Showing posts with label Erin the Literary Cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Erin the Literary Cat. Show all posts

Sunday, 6 April 2025

SNAILS OF THE UNEXPECTED

Written by Terrie Chilvers

  

Small book cover. Protagonist snails, Fergus and Shelby appear sat/standing on a green grass floor. They each have a radiant yellow white glow from their recent encounter with lightning. Author and artist names appear top middle of page and the title underneath set on a graduated orange to red background. Bolts of yellow and mauve lightning appear, two each side of the title. Fergus is a spotty yellow colour and his shell is strippy blue. Shelby is pink with a small flower on a yellow band around her neck. Her shell is purple and stripped.
©Image

 
       

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Lower Middle Grade KS1 Fiction.

Image listing the 5 participants in the Snails of the Unexpected book blog tour. The image uses the same colours as the book cover, only they are reversed. The title of the tour is in green at the top and the info is in shades of red/orange graduated down to the bottom of the page.

 

This Sunday, besides the selfies, we are also the latest stop on the Book Blog Tour for this super fun, gastropod filled adventure. 
 
The 'Snails of the Unexpected' title and the bright cheery cover really caught Mrs H's attention. So when we got the call from Amy at Firefly Press, asking if we'd be interested in reading this and be part of the tour we jumped and slithered at the opportunity. And best of all, no snails, or plant life were hurt in the making of it!

So, without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, off double checking the brassicas and salad crop, let's take a deep dive into the murky and slimy world of mega-morphing snails and politics!

Large book cover. Protagonist snails, Fergus and Shelby appear sat/standing on a green grass floor. They each have a radiant yellow white glow from their recent encounter with lightning. Author and artist names appear top middle of page and the title underneath set on a graduated orange to red background. Bolts of yellow and mauve lightning appear, two each side of the title. Fergus is a spotty yellow colour and his shell is strippy blue. Shelby is pink with a small flower on a yellow band around her neck. Her shell is purple and stripped.
Artwork © Brenda Figueroa



AUTHOR:  Terrie Chilvers

 

Illustrations by:  Brenda Figueroa

 

Published by:  Firefly Press

 

Publication date Paperback:  3 April 2025

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 191 544 4 882 


UK Cover price for Paperback:  £7.99


Amazon KINDLE price:  N/A

 

Pages: 151

 

Age range:  6+



 

SPOILER ALERT


Some as to plot direction and characters.

 


 

The plot 


We meet our two snail protagonists, Fergus and Shelby, as they sit on the garden fence of their best human pal, Angela Miller. Fergus, one of the smallest snails in the area, is remonstrating. Today it is about the slug spar built by their human neighbour, Mr Hamilton. He has even been seen feeding the slugs grapes! Across the land slugs are getting lots of positive coverage, and humans are being encouraged to let slugs eat their best crops. Even the UK Prime Minister is fighting the slugs corner. Rumour has it there is now a sign up at the local allotments banning snails. 


The only person that now seems to love snails is Angela. She feeds them daily with a nice bowl of salad. She doesn't even mind when they nibble her fresh lettuce. At least Fergus, and Shelby who doesn't seem at all bothered by the slug issue, have their own little paradise.


Well, that is until Gavin the slug slithers by and announces their garden is going to be bulldozed to create a slug salad bar! In fact the back gardens in the street are all going to turned over to the slugs. One is even being made into a slug disco!


As the bulldozers are due to rumble in the following day, Fergus and Shelby have limited time to save their home.


Now, how might two snails on a mission get to change peoples minds when humans cant speak snail? The answer is they decide to get hold of the UK Prime Minister, the ultimate power in the land, and the one who can stop this travesty. 


They, well, Shelby thinks up a plan, but they first need to get to 10 Downing Street to deliver their message. Shelby's plan to use the bus is dismissed as it would take way too long. Then Shelby suggests they use their Mega-Morphing abilities.


This ability is news to Fergus. But it seems when there was a lightning storm some days earlier, and the puddle they were in took a zap of power, the snails got the ability to change into anything, or anyone! All they have to do is say in their heads three times the name of the person or object they want to become, then they morph. As simple as that. Or maybe not as simple when you morph into humans and get legs!


