art, children

Hans, His Chairs and the World

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Anne Blond
Illustrator: Birgitte Haahr Lund
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-87-88376-44-9 (Danish), 978-87-88376-49-4 (English), 978-87-88376-50-0 (Japanese)
Pages: 56
Price: 98 kr.

Museum Sønderjylland website
To purchase this book please email the author or the Art Museum

Hans J. Wegner is world famous for his spectacular chair designs. Born in Tønder, Denmark, he grew up fascinated with the natural world and wood carving. But while adults may be familiar with his work, today’s children have most likely never heard of him.

With his 100th anniversary coming up soon, Wegner has become the center of renewed international attention. Hans, His Chairs and the World provides children with a look at his work, so they can also appreciate the contributions he made to society. In this book, we see Hans growing up in the shadow of the water tower. Later, his chairs are brought inside, as a museum is formed around them. And lastly, children are reminded of the fact that building furniture involves our natural world – trees – and they should be responsible stewards of our earth.

Anne Blond is the curator of the Art Museum in Tønder which houses Wegner’s chairs. The illustrations are created digitally, but inspired from old wood block prints, which creates a look reminiscent of Wegner’s work. Children will enjoy reading about this fascinating man, and maybe even look him up on the Internet. What they find will inspire them in their own creative pursuits.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, spirituality

The Path of Centering Prayer

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: David Frenette
Publisher: Sounds True
Genre: Spirituality
ISBN: 978-1-60407-673-8
Pages: 255
Price $24.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

While many people associate prayer with speaking to God in words, a different kind of prayer also exists. In comtemplative prayer, we commune with God in silence, using either a sacred word or symbol. And if we want to go even deeper, we can use only the silence to bring us closer to God.

The Path of Centering Prayer focuses on those who have been practicing contemplative prayer for a while. In it, David Frenette offers insights into his own practice, as well as using examples of others who have followed this path, as a guide for the serious practitioner. For those who have never tried this type of prayer, he explains the process and encourages them to begin.

Contemplative prayer is much like meditation, but with a focus on God instead of simply the quieting of thought. However, the practitioner may experience many of the same frustrations with this form of prayer. Frenette reminds us that this is normal, and the best thing to do is to continue the practice anyway, noticing the root issue behind the frustration. If you’ve been practicing contemplative prayer for a while and need some freshness in your routine, or if you are interested in beginning a new practice, this book will help you on your journey.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

finance

Money 1 & 2

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Finance
ISBN: 978-0-692-01528-5 / 978-0-9852818-0-9
Pages: 116 / 114
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
Buy Money 1 at Amazon
Buy Money 2 at Amazon

For many of us, money can be a confusing topic. We’re earning money, but we’re not exactly sure what we’re doing with it. In this personal finance series, saving, borrowing, and investing are just some of the areas discussed.

In Money 1, the basics are covered. Each of the fifty topics is touched on in a one-page summary. As with all of the “…and a whole lot more!” books, an extensive bibliography is provided for those who want more information.

Money 2 digs deeper, covering fifty more topics, including real estate transactions, the stock market and mortgages. Although these are quick “bites” of information, the bibliography will assist those serious about learning more.

Just like the “Skinny On” books, this new series is meant to provide the maximum amount of content in the shortest manner possible, both for ease of reading and succinctness. It’s up to the reader to decide if more information is necessary. If you need a financial refresher course or are just starting out, this series would be a great resource.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, cats, humor

Zombie Cat: The Tale of a Decomposing Kitty

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Isabel Atherton
Illustrator: Bethany Straker
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Genre: Horror / Humor
ISBN: 978-1616088842
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Tiddles was once an ordinary cat. He chased mice, caroused with the lady cats, and spent time with his owner, Jake. But when a nuclear power plant spill wreaks havoc on the city, Tiddles finds himself in a dire predicament. He is now Zombie Cat.

As zombies take over the city, Tiddles just wants to go home. But Jake isn’t so keen on bringing him back into the house. After all, Jake has no desire to join the undead. A truce is finally reached, at least for the moment.

Although poor Tiddles is reduced to rotting body parts and oozing insides, he’s still a loveable character. Zombie Cat would be a cute addition to any cat or zombie lover’s book collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Christian, inspiration, spirituality

Fruit of My Spirit

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Deanna Nowadnick
Publisher: Rhododendron Books
Genre: Spirituality
ISBN: 978-0-9835897-2-3
Pages: 114
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Modeling her actions after Paul’s words has not been an easy task for Deanna Nowadnick. As she reviewed her life, intending to provide her sons with a short story, she realized she wanted to share her insights with a larger audience. Fruit of My Spirit was born.

Each chapter focuses on one of the fruits of the Spirit. In it, Nowadnick tells of an incident in her own life relating to that particular characteristic. Her strong faith in God and humility shine through, helping the reader see her struggles and giving hope that we too can overcome. With God’s help, we are all able to be better people.

Nowadnick is warm, open and vulnerable in sharing her life stories with us. The reader will come away with the sense that they already know her and share a common bond. A woman who tries to embody the fruits of the Spirit is a true role model for the rest of us. I highly recommend this inspirational book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, holiday

The Story of Everdream: Book 1: The Christmas Witch

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Robert L. Welsh
Illustrator: Kalpart
Publisher: Strategic Book Publishing
Genre: Children / Christmas
ISBN: 978-1-61204-367-8
Pages: 46
Price: $16.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Many years ago, when Holly was seven years old, she made a visit to Everdream. When she got there, she found out that Santa’s sister, Jellis Claus, put a terrible spell on the place, permanently shutting the door to the North Pole. But Holly has an idea, and when everyone tries it, they are able to save Christmas.

Jellis really isn’t a mean person – she’s just unhappy with the job Santa gave her to do. So when Santa gives her a new job – one she really loves – there’s peace once again in Everdream.

Bright and cheery illustrations bring this magical holiday tale to life. Children will enjoy reading about Santa and the North Pole, as they eagerly await the coming of Christmas.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Big Billy and the Ice Cream Truck That Wouldn’t Stop

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Joe Consiglio
Illustrator: Joe Simko
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4067-3
Pages: 48
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
Schiffer Books
Buy it at Amazon

Can you imagine an ice cream truck driver who wouldn’t stop? Well, the world’s most evil, sinister, and wicked ice cream truck driver pulled into Big Billy’s neighborhood, played the ice cream truck music, and then sped away! After several nights of this torment, longing for ice cream but not able to get any, the kids decide they need a plan.

But while the children have their thoughts on how to handle this situation, Big Billy has a different idea. And since Big Billy gets to the true heart of the matter, he’s able to reach the ice cream truck driver in a way no one else can.

Bright and colorful illustrations, hyperbole, and a great twist make Big Billy and the Ice Cream Truck That Wouldn’t Stop a fun read for kids. Add a side dish of ice cream, and it’s an instant hit. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Yell Out / Do You

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Stephanie Perry Moore & Derrick Moore
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-1-61651-886-8
Pages: 309
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Sweet Ella Blount always tries to please. When her sister and fellow cheer teammates need help in school and ask her to cheat, she’s torn. And what will she do about the football player she’s developed an interest in, once she discovers he’s squatting at the high school? Life has certainly gotten much more complicated!

Leo Steele’s mom has moved away with her new boyfriend, leaving him suddenly homeless. The local gang intends to do him serious harm, if they can catch him alone. But Leo is captivated by the angel who keeps leaving food at the school for him, showing that someone really cares.

In this flip book, the reader is shown two sides to the same story. Told from both Ella’s and Leo’s perspective, it shares how both are feeling and reacting to the events around them. But in this book, I felt there was little that happened outside Ella’s viewpoint to make Leo’s story not feel repetitive. Set in a predominantly African-American community outside of Atlanta, this story offers real-life drama for urban teens.

The Lockwood Lions series pulls no punches. These are kids the reader can relate to, and the situations are not sugar-coated. But overall, this series send a positive message of getting a good education, avoiding trouble, and striving to do the right thing.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

Bonehead

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Normandy D. Piccolo
Publisher: Normandy’s Bright Ideas
Genre: Urban youth fiction
ISBN: 978-0-578-10096-8
Pages: 253
Price:  $7.99

Author’s website
Buy it here

The year is 1974. Trey Johnston and his friends are growing up in the Po’k n’ Beans Project outside of Washington, D.C. Trey’s Momma works hard to keep food on the table and rent paid for their slum apartment, but Trey wants more out of life. Trey, called Bonehead because Momma makes bone soup for nearly every meal, visits the House of Fossils Museum on a field trip. He then decides he will make himself and Momma rich by finding the very first dinosaur bone in the Beans Project.

Although this dig begins to consume his waking hours, Trey has an active social life with the residents of the Beans. As children of the 1970’s, they watch the classic TV shows, like “Good Times.” They discuss iconic sports heroes of the day, like Mohammed Ali. And they play games like “Rock ’em, Sock ’em Robots” although their Beans version is a bit different. The lingo is groovy, and the kids are true urban African American pre-teens.

Trey grows up surrounded by poverty and “lazy-bone” (as Momma would call them) residents in the Beans. But despite his circumstances, he rises above them by choosing to do something special. Although unsuccessful, he makes his Momma proud. Material possessions may make life easier, but Trey learns that love and friendship matter more than anything else.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy

The Ruins of Noe

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Danika Dinsmore
Publisher: Hydra House
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9848301-2-1
Pages: 266
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

In this sequel to Brigitta of the White Forest, Brigitta must once again travel back to the land of the Ancients. Terrible trouble faces the faeries of the White Forest, and the prophecy states that Brigitta must be the one who restores the balance.

Traveling with the High Priestess, Ondelle, she finds herself caught up in a war between two faerie populations. As outsiders, they are viewed with hostility, which puts their lives in jeopardy. Brigitta must rely on her instincts to determine who she can trust and how to extract herself from her dire predicament.

I loved the first book in this series, but found that the ending to this story left me unsatisfied. Too many questions remained to be answered, and there is no sense of closure. Brigitta and Ondelle, along with the other beings they encounter, are magical, and the fantasy captures the imagination. One truly feels transported to another realm in reading this story. I hope the answers will come in the third volume of this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger