Tag Archives: humor

June 11, 2022 · 7:00 am

My cat brother, Sterling by Mayra Hernandez (Book Review)


A cat that barks, fetches the newspaper, and goes potty on trees?! How could that be?

Sterling idolizes his big brother Rocky and wants to be just like him. So much so, he actually believes he’s a DOG!

Rocky knows the truth about his cat brother, Sterling.

There’s only one problem! Rocky hasn’t told him yet! Or has he?

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

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

 

Aw, Sterling, the cat is so dang adorable. We loved the drawing of them, white as fresh powder snow and sporting a solid gray tail. We noticed a few illustrations had Sterling with a gray streak on his face, but others did not. There was a group shot of three cats together, and Sterling now had two stripes on his face. As the My cat brother, Sterling continued, the kitty gained more spots on his body. The inconsistencies in the design of Sterling couldn’t be overlooked.

We thought Sterling believing they were a dog was the cutest thing ever. FYI: We also have a cat who thinks they are a canine. Our cat barks like a dog, just like Sterling the cat did in My cat brother, Sterling by Mayra Hernandez. Our cat plays fetch too. However, our feline doesn’t pee outside on fire hydrants or head to the dog park. My kitty doesn’t dig in the trash either. They do stretch and sniff inside it quite often.

The similarities in coloring and hysterical canine behavior between Sterling and our furbaby made this story a home run in our house. Okay, we would’ve loved this story even if our cat didn’t look or act like Sterling. We loved the “Meet the real-life characters.” Your furry friends were just as adorable in person as they were in cartoon format.

Amazon’s recommended reading age is 3 – 8 years, and I agree with that assessment. Toddlers might not understand the dialogue, but I think they will get enjoyment out of the pictures. Kids love dogs and cats!

My cat brother, Sterling by Mayra Hernandez is absolutely, 100% brilliant. I will be recommending the book to my parenting groups, and my daughter said she would tell her friends about it too. We can’t wait to read more creations by Mayra Hernandez!

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

I am a former kindergarten teachers aide, now author. I hope to continue writing books for children to find joy and laughter in. I love watching true crime shows, and having family game nights. My husband and I live in the beautiful Sunshine State with Rocky, Katie, Pumpkin, and Sterling, of course.

Reedsy Link

 

 

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May 26, 2022 · 7:00 am

A Very Chilling Mystery Kindle Edition by Steve A. Erickson (Book Review)

There are spine-chilling secrets hiding behind your refrigerator door!
When you close the refrigerator door, does light inside really go out? And if it doesn’t, what might be happening inside? Readers are about to discover the cold hard truth of what actually goes on within the walls of their seemingly dark and peaceful refrigerator.

 

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 


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

 

A Very Chilling Mystery, written and illustrated by Steve Erickson, was a true delight to read. I’m not sure what my daughter loved more – the adorable antics of the refrigerator occupants or the drawings of the food, beverages, and condiments having a blast in the cold box. 

There was so much to love, so much to see and read; we read it more than once. In fact, we read it three times. We would have probably read it more if we had a physical book and not an advanced copy, a file. 

I thought the two potatoes leaning against the meatloaf while they watched t.v. was hilarious. Oh, and the drumstick arguing with the eggs about who came first made me snort. That argument has been around longer than I have been alive, but it’s the funniest version of that debate to date. 

My daughter loved the drumming beet, even though she had no idea what it was. She also liked the chillin’ ice cube. She said it reminded her of a frozen SpongeBob SquarePants. Yeah, I can see what she means. 

Amazon has the recommended reading age set to 4 – 6 years. I think families with even younger kids can find enjoyment in this story. You can use the images to teach the names of items such as carrots, mustard, bologna, and lettuce. Some should be familiar to them, but I think every kid might learn a new foodie name. For kids learning their colors, you could point to a product and ask them to name the color. 

If your child is like mine, they’ll run to the fridge to try and catch the food, beverages, and condiments in the act. My daughter was bummed no one was moving. I told her they must be all asleep. I have a feeling she’ll be opening and closing the fridge doors a lot more in the next few days to catch them when they are wide awake. 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

After graduating from Drake University with a Fine Arts degree, I worked more than forty years in the advertising industry, first as an art director and then as a creative director. Recently retired, I now live near my three sons and six grandchildren in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with my dog Alex.

Reedsy Link

 

 

 

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April 25, 2022 · 7:00 am

Sanity for Humanity in a Calamity: A Cartoon Journey of Our First Year through COVID-19 by Jon Bowerman (Book Review)

A comedic, illustrated, and unapologetic memoir to look back and remember our first unprecedented year of COVID-19, in a different light.

