Tag Archives: humor

November 19, 2025 · 7:00 am

A Squirrely Christmas (Clover & Pumpkin) by Megan K Palmer (Book Review)

Get ready for a nutty adventure in the heart of the forest with A Squirrely Christmas – a funny and heartwarming Christmas picture book for kids!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and the forest animals, especially baby bunny can’t wait for their annual Christmas Tree Decorating Extravaganza. This year, the squirrels-Clover and Pumpkin-are in charge of decking out the grand Christmas tree. But are these two fluffy friends up for the challenge?

Join a lovable cast of forest creatures in this playful Christmas book for children ages 2-7 that celebrates friendship, teamwork, and turning the chaos of the holidays into fun. Laugh along as Clover and Pumpkin learn the true meaning of the season-working together, slowing down, and sharing Christmas cheer!

With adorable illustrations and a playful speech bubble story, this Christmas book is perfect for holiday read-alouds with toddlers and preschoolers, teachers and librarians looking for festive Christmas books, or a great Christmas gift for readers who love forest animals and holiday humor.

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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.

 

Christmas is quickly approaching, and I found the perfect book to get you in the holiday spirit: A Squirrely Christmas by Megan Palmer. Each year, a different forest animal is selected to decorate a tree for the holiday; this year, it’s the squirrel’s turn to take the reins. The decorating extravaganza did not go smoothly for Pumpkin and Clover, the very energetic squirrel buddies. They quickly learned the repercussions for rushing the decorating process.

Christmas lights are pretty to look at, but more often than not, they can become a tangled mess, which is what these two forest friends experienced. They should have adopted the “slow and steady wins the race” approach to Christmas tree decorating, rather than competing to see who can finish first and becoming entangled in the strings. In the end, the squirrels learn the importance of taking their time and working together as a team.

A Squirrely Christmas is a wonderful and amusing holiday story. Kids will laugh at the colorful drawings of the squirrels’ bungled attempt to string the lights and Pumpkin’s face when he was caught eating on the job. Kids and adults will enjoy seeing the squirrels completed tree and the lovely polaroids of decorated trees from past years. Encourage your family or students to vote for the one they think wins best in show. I’m casting my ballot for team reindeer! Also, everyone is sure to learn something new about squirrels and evergreens on their facts page; I certainly did, so don’t skip these informative pages! Share your newfound knowledge with friends, classmates, and family members!

With a recommended reading age of 2-7 years, A Squirrely Christmas is the perfect choice for young readers. Its fun-filled storyline, amusing illustrations, and educational facts make it a must-have for the holiday season. Share this delightful book with your family and make it a part of your holiday traditions!

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤1/2
(rounded to 5 on Amazon and Goodreads)

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Megan K. Palmer is a creator, writer, book reviewer, and educator. She’s obsessed with tears, laughter, and the writing process. Perhaps it’s because they go together at times. She graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with an Ed.M. education at Brigham Young University.

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October 27, 2025 · 7:00 am

Polly, Stubby & Al by Donahue B. Silvis (Book Review)

BEN and SARA DONOVAN live in a small community called Wolfe Lake with their two daughters, six year old MEGAN and eight year old KATIE. They have two pets, Polly a multi-colored talking parrot and Stubby a tan colored, bowlegged bulldog. Ben owns a small landscaping business. Sara is a housewife and animal lover. One day Sara, Megan, Katie and Stubby are walking in the woods. They see an injured black crow lying on the ground. Sara picks up the crow, takes him home and nurse’s him back to health. When healed and turned loose the crow does not return to the wild. He chooses to remain with the family. They name him Al and he becomes one of their pets.

The family had become used to Polly’s chatter but a week later they’re amazed when Al speaks. Their everyday life, as they know it, is about to take an abrupt and hilarious change. From that day forward nothing is the same, in the Donovan household, as Al becomes a funny and mischievous character.

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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.

 

Polly, Stubby & Al will make you laugh, make you cry, and might prompt your children to ask for a pet crow and not just any ordinary crow, one with a split tongue. Why this particular kind of crow, you may ask. We quickly learn that a crow’s split tongue enables them to speak. This ability generated many humorous scenes with Al, the talking crow, as the main star. Al wasn’t the only chatterbox in the Donovan household; Polly, the parrot, also entertained the family with their words. The real, unexpected jaw-dropping moment was when the parrot altered their voice to sound like Mama Sara and AL. They used this talent to prank the crow and Stubby, the bowlegged bulldog. Too funny.

