Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children

The Enchanted Flounder

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Susan Meredith
Publisher: Rocking Chair Publications, Inc.
Genre: Children / Fairy tale
ISBN: 9780984286669
Pages: 26
Price: $7.99

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Is it possible to have too many wishes? The fisherman’s wife doesn’t think so, and she insists on her husband asking the enchanted flounder to grant them for her. She wishes and wishes and wishes some more. But she doesn’t realize that what she’s wishing for isn’t the best thing for her.

In this kinder and gentler retelling of the classic fairy tale, the fisherman’s wife learns this lesson about being too greedy the hard way. And the fisherman learns it’s good to be content with what we have. Sometimes even better things will come to us in our gratitude.

Some of the old fairy tales were frightening for kids, but you won’t find any of that scary stuff in Gram’s Fairy Tales. Kid-friendly, cheery and fun, they’re safe for everyone.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, history

Miles and Zoey: The Family Tree

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kimberly Mayhoe
Publisher: Butterfly Ink Publishing
Genre: Children / History
ISBN: 978-0-9745423-3-1
Pages: 144
Price: $7.00

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Miles and Zoey have just moved to Texas after their parents’ separation. While Zoey is grateful for a fresh start, Miles misses his father and friends back in California. But the family tree book in the attic and the old oak tree outside will bring surprises to both.

Suddenly, they find themselves transported back to Virginia in 1857, helping a runaway slave reach freedom. As black children, they may also be mistaken for slaves, and they’re forced to run with him. Luckily, they know enough history to be a help rather than a hindrance to the man they’re assisting.

History books can’t capture what black fugitives faced in their daring escapes to freedom. In Miles and Zoey, kids get a first-hand look at the fear and the danger of being on the run, and the exhilaration upon reaching the Canadian border, a free man at last.

Kids will relate to the siblings bickering with each other, but pulling together when it really mattered. They’ll even learn some history along the way. My one small nitpick is the use of he/him and she/her interchangeably, not according to the proper rules of grammar. But overall, Miles and Zoey is an exciting, fast-paced book that really draws the reader into the story and historical setting.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Fabulous Franko and His Fabulous Toys

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jane Matlock
Illustrator: Kate Seeley
Publisher: Think-a-lot Toys
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9780975671917
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Think-a-lot Toys

Fabulous Franko loves his toys, and the bigger and more extravagant, the better. So when he crashes his little red sports car, it’s only natural that he goes out to make a plane. But every toy Franko has, he loses, and alas, one day his bank account runs dry.

This charming tale of the boy who always needs a new special toy of his own is told in well-flowing and easy to read rhyming verse. Kate Seeley’s beautiful pastel illustrations show us the intricate details of Franko’s world, bringing this boy’s fantasy to life. And since this book was published in Australia, a glossary translates the British English phrases to American English.

Fabulous Franko and His Fabulous Toys reminds us that we don’t always need to have the flashiest and most expensive toys, for once Franko runs out of money, he’s forced to turn to his imagination instead. Love, laughter, and friends will be our ultimate source of happiness in the end.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

Cows Can’t Jump

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dave Reisman
Illustrator: Jason A. Maas
Publisher: Jumping Cow Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9801433-0-0
Pages: 44
Price: $7.99

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“Cows can’t jump… but they can swim. Gorillas can’t swim… but they can swing.” Not every animal is designed for certain activities. Can you imaging a flying elephant or a tunneling giraffe? The thought that all animals could excel at everything is absurd. But many educators look at children and hold them to standards they could never meet.

Just as the animals are designed for certain purposes, children are also gifted at some things more than others. Cows Can’t Jump is a fun read with great illustrations that kids will want to read over and over again, but it also provides a wonderful message. Reading about the specific talents animals have, and how they also have limitations, frees kids to stop worrying so much about the things they’re not good at, and gives them permission to excel with their natural abilities.

I found myself reading this book aloud just for the sheer joy, and I’m sure kids will love it too. Cows Can’t Jump is already on my list of all-time favorite picture books, and I highly recommend this adorable book with a great message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

science-fiction, tween

The Prometheus Project: Stranded

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Douglas E. Richards
Publisher: Paragon Press
Genre: Science-fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9826184-0-0
Pages: 320
Price $7.95

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Ryan and Regan Resnick are excited to spend a weekend with their parents and other Prometheus scientists on the planet Isis. But as soon as they arrive, one of their team abandons them, taking a hostage and leaving the rest stranded. When the animals of Isis turn predatory, the scientists have little hope of making it home alive.

Luckily, Ryan manages to escape and attempts to get help for the stranded party. He and Regan can communicate telepathically, and the two share ideas and strategies in dealing with their unique situations. They will need to use some determined effort and quick thinking to survive. And when the girl Ryan admires suddenly gets herself caught up in their problems, things get more and more complicated.

Once again Douglas E. Richards has crafted a well-written and enjoyable science fiction novel. All of the information these two smart kids need is provided in the storyline, well before they need to know it. So when they use their reasoning ability to figure out what to do next, the reader already has the knowledge along with them.

I continue to be impressed with the suspenseful story-telling and great characters in The Prometheus Project. Science, logic, and adventure all come together in these wonderful books. I highly recommend this series.

See reviews of: Trapped and Captured

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cooking, memoir

Mary’s Place

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mary J. Pelzel
Publisher: North Woods Publishing
Genre: Memoir / Cookbook
ISBN: 978-0-615-34837-7
Pages: 192
Price: $12.95

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Mary J. Pelzel wasn’t always a “Mountain Woman.” In fact, there was a time she was quite content to be a city girl. But one day she and her husband made a visit to a little cabin in Washington near the Wenatchee National Forest, and they both fell in love.

City girls don’t transform into Mountain Women overnight, and Mary has some tales to tell about the process. Facing bugs, snakes, critters and snow, she learns that Mother Nature is stronger than she is, and she needs to adjust. So when Mother Nature gets tough, Mary fights back with a delicious meal or dessert. After all, every Mountain Woman needs to keep up her strength.

Mary’s Place is a humorous part-memoir, part-cookbook, describing life in the North Woods. Mary now runs her own tea shop, featuring her own homemade jams, jellies, breads, soaps, and other goodies. Try some of her own recipes for yummy gourmet fare, or stop by when you’re in town and let Mary pamper you. Either way, you’re sure to enjoy some good times and good food.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

Total Law of Attraction

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dr. David Che
Publisher: Blue Note Books
Genre: Self-help
ISBN: 978-1-878398-26-0
Pages: 168
Price: $19.00

Author’s website
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The Law of Attraction is a hot topic these days, with countless books and films detailing its wondrous results. From the Bible, to The Science of Getting Rich, to The Secret, these principles have been carried with us through the ages. But many false assumptions have been made by those who try to follow this law.

Some of the teachers tell us that we only need to visualize the end result clearly to have something manifest in our lives. But while we certainly do need to focus our thoughts on our goals, there are other things we need to be conscious of in using the Law of Attraction.

Dr. David Che has read nearly all that’s been written about this law, discovering what really works in the process. In Total Law of Attraction, he has distilled this wisdom from many sources into a comprehensive and simple book.

Like Dr. Che, I’ve also read quite a bit about this important law, and I’ve found that many authors simply repeat what’s already been said. They preach a “magic bullet” approach, which seems far-fetched and unrealistic. While Dr. Che hasn’t come up with any new ideas, what he has done in this book is show us only the best and most effective tools in working with the law. He explains why thoughts alone won’t work, and what we can do to make sure our dreams manifest in our lives. If you only read one book about the Law of Attraction, Total Law of Attraction will provide all you need to know.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Deadly Sweet Cupboard

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Hedley Griffin
Publisher: DangerSpot Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9546565-0-8
Pages: 32
Price: £5.99

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It’s Harey the rabbit’s birthday, so he and his friends decide to have a party. Harey doesn’t always think before he acts, and he nearly hurts himself and his friends with his carelessness. But when Harey finds the “sweets” in the medicine cabinet, he sends himself to the hospital in an ambulance, lucky to have survived.

Children have no idea of the dangers lurking around the home, and everything is fun and interesting. So they need to be reminded of the disastrous results of trying to eat things they shouldn’t. In The Deadly Sweet Cupboard, kids will read about Harey’s hare-brained behavior and the consequences of his actions. While giggling at the situations he finds himself in, they learn an important lesson without any preaching from parents.

All DangerSpot books include stickers to place on dangerous items as a reminder for kids to stay safe. These books also include practical tips at the end, so parents can be sure no one gets hurt.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Mercy Rising

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Amber Robinson
Publisher: Beacon Hill Press
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-0-8341-2497-4
Pages: 192
Price: $14.99

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The average American woman has a full schedule keeping up with family, job, and household responsibilities. Adding social activism to the mix would become burdensome, although at times she may feel she should be doing more to help others. Amber Robinson realizes the pressures women feel, and she’s written Mercy Rising as a guide for the busy woman to be active in ways that fit her lifestyle.

First, Robinson asks us to pick just “one thing” that we’re most passionate about. This may be world hunger, sanitary drinking water, sweatshops, or human trafficking. Whatever it is, we should focus on this “one thing” to get started. Once we’ve discovered our passion, she provides a wealth of information on researching the integrity of charitable organizations and businesses, as well as individual charities that support the causes we believe in.

As with any book that provides extensive internet listings and websites, this information may go out of date, as charities close and websites go inactive. The very first link I tried to access was dead. But even though charities themselves may come and go, the causes continue, and simple searches would reveal the organizations that have taken their place.

Amber Robinson is passionate about the organization she works for and the cause of social justice. As she leads and guides others to also feel her passion, it’s almost impossible to resist the pull to get more involved. Mercy Rising is a well-written and well-researched book that can’t help but inspire you to want to find your own “one thing” and make a difference in the world.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Amber Robinson is an advocate for children, and works with Compassion International. Sponsor a child today!

children

Hurricane Mia

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Donna Marie Seim
Illustrator: Susan Spellman
Publisher: Peapod Press
ISBN: 978-0-9826911-0-6
Pages: 157
Price: $12.95

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Mia is very unhappy to be spending the summer with Gram and Gramps, especially since her little brother Jack will be there, too. She was supposed to go to camp with her best friend, but now she’s isolated on a Caribbean island with no cell phone and no friends. And she worries about her mom who’s very sick with leukemia back home. But one day she meets Neisha, an island girl, who tells her about Auntie Cecilia and her magic tea that cures everything.

Gram and Gramps would never let Mia get the tea from Auntie Cecilia, so she needs to come up with a plan to get it without them. So while her grandparents sleep one afternoon, the three children make their daring journey by themselves. But plans that aren’t thought out well often go awry, and an unexpected storm catches them by surprise. Now Mia not only has to worry about her mom and the tea – she also wonders if they’ll ever be rescued from their predicament.

While I certainly understood Mia’s frustration at being sent away from home, I found her behavior to be extreme. She seemed almost a brat at times, yet I know that children under stress of possibly losing a parent can act out. But I didn’t really see the connection between her actions and any thoughts she might be having about her mother. I also found her Gram’s meanness to be unusual and unexplained.

Proper safety is extremely important in kids’ books, and it greatly disturbed me to see the children on the boat on the cover of this book with no life jackets. They only put them on in the story after the most dangerous part of their journey was over.

Overall Hurricane Mia is well written and an interesting adventure novel. I just found it hard to connect with Mia and go along with her crazy scheme. Kids will probably relate to her better than an adult could.

Reviewer: Alice Berger