Monthly Archives: April 2025

April 29, 2025 · 7:00 am

Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher by Ben P. Fisher (Book Review)

He’s sure that mistakes are always bad. Can he learn to take a deep breath and turn an oops into a ta-da?

Scribbaloo wants to do everything perfectly. So even though it’s amazing that everything he draws with his magic comes to life, the little creature is always worried about messing up. And he’s certain everyone will be angry when his frustration makes a monster that’s gobbling up all the colors and turning the world gray.

Joined by his upbeat best friend, Scribbaloo sets off on a daring journey to find the Golden Crayon to restore the rainbow. But every time they go around a corner, there’s a new mistake about to ruin their trip.

Will Scribbaloo give up, or keep trying until he figures out a way to win?

Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher is a wonder-filled picture book for kids ages three to eight. If you or your child like beautiful illustrations, using your imagination, and building self-esteem, then you’ll love Ben P. Fisher’s delightful adventure.

Buy Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher to paint the world wonderful today!

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Everyone, regardless of age, will make mistakes; they are inevitable and come in all sizes. For kids, coloring outside the lines would equal a minor mistake. Shattering a window would equal a bigger mistake. While some mistakes might feel like the world is ending, they all amount to the same thing – a learning experience. Scribbaloo, a magical creature from Color Island, learns this valuable lesson in Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher.

Scribbaloo possesses a magnificent, magical ability; whatever they draw comes to life! That sounds amazing unless you are like Scribbaloo, an individual who gets easily frustrated when you make an error. Scribbaloo blew his stack when their design didn’t turn out precisely how they envisioned. His star-shaped friend Glittergleam tried calming him down and encouraged them to try again, but Scribbaloo was too angry to listen. He started angry drawing, and those dark, scribbly lines merged to create The Color Cruncher! This transformation was a powerful metaphor for how unchecked anger can lead to unintended consequences.

The Color Cruncher was weirdly adorable. It resembled a ball of steel wool or a large ball of dryer lint with arms, legs, googly eyes, and black felt for angry-looking eyebrows. While it was cute, its sinister mission was not. It planned to devour all colors, and there was only one way to stop it: Scribbaloo needed to fetch the Golden Crayon up on Crayon Peak. The quest required Scribbaloo to draw, but his drawings kept hitting a snag. He knew no good came from losing his temper, so he took a moment to collect himself and tried again. What a good example for kids to model!

I loved the story’s cute rhymes, particularly the word paired with “unlucky.” The illustrated page accompanying the surprise word, which I will keep vague for the sake of the surprise, was stupendous. I also liked how the artist brought the writer’s words to life. The Paintbrush Forest was simple but very creative. And when Scribbaloo started to cry, my heart went out to the little red creature.

I recommend Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher for households and classes with children ages three to eight. It is a wonderfully written and illustrated story that entertains and delivers a powerful message: It’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn. So, the next time you mess up, take a calming breath and try again.


Special note: Scan the QR code in the end pages or visit the author’s site (BenPFisher.com) to download a FREE activity book!

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Husband. Father. Cheese enthusiast.

While he enjoys all things cheese, Ben’s true joy comes from the blessing of his family. His two passionate and playful children remind him how tough it is to be in the “rough draft” stage of becoming an adult. His love for creativity and being a positive influence on others led him to a career in teaching and school leadership. Inspired by a need for stories that teach resilience and the value of learning from mistakes, Ben began writing children’s books. Through his stories, he hopes to encourage kids and adults to remember that love and acceptance don’t require perfection.

Amazon Author Page Link
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April 25, 2025 · 7:00 am

Dream Seed by D B Soel (Book Spotlight)

There once was a seed that vibrated with an exciting dream.

What is that dream, and what will it become?

As the seed is nurtured with equal parts love & joy,

The most special dream of all grows into life.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Click HERE to read the full review on Reedsy
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author 
D.B. Soel writes to inspire, to entertain, and to enlighten. He enjoys sports, literature, movies, and cooking. He has a beautiful wife and two wonderful children and lives on California’s Central Coast.
 

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

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April 23, 2025 · 11:51 am

KICKSTARTER Campaign —> BicentenniKILL by Matt Entin and Ed Kuehnel

Suspicious Behavior Productions is the comic book HQ of Matt Entin and Ed Kuehnel, two longtime friends and writers whose earliest collaborations hark back to the early 2000’s. Collectively, they have written on over ninety video games, as well as the comedy/horror film Lumberjack Manand the critically-acclaimed comic book mini-series, Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia — their first non work-for-hire (i.e. creator-owned) project.

