Tag: children

Book Description

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie is a heartwarming children’s adventure book that celebrates imagination, courage, and the true meaning of friendship.  When Honey, a curious Italian greyhound, meets Hubie, a kind and colorful frog, their unexpected friendship leads them far beyond the garden fence and into a magical world filled with Moppets, fairies, woodland creatures, and dazzling places they never dreamed existed.

Perfect for ages 6-12, this enchanting chapter book teaches children vital social-emotional lessons –loyalty, kindness, bravery, and standing by those we care about –even when the journey becomes difficult.  Young readers will grow alongside Honey as she learns to swim, conquers her fears, rescues a friend, and discovers what real friendship requires: courage, sacrifice, and heart.

T. J. Mueller takes children on an unforgettable adventure filled with glowing meadows, whimsical characters, hidden villages, and make-believe magic.  Ideal for early readers, bedtime stories, classroom read-aloud, and gift giving.  The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie captures the wonder of childhood and the power of believing in yourself – and in your friends.

Perfect for Parents, Teachers, and Young Readers Who Enjoy:

  • Animal friendship stories
  • Magical adventure chapter books
  • Imagination and fantasy for children
  • Social emotional learning (SEL) themes
  • Stories with strong moral lessons
  • Heartwarming books about courage, kindness, and loyalty

If your child loves The Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web, or The Tale of Despereaux, they’ll be captivated by the charming world of Honey and Hubie.

Give your young reader a magical adventure!

Available on Amazon

Unbelievable Book Review!

Once in a while something or someone comes along and blows your socks off! This is what happened when I saw this video. Ron Betta is a professional, an educator and an author and the review is fantastic! It’s like a Christmas present that came early! Thank you Ron, I really do appreciate it.

“The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie” available on Amazon.

The Publishing Journey

It is not just about writing the book, spending hours and hours on end putting it together, getting lost in a world where magic happens, but then comes the question, “What to do with it?” after it is done and finished.

The search began for a publisher who would love my book and give it a chance. I had two offers. One a mega publisher and the other a smaller children’s book publisher. I went with the big one thinking my book would be in good hands. Thinking and the reality are two different things but that’s for another time.

Publishing took a long time as did the illustrations and the back and forth with the publisher. There were times when I was absolutely frustrated and other times when I thought they were doing a good job. The day I had been waiting for came and I got the message that the publishing day was just around the corner! There was a certain sense of euphoria I can’t explain. I was on cloud nine but nervous at the same time. Will it make it? It was a question that kept doing rounds in my head. Then I saw the finished product and I was happy and not so happy. There were certain things that did not set too well. The book size for one thing. The cover was eye-catching and I liked that part.

I had a book out there! The publisher wrote saying, “Success of the book depends on you.” Hmm….I wasn’t sure what that meant. What do I do now? It was hard work getting the visibility that was needed to bump the book up from under millions of titles. Daunting? Yes. Then there was the question of ratings and reviews. In the beginning, it was mostly 5-stars and I was floating around. It was doing well, this little book of mine. However, I came falling back to earth when the first not so good review knocked me off my pedestal! I was irritated, frustrated and I wanted to reply but was told that silence is the best approach. I kept my cool and more reviews started coming in, mostly 5-stars and that one review that still bugs me was relegated to a space at the bottom rung of the ladder.

I still wake up some mornings and rush to see if the book is doing fine. When I see that it is, I breathe a sigh of relief and that, my friends, is more than irritating to say the least. I’m talking about my dependence on a book to bring my mood up or to bring it all the way down. I’ve decided that I’ve done my part and the book will do just fine. I will help it along but if it is a good book, it will find its way.

The sequel is finished and has been accepted. I want to wait a while before I go through the same process again. NOW, I just need a movie producer to pick the book up and to turn it into a hit! Any takers?

An Excellent Overview

I found this online and it gives an excellent overview of what the book is about.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie has been very well received, garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews from readers and book reviewers. Reviewers consistently praise the books heartfelt message, charming illustrations, and ability to inspire courage and imagination in young readers.

Key Reception Points:

Universal Acclaim: The book consistently receives 5-star ratings on platforms like Amazon, with reviewers from different countries offering high praise.

Positive Themes: The story is lauded for its meaningful themes of overcoming fear, the value of loyalty, and the importance of supportive friendships.

Engaging Narrative: Reviewers note that the narrative is well-paced and engaging, successfully holding children’s attention with enough suspense and whimsical language.

Authenticity: Many readers have highlighted the author’s sincerity, noting that the story feels “handcrafted” and is written with a clear, personal touch and love for their child, which resonates strongly with parents.

Visual Appeal: The illustrations are frequently described as “vivid and beautiful,” adding significant depth and appeal to the reading experience.

Overall, the book is highly recommended by parents and reviewers as a valuable read for families, offering a gentle, inspiring story that encourages children to dream big and value friendship.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie is out there doing the rounds and ready to be picked up. Available on Amazon.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie

When I sat down to write The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie, I wanted to capture the kind of day every child secretly hopes for: the day when the world opens up beyond the garden fence and you discover that courage and friendship live inside you. Honey, the little Italian greyhound, begins the story very much like many of us do—safe, loved, and yet quietly restless.

She has a warm home, caring owners, and a familiar routine, but her heart is tugged by the idea that there might be “something more” just beyond the fence. Hubie, her bright green frog friend in a pirate hat, is that “something more” come to life: he is curiosity, mischief, and optimism all rolled into one.

As Honey follows Hubie out of the garden, the story becomes a journey through all the magic I remember from my own childhood walks in the woods: talking animals, music in the trees, and tiny folk who live in unexpected places. Along the way Honey meets the Buttercup Fairies, joins the Moppets’ grand celebration, learns to swim with the help of a graceful swan, and even helps
rescue baby Carmelia from the fearsome Screeches. Each encounter is meant to feel like a small, complete adventure, but they all circle back to one idea: we grow braver and kinder when we step outside our comfort zone for the sake of someone else.

At the heart of the book is the friendship between Honey and Hubie. They tease, they disagree, and they frighten each other at times, but when real danger appears, Honey finds herself willing to risk everything to protect her friend.

That moment—when a quiet, uncertain little dog stands up to a threatening Screech—is the true center of the story. Hubie later tells her that real
friendship is when you care so deeply for someone that you would give your life for theirs without thinking of your own. I wanted young readers to see that bravery doesn’t always roar; sometimes it looks like a trembling friend who refuses to run away.

The book is dedicated to my son, and that dedication is very real. I wrote this story hoping that he, and children everywhere, would never lose their sense of fantasy, because it is where compassion, courage, and creativity first learn to walk.

Honey ends the day muddy, tired, and smelling like a skunk, but she is also changed: she has danced, swum, rescued, laughed, and learned what true friendship feels like. It is not a “perfect” ending, but a perfectly honest one—a
reminder that the best days are often a little messy, a little risky, and filled with memories that last long after the bathwater runs clear.

T. J. Mueller

Book Reviews

Good reviews are hard to come by and when I get them, it is time to highlight them for all they are worth and to thank the people who took the time to read and to leave a review. Here are two that spoke to my heart.

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2025

Format: Kindle

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie is an irresistibly adorable tale that blends warmth, humor, and heart into a story both kids and adults can fall in love with. The author delivers a delightful adventure filled with quirky characters, gentle life lessons, and a sense of wonder that feels timeless.
This book is sweet and spirited and Mueller’s writing has that rare ability to be playful without ever talking down to young readers.
What truly stands out is the book’s message: that friendship, courage, and curiosity are powerful companions on any adventure.

Starr

**********************************************************

Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2025

Format: Kindle

The adventure of Honey and Hubie is the perfect story of friendship. This story will teach your child about the importance of friendship and how to maintain healthy friendships. The images in this story are beautiful and bright and completely compliment this touching story as well. Get ready to have an amazing adventure with Honey and Hubie!

Flowers & Rainbows