Bergers Book Reviews

Where’s Green? (The EnteleTrons Series)

June 12, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Authors: Renee Heiss & Gary A. Stewart
Illustrator: Fay Cofrancesco
Publisher: Entelechy Education
Genre: Children / Science
ISBN: 978-0-9887813-0-6
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Buy it from Entelechy Education

Priti proton, Ellie electron, and Ning neuron are wandering around the forest when they realize something is drastically wrong. Although it isn’t fall, all the leaves are brown. A prism confirms their theory – green is missing.

A trip to where colors live reveals that there has been an argument over which position each resides in the rainbow, and the constant bickering caused Green to leave. But order is successfully restored, and the trees return to their normal colors.

On the surface, Where’s Green? is a cute story with a tidy resolution. But in addition to this nice tale, the science of how we see color is explored through the discussions between Priti, Ellie and Ning. Readers have an opportunity to determine which tools they would use to make discoveries along the way, and teachers can find learning guides at the publisher’s website. I highly recommend Where’s Green? for classroom science libraries.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Now You See It

June 11, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jane Tesh
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0196-7
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Private investigator David Randall has just taken on a case to find a missing bracelet when magician, Lucas Finch, calls. His Houdini box has disappeared. But during his visit to the Magic Club, Randall discover Finch’s brother, Taft, stuffed inside a box, dead. Everyone claims that Taft was a great guy and had no enemies, but apparently someone thought otherwise.

As Randall investigates the missing box, he also delves into Taft’s past, searching for clues. What was Rahnee’s real relationship with Taft? Was Wizboy’s ambition to run the club enough to commit murder? And how did Jilly feel about Taft’s disregard for herself and her talents?

This third book in the Grace Street Mystery series is an enjoyable whodunit with a whole lot more. Randall interacts with some unusual and interesting people, and these secondary characters, as well as Randall himself, are more fully developed than one might expect, adding depth and charm to this cozy. Even the suspects themselves feel like real people, and one almost hates to find out who was willing to commit murder after developing a liking for them all. I highly recommend Now You See It and the Grace Street Mystery series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery, teen

Dead Man’s Hand

June 10, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Eddie Jones
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Genre: Teen / Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-310-72344-8
Pages: 224
Price: $7.99

Author’s website
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The last thing Nick Caden wants to do on his summer vacation is spend a week at a ghost town tourist spot. Actors portraying famous old western heroes and outlaws mingle with the guests, and gunfights break out when no one expects them. But Billy the Kid has been shot, and Nick knows this time it was for real. Only trouble is, the body has disappeared, and no one will believe him.

Using his skills as a member of Cybersleuths, Nick attempts to discover what happened to Billy’s body, and who might have wanted him dead. But it’s hard to conduct a thorough investigation when no one is taking him seriously. Or is it just that someone has something to hide?

Dead Man’s Hand is an enjoyable and clever murder mystery geared toward boys. Nick is your average teenager, more interested in his cell phone and computer than spending time with his family. But he’s smart and determined to solve this case, no matter what anyone else thinks. After all, maybe a man was really murdered.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Make Me a Princess

June 6, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Publisher: Ticktock Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-78325-085-1
Pages: 128
Price: $12.99

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What young girl doesn’t dream of being a princess? But this dream involves more than living in a castle. They must look and act the part.

Make Me a Princess is every girl’s guide to being a first class princess. It provides beauty tips on fashion, hair, nails, and jewelry. But beauty on the outside is nothing unless a girl knows princess manners and poise. Of course a beautifully decorated room and a handsome prince will make her royal life even nicer.

I was pleased to see that beauty isn’t defined by having a perfect body. And it was great to also see girls encouraged to behave in a polite, princess-like manner. A girl who follows this guide will look pretty and well-groomed, and always behave appropriately. This would be a great gift for the young princess in your life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Counting in the Garden

May 28, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Emily Hruby
Illustrator: Patrick Hruby
Publisher: AMMO Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-162326005-7
Pages: 58
Price: $16.95

Buy it at Amazon

There are so may interesting things in the garden – let’s count them all, up to the number twelve. Onions, tulips, butterflies… all in brightly-colored, geometrically-shaped illustrations. As each new item is added to the garden, a new two-page spread is given with all the previous items in it.

Counting in the Garden resembles an illustrated version of the twelve days of Christmas, using garden vegetables, plants and animals. Kids will have plenty of opportunity to count these items over and over again, leading to number and picture recognition.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It’s OK to Back Away

May 23, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Howard Binkow
Illustrator: Susan F. Cornelison
Publisher: Thunderbolt Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9826165-0-5
Pages: 32
Price: $15.00

Author’s website
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Howard B. Wigglebottom has a problem with anger. When he gets mad, he acts inappropriately, and then he has to sit in time out. He’s sad that he’s always in trouble, but he doesn’t know how to fix it.

One day his friend Ali explains how she knows she’s getting angry and how she handles her anger. He practices with her techniques and soon knows how to act appropriately, even when he gets upset.

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It’s OK to Back Away addresses anger management for kids, but I felt it just scratched the surface of this problem. Doing something to feel better, as suggested, doesn’t always work when kids get upset and don’t have time to turn to another outlet. Learning to understand and control their anger when they absolutely must do it right now is also important. Classroom discussions should focus not only on the topics presented, but also on other anger management issues encountered on a regular basis.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Mooseclumps

May 22, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Ryan T. Bliss
Publisher: Artsy Bee
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-0-615-75521-2
Pages: 58
Price: $15.99

Author’s website
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Poetry haters should not read this book. If you’re determined to never smile, laugh, or enjoy poetry, Mooseclumps is definitely not right for you. In fact, you can stop reading this review right now.

But if you think you just might enjoy a rhyme or two, you’re sure to giggle over the clever verses in this entertaining work. Poetry mingles with creative illustrations for a perfectly enjoyable kids’ book. I highly recommend Mooseclumps.

2013 Moonbeams Children’s Poetry Gold Medal Winner
2013 Readers’ Favorite Children’s Book Silver Medal Winner

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, tween

The Greatest Star on Earth

May 21, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Genre: Middle grade
ISBN: 978-1-61620-245-3
Pages: 144
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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Polly Pumpkinseed of The Circus Times thinks Sir Sidney’s circus is the greatest show on earth, but his circus is never newsworthy. Polly decides to run a contest to find out who is the greatest star on earth, so she will have something new to report.

Sir Sidney immediately develops a bad worrywart as he contemplates what this contest will do to his circus. His doctor orders him to rest, and he turns everything over to Barnabas Brambles. But Sir Sidney’s worries only increase as the performers attempt to outdo each other to earn the coveted trophy.

Barnabas Brambles, the villain in The Show Must Go On! has a few more lessons to learn, and the mice, Gert and Bert, find a clever way to teach him. And everyone in the circus finally realizes that there are much more important things in life than trophies. The Greatest Star on Earth is a fun, light-hearted story with a powerful message of the importance of family and friends. I highly recommend the Three-Ring Rascals series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, history

A History of the World With Google Earth

May 20, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Penny Worms
Illustrator: William Ings
Publisher: Carlton Books
Genre: History / Children
ISBN: 978-1-78097-113-1
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Buy it at Amazon

Google Earth is a useful tool to see various places we’d like to visit. Just plug in the coordinates and zoom in to view the Roman Colosseum, the pyramids of Egypt, and other interesting places. Some locations even include older photos, so we can see what something looked like 50 years ago.

But to imagine the far distant past, illustrations are provided with fun facts to accompany them. Searches in “Where’s Waldo?” style encourage kids to find specific people and objects in the midst of the crowds as they study the scenes.

History can be fun when it’s turned into an interactive experience with puzzles and games. A History of the World with Google Earth would be a great classroom tool to get kids more interested in learning about these fascinating places.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

The Art of Secrets

May 19, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: James Klise
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-61620-195-1
Pages: 272
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Saba Khan is playing an important tennis match while her family’s apartment burns. Although everyone is safe, they have lost all their possessions, so they are appreciative of the school’s efforts to help them get back on their feet. Then an unusual and potentially valuable piece of artwork is donated to the Khan family auction, and people begin to question who is entitled to the money when it is sold.

The Art of Secrets is told through a series of journal entries, interviews, articles, monologues, and official documents. Teachers, students, and those in the community all have their own motivations and thoughts about the art itself, the Khan family, and whether or not they deserve such a windfall.

As the plot takes unusual and surprising turns, the tangled situation grows more complicated. Finger-pointing and betrayal become the new normal. Fans of mystery, intrigue and psychology will really enjoy this well-written and thought-provoking novel.

Reviewer: Alice Berger