Tag Archives: elementary age and older

Maya and Waggers: I Have to Scoop What? by W. T. Kosmos (Audiobook Spotlight)


Enjoy the audiobook version of the critically acclaimed Maya and Waggers, read by Courtney Fabrizio, whose previous narrations include Nickelodeon Blue’s Clues and Paw Patrol. Courtney showcases an incredible range of funny and at times crazy characters in this series opener that has been hailed as “a hilarious tale about canine care” (Kirkus Reviews) and “a delightful read packed with humor and lessons about life” (The Book Commentary).

“I Have to Scoop What?” is a wild adventure for ages 7+ that unfolds on wacky Puddin’ Head Island—an island completely unprepared for a shipload of newly arrived dogs and puppies.

Maya and her best friend Lily are over the moon about caring for the new rescue puppy, Waggers. They even stay with Maya’s Uncle Puddin’ Head, whose love for his perfect lawn is as big as his dislike for the Sweeties. But there are just two problems. First, Maya refuses to scoop Waggers’ poop and comes up with crazy ways to deal with it in the neighbors’ yards. Let’s just say, the wacky neighbors aren’t very happy about it! Second, little does Uncle Puddin’ Head know, Lily is a Sweetie, hidden in plain sight!

Whether you’re looking for a story filled with laughter or one that teaches life lessons with heart and humor, this adventure is sure to delight and inspire

 

Audiobook Purchase Link

Listening Length: 2 hours

 

 

Chapter One Sample

Author’s note: “I love Courtney Fabrizio’s character voices! This scene sets up the rest of the book.”

 

 

 

Chapter 6 Sample: The Barkers

Author’s note: “This was my favorite chapter to write and listen to! Maya seeks a place for Waggers to poop. This was the wrong neighbor. Minimal spoilers.”

 

 

Audiobook Purchase Link

Listening Length: 2 hours

 

 

Click on any of the following links to be redirected to my review!

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Audiobook Purchase Link

Listening Length: 2 hours

 

 

Meet the Author

W.T. Kosmos is a humorist author and playwright whose works include the award-winning Blaze Union and the Puddin’ Head Schools, the Maya and Waggers series, and The Golden One. W.T. Kosmos is the wry alter ego (pen name) of a life-long educator.

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Maya and Waggers: I Have to Scoop What? by W. T. Kosmos (Book Review)

 Have to Scoop What? is the book series launch of Maya and Waggers!

For generations on Island Nation, the Puddin’ Heads have despised the Sweeties and lived without dogs. But after a shipload of dogs and puppies arrives, the Puddin’ Heads race to buy these creatures despite having no clue how to care for them. When the Union family can’t take their new puppy, Waggers, on a trip, Maya, her best friend Lily, and Waggers stay with Uncle Puddin’ Head. But Lily is a Sweetie, Maya refuses to scoop poop, and her uncle really, really cares about his new lawn. When Maya attempts to lead creative solutions in the strange neighbors’ yards, problems start piling up. For ages 8 and up.

Categories: Children’s Fiction Humor / Pets / Adventure

Themes: dogs, animals, pet care and responsibility, humor, courage, friendship, community and inclusion, critical thinking, growing up, social and environmental awareness

Great for readers who:

– love humorous adventure

– love dogs / pets / animals / nature

– are thinking about getting a dog

– wish their neighbors were more neighborly

– wish more owners would clean up their dog’s poop

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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 Sweeties and the Puddin’ Heads have been rivals for a very long time, all because some “numbskull” tricked them into despising one another. The same troublemaker even tricked the Sweeties into wearing blue and Puddin’ Heads red. If you considered yourself “true red Puddin’ Heads,” you didn’t just wear all red; you also only drove red vehicles like Maya’s Uncle Kal. As in present-day society, there will always be individuals who stand up against outdated rules. In this fictional children’s book, the “rebel” would be Maya.

Maya lived on Puddin’ Island, where she was expected to wear red and blue was 100% forbidden. Maya didn’t let anyone tell her what to wear. If she wanted to wear a rainbow-colored outfit, she would and made no apologies for it. She also didn’t judge others by where they lived. In fact, Maya’s best friend, Lily, was from Sweetie Island. 

As the chapter book plays out, Maya and Lily learn the hard way puppies are cute, but boy, do they poop a lot! I laughed out loud when Lily appeared genuinely floored that not only do dogs poop, but many other creatures do as well. Or when Lily questioned if Waggers would turn into something else, like a caterpillar. In her defense, Lily has never seen a dog before. Maya, either, until a shipload of them came to the island. 

