CALEB, Author at Adventure Boyz Books: Stories worth re-reading

Chez Bob Review: A Heartwarming Tale of a Cooking Croc

Chez Bob by Bob Shea is a heartwarming children’s book of a crocodile who sets out to trick a bunch of birds, but ends up befriending and eventually saving them.

Quick Takes

Readability – Just readable by Agent B (6 years old)
Reading time – ~6 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 9/10
Perfect for – A feelgood story for primary aged kids, perhaps around 5 to 9

What Makes It A Favourite?

It’s a classic tale of a character who sets out with an intent to harm, but has his heart melted by those he had sought out to harm. There’s also an underlying link to the real crocodile and real birds – see the Egyptian Plover.

Dad’s Take

We are really enjoying these Bob Shea books. They are original, fun to read, and have enjoyable and often redeeming stories. The birds Bob ends up saving are very cute and lovable, and Bob himself is an unlikely hero. I will miss reading books like these when the kids are older.

The Kids’ Take

Agent B liked the trickster Bob and rather concerning, was upset that Bob’s original plan did not succeed.

Agent C found Chez Bob (whispers) a little sus, and was happy to see his ‘sus’ nature turn around.

Buy or Borrow It

Borrow. But like all books on the site, it could be very much be a buy.

Who Wet My Pants? Review: A Hilariously Damp Adventure Your Kids Will Love

Who Wet My Pants by Bob Shea is a hilarous potty humour book for kids about a bear coming to terms with why his pants are wet.

Quick Takes

Readability – Very doable for Agent B (6 years old)
Reading time – ~6 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 9/10
Perfect for – A few laughs, and a gentle moral of not accusing others at least before you think things through

What Makes It A Favourite?

The “Did you wet my pants?” line always gathers a giggle or two. There is a lovely little story arc of a well intended bear coming to terms with the reason his pants are wet.

Dad’s Take

I really like this book. Sure, the bear’s humorously aggressive questioning of his friends as to who wet is pants isn’t a good model for one’s behavior… But the characters are all likable, and as the bear recalls his journey to damp pants, it is just good fun. We’ve read this periodically and never seem to get sick of it.

The Kids’ Take

Both kids provided far too many spoilers in their reflections of Who Wet My Pants? They did both reflect on the misguided allegations of the bear, and shook their head at his er, lack of insight.

Buy or Borrow It

Borrow. Like all books on this site though, it is a multi borrow.

Wombat Stew Review: An Aussie Classic About A Duped Dingo

Wombat Stew by Marcia K Vaughan is an Australian classic of a bunch of outback Australian animals duping a dingo into thinking he’s making a delicious wombat stew, when they’re actually saving their mate.

Quick Takes

Readability – Just there for Agent B (6 years old)
Reading time – ~8 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 8.5/10
Perfect for – Aussie animal lovers, kids who like cheeky stories, ages 4-8

What Makes It A Favourite?

It’s a book that continues to build. Each animal adds their (deceptive) input into ‘bettering’ the wombat stew. The illustrations of the cackling dingo and unimpressed, cunning Australian animals are a hoot.

Dad’s Take

It is early days in our blogging journey, but this could be the best Aussie book we have on our list. We received this as gift a few Christmas’s ago and have read it many times since. It is a book you can read at face value – it really is about a dingo who wants to make a wombat stew, and accepts the advice of his hoodwinking animal buddies. Spoiler alert – the wombat stew does not go the way he wants it to.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C enjoyed the Australian animals who double crossed the otherwise mean and ignorant dingo.

Agent B liked the build up at the end (spoiler alert) where the animals tell the dingo to stop and taste the stew, ultimately saving the wombat.

Buy or Borrow It?

Buy. This is an Aussie favourite for us and we have been glad to revisit it again and again.

The Snail and the Whale: An Intrepid Snail Sails The Seas

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson is fantastical tale on a snail who travels the world on a great, big humpback whale.

Quick Takes

Readability – Just doable by Agent C (6.5 years old)
Reading time – 7 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 8/10
Perfect for – A bedtime book to snuggle up to

What Makes It A Favourite?

Dad’s View

This is a go to book that has taken on legendary status in our household as it is just a great original story. I would put this in the same arena as Tabby McTat for a classic children’s book that is an enjoyable read and doesn’t try to preach too much (I don’t think there is a moral to the story here… unless it’s about reading the fine print on salsa labels).

I suppose it’s not unlike good taco. Tasty, easy to eat and decent nutritionally. Yes, a taco.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C loved the adventure of this book

Agent B enjoyed the idea of a snail who would travel on a the back of whale.

Buy or Borrow It?

Buy. Like Tabby McTat, this is all time favourite in our household. I highly recommend this one as a gift for your own family or another’s.

Dragons Love Tacos: The Book That Launched 1,000 Tacos

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin is an amusing original story about taco loving dragons who cause from trouble (unintentionally!) when they encounter spicy salsa.

Quick Takes

Readability – Simple enough for a 5 year old
Reading time – ~5 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 9/10
Perfect for – A wacky original before (or after) Taco night!

What Makes It A Favourite?

This is an original story, playful told and illustrated. The dragons are fun loving folk who just want to have a good time with boatloads of tacos. It’s a quick and easy read and you don’t need like dragons or tacos to enjoy it. It has just about all the ingredients of a great book.

Dad’s View

I suppose it’s not unlike good taco. Tasty, easy to eat and decent nutritionally. Yes, a taco.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C discovered tacos after reading this book, circa aged 5. Tacos have been a regular on the menu ever since. His record is 9 tacos filled with meat, cheese, guacamole and a small piece of tomato or two.

Agent B likes the bit where the dragons shoot out fire and burn down the house (think spicy salsa).

Buy or Borrow It?

Buy. This is an all time favourite in our household. Buy it and schedule the readings to whet the appetite for the next taco night.

Farmer Duck: The First Half of Animal Farm (for Kids)

Farmer Duck by Martin Waddell is a thoughtful tale of a hard working duck whose animal friends help him take on his lazy owner.

Quick Takes

Readability – An early read (5 years old) could do it
Reading time – ~5 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 8/10
Perfect for – A classic tale with a happy ending.

What Makes It A Favourite?

Farmer Duck was written in 1992 and as we re-read probably for the fifth time recently, it did start to feel some of its age. So why the favourite? It’s a classic story with a introduction, a problem, and a resolution. There is no doubt who the good guys are (the Duck and his animal friends) and who the villain is (the farm owner).

Dad’s View

The reference to Animal Farm is a little tongue-in-cheek, but it really does read the first part of animal farm. In fact, *spoiler alert* once the Duck and his friends chase off the lazy farm owner, the final page has the Duck standing the middle of the farm with his wing raised, whilst the other animals do the farm work. For the kids, I don’t think we make anything of that. But if you are a fan of Animal Farm, you’ll get what I’m talking about.

We have read this book now for years. It is a simple (or perhaps not so simple) classic.

The Kids’ Take

Both Agents were unified in their like of the hard working duck, and dislike of the lazy farmer, who lays in bed eating chocolates.

Buy or Borrow It?

A repeat borrow. Or it’s a buy for a friend as would very nicely live on any bookshelf.

Fart and Burp Are Superstinkers: Maybe the Best Fart Book

Fart and Burp are Superstinkers by Zoe Foster Blake

Fart and Burp are Superstinkers by Zöe Foster Blake is a tootingly fun book about a noble flatulence and his belchy pal.

Quick Takes

Readability – Agent B (6 years old) could read it
Reading time – 8-10 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 7/10 (10/10 laugh-o-meter!)
Perfect for – Laughs. Big laughs. A heroic fart book with a decent storyline.

What Makes It A Favourite?

Okay, another confession: I (Adventure Dad) do not typically like books written by celebrities. But this was as funny as Hi-5 was as fun, or Tabby McTat was as a great story. If there was a laugh-o-meter, this book would be a 10 out of 10.

Being the Adventure Boyz, we have read many fart books. We enjoy a good fart (or five) and tucking in a good book about bodily gasses. This one is the best one by far.

Fart and Burp are the best of mate who just want to experience the world around them. Unfortunately, the world around them does not take positively to being surrounded by unpleasant odours. They find their calling in swirling themselves around to scare off bullies or catch thieves. It is a terrific hoot.

Dad’s View

This was really funny. Don’t read if you find toilet humour beneath you. Fortunately for me, toilet humour will never be beneath me. It will always be in front of me. Look, it is a fart book that has a better-than-average storyline, and the ending is terrific. Cue Sewie, the enormous sewerage smelling old mate.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C and B were unified in this joy in reading this book. They both liked that it was about farts. Ha ha ha. Farts.

Buy or Borrow It?

A repeat borrow. Again, something we’d very happily gift.

Whilst this is a high brow blog, what is your favourite fart book? Tell us what you thought in the comments!

Hi-5 by Adam Rubin Review: A Slappin’ Good Time

High Five by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

Hi-5 by Adam Rubin is an interactive picture book that puts readers at the center of a high-five championship.

Quick Takes

Readability – Agent B (6 years old) could read it
Reading time – 12 minutes (allow time for the high fives!)… This could be a 20 minute book as well if you had multiple kids all Hi-5’ing
Adventure Boyz Rating – 7.5/10 (9/10 fun rating!)
Perfect for – a cheerful read without too much of a storyline. Would be a great read with a bunch of kids.

What Makes It A Favourite?

Confession first: we tossed up whether this made the cut of a favourite. It scraped through. It’s a hard act to follow Tabby McTat. To be fair, we have read this book at least four times now and tend to grab it anytime we see it sitting on the library shelf. It remains a fun, interactive book about for you, the protagonist, on a mission to win the Hi-5 championships.

You know what? I’m listening to Agent B re-reading it again whilst we write this review, and now convinced it actually belongs on this blog (as favourite)! It’s probably one of the best interactive books we have kept coming back to.

Spoiler alert – the last character is a octopus!

The final boss on Hi-5. The dreaded Octopus!

Dad’s View

Like Tabby McTat, this is rhythmically fun book to read, and it is an original story. The kids enjoy the heck out of slapping the pages. This would be a great book to read to bunch of kids around the ages of 6-7. It is bound to capture their attention, and in combination of a bunch of Hi-5’s, it would make for a compelling time.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C liked the hand-drawn, coloured penciled drawings and really, really enjoyed the opportunity to slap (or Hi-5) the book.

Agent B is liked being the winner and getting a trophy at the end. Being the protagonist, he was very pleased to be at the centre of attention.

Buy or Borrow It?

It’s a borrow for us, but a repeat borrow. I would happily buy this book as a gift.

Have you read Hi-5? Tell us what you thought in the comments!

Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson Review: A Busker Cat’s Adventure

Quick Takes

Readability – Agent B (6 years old) could read most of it
Reading time – 5-7 minutes
Adventure Boyz Rating – 8/10
Perfect for – a whimsical bedtime story (and for those who like cats!)

What Makes It A Favourite?

Tabby McTat is an all-time favourite in our household that we’ve read over ten times – more so since we’ve gotten a cat of our own (named Kit Cat). Tabby McTat is a hardy busker’s (Fred) cat whose life takes a turn when his owner is hospitalised, leaving McTat to fend for himself. McTat ends up finding a partner and living a very different, very domesticated life. He loves his new life and new family, but can’t help but wonder where his owner has gone (and the life he once lead).

And often he said, “What’s happened to Fred?”
And his paws took him back to the square.
But a conjuror stood where the pair once sat,
And he pulled out this…
And he pulled out that…
And people threw coins in the tall black hat,
But he busker was never there.

Dad’s View

This phonetically fun book to read. Like all great kids books, on one hand it is a simple story about a cat living a rather romanticised life as a busker, who then becomes accustomed to more ‘boring’ life as living a a house with a cat and human family of his own. Sound familiar?

There’s a part in this tale where McTat makes the hard decision to temporarily leave his family to find Fred. That had a bit of feels. I guess we are all like McTat?

The Kids’ Take

Agent C likes the storyline of McTat’s life, which starts off as a busker’s cat, getting ‘married’ and then parenthood. He also likes the reference to Fred eating bacon and bread, which sparked a semi-regular breakfast for the kids of, well, bacon and bread!

Agent B is likes that it is about a cat (I know, I know, it’s because we have a beloved cat of our own), and that it tells a story about a father and his son.

Buy or Borrow It?

We’ve bought this one! It is having a second (and third) wind in our household since the arrival of our own cat!