Bubbles the Zooting Tooting Manatee product reviews

From a very young age I would always read to my children, and they have grown up with a love and appreciation for reading. I am always on the hunt for new books that I think they would like to read, but also that we can gift to our small rural school so that more children can get the pleasure of the story.

While browsing the site this book caught my eye with its vibrant colours, huge title saying Bubbles, and of course the giant pink smiling Manatee on the front! Just looking at the front cover I thought maybe Bubbles played an instrument, turning to the back cover though, I quickly realised this was not the case! Now I have to admit I knew pretty much nothing about Manatees before reading this book, apparently, they are quite gassy creatures and this in fact is where the zooting and tooting reference comes to play.

As we started to read the vibrant illustrations matched nicely with the words, my son was quick to ask if manatees were in fact a bright pink colour, so we googled it and saw that in fact no they are grey or brown. Reading about Bubbles the author has included some French words and phrases and their English meanings, the word flatulence was also used, and this had the children giggling hysterically when they found out there was a fancy name for farts. Bubbles was criticised for always doing huge farts, in the end these large farts that propelled Bubbles save the day, and then the other manatees accept Bubbles how they are,

To say this book had my children rolling around in fits of laughter would be an understatement, and yes, I was also very amused by the storyline too, this has quickly become the favourite bedtime story, and they will be sharing with their classmates this hilarious story. This book would be perfect for all ages in my opinion, as who does not like the idea of a seagrass eating, zooting and tooting manatee?

It can never be said too often - farts are funny! When you are a toddler, they are funny. When you are at primary school, they are still funny. And even - dare I say it? - many adults find them funny too; it is impossible to stifle laughter when a four-year-old is giggling hysterically about what has just happened. It is not just human farts that are funny; dogs and cats do it regularly as well, something that every pet owner can attest to. So do cows! But until I read this book, I had not really thought about manatees in this context. But now that I have, I find it amazing that they actually harness their flatulence and use it as a flotation aid. I guess it puts a whole new perspective upon the power of natural gas!

Both children loved the book from the moment they first saw it. Mr One, while unable as yet to follow the story, was captivated by the bold, bright graphics, He also liked it when his mother and older sister made appropriate sounds as they read the text together. It will not be long before he too is able to understand the story as well; in the meantime, he can admire the pictures and enjoy their energy.

Miss Four, on the other hand, was completely on board with the story of Bubbles and her rebellion against the somewhat proper family she had been born into. Instead of moving gracefully, propelling herself slowly and coordinating her wind to control direction, Bubbles finds that eating extra seagrass will produce explosive farts that will enable her to become a speed freak. Despite the disapproval of her snooty aunties and mortified mum, Bubbles refuses to slow down. Of course, it all turns out happily for her in the end.

There is a nice lesson in the book about being true to yourself and not letting your behaviour be dictated by others' expectations. Bubbles' zooting and tooting is not harming anyone else, so why not? It is important for young people to accept their own individuality and grow to become the person they want to be. It would be a very boring world if everyone turned out the same - and where would our leaders and inventors be if that were the case?

At the end of the book is a page of manatee facts which the children's mother and I found fascinating. Miss Four can understand most of these now; as Mr One gets older, he too will be fascinated to learn about these amazing creatures. It means that the book will be read over and over again as the children's verbal competence increases. It will not be very long before Miss Four is reading it to Mr One herself.