The Adventures of MOOMOO: MooMoo’s Adventure to Remember by Joe Komara (Book Review)

 

Join MooMoo, the lovable HippoCatamus, as she embarks on a heartwarming adventure to remember who she is. After an accident leaves her memory a bit fuzzy, MooMoo sets off to find her family, meeting a cast of colorful characters along the way. From a lost monkey to a graceful gazelle, MooMoo wonders if she might be like them—until a sweet reunion with her parents reveals she’s perfectly unique. MooMoo’s Adventure to Remember celebrates self-discovery, kindness, and embracing what makes each of us special and unique.

Perfect for all readers young and old who adore animals and heartwarming adventures.

 

The Inspiration For MooMoo comes from my beloved kitty cat, Rue McCatahan, AKA MooMoo. Rescued from the Humane Society, Rue captured our hearts with her heavy-footed walk, floofy tail, and endearing clumsiness—earning her the nickname of “Hippocatamus.” MooMoo’s caring spirit is inspired by my niece Kennedy, whose heartfelt dedication to helping other children is a beautiful example of human generosity that will hopefully inspire your kiddo too!

Grab your copy and fall in love with MooMoo today!

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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.

 

Have you ever looked at your reflection and wondered, Who am I? Where do I belong? MooMoo has. MooMoo, a uniquely designed character, embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Part cat, part hippo, and all purple except for its eyes, MooMoo’s features and coloring are not what we call ‘normal.’ As MooMoo tries to remember who they are and where their home is, she meets two animals whose coloring and/or shape are not typical of their species. First, MooMoo meets a sad pink monkey who’s lost and can’t find their family. MooMoo puts aside their personal quest and redirects their attention to help Miko, the young monkey, find their family. They next meet a multi-colored gazelle named Zala, whose body featured sharp lines that reminded me of geometrical art. Beautiful!

MooMoo doesn’t know her place in this brightly shaded world. Is she a monkey? A gazelle? A hippo? And, if she is a hippo, why does she have a cat face? MooMoo is understandably confused, not to mention still lost at this point in the story.

MooMoo, in her journey of self-discovery, was kind to the monkey, and their kindness inspired another animal to be kind to them. (The mysterious animal’s identity will be revealed after reading this sweet story.) It should be no surprise that MooMoo finds her parents and discovers who they are. MooMoo, the darling hippocatamus, began their journey unsure about their identity, but in the end, they could look at their reflection feeling proud of their unique self. This story does what we adults should do—inspire kids to embrace their uniqueness!

I loved the writer’s and artist’s imagination when it came to the storyline and character design. Both were out-of-the-box thinking and made for an excellent children’s book! There were a few words that might stump three-year-olds, the starting recommended reading age, according to Amazon. Overall, kids will be enchanted by the mysterious creature and be eager to read future adventures starring the hippocatamus or other colorful, blended animals.

As a fellow enthusiast of children’s literature, I agree with Amazon’s target audience: 3-9 years. This book is a perfect fit for young readers, offering a delightful and imaginative journey of self-discovery.

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

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Meet the Author

Joe Komara learned young how fulfilling it is to help kids stay healthy & creative, His books are inspired by his niece Kennedy and his floofy-tailed, charmingly clumsy cat, Rue (aka MooMoo). Joe is an actor and a Board-Certified Positive Psychology-Based Life & Well-Being Coach. NBC-HWC, ACC

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Time Telling Ted by Julian Hilton (Book Review)


This teddy bear is no ordinary bear, he is Time Telling Ted!

 

Ted lives his life by his watch and loves to tell the time.
With his own birthday party today, will he realize it’s time to get things ready, before it’s too late?

A timely story with teddies.
Can you find all the clocks and tell the time with Ted?

From the Reader’s Favorite award finalist, author of the popular Jumbo Giant Sausages and The Button and the Bean, comes a third ‘read-and-learn’ story that spans a whole day told on clocks and watches.

Read and learn stories tell a great tale, while giving you the chance to learn something too!

Perfect for those practicing how to tell the time, although you don’t need to learn in order to love this story.

With a great resource section on telling the time at the back of the book, plus clocks and other fun things to find, this book is a great addition to any library or classroom.

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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.

