Want to make an author’s day? Take a few minutes and let the world know what you thought of their book. Did you like the characters? Did the plot keep you turning pages? Did you laugh out loud?

Writing a book review is like telling your friends why you liked or disliked something. They don’t have to be long. You can post your reviews on social media, on a site that sells books like Amazon, or in a place where readers go for book recommendations like Goodreads. At school, you can write a book report about a favorite book. A book report is just like a book review.

Here are Crenwinkle’s tips for writing an interesting book review:

  • Be honest but kind. If you don’t care for a book, say that in a way that doesn’t attack the author or illustrator. Be constructive. “I wish the drawings had been more life-like” rather than “the illustrations were trash!”
  • Give a summary of the book.
  • Consider the information you’d like to know about a book and include that in your review.
  • Point out unique features.
  • When you’re reviewing kid’s books, tell how old you are and what ages you think would enjoy the book.
  • End with a quick summary and your recommendation.

 

We’ve shared a few Night Buddies Reviews below to get you started:

 

RECOMMENDED FOR RELUCTANT READERS

Five-star Review of Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare

The first installment of the Night Buddies series starts with a bang and keeps up the pace for the entire book. It’s filled with wacky characters and an outlandish plot that kids will love.

Basically, the night buddies come to rescue kids when they don’t want to go to sleep (which I know my kids would like to have happen to them). Part of the charm of the story is that much of the world is familiar with the night buddies. Old women think nothing of seeing our main character walk down the street with a red crocodile. People call on the night buddies for help. But, of course, our narrator’s parents are clueless about them, as parents in any kids fantasy should be.

Given the action-packed approach and the funny dialogue, I think the book is especially good for boys age ten and up who are reluctant readers. They’d really connect with the narrator, who has a strong voice through the story.

And I freely admit, by the time I finished the book, I had a craving for cheesecake — though maybe not with pineapple on top! – MM

 

NIGHT BUDDIES RETURNS

Four-Star Review of Night Buddies, Imposters, and On Far-Out Flying Machine

Crosley is a bright red crocodile that lives under the bed of John Degraffenreidt. Why? John has so much energy he has difficulty going to sleep. He and Crosley go on night-time adventures called programs. His boss or handler is named Crenwinkle. In the first book, they had to find out who was stealing all of the pineapple cheesecakes. This time, the adventure affects Crosley. There are several impostors running around town as red crocodiles, and they are doing bad things. Crosley’s boss and brother, Crenwinkle, along with John, must get help to solve this mystery. They rely on a friend from the first book to help. Along the way, they must get help from Rodney Oglesby, who runs a very unique hotdog stand. He sells sauerkraut and jelly bean hotdogs. Come along on this adventure and find out how they solve this new mystery. The book teaches kids about obeying rules and laws, teamwork, honesty, and many more lessons. – Sandra K. Stiles

 

BOYS ESPECIALLY WILL LOVE THIS BOOK!

Five-Star Review of Night Buddies Go Sky High

This is the third book in this fun-filled children’s book series. The story is filled with suspense, laughter, and playfulness. Night Buddies revolves around the nighttime adventures of a young boy named John, who is not ready to go to sleep, and a bright red crocodile named Crosley, who turns up under John’s bed each night. The language is imaginary, and there are lots of futuristic doohickeys to spark your interest as this pair surreptitiously exits John’s house using Crosely’s I-ain’t-here doodad, which makes them invisible to John’s parents. Who wouldn’t want one of those?

The two show up at the Pineapple Cheesecake Factory and find Big Foot Mae lying on the floor, staring up at her Great Star Puzzle on the ceiling. Of course, they suspect something is awry. Mae points to the ceiling, indicating that this anomaly needs to be solved, and the Night Buddies are off and immersed in a brand-new fantasy adventure.

The vibe of the book is fun-loving and hilarious. The characters are lovable, and the storyline keeps moving you forward at a fast pace as the plot develops. It’s always amusing to use different font sizes in a book to capture and add interest to the story. The black-and-white pencil sketch drawings are a visual treat as well. I am sure the book will appeal especially to boys who love an out-of-the-box reading experience. – Storywraps

THERE’S A STINK BOMB BUS!
Anything with the word shenanigan gets my attention. The Evil School Bus is the fourth installment of the Night Buddies series (and I hope it’s not the last). Full of action and silly antics, this book kept our attention throughout. John, our main character, is a trouble magnet who can backtalk like no other. His trusty companion, Crosley, is a red crocodile who is afraid of water. Together with the blimp, they are out to save the city. If you haven’t read another Night Buddies, let me introduce you to the Iguana gang. They are mischievous fellows who drive a stink bomb bus. Now, that in itself is funny and will surely grab middle graders’ attention. In this story, they have cooked up another evil plan to terrorize. To keep the reader on their toes, there are added bonuses such as artwork that helps drive the story and a goofy, made-up language. – Kim