children, health, parenting

The Little Elephant With the Big Earache

Bergers Book Reviews

elephant
Author: Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrator: Elaine Garvin
Publisher: Hippocratic Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 0-9753516-0-5
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95

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Eddie the elephant is excited that his birthday party is coming up. But a few days before the big event, his ear starts to hurt and he can’t sleep.

Eddie needs to visit Dr. Hippo, and he’s scared. But Dr. Hippo is gentle and kind, and soon determines what’s causing the pain in Eddie’s ear. Eddie receives the proper treatment, and gets well quickly enough to celebrate his birthday and participate in the mud sculpture contest.

The Little Elephant With the Big Earache is adorably illustrated by Elaine Garvin, and also includes a guide for parents in understanding ear infections and how they’re treated. I highly recommend this cute and informative story for all families with young children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

travel

GrassRoutes: Northern California Wine Country

Bergers Book Reviews

wine
Author: Serena Bartlett
Publisher: Sasquatch Books
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 978-1-57061-607-5
Pages: 288
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Traveling to new places is fun and exciting, and it’s helpful to have a guidebook to see all the places that interest us. But what if our interests are a little off the beaten path? Or a bit greener than most? GrassRoutes Guides were designed with the eco-tourist in mind.

The Northern California Wine Country guide shares some of the best places to visit, broken down into sections by location: Napa & Suisun Valleys, Livermore Valley, Inland Sonoma County, and the Northern West Coast. Within each of these geographical sections, things to do are organized in helpful categories like “Sweet Tooth,” “Gardens,” “Bookish,” “Pamper,” and “Volunteer.”

Symbol keys identify businesses that bank & hire locally, use organic products, run a green establishment, and recycle. Costs, dog friendliness, reservation info, and other factors are also included to make planning a breeze.

If you’ve always longed to visit California Wine Country, but prefer to venture onto roads less traveled, this guide will be indispensable for you. Bike, walk, volunteer and eat healthy, while still sampling some of the best wines on the market. It’s easier to travel green with your GrassRoutes guide.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

inspiration, self improvement

The Secret to Life Transformation

Bergers Book Reviews

lifetransformation
Author: Julie Chrystyn
Publisher: Dove Books
Genre: Self-help
ISBN: 978-1-59777-581-6
Pages: 252
Price: $25.95

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You may be living a good life, but feel that something is still missing. You’re not as successful as you believe you can be, and you need to make some changes.  But how? Who will guide you?

Julie Chrystyn is the hidden voice behind several famous autobiographies. As she listened to those people share their stories, she developed the desire to share some of the words of wisdom she picked up. In The Secret to Life Transformation she compiles these for us, along with thoughts from some other successful people.

This books alternates chapters between her own thoughts and those of twelve brilliant and talented people. These include Justice Clarence Thomas, David Foster, John Paul DeJoria, Robert Evans, Jacqueline Jakes, Dr. Patch Adams, Judge Sol Wachtler, Paula White, Jose Eber, Dr. Steven M. Hoefflin, Paul Anka, and Bernie Brillstein. Each presents their own story, sharing their own ideas on how they became successful.

Topics like independent thinking and using your thoughts wisely, love, forgiveness, wisdom, vision, and hope are interspersed between these mini-autobiographies.

If you’re looking for an inspiring read that will help set you on the path towards your own success, you’ll find that in The Secret to Life Transformation.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

The Squeaky Wheel

Bergers Book Reviews

squeaky wheel
Author: Robert Kimmel Smith
Publisher: iUniverse / Authors Guild Back In Print Edition
Genre: Tween
ISBN: 978-0-595-52203-3
Pages: 196
Price: $14.95

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Divorce can turn children’s lives upside-down. Moving, losing friends and familiar surroundings, and not knowing when they’ll see the parent they don’t live with can be traumatic for kids.

In The Squeaky Wheel, Mark Baker is in sixth grade and his parents are getting a divorce. He’s angry, scared, and feels like his world has completely fallen apart. But although he just wants things to go back to the way they were, he has to learn, bit by bit, to pick up the pieces and rebuild his new life.

From making new friends to dealing with a bully, and even how he feels about girls, this story covers the whole gamut of emotions. Mark finally realizes he has to accept the fact his world will never go back to what it once was, but he still can make his life a good one.

The Squeaky Wheel was originally published in 1990 by Delacorte-Dell, and has recently been brought back into print because of its timeless message of hope for children of divorce. This sensitive portrayal of how Mark deals with this difficult situation is masterfully handled. I highly recommend this wonderful and well-written book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, health, parenting

Katie Caught a Cold

Bergers Book Reviews

katie
Author: Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrator: Katy Bratun
Publisher: Hippocratic Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 0-9753516-3-X
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95

Author’s website
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Katie the polar bear is excited to be skating in the Ice Show. But a few days before the big event, she comes down with a cold. She doesn’t have a fever, but she’s sneezing a lot. Will she be better soon so she can skate?

In Katie Caught a Cold, Dr. Cowan shows kids and parents the best way to treat a common cold. She explains why antibiotics are almost always unnecessary and over-the-counter medications don’t help. Her advice for a quick recovery is rest and fluids.

