Review: Funny, naughty story about sibling rivalry
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2013
Jeff Rivera has taken a chance in writing a story about things beneath the bathroom floor, but he does it with such grace that it works very well!  Much of the success of this little book must be shared with Danko Herrera who provides the colorful illustrations: Herrera has managed to make the unsavory aspects of the journey of the two characters almost attractive!Quite simply Falisha Whiskers, in a moment of sibling rivalry, flushes her little brother Jesse down the toilet.  When Falisha's mother discovers this she insists that Falisha goes after her brother or face the consequences of telling her father her grungy deed. Repulsed by the idea of going down the toilet after Jesse, Falisha reminisces `Well, he was all that bad but I still missed him. He was a pain but he was my pain. I guess he didn't always bug me. Even if he did call me Faseesha instead of Falisha. He was okay sometimes. One time he gave me a hug without slobbering on my cheek. And another time he gave me a lick of his lollipop, although he did suck on it first.'So down goes Falisha and in the sewer she finds Jesse having fun: 'Really? Fun?" I asked. "Yeah! I fumbled and tumbled and jumbled down the drain!" he shouted, jumping with excitement. "And I twirled and swirled and curled left and right and I played in the slush and gush and mush and the streets were made of smelly jelly fellies and I saw the swaying and fraying and graying trees--I love it here!  Can we come back again?" `  The obvious answer is NO, so up they go through the pipes to return to the bathroom - and Falisha's sibling superiority arises again by her insisting Jesse bath before dinner!Rivera has a fine writing style and obviously has a terrific adventurous sense of humor. The story works well - funny, daring, but with a good little message about behavior and consequences.  Grady Harp, January 13