Peeper Has a Fever

Author: Charlotte Cowan, M.D.
Illustrator: Susan Banta
Publisher: Hippocratic Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 0-9753516-2-1
Pages: 32
Price: $17.95

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Peeper really wants to go with his family to the big picnic, but he’s woken up with a 104F fever. After a call to Dr. Hippo, his mom says he needs to stay home, so his dad stays with him to keep him company. Keeping cool will make him feel better, so Peeper takes a bath and eats ice cream and popsicles. And since the diving contest is postponed, he recovers in time to participate.

Peeper Has a Fever is part of the Dr. Hippo series, designed to explain illnesses to children so they understand what’s happening to their bodies. This book shows us the stages of Peeper’s illness and how he gets better by taking his medicine, resting and cooling off.

In addition to the story, a guide for parents is included, which explains what to look for when a child has a fever, and how to handle it. I highly recommend this cute and informative story for all families with young children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Gretchen Asks, “How Do Cars Work?”

Author: Angel Neuschwander
Illustrator: Becky Johnston
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4389-2886-9
Pages: 24
Price: $12.99

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Have you ever wondered how your car operated? Seven year-old Gretchen isn’t shy, so she asks her mother – an engineer. What follows is mom’s explanation of the internal workings of an automobile.

Using simple illustrations, she shows Gretchen how a car operates similarly to her bike. But unlike the bike, which uses pedals to move it forward, the car has an engine. She then explains how pistons move, acting like bike pedals.

More of an educational tool than a story, this unique book explains cars in an age-appropriate manner. Since I know very little about the inner workings of an engine, I found myself reading as a child might, and found the information easy to comprehend. The illustrations and diagrams provide additional understanding.

I was also pleased to see a little girl asking her mom, rather than the more traditional boy and father. Gretchen Asks, “How Do Cars Work?” would be a terrific resource both in the classroom and the library.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

The Secret Adventures of Louie V

Author: Tracey Delio
Illustrator: Kit Grady
Publisher: The P3 Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-933651-36-1
Pages: 24
Price: $14.99

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Louie V is alone, now that his human mom has left for work, but he has no intentions of sleeping all day. Feeling particularly sassy, Louie V decides on a day of shopping. Since he can’t go out, he visits his mom’s closet instead. What will she find when she gets home?

Kids often wonder what cats do when no one is around to watch them, and Louie V offers a clue. His dress-up game in the closet is whimsical and fun, and the colorful images of this Siamese cat and his playthings add to the charm. The Secret Adventures of Louie V would be a delightful read for any child who loves cats.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

MaintenanceMinder

Author: F.E. Wilkins
Publisher: MemoryMinder Journals
Genre: Journal
ISBN: 978-0-9637968-6-8
Pages: 192
Price: $16.95

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You’ve finally reached your weight loss and fitness goals. Congratulations! But now you face a new challenge – keeping the weight off.

The creators of DietMinder and BodyMinder recognized this, and designed MaintenanceMinder with your new needs in mind. This journal provides a place for you to record important information for the day to help keep you on track.

Each journal entry includes space for your daily weigh-in, your plan for the day, and an end-of-day recap asking how well you stuck to your plan. A week’s check-ins fits compactly on an easy-to-read two page spread, with room for notes in the last section of the journal.

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. Motivational quotes are sprinkled throughout the pages, and a space for before and after photos is included, to help remind you of how far you’ve come.

If you’ve reached your fitness goals and want to be sure you don’t undo all your hard work, MaintenanceMinder will be a valuable tool in making sure you stay fit, trim and healthy.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Lizzie’s Rake

Author: Hazel Statham
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 1-60154-465-0
Pages: 232
Price: $11.99

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When Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finds himself owner of a property in Yorkshire, his first inclination is to dispose of it. But he has no idea that Elizabeth Granger and her younger siblings are still living there and would have no place to go. Although a notorious rake, Maxim also has a heart, and refuses to cast them out.

Maxim doesn’t expect to find himself irresistibly drawn to Lizzie, even to the point of wanting to settle down with her as his wife. But his troubles only begin when he proposes. Lizzie has no reason to trust that he has reformed, and that he would make a suitable husband.

Lizzie is a sensible girl, but she also feels her growing attraction to the Earl. How can she marry him when his reputation follows him everywhere?

Hazel Statham has created a charming story set in England in the early 1800s. In a perfectly proper courtship, Maxim woos Lizzie, trying to convince her of his sincerity. And when London society tries to sway her against him, she must determine who she wants to believe.

Lizzie’s Rake is a delightful read for anyone who enjoys a good romance.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Auntie’s House

Author: Dawn Aldrich
Illustrator: Michael Aldrich
Publisher: Halo Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-097974297-2
Pages: 32
Price: $12.95

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Mommy is going to work, so a little girl goes to visit her Auntie for the day. After bringing some toys down from the attic, they play all day. But where is Mommy? Will Mommy come back to get her?

Auntie’s House was written to address a fear that children often have – that their parent has abandoned them. At the end of the day, this little girl’s Mommy picks her up from Auntie’s house, reassuring her that she hasn’t been left behind.

I liked the theme of this book, in addressing this common childhood fear in a positive way.  But I would have preferred to see this story written in prose, since I’m not a big fan of rhyming books unless superbly done. Illustrations by Michael Aldrich are bright, colorful and cheerful.

Auntie’s House is a fun read for young children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Tax-Free Retirement

Author: Patrick Kelly
Publisher: Strategic Financial Concepts
Genre: Personal Finance
ISBN: 142511082-7
Pages: 176
Price: $19.95

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Retirement is a long way off, and you’ve planned carefully. You maximize IRA contributions and take advantage of your company’s 401(k). But have you ever given any thought to the amount of tax you may be paying when you finally retire?

One of the benefits we’re sold on in tax-deferred plans is the idea we’ll be in a lower tax bracket when we retire. But the author suggests just the opposite may be true. As the US national debt continues to rise, taxes may be on the upswing instead.

So how can we be sure the assets we’ve accumulated won’t be taxed heavily by Uncle Sam? That’s what Tax-Free Retirement will show you. By investing in a specific life insurance product, you can maximize your funds in a tax-free manner.

I have to admit, I didn’t know where the author was going with this, but when he mentioned he was an insurance salesman, I had an idea he might be endorsing an insurance product. So I read this book with a degree of skepticism. But I was pleasantly surprised to find that this concept is not recommended for everyone. Certain people with certain levels of income will benefit the most, and the author suggests this strategy won’t be beneficial at all to others.

As with all major financial decisions, research this plan carefully and don’t take any risks you can’t afford to lose on. But if the information in this book is utilized properly, you may find your key to a tax-free retirement in its pages.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Paws, Claws, Hands, and Feet

Author: Kimberly Hutmacher
Illustrator: Sherry Rogers
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-934359-88-4
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

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Kids may know they have feet with toes, but what kinds of feet do animals have? A boy and girl go on a nighttime dream journey of discovery to see for themselves.

Vibrant rhyming phrases describe each animal’s activities using their feet. Colorful images created by Sherry Rogers show them digging, leaping, splashing and hopping. This nocturnal adventure takes the kids outside their home, off to the arctic, deep into Africa, and to the wilds of Australia to see the various animals.

Finally the kids arrive back home to their own beds, surrounded by the animals they’ve gone to visit. The last section of this book includes a quiz matching the animals to the feet, as well as facts on the different types of feet.

Paws, Claws, Hands and Feet is an active, rhythmic story that kids will enjoy reading over and over. A fresh look at the animals and their feet educates as well as entertains. This fun and informative book would make a great addition to any kid’s collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

DIDYANO?

Author & Illustrator: Timothy D. Thomas
Publisher: Thomas Expressions
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9771059-2-2
Pages: 64
Price: $17.99

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Did you know that kangaroos can’t walk backwards? Or that puffins can stand on their tippy-toes? Well if you didn’t, you need to read Didyano?

This flip book provides a one-page summary of facts on many aquarium and zoo animals. Names of the males and females, as well as the group name, are included, plus some details about their young and how they are born or hatched. “Be aware and care” by learning what the threats are to each, and how we can try to protect them.

Colorful cartoon illustrations of the animals demonstrate the group names. A sleuth of pandas wear Sherlock Holmes attire and carry a magnifying glass, and a knot of snakes is shown all tangled up.

Cute, fun and informative, Didyano? would make a great addition to any animal lover’s collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger