March 2013 – Bergers Book Reviews

Jesus Enters Jerusalem / He Is Risen

March 28, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Publisher: Zonderkidz
Genre: Children / Bible
ISBN: 978-0-310-73513-7
Pages: 32
Price: $4.99

Zonderkidz presents The Beginner’s Bible version of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the message of His Resurrection. Told in a storybook format, this flip book shares the good news with kids.

Illustrations are colorful and the crucifixion is portrayed in a non-gruesome manner, suitable for very young children. Stickers of the various scenes are also provided, so kids can recreate the narrative for themselves.

The story of the first Easter is one every Christian child should be very familiar with. Zonderkidz has given parents a great resource in making sure their kids know how much Jesus really loves them.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

audio book, children

March of the Ants

March 26, 2013March 28, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Anna-Christina
Produced by: Busy Bees Publishing

Free Download at Music Audio Stories

Sid is the smallest of the ants, and no one notices him at all. One day he joins the others in a march of the ants, and soon grows very tired. But when a storm suddenly soaks them with rain, it’s up to Sid to save the others from the rising waters.

This audio production of March of the Ants includes a lively soundtrack as a background for the march. The story is told in rhyme and includes character voices and nature sounds throughout the narrative. The pace is quick, as befitting a march, and will draw kids in with young Sid’s heroism.

As Music Audio Stories says on their website: “These special audio books can be enjoyed by children of all ages but are tailored for the blind as well. They can also be a useful learning tool for children with impaired vision or vision disabilities.” March of the Ants is a fun story that kids will love to hear over and over again.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Deductive Detective

March 25, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Brian Rock
Illustrator: Sherry Rogers
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6250
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The animals are having a cake contest, and one of the cakes is missing! Who could have stolen the cake? Detective Duck is on the case, and he will determine the culprit.

Using deductive reasoning, Detective Duck eliminates each suspect, one at a time. As he discovers each clue, he is able to decide that one animal could not have stolen the cake, based on that clue. Narrowing the contestants down from twelve to just one, he solves the crime.

The Deductive Detective is a clever whodunit geared toward younger readers. As they follow along, they experience deductive reasoning for themselves, along with some clever puns by the animals cleared of the crime. Future mystery enthusiasts will enjoy this fun story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

Your Natural Medicine Cabinet

March 22, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Burke Lennihan
Publisher: GreenHealing Press
Genre: Health
ISBN: 978-0-9834430-2-5
Pages: 248
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

There are many over-the-counter remedies for common ailments, but how many of these chemicals do you feel safe taking? Have you ever wondered if there is a more natural treatment? In Your Natural Medicine Cabinet, Burke Lennihan provides a wealth of information on how to treat illness in a less toxic manner that may even work faster than the traditional remedies.

In the first section, Lennihan shows us the basics of healthy living. The easiest way to treat illness is to never get sick at all, and these suggestions work toward overall good health. But if you do get sick, the second section covers the most common ailments and how to treat them using homeopathic remedies. The last sections explain how to stock your own natural medicine cabinet. Flower essences, cell salts, herbs and combination remedies are explored, so the reader has a basic understanding of what would be best to try first.

Lennihan reminds us that these natural remedies won’t work on every illness, and there are times it is imperative to see a traditional medical doctor. But it’s possible that homeopathy will work well in conjunction with your doctor’s care. And when the smaller issues pop up, such as a bout with the flu or occasion insomnia, your natural medicine cabinet is the first place to turn. I highly recommend this book for all who want to stay healthy in a more natural way.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Thompson Twins: Las Vegas Adventure

March 21, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Lesa Hammond, PhD
Publisher: Achievement U
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9780615668093
Pages: 140
Price: $6.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Letty and Carlos Thompson are heading to Las Vegas to see their father. Their favorite TV star, Phoenix Skye, likes to spend time in Las Vegas, and they hope to catch a glimpse of her while they’re there. They can hardly wait to see all the new sights.

Once they arrive, their father introduces them to their host, Mr. Wilson, Vice President of Human Resources. He gives them a tour of the New York, New York hotel. But when Mr. Wilson and their father aren’t around, Letty and Carlos start exploring, since they have seen Phoenix Skye and want to meet her.

The publisher of this series, Achievement U, was founded to present good role models for at-risk kids. Mr. Wilson spends a lot of time explaining to Letty and Carlos the importance of going to college, so they can get good jobs like his some day. But this becomes the whole focus of the book. There is little action to draw kids in, and the dialogue between Mr. Wilson and the twins goes on for too long.

I appreciate the value of what Achievement U is trying to do in this series, but I think this story would have worked better with more action and less dialogue. Showing rather than telling would make the message even more meaningful.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

The Bad Easter Bunny

March 19, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Isabel Atherton
Illustrator: Stéphanie Röhr
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Children / Easter
ISBN: 978-1-62087-500-1
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

Buy it at Amazon

After hauling his huge sack of candy to town, only to have the children greedily grab at it and knock him down, the Easter Bunny has had enough. Red-hot with anger, he declares himself the Bad Easter Bunny (BEB for short), and destroys his goodies. Then he runs through the town doing bad things. What will it take to transform BEB back into the nice bunny he used to be? Maybe the kindness of one little girl.

Anger and retaliation, repentance and forgiveness, and gratitude are all featured in The Bad Easter Bunny. Color also plays a part as BEB changes shades to match his moods. Ultimately, good overcomes evil, and BEB returns to his former generous self. As he finally realizes, “…being bad will not solve your problems and ‘thank you’ are the nicest words in the world.”

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

All Kinds of People

March 14, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Sheri Safran
Illustrator: Emma Damon
Publisher: Insight Kids
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60887-160-5
Pages: 12
Price: $12.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

When it comes to people, there is a lot of diversity! From hair styles to skin colors, to body shapes and activity preferences, no two of us are alike. And that’s a very good thing.

In All Kinds of People, kids are introduced to diversity in a fun way. This lift-the-flap book shows lots of different people smiling and having a good time. They accept who they are, and they are happy and enjoying life.

Finally, kids are provided a mirror to take a good look at themselves to discover their unique qualities. As this book says, Everyone is special, including me.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

March 13, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Jane Cabrera
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2519-8
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. So begins this sweet bedtime story for kids. This classic nursery rhyme is expanded to include five additional verses.

On each page spread, a mother and child pair of animals look up at the sky, seeing a twinkling star above. The story concludes with a human mother and child sharing a message of love.

These adorable animals are simply and colorfully drawn. And the accompanying rhyme is patterned after the original, with descriptions of the landscape around them. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star would be a great book to read just before tucking little ones in for the night.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

SPI: The Case of the Dark Shadow

March 12, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: T.J. Bonham
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Tween
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4132-8
Pages: 112
Price: $12.99

Schiffer Books
Buy it at Amazon

After losing her mother to cancer and moving, Ellie Hunter is new in town, and just wants to settle down and fit in. So when her new neighbor asks her to join the Shadow Paranormal Investigators group, Ellie reluctantly agrees. But Ellie has had her own dealings with the paranormal, and they weren’t very nice.

Ellie is a natural, and soon finds herself busy helping the group unravel mysteries. The dark shadow that has haunted her since she was a young child has followed her to California, and now the group also sees it. But Ellie’s biggest challenge will be finding her father in Afghanistan and bringing him home safely, using only her ability to see remotely. Can she find him in time?

These four teenaged investigators don’t have the fancy gadgets TAPS uses in Ghost Hunters but they have the fearlessness and inquisitiveness to search for shadows. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that Ellie finds one of the boys especially nice. The ending of this book implied that there will be follow-up mysteries, in what may turn out to be a series. This is a fun read for any wannabe ghost hunter.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Ambition’s Not an Awful Word

March 11, 2013May 3, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Zack Zage
Illustrator: Adam Watkins
Publisher: Ivy Court Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9836078-2-3
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

“What I want to be” is the theme in Zack’s class. But where will he start? He has so many ideas, he can’t limit himself to just one!

In rhyming verse, Zack details his plans for becoming an astronaut, a cowboy, and singer, just to name a few. But after he boasts of his talents, another voice chimes in with Zack’s limitations. When he feels down about having such ambitious dreams, he finds out that it really is okay to reach for the stars.

Kids love to think about what they will be when they grow up. Dreaming big now gives them the drive to work hard toward their goals. Ambition’s Not an Awful Word shows them both sides of their career options in a humorous and fun way. After all, there is no need to decide now. They have years to make such an important decision.

Winner of the Mom’s Choice Awards Honoring Excellence.

Reviewer: Alice Berger