Category: children

children, dogs

The Trouble With Cavapoos

Bergers Book Reviews

The Trouble With Cavapoos
Author: Stella Dutton
Illustrator: Franfou
Publisher: Quimby & Sneet
ISBN: 978-0-9790832-4-2
Pages: 32
Price: $19.99

Buy it at Amazon

If you’ve ever owned a Cavapoo, you might have discovered they are full of mischief. The Trouble With Cavapoos details their crazy behavior, showing them romping through the mud, chasing cats, and howling through the night. But although they are difficult to live with, the narrator clearly adores her pooches.

The Trouble With Cavapoos is written in rhyming verse, which occasionally stumbles over awkward phrases. The illustrations are clever and funny, highlighting the zany problems this poor owner finds herself in with her treasured pets. Kids will giggle over these funny scenarios.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, children, humor

Noodlehead Nightmares

Bergers Book Reviews

Noodlehead Nightmares
Authors: Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss
Illustrator: Tedd Arnold
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children / Humor
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3566-1
Pages: 48
Price: $15.95

Tedd Arnold’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Mac and Mac are noodleheads, so they have nothing in their heads. They love pie but hate making their beds. When their mom bribes them with a freshly baked pie, they comply, but only until they’re duped out of their prize. So, in an effort to avoid their dreaded chore, they come up with schemes to sleep elsewhere, leading to uncomfortable nights of slumber.

Noodlehead Nightmares is a silly spoof that will inspire lots of giggles. Written in a comic book style, this book is fun and easy to read, even for the most reluctant reader. I hope we get to see more of these noodleheads.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education

Have Fun With Words

Bergers Book Reviews

Have Fun With Words
Author: Maria Sarkar
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Genre: Children / Writing
ISBN: 978-1849634977
Pages:74
Price: $24.95

Buy it at Amazon

Vocabulary building doesn’t have to be hard – in fact it can be fun if it’s presented in the form of puzzles and games. Have Fun With Words encourages kids to play with words to discover their meaning.

Each lesson covers a certain type of word. Adjectives, synonyms and antonyms, nouns, verbs, roots with prefixes and suffixes, adverbs, and abstract nouns are covered. Idioms and other word combinations round out the lessons. Students unscramble words, use them in the fill-in-the-blank sentences, place them in charts, and circle them in word finds, as they learn how to best use each word or combination of words.

The workbook provides:

  • A clear presentation of target words as well as expressions, carefully selected and put in context.
  • Stimulating activities for recall and practice
  • Free practice in challenging extension activities
  • Links to grammar to show how words operate in a sentence
  • Tasks to develop other related skills such as using the dictionary effectively and guessing meaning of words, all eventually helping to improve reading fluency and enriching the child’s writing.

Learning doesn’t have to always be dry and dull. Have Fun With Words is an enjoyable and creative book to help kids to build their vocabulary.

Book Trailer

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science

Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures: Solar System

Bergers Book Reviews

Magnetic Adventures - Solar System
Author: Ruth Strother
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Science / Children
ISBN: 978-1-62686-306-4
Pages: 64
Price: $22.95

Buy it at Amazon

Our universe is a vast and wonderful place. It holds the Milky Way Galaxy, and in it, our solar system. In this magnetic kit and guidebook, kids will discover just what’s out there in the night sky.

Focusing on our solar system, this book shows how the planets revolve around the sun and rotate on an axis. The planets and their accompanying moons are all featured, comparing day and year lengths, as well as gravitational pull. Star cycles, comets, space debris and the Kuiper Belt are also covered.

In addition to the guidebook, magnetic images are included inside the case. Kids can place the planets on the diagram included, and astronauts and spaceships can be placed on the moon. Magnetic Adventures: Solar System is a fun kit for the budding space traveler.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Drew the Screw

Bergers Book Reviews

Drew the Screw
Author & Illustrator: Mattia Cerato
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3540-1
Pages: 24
Price: $14.95

Buy it at Amazon

Drew the screw lives in a workshop, hanging out with the tools. He watches as the boy selects tools to help build something out of wood. Each of the tools is useful in some way, but Drew wonders what he can do. Finally, Drew is selected for a very important role in the boy’s new tree house.

Drew the Screw is an I Like to Read book, told in simplistic language with bright and cheerful illustrations for beginning readers. Kids will enjoy reading about Drew and how he finally finds his purpose.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Silly Shoes: Poems to Make You Smile

Bergers Book Reviews

Silly ShoesAuthor: Lawson Gow
Illustrator: Mike Guillory
Publisher: Bright Sky Press
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-1-939055-81-1
Pages: 28
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

The world it too serious, so why not put on your silly shoes and have some fun! In this book of children’s poems, Lawson Gow creates some wacky scenarios to make kids laugh.

Would you like to eat a meal of colors? Or how about expression fruit salad? Have you ever thought about befriending your chocolate bunny? Or eating a sneeze sandwich? Bowling with Superman? Or living in backwards land?

These and other zany poems in Silly Shoes are guaranteed to chase away the gloomies and bring out a chuckle on the rainiest of days. Kids will love the far-out humor.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Nostromo the Dwarf

Bergers Book Reviews

Nostromo the Dwarf
Author & Illustrator: Sam Carr
Publisher: Bliss Group Books
Genre: Children / Fairy Tale
ISBN: 978-1-940021-16-4
Pages: 120
Price: $6.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

A young man unexpectedly discovers Nostromo the dwarf’s hideaway in the woods. After spending the night, he returns home. But a week later, Nostromo sends his dog with a dinner invitation, and a friendship soon develops.

Nostromo tells the tales of his adventures to the young man, who shares them with his child. In a series of bedtime stories, the child hears of Nostromo’s time at sea, meeting a ghost, building his house, surviving a flood, and meeting his animal friends.

Nostromo has lived a long and full life, and has suddenly disappeared. But the young man is convinced of his eventual return, hoping he may have even more stories to tell.

Nostromo the Dwarf reads more like a fairy tale than a novel. The story structure lends itself to read-aloud bedtime stories, just as the father shares Nostromo’s tales with his own child. And although Nostromo’s disappearance is some cause for concern, there is hope he will soon be back, possibly in a sequel. Kids will enjoy hearing of Nostromo’s adventures.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, humor

Night of the Living Worms

Bergers Book Reviews

Night of the Living Worms
Author & Illustrator: Dave Coverly
Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
Genre: Children / Humor
ISBN: 978-0-8050-8886-1
Pages: 128
Pages: $13.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

It’s rough being the little brother of Early Bird – the one who always gets the worm. But Speed Bump is determined to get a worm of his own, one of these days. Along with his buddy, Slingshot, he happily gobbles nuts and berries, and waits for the day he will earn his prize.

One evening, Speed Bump can’t sleep, so he convinces Slingshot to take a journey into the forest. All smart birds know not to go out at night, and soon they are spooked and lost. But when they find the Night Crawlers plotting against Early Bird, they need to act quickly.

Cute wordplay, humorous situations, cartoon-style line drawings, and great characters make Night of the Living Worms a fun read for kids. I can’t wait to see the sequel.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, history, science

Smithsonian Everything You Need to Know: Grades 4-5

Bergers Book Reviews

Everything You Need to Know
Author: Ruth Strother
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Science / History / Children
ISBN: 978-1-62686-312-5
Pages: 275
Price: $19.95

Buy it at Amazon

Kids have a natural curiosity about history and the natural world around them. While picking up an encyclopedia might be the best way to look up information about a subject that interests them, reading one of the 275 cards in this box set might also do the trick. Although there is only a snippet of facts, enough is presented on each topic to give kids a chance to research in more depth.

Subjects in this box include: Outer Space, Science, Inner Space, Weather, Earth in Motion, Biomes and Ecosystems, Human Body, Animal Relationships, All About Plants, Insects, Endangered Animals, Lay of the Land, Natural Wonders of the World, Man-made Wonders of the World, Ancient Times, U.S. Presidents, History Makers, and American History.

Although the title Everything You Need to Know might be a bit overly ambitious, there is a wealth of interesting material here that can generate hours of research and exploration. Teachers might also be able to use these cards as idea starters for projects and papers.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns We Can All Get Along

Bergers Book Reviews

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns We Can All Get Along
Authors: Howard Binkow and Reverend Ana
Illustrators: David A. Cutting and Mike Ferrin
Publisher: Thunderbolt Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9910777-0-0
Pages: 32
Price: $15.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Howard B. Wigglebottom isn’t invited to his friend, Ali’s party, and he’s upset. He asks his grandma why he can’t go, and she suggests maybe he’s not being a very good friend. When Howard thinks about it, he realizes that he does some things that cause everyone to fight. Grandma works with him to change his behavior, and he asks his friend for a chance to prove he can get along with everyone.

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns We Can All Get Along isn’t really a story – it’s more of a useful teaching tool. Grandma coaches Howard to come up with the reasons he’s not invited, and they talk about them, but no action actually takes place. A discussion guide is included for classroom use.

Reviewer: Alice Berger