rhyme, and humor. Blending history, technique, and modern applications, this book takes readers on a journey from the mead halls of the Norse gods to today’s rap battles and comedy roasts.

Packed with practical exercises, examples, and inspiration, it equips both beginners and seasoned wordsmiths to craft sharp, clever insults while honoring the ethics and creativity that define the tradition. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your rhetorical skills, entertain an audience, or simply enjoy the poetic magic of a well-placed jab, Flyting 101 offers everything you need to master the art of poetic justice.

Amazon Purchase Link

Read My Review on Reedsy

 

 

Meet the Author

William Arthur Eckley Jr., born in Riverside, California, is the visionary founder of the Three Haven Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering community and spiritual growth.

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January 1, 2025 · 7:00 am

Verbs on the Move: Adventures in Language Series, Book Three by G. L. Sinclair (Book Review)


Join the Verbs on the Move

Dive into an exciting adventure where storytelling meets language education! In “Verbs on the Move,” readers embark on a journey through vibrant tales that bring the world of verbs to life. This book seamlessly blends captivating stories with educational insights, making learning both fun and engaging.
Explore:

  • Action Verbs
  • Linking Verbs.
  • Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs:
  • Regular/Irregular Verbs
  • And more!

Join in this linguistic adventure and watch as verbs come alive, guiding you through life’s movements and challenges with kindness, playfulness, and purpose.

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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.

 

G.L. Sinclair is the brilliant creator behind the Adventures in Language series. Punctuation Retreat, book one in the series, presents information in a whimsical and fun way that entertains kids instead of their typical reaction to grammar lessons — yawns. Their last grammar book, Magical Noun Quest, helped elementary students discover the magic of nouns and how the world would crumble without them. This time, kids will dive into another exciting literary adventure, bringing the world of verbs to life. Action verbs. Linking verbs. Helping verbs. Transitive or intransitive verbs. The creator will educate and entertain their audience through a creative storyline and (sometimes) silly images. I snickered at the pink and purple elephant rocking a tutu as they danced through time with their comrades. The Verb Goblin looked adorable in his dictionary page-turned hat. It sparked a childhood memory of how we folded the weekend newspaper into hats that doubled as boats. There was so much to love about Verbs on the Move. Follow me as I summarize its eight chapters.

 

Alex was a curious ten-year-old who aspired to become a writer. He knew achieving his goals meant studying grammar. Today, Alex focused on verbs, the tiny but powerful words that made sentences come alive. As Alex relaxed in the treehouse with a book on verbs, his eyes grew heavy, and soon he was drifting off to sleep. No sooner had Alex closed his eyes in his fortress of solitude (aka the treehouse) than he was transported to Verb Village, where guests were about to discover which verb is the fastest. The racers had cutesy action word names, such as Running Rita and Dashing Dan. Even the race’s organizer had an action-infused name: Action Andy. The race was action-packed; unfortunately, readers won’t see any of it. However, there was a picture of the winning trophy, which had a unique feature. (No spoilers)

Alex’s time at Verb Village carried over into his next night’s sleep. Tonight’s mission is to assist Helping Harry in figuring out how to help the main verbs with the correct tense; a tedious mission unless you join Main Verb Mary’s learning game at the playground. Townspeople were leaping over exclamation point hedges, among other imaginative obstacles. Learning about present, past, and future verb tenses has never been this much fun! 

 

In chapter three, the Verb Goblin is being his mischievous self, turning verbs into nouns. We watch inanimate objects come to life, such as the table that sprouted arms and legs. I hoped more images were included featuring moments from the bizarre talent show, such as tables stacking dishes into towers or a joke courtesy of the winged stick of butter. But that said, kids will understand how to turn a noun into a verb through the writer’s creative storytelling. For example, by adding -ing to ‘book,’ the noun has been transformed into a verb (booking). 

 

As Alex’s adventure in Verb Village continues, we meet Stative Steve. Stative might be an unfamiliar literary term for most kids. It’s a verb that describes states of being. For example, if someone tells you they are feeling blue today, you understand they are sad. The author also explores transitive (verbs that need an object) and intransitive (verbs that don’t need an object), two more (possibly) confusing verb words. Transitive Tina and Intransitive Ian attempt to simplify a mind-twisting subject matter. Do they succeed in their quest? Yes, they do through (what I consider) a verb improv show. The performance might inspire classrooms to create an improv show. Wouldn’t that be fun! 

