Susan's Thoughts and Ramblings Interview

Susan has done a mini interview, and posted it at:
Susan's Thoughts and Ramblings

City Mommy of Scranton is running a contest. Win a copy of Who's Taking a Bath?

Balloon Trouble

My middle-grade romance story is posted in the February issue of Stories for Children magazine. Please check it out here: Balloon Trouble

Stories For Children Magazine Book Review

Stories For Children website

This shiny-covered soft-cover book, bound with a braided purple ribbon, is your first indication that this is an out-of-the-ordinary picture book! The vibrant text by author Alice Berger makes every word count and she spins a fun story. The photographs of two white teddy bears, brothers Benny and Jeremy, makes this a very attractive book for this age group.

Benny has been playing and gets dirty, so he knows he needs to take a bath before Momma Bear sees him. The problem is that older brother Jeremy is hogging up the bathroom and has locked him out! Jeremy is sick and tired of sharing his bath with his younger brother, and just wants to enjoy his bath all by himself. Jeremy tells him to go away when Benny pounds on the bathroom door.

When he hears Benny walk away, Jeremy relaxes a bit, dunks under the sudsy water, and comes up squeaky clean. He looks up at the now-darkened window, and there's Benny, ready to take a flying leap into the tub! He does, and a verbal battle ensues. Tired of not only sharing his bath with his brother, but also getting blamed for the misadventures of Benny, Jeremy steps out of the tub, and dries himself. While Benny is underwater, Jeremy hurries up and opens the bathroom door so Momma Bear can hear Benny creating a sudsy mess in the bathroom. You'll just have to read this cute book to see if Jeremy escapes before Momma Bear's arrival, or if he has to share in the blame of messing up the bathroom.

This very visual book with its crisply written text, shiny front and back cover pages, and huge colorful photos of suds, teddy bears, and an occasional rubber ducky, is sure to be a great delight to all your little ones.

~ Reviewed by: Gayle Jacobson-Huset
Assistant Editor
Stories for Children Magazine

Donna Boock's Review

Older brother Jeremy Bear wants his solo time in the tub, but little brother Benjamin breaks into the bath and makes an enormous mess. Jeremy is certain Momma Bear will blame him as usual…until he concocts a brilliant plan that will leave poor Benny squeezed out and hung to dry!

Alice Berger’s debut picture book, Who’s Taking a Bath?, is a humorous story of sibling rivalry with adorable illustrations. The book is a fun read, and it’s sure to give older brothers and sisters a good laugh.

~ Donna Boock lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter, and adopted dog. A stay-at-home mother, she writes in the blessed hours when her not nearly sleepy enough daughter naps. Please look for her soon-to-be-published story Making a Mother’s Day in the online magazine Stories for Children in May 2008, and for her mystery Night Owl Nabs the Sheep Snatcher in a future edition of Highlights for Children magazine.

Maureen Straka's Review

Bear lovers beware- these troublesome Teddies can cause some serious mischief! Who’s Taking a Bath? is an entertaining story which captures the antics of two spunky bear brothers as they make a major mess in the bathroom. Jeremy is frustrated when his pesky little brother won’t let him bathe in peace, but he has the last laugh when Benny is hung out to dry. It’s a fun spin on sibling rivalry to which children will easily relate. Teddy bear buffs will delight in the endearing photographs throughout the picture book.

~ Maureen Straka is a teacher, reading specialist, and a mother of two young boys. She has stories accepted for publication by Spider, Clubhouse Jr., and Stories for Children Magazine.