fashion, teen

Chloe by Design: Making the Cut

Bergers Book Reviews

Making the Cut
Author: Margaret Gurevich
Illustrator: Brooke Hagel
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-1-62370-112-3
Pages: 384
Price: $14.95

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Chloe Montgomery is addicted to the fashion reality show Design Diva. So when the producers announce a new contest – Teen Design Diva – Chloe knows she has to enter. But before she can make it to the TV show, she first has to pass auditions. Only 15 designers will make the cut, and she’ll have to work hard and smart.

Navigating the challenges the judges give them is difficult enough, but she also has to worry about her rival, Nina, trying to sabotage her efforts. Doubts in her own abilities surface, and she faces the very real fact that others in the contest might be better than she is. But she keeps on pushing herself, ever hopeful that she’ll be awarded the championship.

Beautiful watercolor drawings of Chloe’s and other contestants’ designs fill the pages, giving color to the descriptions of these interesting fashion pieces as they’re created. Teen girls who love fashion and reality shows will find themselves absorbed in the whirlwind of activity Chloe suddenly finds herself in. Making the Cut is a great read, and I’m looking forward to seeing more of the Chloe by Design series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children, nature, science

Smithsonian Readers: Seriously Amazing Level 2

Bergers Book Reviews

Seriously Amazing
Authors: Brenda Scott-Royce, Emily Rose Oachs, Stephen Binns, Ruth Strother
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Children / Education
ISBN: 978-1-62686-452-8
Pages: 192
Price: 14.95

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Science and nature are interesting for kids, and Smithsonian Readers capitalizes on this desire to learn more about these topics. Seriously Amazing covers nighttime animals, sea life, baby animals, dinosaurs, solar system, and the human body. Beautiful photos fill each page, bringing the text alive and making it more engaging. Each section closes with a multiple choice quiz to determine reading comprehension.

The Smithsonian Readers series is designed for early, developing, engaged and fluent readers. In this level 2 book, kids will read mostly familiar vocabulary balanced with new phonic structures, longer words, and compound sentences.

Smithsonian Readers: Seriously Amazing Level 2 is sure to generate some curiosity and enthusiasm in the home and classroom. I highly recommend it.

children

Hank Has a Dream

Bergers Book Reviews

Hank Has a Dream
Author & Illustrator: Rebecca Dudley
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4413-1572-4
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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In this follow-up to Hank Finds an Egg, Hank shares his dream with his friend, a hummingbird. In the dream, Hank flies in a hot air balloon, all by himself along a path to the sea, higher and higher. As he tells about his dream, he acts out the motions on the ground, showing his friend what happened. Finally, the hummingbird begs to hear it again, and Hank begins, “Last night I dreamed we flew…”

Unlike in Hank Finds an Egg, this story is told with words. Hank is hand-made from fabric, and his environment is also hand-created to set the stage. Sharing dreams and friendship, this sweet tale is perfect for beginning readers and all those who enjoy artfully illustrated books.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, birds, children, nature

Esther the Eaglet

Bergers Book Reviews

Esther the Eaglet
Author: Christie Gove-Berg
Publisher: Adventure Publications
Genre: Children / Nature / Birds
ISBN: 978-1-59193-542-1
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

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Esther the Eaglet longs to test out her wings and fly, but the wind is strong and she lands with a crash. Esther is lucky that people are there who know how to care for her. Her injured wing is x-rayed and she’s kept safe in a cage until it heals. Esther’s injury is not serious, so it only takes a few days before she’s ready to be released into the wild. Soon she’s reunited with her parents and back in the nest.

Esther’s story has a happy ending, and children will enjoy seeing her in the many photographs that fill this book, as they learn about animal rehabilitation. Kids who love animals will enjoy reading Esther the Eaglet.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, tween

Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions: Gorilla Tactics

Bergers Book Reviews

Gorilla Tactics
Author: Sheila Grau
Illustrator: Joe Sutphin
Publisher: Harry N. Abrams
Genre: Fantasy / Middle-grade
ISBN: 978-1-4197-1371-2
Pages: 304
Price: $14.95

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Runt Higgins needs to know where he came from when he was dropped at Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions. He’s been cursed to die on his sixteenth birthday and needs to find out how to break the curse. One of his professors has been searching for the Great Library, and now Runt knows where he may find some answers. But Runt isn’t the only one who wants access to this mysterious place.

Dr. Critchlore is being threatened with a minion school takeover, so he devises a scheme to foil this dastardly plan. He decides to hold a fashion show, throwing the school into chaos for two weeks. At every attempt to do the right thing, Runt finds himself in trouble in his classes, with his classmates, and with his headmaster, as the clock continues to tick on the curse. Will Runt save the school and himself before time runs out?

Dr. Critchlore’s School for Minions is similar to Hogwarts, but with monsters training to serve Evil Overlords instead of wizards learning to manage their powers. Ogres, giants, imps, and zombies, as well as other living and undead beings populate this unique university, where being evil is not only good – it’s expected. Runt and his friends are really cool characters with lots of personality, and kids will relate well to them. I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Christian

5 Minutes with Jesus: Peace for Today

Bergers Book Reviews

Peace for Today
Author: Sheila Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-0-7180-3255-5
Pages: 192
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
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Jesus wants us to know His peace, but our busy lives often lead to frazzled nerves instead. 5 Minutes with Jesus: Peace for Today offers us a gentle reminder to keep our focus on Jesus and not our day to day problems.

Each brief meditation shares an application story, followed by a summary message and five Bible verses in support of the message. These meditations will take less than five minutes to read and absorb. In slowing down for this short period of time, the reader can relax and feel the peace Jesus wants to offer us.

Sheila Walsh has compiled many wonderful messages that the reader can turn to whenever needed. One thing that would be nice to have, though, is an index of topics to make it easier to find a reading that will most help with our current problems. But overall, I really liked this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

The Made From Scratch Life

Bergers Book Reviews

The Made From Scratch Life
Author: Melissa K. Norris
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Genre: Natural living / Christian
ISBN: 978-0-7369-6534-7
Pages: 208
Price: $12.99

Author’s website
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Many of us long for a simpler and more wholesome way of life, but making the appropriate changes feels too difficult. In The Made From Scratch Life, Melissa K. Norris guides us in looking at ways we can create a more natural home.

Beginning with food grown in our own vegetable garden, she shows us proper planting, harvesting and preserving techniques, along with recipes and meal-planning tips. Avoiding toxic cleaning products can be as simple as looking in the kitchen pantry, and Norris provides recipes to make our own chemical-free solutions. Raising livestock for milk, eggs, and meat is also discussed. Finally, Norris touches on our own family traditions and practices, and how these contribute to a happy home.

Throughout The Made From Scratch Life Norris shares Bible truths along with her own home-grown wisdom. Although some of these suggestions may be impossible for many city or suburban dwellers, there is plenty of good advice for every reader, as even small changes can contribute to your family’s well-being.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Our Teacher Is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories

Bergers Book Reviews

Our Teacher is a Vampire
Author: Mary Amato
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3553-1
Pages: 256
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Alexander H. Gory Jr. is excited to own a new blank book. He convinces his classmates to help him fill it with ideas about their teacher, the vampire. As everyone takes turns helping to write in the book, the truth about their teacher finally comes out. Then something new happens to divert their attention, and they continue to write it all down during the school year.

Although Alexander is the owner of the book, everyone is equal in making their voices heard. The group is made up of distinct personalities which comes out in their thoughts and words. A bookworm, a perfectionist, a class clown, a new kid, and others all have something important to say. But when a substitute teacher arrives, he threatens their fun with the book. Their only choice is to make him part of the team.

Our Teacher Is a Vampire and Other (Not) True Stories demonstrates how much fun it is for kids to keep a shared notebook. They will see what it takes to write a good story, through the wise words of an author who writes letters to the students and encourages their efforts. Kids may have trouble identifying with one particular student since no one is a true main character, but they may naturally gravitate toward the one who most resembles their own personality. This book would be a fun read and also a great classroom resource in teaching creative writing. Teaching guides are available at the author’s website.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children, education

Big Cat

Bergers Book Reviews

Big Cat
Author & Illustrator: Ethan Long
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children / Reading / Cats
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3538-8
Pages: 32
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Big Cat lives with a little girl who thinks he’s fun. Rather than just letting him sleep, she wakes him up, dances with him, dresses him up, and gives him a hug. Using simple sentences beginning with “Big Cat can…” this I Like to Read Book introduces children to one syllable words. Humorous illustrations demonstrate Big Cat’s patience with his young playmate. This book would be an enjoyable addition to classroom libraries.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fitness, self improvement

Level Up Your Life

Bergers Book Reviews

Level Up Your Life
Author: Steve Kamb
Publisher: Rodale Books
Genre: Self-improvement / Fitness
ISBN: 978-1-62336-540-0
Pages: 288
Price: $19.99

Author’s website
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Life is meant to be an adventure, but far too many people simply sit on the sidelines and watch. But what if we could be the hero in our own story? Steve Kamb shows us how we can tackle challenges like a video game and learn to level up our own lives.

Although Kamb is the founder of Nerd Fitness, Level Up Your Life is only partially concerned with fitness. Mostly, it encourages us to step outside the box we’re living in, and be willing to try the new and exciting things we’ve only allowed ourselves to dream about. Travel, learning a new language, making a career change, and other fun and intimidating adventures are presented in a fresh way, with the focus on taking small steps until we master the challenge. In video games, we face small battles until we’re good enough to take on bigger foes, and life can be handled much the same way.

Without foes to thwart us, we quickly lose interest in video games. And without challenge in life, our day to day existence becomes humdrum. Level Up Your Life shows us how to bring back the sparkle and enthusiasm for living. I highly recommend this unique and fun self-improvement book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger