Rick Stromoski

A trip with these two characters promises tons of laughs, eye-rolls, and even a few 'huh?s' along the way.

Tatertoes hasn't visited his mother in a very long time and decides it's time to change that. Schnozzer, as always, is ready to go along. Not only does Tatertoes's mother live pretty far away, but neither he nor Schnozzer are quite sure how to get there. With Tatertoes's emergency pack at hand (and what a surprise that pack is), the two set out and run into several unexpected adventures.

Humor and a heaping mountain of nonsense are the driving factors in these pages, and this guarantees smiles, laughter, and snorts the entire way through. With misunderstandings, word play, and silly situations, the two friends never run across even a second of boredom. But more importantly, their friendship always shines through. These too are thick friends and even when they are confused by the other's actions/statements, it never hits a negative note. It's an inspiring relationship, which is tons of fun to join.

The journey has the two meeting various characters along the way. The situations might hint at a little tension, at times, but even these dissolve back into humor. The two not only encounter other animals (owls, bees, and alligators) and sticky situations, but there are also nods at three fairy tales along their way. It creates an unique read with lots of surprises.

The graphics are easy to follow, well drawn, and bring each scene to life. The text is clear and holds a slightly larger font, making it easier for beginning readers to handle. The vocabulary is varied, allowing a bit of reading strengthening without bogging down and ruining the fun. The text is concise and doesn't overload, balancing with the graphics to create the tale. It's a light, quick read, which will satisfy even more reluctant readers.

I enjoyed every page and snorted at the humor several times. Of course, some of it is ridiculous, but that's also the point. It's harmless, fun, and sure to delight many readers. I received an ARC and enjoyed diving into the humor and fun.… (altro)