 

Time Telling Ted is an outstanding interactive children’s book that teaches young viewers the concept of time.

Ted is an adorable bear that loves to tell time. He sleeps next to an old-fashioned twin-bell alarm clock on his nightstand—a vintage device kids might not recognize, but their parents will. As the hands on the analog clock reach eight o’clock, it loudly rings for Ted to wake up and start his day. Readers will notice that every mention of a time, such as a quarter till nine, will be presented in enlarged yellow text. The hands on the clocks will always match the stated time, too. Breakfast at nine, shopping at 10:30, nap at five to one, every point of Ted’s busy day is referenced to a particular time, making this a perfect book for children learning to tell time.

Today is a very special day for our adorable bear, Ted; it’s his birthday! With so much to do, he relies on his wristwatch and other clocks to keep him on track. There are party supplies to gather, a room to decorate, food to purchase, music to select, lunch to prepare, and (of course) a not-so-quick nap to recharge Ted’s (figurative) battery. Will Ted be mindful of the time and complete each item on his birthday party to-do list? Read the creative story where Ted’s most valuable asset is the timepieces and discover the answer for yourself!

Speaking of timepieces, Julian Hilton (the author) has crafted multiple fun and engaging activities requiring kids to seek out hidden items and characters in the various scenes. They ask you to find every clock or watch and see if kids can recognize the time. Children will also hunt for the “two naughty sausages” while seeking out Button and the Bean. Kids are encouraged to find Ted’s birthday cards, too. But wait! That’s not all! The author has included more time-based games and activities: “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” and “Do you know what time it is?” In the last one, the writer does a magnificent job teaching kids what time it is when the “long hand” points to a number on or in between two numbers. There are more helpful time tips, so I recommend picking up a copy today and sharing it with your family or class! See if they can recognize the timepieces and their featured time! Encourage young listeners to share what time device they or their family use.

I agree with Amazon’s recommended reading age of 3-8 years for Time Telling Ted. This book is a great resource for kids learning or mastering their time-telling skills. The sweet artwork revolving around a toy bear, a toy most kids have, was adorable. I’m sure children within this age range will love Ted bear-y much!

(Review submitted to Reedsy on January 26, 2025.)

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

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Meet the Author

Julian Hilton lives beside the seaside in the magical county of Devon, England. Born in Liverpool in 1969, England, the same week Get Back was in the charts, Doesn’t write songs. Likes writing children’s stories, draws a bit. Loves possibilities.

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Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship by Phyllis Schwartz (Book Review)

Yoshi wants a pet so badly she befriends some backyard critters who aren’t likely to get along and brings them into her circle of family and
friends for fun and frolic.

She aces a school writing assignment in the process by telling the tale in a poem that uses words from all over the world.

LAGGIE AND GRILLO: AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP not only helps children think about the responsibilities of keeping a pet, but also about the importance of helping opposites get along. It’s a multicultural friendship story so full of rhyming fun you’ll want to be a part of it!

 

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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.

 

Yoshi has been assigned to write a poem revolving around something that is bothering them. Their teacher wants them to use a few words from different cultures. Since Yoshi’s dad is Japanese and her mom is Jewish, the little girl understands Japanese and Yiddish and plans to work both languages into the verses. She also plans to incorporate Spanish words, which she learned living in San Diego, a city close to Mexico.

As Yoshi held her pencil to the paper, she knew exactly what she would write about— how her parents wouldn’t let her have a pet. The first stanza starts with Yoshi sharing her mom’s frustration over being asked about getting a pet. Based on the parents’ reaction, I sense it was not the first time the mother heard the request. She warned Yoshi to stop bugging her about it, or Yoshi wouldn’t be playing with her friends today. Yoshi didn’t understand why she couldn’t play with a cute un perrito (Spanish for dog) instead of her Japanese doll (Ningyo). Upset by her mom’s response, Yoshi kicked a garden elf (gnome) over and moped around the yard. It was during her moping session that a quick lizard zipped by. She thought if I couldn’t have a dog, she would adopt the lizard as her pet.

Laggie, the little garden lizard, was a low-maintenance pet; it nibbled on insects in Yoshi’s yard. However, there was one insect that Yoshi preferred that Laggie didn’t dine on: the cute cricket or Grillo in Spanish. That night, she took it inside her house to ensure the Lagartigo (Spanish for a small lizard) didn’t make Grillo their next un bocadillo (Spanish for a snack). The illustration showing wide-eyed and frazzled Yoshi surrounded by numerous “chirp” words was hilarious. Many people lose sleep to similar unwanted outdoor guests every spring and summer, so many of us can most definitely feel her pain!

Yoshi could’ve taken Grillo outside and let nature take its course, but instead, she built her two new friends their very own homes. How sweet, and I love the drawings! These two unlikeliest of friends made beautiful music together…literally because she instructed them to create a “Best Friend” song. Funny and cute!

Did Yoshi’s poem change her mom’s mind about having an indoor pet? Did it earn a perfect score? To find out, be sure to read the book’s conclusion. And don’t miss the final pages, where you’ll find a glossary of all the Spanish, Yiddish, and Japanese words used in the story, their definitions, and their punctuation. Plus, the author has included the Inari Sushi Recipe, a simple and delicious dish that young kids can help an adult make for lunch or dinner!

Laggie and Grillo: An Unlikely Friendship is more than just a delightful picture book. It’s a valuable educational tool that introduces children to several Spanish, Yiddish, and Japanese words. As Yoshi crafts her poem, readers are not only entertained but also enriched with new words and their meanings.

My suggested reading age is 4 years and up.

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

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Meet the Author

Phyllis Schwartz is a married mother of two, who, after a highly successful career in the TV news business, finally has the time to indulge in and focus on her “civilian” writing. Even as a kid, she kept a diary and wrote little stories and poems, a creative release that continued well into adulthood. She wrote news by day and poetry by night. And despite battling three different types of cancer over more than three decades, she is still filled with energy, joy, and optimism, and she looks forward to writing much more poetry and children’s books in the future. Her writing often centers on what she observes daily: including her friends, husband, and two children, as well as her garden and her beautiful beach town residence in dreamy Encinitas, all providing continued inspiration for her verse.

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Chloe Moves to a New City: The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe Series by Andrea McLean (Book Review)

When Burnie and Chloe hear a tiny voice in Chloe’s new house, they discover a little spider named Webster who’s lost and far from home! With big hearts and curious minds, Burnie and Chloe decide to help their new friend find a place to belong.

Their adventure takes them to the backyard, where they meet another friendly spider who just might have the perfect solution. Along the way, Burnie and Chloe learn what it means to help others, make new friends, and open their hearts to those in need.

Join Burnie and Chloe on this heartwarming journey of friendship, kindness, and finding a new home in unexpected places. Perfect for young readers, this story is sure to bring smiles, laughter, and a reminder that everyone can lend a helping hand.

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Burnie and Chloe are not just family; they are doggie best friends. They frequently get together at Burnie’s house for play dates. Whether they are taking a dip in the pool, exploring the outdoors, or partaking in an indoor adventure, the canine buddies always have each other’s back. They are so lucky to have each other. But things are about to change. Chloe’s owner/Ava’s brother swung by to inform the family that he got a new job and is moving to a new city. The news shocked Burnie, so he naturally had several questions. Even a human’s curiosity would cause us to question a friend or family member if they suddenly sprung news they were relocating.

A few weeks after the big move, Burnie and his family packed up and drove three hours to visit the brother and Chloe’s new home. Burnie and Chloe were super excited to see each other, and Chloe couldn’t wait to give Burnie the grand tour. Burnie was very curious about the space behind the stairwell. What he found would have me and many others running away, possibly screaming as we go. Why? Because Burnie found a spider! Okay, for a spider, it was rather cute when it smiled. Yes, you read that right. The itsy-bitsy spider smiles! Even though Webster (spider) looks friendly, I’m not sure if I would place it on my head (like Burnie did). I bet kids will have a strong opinion on this matter!

Like the other stories in The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe series, the doggie duo band together to fix a problem. In the case of Chloe Moves to a New City, their mission is to help find the lost spider (Webster) a new home, preferably outdoors. Did they succeed in their quest? I bet you know the answer to that. The final image featuring the friends posing with their tongues out is the perfect ending to the story.

