Winner (Holiday)
Title: Thumperino Superbunny and the Christmas Star Caper
Author: Amber L. Spradlin
Publisher: Hocks Out Press
ISBN: 978-1-300-19858-1
Pages: 52, Paperback/Kindle
Genre: Holiday Gift/Fiction/Young Adult/Children’s
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert, Pacific Book Review
Featured book for November 2012
Book Review
Superheroes come in all sorts of shapes and sizes but now there is a new superhero in town and he is a bunny – Thumperino Superbunny! Thumperino is the star character in the children’s book Thumperino Superbunny and The Christmas Star Caper by acclaimed author Amber L. Spradlin she is also the author of the well-received Thumperino Diary of a Superbunny, a previously released book in the Thumperino series of children’s books.Now, all of us are used to the cute, cuddly and fluffy images of bunnies that mainly suit the purpose of just being cute and cuddly but not this bunny. Thumperino is a special bunny and he does a whole lot more than look cute; he talks, flies, super-leaps, wears a yellow cape, has his own crime lab and is a great detective.
Living with his keepers the Red-Haired Lady and the Singing Man in Queens, NY – Thumperino bravely embarks on crime-solving adventures to all sorts of places. This is an entertaining story that takes place during the Christmas season in New York. One night at home, while enjoying his favorite snack Thumperino learns from a newscast that the cherished Christmas Star is missing from the Christmas tree, erected at Christmas Tree Plaza in Manhattan. Crafted from blue crystal found only in the North Pole, the star is invaluable. Knowing that the sight of the tree missing the star will disappoint the millions of children who look forward to seeing it every year, Thumperino jumps, flies and skateboards into action. He starts his crime fighting and mystery solving adventures when the Red-Haired Lady and the Singing Man go to sleep, then he explores the world outside of his kennel by traveling to the crime scene to look for clues to solve the mystery.
Along the way to solving the mystery of the missing star, Thumperino makes friends with a girl bunny named Minniewheat and he eventually helps her to find a new home. Throughout the story, he is a kind and courageous character that shows just what a hero he really is by rescuing some fellow bunnies from a bunny sweatshop at Berties Bunny Boutique and returning the star to its rightful place.
Overall, this is really an enjoyable book for children and parents will enjoy reading this with their kids because the content is geared for children but not too childish. The book tells a quaint story with emphasis on the basic lessons that children should learn like, deductive reasoning, determination, sharing, teamwork, sensitivity to the needs of others and acts of selflessness. Thumperino is an intelligent and lovable character with a heroic and inquisitive nature that makes this story worth reading. This is a nicely put together book containing amusing and unique illustrations by artist Ron Borresen and I highly recommend it as Christmas themed read.