Many families have dogs as pets. Some homes might even have a parrot, but a crow isn’t your typical idea of a family pet. So, how did Al, the crow, find his way into their family? It was a chance encounter. Sara saw the bird injured and nursed it back to health. She intended for him to live out in the wild; however, Al had other plans, and the family soon discovered he was indeed a very special bird. Al enjoyed joining Megan and Katie at the lake as the young sisters fished. He came when Mama Sara called his name. The crow’s word choices and his mischievous antics were very entertaining to watch.

Al’s naughtiness will have you laughing. If the text doesn’t make you giggle, some of the colorful illustrations will. As I said in the introduction, this story will make you laugh, but it’ll also make some cry. The storm scene was very moving. I cried when Al cried out for “Mama.” I figured he would be saved, but the journey to their reunion and then the reunion itself had me reaching for tissues again and again. Maybe they will for you, as well. Even though I adored every funny and sad scene, there were unfortunately several editing mistakes. That said, I recommend another editing pass.

Though the story needed more TLC, it is still a remarkable chapter book. I recommend sharing with your children, ages 5-10.

 

Author’s note: “Polly, Stubby & Al is a true story. It’s about my grandparents and their two young daughters, who are my mother and aunt. It took place in the 1920s.”

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

I’m an alumnus of the renowned Pasadena Playhouse Drama School; then, I graduated from Florida Atlantic University. As a member of the Screen Actors Guild, I worked in movies as an actor and screenwriter. I’ve also written seven novels, eight screenplays, and one illustrated children’s book.

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July 31, 2025 · 7:00 am

What Would You Do? by CK Willie (Book Review)

This beautifully illustrated book with easy-to-read whimsical rhyme reaches out to children, or anyone of any age, to show them how to make their dreams come true. Whether they want to be an astronaut, a dragon tamer, build robots or ride in a hot air balloon, anything is possible if you believe in you!

No matter who you are or where you live, everyone has the same thing in common…dreams, dreams that may seem impossible. “What Would You Do?” shows that they are possible as long as you’re willing to believe in yourself. Our fears hold us back but one thing is true, our happiness lies just outside our comfort zone. So keep dreaming, believe in you and make those dreams come true!

So many things
in the world to try.
If you’re afraid
they may pass you by.
The pages of this book
will show you the way
to overcome your fears
so start reading 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.

 

Neophobia (fear of new things) can limit us from embracing new experiences and adventures. Yet, when we conquer our fears, the world becomes our playground. In this captivating children’s picture book, beautifully brought to life with vibrant illustrations, readers are prompted to ponder, “What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?” Imagine the possibilities. Where would you venture? What would you accomplish?

The children in this adventurous tale, spoken in rhyme, demonstrate incredible bravery as they climb the highest mountain and travel across the blue seas. They explore outer space, become robotic, and go toe-to-toe with a massive multi-colored dragon. We watch as a stylishly dressed Luchadores (Spanish for wrestler) gets the upper hand against their crocodile opponent. Great wrestling attire, especially the máscaras (Spanish for masks)! So pretty! Superhero kiddos make an appearance, too, while another child couldn’t resist monkeying around. I laughed at the kitten peeking out the shuttle door as a block of cheese and a kid astronaut floated close to the moon. The feline’s expression screamed, no amount of cheese in this galaxy will get me to step a paw outside this shuttle.

There’s so much more to explore in What Would You Do?, transforming the impossible into possible. Kids will love and laugh at the silly illustrations, such as the lion who loves to sing or the zebra who’s not thrilled to give out rides. They’ll cheer for the brave knight who rode to face the dragon in a wheelchair instead of a mighty stead. Readers will say, aw, as the boy reads his new pet dragon a bedtime story. No matter where the journey takes these kids, the writer’s mission is to encourage kids to believe in themselves and not allow fear to hold them back. So, take the author’s advice and repeat these four powerful words, “I believe in me,” and then go out and slay dragons!

While Amazon’s target audience for this book is 3-8-year-olds, the charming illustrations and diverse characters will captivate readers of all ages.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

Meet the Author

CK Willie lives in sunny Arizona and originally wanted to be a writer, though not necessarily a poet. However, her writing naturally rhymed, leading her to embrace poetry. She found delight in expressing feelings of doubt, insecurity and self-belief in playful and relatable ways for children. As a mother of four, a grandmother of nine and a great grandmother of two, she feels the greatest gift we can give children is confidence, believing in who they are and what they can do. The world is waiting for them! When she’s not writing, she is on the court playing pickleball and is learning to play Mahjongg.

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July 28, 2025 · 7:00 am

The Tooth-o-saurus by Nat Gibson (Book Review)

Brush every day to keep the dinosaurs away!

Noah loves to snack — but uh-oh, so do the silly dinosaurs hiding in his teeth! They’re chomping on every crumb they can find, and there’s only one team that can stop them: the Dinosaur Catchers.

Join Noah on a wild, laugh-out-loud trip to the dentist, where he’ll need courage, curiosity, and a little imagination to send those dinos packing. With X-rays, water jets, floss lassos, and dino-sized bravery, Noah discovers that visiting the dentist isn’t scary — it’s actually DINO-MITE!

Little readers will see Noah experience:

  • X-rays
  • Teeth counting
  • Polishing
  • Flossing
  • Water spraying
  • Suction
  • Fluoride

 

They’ll also learn which foods the dinosaurs like and don’t like, and the importance of brushing, flossing, and visiting the Dinosaur Catchers to keep the dinosaurs away.

Will Noah’s teeth be dino-free by the end of the visit? (Hint: Yes, they will!)

Perfect for preparing little dino-lovers for dental visits while making brushing and flossing fun!

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

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

 

The Dinosaur Catchers are back, this time alleviating Noah of pesky dinosaurs stuck on or in between his teeth.

Fear of the dentist is common among both children and adults. The bright lights, the sound of the drill, the scraping noises, and the possibility of a cavity are enough to send nerves through the roof. It can be an overwhelming, stressful experience and can amp up anxiety levels even before you step into the office. To help ease the worries of young children, Nat Gibson has crafted a sensational story that walks kids through what to expect in a routine cleaning. Before Noah sits through a dental visit, kids watch him enjoying some of his favorite foods and discover that it’s not only sugary treats that the dinosaur mouth invaders enjoy; it’s every food or beverage. Adults and children will laugh at the illustration featuring a Tooth-a-saurus eating Noah’s mac ‘n’ cheese leftovers, while the Smile-a-don slurps up orange juice. Kids will continue to giggle as they spot the Smile-a-don lounging on a lettuce leaf hammock while two prehistoric friends use food as pillows. Kids will even find humor in the cutesy dino names! Although the dinosaurs sound and appear funny, they represent a real problem: the need to clean our teeth properly and attend regular dental check-ups.

As Noah steps into the world of the Dinosaur Catchers, his world is transformed into a more outdoorsy location. Instead of a building, he waits with his mom in a giant tent. The staff, who are actually the Dinosaur Catchers, wear park ranger uniforms instead of the typical scrubs or white coats, making the dental visit feel more like an adventure. Although the atmosphere may appear different, the process of Noah’s visit and your child’s visit should be similar. Everything, from X-rays to ridding your mouth of dinos (tartar) away, is explored. The humor continues as Noah reclines in the dental chair, and the Dino Catcher slurps up a dinosaur and shoots into the Dinosaur Trap. What about any stubborn dino that won’t leave Noah’s teeth? Kids will see how Dinosaur Catchers deal with them, too. However, the most comical illustration highlighted the most dreaded and often overlooked dental procedure: flossing. The dental hygienist has superb lassoing skills! During a routine cleaning, kids will be seen by a dentist or, in the case of The Tooth-o-saurus, The Chief. Their job today is to make sure no dino stragglers are left, especially the worst dinosaur of all, the Cavity-saurus Rex.

The Tooth-o-saurus answers a lot of questions regarding what to expect during a six-month dental cleaning using rib-tickling drawings. Its mission is to calm nerves and make taking care of your teeth fun! Read The Tooth-o-saurus before your child’s first dental visit. Show them there’s nothing to fear while reminding them to brush and floss every day to keep the dinosaurs away!

