art

Girl Plus Pen: Doodle, Draw, Color, and Express Your Individual Style

Bergers Book Reviews

Girl Plus Pen
Author & Illustrator: Stephanie Corfee
Publisher: Capstone Young Readers
Genre: Art
ISBN: 978-1-62370-596-1
Pages: 144
Price: $12.95

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A pen in a girl’s hand can produce magical designs. Add water colors, colored pencils, and a black marker for effect, and she can create beautiful art, all from what appears to be doodles.

In Girl Plus Pen, author and artist, Stephanie Corfee guides girls through a series of exercises designed to bring out the best in their art. Creative lettering and borders, combined with floral swirls can decorate hand-made cards. Scarves, hats, and phone cases become lovingly designed works of art. And doodles can fill scrapbooks and sketch pads, as the young artist develops her skills.

Doodling is not a waste of time when it’s done intentionally, with the desire to turn it into art. Set your inner artist free, doodling with the exercises in Girl Plus Pen and developing your own artistic style. I highly recommend this wonderfully creative book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, nature

Critter Litter: See What Critters Leave Behind!

Bergers Book Reviews

Critter Litter
Author: Stan Tekiela
Publisher: Adventure Publications
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-59193-590-2
Pages: 26
Price: $12.95

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If you were walking through the woods and came across a pile of scat (poop), would you know which animal had been there? Wildlife photographer, Stan Tekiela, has compiled this handy guide to assist in identification.

Twelve animals are featured: coyote, gray squirrel, northern raccoon, Virginia opossum, woodchuck, cougar, badger, moose, gray wolf, striped skunk, black bear, and porcupine. Each two-page spread shows photos of the animal featured, some of the animal’s food source, and a short explanation of how one would know the animal is living nearby. A photo of the animal’s scat is hidden under a flap to be lifted.

While it’s not always easy to identify scat when found, Critter Litter will help the young nature lover attempt to figure it out. This would be a great reference book to add to his collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

art, Catholic, history

Martyrdom: The Coloring Book

Bergers Book Reviews

Martyrdom - The Coloring Book
Author: Hallie Fryd
Illustrator: Julia Gfrörer
Publisher: Zest Books
Genre: Catholic / Art
ISBN: 978-1942186069
Pages: 112
Price: $16.99

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The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. As such, the martyrs for the faith have always been revered by the Catholic Church, and their legends have grown through the ages. In this unique coloring book, these martyrs are shown in scenes depicting their untimely deaths.

Beginning with biblical martyrs St. John the Baptist and St. Stephen, this book tells the stories of the many people who died professing the Catholic faith, and in many cases, attempting to preserve their virginity. Each person is featured in a two page spread, with one page dedicated to the martyr’s legend, and the other a blank coloring book page. While many of the scenes are horrible, none are so gruesome that the sensitive reader can’t bear to view them. But these tragic stories and images remind us of the religious freedom we’ve been granted in this day and age, and of those who died attempting to find that freedom.

Whether you choose to color these pictures or not, Martyrdom: The Coloring Book is a fascinating read, and will greatly enhance your knowledge of these faithful martyrs. And let us pray that no more are added to their ranks, as the war against Christianity continues to rage in the Middle East.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, education

Have Fun With Words

Bergers Book Reviews

Have Fun With Words
Author: Maria Sarkar
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Genre: Children / Writing
ISBN: 978-1849634977
Pages:74
Price: $24.95

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Vocabulary building doesn’t have to be hard – in fact it can be fun if it’s presented in the form of puzzles and games. Have Fun With Words encourages kids to play with words to discover their meaning.

Each lesson covers a certain type of word. Adjectives, synonyms and antonyms, nouns, verbs, roots with prefixes and suffixes, adverbs, and abstract nouns are covered. Idioms and other word combinations round out the lessons. Students unscramble words, use them in the fill-in-the-blank sentences, place them in charts, and circle them in word finds, as they learn how to best use each word or combination of words.

The workbook provides:

  • A clear presentation of target words as well as expressions, carefully selected and put in context.
  • Stimulating activities for recall and practice
  • Free practice in challenging extension activities
  • Links to grammar to show how words operate in a sentence
  • Tasks to develop other related skills such as using the dictionary effectively and guessing meaning of words, all eventually helping to improve reading fluency and enriching the child’s writing.

Learning doesn’t have to always be dry and dull. Have Fun With Words is an enjoyable and creative book to help kids to build their vocabulary.

Book Trailer

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, science

Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures: Solar System

Bergers Book Reviews

Magnetic Adventures - Solar System
Author: Ruth Strother
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books
Genre: Science / Children
ISBN: 978-1-62686-306-4
Pages: 64
Price: $22.95

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Our universe is a vast and wonderful place. It holds the Milky Way Galaxy, and in it, our solar system. In this magnetic kit and guidebook, kids will discover just what’s out there in the night sky.

Focusing on our solar system, this book shows how the planets revolve around the sun and rotate on an axis. The planets and their accompanying moons are all featured, comparing day and year lengths, as well as gravitational pull. Star cycles, comets, space debris and the Kuiper Belt are also covered.

