Eric and the Smoogles

By Timothy Swiss

Reviewed by Paul Zietsman for Readers' Favorite -- Five Stars

Eric and the Smoogles is an enticing and enchanting children's book by Timothy Swiss. Eric is a young boy who lives with his mother in a village situated in a mountain forest. Scrawny and small for his age, he is tasked with collecting eggs when, actually, he dreams of being a strong and mighty hunter. He gets a chance to help an actual hunter in the forest, but things go pear-shaped when massive frog-like creatures, whose tongues go "smoogle" when they stick them out and capture their prey, take Borgar, the hunter, hostage. More village people, and especially children, go missing. The situation becomes truly dire, but everyone is at a loss as to what to do. Can young Eric prove himself worthy of a great challenge, or is he as weak and cowardly as some of the other children believe?

Eric and the Smoogles is a fun-filled book teeming with action, adventure, and heroics. Timothy Swiss has crafted an expert tale with a host of relatable, endearing, and authentic characters. The dialogue sounds real, the world-building is original and creative, and the plot unfolds with extraordinary levels of suspense. At the same time, it is filled with life lessons for the younger crowd, notably creative problem solving, unity between peers and others, and stepping up to the plate when the hero in you is being called upon. I enjoyed Eric and the Smoogles thoroughly and can only imagine how wonderful youngsters will find it. I highly recommend this fun and adventurous story.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B096TRVJ4F
• ISBN13: 9798519990240
• Release Date: June 2021
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"