From this startling discovery that Shelby forgot to mention, our two snails set off on a course of action that is anything but regular, but very very. Their mission to save their garden quickly changes to one to save not only Angela, but also all of human kind from a fate worse than death– being turned into a lettuce!


The perps of this scary scheme are none other than the UK Prime Minster and her sidekick, the Deputy PM!


If I say any more I will end up on a slippery and slimy slope and reveal far too much. Needless to say, the best and tastiest parts of this lettuce adventure story are ahead of you. Oh, and be prepared to never look a lemon drizzle cake the same way ever again!




So, what did we think?


For anyone who has read and enjoyed Terrie's earlier adventures featuring two loveable canines, Michael (the Amazing Mind Reading Sausage Dog) and Stanley Big Dog, this series is a must. Read our review of Book 1 HERE. Read the review of Book 2 HERE.


I happily described the humour of those first books as slightly Laurel and Hardy and vauderville-esq. 


These two new characters not only bring a new dynamic in motion and outlook, but also the ability to morph and interact with their world of humans in a very different way. 

   

As a result, the humour is noticeably different, but equally as fun. The dynamic between Fergus and Shelby is more like a comedy soap opera couple from some years (possibly decades) back. And I found myself wondering how they get along and stay together. But together they are, for better or worse, and it does work well. 


Fergus is definitely of the stress-head cum perfectionist kind. As such he worries needlessly. Shelby, however, is laid back and cleverer than she seems or knows. Yet she is also a bit naive and happy to muddle along and slither through on her own forgetful path. Opposites attract maybe? Well, at the end of the day it is the very interaction and responses to situations that bring the charm and opportunity for Terrie's humour style to shine through. 


The plot is really fun, and had a great Sci-Fi adventure and Dr Who vibe. Which I think will be very appealing to the younger readers as well as the adults that will share the reading with them. 


The artwork from Brenda is spot on. The cover is magical and clever. It took a while for Mrs H to spot the shadows on the cover. Within there are the charming snail images to each chapter heading, and plenty of other images throughout that lift the recipe to perfection. 


Pleasingly, there are lots of little morals interwoven into this story. I'm sure with guidance from parents and teachers reading this book, the younger readers will come away as enriched as they are entertained. 



So . . . .

Crunch time. 


As is our wont, Mrs H and I compared notes afterward we had read. Our conclusion is that this is a top buy. It is as refreshing as a newly pulled lettuce and will offer the young who is just starting to explore new books plenty of encouragement to explore, turn pages and to grow. 


Terrie Chilvers' web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.terriechilvers.com/


Brenda Figueroa web page can be found HERE or type this: https://brendafigueroa.com/


Firefly Press' web page can be found HERE or type this: https://fireflypress.co.uk/


Now lets head over to the Manor House at Upper Much-Mousing for the closing scene in a very, very long running race.....


Mrs Hudson paused mid stride having just passed the kitchen door. Her inner housekeeper super senses warned her something strange was going down by the back door. Counting to five, she took four paces backwards and glanced through the kitchens slightly ajar door.

"What are you doing, dear?" she asked Erin, and not without good reason. There on the kitchen floor, with one paw raised ready to swipe down on a time clock, was Erin.

"Quick, come and see the end of the race," Erin replied, not looking up.

"What race?" Nudging the door open with her elbow, Mrs Hudson entered the kitchen. Having placed the laundry she was carrying to one side, she knelt down to see what Erin was staring so intently at.

"It's the Much-Mousing leg of the Tour De France race. The chalk mark is the finishing line." Erin gave her housekeeper and trusted partner in crime solving, an earnest look then returned to watching the garden path. Either side of finishing line were placed two chequered flags. "I was appointed the finish line marshal," Erin added, proudly. "Mrs Singh was the marshal on the start line on account of her shop having lots of fresh produce to give the competitors a hearty meal to start the day."

"I'll not be having hordes of muddy lycra-clad men cycling into my kitchen, not after I've just cleaned these tiles. And I'll not be having pile-ups on the garden path, either. We've just had new gravel put down as well as new bedding plants in the borders. Shouldn't the finishing line be outdoors. Somewhere wide with banners and bunting and where the reporters can take pictures?"

"Oh, no need to worry about any of that, Mrs H, as there's no lycra or bicycles involved. Though some of the bedding plants might get a bit... umm, damaged. Absolutely little chance of a pile up. Even if there was, these guys, possibly girls, don't mind that sort of thing. As to the newspaper reporters, I've got that covered." Erin gestured with a paw to an old Polaroid Instamatic camera sat on the floor next to the chalk line. "And I can use the camera in case of a photo finish."

Mrs Hudson gave her best confused look, one nearly always reserved for Erin when she had just explained, or rather tried to explain one of her plans. "But the Tour de France does have bicycles, dear, else how would they travel around. And aren't the special stages longer than 3 miles?" Mrs H had regularly cycled to the shops and considered it only challenging in high winds, hail and snow.

"Oh it is very challenging if you take a cross country route rather than the road." Erin said matter-of-factly. "And these competitors are on a foot, Mrs H."

"On foot? Wouldn't that be rather slow. It would take months to get around the UK and France. Anyway, the Tour de France isn't in the UK till 2027."

"Oh it takes longer than that, Mrs H. This race, the local leg, started five days ago. The main race started over a year ago; postage and getting lost in sorting offices does slow things down a bit. The competitors, should they survive being shipped around, and are not eaten on route, are expected to pass the finish line at the Champs-Elysees in Paris, sometime in June 2027 – give or take a month.

"Not eaten!" Mrs H said with astonishment.

"Oh yes. Quite regularly there have to be team member changes. It can take many generations of snails to finish. Apparently in the last race, in 2010, half the competitors were trodden on when the press corp rushed to the finish line. And some seagulls picked off a dozen others at Dieppe."

"Snails?!" Mrs Hudson's expression become one of sudden realisation. "Oh. Oh, I see. Well in that case I suggest we retire for a cup of tea."

"No time, Mrs H, they are due here any minute." I've got to do the stopwatch and then gather them up, count heads, or rather shells; that sort of thing. Then we will have to feed them and send them off to the next stage. That is at West Pudbury Hill. A tricky section that will sort out the hard shells from the soft.

"Oh we have plenty of time, dear. There will be a delay to their arrival; roadworks and a meal stop, I believe."

Erin gave her a quizzical look then looked down the drive. There was no sign of the snails in their painted shells. "How do you know that, Mrs H?"

"There has been roadworks along the final section of the route. Or as I would describe it, old Ned the gardener doing the gravel path."

"The competitors, they . . . They're not . . . gone, are they?" Erin looked really down hearted.

"Fear not. Ned told me he had collected up 55 snails with national flags painted on their shells. Being the kind hearted soul that he is, he refused to put them over the hedge. They are in a big storage box chomping down on some lettuce in his potting shed as we speak."

"I think I am out of a job. Mrs H. I can’t send them back to Mrs Singh's to start again as it would ruin the tour schedule. And it would take a superpower snail to make up for lost time." Erin sighed and stopped the time clock.

"Fear not Erin, I'll make a new starting line for them at the start of the gravel path. Then you and I can cheer them on to the finish line. If anyone asks, we can call it a sprint finish.

"What shall we do in the meantime?" Erin was starting to feel peckish. Thankfully snails were not on her menu.

"Well, it just so happens this week's book review is about two very special snails with superpowers. Why don't we settle down with a cup of tea and shortbread and write up our review for our readers?


I hope you enjoyed that book review, and our short adventure too. 


And finally, it's Sunday Selfie time!

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. A link to their website and the hop can be found HERE.


Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

 

Image of Erin laying on her right side on Mrs Hudson's bed. Her paws are stretched out in front of her. Her head is tilted up rather than flat and she is looking at the camera.


Till laters!

ERin

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Sunday, 16 March 2025

PIRATE ACADEMY. MISSING AT SEA

Written by JUSTIN SOMPER.  

                            

                                                    Small book cover. Pirate Academy is in gold leaf at the top of the cover with the author noted above in pale blue. Missing at Sea is picked out in red on a gold banner at the bottom of the page, with 3 sharks snapping at the cast above. Bottles containing clues for the characters to solve during the adventure hang from ropes, one in each corner. Neo and Jacoby hold a rope apiece and stand either side of Jasmine who is front and centre of the cover steering the school ship's wheel. The broiling waves and sky are in varying shades of matt blue. The cast are wearing their class colours and life preservers. A small image of a bigger vessel with sails in tatters is seen just below the wheel.


An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.


Hello, and welcome to my latest book review featuring his week, a High Seas Pirate Adventure in Middle-Grade Fiction.


Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, weighing the anchor in at 2kg and looking strangely like an old iron, let's make sail for a second-in-series review . . .


Large book cover. Pirate Academy is in gold leaf at the top of the cover with the author noted above in pale blue. Missing at Sea is picked out in red on a gold banner at the bottom of the page, with 3 sharks snapping at the cast above. Bottles containing clues for the characters to solve during the adventure hang from ropes, one in each corner. Neo and Jacoby hold a rope apiece and stand either side of Jasmine who is front and centre of the cover steering the school ship's wheel. The broiling waves and sky are in varying shades of matt blue. The cast are wearing their class colours and life preservers. A small image of a bigger vessel with sails in tatters is seen just below the wheel.



 

AUTHOR:  Justin Somper

 

Illustrations by:  TEO SKAFFA

 

Published by:  UCLan Publishing

 

Publication date Paperback:  1 July 2024

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978-1916 747 036


UK Cover price for Paperback:  £7.99


Amazon KINDLE price:  N/A

 

Pages: 238

 

Age range: 8+  


Any dogs or cats? Alas, no. But steal yourself for some pretty nasty encounters. 

 

 

SPOILER ALERT


Yes, as to book one and this book's plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 


We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to read not one but two of these BRAND NEW adventures for our Read & Review. As our own book is a pirate adventure, we just had to say yes. We haven't been disappointed.


As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.


 

The plot


To get up to speed on book one, 'Pirate Academy New Kid on Deck', please CLICK THIS LINK. There is a short summary of book one in the front of book two.


The story opens with Neo Splice, one of our key characters, desperately trying to conceal himself from those who have moments before murdered his mother. Thankfully, this is a nightmare, but the actual event took place not so long ago, and Neo narrowly escaped with his life. 


As the day progresses, we find the fifteen year five students of Barracuda Class eagerly speculating on who will be the five captains chosen to lead the Oceans Bound (OB) weekend. It is a test unique to year five students where they are, for the first time, let loose on the sea proper for forty-eight hours alone in a school boat. During that time, they must complete several tasks, escalating in difficulty.


 In reality, of course, they are not totally alone. The school's pirate teachers and some of the senior students lay the puzzles and monitor the five teams of three as they go about the tasks. It is not just a race to the end prize, though that is part of it. No, they will be judged on how they act together as individual crews and as a set of five teams. As pirates, they are expected to uphold certain standards and camaraderie no matter what happens.


Jacoby Blunt and Jasmine Peacock, both highly adept students, are keen to be captains. Jacoby, more so, as he feels he has done enough work and is skilled enough. Jasmine is hopeful but not cocksure like Jacoby. Neo, our third lead character, is seemingly not concerned or hopeful. He is, after all, the new kid on deck.


When the five captains are announced to tumultuous applause from the whole school, it is Jasmine who gets the captaincy out of the three. Jacoby is huffy, to say the least, and won't talk to his mates.


The captains have to pick two students to be their crew. Now, this causes some issues, as Jasmine chooses Neo and Jacoby, who are, unknown to others, brothers. Neo attempts to turn down Jasmine's request as he wants to leave the academy due to a welling up of fear when afloat. Jacoby is just plain stubborn. Despite not being picked by another of the captains, his spite drives him to hold out to the point that Jasmine is about to offer the chance to another. 


But, showing her true friendship, she gets Neo help with his ails. In so doing, he signs up for the OB challenge. Jacoby eventually comes around when he realises he's been an ass. 


But just when things seem set, Jasmine is called to the Commodore's office. Here she receives terrible news: her uncle, a senior member of the League of True Pirates (LOT P), has escaped from a high-security prison and may be after her. As a result, she has to consider pulling out from OB. 


She decides not to, but there will be risks. Hopefully, the extra security laid on will be enough . . . 


As the tasks get underway, we find Jasmine, Neo and Jacoby working well; the first task is complete, and the crews are buoyant. But things, like the ocean and the weather, take a turn for the worse. And my, how quickly they change. 