The story is beautifully illustrated by Katy Bratun, and also includes a guide for parents in conquering the common cold. I highly recommend this cute and informative story for all families with young children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, journal

HealthMinder Personal Wellness Journal

Bergers Book Reviews

healthminder
Author: F.E. Wilkins
Publisher: MemoryMinder Journals
Genre: Journal
ISBN: 978-0963796875
Pages: 224
Price: $14.95

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Sometimes health issues can be a puzzle. Are you allergic to a particular food? Need to stop taking an over-the-counter remedy that seems to be causing side effects? Are there sleep patterns you need to track? Monitoring these and many other concerns can be difficult, unless you have a system. That’s where HealthMinder Journal can help.

Each journal entry includes space for information on weather conditions, your vital statistics, any drugs or vitamins taken, physical activity, and food you ate. Plus you can record pain and other discomfort you’re feeling that day, rating it on a scale of 1 to 5.

The journal pages are of high-quality paper, with a spiral binding and sturdy cover. An introductory section explains how to use this journal for maximum effectiveness. And the last section allows you to record your medical history, as well as organizing all your doctor and insurance information in one place for easy reference.

Don’t monitor your health concerns alone. Use the HealthMinder Journal to assist you on your journey back to good health.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, music

My Name Is Chicken Joe

Bergers Book Reviews

chicken
Author: Trout Fishing in America
Illustrator: Stephanie Jorisch
Publisher: Secret Mountain
Genre: Children / Music
ISBN: 978-2-923163-49-9
Pages: 36
Price: $16.95

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When you think of kids’ music, you may think of girls’ high-pitched voices and sappy sweet songs. But Trout Fishing in America, a four-time Grammy-nominated male duo, has other ideas.

The clever and imaginative lyrics in My Name Is Chicken Joe are a delight to hear. “Chunky milk, eyebrow soup, refried snakeskin, fresh baked boot” let us know Why I Pack My Lunch. Songs like Fill It up and It’s a Puzzle are fun twists on the use of words. And all kids can relate to idea of My Best Day.

The musical accompaniment to these wonderful lyrics is just as good. These tunes can be listened to over and over again with pleasure–even by adults.

This package includes the music CD plus lyrics for all songs, along with delightful illustrations by Stephanie Jorisch. If you’re looking for clever and fun music for your kids, I highly recommend Trout Fishing in America’s My Name Is Chicken Joe.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance

Celtic Sacrifice

Bergers Book Reviews

celtic
Author: Sheryl Brennan
Publisher: Underdog Press
Genre: Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-615-25561-3
Pages: 264
Price: $15.99

Author’s website

Ireland, early 1600’s ~ Ceana knows she comes from a lineage that includes the powerful druid priestess, Una. Prophesy states that Una’s power will return through Ceana, and she is humbled by this duty to her family and clan.

But the goddess speaks in mysterious ways, and Ceana doesn’t know how this prophesy will be fulfilled. Will she marry her clansman Cian, who believes he is the other half of her destiny? Or will the mysterious stranger she meets at the faire play a part? Following the goddess and her duty, Ceana makes the best decisions she can, not knowing what the results of her actions will be.

Ceana is a shining example of one who believes in her higher purpose and is willing to walk by faith alone. Celtic Sacrifice is a magical and beautiful story of a strong woman who is driven by her calling to do what is right, never wavering from that call – even when it requires a sacrifice that goes against her very being.

Book one in a three-book series, Celtic Sacrifice is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. I highly recommend this wonderful book, and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, inspiration

The Confidence of Feeling Good

Bergers Book Reviews

Feeling Good
Author: Jeanie Marshall
Publisher: Marshall House
Genre: Guided meditation
ISBN: 1-885893-06-X
Price: $19.95

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Do you want to be sure you’ll have a great day before it begins? Do you need a boost when you’re feeling a little tired in the afternoon? The Confidence of Feeling Good was created to enhance your energy and vitality.

Focusing on your higher self, this meditation guides you to receive this energy and send it to all parts of your body. As it fills you, it brings you feelings of goodness and pleasure. Soft background music accompanies Jeanie Marshall’s voice for a soothing experience.

This gentle & relaxing meditation will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to go back to your day, full of joyful, exhilarating energy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, self improvement

The Power of Soul

Bergers Book Reviews

soul
Author: Dr. Zhi Gang Sha
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 1-4165-8910-4
Pages: 352
Price: $26.00

Author’s website
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In 2003, Dr. Zhi Gang Sha began offering Divine Soul Downloads to humanity through the direct instruction of the Divine. In The Power of Soul, he continues his Soul Power Series of books, and provides new insights into how we can use this soul power in our lives.

Dr. Sha has included eleven new Divine Soul Downloads in this book. If we read his words and follow the instructions as written, we will receive these new divine souls for ourselves. Knowing we might doubt his words, he answers, “If you want to know if the pear is sweet, taste it.” Only by experiencing it for ourselves will we know the truth.

Heal the soul first, and all else will heal. Sickness will be prevented, the mind and body will be rejuvenated, and relationships, finances and business will be transformed.

Dr. Sha’s message is a positive one. He encourages us to receive his Divine Soul Downloads, chant powerful words, and sing uplifting soul songs to promote transformation and healing in our lives. But skeptical folks who rely solely on conventional healing may find his teachings to be too “new age” for their tastes.

Reviewer: Alice Berger