In addition to the guidebook, magnetic images are included inside the case. Kids can place the planets on the diagram included, and astronauts and spaceships can be placed on the moon. Magnetic Adventures: Solar System is a fun kit for the budding space traveler.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Drew the Screw

Bergers Book Reviews

Drew the Screw
Author & Illustrator: Mattia Cerato
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3540-1
Pages: 24
Price: $14.95

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Drew the screw lives in a workshop, hanging out with the tools. He watches as the boy selects tools to help build something out of wood. Each of the tools is useful in some way, but Drew wonders what he can do. Finally, Drew is selected for a very important role in the boy’s new tree house.

Drew the Screw is an I Like to Read book, told in simplistic language with bright and cheerful illustrations for beginning readers. Kids will enjoy reading about Drew and how he finally finds his purpose.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, poetry

Silly Shoes: Poems to Make You Smile

Bergers Book Reviews

Silly ShoesAuthor: Lawson Gow
Illustrator: Mike Guillory
Publisher: Bright Sky Press
Genre: Children / Poetry
ISBN: 978-1-939055-81-1
Pages: 28
Price: $19.95

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The world it too serious, so why not put on your silly shoes and have some fun! In this book of children’s poems, Lawson Gow creates some wacky scenarios to make kids laugh.

Would you like to eat a meal of colors? Or how about expression fruit salad? Have you ever thought about befriending your chocolate bunny? Or eating a sneeze sandwich? Bowling with Superman? Or living in backwards land?

These and other zany poems in Silly Shoes are guaranteed to chase away the gloomies and bring out a chuckle on the rainiest of days. Kids will love the far-out humor.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian

Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God

Bergers Book Reviews

Signs in Life
Author: Deanna Nowadnick
Publisher: Rhododendron Books
Genre: Christian
ISBN: 978-0-9835897-5-4
Pages: 144
Price: $12.95

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As we journey through life, God attempts to get our attention with “signs” that point us in the direction He wants us to go. Using the analogy of traffic signs, Deanna Nowadnick shares her own life experiences and how God is speaking to her.

“Yield” leads to the college her parents choose for her, and allows her to meet her future husband. “Wrong Way” shows how wrong it us to judge others. “No U-Turn” is a sign that it’s not a good idea go back to something that didn’t work the first time. “One Way” tells us our way isn’t always the best, and God may have other ideas. These and other road signs are featured, as she shares stories from her past and the lessons learned along the way.

Signs in Life is up-close and personal, as Nowadnick shares some moments she probably would rather forget. But in revealing her very human mistakes, she allows the reader to connect to her and her message even more deeply. This is an enjoyable and inspiring read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, tween

The Crystal Navigator

Bergers Book Reviews

>The Crystal Navigator
Author: Nancy Kunhardt Lodge
Publisher: Wilwahren Press
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9960885-3-4
Pages: 200
Price: $21.99

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Lucy Nightingale has had an awful experience giving an oral report, and now she’s facing an even more difficult assignment. She needs to study five paintings and discover something unique about the personalities of the artists. After consulting with her best friend, Sam, she decides to contact her Wise One for help. She’s surprised to find out his name is Wilbur, and he’s a Corgi dog.

Wilbur has a magical adventure in store for Lucy, and they set out for a trip back in time. Wilbur wants Lucy to meet the artists themselves and talk with them about their paintings. Soon they’re visiting Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Jacopo Pontormo, and Vincent van Gogh. But their trip through time is fraught with danger when the crystal navigator develops a virus, and they end up in some unexpected places. As Wilbur’s strength fades along with the navigator, Lucy has to rely on her own wits and resourcefulness to get home safely.

The Crystal Navigator is a sweet fantasy about a girl who calls on her own imagination to take her to new places. Lucy doesn’t know that she has the power to control her own destiny until she returns and realizes what she’s been able to accomplish. Kids will cheer for her efforts and wish her well on her journey.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

acting, teen

Scenes for Teens

Bergers Book Reviews

Scenes for Teens
Author: Mike Kimmel
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Acting / Teen
ISBN: 9781497557031
Pages: 142
Price: $14.99

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Teenage actors don’t always have good drama and comedy scenes to practice on, while attempting to hone their skills. Much of the material out there is offensive or simply not appropriate for teens. Mike Kimmel saw the need for clean scenes, and that was why he developed Scenes for Teens: 50 Original Comedy and Drama Scenes for Teenage Actors.

These two or three page scenes are designed to be played by two actors. Roles are identified as A or B, and there is no gender indicated, so anyone can play either part. Although a few of the scenes handle moral issues, most are simply casual conversations between two friends, but they don’t include foul language, inappropriate topics, or any kind of mischief. Teens are encouraged to act the part the way they feel inspired, with no stage directions given.

Scenes for Teens is appropriate for aspiring actors of any age – even the younger set. Teens who want to improve their acting skills would be wise to pick up a copy. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger