Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
animals, children

The Red Car That Tyler Wanted

Bergers Book Reviews

the-red-car-that-tyler-wanted
Author & Illustrator: Mary A. Kurban, Ed.D.
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-692-67003-3
Pages: 20
Price: $7.99

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Tyler sees a little red car in the window of the store, and he wants it very much. His mom tells him that if he’s a very good little rabbit, he will receive it for his birthday. Tyler is exceptionally good. He finishes his milk and carrot, picks up his toys, and folds his clothes neatly before going to bed. After weeks and weeks of very good behavior, his birthday arrives. True to her word, his mom gives him his treasured red car.

A birthday party is planned for later in the day, and until his friends arrive, Tyler plays with his new red car. It’s just perfect and he loves playing with it. But when his guests finally arrive, Tyler has a problem. His mom only purchased party favors for six guests, and one of his friends brought his little brother. When his six friends receive their toys to play with, the uninvited little rabbit begins to cry. Tyler responds in a completely unexpected and heartwarming way, showing everyone that friends mean much more than things.

Tyler models an incredible generosity in not only sharing his toys, but his most treasured possession. Through his actions, he learns that giving is much more enjoyable than receiving. Kids and moms will adore Tyler.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mca_logo_color_722_web-1
Mom’s Choice Award Winner Honoring Excellence

children

Mom’s Dresses

Bergers Book Reviews

moms-dresses
Author & Illustrator: Mónica Carretero
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-84-16147-74-8
Pages: 36
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Mom has quite the collection of dresses, and each comes with its own adventure. A checkerboard dress sends a young girl on horseback to rescue a pawn. Mom’s long, flowing blue dress reminds her of the ocean, and she’s sailing a ship among mermaids and seagulls. The flowered dress is a great big field that she runs through, picking flowers and decorating her hair.

This mom and her daughter have a close bond and they share their love of her unique dresses. Each day she wears a new one, and her daughter’s imagination takes her off on another adventure. The final pages of this book include a dress-up doll along with cut-out clothes to dress her in. Girls can enjoy making up their own adventures along with the main character.

Mom’s Dresses is a fun read for girls who enjoy dreaming and letting their imaginations run wild.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education, nature, science

Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4

Bergers Book Reviews

Endless Explorations
Authors: Brenda Scott-Royce, Stephen Binns, Emily Rose Oachs, Kaitlyn DiPerna
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Children / Science
ISBN: 978-1-62686-454-2
Pages: 192
Price: $14.95

Buy it at Amazon

Science, history, and nature are interesting for kids, and Smithsonian Readers capitalizes on this desire to learn more about these topics. Endless Explorations covers predators, world wonders, space exploration, natural disasters, ocean habitats, and flight. Beautiful photos fill each page, bringing the text alive and making it more engaging. Each section closes with a multiple choice quiz to determine reading comprehension.

The Smithsonian Readers series is designed for early, developing, engage and fluent readers. In this level 4 book, kids will read extended sentences and complex words in a variety of factual texts to challenge fluent readers.

Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4 is sure to generate some curiosity and enthusiasm in the home and classroom. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, memoir, Saints

Finding Calcutta: Memoirs of a Photographer

Bergers Book Reviews

Finding Calcutta
Author: Marie Bissell Constantin
Publisher: Lulu
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-4834-5478-8
Pages: 128
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Marie Bissell Constantin took the photograph of Saint Teresa of Calcutta that was unveiled at her beatification ceremony. One of may Constantin took, this one best captured the heart and soul of this great Saint. During three visits to Calcutta while discerning a possible vocation, Constantin had the opportunity to see Saint Teresa in action.

Opening with an anecdote from her school days, Constantin shares a moment in the convent and the life changes that came about as a result of her daily interaction with one of the Sisters. Having other religious relatives sparked her curiosity, and she spent many years attempting to determine if she shared a similar calling. These searches led her to Calcutta and the Missionaries of Charity.

