Caramel’s reviews – Page 23

Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad by Anna Humphrey and Irma Kniivila

Today Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad, by Anna Humphrey and Irma Kniivila, the first book in a new graphic novel series called Fluffle Bunnies, coming out later this month. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

The book bunnies received this book as an advance review copy.

Caramel reviews Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila. — Caramel reviews *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you got yourself a new graphic novel series.

Caramel: Yep.

S: Why don’t you start by introducing us to the Fluffle Bunnies, who are apparently going to go bad in this book?

C: These are three little bunnies. They are called Biggie, Boingy, and Flop, and they are really nice and cuddly. But then they decide to be TUFF bunnies.

S: Tell me more. What does that mean?

C: That means that they turn evil.

S: Wait, evil? I had thought this would be kind of like the Bad Guys books. So they would be bad in some ways but actually be cute deep inside.

C: This is kind of the opposite of the Bad Guys books actually. These guys start as cute little bunnies and then they go rotten. In Bad Guys, it’s the opposite; they are bad guys who turn good.

S: Well, I like cute little bunnies, and even mischievous little bunnies, after all, you are one. But evil ones? I am not sure that I like that…

C: Well, they are not really evil. So what happens is that their mother leaves for a trip, so the little bunnies are left defenseless, so the other animals try to take advantage of them, and so the little bunnies decide to toughen up. So they are not really evil, but they are tough. I said that before. They want to be TUFF. I guess they don’t know how to spell tough. Unlike me.

S: I see. So then they are not bad bunnies; they just learn to stand up for themselves.

C: Kinda. But they go a bit beyond just that. They take over the park. They go a little bit too far, maybe.

Caramel is reading Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila. — Caramel is reading *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila.

S: That is interesting. And kind of funny, I must admit. Three little bunnies taking over a park.

C: It is funny, but it is also fun. Think of it Sprinkles; you, me and Marshmallow having our own park. Wouldn’t it be awesome? Of course the three bunnies in the book are all siblings. And you are our mommy. And you have not left home to go to Brazil to learn jujitsu.

S: Well, learning jujitsu could be really awesome. And Brazil is the heart of Brazilian jujitsu so that makes sense. Remember, years ago, you and Marshmallow tried to learn Brazilian jujitsu?

C: Yes, and that was a lot of fun. So maybe, I can understand the mommy bunny. But the three little bunnies go a little cuckoo when she leaves, so maybe she should have taken them along.. Oh well. If she did take them along, this book would not be written, and I would not have had all the fun I had reading it.

S: So you enjoyed the book then?

C: Yes. It is really funny. The way the bunnies take over is really hilarious.

S: And how about the pictures? They look like they are all black and white. Or rather all grayscale. That is, there are different shades of gray, but no other colors.

C: Yes. But that’s fine. The bunnies are very funny all the same.

S: So would you read more adventures of the Fluffle Bunnies? This is the first book of a series apparently.

C: Yes. I would. But this is a very new book, so I am afraid a second book might not come out too soon.

S: I guess we will just have to wait.

C: Yes, unfortunately. I really do not like waiting.

S: I know Caramel, but sometimes waiting is worth it.

C: Yes I guess.

S: So if you were to describe the book in three to five words…

C: Funny page-turner about three scrappy bunnies. Here I am using the “North American informal” meaning of the word “scrappy”. Like in the musical Hamilton. That’s where I heard it first.

S: I guess it is good we looked that word up together, Caramel. We also looked up the word “fluffle” right?

C: Yes, it means a group of bunnies. I really like it!

S: Me too. Okay, so let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Buns Gone Bad, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila, and he can hardly wait for a second book in the series so he can read more about these "scrappy" little bunnies. — Caramel loved reading *Buns Gone Bad*, written by Anna Humphrey and illustrated by Irma Kniivila, and he can hardly wait for a second book in the series so he can read more about these “scrappy” little bunnies.

Caramel reviews Homer Price by Robert McCloskey

Today Caramel reviews Homer Price, a book by Robert McCloskey first published in 1943. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, tell me about this book.

Caramel: This book is about a kid named Homer Price. Homer does many different things, like helping his uncle in the lunch room, which I think is essentially a restaurant, and building radios. This one is actually cool.

S: So Homer is a curious kid, and the book is about his adventures?

C: Yes. Or you could say his misadventures. A lot of unfortunate things happen. But in the end, he always comes out on top.

S: So you must like that, right? You like happy-ending books.

C: Yep. And Homer is a good kid. He is lucky but also pretty clever. And he likes to help other people.

S: Sounds a bit like you, Caramel.

C: Well, I don’t know how to build radios.

S: I bet you would like to give it a try.

C: Yes, I think I would.

S: Well, the summer is here, and school will be out soon, so maybe we can look into that.

C: I’d like that!

Caramel is reading Homer Price by Robert McCloskey. — Caramel is reading *Homer Price* by Robert McCloskey.

S: Okay, so tell me a bit more about the book.

C: There are six chapters in the book. Homer has a different adventure in each. The chapter titles are “The Case of the Sensational Scent”, “The Case of the Cosmic Comic”, “The Doughnuts”, “Mystery Yarn”, “Nothing New Under the Sun (Hardly)”, and “Wheels of Progress”. I think I like “The Doughnuts” the most.

S: Tell me more.

C: I think it is the funniest part of the book. There is this machine that makes doughnuts, and something goes wrong, and it does not stop, so it keeps making doughnuts nonstop.

S: So there is an unending supply of doughnuts? That does not seem like a terrible situation!

C: I like donuts too, but I guess you could have too many doughnuts. Anyways eventually it stops, so they have to figure out a way to sell all the doughnuts.

S: What was funny about the chapter?

C: How they panic about the unstopping doughnut machine! That was very funny. And there are pictures here and there in the book. The ones in this chapter are pretty funny. And you can see the doughnuts all over the place!

S: I see. I thought you might also enjoy the Cosmic Comic one.

C: Yes, I did. In that chapter, Homer and his friend Freddy go to meet Freddy’s favorite comic book superhero. And hilarity ensues.

S: That is a funny way of saying things Caramel! But so the book sounds like it is light and light-hearted.

C: Yes.

S: You know that this book was written quite a while ago, right? Does it show its age?

C: Not really. I mean there are no computers and cell phones around but otherwise the stories just sound like they could happen today too. Though a $100-award back then would probably be much bigger than it is today. That is from “The Doughnuts”.

S: I see. Okay, so if you were to describe this book in three to five words …

C: Hilarious, timeless adventures of a clever little boy.

S: That will do! So let us wrap this up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Homer Price by Robert McCloskey and learning about Homer's quirky adventures. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Homer Price* by Robert McCloskey and learning about Homer’s quirky adventures.

Caramel reviews The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse

Today Caramel reviews The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse, first published in 1956. As usual, Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, tell us a bit about The Red Balloon.

Caramel: The Red Balloon is a friendly balloon and becomes friends with a boy named Pascal. Pascal is lonely. He does not have brothers or sisters, and his mom does not want him to have any pets. It also seems like he does not have friends at school. But the Red Balloon becomes his friend. They go to places together, and the Red Balloon waits for him when he has to go inside.

S: That sounds fantastical, but also very sweet.

C: I think so too. Pascal needs a friend, so the Red Balloon becomes his friend. But then there are some mean boys who try to take the Red Balloon from Pascal, and they chase him, and they try to blow it up. It is really sad, and I got really mad at those boys.

S: You are right, they are mean, and they are jealous I think. Pascal has a really magical friend, and they cannot have it so they want to destroy it. Pretty terrible.

C: But at least the end of the book is not unhappy.

S: I agree. The book has some sad moments, but there are lots of very happy and sweet parts, and the end is very sweet, too.

C: Yes.

Caramel is reading The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse. — Caramel is reading *The Red Balloon* by Albert Lamorisse.

S: The book has lots of pictures, and they are almost all black and white, except the balloon, which is bright red. What did you think of that?

C: I liked it. It made the balloon even more special.

S: I agree. We also watched together the film the book is based on. What did you think of the film?

C: It was good. But watching it made me even angrier at the boys. They were so mean!

S: Yes. Pascal is so alone at the beginning and he is so happy when he makes friends with the Red Balloon, and then the boys come and try to take it away from him.

C: I guess, like you said, they were really jealous. I mean, I’d love to be friends with a balloon like that!

S: But you have real friends, too, Caramel. Pascal does not seem to have any. So he needs it so much more.

C: Good point. Hey, Sprinkles, do you think we could put a link to the movie here so our readers can watch it too, if they want?

S: Sure.

The Red Balloon – A boy makes friends with a seemingly sentient red balloon, and it begins to follow him. It follows him to the bus stop, to school, and to church. They play together in the streets of Paris and try to elude a gang of boys that wants to steal it. The Red Balloon (1956) Director: Albert Lamorisse. From YouTube.

C: Thank you. I think the movie is really nice too. It is not totally black and white, but the Red Balloon is the brightest thing in it, too.

S: Yes. I think it definitely adds to its magic. So all in all, did you like this book?

C: Yes. But now I am wondering what it would feel like to have my own balloon friends.

S: It would definitely be fun, I am sure. Especially if like in the end you had many many balloon friends!

C: Sprinkles, you are giving away the end!

S: Okay, you are right. I will not say more. Maybe this is a good time to wrap up this review anyways. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel liked reading The Red Balloon by Albert Lamorisse and is now dreaming of traveling around the world hanging on a lot of friendly balloons. — Caramel liked reading *The Red Balloon* by Albert Lamorisse and is now dreaming of traveling around the world hanging on a lot of friendly balloons.

Caramel reviews Winter Turning (Book Seven of Wings of Fire) by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes

After reviewing Wings of Fire: A Guide to the Dragon World by Tui T. Sutherland last week, Caramel realized that he had not yet reviewed the graphic novel version of Winter Turning, the seventh book in Tui T. Sutherland’s Wings of Fire series even though he had read it right when it was published in January 2024. So to make up for this forgetfulness, today he is talking to Sprinkles about this book: Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, written by Tui Sutherland, adapted by Barry Deutsch and Rachel Swirsky, with art work by Mike Holmes, and color by Maarta Laiho.

Caramel reviews Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel reviews *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I know you read this book all the way back in January; did you reread it before this review?

Caramel: Yes. In fact I am still rereading it.

S: I see. So you explained the plot of the book in quite some detail when you were reviewing the original.

C: Yep. And so maybe I do not have to go over it again.

S: Sure, our readers can go and check out that review, but let us try to make this one a bit self-contained. so why don’t you tell us just a little bit about the book? you do not have to go into too much detail. For that our readers can check out your review of the original book.

C: Well, this is about an IceWing named Winter, who is one of the students in Jade Academy. The dragonets from Jade Academy end up finding Queen Scarlet. They were searching for Hailstorm who is Winter’s brother, and they thought Hailstorm was taken by Scarlet. But it is not that simple. Hailstorm is under the influence of some magic which makes him almost worship Scarlet, so he is kind of staying willingly.

S: I see. Maybe this is a good recap that can get folks started with the book.

Caramel is reading Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes. — Caramel is reading *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes.

S: So tell me about the drawings. This is after all a graphic novel version of a full novel.

C: One word: amazing. I mean it is just the same crew who did the previous graphic novels, and so the drawings are familiar and they just work.

S: And I know you have read this book so much that it is already kind of worn out.

C: Kind of. But yes, I have read it a lot. And maybe we will eventually get the graphic novel versions of the eighth book, and then the ninth, and then the tenth, and I will get to read all of them!

S: Only if you promise you will review them too.

C: Of course.

S: Okay, so before we wrap up this review, can you describe this book in three to five words?

C: Sure. Colorful, hilarious, and adventurous.

S: Hilarious because your favorite character Qilbli is there?

C: Yes, I love how funny he is! But we have to wait all the way until book ten to have a whole book in his perspective.

S: That is alright though. I seem to recall it was worth the wait.

C: True, that book was awesome too, but also I don’t like waiting.

S: I know. Anyways, let us not make our readers wait further (did you see what I did there?) So what do you want to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading and rereading Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel, by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes, and encourages all fans of Wings of Fire to check it out. — Caramel loved reading and rereading *Winter Turning: The Graphic Novel,* by Tui Sutherland and Mike Holmes, and encourages all fans of Wings of Fire to check it out.