Mom’s Favorite Reads eMagazine August 2021

Page 18

Title at the Worldwide Games Bertie by Wendy Stan Phillips H. Jones Reviewed by Sylva Fae

reading together. This book is Bertie’s second one, and it is based around the Olympics. Bertie at the Worldwide Games can be read as a standalone book but I think children would love to have both stories to read together.

Reviewing children’s books is a little different to reviewing ‘grown-up’ books. I find myself reviewing with different hats on – each connected but a slightly different perspective. First is my mum hat, second (but most important) is the reaction of the children I’m reading to, and finally, I can’t help but put my children’s author hat back on.

The Child Review My girls are the biggest critics ever, however they are not always the best at describing their views in words. Their reactions range from getting up and walking away, to mild distraction, to engaging and questioning, and finally the height of praise is wanting the story read again (and again, and again). You can tell our family favourites by how well-read and tatty the books are. Bertie was a ‘read again’ story, and will no doubt become very tatty over time.

The Mum Review As mum, this is a great book to read aloud, with a fun, bouncing, rhyming rhythm to each page. My Scottish accent is rubbish but I gave it a go to add to the character of Bertie Buffalo, and my efforts were appreciated, if not authentic. This is the kind of story to inspire children to be active, it energised my wee listeners, so with that in mind I wouldn’t recommend it as a bedtime story. It is definitely a story to read before going out to play, to encourage children to run and exercise and be generally active. I can imagine this being a great story to read to a nursery or reception class, or as a theme for school sports day. I also liked the fact that Bertie didn’t win every race, and that was OK. The book teaches children that they’re not going to win at everything but it’s important to give everything your best effort. The story also teaches the importance of teamwork, and when Bertie worked with his friends, they won the race together. All great messages for children this age to understand, and it finished with a happy ending.

Their first comments were how cute Bertie was and they also liked that his animal friends were unusual compared to the usual characters found in children’s books. They also enjoyed discussing the animals from other countries and their different skills. Fellow Children’s Author Review Firstly, I thought the book was beautifully presented with simple and engaging illustrations, perfect for the intended readers. It is quite a long book but it meant that each rhyming section had its own page, with plenty of illustrations to hold the child’s attention during the reading. I liked that the positive messages throughout the book were subtle, allowing the young audience to deduce their own meanings. It also sets a framework for parents / teachers to discuss subjects like effort, teamwork and winning.

I heard from the author that the original Bertie the Buffalo book is based on a true story of a baby water buffalo that went missing from a farm in Fife in Scotland. He was roaming around the countryside on his own for 14 days until he returned. My girls were fascinated with this and it added to the fun of

Whichever hat I wear, Bertie at the Worldwide Games gets an easy five stars from me. - 18 -


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Articles inside

Connections eMagazine

4min
pages 81-84

The Scent of Water Reviewed by Wendy H. Jones

3min
pages 76-77

The Trouble with Weasels by Penny Luker

5min
pages 70-71

Europe by Book by Hannah Howe

2min
pages 68-69

Side Benefits of Writing by Allison Symes

8min
pages 72-75

The Rio-Antirrio Bridge by John Greeves

3min
pages 64-65

Hot Rod Todd Coloring Pages

1min
pages 66-67

Wildlife Photography by Gez Robinson

18min
pages 54-63

Man in the Moon … Or Not by Christine Larsen

6min
pages 52-53

Puzzles by Paul Godding

1min
page 51

Look Beyond the Surface by Father Ian Maher

2min
page 50

Mom’s Favorite Reads Author — Chantal Bellehumeur

2min
pages 48-49

Genealogy: Meet My Ancestors by Hannah Howe

3min
pages 40-41

A Night with the Wolves by Chantal Bellehumeur

12min
pages 42-47

Steak Marinade by Adrian Czarnecki

3min
pages 36-37

Savory Potato Salad & Fresh Lemonade by Melanie P. Smith

1min
page 39

Sour Cream Cookies by Val Tobin

1min
page 38

Turkish Style Chicken Skewers by Ceri Bladen

2min
page 35

Campfire Breakfast by Guest Writer Paul Kirtley

3min
pages 33-34

School Holidays by Ollie (Age 12

0
page 24

Mom’s Outdoor Cooking Recipes— Mom’s Authors

2min
page 32

Bertie and the Worldwide Games Reviewed by Sylva Fae

3min
page 18

Coachella by Anthony Randall

15min
pages 25-30

White to Move—Supplied by Chess.com

0
page 31

Wendy H. Jones—Interviewed by Melanie P. Smith

9min
pages 19-23

The Olympics: A Potted History by Wendy H. Jones

4min
pages 16-17

Interviewed by Sylva Fae

8min
pages 8-12
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