REVIEW
and EXCERPT
Chompy & the Munchy Bunch Series
by Nancy Beaule
Author Nancy Beaule shares excerpts from the first two books in the Chompy & the Munchy Bunch
children's book series: The Secret Formula and Search for the Hidden Treasure. You can also read my
reviews. The series is suitable for children ages 4 to 9. Also available: Spud's First Day Surprise (read my blog post).
The Secret Formula
(Chompy & the Munchy Bunch Book 1)
(Chompy & the Munchy Bunch Book 1)
Description
Chompy, a carrot with superpower eyesight; Salty, a potato chip who's a bit untidy; Candybar, a chocolate bar who plays mischievous pranks; and a haunted mansion where it all comes together. These are the main characters in The Secret Formula, the first book in a series called Chompy & the Munchy Bunch.
When Chompy learns about an ancient carrot formula that gives super-powered eyesight, he knows he must find it! But the journey leads Chompy and his pals to the mysterious mansion of Doc Peppa, where strange things begin to happen.
Book Video
Excerpt
As Chompy munched on his last carrot, something poking through a thick layer of dust caught his eye.
“Salty, look at this bottle!! It’s gotta be Doc Peppa’s supereye formula! I wonder what it tastes like......”
CHUG ...CHUG....GLUG...GLUG... BOING!!
Chompy’s eyes popped like ping pong balls!
“HOLY CARROTS! I can see for miles! I can see through the walls! I can see...wait...I can see something moving inside Doc Peppa’s safe!!”
Praise for the Book
"I thought this book was awesome and a great short read for kids. It's fun, silly and entertaining. I recommend to all families." ~ Stacie Williams
"Incredible and well written children's book. I would recommend this to all families with small kids. Amazing!!!" ~ bojean
"This book was wonderfully written. It entertained my 5 and 2 year old at the same time. The characters were cute and engaging. Loved the ending!" ~ Kindle Customer
"This is a delightful book which will appeal to a range of young readers. The illustrations are lovely and comically reflect what's happening in the story. This is a great book to use in the classroom or the home if you want to encourage children to eat healthy too. I mean, who doesn't want super powers, especially ones from a carrot?!! This will make a great addition to any child's library." ~ Susan Day (Author /illustrator Astrol's Adventures)
"We have had the pleasure to personally meet her and have her read her book to my daughter and her friend at our local library. Cute book and love the choice of characters." ~ becky
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Chompy the healthy carrot, Salty the potato chip, Candybar the candy-eating trickster, his little sister Cupcake, and Weiner the dog visit the abandoned Peppa Mansion to find out more about Doc Peppa's supereye carrot formula. They all get a fright, but is the mansion really haunted?
The characters all have distinctive characteristics and mannerisms, and the illustrations by Lauren Goldstein match up well. The author uses words to great effect to further enhance the images in our heads (e.g., "A sudden wave of icy cold air sprinkled them with goose bumps.") and to create a spooky atmosphere. She also subtly conveys the message of healthy eating through the actions of the different characters. I'm a bit disturbed by how our friends enter Doc Peppa's home uninvited and how Chompy appropriates Doc Peppa's secret formula and calls it Chompy Juice. But if you go with the flow, this is a fun, scary story that will have the kids jumping with fright as well as laughing at the silly antics.
Good fun for ages 3 and up.
Note: the readability of the Kindle edition would be improved by having single pages instead of double-page spreads; read this book in landscape mode to increase the size of the text.
Book Links
Search for the Hidden Treasure
(Chompy & the Munchy Bunch Book 2)
(Chompy & the Munchy Bunch Book 2)
Description
A secret treasure is hidden deep inside the mysterious Peppa Mansion! Chompy, Salty and Weiner set out to solve the mystery ... but will Candybar shake up their plans? Will Chompy Juice be involved?
Volume 2 in the Chompy & the Munchy Bunch series, this story has plenty of action to keep children entertained again and again!
Excerpt
The heavy door creaked open as Chompy and Salty entered the mansion, scanning the dark room as Chompy’s flashlight danced in his jittery hand, abruptly stopping on a very strange-looking carpet.
A pair of dark glowing eyes seemed to stare right through them! Coarse dark fur stretched long across the dusty floor. It was more than Weiner could stand! He poked his nose under the carpet while Chompy bent down to take a closer look.
Suddenly the carpet reared up towards them like a serpent rising from the dark sea!
"YIKES IT’S ALIVE!” screamed Chompy, leaping on Salty’s back. “AAAHHHH!”
Down...down... down they went through a rotten floorboard, SMACK onto Candybar’s trap!
Up...up...up sailed Candybar, landing THUD.....right in the middle of a HUGE spider’s nest!
Praise for the Book
"This is the second book in the series and it just keeps getting better. Again we meet Chompy the carrot and his mate, Salty. Their search picks up from the previous book and takes them on a fun and fast-paced adventure. Kids are going to love the illustrations, too. They are really quite funny. This is going to be a hit with most young and older readers. Let's face it, any book that includes the baddie getting covered in spider poop is sure to be a winner! Well done, Nancy. Keep up the good work." ~ Susan Day (Author/illustrator Astrol's Adventures)
"I think this one was just as good as the first book. Great drawings and characters. I recommend to all families. " ~ Stacie Williams
"Nancy Beaule's delightful children's book puts forth the message that you reap what you sow. [...] I enjoyed the second installment of Chompy & the Munchy Bunch, and recommend it to those aged between 4-7, enabling them to realize their full potential, regardless of the fear and obstacles in their way." ~ Rose Malezer, Reader's Favorite
My Review
By Lynda Dickson
Chompy tries making Chompy Juice, but something's just not right. Meanwhile, Salty reveals that he found a cryptic note at Peppa Mansion. So, they head back to the haunted mansion to see if they can find a hidden treasure and, hopefully, the real secret behind making Chompy Juice. But someone else is following them ...
Once again, the author shows her talent in creating a spooky atmosphere with her careful choice of words. Young readers will be amused and frightened at the same time, as Chompy goes on another exciting adventure and someone is taught a lesson. I hope the author takes the opportunity to incorporate some nutritional messages in future books in this series.
Note: read the Kindle edition in portrait mode, as the readability has been improved by having single pages instead of double-page spreads; landscape mode still has double pages, but the pictures don't correspond with the adjacent text and the text is too small.
Book Links
About the Author
The Secret Formula is Nancy's debut book. What began as a way to keep her grandchildren entertained, has evolved into an exciting series about a carrot named Chompy who discovers an ancient carrot formula for super-powered eyesight. The series, called Chompy & The Munchy Bunch, is geared toward 4-9 year olds, and while the kids love re-enacting the "Chompy Juice" portion of the book, parents appreciate the hidden nutritional messages. Volume 2, Search for the Hidden Treasure, was published in September 2016.
Nancy's path to writing is a bit unorthodox, having spent the last 30 years as an entrepreneur/inventor. In the 80's she operated a print shop before inventing a product called the Pie Saver, which are foil rings that prevent pies from burning, came from her love of baking! "Running a business is similar to writing - there are lots of ups and downs but you can never give up!" Now with three grandchildren to enjoy, she felt the time was right to try her hand at writing children's books, and the children are loving Chompy and his pals! Nancy has two children and lives in Maine and Florida with her husband of 41 years.
Author Links
