Category: children

children

Martian Mustache Mischief

Bergers Book Reviews

Martian Mustache Mischief
Author: Brian Rock
Illustrator: Joshua Dawson
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9781514777589
Pages: 30
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
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Mars is beginning to lose its red color, and soon fuzzy, ketchup-eating, caterpillar-looking Martians arrive on earth. When the earthlings laugh at their demand to turn over all their ketchup, the Martians try a new tactic.

Soon everyone in town is wearing a Martian mustache. And as the Martians devour all the ketchup, they turn red. How can the people stop them? Well, you’ll just have to read Martian Mustache Mischief to find out!

This cute tale will have kids giggling and attempting to try out the tongue twister, “Martian Mustache Mischief” along with the main character. They might even find themselves wearing their own ketchup mustache.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science

That’s What You Think!

Bergers Book Reviews

That's What You Think!
Authors: Jan Van Holleben, Michael Madeja, Katja Naie
Publisher: Little Gestalten
Genre: Children / Science
ISBN: 978-3-89955-725-1
Pages: 184
Price: $24.95

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Our brains are the computers in our heads that allow us to think, move, and keep our bodies functioning properly. But what exactly is a brain made up of, and how does it work?

That’s What You Think! shows us many facets of the brain in short, one-page or less snippets, each focusing on a single concept. What does a brain feel like? How does the brain send commands around the body? How do we store knowledge? Does the brain switch itself off at night? These and many more questions are answered in this book. Clever photos of kids in various positions imitating brain function are interspersed between the narrative sections.

This is not a true science book, although it does touch on scientific concepts. There is no bibliography or cited sources of any kind. As a result, I felt unsure of some of the statements it made, such as, “Scientists don’t exactly know if [a concussion] causes any real damage to the brain.” With all the discussions lately about sports safety and traumatic brain injury, this doesn’t seem to make sense. The book also attributes the creation of animals and humans to “nature” rather than God, which Christians will find objectionable.

If approached casually, this book is an easy read and interesting overview of how the brain works. But for serious study, it would be wise to consult a true science book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Catholic, children, Christian, Saints

The Secret of the Shamrock (Chime Travelers #1)

Bergers Book Reviews

The Secret of the Shamrock
Author: Lisa M. Hendey
Illustrator: Jenn Bower
Publisher: Servant
Genre: Children / Catholic / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-61636-847-0
Pages: 128
Price: $5.99

Author’s website
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Patrick and Katie are working on their church’s cleaning team one Saturday morning when Patrick steps into the confessional. He discovers a copy of Butler’s Lives of the Saints and opens it to March 17th, the date of his patron saint. After closing his eyes for a short nap, he hears the church bells chime and the floor begins to rumble.

Patrick awakens in Ireland to find himself among some sheep being herded by a shepherd. He quickly realizes he’s hopelessly lost, and he’s even more surprised to find out that the shepherd is St. Patrick himself. But how will he ever get back home? Will he have to pray like St. Patrick does, so that God will provide the way?

When The Secret of the Shamrock opens, Patrick expresses some concerns about his Catholic faith to his sister, Katie. His experience time traveling forces him to look at his doubts and actions and decide what he needs to do about them. When he finally arrives back in the present, he has a much better outlook on his faith.

Kids will find Patrick refreshingly honest and likeable, and will be cheering for him to make it back home. Although this book has a great Catholic message about prayer, the Holy Trinity, and the sacrament of reconciliation, they have been presented in a non-preachy manner that children will relate to. I look forward to seeing more of the Chime Travelers series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, mystery

The Mystery Hat

Bergers Book Reviews

The Mystery Hat
Authors: Rune Brandt Bennicke & Jakob Hjort Jensen
Illustrator: Jakob Hjort Jensen
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-62914-621-8
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

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Beaver, Crow and Pig are out for a winter stroll through the woods when they discover a knitted hat in a puddle. Crow notices the hat looks familiar, and the three friends immediately think about the possibilities of how it got there. Finally, Pig solves the puzzle.

The Mystery Hat is a brilliant children’s mystery. The characters are adorable, the problem is kid-sized, and the possible solutions are amusing and creative. And even when kids know the ending, they will keep reading this cute story over and over again, just because it’s so much fun! I really love this one!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science

ABC Universe

Bergers Book Reviews

ABC Universe
Created by: American Museum of Natural History
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children / Science
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1409-9
Pages: 18
Price: $7.95

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A is for Astronaut, B is for Black Hole, and C is for Comet. Readers will discover this is no ordinary ABC board book. As children recite their alphabet along with the American Museum of Natural History, they’ll also be studying astronomy. Each letter corresponds to space phenomena or equipment used in exploring the universe. Stunning photos accompany the narrative text.

ABC books can be pretty boring and repetitive for both kids and adults. While ABC Universe is not really suited for very young children, it will help foster curiosity about the universe as they get older. And parents will find it a much more enjoyable read than A is for apple.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, mathematics

The Flying Birds

Bergers Book Reviews

The Flying Birds
Author: Eun-sun Han
Illustrator: Ju-kyoung Kim
Publisher: Tantan Publishing
Genre: Children / Mathematics
ISBN: 978-1-939248-05-3
Pages: 38
Price: $16.95

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An old carpenter walks through the woods, listening to the birds sing. He suddenly has an idea and gets to work quickly. Soon he has built several birdhouses, each attracting a pair of birds. And when the birds mate, there are eggs and baby birds.

In this unique mathematics picture book, kids will be multiplying the number of bird houses by the number of birds or eggs inside. Then they will be shown the same calculation as a repetition of addition. The last pages explain the math concepts shown and give teachers some activities to share with their students.

Math doesn’t have to be boring or hard. The Flying Birds repeats multiplication and addition scenarios over and over, making sure kids understand the concepts by the conclusion of the text. Counting birds and their young is much more enjoyable than working with abstract numbers and kids will appreciate learning math skills with this fun educational book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian

The Pirate and the Firefly

Bergers Book Reviews

The Pirate and the Firefly
Authors: Tara McClary Reeves & Amanda Jenkins
Illustrator: Daniel Fernandez
Publisher: B&H Kids
Genre: Children / Christian
ISBN: 978-1-4336-8120-2
Pages: 32
Price: $12.99

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Oliver is disturbed when his swashbuckling pirate friends steal candy from Mr. O’Bryan’s store. And he thinks it’s mean when they overturn a little girl’s wagon. But he really wants to be a pirate, and he doesn’t like the idea of walking the plank in Captain Cole’s treehouse.

As questions of right and wrong spin around in his head, his firefly friend reminds him that he doesn’t have to follow the pirate captain’s orders. Instead, he should turn to the Bible for guidelines on how to be a good pirate leader. And once Oliver makes the right decisions, life is so much better.

The Pirate and the Firefly shows kids what happens when they follow along and do the wrong things. Going against other kids’ wishes might lead to unpleasant consequences, but the Bible is clear about how to treat people. Following its teaching will always lead to happiness, even if life gets bumpy for a while. This cute book shares a positive message without becoming preachy, and also gives Bible references on how to be a good friend. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Always There Bear

Bergers Book Reviews

Always There Bear
Author: Trudi Granger
Illustrator: Gareth Llewhellin
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-63220-434-9
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Everyone needs a friend, and teddy bears often make the very best buddies. Whether sitting quietly and watching the rain, playing outdoors, riding a bike, or cuddled up in bed, you can count on your teddy bear to always be there with you.

Always There Bear reminds kids of this simple truth through soft illustrations and rhythmic language, showing children in various situations with their teddy bears keeping them company. If a child has had a bad day or just needs a friend, reading this book with teddy by his side is sure to brighten his mood and bring a smile to his face.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature, science

Bug Detective

Bergers Book Reviews

Bug Detective
Author: Maggie Li
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-4549-1516-4
Pages: 28
Price: $14.95

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Bugs can fly, scurry, and slither. But what else do you know about these interesting creatures? In Bug Detective, kids will learn more about each category of creepy-crawly.

Butterflies, stick insects, beetles, worms, centipedes, and more are all covered in two-page spreads. Each shows the normal life cycle of this group, along with feeding habits, reproduction, and other fascinating facts. Bug detective activities and a glossary are also included.

If you have a budding entomologist in the house, this book would make a great gift. So grab your magnifying glass (included on the front cover) and go explore nature!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Mariama: Different But Just the Same

Bergers Book Reviews

Mariama - Different But Just the Same
Author: Jerónimo Cornelles
Illustrator: Nívola Uyá
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9788416147601
Pages: 28
Price: $16.95

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Mariama, a girl from Africa, is moving to a different country, far, far away. Now she lives in a big city with tall buildings, goes to a school where the language is strange, and eats unfamiliar foods.

Mariama doesn’t feel like she fits in, so her mother encourages her to make new friends. They teach her the language and her new country’s customs, and she shares her African heritage with them. Although her life is now very different, she finds that her playmates help her feel more at home in this new place.

Moving away is always a difficult transition for children, as they leave friends and family behind. But there are new joys to be discovered, if they keep their minds open to the possibilities. Mariama: Different But Just the Same reminds kids that they can make new friends wherever they find themselves.

Reviewer: Alice Berger