Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

The Bubble in Me by J. Alvarez is a quirky tale of friendship and teamwork. Tibby is a chubby tiger who befriends poor Benny, the bumblebee who can’t fly. Together they join forces with Hiccup the Hippo who has no friends because, whenever she speaks, she hiccups. The three friends accept each other for who they are, no matter what their flaws and, after Hiccup tells them a secret, they set off on a great adventure. Along the way they make new friends, they solve problems, and come together as one big happy family that may not be perfect to others but, to each other, they are valuable and gifted friends.

The Bubble in Me by J. Alvarez is a wonderful story for children, complete with pictures that help to bring more life to the story. This isn’t just a kids' adventure story; this is a lesson, not just for kids but for adults too, on friendship, insecurity, accepting people for who they are and not what society dictates they should be. It also teaches teamwork, an invaluable lesson for anyone. This is a highly entertaining, humorous tale about characters with very genuine issues to overcome. While children can enjoy an incredibly well-written adventure story, they can also learn how to deal with emotions, in particular jealousy, in a very creative way. Funny with serious undertones, plenty of quirky characters and a great story line, this is a delightful book for kids, and both children and adults can learn a few lessons along the way.