Chloe Moves to a New City is a sweet story, capturing the strong bond between two canine friends. I liked the variety of body poses and facial expressions, which added depth and emotion to the characters. The backgrounds popped thanks to the vibrant wallpaper patterns and paint color choices. There were still some flat areas, but I applaud the artist’s attempt to spruce up certain rooms. The first staircase image, however, missed the mark. The left side of the staircase appears to be floating in the air towards the bottom. For the storyline, many of us can relate to a family member or friend moving away. This story may inspire children to share their experiences and feelings about a similar situation. I have one small request for the author; it may be time to give Ava’s brother a name. He’s been featured in more than one story, and I don’t recall the character being addressed by anything other than “Ava’s brother.”

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest story in The Adventures of Burnie & Chloe series—the heartwarming tale of friendship, coupled with the vibrant illustrations, made for a delightful read. I can’t wait to see what fun adventures await Burnie and Chloe in the next book!

Suggested reading age is 3-8 years.


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

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Meet the Author

Andrea C. McLean is a board-certified life, career, and executive coach. She is a global leadership coach and mentor focused on developing women leaders in corporate and university settings. Andrea has a spirit of encouragement and a passion for inspiring others on their journey toward achieving personal transformations. She can be reached at andrea@acmcoachinggroup.com and you can follow @andreacmclean on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for more inspiration.
 

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Where is Love? by Annie Caboose (Book Review)

While walking in the garden one day, Annie, a curious little ant from Hillsville, meets a single poppy flower called Love. They become instant friends, sharing stories, laughing and talking for hours on end. Then one autumn day Annie goes to visit Love, but Love is not there. Remembering the rhyme that Love told her, she sets off on an adventure to find Love.

Love is with you every day.
Love is never far away.
Go search, go find and then you’ll see
All the places Love can be.

But don’t forget to look within
For often, that’s where Love begins.

May Annie’s story inspire anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved being, to look and perhaps still find them within their lives and within themselves.

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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.

 

We witness death on TV shows and movies, but you’re never really prepared for the emotions accompanying it until you’re in the thick of it. Everyone handles the loss of a friend or loved one differently, kids especially. Where is Love? is a touching book reminding us that the ones we miss are never truly gone; they will always remain in our hearts and memories. A lovely message that can bring a great deal of comfort.

Annie is just one of many ants that call Hillsville, a mound of dirt behind Fanny’s Flower Farm, home. James Dakay, the illustrator, did a lovely job creating the underground world. The ants wore human attire as they engaged in activities we’ve all seen or done, such as groups of ants playing basketball and hopscotch while another hung wet clothes up on a clothesline. The illustrations are vibrant and detailed, with each ant having its own unique features and expressions. Though the Queen ant looks lovely in her royal cape and crown, Annie was quite the fashionista in her bright yellow straw cap and matching shirt.

Annie didn’t spend all her days or nights inside the mound; on weekends, she went aboveground to explore and enjoy the summer breeze. During one excursion, Annie met a poppy named Love. Love was a beautiful orange-petaled flower with soft features nestled in the flower’s seed pod. Love and Annie became quick friends. They laughed together, played games, and told tall tales. Love shared a sweet little rhyme with her new friend:

Love is with you every day.

Love is never far away.

Go search, go find and then you’ll see

All the places Love can be.

 

Each time Annie went to meet up with her fragrant friend, she noticed Poppy was losing her beautiful orange petals. It was heartbreaking to watch her wither away. Sadly, young kids and adults will face a similar situation with a friend, family member, or beloved pet. It’s an emotional time, especially when their physical body is no longer here. Annie realized the significance of Poppy’s rhyme. It’s a comforting reminder that our loved ones will remain in our hearts and live on through our memories, and that love is always present, even when we can’t see it.

I recommend reading Annie Caboose’s moving story with your child, especially if they have lost someone recently or are facing circumstances that mirror Annie’s situation: watching someone slowly fade away. Where is Love? is technically a picture book aimed at young viewers, but Love’s sweet rhyme and the story’s overall theme can also resonate with adults.

 

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

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Meet the Author

Annie, a.k.a. the Caboose, is the youngest of nine children. Her loving mother read her lots of children’s stories, including some she wrote herself. Inspired by her mom, Annie wrote her first book, Where is Love? She resides on a lake in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, fascinated by the many birds that live there too.

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