Geo Librarian

CLICK, CLACK, PEEP! by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4814-2411-0 Ages 4-8 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Farmer Brown, oh-so-sleepy, has a new, adorable and LOUD duckling to deal with in this addition to the award-winning Click, Clack series from the New York Times bestselling team who brought you Click, Clack, Moo and Click, Clack, Boo! There's more trouble on the farm, but Duck has nothing to do with it, for once. This time the trouble is a four-ounce puff of fluff who just won't go to sleep, and whose play-with-me & peeps & are keeping the whole barnyard awake with him. Peep! Peep! Peep! How do you get a baby duck to hit the hay? Poor Farmer Brown will find out and Duck might just find himself in trouble after all. REVIEW Cronin and Lewis have done it again.  They've created an adorable story about Farmer Brown and his animals.  This time ...

WOLFIE THE BUNNY written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Zachariah OHora Little, Brown and Company, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-316-22614-1 Ages 4-8 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Families of all kinds will delight in this sweet tale of new babies, sibling rivalry, bravery, unconditional love...and veggies!   The Bunny family has adopted a wolf son, and daughter Dot is the only one who realizes Wolfie can--and might--eat them all up! Dot tries to get through to her parents, but they are too smitten to listen. A new brother takes getting used to, and when (in a twist of fate) it's Wolfie who's threatened, can Dot save the day? REVIEW I expected this book to be funny, I mean it has a wolf in a bunny suit holding a carrot on the cover after all.  But the ending still surprised me.  The idea of a bunny family taking in a wolf pup is funny to begin with and then the author throws in Dot's fierce distrust of this new mem...

  Countdown to a Meaningful Life” Week 5: Belief To celebrate the upcoming publication of   THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life   by T.A. Barron, we are participating in a countdown campaign based on Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words…but they are the most powerful words of all.  Each week we will focus on one of these magical words with supporting content that will help your readers and followers acknowledge, reflect, practice and get inspired to embark on a new adventure or live life to its fullest. We continue this week with Belief . Excerpt from THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: “Belief is a powerful elixir. It offers strength, renewal, and peace to those who drink it. And your cup can be forever refilled.” “What inspires belief? The answer is different for each person…Whatever else may lie beyond in the spirit realm, we create our own heaven and he...

“Countdown to a Meaningful Life” Week 4: Wonder To celebrate the upcoming publication of   THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life   by T.A. Barron, we are kicking off a countdown campaign based on Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words…but they are the most powerful words of all.  Each week we will focus on one of these magical words with supporting content that will help your readers and followers acknowledge, reflect, practice and get inspired to embark on a new adventure or live life to its fullest. We continue this week with Wonder . Excerpt from THE WISDOM OF MERLIN:                                                 ...

CAT & BUNNY by Mary Lundquist Balzer + Bray, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-06-228780-9 Ages 4-8 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From the heartwarming text to the adorable illustrations of little kids dressed as animals, there's so much to love about Mary Lundquist's debut picture book, Cat & Bunny. Cat and Bunny. Bunny and Cat. It's always been just the two of them--daydreaming, having adventures, playing their special game. Until the day someone else asks, "Can I play?" Mary Lundquist captures all the charm and magic of first friendship in her winning debut picture book. REVIEW Friendship can be a bit tricky at any age.  Cat and Bunny are faced with one of those friendship dilemmas that most children face at one time or another.  Used to playing only with Bunny, Cat is thrown for a loop when Bunny lets the other animals (children) join their made-up game.  Wandering off sadly, Cat hopes that Bunny will jo...

I was thrilled to be able to serve as a second round judge for the Middle Grade Fiction category.  And I am even more pleased to announce the winner.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process of discussing and choosing and am grateful for the opportunity to work with other great bloggers and kidlit lovers. To see the other winners check out the Cybils website here . Nickel Bay Nick by Dean Pitchford Putnam Juvenile Nominated by:  ALWAYS in the MIDDLE Eleven-year-old Sam has had a tough life. He had a heart transplant when he was young and was further scarred by his mom leaving, several minor run-ins with the law, and a father who doesn’t understand him. One night he takes his anger out on an old deserted building and this time when he’s trying to get away, he climbs the tree of the biggest house in town and ends up accidentally destroying the extravagant Christmas decorations in the yard. The owner Mr. Wells insists that he repay him with his time. Mr. Wells knows ever...

JAGUAR STONES SERIES by J & P Voelkel Egmont Book 1: MIDDLEWORLD Fourteen-year-old Max Murphy is looking forward to a family vacation. But his parents, both archaeologists and Maya experts, announce a change in plan. They must leave immediately for a dig in the tiny Central American country of San Xavier. Max will go to summer camp. Max is furious. When he's mysteriously summoned to San Xavier, he thinks they've had a change of heart.  Upon his arrival, Max's wild adventure in the tropical rainforests of San Xavier begins. During his journey, he will unlock ancient secrets and meet strangers who are connected to him in ways he could never have imagined. For fate has delivered a challenge of epic proportions to this pampered teenager. Can Max rescue his parents from the Maya Underworld and save the world from the Lords of Death, who now control the power of the Jaguar Stones in their villainous hands? The scene is set for a roller-coaster ride of s...