Geo Librarian

SCIENCE FAIR CRISIS Secret Hero Society #4 by Derek Fridolfs, Pamela Lovas, and Shane Clester Scholastic, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-338-52850-3 Source: book fair Ages 9-12 Graphic novel All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Clark Kent (Superman), Bruce Wayne (Batman), and Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) are starting a new school year at Justice Prep. This semester, everyone is focusing on their science projects: Principal James Gordon announced that the winner of the upcoming science fair gets an all-inclusive trip to the new S.T.A.R. Laboratories space facility. Who wouldn't want to win a trip to outer space? All the kids want to try their best to win. As the fair draws closer, the students receive a text message from a mysterious, untraceable number saying: "if you help me, I can help YOU win the science fair!" Just who is behind this mystery number, and what do they have to do with the science fair? It's up to Clark, Diana, and Bruce...

THE PERFECT HORSE The Daring Rescue of Horses Kidnapped During World War II The New York Times Bestseller Adapted for Young Readers by Elizabeth Letts Delacorte Press, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-525-64474-3 Source: purchased Ages 12 and up YA Narrative Nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this young readers adaptation of Elizabeth Letts' New York Times bestseller, one American troop will save the world's most precious horses during the final stretch of World War II. When a small troop of American soldiers capture a German spy, they uncover an unexpected secret: Hitler has kidnapped the world's finest purebred horses and hidden them in a secret Czechoslovakian breeding farm. But, starving Russian troops are drawing closer and the horses face the danger of being slaughtered for food. With little time to spare, Colonel Hank Reed and his soldiers cross enemy lines to heroically save some of the world's most treasured animals...

A PIGLET NAMED MERCY by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen Candlewick Press, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-7636-7753-4 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Every porcine wonder was once a piglet! Celebrate the joy of a new arrival with this endearing picture-book prequel to the New York Times best-selling Mercy Watson series. Mr. Watson and Mrs. Watson live ordinary lives. Sometimes their lives feel a bit too ordinary. Sometimes they wish something different would happen. And one day it does, when someone unpredictable finds her way to their front door. In a delightful origin story for the star of the Mercy Watson series, a tiny piglet brings love (and chaos) to Deckawoo Drive — and the Watsons’ lives will never be the same. REVIEW As a big fan of the original Mercy Watson early chapter book series, I was thrilled when I heard about a new book about Mercy.  And I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  It...

LINDSAY'S JOYRIDE Shred Girls #1 by Molly Hurford, illustrations by Violet Lemay Rodale Kids, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-63565-277-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 Middle grade contemporary/sports All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK An empowering new series from the cyclist who runs Shred-Girls.com is guaranteed to give readers an adrenaline rush--and the confidence girls gain from participating in sports! It's time to ride and save the day! Lindsay can't wait to spend her summer break reading comics and watching superhero movies--until she finds out she'll be moving in with her weird older cousin Phoebe instead. And Phoebe has big plans for Lindsay: a BMX class at her bike park with cool-girl Jen and perfectionist Ali. Lindsay's summer of learning awesome BMX tricks with new friends and a new bike turns out to be more epic than any comic book--and it's all leading up to a jumping competition. But some of the bike...

A CIRCLE OF ELEPHANTS by Eric Dinerstein Disney-Hyperion, 2019 ISBN: 978-136801658-2 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade historical/global fiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From the author of What Elephants Know , a 2017 ALA Notable Children's Book and winner of the 2017 South Asia Book Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature, comes this stunning companion novel about the complex relationship between people and nature coexisting in the Borderlands of 1970s Nepal. Thirteen-year-old Nandu lives in the newly established Royal Elephant Breeding Center on the edge of the jungle. Here, the King's elephants are to be raised under the protective watch of the stable. Nandu-along with his adoptive father Subba-sahib , his mentors, friends, and the rest of the elephant drivers-is tested by man and nature as earthquakes, drought, wild herds, and rumors of poachers threaten the Center. When Nandu's world is t...

SPARKLY NEW FRIENDS Unicorn and Yeti #1 Heather Ayris Burnell, illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla An Acorn Book Scholastic, 2019 ISBN: 9781338329032 (eBook) Source: purchased Ages 3-6 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK This series is part of Scholastic's early reader line, Acorn, aimed at children who are learning to read. With easy-to-read text, a short-story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency. Acorn books plant a love of reading and help readers grow! Unicorn has a horn and can do magic. Yeti is big and furry and cannot do magic. Yeti likes snowball fights. Unicorn does not like snowball fights. But Unicorn and Yeti both love sparkly things, magic rainbows, and -- most of all -- being best friends! These laugh-out-loud stories with full-color artwork and easy-to-read text throughout are perfect for new readers! REVIEW Unicorns are really popular...

PICTURING AMERICA Thomas Cole and the Birth of American Art by Hudson Talbott Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-399-54867-3 Ages 4-8 Picture book nonfiction Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK This look at artist Thomas Cole's life takes readers from his humble beginnings to his development of a new painting style that became America's first formal art movement: the Hudson River school of painting. Thomas Cole was always looking for something new to draw. Born in England during the Industrial Revolution, he was fascinated by tales of the American countryside, and was ecstatic to move there in 1818. The life of an artist was difficult at first, however Thomas kept his dream alive by drawing constantly and seeking out other artists. But everything changed for him when he was given a ticket for a boat trip up the Hudson River to see the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains. The haunting beauty of the landsca...