Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Flapadoodle and Schnoink by Stacey Roberts is a children's picture book that follows the story of two knights, Flapadoodle and Schnoink, who undertake various tasks to help those in need. They protect the royal princess from giants at her birthday ball, rescue Sir Bryan from a lion, and chase warrior bees who have stolen fairy treasure keys. The knights also sneak into a dragon's lair to retrieve a golden fiddle, assist a monster who is ill, and battle a wizard in a blizzard. In each case, their actions are heroic, and they use clever tactics and bravery to overcome challenges. Throughout the story, the knights’ unusual names are repeatedly referenced but are only revealed at the end, where it is disclosed how they came to be known as Flapadoodle and Schnoink.

Flapadoodle and Schnoink, both written and illustrated by Stacey Roberts, is an imaginative book with writing that is playful, full of rhymes, and invites children into a world of bold adventures. My youngest reader and I love how the two knights tackle various problems in humorous and unexpected ways. The illustrations, which have a contemporary computer graphic feel, feature a striking primary color palette, making the characters and scenes visually appealing. My little reader was particularly taken by the depiction of the fairies, their vibrant colors bringing a magical touch to the story. The book’s repetitive structure, with its central focus on the knights’ names, adds an amusing twist to traditional storytelling and is just loads of fun. Overall, this book is a delightful read for children while also providing a great introduction to the world of knights and fantasy. Very highly recommended.