Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children

Postcards From a War

Bergers Book Reviews

postcards
Author: Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrator: Mike Blanc
Publisher: VanitaBooks
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9800162-9-1
Pages: 40
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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Matthew Brian Jackson’s mom is in the Air Force. She gone off to fight in the war, and Matthew doesn’t understand why she left. But his grandpa shares his own story of what it was like when his father went to fight in World War II.

Author Vanita Oelschlager shares her own father’s pictures, postcards, and letters in this beautiful fictional tribute to a man who proudly served his country. Postcards From a War shows kids what it’s like to live with an absent military parent, and how much those parents still care about their kids even though they’ve had to go away.

This story is told with the utmost respect for the US military, sharing the gratitude the author feels towards their service to our country. And while it doesn’t explain why wars happen in the first place, it offers hope that someday today’s generation of kids may find a way to avoid it, and come to more peaceful solutions to the world’s problems.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Tell Me a Story

Bergers Book Reviews

story1story2story3
Author: Amy Friedman
Illustrator: Jillian Gilliland
Music: Laura Hall
Publisher: Friedman & Danziger
Genre: Children / Audio CD
ISBN: 978-0-9790867-0-0 / 978-0-9790867-1-7 / 978-0-9790867-3-1
Price: $18.95 / $16.95 / $18.95

Author’s website
Buy vol. 1 at Amazon
Buy vol. 2 at Amazon
Buy vol. 3 at Amazon

Kids have always loved a good story, especially those that describe magical places far, far away. And stories about animals and clever maidens can keep them fascinated for hours.

In the Tell Me a Story series, Amy Friedman has created some of the most interesting and memorable tales children have ever heard. These stories are read by stage and screen’s most talented actors, and accompanied with music by renowned composer Laura Hall.

“Kerplunk” is a funny tale about an animal who panics over the sound of something falling, and works all the other animals into a frenzy without knowing why. “A Sense of Theft” is a playful look at what really constitutes stealing. And “Whisker of the Lioness” lets us see that sometimes we already have the answer to our problem, and we don’t even know it.  And many other fun stories are included.

If you’re looking for a new way to entertain your kids with clever tales that make them think, Tell Me a Story will be a big hit. These stories can be listened to again and again, and enjoyed by all ages. I highly recommend this wonderful audio series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

business

Get Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Bergers Book Reviews

money
Author: David R. Portney
Publisher: Kallisti Publishing
Genre: Marketing / Public Speaking
ISBN: 978-0-9761111-7-7
Pages: 260
Price: $24.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Attracting clients to your business can feel like an overwhelming task. You can try email or traditional mail, word of mouth, and advertising. But these techniques can cost a lot of time and money, and often bring in very little new business. Or you can try a different approach – seminars and public speaking.

David R. Portney has over 20 years experience in running seminars, and he has distilled his wisdom in Get Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. In his easy-to-follow 30 day plan, he’ll show you exactly how to set up your own seminars and bring targeted clients to your doorstep.

People can think of many reasons why they wouldn’t be successful as a public speaker. Stage fright, lack of expertise, and the inability to plan for a speaking engagement hold them back from tapping into the incredible power seminars offer. But Portney shows us that we can easily get past these self-limiting beliefs by following his simple plan.

If you’re ready to move in a powerful new direction and reach out to clients eager to do business with you, you would be wise to read this book. Seminars and public speaking will be just what you need to bring in more new clients than you ever dreamed possible.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Butterfly’s Treasure

Bergers Book Reviews

butterfly
Author & Illustrator: Schim Schimmel
Publisher: SchimmelSmith
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-615-29509-1
Pages: 32
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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Young Caterpillar is just about to go to sleep before his metamorphosis. But before he does, Old Monarch visits him after a year’s journey around the world, and shares the secret of Earth’s treasure.

In his travels around the planet, Old Monarch has seen all the wondrous sights of Africa, Antarctica, the oceans, and the forests. He visits gorillas, dolphins, penguins, and snow leopards. And he’s constantly awed by the beauty of this amazing treasure he’s found.  So now he wants to let Young Caterpillar in on this secret, just as he overheard father lion tell his son.

In this beautiful book, Schim Schimmel has once again created a masterpiece in color, with bright, vibrant and stunning animal pictures to delight the reader. This timeless message of treasuring the earth’s beauty comes alive in his magnificent illustrations, reminding us that only we can save this planet before it’s too late. The Butterfly’s Treasure belongs in every nature lover’s collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement, spirituality

Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Gloria Burgess
Publisher: Jossey-Bass
Genre: Personal Growth / Spirituality
ISBN: 978-0470241837
Pages: 256
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Have you ever thought about the life you’re living, and what kind of impact you’re having on the people around you? You may know you want to leave a positive legacy, but don’t know exactly how to make the changes you need. Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside can offer some suggestions to guide you.

Dr. Gloria J. Burgess has determined that there are Seven Sacred Promises of legacy living. These are: gratitude, faith, love, vision, integrity, creative action, and legacy.

Through the examples of others who have followed her guidance, Burgess shows the reader how these women aligned their lives with their soul purpose. As they learned to wear their souls on the outside, they connected with their living legacy and are now contributing to the greater good in society.

Exercises are provided in this helpful book, and the reader is encouraged to keep a notebook to explore feelings and record the answers that are uncovered. Although it’s tempting to expect easy solutions, the process of creating your living legacy isn’t always a straightforward process, and it may take years. But the journey will be well worth the rewards.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, finance

Can I Have Some Money Please?

