Month: November 2012

children, holiday

The Night Santa Got Lost: How NORAD Saved Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Michael Keane
Illustrator: Michael Garland
Publisher: Regnery Publishing
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-59698-810-1
Pages: 28
Price: $14.95

Buy it at Amazon

“Twas the night before Christmas at NORAD’s home base,
Not an airman was stirring, each one was in place,
Ready and waiting for the very first sight,
Of good old St. Nick on his Christmas Eve flight.”

So begins this magical tale of Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve, 21st century style. In this delightfully written poem, Santa runs into trouble due to a nasty storm, and NORAD personnel must rush in to save the day. Delivering presents is a simple matter, as these highly trained men are used to helping on a moment’s notice.

Those who have tracked Santa every Christmas Eve at the NORAD Santa website will be delighted to read of how this organization steps in to save Christmas. Children of military families will cheer as they speculate if mom or dad was called in to help. (Of course this is classified information, so they will never know!) And fans of the classic Christmas TV programs will enjoy the illustrations done in this traaditional style.

The Night Santa Got Lost: How NORAD Saved Christmas is one of those unique books that I believe will become a treasured Christmas classic. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

literary

Me’ma and the Great Mountain

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Lorin Morgan-Richards
Publisher: A Raven Above Press
Genre: Literary
ISBN: 978-0983002031
Pages: 138
Price: $10.00

Buy it at author’s website

A young girl named Me’ma makes a daring escape when the Baron’s men invade her village. Aided by a wolf named Bright Eye and her two purple leaf dolls, Xetacu and Tchesue, she heads up the river toward the Great Mountain. Grandfather told her that the land beyond was beautiful, free from all cruelty. Me’ma decides this is the place she longs to settle and sets off with determination.

Along the way, she meets some interesting characters: a man with a head that tilts off, and needs to be held in place (he had been hanged), a woman whose body is split in two, and one half falls off the other when not belted securely (she had been sawed in half), and various mounted, stuffed, and skinned animals who have learned the ability to talk. And finally she meets the Baron and his henchmen, face to face, in a great showdown over the Serpent.

While Me’ma journeys toward the Great Mountain, her overriding concern is the for the native people, plants and animals of the area. Respecting nature comes easily to Me’ma, and she wants everyone to be treated safely and fairly. And since the Baron and the Serpent are the enemies of all, Me’ma particularly wants him stopped. Symbolizing the way native peoples were removed from their land, this story reminds us that nothing good can come from such violence. Me’ma and the Great Mountain is a lesson reminding us of our obligation to treat others with fairness and kindness, allowing all to remain free.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Bronto & the Pterodactyl Eggs

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Charlotte Vivian Rodenberg
Publisher: Craigmore Creations
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9844422-4-9
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

A kind Apatosaurus named Bronto discovers a nest full of Pterodactyl eggs. When he realizes their mother isn’t coming back, he decides he will care for them. But soon the nearby volcano shows signs of erupting, and Bronto must act fast to save his own life, and the lives of these baby Pterodactyls.

In this beautifully illustrated prehistoric tale, children meet a very caring dinosaur, not at all like the scary beasts they might be familiar with. They also learn that it’s possible to think of others and help them, while facing a crisis themselves.

Bronto & the Pterodactyl Eggs is a sweet story. Although I wondered if it was really possible that the eggs could survive to hatch, the positive message of kindness to others made me look past my doubts. Any child who adores dinosaurs will enjoy this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Dreams Around the World

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Takashi Owaki
Publisher: One Peace Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-935548-11-9
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

Author’s website (Japanese)
Buy it at Amazon

One universal concern of childhood is thoughts of the future. Children all wonder if they will grow up to be what they wish and hope for. In this unique photographic journey around the globe, author Takashi Owaki interviews children about their dreams for their lives.

Visiting Mexico, Russia, China, and Finland, as well as nine other countries, Owaki asks children what they want to be when they grow up. Their answers are surprising and refreshing, and often express the cultural values they live with. Their world is photographed, and a snippet of their daily activities is also included.

Children delight in learning about different cultures. When sharing on a topic dear to their hearts, they enjoy the experience even more. Dreams Around the World will captivate children as they explore new worlds through others’ dreams.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

education, history, mathematics

Mathematics: An Illustrated History of Numbers (Ponderables)

Bergers Book Reviews


Edited by:  Tom Jackson
Publisher: Shelter Harbor Press
Genre: Mathematics / History
ISBN: 978-0-9853230-4-2
Page: 168
Price: $24.95

Website
Buy it at Amazon

Do you remember with fondness the thrill of mathematical discovery? Your first geometry proof, using pi to calculate areas of circles, the imaginary number i, Pascal’s Triangle, and the Fibonacci Sequence may be distant memories, but the concepts still intrigue you. If you’re a math geek like I am, reading the Ponderables Illustrated History of Numbers is the perfect way to capture the joy you once felt.

Mathematical principles have not always been known. They developed throughout the ages by some of the masterminds of the sciences. In this illustrated history, we learn who was responsible for significant discoveries, and how they came about. One hundred “Ponderables” are presented for our enjoyment and enlightenment.

I have to admit, I am very biased in reviewing this book. I have always loved mathematics. Its perfect logic, symmetry, and order have been constant companions for me. And if you also love this exact science, you’ll love this book. I felt like I had taken a trip back to my favorite high school math classes. This is the perfect gift for any serious math student or your favorite math teacher. And if math isn’t your favorite subject, look for Ponderables in Chemistry, Space, Physics, Philosophy, and Computing.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, children

Hans, His Chairs and the World

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Anne Blond
Illustrator: Birgitte Haahr Lund
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-87-88376-44-9 (Danish), 978-87-88376-49-4 (English), 978-87-88376-50-0 (Japanese)
Pages: 56
Price: 98 kr.

Museum Sønderjylland website
To purchase this book please email the author or the Art Museum

Hans J. Wegner is world famous for his spectacular chair designs. Born in Tønder, Denmark, he grew up fascinated with the natural world and wood carving. But while adults may be familiar with his work, today’s children have most likely never heard of him.

With his 100th anniversary coming up soon, Wegner has become the center of renewed international attention. Hans, His Chairs and the World provides children with a look at his work, so they can also appreciate the contributions he made to society. In this book, we see Hans growing up in the shadow of the water tower. Later, his chairs are brought inside, as a museum is formed around them. And lastly, children are reminded of the fact that building furniture involves our natural world – trees – and they should be responsible stewards of our earth.

Anne Blond is the curator of the Art Museum in Tønder which houses Wegner’s chairs. The illustrations are created digitally, but inspired from old wood block prints, which creates a look reminiscent of Wegner’s work. Children will enjoy reading about this fascinating man, and maybe even look him up on the Internet. What they find will inspire them in their own creative pursuits.

Reviewer: Alice Berger