The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa: Book 6 The Ostriches Virtual Book Tour, Author Interview, and Giveaway

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, Book 6: The Ostriches
Written by Jennifer Ussi
Illustrated by Lekshmi Bose
Ages: 6-10 | 82 Pages
Publisher: Little Boola Books (2026) | ISBN: 978-1923356269

Publisher’s Book Summary: What happens when the fastest birds on Earth would rather hide than face the truth—and a tiny lost cat refuses to look away?

In The Ostriches, Casper’s journey east leads her into the wide-open savannah, where danger is approaching fast…and no one wants to admit it. The ostriches have perfected the art of avoidance—heads down, problems ignored—but when real threats close in, Casper must help them discover that bravery isn’t about speed or strength, but about choosing to see what matters.

Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, sharp dialogue, and heartfelt wisdom, this story tackles big ideas—fear, denial, courage, and responsibility—in a way that feels playful, empowering, and deeply relatable for young readers. As always, Casper’s kindness, quick thinking, and gentle leadership prove that even the smallest voice can inspire change.

Beautifully illustrated and seamlessly blending adventure, humour, and wildlife education, The Ostriches is a standout chapter in the series—perfect for readers aged 6–10, classroom discussions, and families who love stories with both heart and substance.

A fast-paced, funny, and meaningful read that sparks conversations long after the last page.

Ideal for reviewers who love spotlighting children’s books with depth, charm, and purpose.

Available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennifer Ussi is an award-winning filmmaker and children’s author whose work has screened at international festivals and cinemas worldwide. With a background spanning feature films, television, commercials, and education, she brings a cinematic eye and a storyteller’s heart to everything she creates.

The idea for The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa didn’t arrive at a desk—it emerged on the road. Over two years, Jennifer and her husband explored the wilds of Africa in an ancient campervan, camping in wildlife reserves, and sharing their days with elephants, birdsong, dust, stars, and stories. Armed with her camera and an insatiable desire to observe and imagine, Jennifer absorbed the landscapes and rhythms of life close to nature—experiences that now pulse through every page of the Casper series.

Her work blends adventure with authenticity, using storytelling to spark curiosity, build empathy, and invite young readers to see the natural world—and their place within it—just a little differently.

Discover more from the author at their website, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok. 


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this series?

Jennifer Ussi - My hubby and I were travelling around Africa in our little old campervan and I happened to be sitting at a waterhole in Botswana, when I heard about a cat that had gotten lost in America, and walked about 300 miles to get home. I wondered how? Did she ask for directions from other cats or dogs or birds? And then I realised that would make such a lovely story – a cat that brings her city smarts to the bush, and the animals she meets gives her their bush smarts, and together, through team work and cooperation, they all achieve their goals.

Life Is What It's Called - What makes this book stand apart from other books on the market?

Jennifer Ussi - From the reviews, I would say it’s a lot to do with the fact that you learn so much about all these animals, but in a fun adventure. We’re learning at the same time that Casper the cat is learning, so we’re reading it from her point of view, which is funny sometimes, because she’s as lost as we would be in the bush. So if anything, I’d say it’s a fun and funny way to learn so much about so many wonderful animals.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope readers will learn from this book?

Jennifer Ussi - I hope that readers learn something unique in each of the books. In this one, Book 6: The Ostriches, firstly, of course, it’s learning about ostriches, and a cheetah that wants to eat them, and a tortoise that helps them strategize. Oh and a dung beetle who’s desperate to win a dung ball rolling contest. (And very venomous red headed centipedes and a 3 toothed (tusked) warthog!) But more than that, I wrote this story to try and show that you shouldn’t believe the labels people give you. Just be you, and ignore what people call you. I hope that this message will get through to even just one reader!

Life Is What It's Called - What is your favorite sentence that you wrote for this book and why?

Jennifer Ussi - Felicity plopped herself down next to Casper during one of their foraging stops, not saying a word, or even looking at her friend, the lost house cat. Casper smiled in the warmth of her silent companionship. She didn’t say anything either. They both seemed to understand that words were not needed in this quiet time of a friendship bonded by a little bit of trauma and a lot of trust.

I really like this paragraph because sometimes friendships are just about being there for each other, no words are necessary.

Life Is What It's Called - How long have you been writing children's books?

Jennifer Ussi - I started this series a bit over a year ago, and it’s my first children’s book series, but I did write a few scripts for (short) films – one of which won many Best Film Award at Children’s Film Festivals around the world.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want readers to know about you?

Jennifer Ussi - That’s a hard one, there’s not much to know about me except that I I love animals, and I just truly want everyone to love them as much as I do, and maybe one day we can wipe out hunting and eradicate the problem of homeless pets worldwide. That’s really my passion, and I absolutely love sharing it through Casper, who I also absolutely love! When I’m not writing one of her adventures, I really miss her, and can’t wait to get her back.

Life Is What It's Called - What writing projects are you working on next?

Jennifer Ussi - Casper is still not home, so I’m working on the Africa series. She still has a lot to learn about so many animals in Africa, which means I still have a lot to learn. And that’s only Africa. I don’t know anything about South American jungle animals.. neither does she, so I wonder….


GIVEAWAY

Enter for the chance to win one of ten paperback copies of The Ostriches by Jennifer Ussi. One grand prize winner will receive paperback copies of the first six books in The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa series!

The Incredible Adventures of Casper the Cat Who Got Lost in Africa, Book 6: The Ostriches: Book Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Jennifer Ussi. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

How to Draw Cute Mochi Animals Review

ABOUT THE BOOK 

Kawaii, chibi, now mochi! How to Draw Cute Mochi Animals teaches readers to transform simple mochi shapes into adorable animals with just a few strokes of a pencil or marker. This beginner-friendly guide features over 500 step-by-step illustrations to create more than 100 super cute animals—from lovable beasties like hippos, pandas, armadillos,and tigers to charming critters like koalas, sloths, puppies, kittens, and baby bears. The book kicks off with a quick tutorial on the mochi drawing technique, then guides young artists through a menagerie of creatures to master. Each animal includes a final coloring step to up the cuteness factor. Printed on quality paper with a durable sewn binding and decorative spot varnish on the cover, this book is perfect for creative expression without screen time.

Available on Amazon, Mixed Media Resources, Bookshop.org and Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Christopher Hart is the world's leading author of art instruction books. Based in Westport, CT, he has written over 100 books translated into 20 languages, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide. His highly illustrated books offer clearly written, step-by-step instructions on a wide variety of learn-how-to-draw subjects, including animals, cartoons, and manga and anime, making them perfect for beginners and younger readers. His Master Guide to Drawing Anime series has sold over 900,000 copies, and his Drawing Shape by Shape series has sold over 300,000 copies. His latest book, How to Draw Cute Mochi Animals, brings the trending world of mochi squishies to aspiring young artists everywhere.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - Why do you think drawing books are important for young artists?

Christopher Hart - It may be counterintuitive, but in my experience, younger artists are more interested in "getting it right" than adult artists. You see, adults often want a creative experience, but younger artists are fans of whatever subject they want to draw, whether it's anime or cartoons, for example. And they look at it as almost a magic trick! They love to learn the secret so they can do it.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you think kids will like most about the How to Draw Cute Mochi Animals book?

Christopher Hart - The characters are tremendously cute. Everything about them is crying out for a hug, and to be able to draw something that conveys that much personality gives you the feeling that you can really do it. Also, the characters are drawn in the popular manga genre, but it's also something different and new that they can discover.

Life Is What It's Called - What other drawing books have you created?

Christopher Hart - "The Master Guide to Drawing Anime," and "Drawing Cute Animals Shape by Shape," to name a few. I've had over 100 drawing books published.

Life Is What It's Called - What's your favorite mochi animal?

Christopher Hart - Dogs and cats. I love to draw them in poses with human expressions.

Life Is What It's Called - What can you tell us about yourself?

Christopher Hart - I've got a dog named Spencer who is very cute, but under the impression that he runs the household. Unfortunately, he's right!

BOOK REVIEW

How to Draw Cute Mochi Animals shares step-by-step instructions on how to draw cute mochi animals. This kid-friendly drawing book provides easy to follow instructions and examples that help children gain confidence and master a new drawing technique. The subjects are easy for beginning artists to draw and follow along. My daughter tried out this book and loved following along with the steps and drawing the animals. She daughter found it easy to do, relaxing and fun. Learning to draw can help stimulate creativity, improve pencil control for writing, provide stress relief and more. It also helps that learning to draw (especially with this cute book) is a screen free activity. This book also has many different options of animals to draw. This book would be a great addition for your home library.

Please note this post is in cooperation with the author. I received a free copy of this book, however all opinions are my own.

Mr. Eastwood's Match Book Review

About the Book

Lady Emily has no idea how to play her part.

Lyness Eastwood has always been content to be second.

When Lyness Eastwood's elder brother, Lord Hartwell, begins a sensible courtship with the charming Lady Emily Sterling, Lyness’s quiet contentment shatters. Ever since their brief meeting in London, Lady Emily’s smile has haunted him. How can a man with a stutter and no title compete with a lord? He must settle for watching her from the shadows.

Lady Emily is determined to solidify her family’s place in Society. Lord Hartwell is a perfect match: respectable, stable, and acceptable. Yet every time she speaks with the quiet, insightful Lyness, she feels a spark and a genuine connection that Lord Hartwell cannot ignite.

As the season progresses, the pressure mounts for Emily to accept the sensible match. But Lyness can no longer stand idly by and lose the woman who makes him want to be braver. A devastating public scandal will throw their lives into chaos, forcing them to choose between stability and the courage to claim a true, imperfect love.

About the Author

Sally Britton is an author of elegant and charming historical romance. With a passion for bringing Regency-era settings to life, she crafts stories with kind characters, sparkling wit, and heartfelt emotion. Her novels weave love and connection seamlessly with period authenticity, drawing readers into worlds where every glance and word carries meaning.

Sally’s stories are as enchanting as they are tender, driven by engaging dialogue and the deeply emotional journeys of her characters. When she’s not writing, Sally enjoys exploring museums, reading voraciously, and spending time with her family. She believes in the timeless power of love and is dedicated to sharing stories that resonate with the heart.

Review

Mr. Eastwood's Match tells the story of Lyness Eastwood and Lady Emily. Lyness is captivated by Lady Emily from their very first meeting. When Lyness's elder brother begins to court Lady Emily, Lyness despairs. Lyness doesn't feel like as a man with a stutter and without a title can compete against a Lord. A devasting scandal adds more chaos into the story.

This story started off slow, but as the plot thickens the story turns into a fast-paced page turner. The dynamic characters evolve as they learn from their mistakes and react to the plot. The overall messaging in this story is universal - accepting your imperfections and not letting them stop you, everyone deserves joy and love and learning to be brave. I really enjoyed this story. I can't wait to read the next one. Learn more about Mr. Eastwood's Match here.

Please note this post is in cooperation with the author. This post contains affiliate links.