#BookReview ~ The Dolphin Dentist: No Sharks Allowed! by Cheryl DaVeiga 

Cheryl DaVeiga is an award-winning children’s book author and singer/songwriter residing in New Jersey. After a career in business, Cheryl’s passion for music caught up with her, and she began writing and recording children’s songs as her alter ego, CADi Grace. She then moved on to adult songs, including an ASCAP award-winning veteran’s anthem, the featured song for the State of Alabama Bicentennial Celebration, the theme song to the philanthropic Where Angels Play Foundation, and a NJ Arts’ pick for top NJ summer songs. She’s also written songs for artists on critically acclaimed albums.

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 acclaim, including Mom’s Choice Gold, Purple Dragonfly, Eric Hoffer, and Literary Titan book awards, a Readers’ Favorite 5-star rating, and a Kirkus Review Magazine feature.

Cheryl lives in Tucson, Arizona, and spends summers in her native New Jersey.  

Author Interview

Your children’s book brand is called Biff Bam Booza. Where did that name come from?

The Biff Bam Booza brand is all about wordplay and giggles…our tagline is “Laugh, sing, and get your giggles on.” I love alliteraHon, fun words, puns and rhymes. The actual name comes from the lyrics to one of the songs accompanying our books. The chorus of the War at the Ice Cream Store song goes: “Biff Bam Booza, yowza wowza wooza, a milk-shaking, cone-breaking yabba dabba dooza.” War at the Ice Cream Store was the first book in the series, and Biff Bam Booza sounded like fun.

You dedicated The Dolphin Den+st: No Sharks Allowed to your late partner who was a denHst. How did the dolphin theme come about?

Tom and I shared a love of dolphins. When I first met him and found out he had a large dolphin painHng over his bed, it seemed like a sign. We had a wonderful 5 years together, but he sadly he developed an aggressive cancer and died. At his funeral, I was amazed at the unending line of paHents (so many long-term devotees) who told me of the various kindnesses he had done for them, including house calls, interrupHng vacaHons, and emergency care during the pandemic. I created the Dolphin DenHst, a kind and gentle denHst, who overcomes his fears in the name of kindness. The book is a tribute to the kindest man I’ve ever known.

This is the 5th book in the Biff Bam Booza series. Are there more on the way?

I have several that are already illustrated but that I’m sHll a liVle unsure of. I’d love to find a focus group for feedback. I have one book that is pure wordplay…every page has a ‘homophone’ on it. I’d love to write more of those and help this one find its place. It’s easy to come up with ideas, but wriHng a compelling story is so much harder than the base idea. I just keep plugging along.

Your books have accompanying songs. Who writes and performs them, and where can we find them?

I have a background in songwriHng, with both award-winning children’s and adult songs. I started wriHng children’s songs (under the name CADi Grace) long before wriHng children’s books. My wriHng partners are Anthony Krizan (formerly of the Spin Doctors) and Dave Gibson (#1 hit Nashville songwriter and my co-author on the first two books.) Each of us sings different songs, and each has an accompanying animated sing-along song video . (The Dolphin DenHst Song is in progress.) You can find them on BiffBamBooza.com or our Biff Bam Booza YouTube staHon. Who doesn’t love a good sing-along?!

What is your greatest wish for your books and songs?

My greatest wish is that I bring a spark of joy and silliness to this all-too-serious world.