Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, holiday

The Night Before the Three Pigs’ Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

pigsAuthor: Larry Carney
Publisher: PC Treasures, Inc.
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1600721236
Pages: 24
Price: $6.95

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The three little pigs are all snug in their beds, waiting for Santa Claus to visit their house. But the big bad wolf is hungry and needs to find something to eat. He comes up with a plan to sneak in and catch them so he can have pork for dinner. But he doesn’t count on Santa’s help in rescuing the pigs.

This cute and clever Christmas take on the story of the three little pigs is written in rhyme, and is accompanied by a CD-ROM. This includes a read-along version of the story so kids can follow the story as they’re learning to read. It also has several novelty Christmas songs with easy to learn lyrics kids can sing along to. And it includes computer activities like coloring pages and an on-screen performance of one of the songs.

Since this package comes with a book, music and activities, The Night Before the Three Pigs’ Christmas is a superb value for the price, and would be ideal for any family looking for fun new holiday stories to enjoy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Elmo’s Christmas Countdown

Bergers Book Reviews

elmoAuthor: Meg McLaughlin
Illustrator: Tom Leigh
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 1-40375-013-0
Pages: 24
Price: $3.50

Sesame Street website
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When Santa’s elf crashes his sleigh, it nearly causes a holiday disaster. The Christmas Counter Downer has lost its boxes, and without it, Christmas will be late. But Elmo suggests they make a wish on the Christmas star for the boxes to reappear.

As if by magic, each of the boxes is returned to Santa’s elf in the correct order, counting down from ten to one. And when the last box is returned, they realize a true Christmas miracle has occurred because Christmas will arrive right on time.

Adapted from the original screenplay, Elmo’s Christmas Countdown is a new and fresh Christmas tale that also teaches counting – but in reverse. This fun Sesame Street story will please kids and adults alike.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

new age fiction

Honeycomb

Bergers Book Reviews

honeycombAuthor: Israel Del Rio
Genre: New Age Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 1-434-80954-4
Price: $15.00

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Did you ever wonder what your next life would be like once this one is over? The possibility exists that once you die, you will “come back” and experience a completely different reality. But what if you were given the opportunity to choose that next life? Israel Del Rio entertains this fascinating idea in his new book, Honeycomb.

An ordinary man enters into the mystical realm of the Honeycomb, where a rather eccentric spiritual guide presents him with an extraordinary opportunity. The man may randomly pick five scrolls from the Honeycomb each representing five separate lives. From those, he can choose his next life. With the assistance and resolve of his spiritual guide, the man must decide quickly or his next life will be chosen for him.

Del Rio presents an alluring snapshot into the lives of five very different individuals.  Through his observations, the man is faced with a difficult decision, one the reader eagerly awaits throughout the course of the book.

Honeycomb may be considered part of a new literary genre, New Age Fiction. I believe it to be an excellent work that needs no special label. Quite simply, it is an entertaining novel that stands on its own as a work that includes new ideas, old concepts, and a refreshing voice. I highly recommend it to all those who have an open mind.

Reviewer: Gene Berger

children, holiday

My First Night Before Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

xmasAuthor: Clement C. Moore
Illustrator: Tom Newsom
Publisher: Piggy Toes Press
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-158117808-1
Pages: 12
Price: $9.95

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The magic of the holiday season is expressed so eloquently through Clement C. Moore’s classic poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” Children of many generations have grown up listening to it read on Christmas Eve, as they await Santa’s arrival. This book was obviously created with that magic in mind.

As a touch and feel and sparkle book, each page has a special decoration to enhance the illustrations. Santa has a soft and cuddly beard and a red satiny jacket. The children sleep with a quilted bed cover. And bright sparkles adorn the Christmas ornaments and Santa’s sleigh.

Solidly constructed with sturdy pages, this book is meant to last, for many enjoyable Christmas memories. My First Night Before Christmas would make a charming addition to any family holiday tradition.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, romance

The Wizard’s Daughter

Bergers Book Reviews

wizardAuthor: Victoria Graydale
Publisher: Stargazer Press
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 0-9734940-7-7
Pages: 188
Price: $15.00

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A botched kidnapping leaves Adrian Gray with the wrong woman, and a price on his head. He has kidnapped Lady Milburga’s companion, Phaedra, rather than the lady herself. Forced to flee from his dastardly employer, he reluctantly falls in with Phaedra’s plan to bring Milburga to see the wizard – the man Phaedra suspects is her father.

As they spend time together in close quarters, Adrian and Phaedra find themselves attracted to each other. But Adrian has been burned by love before, and won’t let Phaedra have the opportunity to inflict any more pain. Phaedra’s sharp tongue is a source of misery for them both.

Danger awaits them on their journey as evil closes in on them at every turn, and an unexpected traveler turns into a most welcome guest. But when they reach the wizard, they find he knows exactly how to handle their situation, for the best of all concerned.

Delightfully warm and human, these characters are endearing in their frailties and foibles. Fantasy blended with romance and humor, The Wizard’s Daughter is a cheerful, lighthearted and uplifting romance.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The DreamStarter Book

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jennifer Karin Sidford
Publisher: Cold Tree Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-58385-266-8
Pages: 80
Price: $12.95

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Children delight in using their imaginations, but seem to spend more and more time watching television and playing video games. One of the ways you can coax them away from pre-programmed entertainment is by using The DreamStarter Book.

This book is a collection of 50 story beginnings, designed to spark curiosity. Each story starter has a protagonist or two and a unique situation, like an open doorway to someplace mysterious, or a curious object. Once the setting is established, children are given the opportunity to take this story wherever they’d like, using their own imagination.

These story starters can be used as a replacement for the traditional bedtime story, letting the child participate in its creation. Or it could be used in a classroom setting, on long car trips, and around a campfire or the dinner table.

Using the imagination stretches the child’s ability to solve problems in other areas, since it gives them the flexibility to explore unseen options. Since this book can be used in a group setting, it also gives children a way to interact with each other in a healthy and productive manner.

The DreamStarter Book would be a wonderful addition to any child’s library.  A fun way for them to be creative, it encourages them to tap into their natural quest for adventure.  And although the author didn’t intend it as such, it’s also a great way for writers to stretch their imaginations – especially those who write for children. The story starters may not lead directly to publishable works, but they might spark some great new ideas.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

non-fiction

Voices: Reflections on an American Icon Through Words and Song

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: The Choral Arts Society of Washington
Publisher: Dalmatian Press
Genre: Tribute
ISBN: 978-140373984-1
Pages: 96
Price: $24.99

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Rarely does a man have an impact on society like Martin Luther King Jr. As an acknowledgment of his achievements, the Choral Arts Society of Washington has orchestrated a collection of hymns that were loved by Dr. King, and that represent the ideals he stood for.

In addition to the music CD, this boxed set includes a book of memorable quotes that describe him and his actions. Several of his most important marches and speeches are shared by those who witnessed them and supported him in his efforts.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s tragic death cut short his mission before it was completed, but his vision continued to carry others forward in working for equality. He and his dream should never be forgotten, and Voices presents a moving tribute to a truly great American.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

They’re Coming For You: Scary Stories That Scream to Be Read

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: O. Penn-Coughin
Publisher: You Come Too Publishing
Genre: Scary Stories / Children
ISBN: 978-0-9816836-0-7
Pages: 127
Price: $5.99

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Are you afraid to sit by the campfire and listen to ghost stories? Does hearing a scary story make you sleep with the nightlight on? If so, then you’re not ready for this book. Sorry, this book is for ages 9 and up – and it’s not for wimps.

But if you’re sure you’re ready for them, these stories will tickle your scary bone and give you “da chicken skin.” Cemeteries, voices without bodies, and other creepy things in the dark will leave you begging for more. That is, if they haven’t already gotten you yet.

The author, O. Penn-Coughin (a play on “open coffin”), is originally from Argentina, and he has blended some of his own culture into several of the stories. But he is kind enough to translate any of the Spanish words he uses, so none of the meaning is lost. A natural story-teller, he shares these stories with classrooms, and is available for speaking engagements.

Read this book if you dare. Oh, and don’t forget to SCREAM!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

memoir

Bringing Him Home

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Aaron Cooper
Publisher: Late August Press
Genre: Memoir / Autobiography
ISBN: 978-0-9797926-1-8
Pages: 297
Price: $14.00

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A couple gives a lot of thought to adopting a child, and this decision is not made lightly. It’s even more difficult when the child involved is not a baby, and when the couple is two men in a committed gay relationship. So when Aaron Cooper and his partner, Eric, adopt five year-old Jon, they expect problems.

Jon is a handful from the beginning, having lived his first years in a home with no rules, so establishing order becomes the first priority. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to keep Jon from misbehaving, they finally realize they need to seek professional help for his ADHD.

In addition to dealing with his son’s behavior, the author must try to accept his family’s reaction to his coming out as a gay man and their refusal to accept his partner and son as part of the family. Aaron and Eric provide for all of Jon’s needs, despite the pain and anguish he causes them at times, making the commitment to their son in the same way they have committed to each other.

This memoir chronicles the story of how Jon joined the family, and takes us through his growing up years into young adulthood. The author shares it all – the good, the bad, and the ugly – as he reveals how difficult, but also how rewarding, it was to raise his son. A story of parenting, prejudice, and pain, but also of renewal and reconciliation, Bring Him Home is about real life, and ultimately about real love.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

inspiration

After the Fire

Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Robin Gaby Fisher
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company
Genre: Inspiration
ISBN: 978-0-316-06621-1
Pages: 224
Price: $24.99

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On January 19, 2000, a tragic fire raged through one of Seton Hall University’s dormitories, killing three students and seriously injuring many others. Two of the students critically burned were roommates Alvaro Llanos and Shawn Simons. After the Fire shares their story, as they attempt to recover and rebuild their lives.

What starts out as a senseless tragedy quickly turns into a story of hope. Shawn Simons is badly burned, but his strong will to survive carries him quickly through his rehabilitation with determination. But Alvaro Llanos is in much worse condition, and his life is threatened by his severe injuries. Despite the fact Shawn has only known Alvaro a few short months, he is deeply concerned about his roommate, and vows to be there for him during his recovery.

Dealing with scars, pain and disfiguration is difficult, as is not knowing who or what caused the fire in the first place. Family members are supportive, but at times suffocating in their deep love for their sons. And budding romance is tested by the trials these young men face. But they are fortunate to be cared for by one of the best burn units in the country directed by Hani Mansour at Saint Barnabas Hospital.

Author Robin Gaby Fisher invites us to get to know these courageous young men, as she shares their thoughts, their pain, and their deep devotion to each other. She writes with compassion and the depth of feeling that only comes from full empathy with what they both went through. Most of all, she inspires us with the faith and hope Shawn Simons and Alvaro Llanos embody as they gratefully embrace the life they’ve been blessed with.

Reviewer: Alice Berger