Geo Librarian

THE BOOK OF BOY by Catherine Gilbert Murdock Greenwillow Books, 2018 ISBN: 9780062686206 Ages 9-12 Source: public library Overdrive All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Boy has always been relegated to the outskirts of his small village. With a large hump on his back, a mysterious past, and a tendency to talk to animals, he is often mocked and abused by the other kids in his town. Until the arrival of a shadowy pilgrim named Secondus. Impressed with Boy’s climbing and jumping abilities, Secondus engages Boy as his servant, pulling him into an expedition across Europe to gather the seven precious relics of Saint Peter. Boy quickly realizes this journey is not an innocent one. They are stealing the relics, and gaining dangerous enemies in the process. But Boy is determined to see this pilgrimage through until the end—for what if St. Peter can make Boy’s hump go away? This compelling, action-packed tale is full of bravery and daring, stars ...

A SEED IS THE START by Melissa Stewart  National Geographic Kids, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-4263-2977-7 Source: purchased Ages 5 and up Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Beautiful photography and lyrical text pair with comprehensive picture captions in award-winning author Melissa Stewart's story about the surprisingly diverse world of seeds. Learn all about the plant cycle, from how seeds grow, the fascinating ways they travel, and what it takes for a seed to become a plant. Meet seeds that pop, hop, creep, and explode in this vividly illustrated introduction to the simplest concepts of botany. The story, which is perfect for elementary school Common Core learning, carefully highlights the many ways that seeds get from here to there, engaging children's curiosity with strong action verbs. Stunning photographs with fact-packed captions provide supporting details, explaining the role of seed features and function...

CHASING KING'S KILLER The Hunt for Martin Luter King, Jr.'s Assassin by James L. Swanson Scholastic Press, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-545-72333-6 Source: purchased Ages 12 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In his meteoric, thirteen-year rise to fame, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a mass movement for Civil Rights -- with his relentless peaceful, non-violent protests, public demonstrations, and eloquent speeches. But as violent threats cast a dark shadow over Dr. King's life, Swanson hones in on James Earl Ray, a bizarre, racist, prison escapee who tragically ends King's life. As he did in his bestselling Scholastic MG/YA books Chasing Lincoln's Killer and "THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT!" , Swanson transports readers back to one of the most shocking, sad, and terrifying events in American history. With an introduction by Congressman John Lewis, and over 80 photographs, captions, bibliography, various source n...

THE ETERNITY ELIXIR Potion Masters #1 by Frank L. Cole Shadow Mountain, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-62972-358-7 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 Middle grade fantasy/speculative All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Twelve-year-old Gordy Stitser is one of the few people who knows the truth about the secret society of potion masters, because not only is Gordy's mom on the Board of Ruling Elixirists Worldwide (B.R.E.W.), but she has also been training Gordy in the art of potion-making. Gordy is a natural, and every day he sneaks down to the basement lab to invent new potions using exotic ingredients like fire ant eggs, porcupine quills, and Bosnian tickling juice. One afternoon, Gordy receives a mysterious package containing an extremely rare potion known as "The Eternity Elixir." In the right hands, the Elixir continues to protect society. But in the wrong hands, ti could destroy the world as we know it. Now, sinister poti...

CLICK, CLACK, MOO I LOVE YOU! by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin a Caitlyn Dlouhy Book/Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-4814-4496-5 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK It’s Valentine’s Day and on the farm - that means a Valentine’s party! Little Duck is wildly excited. She hangs balloons, streamers, sparkling lights, and hearts everywhere, and hand-makes a valentine for everyone. On top of a hill, a little fox hears the music from the party and follows Little Duck’s many decorations to the barn…but foxes are not at all welcome on farms. The chickens stop dancing. The sheep stop dancing. The pigs stop dancing. The mice hustle off to hide. Will Little Fox ruin the dance? Or, perhaps, she’s just what the party needs!     REVIEW   Cronin and Lewin have created another cute book revolving around the animals on Farmer Brown's farm.  In this o...

HUG MACHINE by Scott Campbell Little Simon, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5344-0026-9 Ages 3-5 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Who have YOU hugged today? Open your arms to this delightfully tender, goofy, and sweet board book from Scott Campbell. Watch out world, here he comes! The Hug Machine! Whether you are big, or small, or square, or long, or spikey, or soft, no one can resist his unbelievable hugs! HUG ACCOMPLISHED! Now available as a board book, this endearing story encourages a warm, caring, and buoyantly affectionate approach to life. Everyone deserves a hug—and this book! REVIEW This is an adorable book about a little boy who calls himself the 'hug machine'.  He spends most of the book hugging anything and anyone in sight.  He hugs his family, the neighbors, a police officer, a tree, a bench, and a post office box.  He also hugs a crying baby, and even a porcupine (with appropriate protection)....

THE UNICORN QUEST The Unicorn Quest #1 by Kamilla Benko Bloomsbury, 2018 ISBN: 9781681192451 Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy) Source: e-ARC from publisher through NetGalley All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Claire Martinson still worries about her older sister Sophie, who battled a mysterious illness last year. But things are back to normal as they move into Windermere Manor... until the sisters climb a strange ladder in a fireplace and enter the magical land of Arden. There, they find a world in turmoil. The four guilds of magic no longer trust each other. The beloved unicorns have gone, and terrible wraiths roam freely. Scared, the girls return home. But when Sophie vanishes, it will take all of Claire's courage to climb back up the ladder, find her sister, and uncover the unicorns' greatest secret. REVIEW Unicorns are pretty popular among my girl readers these days and I have to admit I'm a fan of them to...

GIMME SHELTER The Chicken Squad #5 by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-5344-0571-4 Ages 6-9 Early chapter book Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The Chicken Squad prides themselves on being ready for anything. Marshmallow life preserves? Check. Copious bags of jellybeans for a car ride? Check. Storm shelter? Storm shelter! They need a storm shelter in case there is ever a storm. So Sugar takes it upon herself to build one in the yard. But it turns out it’s not big enough for everyone. And the big dig has unearthed some mysterious surprises. REVIEW Doreen Cronin's Chicken Squad is back in their fifth adventure.  This time around the four siblings face off over a storm/meteor shelter.  Sugar, who tends to take the lead, insists they must be prepared for any upcoming storms which she changes to meteors as soon as Dirt (the educated one) tells her ab...