What do you think?
Rate this book
Cookie Chronicles #1
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom
Meet Ben, a literal-minded kid with a big heart and an even bigger sweet-tooth, who cracks open a fortune cookie and discovers that TODAY might be his last day on Earth!
Live each day as if it were your last.
When Ben reads his fortune-cookie fortune, he's alarmed and inspired. Immediately, he begins drafting a bucket list of unfinished tasks and lifelong dreams (finish his 1000-piece model of the Taj Mahal, eat an entire cake, etc....). As Ben marches himself in and out of trouble, takes useful risks, and helps both his parents to see the bigger picture, readers discover how something that seems scary can instead be empowering--leading to friendships that might never have been made, neighbors that might never have been known, and apple pies that might otherwise never have been baked.
Live each day as if it were your last.
When Ben reads his fortune-cookie fortune, he's alarmed and inspired. Immediately, he begins drafting a bucket list of unfinished tasks and lifelong dreams (finish his 1000-piece model of the Taj Mahal, eat an entire cake, etc....). As Ben marches himself in and out of trouble, takes useful risks, and helps both his parents to see the bigger picture, readers discover how something that seems scary can instead be empowering--leading to friendships that might never have been made, neighbors that might never have been known, and apple pies that might otherwise never have been baked.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2021
100 people are currently reading
555 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Swanson
54 books83 followersMatthew Swanson (and his wife Robbi Behr) are author and illustrator of the critically acclaimed Cookie Chronicles series, The Real McCoys trilogy, and the picture books Sunrise Summer, Babies Ruin Everything, and Everywhere, Wonder. When not advocating for local schools, giving talks on creative entrepreneurship, or running a summer salmon fishing operation on the Alaskan tundra, we live in an old barn on the Eastern Shore of Maryland—making books and raising our four kids.
Matthew and Robbi will spend the 2022-2023 school year crisscrossing the United States in a school bus/tiny home with our four kids, visiting underserved elementary schools in all 50 states (plus DC), and giving away 25,000 free hardcover books to students and teachers from low-income communities. To learn more about the Busload of Books tour, go to: www.busloadofbooks.com.
Matthew and Robbi will spend the 2022-2023 school year crisscrossing the United States in a school bus/tiny home with our four kids, visiting underserved elementary schools in all 50 states (plus DC), and giving away 25,000 free hardcover books to students and teachers from low-income communities. To learn more about the Busload of Books tour, go to: www.busloadofbooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
March 21, 2023
LMAO. Ya'll I've seen these books around the library and I'm not sure what I was expecting. This was such a short and quick read, but so fun and enjoyable!
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom follows Ben as he goes to a noodle shop with his aunt. While there he opens a fortune cookie and learns that the following day may be his very last day alive so he drafts a bucket list of sorts to live out his lifelong dreams. What follows is a story full of both hilarious moments and beautiful illustrations ultimately teaching us all that we should live each day as if it's our last.
What Worked: I think that this was just a fun book all around! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the illustrations until after I finished the book because I read it on audio, but I think that they would ultimately add to the reading experience. I wasn't sure what to expect when I dived into this one, but I loved that Matthew Swanson created all of this wild events from Ben eating his father's cake to his mother attempting to recreate the cake to the neighbors getting involved. All of it made for a highly entertaining book filled with unexpected possibilities. One of the most important things that I took away from this novel was to live each day fully. While readers don't necessarily know whether the fortune will come true or not, every interaction that Ben has with others is a reminder to live each day as if it's your last through the positives, the negatives, the sadness, and the happiness. Swanson also created some fun side characters that add to the overall energy of the story making it even more enjoyable. The ending to this one was definitely sweet and fun. Fun facts about the origin of the fortune cookie at the end of the story add another nice touch.
I highly recommend choosing this for readers who love the combination of art and text.
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom follows Ben as he goes to a noodle shop with his aunt. While there he opens a fortune cookie and learns that the following day may be his very last day alive so he drafts a bucket list of sorts to live out his lifelong dreams. What follows is a story full of both hilarious moments and beautiful illustrations ultimately teaching us all that we should live each day as if it's our last.
What Worked: I think that this was just a fun book all around! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see the illustrations until after I finished the book because I read it on audio, but I think that they would ultimately add to the reading experience. I wasn't sure what to expect when I dived into this one, but I loved that Matthew Swanson created all of this wild events from Ben eating his father's cake to his mother attempting to recreate the cake to the neighbors getting involved. All of it made for a highly entertaining book filled with unexpected possibilities. One of the most important things that I took away from this novel was to live each day fully. While readers don't necessarily know whether the fortune will come true or not, every interaction that Ben has with others is a reminder to live each day as if it's your last through the positives, the negatives, the sadness, and the happiness. Swanson also created some fun side characters that add to the overall energy of the story making it even more enjoyable. The ending to this one was definitely sweet and fun. Fun facts about the origin of the fortune cookie at the end of the story add another nice touch.
I highly recommend choosing this for readers who love the combination of art and text.
April 16, 2021
Even allowing for the fact that I'm over 70 and this is written for 8-10-year-olds, it took me a few chapters to get into this charming story. But once everyone in Ben Yokoyama's neighborhood seemed to become part of his quest to live his day as though it was the last one in his life, the tale really came together.
Ben's Cookie of Doom began at a Chinese restaurant when he opened the first fortune cookie of his life, and it said, "Live each day as though it were your last."
At first, all this meant is that Ben did some very foolish things, like eating a piece of cake in the freezer marked "do not eat this cake" and staying up all night to build his Taj Mahal model.
But then he involved his best friend Janet, and once she got into the spirit of living all out, she asked him to 1) help her finish a latch hook rug, which he only later found out was started by her dead father as a gift for her mother; 2) cut her hair; 3) cover her entirely in sticky notes.
He also tried to hurdle his mean neighbor's prize winning hedge, with disastrous results, and screwed up the courage to enter Mrs. Ezra's back yard to climb her apple tree to get one for Janet. Mrs. Ezra, he was pretty certain, was a witch, and so it didn't help when she noticed him in the tree.
In the meantime, his sweet natured father has decided to take his mother back to where they were married and feed her the piece of wedding cake he had carefully preserved in the freezer (uh-oh).
All of this ends up being resolved at the end. Janet's mother loves her new hair, Ben's parents still love him, Mrs. Ezra is not only not a witch but becomes a new friend, and Ben realizes he has survived until the next day.
Charming and at times profound, this book is delightfully illustrated by the author's wife, and the two of them have a funny postscript explaining their creative process.
More Ben Yokoyama please.
Ben's Cookie of Doom began at a Chinese restaurant when he opened the first fortune cookie of his life, and it said, "Live each day as though it were your last."
At first, all this meant is that Ben did some very foolish things, like eating a piece of cake in the freezer marked "do not eat this cake" and staying up all night to build his Taj Mahal model.
But then he involved his best friend Janet, and once she got into the spirit of living all out, she asked him to 1) help her finish a latch hook rug, which he only later found out was started by her dead father as a gift for her mother; 2) cut her hair; 3) cover her entirely in sticky notes.
He also tried to hurdle his mean neighbor's prize winning hedge, with disastrous results, and screwed up the courage to enter Mrs. Ezra's back yard to climb her apple tree to get one for Janet. Mrs. Ezra, he was pretty certain, was a witch, and so it didn't help when she noticed him in the tree.
In the meantime, his sweet natured father has decided to take his mother back to where they were married and feed her the piece of wedding cake he had carefully preserved in the freezer (uh-oh).
All of this ends up being resolved at the end. Janet's mother loves her new hair, Ben's parents still love him, Mrs. Ezra is not only not a witch but becomes a new friend, and Ben realizes he has survived until the next day.
Charming and at times profound, this book is delightfully illustrated by the author's wife, and the two of them have a funny postscript explaining their creative process.
More Ben Yokoyama please.
March 3, 2021
this was such a cute mg novel!! review up on my blog
March 3, 2021
This book was so much fun to read! I loved the illustrations and how overall the book was very playful. I loved that some characters really bought into the whole "this could be the last day you're alive" and how it was like contagious and sometimes spiraled a bit out of control. It was silly and obviously made for kids, because as an adult there was a lot of "omg there's no way his mom would be that chill" and "that would almost never happen" moments. But it was fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ben and his family, and his friends.
I loved all the shenanigans that everyone was getting up to! the illustrations perfectly captured the tone of the book, and the silliness. I loved being able to see the visuals. They also did this really cool thing where instead of using quotation marks for when characters spoke, they actually drew speech bubbles! I loved that little detail and it just made the book so much better!
I loved all the shenanigans that everyone was getting up to! the illustrations perfectly captured the tone of the book, and the silliness. I loved being able to see the visuals. They also did this really cool thing where instead of using quotation marks for when characters spoke, they actually drew speech bubbles! I loved that little detail and it just made the book so much better!
January 30, 2023
great and really funny
May 24, 2023
This book was funny! I liked how Ben translated every look or phrase to what was really being conveyed. I don’t understand why I found this book on the banned bookshelf as there wasn’t anything worse than a little bit of bad decisions and disobedience and if that gets a book banned then we really are living in dystopian times.
March 3, 2023
Ben gets a fortune cookie that says Tomorrow could be your last day! So he spend’s all day doing things he loves with those he cherishes! It’s a great book with some great lessons!
October 11, 2024
Ben has a fortune cookie for the first time while eating out with his Aunt. She tells him they are little bits of wisdom to think about. Ben's says, "Live each day as if it were your last." So Ben decides to take it seriously. He sets his alarm for 12:01am, and from that moment he acts like it might be his last day and tackles a lot of the things he's always wanted to do, once his parents and best friend wake up, they jump on the band wagon and also start doing what they would want to do if it were their last day, from decorating themselves head to toe in post-its, to finishing that puzzle that's gone unfinished for ages, to eating a whole bag of marshmallows in one sitting, or having a nice dinner with a loved one.
This could be a heavy topic, but given the fact that Ben is only 8 his possible last day list is somewhat goofy, and there are many laugh out loud moments. It is good for readers to think about tomorrow not being promised every once in a while and to prioritize how you spend your time. I felt like the topic was handled appropriately. I like how realistically Swanson for the most part wrote Ben. He feels like such a real kid with a mix of serious, tenderhearted, goofy, not-thinking-things-totally-through, and a tiny bit mischievous (though he always admits his errors and takes the punishments/does the reparations his mom tells him to). At times it felt like Ben and his friend Janet were 12 as they were constantly left home alone by their parents, which is not something 8 year olds typically experience (it's not even legal in many places). I like how Ben's random activities lead him eventually to meet the old woman everyone is afraid of in the community; that turns out to be an unexpected blessing to him and the woman and was my favorite part of the story. If you are looking for a read for a middle grader with a topic to get readers thinking a bit about deeper things in life and will make them spontaneously bust out laughing several times, this is a good pick.
Notes on content:
Language: Nothing stronger than heck.
Sexual content: None
Violence: Only a hedge and Ben's pride are injured as he tries to jump it. A girl falls off a scooter. It is mentioned that Janet's dad died in a car accident years ago, which brings home the point that tomorrow isn't promised.
Ethnic diversity: Ben is part Japanese American (dad) part white American (mom), neighbors are white and Black.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Ben sneaks into a neighbor's yard but is put to work and learns a good lesson, he jumps and damages a neighbors hedge but also learns a lesson there, and eats a cake slice reserved by his dad but he apologizes and attempts to replace it (he and his mom keep this secret from his dad to prevent feelings from being hurt, but she makes it known it was not ok, and makes him help repair the situation the best they can - I felt it was ok in the circumstances and the fact that mom was in on it).
This could be a heavy topic, but given the fact that Ben is only 8 his possible last day list is somewhat goofy, and there are many laugh out loud moments. It is good for readers to think about tomorrow not being promised every once in a while and to prioritize how you spend your time. I felt like the topic was handled appropriately. I like how realistically Swanson for the most part wrote Ben. He feels like such a real kid with a mix of serious, tenderhearted, goofy, not-thinking-things-totally-through, and a tiny bit mischievous (though he always admits his errors and takes the punishments/does the reparations his mom tells him to). At times it felt like Ben and his friend Janet were 12 as they were constantly left home alone by their parents, which is not something 8 year olds typically experience (it's not even legal in many places). I like how Ben's random activities lead him eventually to meet the old woman everyone is afraid of in the community; that turns out to be an unexpected blessing to him and the woman and was my favorite part of the story. If you are looking for a read for a middle grader with a topic to get readers thinking a bit about deeper things in life and will make them spontaneously bust out laughing several times, this is a good pick.
Notes on content:
Language: Nothing stronger than heck.
Sexual content: None
Violence: Only a hedge and Ben's pride are injured as he tries to jump it. A girl falls off a scooter. It is mentioned that Janet's dad died in a car accident years ago, which brings home the point that tomorrow isn't promised.
Ethnic diversity: Ben is part Japanese American (dad) part white American (mom), neighbors are white and Black.
LGBTQ+ content: None
Other: Ben sneaks into a neighbor's yard but is put to work and learns a good lesson, he jumps and damages a neighbors hedge but also learns a lesson there, and eats a cake slice reserved by his dad but he apologizes and attempts to replace it (he and his mom keep this secret from his dad to prevent feelings from being hurt, but she makes it known it was not ok, and makes him help repair the situation the best they can - I felt it was ok in the circumstances and the fact that mom was in on it).
March 5, 2021
I was sent a free eBook copy of this in exchange for an honest review by the publisher as part of the blog tour. I identify as Asian-American, specifically Chinese-American.
This book really surprised me! I love cookies and figured that this book would be funny. The first surprise was that there were lots of pictures, so it read more like a graphic novel, rather than a traditional narrative. Ben gets into so many shenanigans when he takes his fortune cookie seriously and acts like it’s his last day to live and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. However, the second surprise existed in the tender moments of the book that grapple with grief and loss and I definitely teared up without expecting to. It’s wonderful when a book can catch you off-guard like that. I love the characters in this book, especially Janet and Mrs. Ezra (: I will definitely be reading the second book and recommend this one to everyone!
I have a spoiler-free review video for this on my BookTube channel: https://youtu.be/vqV5uv9v5DE
This book really surprised me! I love cookies and figured that this book would be funny. The first surprise was that there were lots of pictures, so it read more like a graphic novel, rather than a traditional narrative. Ben gets into so many shenanigans when he takes his fortune cookie seriously and acts like it’s his last day to live and I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. However, the second surprise existed in the tender moments of the book that grapple with grief and loss and I definitely teared up without expecting to. It’s wonderful when a book can catch you off-guard like that. I love the characters in this book, especially Janet and Mrs. Ezra (: I will definitely be reading the second book and recommend this one to everyone!
I have a spoiler-free review video for this on my BookTube channel: https://youtu.be/vqV5uv9v5DE
December 12, 2023
The child listened to this audiobook for school and I happened to be around, so I listened to it by association. I wasn’t initially excited about getting roped in, but this book is so adorable!
Due to Ben Yokoyama’s extremely literal interpretation of a fortune cookie, he learns that today could be the last day of his life. So he sets out to complete his bucket list. Fun and mishaps ensue.
I’d highly recommend this for elementary school kids. K-2 kids would probably enjoy listening to the story even if they couldn’t read it independently yet. And I hear the print version has lots of illustrations.
At our house, the child (who is a fourth grader), finished the book one day, then started it again the next. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.
Due to Ben Yokoyama’s extremely literal interpretation of a fortune cookie, he learns that today could be the last day of his life. So he sets out to complete his bucket list. Fun and mishaps ensue.
I’d highly recommend this for elementary school kids. K-2 kids would probably enjoy listening to the story even if they couldn’t read it independently yet. And I hear the print version has lots of illustrations.
At our house, the child (who is a fourth grader), finished the book one day, then started it again the next. If that’s not a ringing endorsement, I don’t know what is.
January 27, 2023
While out eating noodles with his Aunt Nora, Ben gets a fortune cookie that says "Live every day as though it were your last." As a preteen, he takes this to hear. That very night he sets his alarm to go off at 12:01 am so that he doesn't miss a moment of what might be his very last day. He has a lot to do! This heartwarming middle grades book has a give-a-mouse-a-cookie feel to how events unfold, with a dash of Ferris Bueller. I absolutely loved and basked in the relationships between Ben and his family and friends and neighbors. People (including Ben) are not perfect, but that doesn't mean they can't come together to make the most of what might be their last days. An unexpected bonus: the book is illustrated! It's hard to explain, but every page has illustration worked right into the text of the book. And you'll just have to check it out to find out if it truly is Ben's last day. ;)
July 6, 2023
Wanted to like this Bluestem nominee more than I did. I felt like the whimsy of it all was just a little forced, I guess. And I got tired of every single description being a simile. Many were clever and fanciful, but it got old. I did enjoy the neighbor who is possibly a witch, whose apple tree might grow enchanted apples. I liked her better than the main characters. Swing and a miss for me, overall.
January 18, 2023
Ben gets a fortune cookie telling him to live each day as if it is his last and takes it literally. He sets his alarm for 12:01am to not miss a minute of his last day. What follows is a fast-paced carpe diem around the neighborhood with a lot of laughs and heartfelt moments.
May 17, 2024
This greatly amused me. My kids would have enjoyed it. It would make a fun read aloud, especially if you were cuddled together so everyone could enjoy the illustrations which are integral to the experience.
May 17, 2021
Super fun!
July 27, 2021
Awesome similes and metaphors! This was a great story. I adored Mrs. Ezra and Ben and Janet's friendship. This book played like a movie in my head and I wish it was a movie!!
August 11, 2021
I was reading this with 4-6 graders in mind. I would say solid 3-4 and the graphic design and art is stellar.
The parents were a little too farcical for my liking.
Friendships are fun.
The parents were a little too farcical for my liking.
Friendships are fun.
June 29, 2022
This book is a rollicking good time! It made me happy and I think my students will find it funny and love Ben, I sure do! The similes used in this book are MASTERFUL!
July 30, 2023
A cute and humorous chapter book.
April 15, 2025
Es muy divertido y fácil de leer.
Trata de un niño que se toma literalmente el mensaje de una galleta de la suerte.
Los personajes son muy graciosos y alocados.
No me encanta el libro, pero merece la pena leérselo.
Trata de un niño que se toma literalmente el mensaje de una galleta de la suerte.
Los personajes son muy graciosos y alocados.
No me encanta el libro, pero merece la pena leérselo.
November 15, 2021
Every now and then you come across a book that perfectly marries text and imagery. Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book comes to mind, which blended Gaiman’s haunting words with Dave McKean’s wonderfully eerie illustrations. Year after year, books for kids arrive attempting this tricky marriage. Most fail.
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom succeeds.
And boy does it.
Husband and wife duo Swanson and Behr must possess an uncanny understanding of how each other think and work. Or maybe they’re telepathic. Who knows. What’s certain is that story and illustration play clever counterpoint in ways that expand and deepen the reader’s horizons, often hilariously.
Cookie of Doom’s setup is simple enough: Ben Yokoyama gets a fortune cookie that tells him to live every day as if it were his last, a commandment he takes literally. What if this were his very last day on Earth? What would he absolutely want to do?
Ben sets out to do the things pretty much every eight-year-old boy truly desires. Like land a perfect tail whip on their scooter. Or eat a whole bag of marshmallows.
Anyone who’s seen tryouts at a comedy club knows great comedy is rare. Eliciting laughs from children is in many ways even harder than standup. To do it well, you need an uncanny knack for understanding how kids think and behave. In this department, Swanson and Behr excel. The duo works off each other perfectly, with Swanson’s prose setting up hilarious situations and Behr’s drawings hammering home visual punchlines.
What raises the novel above the pack, however, are the ways Swanson and Behr steer moments of levity towards deep reflections on friendship, family and what people value most in their lives. Instead of settling for cheap (but entertaining) laughs, they continuously mine the comic to unearth the essential.
Along the way, we also get delightful gems like these:
“...searching through the various cabinets of his heart to see if he could find an extra can of courage.”
“Ben’s dad’s eyes lit up like a suburban cul-de-sac in December.”
This is an outstanding read for kids from eight to thirteen, especially kids who are reluctant readers. The writing is spare and clear. The story moves swiftly. Chapters are short and the laughs come nearly every page. For readers who haven’t explored beyond Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Nate the Great, this is a fantastic choice.
Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Doom succeeds.
And boy does it.
Husband and wife duo Swanson and Behr must possess an uncanny understanding of how each other think and work. Or maybe they’re telepathic. Who knows. What’s certain is that story and illustration play clever counterpoint in ways that expand and deepen the reader’s horizons, often hilariously.
Cookie of Doom’s setup is simple enough: Ben Yokoyama gets a fortune cookie that tells him to live every day as if it were his last, a commandment he takes literally. What if this were his very last day on Earth? What would he absolutely want to do?
Ben sets out to do the things pretty much every eight-year-old boy truly desires. Like land a perfect tail whip on their scooter. Or eat a whole bag of marshmallows.
Anyone who’s seen tryouts at a comedy club knows great comedy is rare. Eliciting laughs from children is in many ways even harder than standup. To do it well, you need an uncanny knack for understanding how kids think and behave. In this department, Swanson and Behr excel. The duo works off each other perfectly, with Swanson’s prose setting up hilarious situations and Behr’s drawings hammering home visual punchlines.
What raises the novel above the pack, however, are the ways Swanson and Behr steer moments of levity towards deep reflections on friendship, family and what people value most in their lives. Instead of settling for cheap (but entertaining) laughs, they continuously mine the comic to unearth the essential.
Along the way, we also get delightful gems like these:
“...searching through the various cabinets of his heart to see if he could find an extra can of courage.”
“Ben’s dad’s eyes lit up like a suburban cul-de-sac in December.”
This is an outstanding read for kids from eight to thirteen, especially kids who are reluctant readers. The writing is spare and clear. The story moves swiftly. Chapters are short and the laughs come nearly every page. For readers who haven’t explored beyond Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Nate the Great, this is a fantastic choice.
February 8, 2023
4.5⭐️. What a delightful book!
I find that near the holidays I often read more children’s and middle grade books than I normally would. There is something that brings out the inner child in me at this time of year.
So I dug into this amazing book by the husband wife duo of Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.
This is the story of Ben Yokoyama who is 9 years old. He and his aunt go to a Chinese restaurant and the fortune in his fortune cookie says Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last.
Ben really takes this to heart and decides today really could be his last day and he begins to make a bucket list of things he must do. But then he inspires those around him to do the same. His parents, his best friend Janet, and even some of his neighbors. Some of the things on his bucket list, get him in trouble like eating the piece of cake in the freezer which was the last piece of his parents wedding cake being saved for their 10 year anniversary. But sometimes it helps him make friends he wouldn’t normally have made. He realizes he can’t really do everything on his list in one day so he decides to really live every day as if it were his last.
This book was an absolute joy. It’s whimsical, fun, and has a great underlying message. It’s the first in a series called The Cookie Chronicles. Swanson writes the story and his wife Robbi illustrates. The book is a chapter book for late elementary or middle school but the illustrations give it a pseudo-graphic novel feel and they are wonderful! The illustrations really add something to the story. They were great for someone like me who doesn’t totally feel comfortable with graphic novels or for a kid who mainly reads graphic novels and a parent wants them to read a book that’s more word heavy than picture heavy.
I find that near the holidays I often read more children’s and middle grade books than I normally would. There is something that brings out the inner child in me at this time of year.
So I dug into this amazing book by the husband wife duo of Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr.
This is the story of Ben Yokoyama who is 9 years old. He and his aunt go to a Chinese restaurant and the fortune in his fortune cookie says Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last.
Ben really takes this to heart and decides today really could be his last day and he begins to make a bucket list of things he must do. But then he inspires those around him to do the same. His parents, his best friend Janet, and even some of his neighbors. Some of the things on his bucket list, get him in trouble like eating the piece of cake in the freezer which was the last piece of his parents wedding cake being saved for their 10 year anniversary. But sometimes it helps him make friends he wouldn’t normally have made. He realizes he can’t really do everything on his list in one day so he decides to really live every day as if it were his last.
This book was an absolute joy. It’s whimsical, fun, and has a great underlying message. It’s the first in a series called The Cookie Chronicles. Swanson writes the story and his wife Robbi illustrates. The book is a chapter book for late elementary or middle school but the illustrations give it a pseudo-graphic novel feel and they are wonderful! The illustrations really add something to the story. They were great for someone like me who doesn’t totally feel comfortable with graphic novels or for a kid who mainly reads graphic novels and a parent wants them to read a book that’s more word heavy than picture heavy.
December 11, 2023
This was a right book at the right time read. I am a school librarian on summer vacation traveling alone. This book connected with me as I sought out fun and adventure on my own. Sam receives a fortune cookie that reads “live each day as if it’s your last”. So his quest ensues. Lots of lovely words of wisdom in this book about prioritizing what’s really important and great reflections on the importance of family/community. Poses the question to any reader, what would you do today if it was your last?
August 11, 2021
Got bored.
January 13, 2022
First sentence: Ben Yokoyama loved noodles the most. He loved them more than cheesecake, French toast, and kiwi fruit, which he loved almost the most.
Premise/plot: Ben Yokoyama is introduced to Chinese food and FORTUNE COOKIES by his Aunt Nora when she babysits him one night. His fortune: Live each day as if it were your last. Though he mostly knows that it is unlikely that the next day will actually-actually be his last day, this fortune inspires him to have ONE adventurous day. And that spirit of living life--living as if each day could be your last--is quite contagious as his family, friends, and even neighbors soon join in the adventures--and misadventures.
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I am so excited that there are at least two more books to read in this series. I loved Ben as a character and narrator. The narrative voice is quite memorable, in my opinion. I loved seeing the world through Ben's eyes. I did. I loved getting to know his family and friends. We catch a glimpse of his life--this book just covers one twenty-four hour period--but the characters feel SO REAL and oh-so-human. I loved the writing (as I mentioned earlier).
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
Nora ate six noodles, Ben knew because he counted.... Ben felt sorry for Nora's noodles, sitting there unloved. Here, he said to the noodles, I'll make you feel better. Ben took Nora's plate and ate her noodles like an anteater eats ants. He was sad that his stomach was not infinite.
Everything was different now. Suddenly a lifetime had become a single day.
One of Ben's goals for any day, not just his last day but every single day, was to eat a piece of cake. Ben started a list. Ben looked at his list. It wasn't long, but it was already perfect.
His mom slept like a hibernating bear, which is to say, flat on her back with a pillow on her face. Ben's dad slept like a nervous rabbit, which is to say, tossing and turning and ready to start sprinting at the first sign of a fox.
Ben walked over to the piano and tried playing "Clair de lune." He started out fine but messed up when things got faster in the middle. He tried again, but his fingers got tangled like a kite string in a rosebush.
Ben's eyes got as big as marshmallows in the microwave.
"Am I going to like it?" he asked, even though he already knew the answer. "You'll like it the same way you like spinach." "I don't like spinatch at all." "Yes, but...?" "Spinach is good for me?" "Exactly."
What about all the things he hadn't even thought to put on his list because he didn't yet know that he wanted to do them?
Mrs. Ezra nodded at Ben and put her sunglasses back on. "Life is full of disappointing cakes, but we get out fresh ingredients and try again don't we?"
Ben ate that cake like a tornado eats a field of summer corn.
June 25, 2021
What happens when a little boy takes a fortune cookie’s fortune a bit too serious and drags everyone in it? Pure and fun chaos!
I have had my eyes on this book for a while but I was a bit hesitant. This blurb could go two ways. Me being annoyed at the MC because of how he is overreacting or me laughing at all the silliness. In the end I decided to just give it a shot. I am so glad I did because I can tell you that I absolutely LOVED it.
Meet Ben, a boy with an even more literal mind than mine, he opens a fortune cookie and finds this fortune inside: “Live each day as if it were your last.” Now most of us would just shrug it off, but oh no not Ben. This fortune is sticking in his mind and so begins a wild and fun day of him trying to make the most of it because OMG THIS COULD BE MY LAST. Yep, this kid is going for it. He makes a bucketlist (featuring eating a whole cake which I approved of to making a Taj Mahal of 1000 pieces to helping out a friend and much more). Along the way in doing his bucket list, helping his best friend, learning scooter tricks to another friend, he gets in tons of trouble and I was just laughing my butt off seeing him get in trouble at the weirdest ways (like the time when he tried to jump that prize-winning fence… and well you have to read the book to find out).
I loved that Ben wasn’t the only one who got the fortune cookie virus. For some magical reason he managed to infect quite a few people with the “Live each day as if it were your last-fortune”. Which resulted in some hilarious scenarios. Like his dad who got some weird idea to celebrate his 10-year wedding anniversary NOW (though I cannot imagine the cake tasting good after that long, I mean, I ate my wedding cake after a year as is tradition and while it was yummy you could taste that it was frozen/defrosted).
The illustrations? TOTALLY Awesome. I love the facial expressions on the characters, I love how the story comes even more alive due to the illustrations (and also becomes even funnier). I really need to see what else the illustrator has done as I want to check out more of their work now.
I so loved Mrs. Ezra. She was definitely one big surprise. Given what the kids say about her and what she has been doing I was worried she may be a grumpy/mean old lady but actually she became one of my favourite characters.
Mona was such a fun character though I did feel sorry for her that her mom was so overprotective (or is it more like almost Munchausen by proxy?). I get that you don’t want your kids to be hurt, but this was just too creepy and you saw that it also affected Mona. She was doing the same thing as the mom. But thankfully, also trying to break out and just have fun.
All in all, I had tons and tons of fun and I definitely want more! But I will have to wait for a bit as I want to get the next book for my vacation in August. I hope I can wait that long, haha. I would highly recommend this terrific book to all~
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I have had my eyes on this book for a while but I was a bit hesitant. This blurb could go two ways. Me being annoyed at the MC because of how he is overreacting or me laughing at all the silliness. In the end I decided to just give it a shot. I am so glad I did because I can tell you that I absolutely LOVED it.
Meet Ben, a boy with an even more literal mind than mine, he opens a fortune cookie and finds this fortune inside: “Live each day as if it were your last.” Now most of us would just shrug it off, but oh no not Ben. This fortune is sticking in his mind and so begins a wild and fun day of him trying to make the most of it because OMG THIS COULD BE MY LAST. Yep, this kid is going for it. He makes a bucketlist (featuring eating a whole cake which I approved of to making a Taj Mahal of 1000 pieces to helping out a friend and much more). Along the way in doing his bucket list, helping his best friend, learning scooter tricks to another friend, he gets in tons of trouble and I was just laughing my butt off seeing him get in trouble at the weirdest ways (like the time when he tried to jump that prize-winning fence… and well you have to read the book to find out).
I loved that Ben wasn’t the only one who got the fortune cookie virus. For some magical reason he managed to infect quite a few people with the “Live each day as if it were your last-fortune”. Which resulted in some hilarious scenarios. Like his dad who got some weird idea to celebrate his 10-year wedding anniversary NOW (though I cannot imagine the cake tasting good after that long, I mean, I ate my wedding cake after a year as is tradition and while it was yummy you could taste that it was frozen/defrosted).
The illustrations? TOTALLY Awesome. I love the facial expressions on the characters, I love how the story comes even more alive due to the illustrations (and also becomes even funnier). I really need to see what else the illustrator has done as I want to check out more of their work now.
I so loved Mrs. Ezra. She was definitely one big surprise. Given what the kids say about her and what she has been doing I was worried she may be a grumpy/mean old lady but actually she became one of my favourite characters.
Mona was such a fun character though I did feel sorry for her that her mom was so overprotective (or is it more like almost Munchausen by proxy?). I get that you don’t want your kids to be hurt, but this was just too creepy and you saw that it also affected Mona. She was doing the same thing as the mom. But thankfully, also trying to break out and just have fun.
All in all, I had tons and tons of fun and I definitely want more! But I will have to wait for a bit as I want to get the next book for my vacation in August. I hope I can wait that long, haha. I would highly recommend this terrific book to all~
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
March 2, 2021
Book: Ben Yokoyama and Cookie of Doom
Author: Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr(Illustrator)
Ben Yokoyama, a crazy noodle fanatic inquisitive kid, is told by a "fortune cookie" that "Live each day as if it were your last." And the adventure begins. Now, like every kid, Ben wants to do everything he ever wished for because "It might be the last day of his life."(Isn't that true?🤔).
Cookie of Doom is a very fun, hilarious, and very enjoyable read. The storyline is hilarious in itself and the illustrations are the one that brings that story and characters life.
I'd like to share my thoughts while reading this book to tell you how much I enjoyed it 😎-
1. I have to try Fortune Cookie. YESS!!
2. No Ben, don't eat it. Daddy will be mad.🤦🏻♂️
3. Dumbles, what a "dumb" name. I love it😂
4. Ben's Dad is a scaredy-cat, OOPS! Sorry "Bunny"
5. That's a huge variety of faces (and their description), way to go Ben's Mom. Looks like all Moms are scary😰
6. Wow, I'm jealous of Ben's life now, that's a new low for me.
7. Heyyy...Are we going snow white here 😂 Enchanted Apples and A Witch.
8. Drat, darn, and dang! Damn you Mr. Hoggenweff and Lovely, and who names their cat Lovely, Cats are mean.
9. Obviously, she has to do it. Dumb Mona.
10. They are going to do the haircut..NOOO... OH! they did😂Not Bad
11. Will he get through😬....... No, he couldn't🤦🏻♂️😂.
12. Mrs. Erza is not a witch, she's funny... and she plays piano and she's so kind-hearted. (Idiot Kids)
13. Ben is forgetting something 🤔 Oh! Yes!! Janet 😂
14. WOW, these illustrations are SOo Soooo amazing, and so funny.
15. It was so good, I miss having this crazy fun. Why God Why! We had a deal😭😂
Some recommendations for you guys:
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
2. Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon
3. Matilda by Roald Dahl
4. Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for having me on board for this Book Tour. And great work power couple @robbi.and.matthew Keep writing and illustrating more books.
Author: Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr(Illustrator)
Ben Yokoyama, a crazy noodle fanatic inquisitive kid, is told by a "fortune cookie" that "Live each day as if it were your last." And the adventure begins. Now, like every kid, Ben wants to do everything he ever wished for because "It might be the last day of his life."(Isn't that true?🤔).
Cookie of Doom is a very fun, hilarious, and very enjoyable read. The storyline is hilarious in itself and the illustrations are the one that brings that story and characters life.
I'd like to share my thoughts while reading this book to tell you how much I enjoyed it 😎-
1. I have to try Fortune Cookie. YESS!!
2. No Ben, don't eat it. Daddy will be mad.🤦🏻♂️
3. Dumbles, what a "dumb" name. I love it😂
4. Ben's Dad is a scaredy-cat, OOPS! Sorry "Bunny"
5. That's a huge variety of faces (and their description), way to go Ben's Mom. Looks like all Moms are scary😰
6. Wow, I'm jealous of Ben's life now, that's a new low for me.
7. Heyyy...Are we going snow white here 😂 Enchanted Apples and A Witch.
8. Drat, darn, and dang! Damn you Mr. Hoggenweff and Lovely, and who names their cat Lovely, Cats are mean.
9. Obviously, she has to do it. Dumb Mona.
10. They are going to do the haircut..NOOO... OH! they did😂Not Bad
11. Will he get through😬....... No, he couldn't🤦🏻♂️😂.
12. Mrs. Erza is not a witch, she's funny... and she plays piano and she's so kind-hearted. (Idiot Kids)
13. Ben is forgetting something 🤔 Oh! Yes!! Janet 😂
14. WOW, these illustrations are SOo Soooo amazing, and so funny.
15. It was so good, I miss having this crazy fun. Why God Why! We had a deal😭😂
Some recommendations for you guys:
1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
2. Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon
3. Matilda by Roald Dahl
4. Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton
Thank you @hearourvoicestours for having me on board for this Book Tour. And great work power couple @robbi.and.matthew Keep writing and illustrating more books.
April 20, 2021
With its over-the-top humor and plot and those delicious (ahem!) illustrations that are woven into the narrative on every page, this book is sure to appeal to fifth and sixth grade readers. It's also the start of a great cookie- and sweet-related series. Really, could there be anything more scrumptious? While many middle grade titles are filled with angst and concern about fitting in, this one concerns the reaction that the main character, eight-year-old Ben Yokoyama, has upon reading the fortune found in his fortune cookie after dinner: "Live each day as if it were your last" (p. 8-9). Ben is struck by these words and as might be expected he ponders what he might put on his bucket list for the next day in case it's his last. While this aspect of the story might be maudlin, the author steers it into a very different direction, and Ben ends up eating a slice of cake, an action that will have enormous consequences, finishing a 1,000-piece model of the Taj Mahal, leaping over a neighbor's hedge, sneaking into a witch's back yard to steal an apple. He also cuts his best friend Janet's hair and covers her with post-it notes. In between all this, he has to apologize for some misdeeds, makes an unexpected friend, and keeps his father busy so his mother's surprise won't be surprised. The whole idea of living one's day as if it's the only one that matters so that one need not waste time on useless activities is pretty sound advice, and by the time readers reach the book's conclusion they may decide to try that approach to life. After all, it worked for Ben. Some parts of the story are beyond belief, but reading the book is fun, particularly because of the illustrations, which are created with Adobe Photoshop with digital linework and hand-painted watercolor washes. Some cover the entire page while others appear in the form of dialogue balloons. This series is a safe bet for reluctant or dormant readers.
March 6, 2021
Imagine, I repeat IMAGINE, that today is the last day of your life. What are the things would you love to accomplish before you breathe your last? I am pretty sure that the list will be long and never ending.
Ben Yokoyama is facing a similar problem - today might be the last day of his life. How did he know? Well, a fortune cookie told him so!
(I have a soft corner for fortune cookies.)
Ben doesn't waste a minute and gets started on his bucket list. He wants to eat a whole cake (that is on my bucket list)- build a 1000-piece model of Taj Mahal and so many more things get a spot on his list. Get ready for a fun and thrilling adventure! This book will not only entertain but also will teach you valuable lessons.
The simple language is perfect for all age groups and the illustrations added a flair to an already great book. Though written for middle grade readers,I enjoyed this book to the fullest. I laughed and cried at the same time. This book was so relatable. The author has beautifully uplifted the innocence, creativity and wild imaginations of a child. Recommended to everyone who loves/loved/will love The Diary of the Wimpy Kid.
//Favourite Quotes//
“live each day as if it were your last.”
“Different. Sometimes different is good. Often it is.”
“….the point is that you figure out the things you really want to do and then just do them as well as you possibly can. So at least you know you tried”
“Everything was different now. Suddenly a lifetime had become a single day.”
"..... because it helps me remember to spend every day doing the things that are most important to me."
“The search for happiness begins with a single step”
“It is literally impossible to save the day while lying on the ground feeling sorry for myself.”
“It’s so wonderful I want to cry”
“I am a successful and self-confident person, but the idea of baking a cake makes me want to scream.”
Ben Yokoyama is facing a similar problem - today might be the last day of his life. How did he know? Well, a fortune cookie told him so!
(I have a soft corner for fortune cookies.)
Ben doesn't waste a minute and gets started on his bucket list. He wants to eat a whole cake (that is on my bucket list)- build a 1000-piece model of Taj Mahal and so many more things get a spot on his list. Get ready for a fun and thrilling adventure! This book will not only entertain but also will teach you valuable lessons.
The simple language is perfect for all age groups and the illustrations added a flair to an already great book. Though written for middle grade readers,I enjoyed this book to the fullest. I laughed and cried at the same time. This book was so relatable. The author has beautifully uplifted the innocence, creativity and wild imaginations of a child. Recommended to everyone who loves/loved/will love The Diary of the Wimpy Kid.
//Favourite Quotes//
“live each day as if it were your last.”
“Different. Sometimes different is good. Often it is.”
“….the point is that you figure out the things you really want to do and then just do them as well as you possibly can. So at least you know you tried”
“Everything was different now. Suddenly a lifetime had become a single day.”
"..... because it helps me remember to spend every day doing the things that are most important to me."
“The search for happiness begins with a single step”
“It is literally impossible to save the day while lying on the ground feeling sorry for myself.”
“It’s so wonderful I want to cry”
“I am a successful and self-confident person, but the idea of baking a cake makes me want to scream.”
March 7, 2021
First of all, I want to seriously thank the author-illustrator duo of Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr for creating such a wonderful book. This is the first time I laughed while reading a children's graphic book, and Cookie of Doom is a roller-coaster delicous journey of Ben Yokoyama, an eight years old boy who frantically tries to finish his wish list after he comes through the fortune of his fortune cookie, that says about living each day as if it was your last day. From eating his dad's cake to damaging the prizewinning hedges of Mr Hoggenweff, Ben goes his wish list in a single day. Add in it the troubles he gets himself into and the amazing friendship with Janet, this book has really gobbled a way in my heart. 🧁🧁
.
The wonderful and again, delicious, illustrations of Robbi Behr are the real deal for this book. I was so mesmerized by the illustrations, I can't put pages forward rapidly. The food ones were so much fun, I secretly wished for all the food in the book come out to me! 🧁🍪
.
The writing is really great, and I found some lines really funny. The emotions portrayed by Patty and Eli were just legend-wait for it-dary - they were way too much Legendary!! The moments Ben and Janet go through together are really exciting! I really enjoyed this book and will surely recommend this book to all the readers, for a yummy and funny adventure trip awaits you! ❤️🧁
*This review is a part of Cookie Chronicles Blog Tour by Hear Our Voices Tours.*
*I wholeheartedly thank the Team HOV and Alfred A Knopf Publishers for the ARC.*
.
The wonderful and again, delicious, illustrations of Robbi Behr are the real deal for this book. I was so mesmerized by the illustrations, I can't put pages forward rapidly. The food ones were so much fun, I secretly wished for all the food in the book come out to me! 🧁🍪
.
The writing is really great, and I found some lines really funny. The emotions portrayed by Patty and Eli were just legend-wait for it-dary - they were way too much Legendary!! The moments Ben and Janet go through together are really exciting! I really enjoyed this book and will surely recommend this book to all the readers, for a yummy and funny adventure trip awaits you! ❤️🧁
*This review is a part of Cookie Chronicles Blog Tour by Hear Our Voices Tours.*
*I wholeheartedly thank the Team HOV and Alfred A Knopf Publishers for the ARC.*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews