Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
cartoon, cats, humor

Simon’s Cat vs. the World

Bergers Book Reviews

Simon's Cat vs. the World
Author & Illustrator: Simon Tofield
Publisher: Akashic Books
Genre: Humor / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-61775-188-2
Pages: 96
Price: $15.95

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The beloved kitty star of Youtube videos faces off against various foes in Simon’s Cat vs. the World. In one or two page, full-color, illustrated spreads, Simon’s Cat gets into all kinds of mischief. This wily feline takes on such challenges as grooming, camping, a new kitten, and the great outdoors, among many others.

Cat owners will delight in seeing this impish cat in action, recognizing their own furry companions in his antics. While it’s always been fun to speculate what our own cats are thinking or plotting, Simon’s Cat demonstrates their destructive plans in these laugh-out-loud illustrations.

Simon’s Cat books make perfect gifts for the cat lover in your life. Just don’t let their kitties see them!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

A Blind Guide to Stinkville

Bergers Book Reviews

A Blind Guide to Stinkville
Author: Beth Vrabel
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Middle-grade
ISBN: 978-1-63450-157-6
Pages: 264
Price: $16.99

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Alice was used to living in Seattle, where her near-blindness didn’t seem to be a real disability. Everyone knew her, and her best friend, Eliza, helped her get around. But now she’s living in Sinkville – or Stinkville, as she calls it, due to the odor the paper mill generates. Without Eliza to help, she needs to rely on her reluctant older brother to escort her around town. She can’t depend on her parents, since her father is too busy at his new job and her mother is suffering from severe depression.

When the Sinkville Success Stories contest is announced, Alice doesn’t think she has much to contribute. She’s only been living in Sinkville for a little while. But as she begins to talk to the residents of the town, she discovers a history she didn’t expect to encounter. Soon, she begins to see Sinkville as home. Winning the contest suddenly becomes important, but can she really find something unique and interesting to write about?

Alice is an endearing character who refuses to see herself defined by her disability. Yet she hasn’t had the opportunity to try to be self-sufficient, since she’s always had someone around to care for her needs. Now she’s forced to look at the direction her life is taking and do things differently. And as she chooses to change, she positively impacts those around her.

A Blind Guide to Stinkville is an uplifting story of personal growth at the middle-grade level. Alice is an inspiring role-model for kids, as she shows compassion for her mother’s suffering, and comes to an acceptance of her father’s decision to uproot the family for a better opportunity. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Uncensored: Daring to Embrace the Entire Bible

Bergers Book Reviews

Uncensored
Author: Brian Cosby
Publisher: David C. Cook
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-1-4347-0909-7
Pages: 208
Price: $15.99

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Many Christians choose to cherry-pick from the Bible, picking out verses that support their own view of God as love, and ignoring the rest. This leads to a watered down Christianity that has no power in a believer’s life. Brian Cosby attempts to show the reader where his faith may be lacking and why.

Early on, Uncensored shares an intriguing Bible passage – 2 Kings 2:23-24. Cosby explains this unusual story so well that I marveled at the insights I expected to read. Unfortunately, there were very few unique revelations to come. For the most part, Cosby expressed his thoughts about the Christian faith and backed them up with a couple of Bible verses. He didn’t tackle the truly tough verses that are causing problems today.

Cosby dares us to embrace the “entire” Bible, but he only half-heartedly mentions the Deuterocanonical books of the Bible, often referred to as the “Apocrypha.” He mis-numbers them as being fourteen or fifteen, but in fact, there are only seven. These seven books of the Old Testament were part of the Bible for over 1500 years, until Martin Luther made the decision to take them out, since he believed they weren’t inspired by God. Cosby also didn’t even touch John 6, which Jesus himself explains is a difficult subject for his followers to understand. And he avoids any tensions caused by Deuteronomy 22:5 and Romans 1:24-32.

While I think Cosby’s intent was good, I felt disappointed that he also seemed to cherry-pick the topics he wanted to write about. These are important ones – making God into our image, the creation and how it impacts us today, the role of parents, the consequences of sin, and the role of suffering, as well as others. But I would have preferred to see a deeper and maybe even controversial look at some of the Bible verses that make people squirm.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children, science

Zoology for Kids: Understanding and Working with Animals

Bergers Book Reviews

Zoology for Kids
Authors: Josh and Bethanie Hestermann
Publisher: Chicago Review Press
Genre: Science / Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-1-61374-961-6
Pages: 144
Price: $18.95

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Kids have always been fascinated with animals, and many kids would love to have a job spending time with them every day. But what kind of education will they need, and what kind of jobs might be available? Zoology for Kids addresses these and many other questions.

In part one, zoology for beginners, animal form and function is covered, as well as behaviors and environments. Part two addresses the various jobs a zoologist might have, such as zookeepers, aquarists, veterinarians, wildlife researchers, and conservation warriors. Throughout the book, kids are encouraged to participate in activities designed to simulate the discussion topic.

Kids who want to work with animals might feel limited to being a domestic animal veterinarian, shelter volunteer, or pet store employee, but there are lots of opportunities for kids who want to work with wild animals. Exotic zoo animals also need to see the veterinarian to maintain good health. And if kids want to travel to foreign locations, they might have a calling for field research. Zoology for Kids presents a very detailed and comprehensive guide for kids to discover a career in zoology.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Viku Goes to School

Bergers Book Reviews

Viku Goes to School
Author: Debu Majumdar
Illustrator: Arijit Shil
Publisher: Bo-Tree House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9832227-6-7
Pages: 70
Price: $14.99

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Viku’s parents want to send him to school so he can have a better future. Viku is sad because he has to walk to school, and he won’t have time to spend with Haatee, his elephant friend. One day Haatee shows Viku a shortcut through the forest to the school, so Viku can ride there every day. But one of his classmates, Dooshtoo, doesn’t like Viku, and he wants to hurt Haatee. Viku will need to protect his friend, but how?

In the next scenario, villagers visit Viku with a serious problem. Elephants are destroying their crops and they don’t know how to stop them without killing them. Can Viku help the villagers and the elephants?

Viku is a great role model for kids as he demonstrates how to handle the bully, Dooshtoo, who is making his life difficult. And he shows good judgment and maturity in handling the elephant problem.  I highly recommend this series, which also includes Viku and the Elephant, Viku to the Rescue , and Viku and the Ivory Thieves.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Debu Majumdar shared his thoughts with us in an interview. Please be sure to read what he has to say!

cartoon, humor

The Snoopy Treasures: A Celebration of the World Famous Beagle

Bergers Book Reviews

The Snoopy Treasures
Author: Nat Gertler
Publisher: Thunder Bay Press
Genre: Humor
ISBN: 978-1-62686-440-5
Pages: 176
Price: $34.95

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Snoopy made his debut in 1950, and soon became world famous. As he appeared in Peanuts cartoons, he evolved from an ordinary beagle who walked on all fours to nearly human in his personality and mannerisms.

The Snoopy Treasures follows Snoopy through the years, focusing on various aspects of his life. Sports, writing, family, and World War I all feature in Snoopy’s pursuits, as well as his interactions with Charlie Brown, Woodstock, and the other children he spent time with. Snoopy was far more than a simple house pet – he was a beagle with a mind of his own.

In addition to a wealth of information about Snoopy’s activities through the years, this beautiful treasury includes pockets holding original artwork replicas and other memorabilia. Peanuts fans of all ages will enjoy The Snoopy Treasures. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art

Amazing Grace: Coloring Book (Doodle Art Alley Books Vol. 5)

Bergers Book Reviews

Amazing Grace
Created by: Samantha Snyder
Publisher: aka Associates
Genre: Art
ISBN: 978-0983918240
Pages: 104
Price: $9.95

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Children can spend hours with a coloring book, carefully filling the pen and ink drawings with crayon. But when did we get too “grown-up” for such pleasurable pastimes? Doodle Art Alley thinks adults need to color, too, so they developed this series.

In Amazing Grace, the creative soul is treated to quotes from some of the best thinkers, along with select Bible verses, spelled out with doodle art. Coloring these images provides a chance to meditate upon the chosen phrase, as well as the ability to be creative in how we decide to color it. Will our preferred medium be crayon, magic market, or colored pencil? Pastels, earth tones, or primary colors? A careful artist would need about an hour or two to complete each design, and they can easily be picked up and put away whenever the mood strikes.

If you’re looking for a relaxing and meditative way to pass the time, this Doodle Art Alley series might be just what you need. They’re highly addictive!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children, nature

A Friend for Lakota

Bergers Book Reviews

A Friend for Lakota
Authors: Jim and Jamie Dutcher
Publisher: National Geographic Children’s Books
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-4263-2082-8
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Lakota lives with a pack of wolves, and most of the time they all get along. But one day, everything changes, as they suddenly turn against Lakota. Another wolf, Matsi, sees what’s happening and jumps in to stop the fighting. Soon Lakota and Matsi are best friends. As long as Matsi is with Lakota, no one bothers him. Finally, more wolf pups join the pack, and everyone leaves Lakota alone. But Lakota remembers how he was treated and never bullies the youngsters.

A Friend for Lakota is filled with stunning, up-close photos of these beautiful wolves in action. Kids will love seeing the close relationship Lakota shares with Matsi, and enjoy learning more about wolves by reading the fun facts provided in the closing pages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Crime and Puzzlement

Bergers Book Reviews

Crime and Puzzlement
Author: Lawrence Treat
Illustrator: Leslie Cabarga
Publisher: David R. Godine
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-87923-405-8
Pages: 69
Price: $8.95

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If you stumbled upon a murder scene, how difficult would it be to figure out what happened? How is the body positioned? Are there footprints or scuff marks on the floor? Is there evidence of theft or a struggle?

In these 24 pen and ink drawings, murder scenes are laid out for the amateur sleuth to interpret. The reader is invited to study the drawing, and then answer a series of questions designed to draw out the truth.

Unfortunately, many of the scenes are a bit difficult to make out. In one scene, a mustache brush provides a vital clue, but many wouldn’t even be able to identify it on the table. In another, signatures need to be compared, but it’s hard to tell if their similarity is a clue or simply the way they are drawn. Some of the scenes appear a bit dated, making it difficult for the younger reader to even understand what’s happening.

Crime and Puzzlement is a nice idea, in concept. Savvy mystery readers may be able to solve a few of these puzzlers, but a lot of folks will probably feel frustrated.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian

Owlegories: The Sun, The Seed, The Water

Bergers Book Reviews

Owlegories
Created by: Thomas and Julie Boto
Producers: Chad Gunderson and Keith Alcorn
Actor: Jaden Roberts
Format: DVD and app
Total running time: 45 minutes

Website
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Class is in session with Professor Owlester. Student owls Violet, Gus, Joey, Nora, and Twitch will be learning about the sun, the seed, and the water, and how all three show us more about God. As they head out through the magic door, they drop to a scene far below where they will begin their adventures. But Fink and Devlin are waiting for them, to try to thwart their efforts.

Professor Owlester is onto the demonic pair, and he arrives to help guide his students and protect them. Humor and songs fill these short and fun episodes, and kids will enjoy the interactions of the various owl characters as they attempt to locate the clues they need.

My only criticism of this adorable new series is the fact that there are sermons tacked on to the animated cartoons. Each cartoon is about 10 minutes long. Then each one abruptly shifts to a speaking adult giving a 5 minute sermon. I felt the sermons were way over the heads of the age group this video series is targeted toward, and kids wouldn’t have the attention span to actually listen to them. But, since this is at the end of each video, they can simply skip over them if they want.

Reviewer: Alice Berger