Month: December 2011

adventure, animals, children, mystery, nature, tween

Monkey Magic: The Great Wall Mystery

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-981-08-6132-2
Pages: 160
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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The mysterious appearance of a group of monkeys at the Great Wall of China has scientists baffled. These monkeys are not native to China, so where did they come from? And why are they there?

Monkey Magic worked before for 11-year old Romy, allowing her to communicate with orangutans in The Curse of Mukada. Now she uses it to discover the monkeys’ story, but what they tell her isn’t pleasant. She will need all her wits to help them, while also keeping herself out of danger. Her new friend, Pei, shares part of her adventure, as well as some intercultural humor. And when she learns of the possibility of using Monkey Magic whenever she wants, Romy is determined to know more.

Monkey Magic: The Great Wall Mystery shows us how human greed hurts wild animals, and why we need to take immediate action to try to protect them. I highly recommend this delightful, magical tale with a great environmental message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

The Self-Compassion Diet

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jean Fain, LICSW, MSW
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Health / Diet
ISBN: 978-1-60407-075-0
Pages: 240
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Have you had enough of fad diets? Do you want to get off the weight loss and regain merry-go-round that has held you captive for years? How would it feel to finally make peace with food? If you’re ready to try something different, The Self-Compassion Diet was written for you.

Rather than strict discipline, author Jean Fain suggests using loving-kindness. You don’t have to follow any specific diet to use this program. Instead, Fain offers advice on using hypnosis, mindfulness, social support, and self-compassion to facilitate weight loss. Each of these is explained, and exercises and quizzes are provided to put them into action.

Fighting food with rigid diets is a setup for failure. But by using these suggested techniques, you may find that you look at food in a different way. And by being kinder and gentler with yourself, you probably won’t have as many food binges, since you’re not beating yourself up over each tiny slip.

The New Year is just around the corner. This year, don’t reach for the latest fad diet. Instead, pick up The Self-Compassion Diet and learn how to be good to yourself and your body. It may be the best New Year’s Resolution you’ll ever make.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Huggles’ Hug

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Richard Hoit
Publisher: Hameray Publishing Group
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60559-303-6
Pages: 16
Price: $5.95

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Huggles loves to hug. He gives a hug to the dog, and another to the cat. But where does Huggles’ hug go? In this adorable picture book, the reader watches as the hug is passed around from one person to the next, finally ending up back at Huggles.

Since this book is meant for classroom use, lesson pointers for teachers are provided for guiding discussions about this story. Features like punctuation, alliteration, circular story, and text written in the present tense are summarized at the end of the book.

Kids know how nice it is to receive a hug. But in this story, they learn that hugging someone else can have far-reaching consequences of goodwill. I highly recommend this fun teaching tool for kids.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

The Herring in the Library

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: L.C. Tyler
Publisher: Felony & Mayhem Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-934609-76-7
Pages: 240
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Ethelred’s friend “Shagger” Muntham is dead. The formal verdict is suicide, but Shagger’s wife, Annabelle, is unconvinced. When Annabelle pleads with Ethelred to investigate, he can’t help but give in to her wishes.

In this farcical murder investigation, Ethelred and his literary agent, Elsie, attempt to determine what really happened the night of Shagger’s death. As they question the guests present at Shagger’s final dinner party, fabricated tales begin to accumulate, creating some unusual scenarios. But if these folks are lying, what are they attempting to cover up and why?

In this third installment of the Ethelred and Elsie series, the reader is treated to a comic British mystery. The banter between these two “sleuths” is delightful, generating occasional mirthful chuckles. And Annabelle is every man’s worst nightmare. I highly recommend this series for all who love a good cozy British mystery.

Reviewer: Alice Berger