In addition to stories of her own volunteer service, Constantin shares some of the horrible treatment suffered by religious sisters as they work among the poor and marginalized in society. As they face persecution and the horrors of war, the habit is sometimes a shield and other times a target.

Although this memoir was written for family, those who admire this wonderful Saint will enjoy seeing snippets of her in real life, and not just as the woman who carried the dying home with her. Those who are attempting to discern their own vocations will also find Constantin’s honesty refreshing and may gain some insights in reading the author’s struggles. I highly recommend Finding Calcutta.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Babushka

Bergers Book Reviews

Babushka
Author: Dawn Casey
Illustrator: Amanda Hall
Publisher: Good Books
Genre: Children / Christmas / Russia
ISBN: 978-1-68099-188-8
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

Buy it at Amazon

Babushka is very busy cooking and cleaning in her tiny cottage. One day three men visit her home, telling of their wonderful journey as they’re led by a star to find a newborn baby. They invite Babushka to come with them, but first she must clean up after their visit. After they’re gone, she reconsiders, as she sees the star shining brightly. She packs up lots of handmade toys, clothing, and baked goods and heads out to follow them.

The snow has covered their footprints, and Babushka wanders with her cat through the frozen landscape. As she travels, she comes across people who need the good things she’s carrying, and she gives them away joyously. Babushka hasn’t found the Christ child, but she spreads the Light of Love throughout the land.

Babushka is a traditional Russian Christmas tale retold in this charming book filled with bright and beautiful illustrations. Children will delight in this magical story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

Jesus Is Born

Bergers Book Reviews

Jesus Is Born
Author: Sophie Piper
Illustrator: Anne Yvonne Gilbert
Publisher: Good Books
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-68099-187-1
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

Buy it at Amazon

Christian parents enjoy sharing the story of the first Christmas with their children. Reading directly from the Bible would be a nice way to do this, but the story is not told in its entirety in any of the Gospels. Jesus Is Born highlights important passages from both Luke and Matthew, so that children can read the whole story.

Beginning with the Gospel of Luke, the text opens with the Angel Gabriel’s request from God that Mary should carry his Son. Carefully avoiding the sensitive subject of virginity, Mary simply states that she can’t be a mother if she’s not married. Then children read about the census decree and Joseph’s need to return to Bethlehem along with Mary. Angels appear to the shepherds announcing the birth of their Savior and they hurry to see Jesus in the manger. The story then shifts to the Gospel of Matthew, as we read of the Magi visiting King Herod before finding Jesus in Bethlehem. King Herod’s horrifying decision to slaughter the innocent babies is briefly mentioned, as Joseph leads the Holy Family away to safety. Throughout this story, we’re reminded that Jesus will bring God’s blessing to the world.

Jesus Is Born faithfully follows biblical texts with very little embellishment and the illustrations are incredibly beautiful and lifelike. Children will enjoy reading this special story over and over again as they anticipate celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas morning.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, magazine

Cricket Media – Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, and Cricket magazines

Bergers Book Reviews

Cricket Media has been providing high-quality, ad-free reading materials to children since 1973. Targeted toward four age groups, these magazines are a fun read for kids.

double-the-givingDuring this holiday season, Cricket Media is teaming up with Libraries Without Borders and the Parent-Child Home Program to provide magazines to children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to read them. For every gift subscription purchased, one will be donated.

 

 

Babybug

 

 

BABYBUG (ages 6 mos.-3) is for babies who love to be read to – and for adults who love to read to them. A parents’ reading guide is provided to get the most out of each issue.

 

 

 

Ladybug

 

 

LADYBUG (ages 3-6) contains fun fiction, non-fiction, poetry, puzzles, and songs. Small secondary characters provide entertainment at the bottom of the pages.

 

 

 

Spider

 

 

SPIDER (ages 6-9) contains fiction and non-fiction geared toward a slightly older audience, poetry, puzzles and lots of humor. The secondary characters at the bottom of the pages have a more involved storyline.

 

 

 

Cricket

 

 

CRICKET (ages 9-14) includes fiction, non-fiction, comic strips, poetry,
do-it-yourself projects, puzzles and contests, as well as lots of reader interaction.

 

 

 

Holiday Celebration
 

All purchases totaling $75.00 or more at Cricket Media will earn a free copy of A Cricket Holiday Celebration, offering a cornucopia of holiday stories, songs, poems, and recipes drawn from more than 40 years of award-winning Cricket Media publications.

 

 

 

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, holiday

Christmas Quiet: Receiving the Gift of His Presence: A 25-Day Devotional Coloring Book

Bergers Book Reviews

christmas-quiet
Author: Maisie Sparks
Illustrator: Lauren Younis
Publisher: FaithWords
Genre: Christian / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-4555-7108-6
Pages: 112
Price: $12.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season sometimes makes it difficult to focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Taking a few minutes out of our hectic days can restore the sense of anticipation that Advent asks of us. Christmas Quiet provides a meaningful reflection for the 25 days leading up to Christmas, along with an accompanying coloring page.

For the Israelites, the hope of the Messiah began in the Garden of Eden, which is where this devotional begins. We visit with Mary, Anna, Simeon, the wise men, and the shepherds as we see snippets of the Christmas story throughout its pages. But we also read of impatiently waiting in line, dealing with holiday pain and grief, and wishing for wonderful gifts. Ultimately, though, we are guided to long for the true gift of Christmas – God’s gift of his only son, Jesus.

Each of the coloring pages contains a message relating to the devotional text, along with small pictures and doodles. In slowing down to fill them with color, we can absorb the message and ponder it in our own hearts, just as Mary did. Christmas Quiet presents a beautiful opportunity to slow down and savor this most wonderful of seasons, as we anticipate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

girls, sports, tween

Trish’s Team

Bergers Book Reviews

Trish's Team
Author: Dawn Brotherton
Publisher: Blue Dragon Publishing
Genre: Middle-grade / Girls / Sports
ISBN: 978-1-939696-12-0
Pages: 128
Price: $5.99

Buy it at Amazon

Trish loves to play softball, but her parents don’t seem to care about her interests. When an opportunity comes up for Trish to take her game to another level, she’s faced with a choice – play softball or continue with the orchestra. If the decision was left up to her parents, softball wouldn’t even be considered.

Taking matters into her own hands, Trish tries out for the Lady Tigers. But in the process of making her choice, she needs to be dishonest – something that even her new friend sees is wrong. Will Trish’s actions hurt her and the team?

Trish’s Team reinforces the fact that actions have consequences, as Trish discovers when the truth is finally revealed. But it also demonstrates that kids have opinions too, and good parents take time to listen, even if what their kids say makes them uncomfortable. Girls who love sports will relate to Trish’s dilemma and cheer for her to make the right choices.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, farming, holiday

Casey’s Bright Red Christmas

Bergers Book Reviews

Casey's Bright Red Christmas
Author: Holly Dufek
Illustrator: Paul E. Nunn
Publisher: Octane Press
Genre: Children / Farming / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1937747619
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

Octane Press
Buy it at Amazon

It’s Christmas Eve and Casey has too much to do. She wants to decorate the farm, bake cookies, and get ready for the team’s celebration. But first she has to care for the cows, fix the fence, and work in the shed, and her nasty cold is making her sleepy. Maybe a nap will perk her up and give her the energy she needs to get her chores done.

Casey’s team of tractors and farm equipment sees how Casey is feeling and comes up with a plan. Knowing she works so hard for all of them, they decide to do Christmas for her. As she sleeps, the team puts up lights, picks out the Christmas tree, and bakes. When Casey wakes up with a start, she has no idea what surprises are awaiting her.

Farming is hard work, and Casey is dedicated to the job she loves. Having a team of dependable equipment makes her job easier and a lot more fun. And celebrating together is the perfect way to enjoy the holiday. Farm kids will enjoy this cute Christmas story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger