Bergers Book Reviews

Wooby & Peep

January 14, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Cynthea Liu
Illustrator: Mary Peterson
Publisher: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4027-9644-9
Pages: 40
Price: $14.95

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Wooby is happy living in his quiet, little town with his pet goldfish, his prized petunia garden, his 547 year-old tree, and his magnificent water fountain… until Peep moves next door. But Peep wants to be friends, and in his excitement, he creates turmoil in Wooby’s quiet and peaceful life.

Wooby is gentle and kind-hearted, and forgives Peep for his misdeeds. And when Peep reveals that he’s lonely, Wooby suddenly realizes he’s lonely, too. Letting the past go, they forge a bond over a game of “Go Fish” and decide to be best friends.

Wooby & Peep is a delightful tale of friendship. Even though things go dreadfully wrong for Peep, Wooby shows patience and tolerance throughout. This cute story demonstrates to kids that even the most unlikely of folks could turn out to be best of friends.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy, teen

Aquifer

January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jonathan Friesen
Publisher: Blink
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-310-73182-5
Pages: 304
Price: $15.99

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The year is 2250 and fresh water is scarce. Those above ground rely on a subterranean species of Water Rats to provide fresh water, when the annual contract is renewed by the Deliverer. Luca, now sixteen years old, is heir to the Deliverer’s position, and when his father suddenly goes missing, must step in to try to make things right again.

But not all is as it seems, and when Luca descends below, he finds out there is much more to the story of the annual exchange than he ever bargained for. His world turns upside down, and the position he is in turns sinister. Can Luca fix things before it’s too late?

Aquifer introduces some really great characters. Although only sixteen, Luca is mature beyond his years, with an admirable sense of responsibility. Various supporting characters are also strong and well-developed. There is a tiny hint of a Christian message in this story, with Wishers who gather to pray, and a Voice that speaks to Luca. A slow start builds to a crescendo, capturing the reader in a race to the conclusion. But there is also quite a bit of violence and darkness to this story, which ends in a disappointing way that leaves too much to the imagination.

Warning: Rated mature for violence

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats, children

Lazy Hero Cat of Egypt

January 8, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Stanford Crow
Illustrator: Nancy S. Hemmingson
Publisher: Bliss Group Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9885359-1-6
Pages: 24
Price: $7.50

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Bubastis the cat is very lazy. He sleeps all day on top of the sarcophagus of Queen Nefertari, too lazy to look, listen or smell anything. So he doesn’t move at all when two tomb robbers break in to steal from the sarcophagus.

But being lazy is just the right way to handle these thieves. In a comedy of errors, Bubastis manages to knock them both out, just by doing nothing. And the next day, he is hailed as a hero when the men are discovered in the tomb.

Lazy Hero Cat of Egypt is a humorous tale that’s pure fun for kids to read. I highly recommend this delightful story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

audio book, children

Jimi & His Friend Joe

January 7, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Anna-Christina
Produced by: Busy Bees Publishing

Music Audio Stories

Jimi the cat lives on a farm. Although he gets along well with the farm animals, the Collie dogs are bullies, and he tries to avoid them. So when a new Collie named Joe shows up, Jimi isn’t pleased. But Joe wants to be friends with Jimi, and that makes them both happy.

One night Jimi and Joe notice the barn is on fire. The other Collies are sleeping inside, and Jimi and Joe need to act quickly. Working together with all the other animals, they rescue the Collies, who learn that everyone can be friends – even cats and dogs.

As Music Audio Stories says on their website: “These special audio books can be enjoyed by children of all ages but are tailored for the blind as well. They can also be a useful learning tool for children with impaired vision or vision disabilities.” These unique audio stories use music as an essential part of the story, as the tension rises and falls.

Jimi & His Friend Joe is a sweet tale of friendship, reminding kids to look past their differences to find the best in each other. With the touch of drama created through the music, it’s an enjoyable story that kids will listen to over and over again.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Life is Beautiful!

January 6, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Ana Eulate
Illustrator: Nívola Uyá
Publisher: Cuento de Luz
Genre: Children
ISBN: 9788415619260
Pages: 28
Price: $16.95

Buy it at Amazon

Violet is a little girl living in Kenya. She knows nothing but the town she lives in, the surrounding area, and the hunger in her belly. But one day, a giraffe with wings takes her on a magical journey over all of Africa.

The beauty she sees below amazes Violet. Elephants splash in the river as flamingos look on. A rainbow forms overhead, but she learns it fades when children lose their smile. And goats can’t stop laughing when she tickles them.

Throughout the journey, Violet is surprised to see the souls of the people below. When she asks what can be done for these souls, the wise giraffe offers her thoughts. Life is Beautiful is a touching look at the people of Africa, which also reminds us of the poverty they live in.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fitness, health

Sleep Fat Wake Up Thin

January 4, 2014 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Kenn Kihiu
Publisher: CreateSpace
Genre: Fitness / Weight Loss
ISBN: 978-1481948067
Pages: 92
Price: $11.99

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Maintaining an ideal body weight continues to be a struggle for many of us, and Kenn Kihiu has offered us his thoughts on how to do this. In Sleep Fat Wake Up Thin he presents his system of weight loss, the F.A.S.T. way.

Using this acronym, he presents a five-step system (modules) of eliminating unhealthy foods, adding more healthy foods and beverages to our diet, and changing the way we eat and think. These build on each other, eventually leading to healthy and lean bodies.

Unfortunately, this successful creator of the danceX Workout and 8020 Body has given us a lot of information we’ve seen many times before. His only divergence from standard diet advice is his presentation of fasting as part of our normal eating cycle.

If you’re already a follower of Kenn Kihiu’s programs, this book would probably be a good complement to what you’ve already learned from him. But on its own, it fails to cover enough new ground. However, if you’re interested in fasting, you may find this chapter particularly useful.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

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

Author’s website
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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

mystery

A Matter of Trust

December 17, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Lis Wiehl
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-59554-903-7
Pages: 320
Price: $26.99

Author’s website
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Mia Quinn is on the phone with her friend and co-worker, Colleen Miller, when she hears a gunshot, and Colleen goes silent. In investigating Colleen’s murder, Mia and homicide detective Charlie Carlson begin to suspect that Colleen’s death could be linked to another prosecuting attorney’s murder five years ago.

In addition to this murder investigation, Mia and Charlie are looking into a cyber-bullying case involving a teen boy’s suicide. Mia’s personal life is a mess, as she struggles to make it as a working single mom, buried in debt. And now it looks as if Colleen’s murder investigation is putting Mia’s life at risk.

A Matter of Trust is a fast-paced murder mystery, pulling the reader in from the first page. Mia is someone women can look up to, as she attempts to raise her kids with honesty and integrity. She looks out for the underdog and tries to make sure justice is served. I highly recommend this well-written and engaging mystery.

Reviewer: Alice Berger