Book Review: 'Zombie Zoo' by Melanie Abed PLUS A Giveaway! #ZombieZoo ~

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by The Children’s Book Review. I received a copy of the book to facilitate my review and/or a promotional giveaway item. All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Zombie Zoo: Adventures in Tub (Felix & Ninja, Book 1)

Written by Melanie Abed | Illustrated by Hisham Abed

Ages: 9–13 | 244 Pages | Publisher: Oculus Print (2026) | ISBN: 979-8-9952813-0-6

Thirteen-year-old Felix Fizzystyxx is an aspiring naturalist who observes the world from his hidden tree fort at Wayward Amok Orphanage. When he witnesses glowing green goo and strange behavior in the orphanage, his life as a quiet observer ends. He partners with Ninja, an intense, shadow-dwelling orphan who trusts her instincts and operates alone, to investigate. Together they discover that the orphans — and soon the entire town of Spinachi on the island of Tub — are turning into wood-eating zombies controlled by a hive mind.

With the help of their eccentric mentor Doc Brunne, Felix and Ninja trace the cause to Noctiluna, rare bioluminescent organisms deliberately introduced into the town’s water supply, and race to find a cure before the whole town — including Doc himself — is lost to the transformation. Zombie Zoo kicks off the Adventures in Tub series with a debut story guaranteed to keep readers turning the pages.

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON ~ BARNES & NOBLE ~ BOOKSHOP.ORG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Melanie Abed is a behavioral expert turned story weaver. She believes dragons are real but hiding, and finds thunderstorms equally delightful and terrifying. A tea-loving bookworm, she champions young minds and writes to help kids discover their superpowers are real.

Website: www.melanieabed.com | Instagram: @bymelanieabed

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Emmy-winning director Hisham Abed has established himself as a visionary creative force in television, directing commercially successful shows including Netflix’s Queer Eye and Disney’s High School Musical, and shaping the visual aesthetic of MTV’s Laguna Beach and The Hills. Beyond his directorial achievements, Hisham Abed is an accomplished illustrator whose detailed artwork brings imagination and style to every project he touches.

Website: www.hishamabed.com

MY REVIEW

I absolutely loved this read, and so did my youngest daughter! There’s just something about picking up a fun, slightly spooky book this time of year that gets us excited for Fall and Halloween, and Zombie Zoo: Adventures in Tub gave us ALL of those vibes! We loved that this was a story that combined zombies, mystery, humor, and a couple of wonderfully quirky characters into one fun adventure.

I have to start by saying how much I absolutely loved the two main characters, Felix and Ninja! Melanie Abed did such a wonderful job creating these two memorable and lovable personalities…. especially because they couldn’t be more different. Honestly… that is exactly what makes their friendship and teamwork so much fun to follow. Watching them come together to navigate the mystery, with all of their quirks, personalities, and unexpected moments along the way, kept both of us smiling and eager to see what would happen next. I honestly think Felix and Ninja are what make this story so special!

And let’s talk about the zombies… but not just any zombies! These are wood-eating zombies! That definitely made this story stand out and added such a fun twist to the usual zombie story. I also loved how the book incorporates mystery, science, curiosity, and problem-solving without ever making it feel like a lesson. It’s simply woven naturally into the adventure and it is a story hard to put down.

As someone who loves Fall and Halloween, I especially enjoyed the slightly spooky atmosphere. It has that perfect “grab a cozy blanket and curl up with a fun book” feeling while giving us some of those Halloween vibes we love so much. It’s spooky enough to be exciting without being too scary, making it a great choice for young readers who enjoy a little mystery and monster fun.

Felix and Ninja make such an entertaining team, and their differences are what make their friendship so much fun to follow. There are plenty of humorous moments, twists, and quirky situations to keep you wanting more and that for me is what a good book is all about. Zombie Zoo: Adventures in Tub is such a fun and creative start to the Felix & Ninja series. My daughter and I both really enjoyed this one, and we love that it gave us another fun, spooky read to enjoy as we get into the Fall and Halloween spirit.

If you love zombies, mysteries, humor, quirky characters, and a good dose of Halloween vibes, this is definitely a fun one to add to your reading list!

TOUR SCHEDULE

Date	Host	Content
Friday, August 14, 2026	The Children’s Book Review	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Monday, August 17, 2026	@tamiscripps	Instagram Reel about Zombie Zoo
Tuesday, August 18, 2026	@nissa_the.bookworm	Instagram Post about Zombie Zoo
Thursday, August 20, 2026	The Children’s Book Review	Book List featuring Zombie Zoo
Friday, August 21, 2026	icefairy’s Treasure Chest	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Monday, August 24, 2026	Lisa’s Reading	Guest Post about Zombie Zoo
Tuesday, August 25, 2026	Deliciously Savvy	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Thursday, August 27, 2026	Country Mamas With Kids	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Friday, August 28, 2026	Mary Lanni Reads	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Monday, August 31, 2026	@KidsLittleFreeLibraryIsLori	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Tuesday, September 1, 2026	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Guest Post about Zombie Zoo
Thursday, September 3, 2026	@ABlueBoxFullofBooks	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Friday, September 4, 2026	Life is What It’s Called	Author Interview with Melanie Abed
Monday, September 7, 2026	Writer with Wanderlust	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Tuesday, September 8, 2026	Q&As with Deborah Kalb	Author Interview with Melanie Abed
Thursday, September 10, 2026	Cover Lover Book Review	Book Review of Zombie Zoo
Friday, September 11, 2026	One More Exclamation	Book Review of Zombie Zoo

NOW TO THE GIVEAWAY!

Ten lucky readers will each win a signed paperback copy of Zombie Zoo. One grand prize winner will receive an epic swag haul: a signed hardcover copy, bookmark, postcard, sticker sheet, Tub Explorer Pin, a sample of Tub’s Green Goo, and a Make Your Own Glow-in-the-Dark Green Goo Kit.