Category: children

children

Maisy’s Bedtime

Bergers Book Reviews


Author& Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Produced by: Story Time Café
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5677-5
Pages: 24
Price: $39.95

Story Time Café
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Maisy Mouse is ready for bed. Following her normal bedtime ritual, she changes into her pajamas, brushes her teeth, and visits the potty. Both she and her bedtime companion, Panda, follow this evening ritual together before Maisy goes to sleep.

The charming simplicity of this book makes it special. Maisy is drawn in black lines, the way a child might, with color filled in. The text is also written in bold, black ink. And the plain primary and secondary colors are soothing and not too busy for a small child to look at just before going to sleep.

The unique Story Time Bundle packaging makes Maisy’s Bedtime even more enjoyable for children as they retire for the evening. It includes a crib size 36”x48” quilt, printed with a picture of Maisy cuddled with Panda in bed. A smaller, matching 24”x24” quilt can be used to tuck in a bedtime companion like Panda. This quilt set and book is a delightful gift for any child who would like to make bedtime more special.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, international

My Maasai Life

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Robin Wiszowaty
Illustrators: Marisa Antonello and Victoria Laidley
Publisher: Me to We Books
Genre: Children / International
ISBN: 978-1-55365-802-3
Pages: 36
Price: $19.95

Author’s website
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Robin is excited to visit Kenya, the country she’s dreamed about for a very long time. She longs to see the animals and the people there, and can’t wait for adventure. But when she does arrive, she finds things are a little different than she expected.

Unlike at home, children have to work hard to make sure the family can eat and drink. Carrying wood and water on their backs, they help Mama to prepare a meal. Houses are tiny and constructed of mud and sticks, and the meals they eat are so much simpler.

Robin had such a good time on her trip to visit the Maasai people that she later went back for good. She is now the Kenya Program Director with Free The Children. This organization is a network allowing children to help other children in need.

My Maasai Life is the children’s version of Robin’s story.  She has also published a full-length version My Maasai Life for adults. Me to We Books supports Free the Children by giving them half their annual profits.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Wacky Jacky

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jaclyn Stapp
Illustrator: Kristine Lucco
Publisher: TriMark Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9816092-8-7
Pages: 41
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Jacky is different from her classmates. Her family is from Jordan, she eats strange food and she has crazy, wild hair. But Jacky volunteers at the children’s hospital, where her best friend lives, and she does her best to be herself.

One day Jacky learns of a local beauty pageant, and makes the decision to compete. She has no idea how much this one event will change her life for the better.

This is the real-life story of Jaclyn Stapp, unlikely beauty queen, told in rhyme with bright and colorful illustrations. While beauty is sometimes said to be skin deep, Stapp doesn’t believe it has to always be this way. Now Stapp empowers at-risk youth, champions women’s rights, and enriches the lives of underprivileged children. Wacky Jacky is truly beautiful from the inside out.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Piggy Nation: A Day at Work With Dad

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Richard Rosser
Illustrator: Shane Sowell
Publisher: Piggy Nation
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-615-41709-7
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Piggy behavior is all around us. Talking loudly on cell phones, failing to clean up after our pets, and littering all make life unpleasant for others. So when Sammy’s dad offers to let him ride along as he tickets these folks, Sammy is happy to join him.

Only trouble is, sometimes it’s hard not to be a piggy when you’re pointing out piggy behavior in others. Sammy witnesses some very piggy behavior, but he’s surprised to find out who’s the biggest piggy offender.

Poking fun in a light-hearted manner, Piggy Nation gets the point across. Kids will chuckle as Piggy Dad slaps Piggy Tickets on everyone, while making his own messes as he goes along. And then they’ll be able to point out for themselves, “That’s piggy behavior!”

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, children, history

Terra Tempo: Ice Age Cataclysm!

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: David Shapiro
Illustrator: Christopher Herndon
Color: Erica Melville
Publisher: Craigmore Creations
Genre: Children / History / Adventure
ISBN: 978-0-9844422-1-8
Pages: 143
Price: $14.99

Author’s website
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Jenna and Caleb are told not to go into Uncle Al’s desk, but when they find it unlocked, they can’t resist nosing around. Uncle Al is studying the Missoula Floods, which took place during the ice age. An interactive map and travel journal offer them an unexpected opportunity to travel back in time to see it in person.

With Ari, who joins them the next day, they make the journey back to the ice age, and immediately face a preshistoric beast intent on devouring them for dinner. But a friendly thunderbird answers their call for help, and offers them taxi service. As they fly over the area, they see many extinct animals, as well as the effects of the flooding. An ice explosion, waterfalls, and whirlpools are just some of the unique sights they see.

The ice age isn’t something most people know much about, yet this time in earth’s history contributed the most to our modern-day landscape. Terra Tempo explores this era in an interesting and informative way that kids will enjoy. Time travel, adventure and the graphic novel format of this book make it an easy and fun read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, boys, children

Two Little Savages: The Adventures of Two Boys Who Lived as American Indians

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Ernest Thompson Seton
Publisher: Axios Press
Genre: Children / Adventure
ISBN: 978-1-60419-033-5
Pages: 313
Price: $18.00

Author’s website
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Most boys have dreamed about spending a week or two camping out, surviving on what they can forage. If they’re fortunate enough to live near the woods, and they have indulgent parents, they may be able to live out their fantasy. But if they’re city dwellers, they may have to read about it instead.

Ernest Thompson Seton (1860-1946), who founded the Boy Scouts of America, penned this work sharing the adventures of two boys who experienced their dream of living as Native Americans for three weeks. In it, they build a teepee shelter, hunt, learn about the animals around them, and solidify their friendship.

Yan and Sam try to do everything the way the Native Americans would do it. Teepee construction, making their own arrows, and crafting a drum are all done as authentically as possible. With no Native people around to help, they rely on Caleb, a man who seems to know quite a bit about their methods.

Boys probably would not be too upset by animals being killed in this story, but the more sensitive might be turned off. Some of the animal antics don’t ring quite true, and it seems as if the author used some exaggeration to create more drama. But overall, this is a great read for all boys who crave outdoor adventures.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

My Twins Are Coming Home

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Paris Morris
Publisher: New Year Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9-760095-5-9
Pages: 24
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
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In this sequel to I’m Having Twins, Paris tells of the twins’ birth. Her mom and the babies need to stay at the hospital for a little while, but she is excited to see them.

Grandmas and Grandpas visit, people bring gifts, and dad tries to cook. It’s a time of great celebration. Finally everyone gets to leave the hospital, and the whole family is home together.

Although not as good as the first book in this series, My Twins Are Coming Home is a child’s eye view of what it’s like when mother has twins. Anyone who has ever experienced this will be able to relate to Paris and her actions as life changes around her.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, history, Holocaust, Jewish

Arbeit Macht Frei: Work Sets You Free

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Isaac Millman
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Children / Jewish History / Holocaust
ISBN: 9781456333522
Pages: 60
Price: $15.00

Author’s website
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Isaac Millman found himself alone in Paris in 1942, at the age of nine. Both of his parents had been captured and sent to Auschwitz, and he would never see them again. Now a grandfather, he journeys back to Poland to see the last place his parents were alive.

Bringing his two grandsons with him, he tours the facility known for some of the greatest atrocities ever committed. As the tour guide shows them around, Millman captures the images with watercolors. Some are bright, where flowers have grown to hide what happened so many years ago. Others are stark black and white, depicting prison cells, the crematorium, and his father’s death certificate.

Millman takes this journey for emotional healing, and he pays his last respects to his parents at Auschwitz before he leaves. And in honoring them and attempting to let go of the past, he shares his story with others, making sure that no one ever forgets the horrors of the Holocaust.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, spirituality

God & You

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Raymond Wolf
Illustrator: Briana Weekes
Publisher: GoldRay Publishing
Genre: Children / Spirituality
ISBN: 978-0-9832195-3-8
Pages: 40
Price: $14.00

Author’s website
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When God created the heavens and the earth, and all the trees, flowers, birds and animals, He was building the place he would put His most beloved creation. Then he made man in His image and placed him in the garden. In God & You, Raymond Wolf tells the story of this creation from the perspective of the loving God who created us.

Although God was surrounded by the angels and other heavenly beings, He wanted to feel the joy of sharing love with His creation. Man was given free will, and can choose to love God. And God experiences great joy in man loving Him as much as He loves us.

This poetic work demonstrates the love God has for us, and how much He wishes it will be returned. Briana Weekes, now eleven years old, created the illustrations over a period of seven years. Through the eyes of a child, God’s tender care is expressed. Jesus once said that the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your being. God & You is a gentle reminder that doing this will make God so very happy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, fantasy

The Witch, the Cat and the Egg

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joanne Lécuyer
Illustrator: Max Courville
Publisher: Baico Publishing
Genre: Children / Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-926945-02-6
Pages: 70
Price: $14.95

Author’s website

Julianne is a good witch, living in the magical forest of Ennyar with her cat, Magicus. She can communicate with the creatures of the forest, and she lives a simple and peaceful life. But one day the king sends his knight to see her about a journey through Ennyar, and Julianne discovers an unusual egg on her way back home.

This egg is important to the forest, and Julianne is entrusted with its care. But how can she complete her mission on her own? She will need to enlist the magical beings of the forest to help her.

The Witch, the Cat and the Egg is a gentle tale of a sweet girl and her friends who always want to do the right thing. The forest is a magical and safe place, and no danger ever lurks. But a dilemma, other than the care of the egg, might have added a deeper dimension to this story, creating some tension and drama. Overall, though, this story portrays really good and caring characters, and leaves the reader feeling that magic is possible in her own life.

Bergers Book Reviews spent some time chatting with Joanne Lécuyer. Please be sure to read what she has to say!

Reviewer: Alice Berger