children – Page 35 – Bergers Book Reviews

A Great and Complicated Adventure

December 30, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Toon Tellegen
Illustrator: Jessica Ahlberg
Publisher: Boxer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-907152-39-9
Pages: 160
Price: $14.95

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In the simple world of Toon Tellegen, animals talk and live in perfect safety. The ant and the squirrel are good friends, elephants climb trees, and cakes can fly. Interesting philosophical discussions about thoughts, laughter, letters, and other such weighty subjects are the focus of the animals’ attention. Nothing upsets their happy existence.

A Great and Complicated Adventure is a collection of charmingly and simply illustrated short stories, in a style similar to Beatrix Potter or Winnie the Pooh. These gentle and peaceful tales would be a perfect read on a lazy summer afternoon, while lying half-asleep in a hammock, sipping iced lemonade.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, children

Al and Teddy

December 23, 2013December 23, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Neil Waldman
Publisher: Dream Yard Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-72969-5
Pages: 48
Price: $17.95

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In the evening, once everyone is asleep, Teddy’s big brother, Al, flies off to outer space. In this magical place, he is King Alejandro, ruler of his own kingdom. He has a pony waiting for Teddy, who will be known as Prince Teodoro. But Teddy is too young to travel with Al, and he must wait until he turns five.

Teddy doesn’t realize it, but Al is really traveling through the drawings he creates. Once Teddy discovers Al’s secret, he asks for artwork depicting his very own travels. Although it would be fun to actually fly off to space, Al and Teddy have discovered the ability to travel through their own imaginations, which can take them anywhere they want to go.

Al and Teddy is beautifully illustrated, with moon monsters, space ships, and castles. Kids will delight in the ability to travel to any place their imaginations can take them, through the magic of a pencil and paper. All profits from this book will be used to support the young artists of the Fred Dolan Art Academy, a free Dream Yard school.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Willie the Taxi Cat

December 18, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author & Illustrator: Eva M. Sakmar-Sullivan
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4436-7
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Willie, the Taxi Cat, drives cool critters and carousing creatures everywhere! So begins this unique counting book, full of delightful alliteration. One wildly whiskered, whistling weasel, two toe-tapping, tuba-toting turtles, and others join Willie as he drives around town in his yellow cab.

On each page spread, Willie is shown with his interesting passengers, along with the number to be counted. Kids can count the animals, while also admiring how the words are portrayed in the illustrations.

Willie the Taxi Cat is one of the best counting books I’ve come across, because there is so much more to see than just the counted objects. Kids won’t become bored easily with this book as they continue to discover new items with each subsequent read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

On the Move: Mass Migrations

December 9, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Scotti Cohn
Illustrator: Susan Detwiler
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Genre: Animals / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6281
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

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Birds flock together to travel south. Salmon swim upstream to spawn. Seals group together on land to mate and give birth. Some animals seek warmer climates, others a place to lay eggs. Whatever their purpose, they migrate in large quantities to get there.

On the Move: Mass Migrations explores some of the animal populations who migrate. In addition to short segments about these individual species, there are supplemental classroom materials provided in the appendix. Anyone who plans to cover this topic in class would find this book helpful.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, Christian, holiday

Little Star

December 3, 2013December 11, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Anthony DeStefano
Illustrator: Mark Elliott
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-0736958592
Pages: 36
Price: $14.99

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An announcement is made in the heavens that a king will soon be born. The stars anticipate this wondrous event, preparing to shine brightly in celebration. But only the littlest star realizes this baby boy born in such humble and poor circumstances is the long-awaited king.

Shining with all the love Little Star can muster, he bathes the baby Jesus in warmth and light. But showing such love and devotion has consequences, and he fades from existence, never to be seen again.

Little Star is a great Christmas story with multiple layers of meaning. It provides a fairy-tale explanation of why the Christmas star was shining so brightly at the time Jesus was born, and is now no longer visible. But it also shows us how important Jesus is in our lives, and that we should never be afraid to give ourselves up in love for him. This littlest star knew who Jesus was, and was determined to let the whole world know. I highly recommend adding Little Star to your annual Christmas reading list.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education

I Love Reading Phonics: Tick Tock Books – Level 6

November 29, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

A series of educational books by Tick Tock Books featuring level six reading. A brief summary of the books and their word focus are included below. This is a fun series kids will enjoy, while also learning how to read. Please also see posts on level one, level two, level three, level four and level five information.

What Wally Wanted
Author: Louise Goodman
Illustrator: Kate Daubney
Publisher: Tick Tock Books
ISBN: 978-1-84898-779-1
Pages: 24
Price: $3.99

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Level 6-A: Wally wants gold, so he makes trades to get it. Will Wally trade his black cat in exchange for a spell?
Focuses on two sounds made with the letter a – as in hat and what.

Superhero Ed!
Author: Louise Goodman
Illustrator: Kimberley Scott
Publisher: Tick Tock Books
ISBN: 978-1-84898-780-7
Pages: 24
Price: $3.99
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Level 6-B: Deb is upset. Wicked Ted has taken Emu Meg. Superhero Ed must act quickly to save her!
Focuses on two sounds made with the letter e – as in bed and he.

Adine’s Igloo
Author: Lucy George
Illustrator: Monica Armino
Publisher: Tick Tock Books
ISBN: 978-1-84898-781-4
Pages: 24
Price: $3.99

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Level 6-C: Adine is an Inuit and lives in an igloo. This book shares a bit of her daily life.
Focuses on two sounds made with the letter i – as in fin and find.

The Robot Bop
Author: Lucy George
Illustrator: Caroline Romanet
Publisher: Tick Tock Books
ISBN: 978-1-84898-782-1
Pages: 24
Price: $3.99

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Level 6-D: Ro the Robot loves to bop. She invents a new dance, but will the other robots like it?
Focuses on two sounds made with the letter o – as in hot and cold.

children, Christian

A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids

November 23, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Anthony DeStefano
Illustrator: Erwin Madrid
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Genre: Children / Christian
ISBN: 978-0-7369-5509-6
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

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Joey is curious what happens to people when they die, and his mom explains that they go to heaven. As he lays in bed thinking about it, his guardian angel appears and offers him the opportunity to visit heaven. He jumps at the chance, and off they go. Heaven is a beautiful place, with gorgeous colors, cities paved with gold, and every animal that ever lived on earth. The best part is where God lives, but Joey isn’t allowed to visit God until he’s ready to be there forever.

The Bible presents many metaphors for what heaven will be like, but is lacking in any definite picture. But Jesus makes it clear that heaven is a wonderful place, and is where we want to go after we die. A Travel Guide to Heaven for Kids presents the concept of heaven in a simplified way kids can relate to. Although amusement parks might not exist in heaven, Joey is excited by the thought that he will enjoy his time there. No mention is made of hell, and a prayer for children to invite Jesus as their personal savior is offered at the end.

If you’re looking for a true Biblical picture of heaven, you’re best resource would be your family Bible. But if you’re looking for a gentle way of introducing the subject to your kids, with the goal of inspiring them to want to live there forever, this book would be a great addition to your library.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature

Nature Recycles – How About You?

November 22, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Michelle Lord
Illustrator: Cathy Morrison
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6274
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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A hermit crab borrows discarded shells to make his home. A caddisfly larva gathers small rocks and pebbles as camouflage against predators at the bottom of a stream. Termites munch on old wood, creating crevices for small animals to use as shelter.

In Nature Recycles – How About You? examples are presented of how these and other animals are using things they find in nature in a new and practical way. The final scene shows kids collecting plastic bottles and aluminum cans while cleaning up their environment, and recycling old clothes by using them as rags. Additional information on the animals in this book and the importance of recycling are included in the appendix.

Recycling is a necessity in today’s world, and this book presents the concept in fun way. Seeing how even the animals recycle provides a great example for kids. I highly recommend this book for classroom use.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Wisteria’s Show and Tell Spectacular

November 16, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Susan Grigsby
Illustrator: Alexandra Miller
Publisher: Shenanigan Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-934860-12-0
Pages: 32
Price: $15.95

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Wisteria likes to think of herself as the Queen of Show and Tell, but lately she’s been known as the Queen of Disasters. Bees’ nests and snakes don’t make good show and tell objects, and the school has had to develop some new rules as a result. But now she needs to find something really old for show and tell, and she has no idea what to bring.

A neighbor helps her out with her quest, and Wisteria brings a covered wagon to school, eager to show off her find. But will this attempt also end in disaster?

Wisteria’s Show and Tell Spectacular is not nearly as spectatular as I would have liked it to be. The objects Wisteria brings to school end up being pretty ordinary, and the “disaster” created is minor in comparison to the ones mentioned in passing. I would have enjoyed this story more if it had only focused on one very large, full-blown disaster. The bee hive or snake incidents might have made for a more interesting read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Young Henry and the Dragon

November 14, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jeanne Kaufman
Illustrator: Daria Tessler
Publisher: Shenanigan Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-934860-11-3
Pages: 32
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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Young Henry, the squire, is traveling through the forest late at night. When he stops to rest, he wants to warm himself and cook some of his favorite dinner. Since he has no fire, he decides to locate a nearby dragon and borrow a flame from him.

The dragon is uncooperative, so Henry decides to try to make him laugh. A good snorting bellow would blast flames and Henry would have his fire. But Henry couldn’t possibly foresee the humorous results of his attempts.

Told in rhyming verse, Young Henry and the Dragon is a delightful tale of ingenuity and boldness. I loved the way Henry stood up to the dragon, asking for what he needed. And the surprise ending makes it a really fun read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger