Virtual Book Tour Happy Birthday to US!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Happy Birthday to US!

Written by Sherry Ellis

Illustrated by Nina Hvozdzeva

Ages: 4–7 | 52 Pages

Publisher: A 2 Z Press, LLC (2025) | ISBN: 978-1962101240

Publisher’s Book Summary: Celebrate the joy of sharing a birthday with America! In this charming, rhyming picture book, a young child believes the local parade and fireworks are all for him—until he discovers that everyone is celebrating something even bigger: Our nation’s Independence Day. With cheerful illustrations and a heartwarming message, Happy Birthday to US! introduces young readers to the history and meaning behind July 4th while capturing the excitement of summer, birthdays, and community pride. A delightful read-aloud for classrooms, family story times, and patriotic holidays, this book is a perfect way to celebrate America’s birthday!

MY REVIEW

I knew of Sherry Ellis as the author of the Bubba and Squirt chapter book series, but this was the first of her picture books that I have read. She has created a story about a young child who originally thinks Independence Day parades are part of celebrating his own July 4th birthday.

Ellis uses rhyming text for the narrator’s explanation of how he has come to understand why all the floats, bands, and fireworks appear. He credits his father with explaining that all those folks in costume represent patriots like Franklin, Revere, and Hancock who helped create and sign the Declaration of Independence. Once he realizes what the celebration is all about, he wishes on his birthday candles for “a world where there is freedom for all.” 

The colorful illustrations capture humorous moments like his hamster dressed like Abraham Lincoln in a stovepipe hat and his cat getting an American flag at the face-painting stand. Other scenes include standard parade components like a fife and drum corps, floats with people in historical costumes, and fireworks spelling our USA in the night sky. Back matter explains why Americans celebrate on July 4th with a brief history of the date’s significance. There is also an author’s note, which says “...this book is meant to bring smiles and spark conversations about what makes America - and each of us - special.”

This is a fun way to introduce the meaning of the holiday to very young readers. They can laugh at the antics of the child’s pets and point out parts of the holiday activities they are familiar with while also learning about community holiday displays.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4m7DaFv 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/happy-birthday-to-us-sherry-ellis/1148799541?ean=9781962101240

Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/2078/9781962101240 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherry Ellis is an award-winning author and professional musician who plays and teaches the violin, viola, and piano. When she is not writing or engaged in musical activities, she can be found doing household chores, hiking, or exploring the world. Ellis lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

To learn more, visit www.sherryellis.org.

https://www.instagram.com/sherry_ellis_author/

https://www.facebook.com/sherryellisbooksandmusic/

https://www.tiktok.com/@sherry.ellis.author

https://bsky.app/profile/sherryellisauthor.bsky.social

https://x.com/513sherrye

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4818957.Sherry_Ellis 

TOUR SCHEDULE

Monday, April 13, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 The Starlit Path Instagram Reel about Happy Birthday to US!

Thursday, April 16, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Friday, April 17, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Monday, April 20, 2026 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Thursday, April 23, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Sherry Ellis

Friday, April 24, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Happy Birthday to US!

Monday, April 27, 2026 A Blue Box Full of Books Instagram Post about Happy Birthday to US!

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Happy Birthday to US!

Thursday, April 30, 2026 Sybrina’s Book Blog Guest Post about Happy Birthday to US!

Friday, May 1, 2026 @books.with.courtney Instagram Post about Happy Birthday to US!

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Lisa’s Reading Book Spotlight on Happy Birthday to US!

Thursday, May 7, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Happy Birthday to US!

This post is sponsored by Sherry Ellis. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Virtual Book Tour Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

ABOUT THE BOOK

Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Written by Michael J. Bowler

Illustrated by Pintado (cover); Hanna Boanna (chapter heading illustrations)

Ages: 9-12 | 264 Pages

Publisher: Michael Bowler (2026) | ISBN: 979-8993648606

Publisher's Book Summary: AN INTERNET JOKE. AN EVIL GENIUS. A HERO IS BORN.

Gifted with a brain that works like a video recorder, twelve-year-old aspiring detective Elmo Fitzroy — famous on YouTube, thanks to his mother, as “Muppit Boy” because of really humiliating videos — becomes embroiled in a world-domination plot hatched by an evil scientist out to control humanity with deadly allergies.

Mo's life plan is simple: ditch his dweeby childhood alter ego and fly under the radar to survive middle school. It backfires big time when he helps his Big Brother mentor — a police detective — investigate an old woman in a clown mask who robs people of their hearing aids.

Little does he realize that chasing clues with friends Barney Kettlewick and Kashvi Jindal will lead to a battle with ugly shoes, pursuit by chainsaw-wielding maniacs, an embarrassingly public rescue by a California condor, a meeting with Homeland Security, and his ADHD soaring into overdrive.

The kid who's always been a joke must somehow become a hero to save his family, friends, and, well, the whole world.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW

Have you ever heard the insult, “You’re ugly and your mother dresses you funny”? Unfortunately, that is how Mo feels his whole life has gone. His name is actually Elmo and his mother dressed him in a red onesie and put him on her YouTube channel when he was younger, so everyone refers to him as Muppit Boy because he resembles the puppet character Elmo. And some things are very hard to outgrow.

