My Review of Eileen Wacker's 'Black Tortoise and the Dynasty Dragon'

In Eileen Wacker’s fifth addition of the Fujimini Adventure Series, the animals of Fujimini Island notice a mysterious Turtle Boat on the shores of the island. The Black Tortoise, one of the Samurai Warriors, is visiting the island with a special mission- but what exactly is his mission? Orange Bunny listens in on a conversation between Black Tortoise and Brown Hamster to try and figure out what is going on. Do you ever listen in on other people’s conversations or spy on others? Orange Bunny overhears that the Black Tortoise is looking for the legendary Dynasty Dragon. Orange Bunny panics and  jumps to conclusions that the Samurai are trying to kidnap the Dynasty Dragon so she launches a special mission to try and save him. Will Orange Bunny and her friends on Fujimini Island save the Dynasty Dragon or has Orange Bunny made a big mistake? 

One of my favorite features of the Fujimini Adventure series, is how in each book Wacker introduces a subtle but important lesson that can be taken away from the reading. Underneath the silliness and fun of each story lies a message that is very relevant to kids and growing up. In Black Tortoise and the Dynasty Dragon, this message is what can happen when you listen in on others’ conversations, spy on people and make assumptions. In addition to the lesson, Wacker also introduces some fun new characters, like the Dynasty Dragon, and some new terminology, like a Turtle Boat. So not only do little readers learn lessons that are relevant to their daily lives, they also learn some new stuff that are a part of other people’s lives and cultures as well. 

The cute and creative story about not making assumptions, working as a team, and the depth of a mother's love has been rated 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. 

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My Review of Eileen Wacker's 'Silent Samurai and the Magnificent Rescue'

After hearing that Samurai are coming to Fujimini Island, Purple Penguin is eager to plan a big welcome party for their guests. He runs to tell all his friends on the Island, but others don’t react the way he thought they would. Not everyone is as excited for the warriors’ arrival as he is- but why? The other animals start to worry, letting what they have heard about samurai warriors form their opinion of their visitors before they have even arrived. Have you ever made assumptions about someone else before you met them? Will the hamsters, pandas, penguins, and bunnies come together and decided to welcome their guests with open arms and friendship or will they stay as far away as possible? 

Eileen Wacker’s third edition of the Fujimini Adventure Series is cute, exciting and introduces some fun new characters. It also exposes kids to some Asian culture and history, like how purple is the color of royalty in Japan. Wacker embeds lessons within all the books of the Fujimini Adventure Series, but this book offers a few lessons that we can all learn from, including reserving our judgements of others based off of things we have heard until we actually get a chance to know them, and making new friends, offering a warm welcome to new people. This book is the perfect way to start a conversation with your kids about meeting new people, being a team player, and helping others out. 

Rated 5 out of 5 stars by Barnes and Noble, the story is available for purchase in hardcover, for your kindle, or for your nook. 

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My Review of Eileen Wacker's 'Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi'

In Eileen Wacker’s second book in the Fujimini Adventure Series, Fujimini Island is filled with excitement as the animals prepare for the much anticipated Moon Festival Celebration, a traditional Chinese harvest festival. All the hamsters are busily making beautiful traditional lanterns while Red Penguin is crafting her prized sushi. The other critters who live on Fujimini Island are doing all the can to help, including Blue Whale who just loves parties. Red Penguin is very proud of her sushi, and is doing a bit of showing off and bragging to the hamsters about how important it is. Suddenly, her beloved sushi vanishes. Has a simple mistake been made or is someone trying to teach Red Penguin a lesson about bragging? 

Given 4.62 out of 5 stars on Good Reads and 5 out of 5 stars on Barnes and Noble, this book is an excellent way to make kids smile and laugh along through the adventures of the Fujimini Island animals while also learning a subtle but important moral lesson about bragging. 

A customer reviewed the book on Barnes and Noble’s website, giving it a 5 out of 5 and commented:

“Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi is a clever and very funny little book. The characters are great and the story keeps children engaged. Plus, the author infuses bits of asian culture into the story. It's fun and educational!”

When asked about her inspiration behind this book author and CEO of ONCEKids Eileen Wacker responded, “My inspiration for Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi was children’s hide and seek, sushi making and bragging! It is a true adventure story involving two best friends who decide to teach a sushi making bragging chef a lesson. Of course it backfires and the importance of working together to solve a problem comes into play! I love this story and the bragging penguin is really a great friend and chef!”

Enjoy the story on your kindle, hardcopy, or as an animated book!

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A Summary and Review of Eileen Wacker's Pink Hamster and the Big Birthday Surprise

The fourth installation in Eileen Wacker’s Fujimini Adventure Series, stars the adorable and peppy Pink Hamster who is beside herself with excitement when she wakes up ready to celebrate her birthday. Her absolute favorite part about her birthday is the cake- so much so that she has been dreaming about it all night. As soon as Pink Hamster wakes up she races to find all her Fujimini Island friends to start her big day. Thoughts of singing, parties, dancing, presents, and of course cake fill her mind. When she finally stumbles upon her hamster friends, she realizes that no one seems to have even remembered her birthday, even her best friend Green Hamster. Is this going to turn out to be the worst birthday ever or do her friends have a little something up their sleeve?

Learn more about the award-winning Fujimini Adventure series.  Purchase the books here

Rated 4.91 out of 5 stars on Good Reads and 5 out of 5 stars from Barnes and Noble, this book is sure to please. Pink Hamster is a silly and lovable character who keeps children interested from the very first sentence with her spunk and charm. 

When asked about her inspiration behind the book, author Eileen Wacker responded, "The inspiration for pink hamster and the big birthday surprise was my little girl. She's a summer baby so she never had the traditional birthday, always last minute always family. She loves birthday cake and hershey bars. I know kids living and anticipating birthdays is universal so I thought if the character that loves her birthday the most thinking everyone forgot would make a great story. I added the part about little lies as we all know how they can backfire. I also planted her dreaming of a little white dragon as a shape shifting dragon would be featured in the next story! Of course there is a happy ending as birthdays should always be happy!"