children, holiday

Pigs in Love

Pigs in Love
Author: Teddy Slater
Illustrator: Aaron Boyd
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8621-1
Pages: 28
Price: $9.95

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How do pigs say “I love you” on Valentine’s Day? Not just with flowers and hearts – these pigs get creative! In fact, there are any number of ways to say “I love you.”

This sweet board book illustrates these various affectionate scenarios, with shiny foil throughout. A new version of a holiday favorite, Pigs in Love reminds kids that it’s always the perfect place and time to tell the special people in their lives that they love them.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Beautiful Wild Rose Girl

Beautiful Wild Rose Girl
Author: B. Magnolia
Illustrator: Jamila Keba
Publisher: Mystic World Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9780985428907
Pages: 34
Price: $7.95 (paperback)
Also available in ribbon bound or deluxe hardcover edition at publisher’s website

Mystic World Press
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A poor, lonely girl lives in the swamp among the bullfrogs. Each day, on her way out of the swamp, she passes through a field of wild roses, which she sells in the village. But even though the villagers admire her, she believes she is a stupid, ugly girl, because of the words she hears from the bullfrogs.

One day her fortunes change for the better, when one of the villagers is able to speak with her. And when she finally sees herself in a new light, she is able to escape the swamp and find happiness.

This modern-day fairy tale is layered with meaning, and so many questions arise from reading it. And, as with the best fairy tales, this sweet girl meets and falls in love with someone who will love and cherish her. The unique book-binding makes Beautiful Wild Rose Girl even more special. This book would be a great gift for any girl who has doubts about how special she is.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Time For a Hug

Time For a Hug
Author: Phillis Gershator & Mim Green
Illustrator: David Walker
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4549-0856-2
Pages: 24
Price: $9.95

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What time is it? Is it eight or nine or ten? Whatever time it is, it’s Time For a Hug! In this adorable board book, a mother rabbit and her son spend the day together. Playing, baking, eating, and getting ready for bed, they notice as the clock ticks off every hour. And any time is just right for hugs.

Counting, learning time, and fun are all featured, as is the strong bond between mother and child. Time For a Hug will be a favorite for all loving families. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

Monkey of the Month

Monkey of the Month
Author: Adam Kramer
Illustrator: David Kramer
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-41564
Pages: 40
Price: $16.99

Schiffer Books
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Ho, hum. Birthday presents have become so boring and mundane. Until a boy receives a mysterious membership in the monkey of the month club. Then the house is turned upside down. But the club assumes no responsibility for any of the damages these primates may cause.

A chimpanzee arrives immediately that loves to clean. Thirty days later, an ape comes to redecorate. As each month passes, a new monkey shows up with its own talents and desires. And soon his mother can’t take any more of the chaos.

I won’t spoil the surprise, but the last scene is laugh out loud funny. Monkey of the Month is a sure-fire hit with all kids. Amusing and well illustrated, this book will be read over and over again with glee.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

music, self improvement, spirituality

Free Your Voice

Free Your Voice
Author: Sylvia Nakkach with Valerie Carpenter
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Spirituality / Self-help / Music
ISBN: 978-1-60407-800-8
Pages: 280
Price: $18.95

Author’s website
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Yoga of the Voice is a unique path used to open ourselves to life through singing. Not through the usual tunes we recognize as songs, but rather through primary sounds and breath. Free Your Voice describes the practice Sylvia Nakkach has created for her clients.

A download accompaniment is available at the Sounds True website, which should be used with this book. As each exercise is explained, the reader is provided examples of the sounds and tones. Nakkach encourages us to develop our own practice, creating an uninterrupted, twenty-one minute program from these.

Voice exercises sound like something only professional singers would perform, but Nakkach reassures us that these are also for the rest of us – even those who claim they can’t sing. Like traditional yoga, Yoga of the Voice will create a discipline that opens us further to life’s experiences.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Into the Pumpkin

Into the Pumpkin
Author & Illustrator: Linda Franklin
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children / Halloween
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4183-0
Pages: 48
Price: $16.99

Schiffer Books
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Whoever you are, no matter what age, don’t be afraid to turn the next page… For when you do, you’ll encounter ghosts, skeletons, witches and jack-o-lanterns having a wonderful party.

In this delightful rhyming book, Linda Franklin shows us the usual Halloween characters, busy getting ready for their evening plans. And when darkness rolls in, the merriment begins. Charming watercolor illustrations shrouded in mist display these eerie Halloween scenes.

Halloween lovers of all ages will enjoy Into the Pumpkin as they make their own ghoulish plans for the holiday.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

audio book, classics

The Mill on the Floss (Naxos Complete Classics)

The Mill on the Floss
Author: George Eliot
Read by Laura Paton
Produced by Naxos AudioBooks
Genre: Classics
ISBN: 978-184-379-6046
Length: 16 CDs (Total time 20:38:08)
Price: $98.98

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In 1860, Mary Ann Evans, known under the pen-name of George Eliot, published The Mill on the Floss. This intricate picture of the life of Maggie Tulliver, born and raised at Dorlcote Mill on the river Floss, begins when Maggie is a young girl. Spanning two decades, the story revolves around the Dodson and Tulliver families.

Maggie’s dearest love is her brother, Tom, who alternately loves and despises her. When her father’s rash decisions leave the family destitute, Maggie is a teenager, searching for meaning in her life. Although she later falls in love, the unsuitability of the match causes her much pain and suffering.

This delightfully complex novel introduces some memorable characters. Each has his own strengths and weaknesses, and no one is entirely good or bad. They are all simply human, struggling in a world that often feels very unfair.

Naxos Audio has presented a wonderful audio adaption of this unabridged classic. Laura Paton does a masterful job of acting the various roles, and providing different voices for each character. The listener almost feels a part of the conversations as they take place. Although reading a classic can often feel dull and difficult, the audio version brings it to life in a brand new way. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to The Mill on the Floss and look forward to hearing more of these unabridged recordings of the classics.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

business, self improvement

The Skinny on Direct Sales

The Skinny on Direct Sales
Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Self-improvement / Business
ISBN: 978-0-9824390-9-8
Pages: 126
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Have you ever considered a career in direct sales? Many people sign up for a sales program without giving any thought about what is involved. They simply expect to go out and start selling. But without adequate preparation, they are doomed to fail.

Jim Randel knows quite a bit about the important steps you will need to take, and he has put together a simple guide to your first 100 days. This no-nonsense book shows how Beth, a stick-figure character, goes into direct sales. Through her experiences and Randel’s commentary, this comic-book style guide leads you through the setup process of your new business.

When early sales aren’t as good as anticipated, many people give up. But with The Skinny on Direct Sales, anyone can be successful in direct sales. I highly recommend this helpful guide.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Emma’s American Chinese New Year

Emma's American Chinese New Year
Author: Amy Meadows
Illustrator: Soon Kwong Teo
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children
ISBN:978-1-427-8694-6
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

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Emma is Chinese, adopted by an American couple. But although she lives in the USA, she still wants to celebrate a holiday important to her native country. Visiting the cultural center with her parents, she enjoys Chinese New Year with other Chinese and American people.

Told in rhyme, Emma’s American Chinese New Year describes the sights, sounds and tastes of the Chinese New Year, told from the perspective of a young girl. Delighting in watching the dragon and the lion, feasting on dumplings, spring rolls and fish, and watching the dancers, Emma enjoys her festive new year celebration.

Chinese New Year is a fun holiday tradition for families to enjoy. Kids like to read about other cultures, and this book provides great information on how the new year is celebrated in China.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

relationships, self improvement

How to Forgive: A Practical Guide

How to Forgive
Author: Lynda Bevan
Publisher: Loving Healing Press
Genre: Self-help
ISBN: 978-1-61599-030-6
Pages: 110
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Do you have trouble forgiving others? Does your relationship need help in working through some difficult issues? If so, you may want to explore how to forgive. Lynda Bevan has offered her thoughts on improving relationships through the process of forgiveness.

As part of her 10-step series, Bevan focuses on the steps required in healing and restoring relationships hurting due to lack of forgiveness. In these steps, she provides many ideas on what to forgive, how to forgive, and how to change yourself in the hopes of improving communication and harmony between two people, usually a couple.

There is a lot of really good information in How to Forgive. Bevan has obviously studied this subject extensively and knows it well. Unfortunately, this self-help book reads more like a dissertation with a lot of lists and no examples of real-life scenarios to develop the concepts presented. The nuggets of wisdom are lost. If read in very small bite-size chunks, with strong attention to the details presented, I’m sure the reader would gain a lot of knowledge. But if read cover to cover quickly, most of these suggestions will simply fade away with nothing to anchor them.

Reviewer: Alice Berger