 

Alex’s journey into the land of verbs continues at The Greatest Verb Bake-Off. Like with the race, every contestant’s name begins with a verb. While the names were catchy, their unique skills captivated me the most. Mixing Mike’s arms spun like mixer beaters while Stirring Sarah dazzled audiences with pirouettes as she stirred not one…not two…but three bowls at once. Oh, how I would love for this scene… better yet, the entire book brought to life! It would be a perfect educational animated program for kids who enjoy cartoons like Wild Kratts or Magic School Bus. This chapter had to be my favorite. The chefs worked as a team to fix the Verb Goblin’s kitchen tricks. Read the story to find out what trick he played and how it affected the kitchen. Be ready to have your sweet tooth activated! 

 

I was amazed at the writer’s ability to develop scenes with witty dialogue that simplified the parts of speech. Whether we join Alex at the Verb Olympics, the racetrack, kitchen, playground, town square, festival, or other exciting areas in Verb Village, kids will realize verbs’ essential role in bringing sentences and stories to life! 

 

Verbs on the Move: Adventures in Language entertains and educates the audience through witty dialogue and action-packed scenes. It’s a must-have for your public or homeschool curriculum! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

Meet the Author

I am an accountant by profession and have retired after many years of service. I always wanted to write a book. I developed a series of 6 books on punctuation/grammar for kids. This is a completely new experience for me, and I hope you like what I have written.

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December 13, 2024 · 7:00 am

Gator Gray Gets Away by Heidi Brooks (Book Review)

Join Gator Gray on a whimsical adventure in
Gator Gray Gets Away!

 

This delightful tale follows the mischievous Gator Gray, who loves to crawl and explore, much to the amusement (and occasional exasperation) of his family. With a knack for getting into all sorts of playful trouble—from sneaking under beds to nibbling on bugs—Gray’s antics keep everyone on their toes!

As his family searches for solutions, Gator Gray’s journey takes a surprising turn. Will he ever trade in his crawling for walking? With heartwarming moments and plenty of giggles, this charming story captures the essence of childhood curiosity and the joy of growing up.

Perfect for children aged 3 to 9, Gator Gray Gets Away celebrates the playful spirit of little ones while reminding readers that every step of growth is worth cheering for. With whimsical rhymes and engaging illustrations, this book is sure to become a bedtime favorite for families everywhere!

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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.

 

In the first several months, parents and babies will share many firsts: first smile, first laugh, the first time they roll over, plus many more. Around the 5th month mark, some babies start rocking, and soon after, they begin exploring their environment on all fours. They go from moving at a snail’s pace to zooming around the house, touching everything at eye level, and putting anything in their path into their mouth. They are constantly on the go, and parents reach a new level of tiredness. 

Gator Gray, a lively baby, was always on the move. He could be found under the table, under the bed, or in one location and then mysteriously gone the next. The dad’s exasperated call to his other two sons, “Go and find some glue,” had me chuckling. The text and accompanying illustrations of Gator Gray with his finger up his nose and his toes in his mouth were equally amusing. Parents, if you thought only your child behaved this way, rest assured you are not alone. Gator Gray’s adventures are a mirror image of every energetic child!

When the day came when Gator Gray pushed himself upright, I knew the parents’ days of rest were not quite upon them. Yes, it’s a monumental day when our child takes their first step. However, a child on their feet is quicker and more apt to get into mischief, which spells the end of relaxing while the child is awake. Like the parents in this humous children’s book, we quickly learn the importance of baby-proofing every door cause if a child reaches a doorknob, they will escape. 

I adored reading Gator Gray Gets Away. It read like any day from my children’s first couple of years. I highly recommend sharing this with your children, especially if a new baby is coming. There were a few grammar errors, but the laughs this adorable picture book brought me far outweighed any shortcomings. It’s a must-read for parents! 

Sit back, relax, and read Gator Gray Gets Away. Read fast, though, because if your youngster is like Gator Gary, they won’t sit still long! 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:  ❤❤❤❤1/2
(rounded to five on Amazon and Goodreads)

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Heidi Brooks is a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother whose delightful experiences with her grandchildren fuel her passion for writing. With a lifelong love for children’s literature, Heidi is particularly inspired by the whimsical worlds of Shel Silverstein, Dr. Seuss, and Roald Dahl.

Her keen sense of humor allows her to find joy in the everyday antics of her grandchildren, often turning their adventures into tales featuring brave heroes and heroines.

When she’s not writing, Heidi cherishes spending quality time with her family, embarking on countless adventures that spark laughter and inspire her next story. Through her writing, she hopes to capture the magic of childhood and share it with young readers everywhere.

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