Book Title: War at the Ice Cream Store 2: Rocky Road vs The Sundae Storm by Cheryl DaVeiga
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 4 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Waterhole Productions LLC
Release date: May 6, 2025
Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone.
The sequel to the award-winning War at the Ice Cream Store: Bully Vanilli vs Mustachio Pistachio
It’s a perfect Sunny Sunday in July—The ultimate ice cream day! But wait… uh oh… Trouble is brewing down at the Frozen Frogg Ice Cream Store! A swirly, twirly, category five twister is out of control!!
Could this be the first summer Sunday EVER without ice cream? (Say it isn’t so!) Or can the flavors and toppings whip up a plan before it’s too late?
Book Title: War at the Ice Cream Store: Mustachio Pistachio vs Bully Vanilli—Collector's Edition by Cheryl DaVeiga
Category: Children's Fiction (Ages 3-7), 32 pages
Genre: Children's Picture Book
Publisher: Waterhole Productions LLC
Release date: May 2025
Format available for review: print-softback (USA only), ebook (GIFTED KINDLE, PDF)
Will send print books out: USA
Tour dates: May 19 to June 6, 2025
Content Rating: G. This children's book is for everyone.
New Collector's Edition—Reillustrated with enhanced story and bonus content.
In the Frozen Frogg Ice Cream Store, Bully Vanilli is the most popular ice cream and self-proclaimed king of the flavors. Lonely Mustachio sits at the back of the freezer. No one ever picks him. Every night, after the store door is locked, Bully Vanilli begins his bullying and Mustachio is his favorite target. One night, Vully kicks Mustachio's bucket. Poor Mustachio falls SPLAT on the floor, and it's... War at the Ice Cream Store! (And there's a song!)
Cheryl DaVeiga is an award-winning songwriter and children's book author who loves to combine humor, rhyme, and wordplay to create stories and songs that bring on the giggles. You can find her books and animated sing-along song videos on her website for kids and kid-lovers—BiffBamBooza.com. Biff Bam Booza books have received numerous awards and high acclaim, including Mom's Choice Gold, Purple Dragonfly, Eric Hoffer, and Literary Titan book awards, Readers' Favorite 5-star ratings, and Kirkus Review Magazine features. Cheryl lives in Tucson, Arizona, and spends her summers in her native New Jersey.
1.
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
One that stands out is the rainy day I spent wandering the halls of the New York Public Library—it felt like sacred ground—how many lifetimes would it take to know all that’s in here? As for my more frequent pilgrimages, they’re the quiet, solitary kind: daily writing sessions where I delete more than I keep and contemplate whether any of it truly matters.
2.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Maybe Bambi, but the one that truly stayed with me was Black Beauty. It was my first real exposure to cruelty—and it hit hard.
3. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing energizes me for hours on end. Time disappears, and I just want to stay in that creative flow. I get irritated when hunger or biology interrupts. By the end of a long writing session, my brain feels spent—but in the most satisfying way.
4.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Having a great concept for a story, but not having a beginning, and middle, and an end figured out.
People often come to me with a “great idea” for a story. I always ask, “Okay, so what happens?”That’s usually when I get a blank stare. I tell them to come back when they have a beginning, a middle, and an end—otherwise, it’s just a concept, not a story.
5.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Funny you should ask. When I first started writing children’s songs, I performed under the pseudonym CADi Grace—“CAD” for Cheryl Anne DaVeiga, the little “i” for inspiration, and “Grace” for my late mom. I made her a cartoon character so she’d never age. I still use her! In fact, the song that goes with my book Go Cheese Racer is released on Spotify and other streaming platforms under that name. But eventually, I decided it was time to come out and claim my own for books.
6.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better
writer?
I started out as a songwriter, so most of my creative circle comes from that world. I have fewer literary author friends, but the ones I do have are incredibly helpful—especially when it comes to navigating the ups and downs of independently publishing and marketing books. The process can be grueling and at times discouraging, but we lean on each other through the hurdles, the disappointments, and the sheer overwhelm of it all.
7.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work
with connections between each book?
Each of my stories stands on its own—even the sequel to War at the Ice Cream Store. What connects them isn’t the storyline, but the spirit: humor, wordplay, and song. Biff Bam Booza’s tagline says it best—Read, Sing, and Get Your Giggles On! I believe in the power of laughter to spark learning and create lasting bonds.
8.
What authors did you dislike at first but grew into?
I truly can’t remember any authors that I disliked and then decided to read again later. Maybe it’s happened, but it takes a lot to get me back once you’ve lost me.
9.
What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd left a lasting mark on me. While it became popular, I still consider it under-appreciated for the emotional and spiritual depth beneath its simple premise. It’s a beautiful blend of healing, growth, and found family. I especially loved experiencingitthrough14-year-oldLily’sfirst-personvoice—madeevenmorepowerfulbythe tender narration in the audiobook, which I could’ve listened to forever. This book inspired me to write my own chapter book (currently in progress) in first person.
10.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Definitely a dolphin. They’re smart, playful, and social—qualities I try to bring to my writing. But they also hold a deeply personal meaning for me. My late partner, Tom, adored dolphins, and after he passed in 2019, they became a symbol of joy and connection that I carry with me. I even dedicated my children’s book The Dolphin Dentist to him. So yes, I’m a dolphin all the way—heart and fin.
11.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
That’s a funny question—because the answer is, more than I can count. I have two fully illustrated children’s books I’m considering reworking, one wordplay book I illustrated myself, and probably hundreds of half-finished songs tucked away in folders. Every now and then I stumble on something I barely remembe writing—an dit’s like opening a time capsule from my own brain.
12. What did you
edit out of this book?
Words, words, and more words. Writing a children’s book means keeping it tight—I let the story pour out, then trim it way back. It’s a fun challenge to figure out how to say more with fewer words and let the illustrations carry some of the magic.
13.
If you didn’t write,what would you do for work?
I took up writing after retiring from a corporate job. It’s not work to me. I’ll write forever.
14.
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Not in the two ice cream books, but yes—I love sneaking in little surprises. In Chocolate Space Bunnies, there are hidden “Ooey Gooey Looeys” for readers to spot. In Rocket Red: A Little Ant With a Big Dream, the letters “ant” are highlighted within many words throughout, and kids have to find them all. I also hide punny references most people might miss. For example, in Chocolate Space Bunnies, the bunnies land on the planet Mars—so they put on candy coats and look like little M&Ms. It’s a nod to the Mars candy company, but not everyone catches it. I like to think those who do will get a little extra smile out of it.
15.
What is your favorite childhood book?
I loved Winnie the Pooh and Black Beauty (see above), but the Pippi Longstocking series was the one I had to own in full. There was something about Pippi’s kooky uniqueness that resonated with me—I think I saw a little bit of myself in her wild, wonderful spirit.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ X ~ bookbub ~ goodreads
No comments:
Post a Comment