Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones by Sherry Ellis

Welcome to my stop on The Children's Book Review tour for Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones. I have a wonderful interview with Sherry Ellis to share with you where you can learn about the book and her. This post is sponsored by Sherry Ellis. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. There is a giveaway near the end of the post so be sure to enter!

About the Book:

Bubba and Squirt are back for another rousing quest as they travel through the mysterious vortex to Paris, France. It’s another wild adventure as they track down art thieves, encounter terrifying monsters, and discover the whereabouts of their missing father.

Will they make it out alive or join the rest of the skeletons in the City of Bones?

Coming Soon: The fourth book in the series, Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena, will be released on May 7, 2024, and the final book, Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearl, will be released in September 2024.

 

Interview with the author:

Thank you for joining us today. Can you tell us about the Bubba and Squirt book series and what inspired this book?

The Bubba and Squirt series is about the adventures of brother and sister, Bubba and Squirt. It begins with Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China. Squirt doesn’t believe her brother can dig a hole to China. But when Bubba uses a magic shovel from his grandfather, they find themselves whisked to Xi-an, China where they come face-to-face with the Terracotta Warriors and the ghost of the first Emperor of China.

Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure takes the kids to Belize where they find archeologists unearthing Mayan artifacts. But someone is stealing them. Bubba and Squirt have to find out who.

This book, Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones, sends the kids to the underground catacombs of Paris, France where they meet art thieves and discover the whereabouts of their missing father. It’s part of a trilogy.

 Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena and Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearls will come out later in 2024. All the stories are action-packed and educational. Readers will learn about the language, history, and culture of the country while being entertained.

Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones was inspired by my own trip to Paris. Thankfully, I didn’t encounter any art thieves, but I did see many of the places in the story.

 

What do you hope readers learn from the series?

In general, I hope readers learn and retain some information about the history, language, and cultures of the various countries Bubba and Squirt visit. Additionally, I hope they learn about the values of perseverance and teamwork.

For Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones, I hope readers learn a little about the various sites and museums in Paris and are made aware of some famous artists and their works. If they learn and remember some French words, it would be great!

 

What is the ideal reader for this book and the series? If they are interested in X, then they will really like this book for example?

The ideal reader is a younger middle-grade reader (grades 1-6) who enjoys adventure, magic, and has an interest in travel and learning about other countries. Kids who enjoy Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Treehouse series or the Flat Stanley series will enjoy the Bubba and Squirt series. The fast pace and shorter chapters make the books ideal for reluctant readers. 

 

I love the cover of this book! Did you get to pick it?

I love the cover, too! I didn’t get to pick it. The publisher’s in-house artist designed it. I think it conveys the story perfectly. It gets my seal of approval.

 

Are there additional books in the series in the works?

Yes!  Bubba and Squirt’s Shield of Athena, set in Athens, Greece comes out in May 2024, and Bubba and Squirt’s Legend of the Lost Pearls, set in Japan, comes out in September 2024.

 

You have written books for children of all ages from very little to preteen. Why did you choose to write children’s books?

I’m a kid at heart. I still love looking at picture books and reading middle-grade and YA novels. Plus, I love working with kids. I’m a music teacher, so I see them every day. One of my favorite things about being a children’s author is doing school visits where I get to interact directly with the readers of my books.

 

You are very interested in music as well as writing. How do or do they influence each other?

Music is a creative endeavor. I think the two go hand-in-hand. I find that having a good sense of rhythm from music helps with the flow of writing. This is especially true with writing picture books.

 

Do you have any pets?

At the moment, no. But I’ve had a menagerie of animals in the past:  a dog (German Shepherd named Schultz), a cat (named Bootsy), birds (parakeets and cockatiels), fish, hermit crabs, and even a turtle.

 

What is your favorite color?

Red. I love the vibrance and energy of it.

Enter the giveaway for the chance to win an autographed copy of Bubba and Squirt’s City of Bones and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Bubba and Squirt's City of Bones: Book Giveaway

 

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 has previously published Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China; Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure; Don’t Feed the Elephant; Ten Zany Birds; That Baby Woke Me Up, AGAIN; and That Mama is a Grouch. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.