Sherry EllisReseñas

A little fantasy, a little culture, a little history...and tons of mystery and adventure.

Bubba and Squirt's father has gone missing, and they'd love nothing more than to find him. Luckily, their grandfather pays Bubba a visit from the great beyond and gives him a vision, which leads them through the portal to Paris, France. After landing in the spooky catacombs, they run across not only monsters but thieves, too. Add a painting, which seems to open up to another realm, and the two have more than a little to figure out.

While it's not absolutely necessary, I do recommend reading this series from the beginning, since the books do build on each other a little bit. That said, Bubba and Squirt aren't only figuring out the hole under the tree, but Bubba's getting a handle on his powers. While there is family support...even from the afterlife...these two are pretty much on their own, which readers will enjoy. They meet new friends and have to figure out new ways of dealing with things. It keeps the story exciting the entire way through, and with the little twists of magic, it's impossible to guess what's really going on.

One of my favorite aspects about this tale is the length. At around seventy-five pages, it invites even more reluctant readers to jump into the fun. The stories do include historical facts and teach a little about the various places Bubba and Squirt travel. This falls smoothly into the main plot and never feels like a lesson, which makes this great for school libraries an even homeschoolers. The adventure is exciting, packs tons of tension, and keeps the reader guessing until the end.

It's a fun series and worth checking out.

Longer review to come.

One of many writing books I read over three months. Writing exercises for the mystery set. Interesting, some useful, others less so.

Those intrepid young explorers Bubba and Squirt are off to a new adventure in the second book in an entertaining middle-grade series from author Sherry Ellis. In "Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure", Bubba and his big sister Squirt find themselves in Belize (a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America) at the site of an ancient Mayan archaeological dig. The detective-minded duo, who come from a family of magicians, are no strangers to mystical mysteries. Their first escapade occurred after Bubba dug a big hole in the woods behind their house, and that hole turned out to be a whirling vortex which transported them all the way to China. Now, they are caught in the middle of a case where valuable artifacts are being stolen as soon as they are discovered. Bubba and Squirt have their hands full trying to catch a thief, running from and after mythical characters come to life, and trying to get back home before their mom gets mad. "Bubba and Squirt's Mayan Adventure" is a fun and interesting read for young readers and readers who are young at heart. Author Sherry Ellis has also added some fascinating history, recipes for "Fry Jacks" and "Chicken Tortilla Soup", and a glossary which includes Spanish words and numbers. Readers will also enjoy the first book in the series, "Bubba and Squirt's Big Dig to China".

Book Copy Gratis Author

This is the second book in a series, but the author catches the reader up enough that it can be read as a standalone. I still, however, would recommend reading these in order

Bubba has a dream, making it clear that it's time for him and Squirt to revisit the hold they'd dug one month before—the same one that brought them to their first adventure in China. Despite Squirt's reluctance, she agrees, and the two find themselves in Belize. There they discover someone has been stealing artifacts, and another exciting, magical adventure begins.

These two siblings are simply a lot of fun. They have a healthy sibling relationship, which does not mean that they always get along. Their actions and decisions come across very true to life as they find themselves in mysterious, magical and even, at times, dangerous situations. Every page holds something exciting or intriguing, making this a hard book to put down. Add the shorter length, and this is even a tale for more reluctant readers.

While the adventure keeps readers on the edge of their seats, the author also weaves in a bit of culture and history. Readers learn more about the Mayan culture. At the end of the book, there are several pages of more information including recipes and a glossary, too.

Bubba says he can dig a hole to China, but his big sister, Squirt, doesn’t believe it. Bubba digs with a special shovel, and they're both surprised when the hole swallows them up, transporting them to a dark place surrounded by Terracotta Warriors. What is going on? How did they get here and why? Will they ever get home to their family? Things become even more curious when the ghost of an emperor tells them he needs his missing pi. Is it possible to find the pi in a place where they aren’t familiar? Making matters worse- someone seems to be after them. Will Bubba and Squirt solve the mystery and find the pi? You’ll have to follow along on this adventure to find out!

Bubba and Squirt’s Big Dig to China is the first chapter book I’ve read by Sherry Ellis. I was curious about it because at the beach I’ve tried to dig a hole to the other side of the world. Mine didn’t work! I can’t imagine trying to dig that deep in a yard! Bubba was determined though. Bubba and Squirt are a very realistic brother and sister pair. I think kids will be able to relate to their sibling relationship. I liked that they learned a lot on their travels about Chinese culture and what a “pi” is. The story weaves in history and interesting facts. This is a great chapter book for kids who are beginning to read longer texts and for those who may have a hard time picking out books. I would recommend this book to kids in second grade and up who like stories with adventure, magic, and humor. I enjoyed reading about Bubba and Squirt’s adventure, and I look forward to reading about more adventures in the future (hopefully).

This is a great book to read with kids in order to help them see that there are two sides to every story. I love when the girl in the story is explaining her side and that her momma is a grouch, and then when the mom explains the rules the little girl could see her mom's point of view.

A fun book told in rhyme that families with new babies will definitely relate to for sure! Anyone who has been kept up by a crying baby will nod their head in agreement! :)

Have you ever wanted to dig a hole to China? If so, what did you expect to find? Gold? Jewels? A treasure chest? Bones? Did you follow your dream and discover what you expected or something even better? In BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA, an adventure story by Author Sherry Ellis, Squirt tells her brother Bubba that he can’t dig a hole to China. He says he can, so they take the magic shovel that Grandpa bought at a garage sale and decide to see if he’s right.
The digging doesn’t go quite the way they had expected and they soon find themselves in a new world. Where are they? Could it be China? Maybe. But they haven’t a clue how to get home.
Sherry Ellis has written a story that will have you turning pages to see what happens next. Bubba and Squirt have a mystery to solve and on the way they meet some very interesting characters. The big question is will they find their way home or will they never see their parents again?
BUBBA AND SQUIRT’S BIG DIG TO CHINA is a fascinating story of bravery, discovery, and fun that should appeal to middle-grade and even older readers that enjoy an adventure while learning some history along the way. The author has added a Glossary with Chinese words which is very helpful in reading the story. She also shows the correct way to pronounce the words and character names. A recipe for Chinese Dumplings sounds delicious.
I recommend this story for school libraries and classes, public libraries and your own library. And if you plan to dig a hole to China, be very careful. You never know who might be waiting for you. Happy reading.
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Sherry Ellis has collected a wide variety of fun and sometimes practical writing exercises from workshops around the globe. No fewer than 87 of today's top writers offer ideas and exercises in this handy paperback-sized edition.