Luckily for Mo he has two great friends, Barney and Kash, plus his mom and his mentor from the Big Brothers program, Ari. He needs that support because he is always being teased for his large nose, for the videos of his childhood that are out there on the Internet, and because his ADHD sometimes gets him into uncomfortable situations. But he also has an amazing memory that he can rewind, just like watching a video, and pull out details that others would have missed or forgotten. When an evil mastermind who dresses like a “cross between Darth Vader and Dr. Doom” comes up with a plan to give the world the worst allergies ever, Mo may be the only one who can stop him.

This fast-paced middle grade adventure has danger (chainsaw-wielding senior citizens, crashing rockets, nanites), unusual creatures like a California condor, a group of kids determined to be detectives, and plenty of humor. It will pull readers in and keep them turning the pages to see what happens next.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Michael J. Bowler has been a high school teacher, a volunteer Big Brother to eight boys with the Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a decades-long volunteer within the juvenile justice system in Los Angeles and is a single dad to an adopted child.

Discover more from the author at michaeljbowler.com.

https://www.instagram.com/michaeljbowler/

https://www.facebook.com/michaeljbowler.author

https://x.com/michaeljbowler

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 The Children's Book Review Tour Kick-Off for Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, April 30, 2026 The Starlit Path Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 1, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Michael J. Bowler

Monday, May 4, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, May 7, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 8, 2026 icefairy's Treasure Chest Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Monday, May 18, 2026 ALWAYS in the MIDDLE Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 Book Zone Reviews Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 @avainbookland Instagram Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Thursday, May 21, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

Friday, May 22, 2026 Sybrina's Book Blog Guest Post about Muppit Boy and the Allergies of Evil

This post is sponsored by Michael J. Bowler. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views. 

Virtual Book Tour Ripples

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ripples

Written and Illustrated by Katie Yamasaki

Ages: 6–10 | 40 Pages

Publisher: Norton Young Readers (2026) | ISBN: 978-1324053941

Publisher's Book Summary: A young girl and her Aunty set sail on their river raft, basking in each other's company and in the beauty of the world around them. Along the way, they pass friends and families caring for one another—sharing food, tending wounds, celebrating birthdays, and telling stories—who ultimately join them in cleaning litter and trash from the river. A moving picture book about compassion, community, and caring for our shared world.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

MY REVIEW 

I first encountered the work of muralist and picture book creator Katie Yamasaki in Place Hand Here and Mural Island. Her latest book celebrates family, friendship, and community.

Ayla and her Aunty Koko are going on a rafting trip down the river. As they paddle along they see beavers, otters, geese, and other creatures that live near the water. They also pass by other rafters and groups out picnicking, celebrating birthdays, and enjoying nature. Onomatopoeic terms such as “drip,” “plop,” and “fwap” pull readers into the scene. There are descriptions of the scent: “Wet earth smells like mud pies from Mother Earth’s bakery.” The contrast between the “cool water on the back of my neck” that is splashed by Aunty’s paddle and the warmth as “My toes toast in the sun,” evokes the pleasure of a warm day on a cool river.

Everything is not idyllic, however. They “tend to the river” and pick up a piece of floating trash when they come across it. But when they reach the lake, “We paddle and scoop…Over and Over. It is a lot for two people.” Just when Ayla feels discouraged, her “friends are here to help.” The illustration on the back cover reinforces the feeling of community from the story - each of the kids is reaching a paddle from their raft over to the next one to keep them all connected.

This is a great story to remind us that we all need to care for the spaces we share and respect nature rather than taking it for granted. As the weather warms and more people head outside to enjoy spring and summer activities, perhaps we can all find ways to help just like Ayla and her friends.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Yamasaki works primarily as a muralist and picture book creator. She has painted more than eighty murals around the world, exploring local stories of identity and social justice. Her picture books include Mural Island, Place Hand Here, Shapes, Lines, and Light, Dad Bakes, and Everything Naomi Loved. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.

To learn more, visit www.katieyamasaki.com.

https://www.instagram.com/katieyamasaki

TOUR SCHEDULE

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 The Children’s Book Review Tour Kick-Off for Ripples

Wednesday, April 22, 2026 @pieladybooks Instagram Post about Ripples

Thursday, April 23, 2026 The Starlit Path Instagram Reel about Ripples

Friday, April 24, 2026 The Fairview Review Book Review of Ripples

Monday, April 27, 2026 Deliciously Savvy Book Review of Ripples

Tuesday, April 28, 2026 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review of Ripples

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 @thechildrensbookreview Instagram Reel about Ripples

Thursday, April 30, 2026 Country Mamas With Kids Book Review of Ripples

Friday, May 1, 2026 Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk Book Review of Ripples

Monday, May 4, 2026 Crafty Moms Share Book Review of Ripples

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Froggy Read Teach Instagram Post about Ripples

Thursday, May 7, 2026 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview with Katie Yamasaki

Friday, May 8, 2026 @meghenslittlelibrary Instagram Post about Ripples

Monday, May 11, 2026 My Reading Getaway Book Review of Ripples

Tuesday, May 12, 2026 Cover Lover Book Review Book Review of Ripples

Thursday, May 14, 2026 Mrs Makes Reading Fun Book Review of Ripples

Monday, May 18, 2026 @nissa_the.bookworm Instagram Post about Ripples

Wednesday, May 20, 2026 Jena Benton Author Interview with Katie Yamasaki

Thursday, May 21, 2026 One More Exclamation Book Review of Ripples

 

This post is sponsored by Norton Young Readers. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.