Tag Archives: circus

One Little Squiggle by Jodi Adams (Book Review)

When you look at this picture, what do you see?

One little squiggle? What else could it be?

 

Follow a young girl armed with a sketchpad and a big imagination as she scooters to Squiggleville, an imaginary place where she joins a circus, explores a jungle, swims with sea creatures, and more. Everywhere she goes, she discovers more things that one little squiggle could be, and she makes squiggly sketches to document it all. Then, drawing inspiration from her adventures in Squiggleville, she returns home and makes the ultimate squiggle art masterpiece.

With its catchy, rhyming text, beautiful illustrations, one-of-a-kind squiggle art made by real kids, and uplifting message about the incredible power of human creativity, One Little Squiggle inspires artists of all ages to think outside the box and make their own squiggle doodles.

Now, it’s your turn. Go on- get creative!   

Amazon Purchase Link

 

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

 

One Little Squiggle taps into an artist’s mind and asks them, “When you look at this picture, what do you see? One little squiggle? What else could it be?” As the little girl, dressed in mix-matched clothes, scoots her way to Squiggleville, we get an inside look at how one single multi-colored squiggle can be transformed into many ways.

In the enchanting world of Squiggleville, the boundaries of imagination are limitless. You can traverse any landscape, witness any spectacle. Your sole constraint is your own creativity. As readers turn the pages, we see the darling girl’s sketches come alive. A magnificent red dragon, a pink unicorn, an orange four-eyed creature, a colossal snail, a fairy, and others emerge from the strands of colors from the child’s paintbrush. A wildly imaginative circus emerges where pigs fly and a tutu-wearing crocodile leaps through the air. As the scene switches, we watch the artist and her kitty companion interact with a monkey-wearing roller skates and a mermaid. They explore the underwater world and brave the cold before warming their bodies by the fire and turning in for the night.

One Little Squiggle is an extraordinary book. Its rhyming text and vibrant illustrations will amaze and entertain children and adults. I can envision readers eagerly scouring each page for the hidden squiggle lines. Kids racing to see who can spot the lines first. I also suspect they’ll love the one-of-a-kind squiggle art made by real kids as young as 3. I was pleasantly surprised to see adults had their creations added to the book. Loved the personal touch! Great idea!

I urge you to read One Little Squiggle, hunt for the hidden squiggle lines in the artwork, and then gather your art supplies to express what you see when you look at the squiggle. Think beyond the obvious and let your creativity and imagination flow. Your unique interpretations are not only welcome but also an integral part of the squiggle experience.

One Little Squiggle deserves more than 5 stars; it’s that good!

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

Jodi Adams is a former Crime Scene Investigator turned stay-at-home mom and children’s book author. When she is not reading or writing, Jodi loves to cook and bake, run, golf, and spend time with her family. She grew up in Iowa but now lives in Omaha, NE, with her husband and two kids.

Reedsy Author Link

Website Link

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Come One, Come All by E. Gilliland (Book Review)

The Pied Piper Circus lures in the lost, the lonely, people who wish to be stronger or faster or prettier…but once you join, you can never leave. 

Louisa knows the dangers of the traveling carnival, but she cannot afford to stay away. Not if she wants to get rid of the white owl that’s been haunting her, invading her dreams. Not if she wants to know about the dark, sinister mark in her eyes that convinces people to follow her every whim, no matter how terrible. Not when she fears what she might do with that power.

Ringmaster Amos Cain has the answers Louisa seeks, but like everything else in the Pied Piper Circus, they won’t come without a price. And there’s something hungry living in the heart of the carnival that will never be satiated, no matter how many lost souls She consumes.

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from R&R Book Tours.
I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

 

Years and years ago, I grew up in a tiny town. Every fourth of July weekend, a carnival would be set up less than a block from my house. During the day, the carnival didn’t look scary. At night, I had the opposite feeling regarding the place. I’m sure the carnie workers were friendly enough, but at night, I was afraid of them and who might grab me on the way back to my house. This story made me remember all those uneasy feelings from years past. 

The Pied Piper Circus had an acrobat, clown, a strong man, and a tiger that entertained the visitors. The circus also housed a very dark secret – a monster that feasted on the souls of the lost and lonely. When hunger struck or anger boiled over, the monster, referred to as “Lady,” would peel the skin off her victim’s flesh. She was the stuff of nightmares! 

Amos was the circus’s ringmaster, but he also helped corral the Lady when she awoke. It was no easy task keeping the Lady pleased; she was a jealous and heartless beast. 

The book’s summary was an attention-grabber. The cover and title are perfect! The story itself left me with mixed feelings. The story’s plot was unique. However, the first half often gave off a sequel vibe. For instance: It was written as if I should know who certain characters are, their past interactions, and why they behaved or reacted in certain ways. I looked up the book to verify this was not a sequel in a series. 

Since this book is labeled “horror,” I craved more Lady feasting scenes. Her hunger wasn’t capitalized on enough to make this a typical horror book. This story was more supernatural in nature. 

I was pleasantly surprised who came out of nowhere to help Louisa when we saw Lady’s anger unleashed. I thought they were gone forever. (No spoilers.)

With the superbly written book summary, I was ready to be blown away by the contents. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. It felt incomplete. Even though I had mixed feelings regarding the story, I recommend you read it. It was a nice supernatural read, and the ending opened it for a sequel. 

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: 1/2

 

 

About the Author

Writer Elizabeth Gilliland was photographed in Mobile, Alabama.

Elizabeth Gilliland mostly believes in ghosts and other supernatural spooks, but she has a standing agreement with them to keep a respectful distance. When she isn’t writing, she is most likely sneaking classic Gothic novels into her class curriculum, or arguing why we need to value adaptations as art. She is also the author of the Austen University Mysteries, and she lives in Alabama with her husband and son.

Bayou Wolf Press | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

 

 

 

Leave a Comment

Filed under Uncategorized