Sherry Ellis (1)

Every moment packs adventure and tension as Bubba and Squirt race against the clock in an attempt to finally save their father.

Finally, Bubba and Squirt are getting close to finding their father, and he's in more danger than they could have imagined. While the odds aren't in their favor, they now have their grandfather and their talents on their side...which is good because this last task is a doozy. They need to find two pearls, which they thought only existed in fables. Add the powerful show more creatures which they meet along the way, and it borders on impossible. But the clock is ticking and if they don't find a way to make it through, not only will their father be lost, but they will lose their lives, too.

This is the final book in the series (or so I believe), and it packs a punch. It takes off from where the last adventure ended and flings Bubba and Squirt head-first into tension pure. The characters have matured quite a bit during the series, and it's nice to see how they embrace their powers and face the challenges with more experience and determination. There's a lovely sense of family as their grandfather has their back and all work together to find the father. Of course, they still have rough patches along the way, but the relationships are golden and inspiring. It makes them fun to root for and fever with until the end.

The magical aspect has also expanded and evolved into a well-rounded side-dish of fantasy. It melds well with the historical and, even more so, mythical direction. There's still information slid into the adventure to make sure readers expand their knowledge along the way, which gives this entire series its nice touch. But this time, action takes control and imagination soars. It makes for a grabbing and easy read with tons of heart.

To make the read even more valuable, there's information surrounding tsunamis, pearl divers, a glossary for the Japanese words, a recipe, and a map of Japan. So, there's quite a bit of goodness in these pages.

The larger font and shorter length make this even ideal for more reluctant readers or those, who simply want to dive into a quicker adventure. It rounds off the series nicely and leaves me wanting to start the entire adventure with Bubba and Squirt again. I received an ARC and find this to be a very well-rounded adventure for middle graders. show less

A little fantasy, a little culture, a little history...and tons of mystery and adventure.

Bubba and Squirt's father has gone missing, and they'd love nothing more than to find him. Luckily, their grandfather pays Bubba a visit from the great beyond and gives him a vision, which leads them through the portal to Paris, France. After landing in the spooky catacombs, they run across not only monsters but thieves, too. Add a painting, which seems to open up to another realm, and the two have more show more than a little to figure out.

While it's not absolutely necessary, I do recommend reading this series from the beginning, since the books do build on each other a little bit. That said, Bubba and Squirt aren't only figuring out the hole under the tree, but Bubba's getting a handle on his powers. While there is family support...even from the afterlife...these two are pretty much on their own, which readers will enjoy. They meet new friends and have to figure out new ways of dealing with things. It keeps the story exciting the entire way through, and with the little twists of magic, it's impossible to guess what's really going on.

One of my favorite aspects about this tale is the length. At around seventy-five pages, it invites even more reluctant readers to jump into the fun. The stories do include historical facts and teach a little about the various places Bubba and Squirt travel. This falls smoothly into the main plot and never feels like a lesson, which makes this great for school libraries an even homeschoolers. The adventure is exciting, packs tons of tension, and keeps the reader guessing until the end.

It's a fun series and worth checking out. show less

Good feelings and the excitement of celebration fill every page.

It's a little child's birthday, and what a birthday it always is! Parades, picnics, get-together, and even fireworks make it a special day. For many years, the child thought everyone celebrated just for them but has since learned that's it's the 4th of July celebration, too. This year, however, is super special, since it's the 250th celebration of the country... a wonderfully, huge celebration for the two birthdays.

This is a fun show more read from beginning to end. When I first picked it up, I was a little suspicious of the page count for the age group (a little longer than usual), but this story flies by and is totally okay for even more reluctant listeners. Each page holds excitement and celebration. Many scenes bring along familiar moments, and it's hard not to want to join in on the excitement. There's never a boring moment as it goes from one enjoyable scene to the next.

The text holds four shorter lines on each two-page spread and rhymes smoothly to create a lovely read-aloud. The word choice and sense behind the text work easily for the age group and can be picked up by readers, who are more sure of their words, to enjoy on their own. The illustrations are rounded to keep things light and cute, while packing tons of excitement on each page. The colors keep red, white, and blue close, weaving them naturally into each moment.

This is an enjoyable read and especially nice to use in classrooms, groups, or homeschooling when getting ready for the big celebration. show less

Those intrepid young explorers Bubba and Squirt are off to a new adventure in the second book in an entertaining middle-grade series from author Sherry Ellis. In "Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure", Bubba and his big sister Squirt find themselves in Belize (a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America) at the site of an ancient Mayan archaeological dig. The detective-minded duo, who come from a family of magicians, are no strangers to mystical mysteries. Their first show more escapade occurred after Bubba dug a big hole in the woods behind their house, and that hole turned out to be a whirling vortex which transported them all the way to China. Now, they are caught in the middle of a case where valuable artifacts are being stolen as soon as they are discovered. Bubba and Squirt have their hands full trying to catch a thief, running from and after mythical characters come to life, and trying to get back home before their mom gets mad. "Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure" is a fun and interesting read for young readers and readers who are young at heart. Author Sherry Ellis has also added some fascinating history, recipes for "Fry Jacks" and "Chicken Tortilla Soup", and a glossary which includes Spanish words and numbers. Readers will also enjoy the first book in the series, "Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China".

Book Copy Gratis Author show less