Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, mystery

Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong

Bergers Book Reviews

sherlock-sam-and-the-missing-heirloom-in-katong
Author: A.J. Low
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Genre: Children / Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4494-7789-9
Pages: 112
Price: $7.99

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Samuel Tan Cher Lock (aka Sherlock Sam) is hungry, and Auntie Kim Lian’s heirloom cookbook is missing. If Sherlock Sam is going to enjoy ayam buah keluak for dinner, she needs to find it – and quickly! Since Auntie has no idea where she last had it, Sherlock Sam is determined to retrace her steps.

Checking all the cabinets in the kitchen fails to turn up the cookbook, so the group heads out to various places, attempting to figure out where the missing heirloom might be hiding. With the help of his sarcastic and very humorous computer and some of his friends, Sherlock Sam uses deductive reasoning and finally locates the missing cookbook.

Sherlock Sam and the Missing Heirloom in Katong is a fun mystery with a taste of Singapore. Featuring a great kid detective and his gang of helpers, this story is logical from beginning to end. Children will enjoy solving this mystery along with Sherlock Sam. But, unfortunately, they will only be able to imagine the yummy food Sam is enjoying.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery, tween

Museum Mysteries: The Case of the Stolen Sculpture

Bergers Book Reviews

the-case-of-the-stolen-sculpture
Author: Steve Brezenoff
Publisher: Stone Arch Books
Genre: Middle grade / Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4342-9690-0
Pages: 128
Price: $6.95

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Clementine Wim is devastated when the statue of Gudea turns up missing. Luckily for the Capitol City Art Museum, the insurance policy will reimburse them well for the statue. In fact, the reimbursement is so large it will pay for a new education wing that Dr. Carbony has been wishing for. But Dr. Carbony and the others seem a bit too happy about the insurance money.

Calling on her friends Raining, Wilson, and Amal, Clementine investigates what might have happened to the statue, and who last saw it before it disappeared. When the security camera footage fails to identify the thief, they try to reason out an alternative theory. And if they’re successful, they just might return the statue to its rightful place.

The Case of the Missing Museum Archives is part of the Museum Mysteries series. The story features a diversified cast of characters that bands together to solve mysteries. Children will enjoy hunting for the missing Gudea along with Clementine and her friends.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Surprise in the Meadow

Bergers Book Reviews

Surprise in the Meadow
Author & Illustrator: Anna Vojtech
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3556-2
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

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Little Chipmunk remembers the wonderful seeds he buried last fall and eagerly searches for them in the spring. But instead of seeds, he finds a mysterious plant. As spring turns to summer, the plant grows taller and taller. One day, a brilliant yellow head forms – a sunflower! And when the plant dies, Little Chipmunk harvests an abundance of yummy seeds.

Beautiful watercolor drawings accompany this adorable text. Kids will smile as they visit with Little Chipmunk and his friends, and discover the life cycle of plants. I highly recommend Surprise in the Meadow.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

education

Smithsonian Readers: World of Wonder Level 3

Bergers Book Reviews

Smithsonian World of Wonder
Authors: Brenda Scott-Royce, Courtney Acampora, Kaitlyn DiPerna, Emily Rose Oachs
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Children / Education
ISBN: 978-1-62686-453-5
Pages: 192
Price: $14.95

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Science, ancient history and nature are interesting for kids, and Smithsonian Readers capitalizes on this desire to learn more about these topics. World of Wonder covers the planets, rain forest animals, wild weather, the United States, ancient Egypt, and sharks. 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, engaged and fluent readers. In this level 3 book, kids will read new high-interest content, longer sentences, and more complex spelling patterns.

Smithsonian Readers: Early Adventures Level 3 is sure to generate some curiosity and enthusiasm in the home and classroom. However, in this volume, I discovered some inaccuracies in the ancient Egypt section. Some assumptions are presented as fact, when Egyptologists actually still speculate on these questions. Other statements are simply incorrect. I’m not as knowledgeable about the other topics, but knowing there are errors in this section makes me question how well this whole series has been checked for accuracy. These books may be good for reading comprehension, but I’d recommend that the facts be verified.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, crafts, creativity

Knit, Hook and Spin

Bergers Book Reviews

Knit, Hook and Spin
Author: Laurie Carlson
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Genre: Crafts
ISBN: 978-1-61373-400-1
Pages: 144
Price: $14.99

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Fiber crafts are a fun way to use our hands to create pretty and useful objects. In Knit, Hook and Spin, author Laurie Carlson walks kids through the process of crafting several interesting projects using yarn and fabric.

Yarn crafts begin with spinning and dying, and kids are taught how to manufacture their own yarn. Felting, knotting and braiding, weaving, knitting, and crochet are introduced, with a brief description of each process. Within each section, a few fun projects are presented, so kids can turn these new techniques into hand-made objects.

Although this book is meant for kids, I felt the desire to create some of these cute items, myself. But I found the directions and pictures accompanying the projects to be skimpy and vague. While Knit, Hook and Spin may give kids the interest in exploring new fiber crafts, they may need to turn to more detailed instructions to master these intricate techniques.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Unleashed

Bergers Book Reviews

Unleashed
Author: Eileen Brady
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0394-7
Pages: 255
Price: $26.95

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Dr. Kate Turner is surprised that Claire Birnham would commit suicide. Her beloved dog, Toto, is at the vet’s office, and Kate can’t believe she’d just abandon him. As Kate speaks to those who knew Claire well, she finds that she’s not the only one who has their doubts. Even though her friend, Luke Gianetti, a police officer, tells her to let the police handle the case, she can’t stop herself from interfering.

The case takes an unexpected turn for the worst when one of her staff is accused of murder. Now Kate is even more determined to clear him, and prove that Claire didn’t kill herself. But will the real murderer be forced to try to stop her?

As a cozy mystery, Unleashed takes liberties with civilian investigations. Kate pushes the limits of friendly discussions regarding Claire’s mysterious death, and these are simply accepted as normal. But the final conclusion was a bit obscure for my tastes, as there appears to be no real motive until the very end. Animal lovers will enjoy this latest installment in the Kate Turner, DVM mystery series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children, dogs

Pug

Bergers Book Reviews

Pug
Author & Illustrator: Ethan Long
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children / Dogs
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3688-0
Pages: 24
Price: $6.99

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Pug sees Peg, and he wants to go out NOW! But no one is paying any attention. Finally he threatens Tad by lifting his leg, and Tad quickly responds to Pug’s wishes. Now Pug is glad, since Pug once again sees Peg.

Pug is a darling I Like to Read book that both parents and children can enjoy. Young children may not notice the subtle humor behind the leg lifting, who Peg really is, and the way both pug owners (and their dogs) secretly glance at each other at the end. But they will love Pug and fully understand that Pug needs to go out. Ethan Long is a talented author and illustrator with a great sense of humor, and he’s crafted another winner. Kids will love Pug.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Howard B. Wigglebottom Listens to a Friend

Bergers Book Reviews

Howard B Wigglebottom Listens to a Friend
Author: Howard Binkow
Illustrator: David Cutting
Publisher: Thunderbolt Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9910777-4-8
Pages: 32
Price: $15.00

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Kiki is in a very bad mood and it shows. She’s acting out toward all her friends. Howard wonders why, and finds out her puppy has died. As he and his friends brainstorm ideas to help Kiki feel better, Howard suggests they ask Kiki herself. Good thing they do, because Kiki wants someone no one has suggested.

When something breaks, stop working, or dies, children can get very sad or mad. They are troubled by this pent-up negative energy and may begin to act out. Other children don’t always understand the grieving process and may get unnecessarily angry at the child who is suffering. Howard B. Wigglebottom Listens to a Friend explores some of the emotions involved in grieving and gives good advice on how to be a kind and understanding friend. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

What’s a Banana?

Bergers Book Reviews

What's a Banana
Author: Marilyn Singer
Illustrator: Greg Pizzoli
Publisher: Abrams Appleseed
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4197-2139-7
Pages: 24
Price: $12.95

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Bananas may be ordinary to adults, but to children, they can be an object of wonder. In rhyming verse, this cute book describes all the many ways one can use a banana. You can unzip it, share it with a friend, and mash it with a spoon. But you can also use it as a hat, or a boat, and even dress like one for Halloween.

Preschoolers are curious about everything, and introducing bananas in such a fun and imaginative way will allow them to enjoy these fruits even more. What’s a Banana? is a delightful and delicious read.

tween

The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball

Bergers Book Reviews

The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball
Author: Elizabeth Atkinson
Publisher: Islandport Press
Genre: Middle-grade
ISBN: 978-1-939017-71-0
Pages: 210
Price: $16.95

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Ruby LaRue and her best friend, Eleanor, find themselves with an unexpected free afternoon together. When they spy an announcement for free dream readings with Madame Magnifique, they jump at the opportunity. Both receive readings they are sure hold great promise for their dreams.

Acting on this newfound energy, they immediately jump into action, meeting as often as possible at a spot they dub Dream Central. They plot and plan and work hard, hoping to achieve what they most hope for. Along the way, they bump up against obstacles, but they keep persevering despite setbacks. Revealing any more details about Ruby and Eleanor’s actions would spoil the delightful unfolding of this magical adventure.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know these amazing girls and rooting for their success in reaching their dreams. Middle-grade girls will love The Sugar Mountain Snow Ball.

Reviewer: Alice Berger