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Never Give Up
Talent Show Troubles follows a sea turtle as he tries desperately to find a talent for the upcoming talent show. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Well, it all started with some doodles in church. My mom taught me how to draw turtles, and so I drew a turtle named Crush Sir Turtletin, the third. Then I drew three more until I had 4 generations of the royal Crush Sir Turtletin family. I wanted to write a series that featured each of the turtles as an introduction and then wanted to expand the series to show different adventures.
For this first book, I thought it would be a fun story to have this great-grandpa tell about a time when he was younger and asked his son to help him learn to dance. The dad knows how much his son loves to dance and thought that would be a great talent for the talent show. Sometimes, I help my grandfather learn how to play games, so that was part of my inspiration for having the younger generation help the older generation.
What scene did you have the most fun writing?
My favorite chapter is the “Shell-Shaking Dancing King.” I think it’s a very entertaining and comical chapter in the book.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to show that it’s important to try new things, even if you aren’t good at it. We aren’t all good at everything, but there is something we can all do if we just keep trying. The king wasn’t afraid to try new talents and didn’t give up when he failed at some of them. He kept trying new activities until he found something he was good at and I think that’s an important lesson for everyone. Try new things and never give up.
Where will Book 2 in this series take young readers? Can you give us a peek inside?
Book 2 introduces Crush Sir Turtletin, the 2nd. He starts off gathering a group of young turtles and tells them a tale of when he was young and wanted to take a vacation. His dad was against vacations, so Crush Sir Turtletin, the 2nd, sneaks off to have a grand adventure but instead finds himself facing mishap after mishap. It is a funny adventure that you won’t want to miss!
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Talent Show Troubles
Talent Show Troubles follows the adventures of King Crush Sir Turtletin at Turtle Beach. Readers get a front-row seat as he stresses out about an upcoming talent show. It’s a big journey filled with a bunch of funny attempts at discovering his talent, from instrument disasters to croaking that scares off imaginary frogs. Eventually, it all leads up to an epic dance number that totally saves the day. It’s a cute and playful children’s book that’s easy to dive into, perfect for a lighthearted read.
I found the humor in this book to be charming. There’s this quirky and self-aware vibe that makes it enjoyable for both kids and adults who appreciate a good laugh. The writing is simple but effective. The whole part where he polishes his dancing shoes “until they were shimmering more than the stars in the night sky” had me grinning at how seriously he took his newfound talent. The humor and warmth of the storytelling really won me over.
King Crush Sir Turtletin feels the pressure of expectations. Everyone thinks the king should have all the answers. So when he admits, “I know I’m the king and I’m supposed to always know what to do in every situation, but I have a problem,” it feels relatable. The author cleverly captures the struggle of living up to what people expect of you. Yet, there’s something heartwarming about how he eventually finds his strength in dancing, especially with a little help from his family. His son teaching him to dance made me smile, and I loved how the book emphasized learning new things with the support of loved ones.
This book is divided into short, easy-to-read chapters, making it perfect for young readers just starting with chapter books. Each chapter flows smoothly into the next and is packed with playful humor and engaging adventures that keep kids entertained without overwhelming them. The simple language and fun, relatable story make it a great choice for building confidence in early readers.
Talent Show Troubles is a delightful picture book for kids and anyone who enjoys a good chuckle. I think it’s especially great for families, teachers looking for a fun story to share, or anyone needing a dose of feel-good vibes.
Pages: 40 | ASIN : B0DHY53MQV
LITERARY TITAN 