The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean by Robert Gillespie

Book Details:



Book Title: The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean by Robert Gillespie

Category: Children's Fiction, 48 pages

Genre: Fantasy / Nature

Publisher: Page Publishing

Release date: July 2017

Tour dates: Jan 22 to Feb 2, 2018

Content Rating: G



Book Description:



Popcorn and Jellybean had never ventured down the path beyond the big tree. But since they never really did anything exciting, and even though it made them a little nervous at first, they decided it would be a fun adventure for a couple of days. What could possibly go wrong? Plenty, as it turned out, if the explorers were not prepared! Join them as they take on new challenges each day, learn how to survive by following the behaviors of the animals they encounter, and go where Mother Nature leads them. And who knows, maybe we could learn as well!

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My Review:
Popcorn and Jellybean are friends. One day they decide they are bored and want an adventure. They have never been down the path past the tree. Today they decide is the day to see what is on the other side. They pack everything they think they will need and set off on a 2 day adventure. It turns out they are not as prepared as they think and what started out as a 2 day adventure becomes a 5 day adventure. 
Along the way they are presented with different challenges and obstacles. The 2 and eventually 3 of them must use their problem solving skills together to overcome everything thrown in their path to get back home. 
This was really a fun book to read to the kids. We took it 1 chapter at a time each night. Some of the pages were pretty long for the little ones when there were no pictures for them to look at. The book is 48 pages long and it is a large sized book.  The illustrations in the book were kind of simple but very colorful and the the kids loved them. 
This was a really good book to add to my kids home library. I do think the kids would need to be around 8 or so to get through the book reading on their own. I really loved that the book shows how important it is to use problem solving skills and also some of the survival tips offered. 

I was given my copy of this book from the Author and IRead Book Tours for review purposes. The thoughts are my own.

Meet the Author:

Bob has spent more than 13 years as a wildlife conservation educator sharing information and animal encounters with audiences of all ages. He has a passion for teaching about a wide range of topics nature related and loves passing it along to his two sons. His youngest son, Colton, was the inspiration behind The Adventures of Popcorn and Jellybean, where it all started as a simple bedtime story. Bob currently resides in Carlsbad, California, and works as a professional interpreter guide at a world-renowned conservation organization.



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Interview with Robert Gillespie

What was your inspiration behind your book?

A number of friends have asked how this whole thing started. I never intended to write a book. I was lucky enough to have a special consultant working alongside me – my youngest son. Not just my consultant, but my inspiration to the birth of our story. I only intended to create a bedtime story for my son, who was seven years old at the time. Due to my status as a single Dad, I did not have him every night, but when he was with me, he always asked me to tell him more about Popcorn and Jellybean, which by the way, he came up with when I asked him who the story should be about. It simply evolved from that point.

What made you write about being out in Nature?

I decided, because of my background in wildlife conservation education, I wanted to incorporate certain lessons about nature, and weave those lessons into the story line. If I could educate my young audience in a subtle and entertaining way, and make a difference, then I knew it would be a very rewarding experience. So, as a first-time author, I dove into the deep end of the pool without a lifejacket. No risk, no reward.

What was the biggest factor in how you told the story?

I think the most important part of writing this book, at least for me, is living the adventure right along with the characters. I’ve used real life experiences that either I have had, or a member of my immediate family has had. If I’ve been there, done that, it makes it easier to create different scenarios that each character goes through. And I can actually see, feel, and understand the challenges they are presented with along their journey.

Was it challenging to see the world from a child’s perspective?

I believe that we all have that inner child that we strive to bring to the surface for a little visit every now and then. I brought mine along with me when I put this story together. I wanted to see the adventure through the eyes of a young boy. What did the journey look like? Why was it a little bit scary to venture into a world they’d never been to before? How would that boy react under stressful situations? How would the friend dynamic unfold? What kind of conversations would develop? And what would those conversations sound like? How would the small group of friends relate to one another?

What’s next?

This journey has been amazing, and we are currently in publication with the sequel, and also working on the third book in the series. From there, who knows.

Robert Gillespie

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