Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, education

Mrs. Wishy-Washy and the Big Wash

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joy Cowley
Illustrator: Elizabeth Fuller-Fulton
Publisher: Hameray Publishing Group
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60559-235-0
Pages: 16
Price: $4.95

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Mrs. Wishy-Washy has a farm, and today the farm animals must get a bath. But there is no water! What will she do? As the animals celebrate their freedom from bathing, she decides to take them to town to see if she can find water there.

As they stop in the stores, Mrs. Wishy-Washy decides whether or not they can use some water there. But she finds no water for baths until she discovers the car wash. Finally the animals are clean, and now they can enjoy a treat.

Joy Cowley brings back her much-loved character, Mrs. Wishy-Washy, in this cute barnyard tale. At the end of the text, lesson pointers for teachers are provided for guiding discussions about this story. Features like vocabulary, logic and deduction, and onomatopoeia are summarized for classroom use.

Mrs. Wishy-Washy is a darling character that will remind children of their grandmother, and the barnyard animals are like little kids looking to escape a bath and get treats instead. But in the end, both Mrs. Wishy-Washy and the animals are satisfied. I highly recommend this fun teaching tool for kids.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cooking, health

Radiant Health, Inner Wealth

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Quintessence C. Challis
Publisher: Quintessential Health Publishing
Genre: Cooking / Health
ISBN: 978-0-615-25439-5
Pages: 284
Price: $24.99

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Creating a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise is one of our biggest challenges, as we face more and more unhealthy choices. While many of us have never even considered becoming vegan, this diet is surprisingly versatile and healthy. In Radiant Health, Inner Wealth, Quintessence C. Challis has put together a plan to not only please our palates, but also to increase wellness.

The introductory section of this delightful cookbook explains how going vegan can help heal certain ailments. Along with this dietary shift, lifestyle adjustments are also suggested, using a holistic approach to create vibrant health.

But if you thought being a vegan meant eating lots of tofu and fake meats, you’re in for a surprise! Although tofu shows up occasionally, it’s not the major ingredient in these yummy recipes. Instead, Challis shows us how to use fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, along with a delicious array of spices, to cook with.

I’ve tried several of these delectable dishes, and although I haven’t converted to veganism yet, it holds far more appeal now than it ever did, and I can’t wait to try the rest. If you’re looking for tasty and healthy meals, whether or not you’re a vegan, you’ll enjoy these yummy recipes. I highly recommend this wonderful cookbook.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

business

Red Hot Internet Publicity

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Penny C. Sansevieri
Publisher: Cosimo Books
Genre: Business / Reference
ISBN: 978-1-60520-724-7
Pages: 320
Price: $18.95

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In the days when publishers had a budget for promotion, authors did nothing but sit back and collect royalties. Now if an author wants to be successful, he’s going to have to do a little work after his book hits the shelves. Red Hot Internet Publicity will show you exactly what to do and how to do it.

Advertising has been proven to be less and less successful, as we’re bombarded with thousands of messages a day, but word of mouth is still one of the best selling strategies. The Internet offers a myriad of possibilities for spreading that word.

Many marketing strategies are available to an author. Some can be relatively expensive, like having a professional website built, but others can be nearly free, like maintaining a Facebook or Twitter account. Advice on holding teleseminars, setting up a book trailer, and sending out regular email newsletters, as well as many other ideas are also provided in this comprehensive marketing guide.

As an author of a picture book, I read this book with a mixture of professional curiosity and the desire to provide a review. I found there were so many ideas I’d overlooked when my book came out in print, and I’ve got a “to do” list that will keep me busy for quite a while. But now I understand what I need to do to get my name out there and make my book a success.

Penny C. Sansevieri has worked in the publishing industry for over 15 years as an author, freelance writer, publicist, and instructor. She’s distilled the knowledge she gained from this experience into Red Hot Internet Publicity. In the last 15 months she’s helped to launch 10 bestsellers, so she knows what she’s talking about. This valuable marketing guide is a must-have for any author who’s serious about selling his book. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Here Comes the Bride

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Beatrice Masini
Illustrator: Anna Laura Cantrone
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-88776-898-9
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95

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Filomena the seamstress makes wonderful wedding dresses for the brides in her town. But as she sews these lovely creations for others, she dreams of her own wedding someday.

When Rusty finally gets up the nerve to propose, she sets to work on her own dress. Rusty grows lonely, never seeing Filomena, as she sews day and night on her masterpiece. Finally the wedding day arrives, but what’s happened to Filomena? And even more worrisome – where is Rusty?

Future brides will be awed at Filomena’s efforts to outdo every other dress she’s made, by adding so many flowers, ruffles and frills that no one would recognize her. And Rusty’s stunned surprise at Filomena’s appearance will leave kids giggling. But all ends well, as Rusty finally recognizes his bride and the two lovebirds get married.

Delightful illustrations by Anna Laura Cantone accompany this charming story. Originally published in Italian, Here Comes the Bride is an enjoyable and fun read, reminding kids that sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Urban Falcon

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer Caloyeras
Publisher: Diversion Press, Inc.
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-935290-08-7
Pages: 232
Price: $12.95

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Evan Falcon has spent his whole life in Elbow Creek, a tiny rural town. When his father gets a new job, he’s forced to move to Lincoln Heights in the middle of eleventh grade and adjust to life in the big city.

Moving as a teen is tough, especially when his best friend in Elbow Creek is no longer talking to him. Evan finds a new friend, and life starts to feel more normal, especially when he meets Maya. But trouble with his parents leads to being grounded and having to come up with creative ways to date and hang out with his classmates.

And lurking in the background is the sneaking suspicion that his mother is having an affair. How can Evan let his parents know that he knows, and does he even want to tell them? Would this revelation disrupt his life even more than it already is?

Jennifer Caloyeras has created a convincing world for Evan Falcon as he adjusts to his big move. The reader sympathizes with his struggles and wants the best for this likable young man. Urban Falcon is a great read, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented new author.

Warning: Rated mature for sexual situations and language.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

Day & Night in the Swamp

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Gerard Cheshire
Illustrator: Martin Camm
Publisher: Hammond
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-0843-709742
Pages:38
Price: $14.99

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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

history

From That Flame

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: MaryAnn T. Beverly
Publisher: Kallisti Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction / Biography
ISBN: 978-0-9761111-8-4
Pages: 348
Price: $19.95

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In September, 2001, just two days before terrorists struck the United States, Ahmed Shah Massoud was assassinated. This great Afghan military leader, known as the Lion of Panjshir, had been fighting the Taliban and Osama bin Laden before most of us in the US even knew of that terrorist’s existence.

When MaryAnn T. Beverly read about Massoud, she was instantly captivated by the heroic actions he had been taking in valiantly and steadfastly fighting for his country’s freedom. From That Flame attempts to capture the essence of his personality through a fictional account of an interview with a female journalist, Michelle Garrett.

Michelle initially approaches Massoud because of his strong stand in favor of women’s fair and equal treatment. But she switches the slant of her article after being caught up in several battles with the Taliban, as his forces try to fend off their sneaky foe.

As Michelle interviews Massoud, we learn more about him as a person. History will show him as a brilliant military man, but there was a softer and gentler side to him that the author also wants people to see. A devout Muslim, he would pray with his men and alone, and he condemned the radical beliefs of the Taliban. He grieved each man’s death, even after many years of fighting. And Massoud was a loyal friend to those worthy of his friendship.

Although at times I felt the relationship between Michelle Garrett and Massoud didn’t ring quite true, I did agree with the author that a fictional account was the most appropriate means of showing us more about this extraordinary man. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, since I’ve never had much of an interest in what went on in the Middle East, but From That Flame is a surprisingly interesting story. Reading about the struggles in Afghanistan and how the people are affected puts US involvement there in a whole new perspective.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cooking

Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jeff Hertzberg, M.D. & Zoe Francois
Photos by: Mark Luinenburg
Genre: Cooking / Bread
ISBN: 978-0-312-54552-9
Pages: 336
Price: $27.99

Author’s website
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Homemade bread is a wonderful accompaniment to any good meal, but making a fresh loaf can be so time-consuming. We pick up a loaf at the store because it’s too much trouble to make one from scratch. But we don’t have to settle anymore with the five minutes a day system of creating artisan bread.

In the follow-up to Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day, authors Hertzberg and Francois introduce a healthier loaf of bread, using whole wheat and grains. With their system, a large batch of dough is mixed, and then each day a section can be broken off to form a loaf. This batch can be stored up to two weeks, making several loaves over that time period. The five minutes refers to actual effort in shaping the ball of dough, but it doesn’t account for resting and baking.

A master recipe is provided, along with variations on that basic loaf, and some other healthy whole-grain options. I tried their method, and it made yummy bread as easily as described. With Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day, bread-baking is easier and healthier than ever before.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

Day & Night in the Forest

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Susan & Peter Barrett
Illustrator: Peter Barrett
Publisher: Hammond World Atlas
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-0843-709438
Pages: 38
Price: $14.99

Buy it at Amazon

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

mystery

Posed For Murder

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Meredith Cole
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-312-37856-1
Pages: 256
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Lydia McKenzie’s photography is unique. Fascinated with the unsolved murders of young women in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, she recreates these scenes posing her friends as models. But she never anticipated these photos would lead to someone’s death.

When her friend, Marie, is murdered and posed exactly as she had been in one of the photos, Lydia is spooked. Someone had access to her work, and used it not only to kill her friend, but also to frame her for the murder. At times working with the homicide detectives assigned to the case, but also occasionally withholding information, Lydia tries to figure out who would want to murder Marie.

The killer is hot on her trail, and she needs to prevent the murders of any more of her friends, or herself, as she’s been warned. It’s a battle of wits that she’s determined to win.

Posed For Murder uses a clever background for murder, setting this story in the arts community, with an unusual form of art. The characters are believable and well-developed. But the one flaw I found with this mystery was the conclusion and revelation of the killer. Without giving too much away, I was a little disappointed at who this turned out to be. But overall, this was an enjoyable and intriguing story, and I look forward to seeing more of this new author’s work.

Reviewer: Alice Berger