About the Author:
Nancy is a native of Lewiston, Maine and is best known for her pie crust invention, the "Pie Saver." She traded in her inventor's hat to pen the series "Chompy & the Munchy Bunch," about a carrot who gets super-powered eyesight from a formula made from carrots! The books are perfect for 4 - 9 year olds. Nancy lives in Maine and Florida with her husband of 41 years, and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She can also be contacted at nancy@nancybeaule.com for readings at schools (which includes a fun nutritional activity), libraries, day care centers, etc.
Review:
Search for the Hidden Treasure is the second book in the Chompy & the Munchy Bunch series, written by Nancy Beaule and illustrated by Lauren Goldstein. Depressed at his failed attempt to replicate Doc Peppa's super eye formula which had previously been made at Peppa Mansion, Chompy sits on his swing and looks despondent. After Salty shows Chompy a coded message about a hidden treasure at Peppa Mansion in Munchytown, Chompy immediately cheers up, thinking it could be the missing secret ingredient for the super eye formula - a carrot juice which had enhanced his vision tenfold. Although afraid to return, Chompy, Salty and Weiner sneak into Peppa Mansion, not realizing that the evil Candybar had overheard their conversation and was waiting to sabotage their efforts to find the hidden treasure. Candybar finds himself in an awkward situation when his evil plans backfire, but luck is on Chompy's side, as Candybar's trap unveils what they had come in search of.
Nancy Beaule's delightful children's book puts forth the message that you reap what you sow. Candybar's evil intentions led to a bad ending for his deeds, while Chompy and his friends' bravery led them to the bounty which they had sought out. Search for the Hidden Treasure teaches children that determination pays off, while sitting around sulking, thinking about failure, is a path that leads nowhere. I like the different examples of fear playing tricks on the imagination; when the main characters feared the worst from what they thought they were seeing, the eventual realization of what they were looking at embarrassed them somewhat. All in all, their bravery and determination landed them the prize which they sought and the bad guy got a royal kick in the pants for his efforts. 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
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