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Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors by Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors (Book Review)

Benji and Briana, a brother and sister duo, begin a magical journey to the fantastical hospital in Surgeryland, or “Surgiland,” to cure Briana’s sniffles. But the fairies have a surprise in store—they also have a remedy for Benji’s pesky nose problems!

In Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors, readers will join this sibling pair as they explore the silly, slimy, and surprisingly fun world of snot and sneezes.

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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.

 

Snot comes in multiple colors and consistency. It can continuously drip out our noses like a leaking faucet. It can fill up numerous tissues with no end in sight. It can indicate an illness or produced when you consume hot or spicy food or cry. Snot can form due to seasonal allergies. It can be thick like molasses or clear and sticky. Whatever reason excessive boogers are formed, most of us want it gone. We definitely do not want a snot explosion like the one Briana suffered from. The poor little girl sneezed, and snot coated her from head to toe. The images were grossly funny, and kids will love them. Parents, too!

Thankfully, Briana’s brother is close by with a grand idea to cure her booger woes— let’s visit the Boogie Doctors! Benji and Briana embark on a magical journey to the fantastical hospital in Surgeryland (or Surgiland, as the kids like to say). On the yellow road to the castle that doubles as a hospital, the duo meet a doctor overseeing all boogie surgeries in this fantabulous world. They shared Briana’s nasal woes and discovered a case of the sneezes could be related to the seasons. To be specific, “The season of the birds, the bees, and the big allergies …” according to the three colorful, winged rhyming fairies.

The Boogie Doctor and his adorable medical helpers, the fairies, looked inside Briana’s nose to spot the snot problem. Even Benji sits and allows Doctor Boogie to insert a surgical camera up his nostril. I can practically hear kids say, “Eww or yuck,” when they see the forest of boogers on the monitor. It was another hilariously gross image that I enjoyed.

Not every ENT (ear, nose, and throat) visit will result in surgery. Some snot issues can be cured with medicine as was the case with Briana. But, if is needed, kids will be more relaxed thanks to Benji and Briana’s bravery in Surgeryland. I recommend sharing Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors with children two years and up. Parents and kids will laugh at the snotty mess. Readers will notice and love how each mucus word is enlarged, bolded, and shaded bright green and how other words pop off the pages using different font styles, colors, and sizes.

Join the siblings on their wondrous, magical adventure in Surgeryland as they visit a doc to stop Briana’s snot!

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

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Meet the Author

Dr. Cindy Lee Neighbors is an advocate, actress, physician and writer with a passion for storytelling that spans genres. Her work includes the heartwarming children’s book “Benji and Briana Become Booger Doctors,” coming in spring 2025, and the deeply personal memoir “TOO MUCH,” which explores mental health challenges within the demanding fields of military and medicine.


Cindy’s artistic journey began in her childhood in Honolulu. She explored her love of performance through acting in commercials, theatre, and competing in pageants. She later pursued acting in Los Angeles, earning a degree in theater at the University of Southern California. Her path then took her to military medicine, where she served as a physician in the United States Army. Her research to reduce opioid prescriptions has garnered national recognition through publications, speaking engagements at national conferences, and awards.

Now retired from the Army, Cindy is pursuing her lifelong passion for writing. Her diverse background and experiences inform her unique voice and allow her to connect with readers of all ages.


TOO MUCH is available now everywhere books are sold online and in select retailers nationwide!

I wonder if it all started with a single impulsive decision: joining the U.S. Army for “free” medical school. But the reality of military medicine was far different. I found myself trapped in a system that values hierarchy, patriarchy, and conformity over compassion and care. My mental health deteriorated. Addictive habits became my crutch.

TOO MUCH is the story of my battle to reclaim my sanity and my voice. It’s a raw and honest look at the dark side of medicine and the challenges of mental illness. It’s a story that will remind you how a brighter future is possible, even when it feels like everything is broken.

This is my story.

But maybe it’s your story, too.

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Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher by Ben P. Fisher (Book Review)

He’s sure that mistakes are always bad. Can he learn to take a deep breath and turn an oops into a ta-da?

Scribbaloo wants to do everything perfectly. So even though it’s amazing that everything he draws with his magic comes to life, the little creature is always worried about messing up. And he’s certain everyone will be angry when his frustration makes a monster that’s gobbling up all the colors and turning the world gray.

Joined by his upbeat best friend, Scribbaloo sets off on a daring journey to find the Golden Crayon to restore the rainbow. But every time they go around a corner, there’s a new mistake about to ruin their trip.

Will Scribbaloo give up, or keep trying until he figures out a way to win?

Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher is a wonder-filled picture book for kids ages three to eight. If you or your child like beautiful illustrations, using your imagination, and building self-esteem, then you’ll love Ben P. Fisher’s delightful adventure.

Buy Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher to paint the world wonderful 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.

 

Everyone, regardless of age, will make mistakes; they are inevitable and come in all sizes. For kids, coloring outside the lines would equal a minor mistake. Shattering a window would equal a bigger mistake. While some mistakes might feel like the world is ending, they all amount to the same thing – a learning experience. Scribbaloo, a magical creature from Color Island, learns this valuable lesson in Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher.

Scribbaloo possesses a magnificent, magical ability; whatever they draw comes to life! That sounds amazing unless you are like Scribbaloo, an individual who gets easily frustrated when you make an error. Scribbaloo blew his stack when their design didn’t turn out precisely how they envisioned. His star-shaped friend Glittergleam tried calming him down and encouraged them to try again, but Scribbaloo was too angry to listen. He started angry drawing, and those dark, scribbly lines merged to create The Color Cruncher! This transformation was a powerful metaphor for how unchecked anger can lead to unintended consequences.

The Color Cruncher was weirdly adorable. It resembled a ball of steel wool or a large ball of dryer lint with arms, legs, googly eyes, and black felt for angry-looking eyebrows. While it was cute, its sinister mission was not. It planned to devour all colors, and there was only one way to stop it: Scribbaloo needed to fetch the Golden Crayon up on Crayon Peak. The quest required Scribbaloo to draw, but his drawings kept hitting a snag. He knew no good came from losing his temper, so he took a moment to collect himself and tried again. What a good example for kids to model!

I loved the story’s cute rhymes, particularly the word paired with “unlucky.” The illustrated page accompanying the surprise word, which I will keep vague for the sake of the surprise, was stupendous. I also liked how the artist brought the writer’s words to life. The Paintbrush Forest was simple but very creative. And when Scribbaloo started to cry, my heart went out to the little red creature.

I recommend Scribbaloo and the Color Cruncher for households and classes with children ages three to eight. It is a wonderfully written and illustrated story that entertains and delivers a powerful message: It’s okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are how we learn. So, the next time you mess up, take a calming breath and try again.


Special note: Scan the QR code in the end pages or visit the author’s site (BenPFisher.com) to download a FREE activity book!

 

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

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Meet the Author

Husband. Father. Cheese enthusiast.

While he enjoys all things cheese, Ben’s true joy comes from the blessing of his family. His two passionate and playful children remind him how tough it is to be in the “rough draft” stage of becoming an adult. His love for creativity and being a positive influence on others led him to a career in teaching and school leadership. Inspired by a need for stories that teach resilience and the value of learning from mistakes, Ben began writing children’s books. Through his stories, he hopes to encourage kids and adults to remember that love and acceptance don’t require perfection.

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Your Friend, Brainy by Natalie Izzi (Book Review)

Meet your new friend, Brainy! Brainy is a fun-loving brain who’s excited to guide you on a journey to explore how your brain works, why we experience big emotions, and how we can support our brain when those feelings arise.

This playful and insightful book empowers children to better understand their brains and gives them simple, easy ways to regulate their emotions using neuroscience. Come along with Brainy for an adventure into the science of feelings!

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Watch the book trailer!

 

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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.

 

Our brain is a complex organ with many working parts. Think of it as a supercomputer for your body. It regulates everything your body does thanks to a specific section or part of it. Your brain controls your emotions and movement, tells your heart to beat, stores your memories, and so much more. In Your Friend, Brainy, readers step inside Brainy’s house to learn about three important parts of their brain: the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus.

The first stop on the tour is the amygdala. Before kids learn its function, they discover how to pronounce this strange word: UH-MIG-DUH-LUH. Since the word appears many times in the story, I would mark the page in case young readers forget how to say this “super big word.” On the tour, Brainy teaches readers more than how to say the word. We discover which nut it’s shaped like and how it’s responsible for our feelings, especially the BIG ones.

Brainy informs kids that even though our brains have many parts with designated functions, they must and do help each other out. This leads kids into the next room of the brain tour, the prefrontal cortex, two big words that the author made learning about fun. It’s not every day you see a big brain wearing sunglasses and sneakers while chillin’ out in a cat cafe. This harmonious place was also called the Zen den and the chill grill, so choose which area your prefrontal cortex would visit to help calm the emotions created by the amygdala. Share those with the class!

Like in the last room, aka the amygdala, the author carefully and expertly explains how the prefrontal cortex can calm down those BIG feelings and quiet the internal blaring alarm, and it all starts with you and taking a deep breath. Yes, kids will become active participants in the story, helping them retain the information and (hopefully) recall it when needed. Brainy points out that controlling your breathing is not the only way to calm yourself down. There was a lovely picture collage featuring kids doing what makes them happy, such as talking to someone they love or watching a show that makes them smile. Happy faces on, we enter the last room on the brain tour: the hippocampus. I loved the wordplay and illustration, playfully acknowledging that despite its name, no, a hippo isn’t walking around on your brain. However, this part of your brain is responsible for learning and remembering. It also helps with feelings and memories.

Each part of the brain is remarkable, but they rely on each other every day. Through Your Friend, Brainy, kids learn that even our brains need the power of teamwork to work properly. I recommend adding this delightful and entertaining story to your SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) curriculum. Help kids ages 4 years and up understand how fantastic our brains are and the vital work the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus do through easy-to-understand text brought to them by a humorous and wonderful host, Brainy.

Brainy wrote a sweet thank you letter to readers. Please take a moment to read it and carry out their small request. (Read the story for more info.)

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2
(4.5 stars rounded to 5)

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Meet the Author

Author Natalie Izzi has a Masters in Education and brings 12 years of experience in teaching children and adults the art of self-regulation through a unique blend of neuroscience, mindfulness, and restorative practices.

She founded and led The Enlightened Schools Project, a professional development company dedicated to bringing her program to a variety of districts, universities, classrooms, and homes.

Currently, Natalie continues her work in public education, where she teaches Kindergarten and leads social-emotional learning initiatives for her district in Phoenixville, PA.

This is her debut children’s book, which integrates many of the most effective strategies she’s discovered for helping children develop the skills to self-regulate.

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Happy Bumble Bee by Ngoc K. Schmidt (Book Review)

Have you ever wondered what a day of a bumble bee is like?

He wakes up from his nice long sleep, he takes a shower (maybe?), and he flies out of his cozy nest to look for flowers.

On the way, he also meets many friends. If it rains, he will find shelter so his little wings can stay dry.

He works hard all day as a pollinator, bringing lives and happiness to all the plants, crops, animals and people.

This is a happy and colorful book about a round little bumble bee and his joyful, hardworking day that will bring a smile on your face.

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

Are you curious about how a bee spends their day? If so, Ngoc K. Schmidt has crafted a beautifully illustrated storybook that entertains and educates. It provides kids with an inside look into the daily life of bumble bees, making it a valuable and informative addition to any young reader’s library.

We first say hello to the insect as they show us their home, a hive hanging firmly from a tree branch. Next, we are amazed to discover a bee takes a shower every day. Who knew?! The illustration featuring the bee washing up was extremely adorable. I loved the addition of a rubber duckie. Kids will, too, since many have a similar toy in their tub. I also liked their water source. Nice use of nature!

As the insect goes about their day, it says hi to new friends. These two pages mark a great spot to stop and ask your toddler to name what they see. Sunny weather. Thunderstorms. The busy bee’s day is not over until he finds nectar to make honey, and the moon lights the sky. Bees are not the only pollinators featured in the book. In Happy Bumble Bee, the humble bee mentioned a beautiful winged co-worker who helps them bring life and smiles. (Read the book to discover the answer.)

I loved every colorful page, especially the scene featuring the tired bee napping on a flower. Kids will be excited to see the bee has a snuggle toy. They’ll probably announce what toy or other item they can’t sleep without. As a cat owner, I smiled at the black and white cat, closely watching the snoozing bee. It reminded me of my indoor cats, who love watching and jumping at anything that rests or flies near the windows. Kids will have fun helping the bee hunt for flowers. They’ll laugh as the bee’s powerful sneeze causes a small caterpillar to fly off the purple flower and soar across the page. It was adorable!

Happy Bumble Bee is ideal for babies to five-year-olds. The large, bright drawings will capture the attention of babies and toddlers. Parents can use this book as an educational tool to teach toddlers their colors and practice counting by adding up the flowers and bees. Three- to five-year-olds will also love the images but understand the text more—mainly everything on the “Benefits of Bumble Bee” page. The limited words per page make this a great story to start kids on the independent reading journey.

My love for the story is overflowing, but one item kept nagging at me… Where are the periods? We see commas, exclamation points, quotation marks, and ellipses, but not one period is used at the end of a sentence. I don’t know if this was an oversight or a design choice. However, this minor issue does not detract from the book’s overall readability.

Rain or shine. Bumble bees are hard at work, from the sun’s first light to the moon alerting them it’s night-night time. I recommend reading Happy Bumble Bee and teaching children that we should be thankful for every buzzing bee!

 

Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤1/2 
(4.5 stars, rounded to 5) 

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Meet the Author

Ngoc K. Schmidt is a self-taught illustrator/author who has great love for animals and nature. Her style of art is always considered to be digital color pencil and full of joys and colors. Besides drawing, she is also a polymerclay artist.

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Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest: Bobby the Bear, book 2 by Ryan O’Connor (Book Review)

Some things are hard, and they take time to do right. In the second book in the series by Ryan O’Connor, Bobby the Bear teaches his friend Ollie the Owl an important lesson on perseverance using the skills of patience and cooperation. Bobby the Bear books focus on the themes of kindness, respect, positivity, and helping your neighbors. In each story, Bobby guides his forest friends through life’s trials while learning some lessons of his own along the way.

Teachers will appreciate the available free activities and exercises that satisfy basic common core curriculum requirements in math, science, and English language arts.

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(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 

We first met Bobby and his forest friends in Bobby the Bear and His Big Surprise, book one in the adorable series. We watched animal friends band together to throw a surprise birthday party for their dear friend, Bobby. In Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest, book 2 in the series, Bobby returns the nice gesture and lends a helping paw to his crying friend – Ollie the owlet.

Ollie is in tears because he desperately wants to make a special nest for his sister, but his structions keep breaking. Bobby, being a good friend, offers his assistance. He has never built a nest before but is willing to learn. He understands how important the nest is to Ollie; it’s a thank-you gift to Olive for all the times she’d helped her sibling. Ah, what a sweet, loving gesture!

Bobby and Ollie’s first nest was not a success, which caused Ollie to break down in tears again. Bobby’s comforting words were perfect: “Never give up on something. Some things are hard to do and take many tries to get right.” He also mentioned how it took him five attempts to make it his first bed. Bobby’s correct; we should learn from our mistakes and try again. In the case of the nest, Bobby problem-solved on how to make the nest’s base sturdier. Of course, the two friends continued efforts led them to a secure nest that could hold Ollie and his sister. Success at last!

Happy smiles were all around after the big unveil, and Ollie realized the importance of never giving up. Kids will also learn the value of hard work and the feeling of accomplishment. Bobby the Bear Helps Build a Nest shows the power of kind gestures with its sweet storyline and illustrations. It’s also a powerful reminder of the value of perseverance and the rewards it can bring.

The synopsis states there are free activities and exercises. I didn’t have an opportunity to examine them (I received a free reviewer copy), but I still suggest taking advantage of the free resource material!

Extended activities: Nests are made of different materials. Have your family or class explore birds and the material each uses for their nests. Gather material and build a nest; see which nest can hold the most weight before its base collapses.

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

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Meet the Author

Award-winning author and teacher Ryan O’Connor hails from Kansas, where his passion for writing and education developed. Ryan has spent the past fifteen years teaching English to students of all ages in the United States and China. After spending a decade living abroad, Ryan calls Kansas City home.

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