Monkey Magic: The Great Wall Mystery
Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-981-08-6132-2
Pages: 160
Price: $9.95
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
Hide and Sneak
Author: Elizabeth Cook
Photography: Robert Yin
Publisher: Hameray Publishing Group
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60559-098-1
Pages: 48
Price: $9.95
Sea animals fascinate us because of their unique coloring and design. But have you ever thought about why they look this way? Elizabeth Cook and Robert Yin show us some of these unusual sea creatures in their natural habitat, as they attempt to hide and sneak.
Avoiding predators is a key to survival, and an animal’s ability to blend in with its surroundings can mean the difference between life and death. Predators also need to go unnoticed, in order to sneak up on their prey, so their coloring is intended to assist them. In these beautiful close-up photos, we see how these creatures sneak up on others as they try to eat, or hide to avoid being eaten.
Hide and Sneak is part of the Underwater Encounter series, designed to deliver intriguing facts and first-hand accounts from the depths of the seas. This colorful and interesting book provides detailed explanations of underwater camouflage with great photographic images to illustrate these points. I highly recommend it for classrooms and libraries.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?
Author: Kaleela Thompson
Illustrator: Trevor Lucas
Publisher: Eggleston Services
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-9845694-0-3
Pages: 24
Price: $10.95
Where is Kaleela’s swallowtail hiding? As she explores her garden she searches for the missing butterfly,trying to locate him. The reader is invited to come along, answering questions about where he might be. Once he is found, interesting facts about the swallowtail butterfly, along with other critters is provided.
Kaleela Thompson was born in 1999, and already she’s working to make a difference in the world. She’s founded My Home, My History, and Our World, which helps Virginia youth through interactive historical gardens. In her quest to educate children about the natural world around them, she created Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?
This unique book was printed by Eggleston Services, which helps people with physical and mental challenges perform work geared towards their needs. Illustrator Trevor Lucas is colorblind, and he was able to use his own disability to create drawings that could be easily read by those who have vision impairments. Others also helped in the assembly of the book, and will assist in distribution.
It’s great to see our youth today take an interest in nature and helping others. I applaud Kaleela Thompson and Eggleston for putting together such a helpful and worthy production.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up
Author & Illustrator: Drew Aquilina
Publisher: Mariposa Press
Genre: Cartoon / Nature
ISBN: 978-0966689976
Pages: 197
Price $19.99
Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon
Iggy: a turtle who suffers from claustrophobia
Radic: a dragonfly who likes to “bug” everyone, especially Iggy
Cabby: a frog with short legs and an overly enhanced brain
Roc: a rogue raccoon who always seems to find the trash
Green Pieces: The cartoon which somehow manages to bring these odd characters together, while also promoting care for the environment.
This comic strip takes a funny look at life at the pond, from the perspective of these four zany characters. Problems like turtle salmonella, a cartoon lawsuit demanding that these cartoon animals wear pants, and worries about how to survive hibernation keep them all busy. But ultimately preserving their little home is the most important thing to worry about, and they don’t take environmental issues lightly.
Green Pieces is a humorous look at life at the pond through the eyes of those who live there year-round. The pictures are well-drawn, and the clever plot lines keep the reader entertained, while often laughing out loud at some of these characters’ antics. I highly recommend this environmentally friendly cartoon book.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Partnering With Nature
Author: Catriona MacGregor
Publisher: Atria Books / Beyond Words
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-58270-219-3
Pages:304
Price $16.00
Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon
The world has become more complex and industrialized, and humans are losing their connection with nature. Being in tune with the seasons, the plants, and animals was what gave our ancestors the ability to survive. But even though we may not need to hunt for food anymore, that connection to nature helps us thrive, even in this modern society.
Catriona MacGregor has always felt a strong affinity for nature. Now she leads adults and youth on quests, in the attempt to bring our spirits back into alignment with the natural world. In Partnering With Nature, she shares some of her insights on why we still need to stay in tune with nature, and how we can do this, given the constraints of our current lifestyles.
Global warming is a real threat to us and the animal population. We continue to destroy natural habitats and pollute our land and water supplies. We’ve finally realized the destruction we’re causing, and we’re trying to reverse these alarming trends. But we also need to fully connect with the natural world, in order to heal the planet and ourselves.
In looking at the earth as Mother, we create a new relationship with her. When we act from love, rather than greed, we can restore her to health. And in restoring her, we restore our own souls. Partnering With Nature is a strong reminder that we need Mother Earth as much as she needs us. We have a responsibility to protect her, and her survival is key to our own.
Reviewed by: Alice Berger
Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada
Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Tween / Adventure
ISBN: 978-981-08-1077-1
Pages: 120
Price: $7.95
Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon
Orangutans of the Mukada Nature Reserve are getting sick and heading to the coast. But what’s causing this unusual phenomenon? Is it overpopulation, as suggested by the park warden? Romy and her scientist father plan a visit to investigate, since something doesn’t feel quite right.
Soon after their arrival, Romy hears of the curse of Mukada – and she also discovers Monkey Magic. This magic helps her to communicate with the orangutans, with surprising results. Armed with new information, she and her father are able to solve the mystery and save the orangutans.
Monkey Magic: The Curse of Mukada also provides facts about orangutans, and how their habitats are being threatened by human encroachment. This delightful, magical tale shows us how greed can harm wildlife, and why we need to take immediate action to try to stop it. I highly recommend this enjoyable story with a great environmental message.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
The Greenzys
Author: Danielle Mentzer
Illustrator: Cris De Lara
Publisher: DK Publishing
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-7566-6911-9
Pages: 44
Price: $17.99
Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon
An old pine tree named Orinda is suffering from the pollution of the nearby river. Her only hope of a legacy is her last pine cone. But Grimy has stolen it. In a last tearful effort, Orinda reaches out her branches to the animals of the planet for help.
Coming from all over the world, the animals rush in to save her. And as they commit to stopping Grimy and his dirty habits, their fur becomes green. They’ve become the Greenzys. Grimy is the symbol of all those who choose to pollute the environment, through negligent trash disposal and failure to recycle. And the Greenzys are the hope for Earth’s future.
In The Greenzys, kids will see why it’s important to protect our environment from those who want to do it harm. This cute story shows us how to be environmentally conscious in a way kids can relate, and the beautiful illustrations by Cris De Lara enhance this green message.
The book is printed in an eco-friendly manner, and a portion of the proceeds from book sales benefits the Environmental Media Association. And in celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, for every Greenzys book purchase made between April 5 and December 31, 2010, the Arbor Day Foundation will plant one tree in our nation’s forests.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
How to Thrive in Changing Times
Author: Sandra Ingerman
Publisher: Weiser Books
Genre: Spirituality / Nature / Health
ISBN: 978-1-57863-466-8
Pages: 176
Price: $12.95
Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon
As our world changes at an ever more rapid pace, thriving sometimes feels like an insurmountable challenge. Sandra Ingerman believes it’s a lot easier than we think, but first we need to know what to do, both as individuals and as a community.
Spiritual masters over the years have taught that our thoughts determine our lives. Now we also know that these thoughts can even affect the environment around us. And if we can get together as a group, these healing thoughts are even more powerful.
How do we do this? Ingerman provides rituals and exercises designed to bring about positive changes in our lives and in the world. These can be done alone or in a group setting.
How to Thrive in Changing Times reminds us that we have the ability to do so much more than we believe. We may be the limiting force in our lives, but we can change our thoughts and the outcomes of those thoughts. And in changing ourselves, we can help to change the world.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Day & Night in the Swamp
Author: Gerard Cheshire
Illustrator: Martin Camm
Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-0843-709742
Pages:38
Price: $14.99
The swamp is a magical and mysterious place, both by day and by night. Day & Night in the Swamp shows us the different kinds of swamp areas and the animals that live there.
This beautifully illustrated book includes a four-page spread for both the daytime and nighttime scenes. Then, following the spreads, the high ground, marshland, open water and swamp edge are shown in detail, along with the animals that live in that habitat.
Each area of the swamp is explained in greater detail, and a paragraph for each animal describes a little about his activities in the daytime or at night. Eating habits, nesting behavior, and the ability to camouflage themselves and blend into their surroundings are some of the topics covered.
While this is not a comprehensive guide to swamp life, Day & Night in the Swamp is so beautifully illustrated that it will join our bird and wildlife books as a reference. Anyone who loves nature and wildlife will enjoy this book.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
Day & Night in the Forest
Author: Susan & Peter Barrett
Illustrator: Peter Barrett
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-0843-709438
Pages: 38
Price: $14.99
The forest is a magical and mysterious place, both by day and by night. Day & Night in the Forest shows us the different kinds of forests and the animals that live there.
This beautifully illustrated book includes a four-page spread for both the daytime and nighttime scenes. Then, following the spreads, the conifer forest, dense forest, mixed forest and forest edge are shown in detail, along with the animals that live in that habitat.
Each forest type is explained in greater detail, and a paragraph for each animal describes a little about his activities in the daytime or at night. Eating habits, nesting behavior, and the ability to camouflage themselves and blend into their surroundings are some of the topics covered.
While this is not a comprehensive guide to forest life, Day & Night in the Forest is so beautifully illustrated that it will join our bird and wildlife books as a reference. Anyone who loves nature and forest animals will enjoy this book.
Reviewer: Alice Berger
How to Request a Review
If you’d like to have your book reviewed, please contact us at the following email addresses with a synopsis of your book. Please use the subject header “Review Requested: Title of your book” so your request doesn’t go to our spam folder. Don’t send a file copy of your book as an attachment. It will not be read.
Email: Gene Berger
Fiction: adventure, humor & satire, literary, science fiction & fantasy. Nonfiction. No children’s books.
Email: Alice Berger
Genres: Positive fiction and non-fiction only. At this time, I’m mostly interested in Christian books, although I will review anything with a positive message. I’m also interested in motivational and inspirational audio programs. Educational tools for children and Christian-themed products may be considered.
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Coming Soon:
- Down Load Basketball by Alison Hawes
- Graphic Classics: Edgar Allen Poe’s Tales of Mystery
- Healing Touch by Dorothea Hover-Kramer
- A Lamp in the Darkness by Jack Kornfield
- A Love Story by Samantha Ryan Chandler
- Oscar Did It by Joy Cowley
- Right Where You Are by Lisa Montierth
- The Skinny on Networking by Jim Randel
- Songs of Mary
- Untie the Strong Woman by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
- Wired by Douglas E. Richards
- Your Daily Walk With the Great Minds by Richard A. Singer, Jr.
“Who’s Taking a Bath?” by Alice Berger
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