Chanticleer Book Reviews

Author: Carol Davala

Hot Air: An Arnold Falls Novel, Book 2 by Charlie Suisman – Humorous Contemporary Fiction, Small Town Humor, Cultural Humor

Charlie Suisman returns to the unique fictional town of Arnold Falls in his humorous novel, Hot Air.

Arnold Falls bristles with zany events, quirky locals, and colorful newbies. Above all, this memorable enclave buoys its people through heart, soul, wit, and a true sense of collective spirit.

Jeebie Walker returns as the story’s central narrator.

The successful voice-over artist stands as a solid fixture in the town, now in a loving relationship with his partner Will. A volunteer fireman, illustrator, and candidate for an MA in Conservation Biology, Will jokingly claims that Jeebie makes “bossing others around” a superpower.

In the midst of a mid-life crisis, Jeebie takes on a project of implementing little library cabinets throughout the town. Due to some unscrupulous financial administrators, he also worries about the sudden lack of funding for arts programs at the local hospital.

Meanwhile, the friend he helped elect as the town’s first female mayor has her own hands full.

She bonds with her adoptive Haitian son while reluctantly considering a temporary Arnold Falls name change to bring in money and tourists. Her newfound attraction to the local record store/weed emporium aficionado complicates her life further. A sudden string of thefts involving odd but meaningful town memorabilia certainly also needs the mayor’s attention.

Coincidentally, a new TV series – based on several New Yorker stories about a hapless, Hudson Valley hamlet resembling Arnold Falls – starts using the town for filming. Here an indie film actress heads up the cast and brings about a whole other set of calamities.

Hot Air calls back to characters and incidents from the original, award-winning novel, Arnold Falls, bringing unfamiliar readers up to speed.

Comical references like the amorous adventures of a town turkey saved from the chopping block and the former mayor accidentally sending bomb-making supplies to a sister city in Romania will draw new readers to Suisman’s previous novel.

Suisman continues to shine in his ability to drive a well-crafted narrative through creative characters, action, and detail.

Many small storylines intertwine. An old-time resident nearing his final days receives a toast of Clagger – the local hooch. The recordings from a former Arnold Falls Chamber Ensemble reappear. A jazzy chanteuse uses her talents to draw wandering cows home. A high-tech museum installation honors the life of a flatulent nonagenarian’s mother, a popular black madam.

In this unforgettable world, Suisman conjures unique and lively scenes.

A Martha Washington mannequin sits on a porch, complete with a “may have belonged to MW” mobcap. Drag queens teach hot yoga. A “Witness Protection” face cream hawked at the farmer’s market will leave users speechless. And a mayoral assistant/fashionista dresses to honor “National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day.” Once again, this hideaway proves itself as a charmingly lyrical landscape, where the spark of levity is never far behind.

Like the first Arnold Falls novel, here the final fun-filled, open-air wind-up exudes the caring and commitment of these multi-faceted characters woven into the richly textured fabric of their community. Wrapped in its inspiring and imaginative literary warmth, fans will be happy to learn the epilogue suggestively hints at more ventures to come.

November 19, 2021
The LONG DESERT ROAD by Alex Sirotkin – Literary, Romantic Fiction, Contemporary Fiction

Alex Sirotkin’s debut novel, The Long Desert Road, navigates the emotional arcs of life in contrast with the greater expanse of the cosmos. Here a young woman must face her addictions while the people around her try to move beyond her backlash.

We meet Henry Spinoza, a 44-year-old quirky science writer. He ponders his life as half over, looks for the right woman, and wonders if there isn’t more to existence.

For twenty years, Henry, a science writer, has been researching a non-fiction book on the universe that he intends to write. Henry’s feeling “bored, boring, and budget-conscious…the trifecta of gloom,” as he puts it. But in the middle of this ennui, his sister-in-law invites him to dinner, along with her divorced friend, Isabel Dalton, an attorney, and “the setup is afoot.”

Meanwhile, Isabel deals with a family crisis. Her daughter Lauren, newly out of rehab, gets into a severe accident with tragic consequences. Determined to stop enabling Lauren, Isabel places her in the Dusty Palms rehab facility for an extended 6-month stay. Lauren struggles through detox and nightmares, therapy sessions and medications, self-destructive escapades, and mother/daughter communications. Lauren’s thinking, actions, and attitude would justify Henry’s subsequent observation that she’s “just your average, somewhat immature, impulsive bipolar twenty two year old with a history of serious trauma, drugs, alcohol and jail.”

In an effortless blend of conversation, humor, and questioning, Henry and Isabel slowly begin to bond.

Their relationship blossoms from sushi dinners and casual banter. Henry’s fascinating diatribes about the cosmos and Isabel’s sharing of her daughter’s cunning, manipulative ways deepen their connection. When Lauren’s sudden, unexpected release from rehab threatens to derail the merging couple’s dream trip to Chile (coinciding with Henry’s last bit of research), Henry convinces Isabel that they should bring Lauren along. Amidst the desolate beauty of the hot Atacama Desert, with an infinite sea of stars and planets shining down upon them, these characters find common ground, coming to terms with their inner struggles.

Sirotkin tells a story richly layered with well-defined characters, an informative narrative, and genuine, probing dialogue. While the characters initially appear in their own chapters, their lives soon become entwined. Multiple subplots quickly move the action forward. The story uncovers a variety of personal and family issues that help these characters recognize their pitfalls. Henry’s enthrallment with the cosmos contrasts Isabel’s frustration and concern for Lauren. Finally, Lauren begins to question her own self-destructive impulses.

Clearly, much research went into this work.

The story’s focus on addiction reflects Sirotkin’s personal experience with a similar family situation. He creatively places this sense of concern within the framework of a scientific perspective. Sirotkin keeps the science complex but understandable. Henry’s enthusiasm about the wonders of the sky spreads to the reader. Atop a mountain observatory, Henry shines as a brilliant researcher who openly recognizes that scientific principles don’t necessarily conflict with faith in God in the search for truth.

The Long Desert Road thoughtfully explores family, friends, relationships, love, loss, and addiction. More importantly, it reveals the minute significance of these intertwining stories within the vast complexity of our star-studded universe. Highly recommended.

Alex Sirotkin’s The Long Desert Road was the 2021 Grand Prize Winner for the Chatelaine Awards.

November 5, 2021
FROM NICHOLAS to CHRISTMAS by Kyle Poehls – Mythology and Folklore, Christmas Lore, Children’s Holiday Books

This delightful three-part story told in simple rhyming verse, takes us back to the origins of Christmas before the emergence of Santa Claus.

With a creative premise, From Nicholas to Christmas by Kyle Poehls brings the spirit of the holiday to life, in a town filled with despair. One man’s actions set off a wave of happiness and joy in giving to those less fortunate.

Here we meet Nicholas, his wife Carol, and their two children, Holly and Timmy. These youngsters help their father in the wintery woods. One day, they ask to bring the outdoors in by setting up a pine tree in the house and decorating it with toys. First, the loving family gives thanks for all their blessings and soon decides to help those in need.

Nicholas travels in his sleigh to a nearby town, where he encounters a young girl named Mary. While helping this seemingly destitute child, Nicholas notes her kindness to return a found bag of coins. She explains, “I was taught not to take even though I am poor.” Back in his workshop, he discovers a glass snow globe where a vision of Mary’s family suddenly appears. With heartfelt concern, he wishes them a good life.

Nicholas prepares for another journey and takes a special bag of gifts to Mary.

Though delighted and thankful for his generosity, Mary kindly passes the gifts along to others. She then relates a story of her own magical experience whereupon awakening, she found her room filled with food, clothes, and coins. Nicholas considers the surprising blessing a true miracle. As Mary receives more gifts, she continues to give them away, and in a pay-it-forward moment, others begin to join in the giving and sharing. Her actions lead a once darkened town into the light to ignite the true holiday spirit.

Artful illustrations by Diego capture a close-knit family and the warmth of home.

Small oval renderings lend an old-fashioned Currier and Ives appeal as if offering readers a glimpse into this wonderful world. Whether a moonlit cabin on a winter’s night, Nicholas gently repairing Mary’s beloved yarn-haired doll or showcasing a peek inside a magical crystal ball, the images become a reminder of what the holiday season is truly about.

A feel-good story with a message for all ages, this new take on the holiday’s origins with all its heartfelt intentions and charm may turn the reading of From Nicholas to Christmas into a new family tradition. One of our favorites!

November 1, 2021
TEVYE The MAGICAL THEATER CAT (Introduction to Community Theater) by Peggy Sullivan, M.Ed., Counseling – Children’s Performing Arts Fiction, Children’s Drama Books, Children’s Community Theater Books

An ordinary gray tabby discovers the behind-the-scenes magic of community theater in Peggy Sullivan’s, Tevye the Magical Theater Cat: Introduction to Community Theater.

Sullivan builds a straightforward, simple narrative on the foundation of a true story. ‘Cat’ the furry neighborhood wanderer happens upon a work-in-progress stage production at the local theater. She follows her curiosity, touring through the box office, the heavily curtained stage, a sound and lighting booth, and a group of gathering musicians.

Amidst the extraordinary wonders of a welcoming environment, the intrigued feline also finds a family of her own.

Cat takes special interest in the neighborhood cast who don wardrobes and makeup to undergo magical transformations. Any readers familiar with classic stage and screen productions will quickly recognize this community presentation as a rendition of the ever-popular “Fiddler on the Roof.” As the play unfolds, Cat decides to adopt the name of the central character who sings about his life and family. These local thespians – and the play itself – ignite Cat’s own longing for a sense of connection.

Sullivan’s inviting illustrations feature clean lines and bright and colorful imagery.

The sweet and longing expressions of the inquisitive Cat compliment the star-studded backdrops that highlight the harmony of cast and crew. A stellar ensemble performance grows from the bonding community effort. This kind of magic proves available for everyone, including our four-footed, furry friends.

As a licensed mental health counselor and cat lover herself, Sullivan has written and illustrated a series of books with life lessons from a cat’s point of view. She draws on her experience and expertise to charm and teach her audience. This entertaining story features the emotional relatability and connection to humankind that those feline creatures offer.

In a heartfelt effort of community spirit, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to local community theaters. Tevye the Magical Theater Cat introduces local theater to young children, emphasizing the joy and magic of community and family.

A sweet, imaginative tale, with an earnestly shared message. Highly recommended!

Tevye the Magical Theater Cat by Peggy Sullivan, M.Ed. won 1st Place in the CIBA 2018 Little Peeps Book Awards for Early Readers.

October 22, 2021
The MOON and STAR: Lessons From a Cat by Peggy Sullivan – Children’s Literature, Children’s Cat Books,

In Peggy Sullivan’s award-winning book, The Moon and Star: Lessons From a Cat, readers learn how a charming, tiny white cat finds solace in her connection with the Moon as she goes through life’s challenges and changes.

Star lives happily with a tall girl and two other cats. She runs, dances, and hunts for goldfish in a backyard pond. But this mindful cat soon realizes that life is full of unpredictable circumstances. Though she moves to a college town and has new and fun experiences, Star feels sad when she loses a feline friend, even more so when the tall girl goes off on her adventures.

Luckily Star is a cat with an attraction to the Moon. Its magical glow helps the little cat gain a sense of calm. The peacefulness Star feels stays with her, regardless of changes in her life or surroundings. Though Star and the tall girl move many more times, this sensitive cat realizes the light of the Moon offers a unique sense of serenity wherever her journey takes her.

In the first story, Midnight and Moonlight, Sullivan focuses on friendship and differences.

In this next adventure, the author shows us positive and relatable life lessons explored through the eyes of our furry friends and shares them in a gentle and entertaining format. While it can be challenging to write for a young audience and tell a well-crafted story with little words, humor, and grace, all while relating a universal message, Sullivan has the knack. Her background and experience as a mental health counselor and child advocate make for a rich and holistic reading experience.

As in all of Sullivan’s Children’s books, the images match magnificently with the story.

Here the text is easily followed, and accompanying drawings feature the colorful antics of an adorable, big blue-eyed Star. Several images of this gentle little cat pondering a quiet respite beneath the night’s starry, moonlit sky are sure to help deliver an essential message to youngsters. Ultimately the Moon serves as Star’s sanctuary and ideally reveals to readers that small moments of comfort and joy surround us if we just take the time to look.

The Moon and Star: Lessons From a Cat by Peggy Sullivan won the GRAND PRIZE in the 2017 CIBAs for the LITTLE PEEPS Book Awards for Children’s Literature.

October 1, 2021
MIDNIGHT and MOONLIGHT: A Children’s Picture Book by Peggy Sullivan – Children’s Cat Stories, Children’s Picture Books, Children’s Books about Friendship

Peggy Sullivan’s Midnight and Moonlight: A Children’s Picture Book is a delightful and inspiring book about a friendship that develops between two very different four-footed felines.