I agree with Amazon’s recommended reading age of 2-8 years.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

Nat Gibson lives in California with her husband and two children, both of whom had surgery before turning 4 years old. Her books are designed to help parents engage their child’s imagination as they go through new or difficult experiences.
 

 

 

 

 

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July 25, 2025 · 7:00 am

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride by Freya Novak (Book Review)

Introducing Dallas Dingo, the quintessential “jack of all trades” at the Ragtag Hotel.

On a sweltering, sticky afternoon, Dallas cheerfully navigates the hotel’s elevator, zipping residents up and down with a bright smile.

In this lively community, you’ll meet a diverse array of captivating residents: a cheerful capybara flashing a toothy grin, a poised ostrich strutting with grace, a faint-prone quokka, a diminutive tarsier with large, soulful eyes, a whimsical armadillo rolling around playfully, and a worried okapi anxious about fitting into the elevator.

The atmosphere brims with anticipation as more animals squeeze in. Will they all manage to fit into the crowded, bustling elevator, or will someone be left behind? And what adventures await on the mysterious fourteenth floor?

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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.

 

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride is Freya Novak’s first children’s book, and I suspect readers like me hope there’s more to come soon. Here’s why…

Back in the day, elevator operators were a standard fixture in hotels. They added a level of sophistication to the building. While the job is becoming obsolete, you can still find operators in historic establishments. As the doors to the Ragtag Hotel open, we meet Dallas Dingo, their elevator operator extraordinaire. Kids might wonder why riders needed a special person to push their floor number. That question could lead to a discussion of the evolution of the elevator and those who maintained it. For this story, the author kept it simple. Listen for the ping and wait for which animal is set to board the container next. No previous knowledge of elevator attendants is needed. Just sit back and enjoy the comedic ride.

On a scorching day, the animals in the storybook are all heading to the same floor, 14. Colin Capybara is the first to join Dallas Dingo on the elevator, greeting him with a ‘Hola,’ which is ‘Hello’ in Spanish. This greeting and others in the story are translated for readers, enhancing their understanding of different languages without distracting them from the main dialogue or scenery. The consistent use of dark blue for the greetings and their translations is a fantastic feature that allows readers to learn simple greetings in multiple languages, adding an educational element to the story.

This particular contraption was the clown car of the elevators. When you think no more animals could possibly fit, the machine rings, signaling a new rider is about to board. I loved the variety of animal riders. The author chose animals rarely seen in many children’s picture books. Oona Ostrich, Queenie Quokka, Tiny Tarsier, Ami Armadillo, and Oma Okapi accompanied Colin Capybara and Dallas Dingo on the lift as they climbed to level 14. Why to level 14? What awaits the six passengers there? It has a lot to do with the sweltering heat outside. As temperatures rise for many of us, readers might guess what’s on every animal’s mind to beat this blistering heatwave. (Read the story to see if your guess is correct!)

At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride was filled to the brim with positive qualities.It featured a variety of animals that readers, young and old, may not recognize. Yeah, that includes me with the okapi. What a delightful and unique-looking animal that shares characteristics with giraffes and zebras. This story also enlightened viewers on how other ethnicities greet one another, hopefully generating interest to learn more words from the languages presented: Spanish, Swahili, Lingala, and Filipino. And the icing on the cake was the comedic aspect. I didn’t think Oona Ostrich would fit on the elevator with their large body, but they did. I really didn’t believe Oma Okapi would squeeze their striped backside into the lift, but they proved me wrong, too. The hilarity hit the mark when the elevator finally began climbing to the 14th floor with all seven animals on board (six riders plus the operator). Their facial expressions spoke volumes! Would they make it, or would their combined weight break the box? READ the story and find out.

Looking to beat the heat this summer? Seeking a book that’ll have your kids LOL? Read At the Ragtag Hotel: The Elevator Ride and then consider cooling off like the animals in this fantastic tale!

My recommended reading age is 6 years and up.

 

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

Amazon Purchase Link

 

 

 

Meet the Author

 
Freya Novak’s passion for reading began at a young age when she discovered Enid Blyton’s “The Magic Faraway Tree.” This experience ignited her imagination and inspired her to become a writer. For her debut children’s book, Freya chose to use a pseudonym.

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