 

 

What We’re Kickstarting:
BicentenniKILL

Matt Entin and Ed Kuehnel —Every dollar earned from this Kickstarter will go towards paying artists to work on the digital  edition of the first issue of our next creator-owned mini-series, BicentenniKILL,and we’ve got some AWESOME rewards for our backers, including first edition print copies of the collected vollume of Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia —which are ready to ship the moment this Kickstarter funds!

 


The Story of BicentenniKILL

“Vote as if your life depends on it” becomes reality for a small town police chief and his activist daughter when they are forced to defend it from power hungry animatronic historical figures brought to life by a mysterious comet.

July 3rd, 1976 — the eve of America’s bicentennial. Tensions between local politicians and counterculture “radicals” are at a boiling point when the town of Miniwaukan, Wisconsin, “the Sauerkraut Capital of the Midwest” votes to rebrand itself “Patriotism’s Front Porch” — a transformation led by its power-hungry mayor, Jack Peepgrass.

Things come to a head when a mysterious comet brings sentience to animatronic historical figures from the town’s a newly built Hall of Patriots, and the robots embark on a campaign of terror that culminates with a diabolical plan to fill an empty seat on the town council with an animatronic Grover Cleveland.

Standing in their way are activist Nina Harewood and her politically-neutral father, police chief Dennis Harewood, who clash over what it means to “protect and serve” when it’s the system itself that threatens the status quo.

Click  to pledge to their Kickstarter goal $4,999.00!

 

 

Donate and receive the following comic that’s in print and ready to ship:
Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia 


Invasion from Planet Wrestletopia is an action/comedy that follows the trials of “Rock ‘N’ Roll” Rory Landell, a pro wrestler who declares himself “galactic champion of the universe” on live television to get revenge on an unscrupulous promoter, Dick Drasin.

 

 

Click here for more info and to support their new comic, “BicentenniKILL!”

 

 

 

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April 21, 2025 · 7:00 am

Never Kiss a Crocodile Never Slap a Skunk: A field guide to ominous animals by Rocky Leplin (Book Review)

Don’t be afraid of a book! Just the animals in this one! Never Kiss a Crocodile, Never Slap a Skunk is a stimulating way to introduce young people to some of the perils of the natural world—and why they command respect. With full color photos, and a fun fact about each one, Crocodile is a series of humorous rhymed verse poems about 24 animals:

  • RISKY REPTILES — rattlesnakes, pythons, crocodiles
  • FEARSOME FISH AND FRIENDS — sawfish, stingrays, electric eels, piranhas, man-eating clams, Portuguese man o’ wars, stonefish, and great white sharks
  • BAD NEWS BIRD — vultures
  • AGONIZING ARACHNIDS — tarantulas, black widow spiders and scorpions
  • IRRITATING INSECTS — killer bees, driver ants
  • MUTINOUS MAMMALS — porcupines, rhinos, grizzly bears, tigers, vampire bats, and skunks

Never Kiss a Crocodile is the sixth book of rhymed verse poetry, most of them about mythical and imaginary creatures, by Rocky Leplin. But it’s the first that is non-fiction, though with Leplin’s signature semi-eccentric edge.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Never Kiss a Crocodile, Never Slap a Skunk is a thrilling guide that uses photography, catchy titles, fun facts, and “humorous rhymed verse poetry” to educate and entertain readers about 24 animals in the following categories: “Risky Reptiles,” “Fearsome Fish and Friends,” “Bad News Bird,” “Agonizing Arachnids,” “Irritating Insects,” and “Mutinous Mammals.” The exhilarating adventure begins with the notorious rattlesnake who, fun fact, the writer states won’t attack unless you try and pick one up. Let’s all agree not to test that theory! Two more reptilians make up the first category before readers move on to the second category, which is also the largest: “Fearsome Fish and Friends.”

Most adults and some kids have seen or at least heard of a sawfish before; however, they might not know the fish are ovoviviparous. The writer didn’t add a punctuation key for the tongue-twisted word or define it, which was an overlooked key element! The author provided numerous facts about the remaining eight creatures under the sea. For example, I discovered piranhas can bark. I also learned the length of a blue-ringed octopus’s arms and how long a Portuguese man o’ war tentacle can be! Oh, readers will find out which fish can roll their eyes! And, thanks to a brilliantly crafted poem, which underwater doesn’t mind eating hair, and which one looks like coral but is definitely not coral.

The book discusses ONE “Bad New Bird” before entering the world of arachnids and insects. Visually, these were my least favorite sections. I liked the facts, though! The poems were okay; they were less engaging and entertaining than the reptiles’. But that is just my opinion; read each section and vote for your favorite!

Finally, book lovers are treated to “Mutinous Animals,” featuring porcupines, rhinos, grizzly bears, tigers, vampire bats, and skunks. Did you know experts theorize that even skunks hate their defensive odor? What about this one: bats can jump? More tantalizing tidbits are ready to discover along the pages of Never Kiss a Crocodile, Never Slap a Skunk. I recommend reading it even if poetry isn’t your favorite literary genre. The fun factoids are worth the read!

There were a few editing mistakes, and I didn’t see the point of the marble image and its grizzly-themed poem. It was unnecessary and hindered the flow of the story. Overall, Never Kiss a Crocodile, Never Slap a Skunk is a wonderful resource book that I suggest sharing with your family or class. I also recommend checking out Rocky Leplin’s other books of rhymed verse!

Amazon’s suggested reading age is 10-16 years. Younger audiences would also enjoy the photos, fun facts, and (maybe) some or all the poems.

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Rocky Leplin graduated from the UCLA Film School, and has a Master’s in Music. He is the author of nine books, 500 songs, and two musicals. Two of his MG short stories have won awards, and his zany “manual” A Psycho’s Guide to Animal Companionship, was a Finalist in the 2023 Indie Book Awards.

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

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April 18, 2025 · 7:00 am

Your Friend, Brainy by Natalie Izzi (Book Review)

Meet your new friend, Brainy! Brainy is a fun-loving brain who’s excited to guide you on a journey to explore how your brain works, why we experience big emotions, and how we can support our brain when those feelings arise.

This playful and insightful book empowers children to better understand their brains and gives them simple, easy ways to regulate their emotions using neuroscience. Come along with Brainy for an adventure into the science of feelings!

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Watch the book trailer!

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

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

 

Our brain is a complex organ with many working parts. Think of it as a supercomputer for your body. It regulates everything your body does thanks to a specific section or part of it. Your brain controls your emotions and movement, tells your heart to beat, stores your memories, and so much more. In Your Friend, Brainy, readers step inside Brainy’s house to learn about three important parts of their brain: the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus.

The first stop on the tour is the amygdala. Before kids learn its function, they discover how to pronounce this strange word: UH-MIG-DUH-LUH. Since the word appears many times in the story, I would mark the page in case young readers forget how to say this “super big word.” On the tour, Brainy teaches readers more than how to say the word. We discover which nut it’s shaped like and how it’s responsible for our feelings, especially the BIG ones.

Brainy informs kids that even though our brains have many parts with designated functions, they must and do help each other out. This leads kids into the next room of the brain tour, the prefrontal cortex, two big words that the author made learning about fun. It’s not every day you see a big brain wearing sunglasses and sneakers while chillin’ out in a cat cafe. This harmonious place was also called the Zen den and the chill grill, so choose which area your prefrontal cortex would visit to help calm the emotions created by the amygdala. Share those with the class!

Like in the last room, aka the amygdala, the author carefully and expertly explains how the prefrontal cortex can calm down those BIG feelings and quiet the internal blaring alarm, and it all starts with you and taking a deep breath. Yes, kids will become active participants in the story, helping them retain the information and (hopefully) recall it when needed. Brainy points out that controlling your breathing is not the only way to calm yourself down. There was a lovely picture collage featuring kids doing what makes them happy, such as talking to someone they love or watching a show that makes them smile. Happy faces on, we enter the last room on the brain tour: the hippocampus. I loved the wordplay and illustration, playfully acknowledging that despite its name, no, a hippo isn’t walking around on your brain. However, this part of your brain is responsible for learning and remembering. It also helps with feelings and memories.

Each part of the brain is remarkable, but they rely on each other every day. Through Your Friend, Brainy, kids learn that even our brains need the power of teamwork to work properly. I recommend adding this delightful and entertaining story to your SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) curriculum. Help kids ages 4 years and up understand how fantastic our brains are and the vital work the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus do through easy-to-understand text brought to them by a humorous and wonderful host, Brainy.

Brainy wrote a sweet thank you letter to readers. Please take a moment to read it and carry out their small request. (Read the story for more info.)

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
(4.5 stars rounded to 5)

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Author Natalie Izzi has a Masters in Education and brings 12 years of experience in teaching children and adults the art of self-regulation through a unique blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and restorative practices.

She founded and led The Enlightened Schools Project, a professional development company dedicated to bringing her program to a variety of districts, universities, classrooms, and homes.

Currently, Natalie continues her work in public education, where she teaches Kindergarten and leads social-emotional learning initiatives for her district in Phoenixville, PA.

This is her debut children’s book, which integrates many of the most effective strategies she’s discovered for helping children develop the skills to self-regulate.

Website Link

Reedsy Author Link

 

 

 

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