I found elements of this story were comical because they were not happening to me. For instance, when Uncle Kal stepped on a poop patch and left a trail of brown footprints that ran up the sidewalk, across the porch, and into the house. Disgusting! I’m also thankful Maya was the one scooping the largest pile of dog poop known to mankind because the experience sounded gross. 

Maya and Waggers: I Have to Scoop What? uses humor to show the stinkier side of owning a dog. They are fun to play with and give pets to, but eventually, they will empty their colon somewhere. Maya and Lily had a great idea to avoid the clean-up process and to appease Maya’s Uncle Kal: have Waggers leave his piles on someone else’s lawn. Mayhem and hilarity ensue as the two girls visit each potential poop location. My favorite neighboring family was the Barkers. They were crazy!

Kids eight years and up will be giggling as they read about Maya’s poop dilemma. Many will relate if they have a canine companion at home and are required to pick up dog turds. If you’re like me, you’ll wish the author included more images, such as snow literally punching and kicking grass and a picture of MegaCorps’s newest invention: grass that fights back! 

Need a good laugh? Read this story!

 

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

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Meet the Author

W.T. Kosmos is a humorist author who dives into today’s social absurdities, the boundless depth of human potential, and the infinite wisdom and wonders of the evolving universe. He is the alter ego (pen name) of a life-long educator who has had the great privilege and joy of serving as a teacher and school administrator while collaborating with some of the most fabulous people in the world. W.T. Kosmos lives along the coast of Paradox, USA, Earth, Milky Way and enjoys reading, writing, walking the beach, wrestling with his dogs, and snorkeling with Regal the seahorse. However, his favorite pastime is training as a professional wrestler, which is also his backup plan for improving the world.

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Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) by Ram Khatri (Book Review)

Justice is the story “with all too familiar human challenges,” says Paul Levitz, former president at D.C. Comics. He further adds that it seems like “the world keeps getting smaller” with the emergence of such graphic novels.

Ram Khatri’s Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War is the story of a young girl’s brave journey to reclaim the life she left behind during the unforgiving conflict of the Nepali Civil War. With its sublime settings, diverse characters, and riveting narrative, the young girl learns the truth about the life that she left behind.

During the decade-long “People’s War” in Nepal, more than 17,000 people were killed. Thousands of innocent civilians were also abducted and beaten by both government and Maoist forces. Even today, years after the war has ended, it is unknown what happen to many of the nearly 1,400 people who went missing. While the people mentioned in Justice are fiction, the story is based on events that actually occurred during and after the Civil War era in the country.

The graphic novel has two sections. The first section was illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra while the second was illustrated in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani.

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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.

 

Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) by Ram Khatri is based on actual events that occurred during and after the Civil War era in Nepal. The people and places mentioned are fictional, but the story shows the magnitude war has on a country and its people despite using a fictional cast of characters. 

Before the graphic novel began, I read “A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR.” In it, the author informs the reader the book is divided into two sections. “The first section was illustrated in color by Sandipan Santra while the second was illustrated in black and white by Ingrid Lilamani. The purpose is to show how different artists from diverse backgrounds visualize the unique Nepali settings, characters, and its historical events.” As an avid reader of comics and graphic novels, this unique feature intrigued me because I have never witnessed any other book mimicking this setup. 

Going into the reading, I was unfamiliar with Nepal and enjoyed the brief overview of it. I learned many new facts. For instance, the currency is the Nepalese Rupee. Since geography is not my strong suit, I liked the zoomed-in image of Nepal on the map. 

Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War (The Graphic Novel Book #1) shows war’s effects on a country. It affects every component: economy, citizens, and livelihood. Both illustrators did a lovely job of making the reader feel the family’s fear, sorrow, and regret. As the illustrated story demonstrates, no matter how hard you try to avoid getting involved, often, there’s no hiding from the battle. 

Justice: A Tale of the Nepali Civil War ends on a cliffhanger, making any reader eager to read what happened next for the major character. 

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading comics and graphic novels. I would also recommend this book to those who want to share the effects of war with their children (elementary age and older).

 

 
 
 
Meet the Author
 
Translator of Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’ in Nepali, Ram Khatri works in book publishing. He holds an M.S. in publishing from New York and an M.A. in English literature from Kathmandu. Ram is always fascinated by truly diverse, unrepresented, and heartwarming stories that touch lives.
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