Yes, there were challenges, and there were also triumphs to be celebrated. This book surely doesn’t forget those. Along with each cartoon, comes a time-stamped reflection of whatever was flipping the world on its head that day. Some snapshots are happy. Some are sad. Some are hilarious. Summed up, it’s truly a diary of the coronavirus that everyone can relate to.

Everyone’s coping mechanism was different. Mine happened to be cartoons. As abruptly as our world came to a screeching halt, my foray back into drawing began. Art has always been my passion, but life got in the way for a decade.

To bring some humor and for my own therapy, I began cartooning in lockstep with the world changing daily. With nearly every week of the pandemic changing our cultural norms, I continued chronicling our evolution as a society. After sharing a few cartoons on social media and getting such a great response and momentum, the collection started to build.

Here we are, our first year of COVID-19 over, and I’m ready to share them with the world.

Keep this book on your coffee table, in the bathroom, or as a guidebook for the next (year of this) pandemic. A keepsake with perspective that all adults won’t soon forget.

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 has been affected by the covid pandemic. We felt it in our wallets. Store shelves dwindled down to almost nothing. We lost jobs and businesses because of it. Schools went to remote learning. Family members could no longer hug their child(ren). Worse, we lost families and friends to the virus. 

Jon Bowerman’s cartoons for Sanity for Humanity in a Calamity: A Cartoon Journey of Our First Year through COVID-19 made me smile. Barney the dinosaur’s mugshot was funny. Loved the nods to DC Comics (Batman and Bane). I loved ALL the pop culture references! 

There was one cartoon that was hard to read. Senior Defender-19‘s image was sideways with tiny lettering, which made it virtually impossible to read. I could zoom in on the pdf (author-issued copy), but I could not rotate the image. 

Covid Safety Tip #3 – Day 123 – One Sheet conservation Method: OMG, I spit out my drink, reading the instructions and looking at the figures A-F. Seriously, that one was funny as heck! 

Jon Bowerman was correct in people’s worry about how others would view someone wearing a mask. Were they being cautious, or are they contagious? He also spoke of how to wear one properly. FYI: It’s not helpful if you don’t cover your mouth AND nose. Just sayin’.

Jon Bowerman gave props to his wife during the remote-learning days. He also gave a shout-out to all teachers, showed his appreciation for all their work, and encouraged increasing school funding. I agree!

It’s hard to imagine speaking of covid, reflecting on what it’s done worldwide, and laughing or cracking a smile, but that’s precisely what Jon Bowerman has made me do through his witty text and funny cartoons. He brought lightness to a rather dark time. Thank you, Jon Bowerman. Well done! Oh, and I love the cover too! 

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

A tech entrepreneur in marketing, Jon founded a non-profit focusing on increasing the mental health of children through art. Jon enjoys spending most of his personal time denying his kids more screen time, scrambling for par on the golf course, smoking ribs low and slow, and cracking open a beer.

Reedsy Link

 

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March 21, 2022 · 7:00 am

The Moon in the Sky: Poems Your Kids Would Have Written (If Only They Could Write) by Bruce Shutts (Book Review)

THE MOON IN THE SKY: Poems your Kids Would Have Written (if only they could write) by Bruce Shutts

 
Children have the power to turn simple everyday tasks into moments of intrigue and laughter.

When getting dressed, they might just think:

“My pants are really easy
Since both my feet will fit.
And after I put both legs in,
I pull them up. That’s it!
But shirts are very tricky;
They have three holes, not two!
And if you pick the wrong one,
Your head just won’t go through!”

 

Delight in thirteen whimsical poems that capture the simple honesty of everyday childhood activities written from the perspective of three-to-six-year-olds. From getting dressed, eating snacks, or having stinky feet, you and your child will recognize yourself in these poems. Crafted to make you laugh, smile, and build memories with your kids.
 
 
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble
Books-a-Million ~ Book Depository
add to the goodread
 
 
 
 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Bruce Shutts’s poems were topics that kids and parents could absolutely relate to: getting dressed, car rides, walks outside, bathroom breaks, and much more.


We’ve all seen our children struggle with dressing themselves—head in armholes or backward attire. Most times, their first attempts are pretty humorous.


For many people, we use car seats or strollers quite regularly. Kids love the outdoors. Those poems were 100% accurate, including all the spills as well. I think my daughter dropped more crackers than what she ate.


I have sneaking suspicion that children will love “Picking My Nose” the most. While parents think it’s gross, kids think it’s hilarious. Face it, you know they have their finger up there most of their younger years. Amy Wummer’s image of the boy, looking out the corner of his eye while digging for gold, was cute and funny. I know I’ve caught my kids many times in the act. Eww!


The poems dealing with food could lead to asking your child or class what foods they like to eat for snack, lunch, or dinner.


I want to end my review by addressing “A Bug in the Bathroom.” My daughter screams at the top of her lungs when she spots a bug. That little girl, in the story, was so brave. Heck, I think she might be more courageous than some adults I know. 🙂


Bruce Shutts (author) and Amy Wummer (illustrator), you two made a great team. I loved every poem, and the drawings were spectacular too.


The author’s recommended age group is 3-7. I think that’s accurate.

 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Bruce Shutts has spent countless hours reading children’s picture books to his three children and five grandchildren over the past forty years. He also loves to create humorous poems for nearly every occasion he can imagine. Coupled with the fact that he often thinks and acts like a three-to-six-year-old, it makes his entrance into the world of children’s books a natural fit. He currently is retired with his wife of forty-five years and loves to travel, play golf, and (you guessed it) read books at night to his grandkids! 
 
connect to the author: goodreads

 

 
 
 
 
 

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March 4, 2022 · 7:00 am

Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy by S.E. Richey (Book Review)

Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy by S.E. Richey

 
Lulu cannot wait for a visit from the Tooth Fairy and get a pony with her Tooth Fairy money. And Trixie cannot wait to finally become an official Tooth Fairy. Everything would be perfect, if only Trixie would show up!
​Will Lulu get her pony? Will Trixie ever become an official Tooth Fairy? Find out in this humorous yet heartwarming tale that encourages us to never stop believing and that everything is possible with a little will power. And learn a thing or two about tooth traditions and tooth collectors of the world!
 
 
Buy the Book:
S.E. Richey Books
Amazon Purchase Link
​add to goodreads
 
 
 
 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from iRead Book Tours. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
 
 
Losing a tooth is a BIG thing for a kid. They get very excited when it starts to wiggle slightly. The excitement only builds from there when it’s extremely loose and barely holding on. Then, when the big moment arrives, and it pops out, they can’t wait to shove it over their pillow for the tooth fairy. It’s like Christmas morning when the tooth fairy gathers their tooth and leaves a coin or bill behind. It’s magical! If the tooth fairy doesn’t come, hearts are broken. That’s precisely what happened for Lulu. Her tooth didn’t get retrieved time and time again. 


Poor Trixie, all she wanted was to be a tooth fairy. She can’t help the unfortunate events stopping her from doing her job. I know children will be rooting for Trixie in Lulu and the Missing Tooth Fairy. 


Trixie’s determination was inspiring. It illustrated a person never giving up, following their dreams, and triumphing when hope appeared all lost. 


What a fun story! And, the illustrations were fantastic too. I loved every character drawn by Jhon Ortiz. I especially liked Trixie’s blue skin and Lulu’s smile (minus one tooth). Kudos to Jhon Ortiz on capturing Lulu and Trixie’s joy and sadness perfectly. 


After the story, S.E. Richey gives us some interesting information about the tooth fairy in other parts of the world. I absolutely adored this page because I love learning new facts. My daughter does as well, so this will be a big hit with her. In fact, she’s going to LOVE the entire book, from start to finish! 

 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 
 
 
Meet the Author:
Author S.E. Richey

 
S. E. Richey was born in New York and moved to Puerto Rico with her family when she was four years old. She grew up in the mountains of La Cordillera Central of Puerto Rico. She spoke four-year-old English and Spanish, but soon forgot English. She loved running around her grandparents’ finca, picking wild strawberries, sucking on ripe coffee beans (so sweet!), sugar cane (so sweet!), and searching for cow pies with her siblings and cousins (not so sweet.).
At age eighteen, S. E. Richey swore she would never live in another small town in the country where she had to drive through a canyon with lots of curvy roads just to get to the city. Oh, how dizzy and nauseous those curves made her!
She moved to the United States where she attended college in a small town in Idaho, married and lived in a small town in California (her second home) with lots and lots of curves just to get to the city (yes, she got dizzy and nauseous), and now she lives in a small-ish town in Idaho with her husband and four children. Their two dogs, Roscoe and Cali, and Conan, the fat cat, complete the family. She loves to sing WAY too loudly in the car. She loves Dulce de Leche ice cream (even if it hurts her tummy). And she loves to read and write silly stories that make her giggle and stories that tug at the heartstrings.  
 
​connect with the author: 
website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
 
 
 
 
 

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