Bergers Book Reviews

money
Author: Twyla Prindle
Illustrator: Lorie Miller Hansen
Publisher: Prindle House
Genre: Children / Personal Finance
ISBN: 0-9759527-2-2
Pages: 32
Price: $7.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Little Twyla wants some money, but she doesn’t know how to get it.  Someone wise explains there are three simple steps to prosperity.  If she can follow these spiritual steps, she will have as much money as she needs.

Prayer, tithing and generosity are all important in creating an abundance of money. Children and adults alike will read, in gently flowing rhyme, how to create that positive energy that attracts wealth into one’s life.

Can I Have Some Money Please? is not really about income, but more about trusting in the source of all wealth – God. If we trust that our needs will be met, and don’t hoard what we do have, we will always receive all we need.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Secrets of a Christmas Box

Bergers Book Reviews

christmas
Author: Steven Hornby
Publisher: Ecky Thump Books
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-0-9815883-0-8
Pages: 248
Price: $18.95

Author’s website
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It’s Christmas Eve, and the family has pulled out the Christmas Box to decorate the tree. They string the lights and strategically place their ornaments on the branches, before celebrating the magical evening. But what happens once they turn in for the night?

As the family sleeps, awaiting Santa’s arrival, the tree-dwellers come awake and have their own celebration. After a year in the Christmas Box, they’re eager to enjoy each other’s company and snack on pine needles. But not all tree-dwellers rejoin the tree every year, which leads Larry, Debbie, Tinsel, and newcomer, Splint, on a journey to find the Christmas Box for some answers.

Not all is well in the land of tree-dwellers, and there is malice among the revelry. Will this brave foursome find out what’s going on, and will they make it back to the tree in time to join the others for the big sleep?

Secrets of a Christmas Box is a fun holiday tale, with romance, intrigue, friendship and adventure. Although there are some sad moments, all ends well as the tree-dwellers finally find safety. Reading this unique Christmas story every year may well become a new family tradition.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Little General and the Giant Snowflake

Bergers Book Reviews

snowflake
Author: Mattea Harvey
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zechel
Publisher: Tin House Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9820539-1-1
Pages: 64
Price: $10.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The Little General lives in an orderly, general-like world. He counts out his peas into neat rows, lines up his hedges, and doesn’t believe in the imagination. But as his troop practices battle formations, the troop across the way plays with imaginary animals, not even bothering with tactics and strategies.

One day a mysterious giant snowflake appears to the Little General. No one else can see it, or so he thinks. He tries to ignore it, but it’s just too powerful. His life starts to change, as his dreams become colorful and fanciful. What mysterious power does this giant snowflake have over him?

The Little General doesn’t know that one of his soldiers also sees the snowflake and knows the proper way to handle it. And the answer is a lot more simple and fun than he could ever imagine.

In The Little General and the Giant Snowflake, Mattea Harvey has written a delightful story about a very orderly little man who needs to lighten up. Dreams, snowflakes and lemmings dance throughout this story, creating wonderful word pictures, and the pencil drawings add charm to this enjoyable tale. I highly recommend this darling little book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

business

The Fun Minute Manager

Bergers Book Reviews

fun
Author: Bob Pike, Robert C. Ford & John W. Newstrom
Publisher: Creative Training Techniques Press
Genre: Business / Management / Human Resources Development
ISBN: 978-1-935291-04-6
Pages: 107
Price: $21.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Are you having fun at work? Many people could probably say they like their work and get along with their coworkers. But fun? Work isn’t supposed to be fun. Well, not according to Bob Pike.

Following the format of the popular One Minute Manager, Pike takes us through the thought processes of a manager who comes to believe work can be fun. In this fictional story, Bob listens to an inspirational speaker on the subject of fun in the workplace. Then he meets with several other managers who share their experiences and knowledge of how to implement fun practices.

Besides the obvious benefits of just being happier coming to work, fun, if structured properly, can also benefit the company. But as Bob found out, fun has to be handled in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone and also doesn’t hurt the corporate image.

Especially now, when economic times are tough, fun in the workplace can really make a big difference to employees’ states of mind. If you’ve ever thought about bringing more laughter, joy and happiness to your office, The Fun Minute Manager will be a terrific guide. Work doesn’t have to be a drudge – it can be fun, too.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art

Color Is Everything

Bergers Book Reviews

color
Author: Dan Bartges
Publisher: The Oaklea Press
Genre: Art: Techniques / Painting
ISBN: 978-1-892538-36-9
Pages: 96
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Sometimes the biggest difference between a mediocre painting and a truly spectacular one is the artist’s choice of color. In Color Is Everything, Dan Bartges demystifies this important technique, and shows us how to choose a color scheme for our paintings.

Working with a basic color wheel, he shows us how to use it to maximum advantage. Whether we decide on an analogous, split complementary, tetrad, or another specified combination, we can be sure we’ve chosen the right colors if we follow his simple directions.

Once Bartges explains these combinations, he then shows us how master painters used them in their own creations. We’re then encouraged to try to replicate their results, so we can develop this color sense for ourselves.

If you’re interested in creating master works of art, and you’ve never explored the use of color, you will find this book a valuable tool. I’d also highly recommend it for anyone who wants to be sure they choose the most appealing colors for anything from painting the living room to crafting a bedroom quilt. These techniques will ensure your color scheme is the best it can be.

Reviewer: Alice Berger