Tag: fantasy

Christmas Eve with Honey and Hubie

Christmas Eve has a feeling all its own.

The rush of the season finally slows. The lights grow a little softer, the last gifts are tucked away under the Christmas tree, and the world seems to take a breath before morning arrives.

It’s in these gentle hours, when excitement and calm meet, that The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie feels right at home.

This is the night for quiet magic.

The kind that doesn’t need bells or fireworks, just a story, a shared moment, and hearts open to wonder.

A Story for the Stillness of Christmas Eve

After the lists are checked and the house grows quiet, Honey and Hubie invite readers into a world where courage is tender, friendship is steady, and imagination is allowed to wander freely.

Honey’s bravery isn’t loud.

Hubie’s confidence isn’t showy.

Together, they remind us that the truest magic often arrives softly, just when we’re ready to listen.

For children, their adventure sparks anticipation and warmth.

For adults, it offers a rare pause — a reminder of what Christmas felt like when wonder came easily.

A Moment to Share Before Morning Comes

Christmas Eve isn’t about rushing anymore. It’s about sitting close. About voices lowered, pages turning, and knowing that this quiet moment will be remembered long after the toys are opened.

Honey and Hubie’s story becomes part of that memory.

A tale read under twinkling lights.

A world visited together before sleep arrives.

A gentle closing chapter to the year’s most magical night.

More than a Story, a Feeling

What makes The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie special on Christmas Eve isn’t just the adventure. It’s the way the story feels.

It feels safe.

It feels warm.

It feels like kindness matters.

And on a night when love and hope sit quietly in the air, that feeling is a gift all its own.

A Christmas Eve Wish

From Honey, from Hubie, and from every woodland friend waiting between the pages:

May your Christmas Eve be calm.

May your home be filled with warmth and soft laughter.

May imagination find its way into your night, and courage gently follow.

And when morning comes, may the magic stay just a little longer.

Get The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie on Amazon.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie

As a teacher who reads to his class, I’m always looking for stories that capture attention, hold imagination, and open the door to meaningful discussion. The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie did all three. The dedication alone – “May you never lose your sense of fantasy because it is what dreams are made of” – sets the stage for what this book does best: keeping that spark of imagination alive.

My students were immediately drawn to Honey, the miniature greyhound, and her unlikely friend Hubie, the bold green frog. Together they explore a world that’s whimsical but surprisingly relatable. The fairies, Moppets, and talking woodland creatures kept the class giggling, but what stayed with them was Honey’s courage — especially when she faced her fears to cross the pond or help another creature in need.

From an educator’s perspective, the pacing and structure work beautifully for group reading. There are natural pause points, making it easy to discuss what’s happening and predict what might come next. The descriptive writing creates clear visual imagery — something that helps young readers connect words to imagination. I even had a few students draw their favorite scenes, and every one of them was different. That’s the mark of a story that lets kids think for themselves.

What I appreciate most is that this book doesn’t preach. The themes of bravery, empathy and friendship emerge naturally through Honey’s journey. the story invites reflection without spelling out a lesson, which makes it a wonderful tool for teaching emotional intelligence and creative thinking.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie feels like a classic in the making — a story that could easily become part of a yearly classroom rotation. It’s warm, heartfelt, and sincere, reminding children that courage isn’t loud or perfect; sometimes it’s just taking that next small step into the unknown.

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I teach in a large city elementary school, and I look for books that speak to kids who’ve seen a lot. The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie does the job. It’s imaginative without excess and heartfelt without preaching. Honey, a small greyhound, and Hubie, her frog friend, step beyond their garden into a wider world — fairies, Moppets, even a skunk — where courage and loyalty matter. My students connected with Honey’s quiet bravery and the steady, respectful tone. The pacing invites discussion, not noise. It opens space to talk about fear, empathy, and standing up for others. If you want a calm read-aloud that builds character and curiosity, add this to your classroom shelf.

Thank you.

A Magical Winter’s Morning

The magical trio are out and about frosting flowers with every touch and turning them into works of art. The winter landscape and morning sunrise are pure fantasy in the making. It is gorgeous, it is beautiful and filled with wonder. Honey and Hubie can’t believe their eyes as they watch the fairies do what they do best. They always bring a touch of fairy dust to every adventure.

The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie available on Amazon.

Honey and Hubie’s Gingerbread Forest Adventure!

Honey and Hubie can’t believe their eyes! They’re in the Gingerbread Forest and it is magical.

Honey: “This is magical Hubie!”

Hubie: “It sure is Honey. The colors, the sparkles, the cookies, the candies and the icing are fantastic but I can’t eat any of them. Look at the Moppets, they are having a feast!

Honey: “Who cares about eating any of the cookies and candies, Hubie. This place is magical and I love it!”

Hubie: “You’re right Honey. This is a brand new adventure and I’m loving it!”

Honey: “Me too, Hubie, my friend.”

Hubie: “I’m glad you’re my friend Honey. You’re my very best friend.”

Honey: “You are my best friend too, Hubie. Let’s enjoy the Gingerbread Forest and see who else will join us.”

Hubie: “C’mon Honey. Looks like Twister is eyeing the candy cane and it’s just like him. He always wants what he can’t have!”

Honey: “Looks like Twister needs help. Let’s go help him.”

Off they go through the forest surrounded by magic at every turn.

A Little Bit of Christmas Magic

As the festive season twinkles to life, I find myself reflecting on the joys of sharing stories –especially those that bring a little extra magic into our lives. The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie is a story born from the heart –a tale spun from the same threads of imagination that lit up my own childhood holidays.

Why is this book a wonderful Christmas gift? Because it invites young readers –and those young at heart –into a world where friendship and bravery light the way. In the midst of the holiday bustle, there’s something truly special about a gift that encourages children to dream and imagine, to see the world through a lens of wonder.

For me, writing this book was a way to revisit that enchanted forest of my own memories. It’s a place where the values of kindness, loyalty, and imagination come to life in the form of colorful characters and whimsical adventures. And what better time than Christmas to share a story that reminds us all of the simple joy of believing in a bit of magic?

I hope that as you gift this book, it becomes a part of your holiday tradition — something that brings a smile, a shared moment of reading by the fireside, and a reminder of the timeless magic that stories can bring into your lives. Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with warmth, joy, plenty of wonderful stories and a touch of fairy dust to bring it all to life.

T. J. Mueller

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 Cinderella Effect (Archives)

Photo by Mo Eid on Pexels.com

A friend sent this a few days ago and it got me thinking.

“If life doesn’t feel like a fairytale,

If every beautiful sentence seems like ridiculous madness to you…..

Take your existence by the hand,

Be the artist of your own future,

Don’t wait for toads to turn into princes, or pumpkins into carriages,

Remember that everything that was conquered with effort, smells of joy that knows no limits,

Be your own fairytale.” Unknown

I would love to take that last line to heart that fairytales are made of fairy dust and all things nice. The guy gets the girl, a pair of glass slippers has the power to snare a prince and a fairy godmother who orchestrates the whole shebang! How far from the truth can it be? These days things just don’t work that way. I am not sure if it did work that way in Fairytale Land but make-believe is just that, you can work magic into anything and parade it as the truth and have people swallow it lock, stock and barrel!

These days you pick someone out of a dating site, whichever it might be. Then begins the excruciating task of deciding if it’s a “yes” a “no” or it lands in the maybe pile. It all boils down to as the saying goes from the Frog Prince, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your handsome prince.” Not appetizing is it? And even then, you might just walk away with nothing to show for it and that is the reality of it.

Life is not a fairytale. The girl doesn’t always get the guy in the end and there is no walking off into the sunset and happily ever after either. More often than not the shoe doesn’t fit and heartbreak follows in its wake. I could go on and on but I am going to stop right here and lighten the mood a little. I hope these quotes help to keep you company as we go through life searching for that needle in the haystack.

“Someday my Prince Charming will come. Mine just took a wrong turn, got lost and is too stubborn to ask for directions.”

That hasn’t changed much, you know what I am talking about if you’ve ever been in a car with a guy and he refuses to admit that he’s lost. Nothing new there.

I love this next one from Ms. Oprah Winfrey.

“Mr. Right’s coming, but he’s in Africa, and he’s walking.”

Ms. Carrie Bradshaw had a lot to say on this topic.

And just like that:

“A relationship is like couture. If it doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s a disaster.”

The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you find someone to love the you that you love, well, that’s just fabulous.”

“Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want and just see what happens.”

“As we drive along this road called life, occasionally a girl will find herself a little lost. And when that happens, I guess she has to let go of the coulda, shoulda, woulda, buckle up and just keep going.”

Don’t despair. As the Fairy Godmother said:

“Even miracles take a little time.”

If all else fails,

Ladies,

Please stop wasting your time looking for Mr. Right.

Just find Mr. Left and drag that sucker to the right!

Have an amazing day.

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