Midnight and Moonlight are two well-named cats on opposite sides of the spectrum. Like night and day, Midnight is small, sleek, and black, while Moonlight is big, white, and fluffy. They first meet at a pet store, then they are taken to the same home where they quickly become friends, even though their differences are many.

Moonlight appears the quieter and more passive one; Midnight is a more active and curious type with a sweet tooth and penchant for doughnuts. When the furry pair and their human owners move to a new house, the cats settle in quite nicely, still maintaining their individuality. Midnight does make friends on the outside with an orange Tabby, but Moonlight remains his best friend.

Sullivan’s clear and concise text and whimsical illustrations work in perfect harmony to attract early readers.

While the solid and direct narrative of Midnight and Moonlight flows easily, the charming visual accents like a shared yellow food dish, a bright blue moving van, and a lime green tuna can, add a colorful and complementary touch.

With the story’s relatable message about friendships beyond differences and personal likes and dislikes, the book lends itself well for an ideal read between a parent and child, or perhaps a teacher and young students in a classroom setting. Here a fun and entertaining animal tale offers an opportunity for further discussion about unlikely friendships that can form in all walks of life, whether in the human or animal realm.

The book’s final words prove a true testament to the story’s heartfelt sentiment about friendships.

Ultimately, Sullivan’s well-crafted picture book delivers a positive, thought-provoking, and enlightening message for all ages. A message perfect for today. Midnight and Moonlight: A Children’s Picture Book by Peggy Sullivan won the CIBA Little Peeps Grand Prize for Children’s Literature – and comes highly recommended!

September 17, 2021
B is for BAYLEE by Kay M. Bates – Middle-Grade Fiction, Middle Grade Blindness Books, Middle-Grade Adventure Books

Kay M. Bates delivers an inspiring middle-grade reader focusing on a young girl who suffers a severe injury that takes her life in a new and surprising direction in B is for Baylee. Along the way, she faces opposition, ridicule, and challenges. Still, she discovers the importance of determination and the actual value of friendship and acceptance when life throws you an unexpected curve.

Twelve-year-old Baylee Harker plays first base in a Stoutland city league softball game when an errant ball strikes her. The unfortunate incident sets in motion a series of events that take her on a physical and emotional roller coaster ride of dealing with sudden vision loss and its life-changing repercussions. Between the hospital, emergency surgery, and subsequent visits with eye specialists who offer little hope for improvement, Baylee’s diagnosis: legally blind. Though she can see illumination and washed-out color with her right eye, she lacks visual acuity. The left eye offers fuzzy vision with black splotches across her visual field. Soon she’s wondering, “Will I be like this the rest of my life?”

At home, Baylee is a typical “tween,” but her blindness compounds frustrations. Bates presents loving, though sometimes over-protective parents and close-knit siblings who help Baylee adjust to the situation. Bates smartly delivers Baylee’s mix of emotions and allows readers to feel it all: angst, fear, and exhilaration. Baylee’s disappointed at the closing of a favorite taco eatery; she’s concerned about descending a staircase on her own, and her anger at the disastrous results in attempting to make mac & cheese drives the story forward. But it’s joining a family sledding excursion that revives her exhilaration for the outdoors.

Returning to school may be fun.

A return to school and the world-at-large soon has Baylee realizing the frailties of human nature. Comments from a hair-flipping, so-called friend Margaux like, “Poor thing” and “… just faking it,” or a tense but ultimately humorous encounter with a parking lot bully emphasize the lack of knowledge and often little respect towards physically challenged individuals. In counterpoint, encouraging comments from a teacher suggest that Baylee’s injury might lead to other opportunities. “Keep your chin up, stay tough,” prove well-meaning words with an advantageous edge. With the help of a compassionate braille instructor and classmate, a mentoring track coach, and newfound friends, Baylee learns to navigate both life’s literal and figurative hurdles as she works to regain the parts of her identity she lost along with her eyesight.

The story is heavy on conversational dialogue, which seems appropriately reflective of the subject matter. With limited vision, Baylee must adapt to a world where sound is now at the forefront of her life. Here a moment of sitting against an amplifier proves a stress reliever. She even turns her reliance on audio/verbal cues into a game by matching the voice of a person.

Bates drew on her own experience to write a story that focuses on the main character’s loss of sight. Bates herself once dealt with severe vision impairment due to rare complications occurring after eye surgery. She now has full vision.

While visually impaired individuals must face their unique journey, this book offers particular insight and perspective for those newly coping with such a sudden life change, as well as those around them. Triumphantly ”B” is for Baylee reflects not only the harsh realities of a blindness diagnosis, but it positively showcases the opportunity for hope and winning achievement.

”B” is for Baylee placed semi-finalist in the CIBA 2019 Gertrude Warner Awards for Middle-Grade Fiction.

July 30, 2021
EUDORA SPACE KID: The Great Engine Room Takeover – Book 1 by David Horn – Science & Math Adventure Children’s Books, Action/Adventure Books, Sci-fi Series Children’s Books

Young readers with a penchant for math, science, and engineering are sure to fall in love with David Horn’s new Eudora Space Kid series. With the premiere story of The Great Engine Room Takeover, readers meet a precocious third-grader and her mad-cap adventures in outer space.

Eudora Jenkins lives aboard a multi-level Astroliner called the Athena and hopes to be its chief engineer someday. The Athena is the flagship of the Astrofleet, a science and defense force for the Planetary Republic, which comprises twenty planets working together to make the galaxy a better place for all living things. Early on, we learn that aliens adopted both Eudora and her older sister Molly. Their new Mom resembles a beautiful gray wolf from the dog-like species of the planet Pox, and their father, Max, looks like an octopus and hails from planet Pow.

Through an imaginative first-person narrative, this “most awesome girl” draws us into her space domain.

Looking for more than a typical childhood existence aboard this flying craft, Eudora’s latest desire is to figure out how to increase the speed of the Athena. After hacking into the spaceship’s PA system, Eudora’s enticing birthday party announcement works as a ploy to empty the engine room. Here she applies her formulas and makes adjustments at the computer terminal in an attempt to break the Astroliner’s speed record.

In Eudora’s funtastic, futuristic world, we meet all types of innovative technology and fabulous new friends.

For example, her pet drago named Bologna appears as a cross between a bunny and a dragon. Young readers will discover electropad devices that hold all the students’ books, notes, and work – and hear tales of exploding pumpkins that wreak havoc on a fuel storage chamber. Not only is this a book that fits in well with the STEM programs now in many educational curriculums, but the story quickly touches on an array of themes, from sibling rivalry and family variations to lessons about learning from our mistakes.

Laced with humor, Eudora comments to her audience, “And you thought your parents were weird!”

An opening illustration by Talitha Shipman sets the stage with a spaceship flying amidst a star-studded galaxy.

Readers will see lion and octopus-headed creatures and a being with Spock-like pointed ears. Details in the artwork throughout the book capture the extreme facial expressions of these spacecraft residents. Eudora’s gleeful look while destroying an asteroid at the push of a button changes to a disgruntled frown when the captain reprimands her. The final pages offer a creative word search puzzle, and the audience also learns that more cosmic adventures with Eudora are on the way.

Eudora Space Kid: The Great Engine Room Takeover will indeed win an audience among inquisitive, inventive-minded youngsters who like to push boundaries and reach for the stars.

July 29, 2021
SOMETIMES WHEN I’M MAD by Deborah Serani, Psy.D. – Children’s Self-Help Books, Children’s Books About Anger, Children’s Books with Reader Guide

Sometimes When I’m Mad, “… it’s because everything goes wrong,” is the enticing opening phrase of psychologist Deborah Serani’s informative children’s book. It explores the emotion of anger and helps youngsters identify and cope with this often uncomfortable feeling.

Here we meet a dark-haired girl with spiky pigtails who is easily frustrated by the day’s happenings. Whether a spilled glass of milk, a frantic search for a toy, or discontent when a friend doesn’t come over to play, sharp images of a furrowed brow, snarling face, or pouting lips tell the story. Concerned parents, grandparents, and a teacher soon help this youngster realize that simple actions can help remedy and manage her anger. Ultimately a talk or fun activity, a nap or hug, or sometimes even an apology can calm the inner turmoil and make an individual feel better.

Kyra Teis’s artful illustrations beautifully complement the straightforward narrative.

The opening background of a lined and spattered wall seems intentionally reflective of the tumultuous subject matter. Details like a crossed arm stance, ears covered to avoid listening, or the rising blush in cheeks when attempting to put on a pair of socks all prove indicative of the child’s building frustration. The color palette is natural yet toned down. For appropriate contrast, the central character’s bright red shirt and shorts and an orange sweatshirt draw the reader’s attention and accentuate the young girl’s intense upset. A final smiling image, where she dons cool-green attire and pets her ever-present, inquisitive feline, helps bring an element of soothing comfort to the storyline.

The book’s final pages guide concerned adults looking to help a child deal with their emotions of anger. Learning to understand it can prove a transformative, healing, and empowering force. Serani smartly explains how the negativity of anger may appear as many physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, appetite, and sleeping problems. Anger unmanaged can also contribute to academic difficulties, as well as social and emotional concerns. Ideally, learning to express anger in adaptive ways will help build confidence and allow children to experience greater physical and emotional well-being.

Serani also points out that anger can manifest itself differently within each child, but there are specific patterns to look for within the developmental stages of specific age groups.

Treating children with respect, helping a child understand that anger is natural, encouraging open and honest communication, and providing age-appropriate consequences for aggressive behavior are also noted as methods to help promote healthy emotional expression. Special needs challenges such as ADHD, Autism, or learning disabilities may also influence a child’s anger. Likewise, if a child’s anger becomes more frequent and intense, consultation with a mental health professional or specialist may be in order. Also included is a list of various organizations offering information and support.

An easy read intended for the 4-8 age group, Sometimes When I’m Mad proves an intelligent choice that delivers positive reinforcement and direct ways to handle complicated feelings that can stir within us at any age. Highly recommended.

June 23, 2021
KOBEE MANATEE® – Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard by Robert Scott Thayer – Children’s Environmental Books, Children’s Marine Life Books

Author Robert Scott Thayer and illustrator Lauren Gallegos bring to life another beautifully told tale in the fourth book in the series, Kobee Manatee® – Climate Change and the Great Blue Hole Hazard.

In the engaging and increasingly popular Kobee Manatee® children’s book series, the lovable sea cow and friends are off to help Cousin Quinn clean up the plastic that’s littering the ocean area around her new underwater eating establishment. The 500-mile journey across the water turns into an enlightening adventure, as these characters face unexpected challenges and dilemmas, many brought on by the harmful effects of climate change and ocean pollution.

Kobee Manatee® is always ready to lend a hand – and make a new friend.

Fresh from their latest adventure in the Cayman Islands, Kobee, along with Pablo, the hermit crab, and Tess the seahorse, swim to Belize, where they find the home of the Great Blue Hole. En route, Pablo rescues a spotted turtle ensnared in plastic, so the long-lashed loggerhead, Tameeka, happily joins the trio. Venturing on, these friends circumvent dangers, from the whip-like tentacles of a man-of-war to the poisonous intentions of a scorpionfish.

But these are not the only dangers the friends face.

The friends’ excitement upon reaching the expansive Great Blue Hole phenomenon quickly fades as Pablo tumbles into its dark depths. Luckily Tameeka’s deep-diving skills help save the day. After everyone pitches in with the ocean clean-up, they enjoy a fun gathering at the café, including an offering of seagrass subs and Kobee’s guitar accompaniment.

Conversations between Kobee Manatee® and his cohorts are lively and animated, with an ever-present focus on the beauty, dangers, and casualties witnessed within the ocean environment. As a clever educational component, the book is accented throughout with small images of Kobee Manatee® ancient treasure map-type scrolls that reveal informative, fun facts relevant to the narrative. These range from the knowledge that nearly 8 million metric tons of plastic are dumped in the ocean every year and insight that warming climates cause sea coral to fade to a list of conservation organizations fighting the destruction of our oceans and coastlines.

Lauren Gallegos’ illustrations further bring the pages to life and provide a wonderful complement to the story.

The backdrop of a pale blue ocean world lends a perfect contrast to the vibrant colors of the central characters and surrounding marine life. Whether a plump, gray Kobee sporting a fluorescent yellow jacket and purple cap, a seahorse with a violet body and raspberry bouffant mane, or an orange-shelled crustacean with his green bug-eyes, the vivid hues and expressive details are sure to attract a young reader’s attention. Shades of mauve and purple, turquoise, green, and tangerine highlight visuals of kelp, coral, sea fans, and fish life, while the dark saturation of royal blue emphasizes the far-reaching depths of the ocean’s monstrous Great Blue Hole.

For young readers who enjoy imaginative tales surrounding affable and heroic sea creatures, as well as parents and/or teachers looking for a way to introduce youngsters to the importance of marine conservation, Kobee Manatee® Climate Change and The Great Blue Hole Hazard offers a perfect blend. Highly recommended!

May 4, 2021