When LOT P agents attack and tie up the senior students that set the tasks and leave each team individually tailored clues, they take over the OB adventure. 

Our three protagonists now enter into far deadlier challenges, facing almost certain death on land and at sea. 


The outcome, well, that would be telling where the buried treasure is now, wouldn't it. . . .



So, what did we think, with spoilers.


So much was crammed into the pages, and the pace hardly slowed. Even the book cover is epic; vibrant action-filled, and a bit scary, with tasty hints as to what's inside. 


It was lovely to see a swing in emphasis so Jasmine becomes the centre of this adventure, ably abetted and hindered in equal measure by Neo and Jacoby.

Friendship runs deep in this tale, family more so. The relevance of that, the reader discovers nearer the end. 


Given the school setting, it was hard not to think of aspects of Harry Potter with this story, spiders and challenges, but it definitely isn't. Is this a kid's version of Top Gun? Nah, that's not working for me; there is far more substance and grit and sand to this. 


What did come to mind, well, Mrs H's convoluted mind, was that this was like an episode of Star Trek. Lots of action and interaction between lead characters, diversity, and an adventure each week that's sure to excite. LOT P would absolutely be the Klingons and Romulans of old. 


'Sea Pirates, the Next Generation' would work well. Eoin Colfer summed this up brilliantly when he described this series as "Pirates done right".


We were most definitely pleased and caught napping with the ending, which sees some characters split off on another course, whilst others have to deal with the shocking revelations of this adventure. 


So . . . .

Crunch time. 


An admirable (rather than admiral) action-packed sequel with a huge presence and literary magic on every page. Compulsive reading with delightful twists, epic escapes and everything worthy of a Dreamworks or Pixar adventure. We can't recommend this enough. 


Want to buy a copy?


To get a copy of tnis not-so-buried treasure, please set course to your local bookshop. There are plenty out there (book shops and not pirates), and each shop is just waiting to serve you whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you desire.


Justin Somper's Vampirates web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.vampirates.co.uk/captain-somper/justin-somper/


UCLan Publishing's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/


Teo Skaffa's author page web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Teo-Skaffa/179183401 


Small book cover. Pirate Academy is in gold leaf at the top of the cover with the author noted above in pale blue. Missing at Sea is picked out in red on a gold banner at the bottom of the page, with 3 sharks snapping at the cast above. Bottles containing clues for the characters to solve during the adventure hang from ropes, one in each corner. Neo and Jacoby hold a rope apiece and stand either side of Jasmine who is front and centre of the cover steering the school ship's wheel. The broiling waves and sky are in varying shades of matt blue. The cast are wearing their class colours and life preservers. A small image of a bigger vessel with sails in tatters is seen just below the wheel.

I hope you enjoyed that adventure. Head to the nearest tavern, and treat yourselves to a hearty flagon of rum! 



And for those wishing a selfie, here it is. But this week it's not of me. 


This is Caramel, a lovely stray 7yr old guy, who has been a regular guest visitor to our parish, and inside my and our neighbours homes. He is friendly, and quite content to just lounge around and watch the household activity whilst getting some petting. He has always been very polite to female cats, never sprays indoors, and is an able food and duvet tester. 


To ensure continuity of care in the coming years, Mrs H and our neighbours directed him to the Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary. There, he has had the snip and his teeth sorted as well as loads of fuss and attention. After a false start, he now awaits a forever home. Mrs H and our neighbours visit him regularly and spend time giving extra fuss and attention. He has one of the deepest, rumbling purrs we have heard. 


And, we want to give a HUGE shout out to The PA from the Bionic Basil Blog, who, on learning about Caramel, put together an awesome goody bag for not only him, but his room mate, Thomas. There were ball toys, soft toys, a gorgeous flower wand toy, cat nip cushions, as well as a very special blanket. 


Anyone who knows The PA at the blog will know she doesn't stint on her her goody bags. Thomas and Caramel got stuck right in to the nip and Mrs H spent ages retrieving the bags when they batted them off their respective resting places. 


We'll share a picture of Thomas next time.


Caramel the cat, keen to enjoy some quiet family lap time, and some nip.

Whatever you are doing, please have a wonderful cat filled week.


We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this sentence to visit Janet Blue's site.


Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

 



Till laters!

ERin