Author: Bergers Book Reviews

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children

Marshall and His Green High-tops

Bergers Book Reviews

marshall
Author: Camille Blue Amy
Illustrator: Lorena Pugh
Publisher: Camille Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9801353-0-5
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

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Marshall and his family live high in the attic above the laundry room. One day Marshall spies a pair of green high-tops that one of the children in the house owns. He thinks they’re really nifty and wishes he could have a pair just like them.

After begging and pleading with his family, he finally receives them as a birthday gift. But the sneakers don’t give him the results he expected.

Marshall and His Green High-tops is a cute story that reminds us all that we need to be very careful what we wish for. And illustrator Lorena Pugh has created a charming little mouse family in bright vibrant color. While we may think we know best, sometimes things just don’t work out the way we want them to.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, inspiration, self improvement

Choosing to Be

Bergers Book Reviews

choosing-to-be
Author: Kat Tansey
Publisher: iUniverse Star
Genre: Visionary & Metaphysical
ISBN: 978-1-935278-13-9
Pages: 148
Price: $19.95

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I have lived with several Zen Masters — all of them cats. ~ Eckhart Tolle

During a rough spell in her life, author Kat Tansey picks up a copy of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Her cat, Poohbear, a Zen Master himself, offers to show her the way to her Buddha nature if she is willing to learn from him. But first she needs a kitten to observe, which leads to Catzenbear joining the family.

As the author works on her practice, Poohbear shares his wisdom with her. An expert at sitting, he offers his thoughts on why Tansey struggles at times. When she clings, he suggests she let go. And when she starts to feel successful, he reminds her that she still has a long way to go. Always gentle and loving, he pushes her to go farther along than she believes possible.

Choosing to Be was classified as fiction because of the author’s conversations with Poohbear. But this was simply the style she used to get her ideas across in a friendly and easily accessible manner.

If you’ve ever thought you’d like to get in touch with your own Buddha nature, this enjoyable and enlightening book will start you on your journey. And if you can, find a cat who’s willing to join you.

Update: Choosing to Be has been included in Wisdom Notes, featured picks by Colin Lewis. It joins such classics as The Prophet, The Science of Getting Rich, and Tuesdays With Morrie.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, tween

The Magic Scales

Bergers Book Reviews

scales
Author: Sam Wilding
Publisher: Olida Publishing
Genre: Fantasy / Tween
ISBN: 978-0-9558789-0-9
Pages: 336
Price: $19.99

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You don’t find a talking goldfish every day – especially one who calls himself a wizard from another planet. So when James encounters Mendel, he is understandably surprised. But James thinks Mendel and his planet might have something to do with his father’s disappearance, so he willingly follows him to his home planet, Denthan.

But Denthan’s sun is about to explode. Mendel disappears soon after he, his friend Craig, and Craig’s dog, Bero, arrive. Now they find themselves alone to fight strange beings and look for Mendel so they can try to save the city. And everywhere he goes, James expects to find signs his father is there.

Full of intrigue, magical creatures, and wars between menacing beasts, The Magic Scales is a fast-paced, exciting adventure, with good triumphing in the end for a satisfying conclusion. A great read!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

self improvement

Simply Irresistible

Bergers Book Reviews

simply
Author: Ellen T. White
Publisher: Running Press
Genre: Nonfiction
ISBN: 978-0-7624-2673-7
Pages: 264
Price: $14.95

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I heard about a book written particularly for women entitled Simply Irresistible. After reading a short synopsis and the author’s take, I found the book to be, well, simply irresistible.

I’m of the male persuasion, but I read it even though the book was written specifically for women. But one that promised to help you “unleash your inner siren and mesmerize men?” Sure. I’m all for learning about “sirendom” especially “with help from the most famous and infamous women in history.” The opportunity to learn about female/male relationships by reading case histories of some of the most intriguing and seductive women of our time is alluring indeed. And the book does not disappoint.

Ellen T. White, writing in a lively and invigorating style, divided the book into two sections: Finding Your Inner Siren and Personalizing Your Appeal. In the first part, the reader discovers White’s explanation of what it truly takes to be a siren. She also reveals that women generally fall into five categories or archetypes she labels: the goddess, companion, sex kitten, competitor, and mother. Each category features a representing albeit appropriate study of a woman of well-known stature.

The second part features tips and suggestions on how to hone the skills necessary to develop the desired archetypical role. Here too the reader will find examples of such players as Mae West, Nicole Kidman, Jacqueline Kennedy, and even Queen Elizabeth I. Their lives offer a myriad of ideas and unique personal character traits to help cultivate and improve your siren ways.

I admit to knowing less than nothing about these female archetypes until now. But I hope women will believe me when I say this book may present the opportunity to become the siren they always aspired to be. If not, they will have received one heck of history lesson on some pretty interesting women, and perhaps a little insight into their own personalities as well.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

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

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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

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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

Author’s website
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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