Why Every Child Can Relate to ‘Green Hamster and the Quest For Fun’

For children, summertime means swimming, exploring the outdoors, trying new things and most of all- lots of adventure. 

This is something that Green Hamster from Eileen Wacker’s Fujimini Adventure Series can certainly relate to. Green Hamster’s eagerness to explore, restlessness, and determination to have fun not only makes him a cute and likable character, but also a representation of many children out there. One of the most admirable qualities in a child is his or her eagerness and curiosity, but we all know that sometimes that can get them into some trouble! In his quest for fun, Green Hamster is no different.

The first installment of the Fujimini Adventure Series is a great book for summer because it is relatable, funny, and will have kids ready for their own adventure. And like the other books in the series, a small but important lesson is integrated into the story as well. 

A summary of the book:

Energetic and restless Green Hamster becomes bored with the daily activities of him and his other hamster friends and he becomes convinced that all the other animals on Fujimini Island are having way more fun. So he sets off seeking a day filled with adventure and excitement. His goal of his quest is to find which group of animals have the most fun on the Island, but meets some unexpected challenges along the way. Who do you think he decides has the most fun on the Island?

This book is available in print, for the kindle, or as an animated book.

Click here to learn more or to purchase Green Hamster and the Quest For Fun

Click below to watch the trailer for the new animated book:

A Review of Eileen Wacker's Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun

Energetic and restless Green Hamster becomes bored with the daily activities of him and his other hamster friends and he becomes convinced that all the other animals on Fujimini Island are having way more fun. So he sets off seeking a day filled with adventure and excitement. His goal of his quest is to find which group of animals have the most fun on the Island, but meets some unexpected challenges along the way. Who do you think he decides has the most fun on the Island?

Eileen Wacker’s first installment in the Fujimini Adventure Series is a must read. The award-winning children’s book has been a hit in the Hawaiian Islands as well as many other parts of the country. Given 5 stars on both Good Reads and Amazon, the cute and educational book provides insight into Asian cultures as well as some unexpected lessons. Since its publication, the story was also given a Mom's Choice Award. 

When asked about her inspiration behind her first book, author Eileen Wacker commented; "Let's see. Green hamster and the quest for fun was the first book i wrote. I was inspired by my children and how they are always on the lookout to make sure they aren't missing out. They are also used to being on the go at all times. It's a day off and we're staying in? I'm bored! I loved the idea of a quest that would lead to the realization that their fun little lives are just right for them!"

Click below to watch the trailer for the new animated book:

Click here to purchase Green Hamster and the Quest For Fun on Amazon

Click to Watch the New Trailers for ONCEKids' Animated Books, "Green Hamster and the Quest For Fun" and "Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi"

Here at ONCEKids we could not be more excited following the release of the trailers for our first two animated books; Green Hamster and the Quest For Fun and Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi. Thanks to the very talented Ryan Mawhar, the previews for the two animated books are completed and ready to be viewed! Click the videos below to watch and be sure to visit our website to read more about our animated books as well as the rest of Eileen Wacker’s Fujimini Adventure Series collection. 

Click below to watch the trailer for Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun 

Click below to watch the trailer for Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi

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

Enjoy Holiday Cooking with your Kids

Looking for a tasty appetizer to make for the holiday season? A great crowd pleaser is deviled eggs. Below is an easy to follow recipe. Be sure to ask your parents for help. To be safe, ask your parents to boil the eggs first. Once the eggs have cooled get cracking!

Ingredients:
12 hard-cooked eggs 
1/3 cup mayonnaise 
2 tablespoons finely shredded Cheddar cheese 
2 tablespoons honey mustard 
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:
Hard boil, shell and rinse your eggs.
Slice eggs in half.
Carefully remove the yolks and place in a large mixing bowl.
Place egg whites on a platter.
Mash egg yolks with a fork.
Blend in mayonnaise, crumbled bacon, cheese, honey mustard and pepper.
Place a spoon full of yolk mixture into each egg white.
Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Sprinkle paprika on top of eggs before serving.

Adapted from http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/christmas/kids-recipes/honey-deviled-eggs.html.

Join the Fun!

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Join the fun.  We're playing games!

Have Fun! Play Games!

ONCEKids has several games that provide an opportunity for readers of the Fujimini Island Adventure Series to deepen their experience and, for those who have yet to read the books, explore the world of Fujimini Island.  

Fujimini Island has a word search, coloring sheets and a build your own sushi game.

For the ‘build your own sushi’ game kids learn about food, a predominant cultural motif, they expand their vocabulary and improve hand and eye coordination. They also get to be creative. Plus, the game is fun and a fun game ensures the greatest learning.

Go to Fujimini Island to play games and build your own sushi.

Learn more about Fujimini Island

In the Fujimini Adventure Book series for children, a mystical Asian island named Fujimini is home to many animals groups. Follow the characters, stories and games they play!

You can learn more about Fujimini Island and ONCEKids:

Fujimini Island on Facebook
Fujimini Island on Twitter
Fujimini Island Website and games


ONCEKids on Facebook
ONCEKids on Twitter
ONCEKids blog
ONCEKids website for books, games and stuff for your parents and teachers.

Panda Families

On Fujimini Island pandas eat many kinds of food but in the wild pandas live on a steady diet of bamboo stems, bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots. Pandas eat almost 80 pounds of bamboo every day!

A male panda is called a boar. A female panda is called a she-bear and a baby panda is called a cub. She-bear pandas have one to five cubs or baby pandas at a time. Did you know a group of pandas is called a sleuth? No, that doesn’t mean they wear trench coats, carry magnifying glasses and solve crimes.

Pandas are great tree climbers, are most active during the day and don’t like hanging out with friends. They are mostly solitary creatures. It is probably difficult to be a pandas friend.

Fujimini Island has Pandas - Do you know Pandas?

On Fujimini Island Pandas climb the slopes. Pandas live in the bamboo forests of China. The Pandas have lived in these misty forests for many, many years. The Chinese honor the pandas and pandas are protected because they have become rare. Pandas are almost extinct. There are only about 1,000 living in the forests of China.

The Chinese have known about the panda for a long time. But people in the West just discovered the panda when a German zoologist happened to see one at the beginning of the 20th century. A zoologist is a scientist who studies animals. There are actually two types of pandas: giant panda and red pandas. Giant pandas are as big as American grizzly bears. They can stand up to six feet tall and weigh almost 300 pounds.

Hungry for a Mooncake?

Mooncakes are served during the Moon Festival. Mooncakes are dense, filled cakes with intricate designs or patterns on them. Many people also eat other round shaped foods such as pomeloes and eggs (sometimes tea stained).

The Moon Festival is sometimes called the Lantern Festival. During the festival, lanterns are used as decorations and represent the glowing of the moon. Often, sky lanterns are used as decorations. Sky lanterns are suspended in the sky and look as if they are floating.

During the Moon Festival many people celebrate by planting trees. Incense is also burned for Chang-O who floated up to the moon after taking her husband’s immortal pills. Chang-O’s companion is a rabbit, often depicted in jade.

Learn more about Fujimini Island

In the Fujimini Adventure Book series for children, a mystical Asian island named Fujimini is home to many animals groups. Follow the characters, stories and games they play!

You can learn more about Fujimini Island and ONCEKids:


Fujimini Island on Facebook
Fujimini Island on Twitter
Fujimini Island Website and games


ONCEKids on Facebook
ONCEKids on Twitter
ONCEKids blog

ONCEKids website for books, games and stuff for your parents and teachers.

The Moon Festival

The Moon Festival is also called the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is a popular festival celebrated by the Chinese. The Vietnamese also celebrate the Moon Festival.
The Moon Festival celebrates; you guessed it, the moon. Worshipping the moon dates back over 3,000 years ago. The Moon Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar (another word for moon) calendar. The Moon Festival coincides with the autumnal equinox. This equinox is about the Earth’s position with the Sun. During the autumnal equinox the moon is at its roundest, which makes it particularly beautiful and inspires many people to have a festival in its honor.

How to make a paper Lantern

You will need:

Colored Paper
Scissors
Stapler
Marker or crayons

Step 1: Fold a rectangular piece of paper in half
Step 2: Make a series of cuts (12 to 14)
Step 3: Decorate the paper with markers or crayons
Step 4: Unfold and staple the edges together.
Step 5: Cut a long, thin strip of paper for the handle. Staple it to the lantern.
Step 6: Make a lot of lanterns and string them on yar

Paper Lanterns fun

In Red Penguin and the Missing Sushi, the animals on Fujimini Island make paper lanterns. Paper lanterns come in many sizes and shapes. Paper lanterns are often associated with festivals and are common to the cultures of China and Japan. Paper lanterns are also used as a decoration. Stores in Japan often advertise specials on the paper lanterns. The animals of Fujimini Island love lanterns because they are pretty to look at and fun to make. Come back soon and we will tell you how to make a paper lantern.

Is it your Birthday? Time for Birthday Cake!

In Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun, Pink Hamster loves to eat birthday cakes. A birthday cake is a pastry or dessert served to a person on his or her birthday. Birthday cakes often have many decorations and usually have the person’s name spelled out in icing or candy. Candles are also placed on the birthday cake. There are usually candles for every year the person has been alive and sometimes there is an additional candle for luck. The most popular flavor for birthday cakes is chocolate.
So where did the birthday cake originate?

Surf Party and Sushi Lunch

In Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun, Green Hamster searches for fun. He meets the penguins who are having a surf party and a sushi lunch. Ever wondered what sushi is? Sushi is made from fish (usually raw), rice and seaweed. It is then rolled into fun bite size shapes. Here are some interesting sushi facts:

Did you know sushi is a food custom originating in Japan?
Did you know that many centuries ago fish was placed in rice as a way of preserving the fish? Preserving is a big word that basically means extending or making the fish last longer.
Did you know that preserving fish in rice extended all the way to China?
Did you know that the Japanese started combining the rice with the fish instead of discarding the rice used to ferment the fish?

More facts about sushi to come soon.

Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun is the first book in the Fujimini Adventure Series. In this book, Green Hamster journeys across the mystical island of Fujimini.

Green Hamster has other hamster friends…Orange Hamster, Yellow Hamster, Pink Hamster and the smartest of all hamsters, Brown Hamster. The hamsters of Fujimini Island are wonderful colors but did you know hamsters are color blind? Yikes! How does Green Hamster remember all his friends? Hamsters have great memories and they are able to remember friends and relatives by smell rather than looks. Thank goodness for Green Hamster.

In Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun, Green Hamster journeys across Fujimini Island in search of fun because he is very BORED.

Did you know hamsters are rodents? Hamsters are rodents but they are much cuter and sweeter than rats. Hamsters are popular as family pets in many countries. One of the reasons hamsters are so adorable is their chubby cheeks, which are roomy enough to store and carry food. Hamsters also have pointy ears and short tails.

In Green Hamster and the Quest for Fun, Green Hamster does all of his traveling across the island during the day.

Did you know hamsters tuck in for the night? Hamsters wake up in the morning, become very active during the day and slow down when the stars come out at night. After a long day of walking, Green Hamster snuggles up for a peaceful and not BORING night of rest.