Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children

Elmo’s ABC Book

Bergers Book Reviews

elmo1
Author: Sarah Albee
Illustrator: Tom Brannon
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 1-40375-107-2
Pages: 24
Price: $4.99

Author’s website
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Elmo knows the alphabet and wants to decide which letter is his favorite. Each letter represents something he loves. Elmo starts with E and Monster starts with M. But so many other nifty things start with the rest of the letters that he simply can’t make up his mind.

Elmo is an adorable little monster, and kids will have fun reading about the things he loves. As kids read along with Elmo, they will learn words that start with each letter of the alphabet.

It’s always a challenge coming up with new and interesting ways to learn the alphabet, but Sesame Street has once again come through with a winner.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, dogs

Puppy Stew

Bergers Book Reviews

puppy-stew
Author: Caroline Gregory
Illustrator: Michael Suorsa
Publisher: Sortis Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-097720259-1
Pages: 28
Price: $8.99

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A hungry witch spies a little, lost puppy. Aha! she thinks. What a good stew he’ll make! But first she needs to fatten him up. He’s way too scrawny to eat just yet.

So she feeds him, and cuddles him, and lets him sleep with her on the bed. And soon the years have passed and the puppy has grown fat, but the witch still hasn’t made stew of him. In fact, she doesn’t even want to anymore.

By the end of this story, the wicked witch undergoes a radical change. Illustrator Michael Suorsa vividly demonstrates this through the change in scenery and witch’s appearance, from dark and spooky to bright and cheery.

Puppy Stew shows us that even the wickedest witch can be transformed by the unconditional love of a dog. A fun read for kids and dog lovers!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

The Power Model System

Bergers Book Reviews

pms
Author: Kay Bennett Ph.D
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
Genre: Self-improvement
ISBN: 142514825-5
Pages: 256
Price: $22.95

Author’s website
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Are there certain negative behaviors you do over and over again, but no matter how hard you try, you simply can’t seem to change them? If you’ve read and worked with other self-help books, but couldn’t make lasting improvements, Kay Bennett Ph.D believes her system can help you.

The Power Model System teaches that only you are the expert on you, and by delving into your past with the help of a personal Higher Power, you’ll be able to find your own response patterns. This system is a series of worksheets and deep questions that help guide you to the knowledge you seek in solving your problems.

You won’t be able to read through this book in one sitting. If you take the time to delve into these questions, it may take months to complete the program. The author has recorded many instances of people successfully working this system at her workshops, and this may be the approach you decide to take.

The exercises in this book build on each other, and when you finish, you’ll have a personal blueprint model of your life that will guide you in making positive future decisions.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Body

Bergers Book Reviews

body
Author: Susan Ring
Illustrator: Michele Graham
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Genre: Children / Science
ISBN: 978-158117801-2
Pages: 20
Price: $19.95

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The body is an amazing thing. Made up of different systems that handle many functions, it runs like a machine. But what are these systems, and how do they operate?

Body introduces children to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. The circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, the skeletal system, the muscular system, and the immune system are all explained in kid-friendly terminology, showing how each works and cooperates with the other systems. Important organs like the brain, the eye, the ear, and the heart are also discussed in detail. Many illustrations are done in pop-up format to show the layers of the organs or the body structure.

Anatomy and physiology are very complicated subjects, but this book gives enough information on how things work without going into details kids wouldn’t be able to comprehend. A good basis in body functions, Body is a solid reference book, and would make a great addition to any school classroom or library.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, fantasy

The Book of Nonsense (Sacred Books, Vol. 1)

Bergers Book Reviews

nonsense
Author: David Michael Slater
Publisher: Blooming Tree Press/CBAY
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-933767-00-0
Pages: 256
Price: $16.95

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Daphna loves books, and can’t wait to show her father the wonderful old bookstore she’s discovered while he’s away. But when her father comes home, he isn’t himself, and he’s brought a strange old book with him.

Her twin brother, Dexter, dislikes the idea of reading as much as Daphna loves it. He resents Daphna’s intelligence, and he’s often the butt of schoolmates pranks and jokes.

But when their dad sells this book to the mysterious stranger who owns the shop, in exchange for Daphna’s assistance, they need to band together to find out what’s going on. And what does their mother’s disappearance all those years ago have to do with this unusual book?

Full of mystery and adventure, The Book of Nonsense pulls the reader in, wondering about this tattered old book full of nonsensical writings. What do the words mean, and how can they be used for power? And how can Daphna and Dexter stop its owner from using it for evil purposes? These questions are only partially answered in volume one of this exciting new series.

A great read!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Storybook ABCs

Bergers Book Reviews

abc2
Author: Meg McLaughlin
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 1-40375-018-1
Pages: 24
Price: $3.50

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A is for Apple, B is for Bear.  But if you think this Sesame Street book is nothing more than a letter and picture association game, you may be in for a surprise!

Taking its cue from nursery rhymes, this delightful little book uses the alphabet in new and amusing ways.  Blending Sesame Street characters and modified rhymes, it will not only teach kids the alphabet, but also entertain them.

Kids may not get all the jokes, but the adults reading it to them will definitely smile.  I found myself chuckling over some of the hilarious scenarios and comments made by the characters in sharing their version of the alphabet.

I highly recommend Storybook ABCs as a fun way for your little ones to learn their ABCs.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Homer’s Home

Bergers Book Reviews

book_cover-1
Author: Bliss E. Wilkie
Illustrator: William R. Bruce
Publisher: Homer’s Home Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9815994-2-7
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

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Homer the goldfish lives in a pet store aquarium. While he’s there, he sees other goldfish go home in plastic bags, and he wonders what it would be like to have a home of his own.

Soon he finds out, when Fingers adopts him. Life is very good in his new home – until he realizes he’s lonely and he’d like to have a friend. Luckily for Homer, Fingers knows what he needs and wants to help him.

Homer’s Home is a whimsical look at the life of a goldfish told from his perspective. William R. Bruce’s colorful illustrations bring Homer’s home to life, as we learn of his problem and hope for a solution. Kids growing up in a multi-child household will relate to wanting to have space of their own, and then suddenly finding themselves with no one to play with.

A read-along version of the story on CD is included, with the text read by the author’s grandchild. Although this is a novel idea, having a child read the story, the pronunciation of the words isn’t always clear and a child learning to read might have trouble following along.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

short stories

Arsenic Soup For Lovers

Bergers Book Reviews

Arsenic Soup
Author: Georgia Z. Post
Publisher: iUniverse
Genre: Fiction / Short stories
ISBN: 978-0-595-42307-1
Pages: 62
Price: $8.95

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If you’re used to the sweetness of the Chicken Soup books, you won’t find any of that in Arsenic Soup for Lovers. In fact, you may be shocked at the behavior of some of these married folk.

In this collection of very short stories, Georgia Z. Post reminds us that not all romances are happy. But these zany couples take revenge to extremes when they realize they want out. Plotting intricate ways to kill off their significant others, they will do whatever it takes to get free.

Witty, surprising, and full of twists, Arsenic Soup for Lovers is a fast and enjoyable read for those who like quirky and unusual humor.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Dear Deer Friend

Bergers Book Reviews

clay
Author & Illustrator: Jodi L. Schirmer
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2540-2
Pages: 24
Price: $11.95

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Clay is a typical house cat. He enjoys the things cats love – sleeping, eating, and going outside. But one day he discovers a new friend waiting for him there. Based on the author’s true-life experience of her own cat’s adventures, Dear Deer Friend tells of Clay’s surprising encounter with a deer.

As an animal lover, I was looking forward to the author’s exploration of this unusual meeting, but I felt disappointed that it was glossed over a little too quickly. For the most part, this book touches on ordinary feline behavior, sharing no new viewpoints on their quirks. I would have preferred if the author had written this story in simple prose, rather than limerick style, and shared more of how Clay and the deer reacted to each other when they met.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, dogs

Tasha Finds Her Forever Friend

Bergers Book Reviews

bookcover_tasha1
Author: Deborah J. Hall
Publisher: BunnyBud Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0981812199
Pages: 28
Price: $9.50

Author’s website

Tasha is a German Shepherd with a special purpose. As a graduate of the Summit Assistance Dogs school, she has the skills to help those who are physically challenged do some of the things they find difficult.  But she still doesn’t have a special person to live with.

Tasha has learned a lot from her teacher, Baker, a golden retriever. She can open doors, get the telephone, and carry things, as well as pick up things her person has dropped and help her person stand up.  When she meets Cecily, a girl who has difficulty walking due to Cerebral Palsy, it’s love at first sight.

Tasha and her friends love to help people, and now they want to teach others about special dogs like them. BunnyBud Books are designed to show kids how dogs can help people with disabilities.

By using the dogs’ perspectives, these stories come alive in a more personal manner than simple instruction.  The photos are of actual dogs in action, as they demonstrate how they can help people.  Fun to read, informative, and enjoyable, BunnyBud Books are a great resource in sharing the work of these wonderful dogs who do so much good for the people they live with.

Reviewer: Alice Berger