Geo Librarian

SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF by A.F. Steadman Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-6659-1273-0 Source: ARC from publisher for review (THANKS!) Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Soar into a breathtaking world of heroes and unicorns as you’ve never seen them before in this fantastical middle grade debut perfect for fans of the Percy Jackson and Eragon series! Skandar Smith has always yearned to leave the Mainland and escape to the secretive Island, where wild unicorns roam free. He’s spent years studying for his Hatchery exam, the annual test that selects a handful of Mainlander thirteen-year-olds to train to become unicorn riders. But on the day of Skandar’s exam, things go horribly wrong, and his hopes are shattered…until a mysterious figure knocks on his door at midnight, bearing a message: the Island is in peril and Skandar must answer its call. Skandar is t

SWIM, JIM by Kaz Windness Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5344-8343-9 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & book cover provided by Goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Jim the crocodile finds the courage to face his fear of swimming in this funny and charming debut picture book for fans of Jabari Jumps and Jean Reidy’s Truman! Jim the crocodile is scared of swimming—or rather, of sinking. His family’s swamp is just too deep, too dark, and too big. But maybe he could swim, if only there were a smaller swamp where he could try it on his own terms. Jim wiggle-waggles far and wide until he finds the perfect place. With the help of some floaties and his sisters, Jim just might find the courage to face his fear and show everyone—including himself—that Jim can swim! REVIEW There is something remarkable funny about a crocodile wearing floaties while attempting to stick a toe in the wa

EGGASAURUS written by Jennifer Wagh, illustrated by Hallie Bateman Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5344-5006-6 Source: publisher for review (THANKS!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by goodreads.com & the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK In this funny and winsome epistolary picture book, a young boy who orders a dinosaur egg ends up with more than he—or his dad—bargained for! All Maximus wants is a pet dinosaur—is that really too much to ask? But when his dad tells him he must send the egg back to where it came from, a mysterious company called Eggasaurus, Inc, a hiccup in communication leads to Max getting more…and more…and MORE eggs! Can he and his dad find a compromise before the eggs hatch and the baby dinosaurs take over their home? REVIEW Eggasaurus presents readers with a series of letters written between a young boy, Maximus, and a company named Eggasaurus Inc.  Maximus ordered dinosaur eggs from t

MONSTERS IN THE MIST by Juliana Brandt Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-7282-4544-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK When Glennon McCue moves into a lighthouse on a mysterious island not found on any maps, he must figure out why those who visit are never heard from again before he and his family fall victim to the island's curse. When Glennon McCue's father takes an overseas position, Glennon finds himself relocated from Minneapolis to his Uncle's light house on Isle Philippeaux, smack dab in the middle of Lake Superior surrounded by nothing but black, ominous waters. The place is frightening and becomes even more so when a storm rocks the island and a ship wrecks outside the lighthouse. Even worse, the survivors are terrified to learn they've washed up on the phantom isle. There are many stories about Isle Philippeaux; sailors wa

SERIES TITLE: Mr. Wolf's Class Author: Aron Nels Steinke Volumes: #1: Mr. Wolf's Class  #2: Mystery Club #3: Lucky Stars #4: Field Trip #5: Snow Day Publisher: Scholastic, 2018-2022 Sources: school library, purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book covers and summaries provided by goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOKS #1--Mr. Wolf has just started teaching at Hazelwood Elementary. He wants the first day of school to go well, but he's got his hands full with his new class. Some of his students include: Margot, who is new in town and is trying to make friends. Sampson, who brought something special to school for show-and-tell. Aziza, who just wants everyone to be quiet and do their work. And Penny, who is VERY sleepy because she has a new baby brother at home, goes missing! This delightful new series captures the everyday -- and unexpected -- ups and downs of a fourth-grade classroom.  #2--Mr. Wolf's students are settling into their new classroom,

HAPPY SLOTH DAY! by April Pulley Sayre with Jeff Sayre Beach Lane Books, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5344-5373-9 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by Goodreads.com & the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Take a stunning sloth’s-eye view of the world in this beautiful and informative photographic nonfiction picture book from award-winning author and photographer April Pulley Sayre. Come meet sloths in the rainforest canopy where these slow, gentle creatures live and see what they eat, how they hide from predators, and much more. Young readers will also learn about some of the other creatures that share this interconnected and fragile tropical forest ecosystem. With gorgeous photographs, a text that’s perfect for reading aloud, info-packed side bars, and detailed end matter, this book will captivate sloth enthusiasts of all ages! REVIEW April Pulley Sayre's beautiful poetry and amazing photography in Happy Slo

THIS IS A SCHOOL words by John Schu, illustrations by Veronica Miller Jamison Candlewick Press, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0458-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by Goodreads.com and the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK A moving celebration of school and all it may signify: work and play, creativity and trust, and a supportive community that extends beyond walls. A school isn’t just a building; it is all the people who work and learn together. It is a place for discovery and asking questions. A place for sharing, for helping, and for community. It is a place of hope and healing, even when that community can’t be together in the same room. John Schu, a librarian and former ambassador of school libraries for Scholastic, crafts a loving letter to schools and the people that make up the communities within in a picture book debut beautifully illustrated by Veronica Miller Jamison. REVIEW A school is so much more than a pl

THE HIKING VIKING by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Timothy Banks Capstone Editions, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-68446-427-2 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK While the other Vikings love to holler and howl and battle and brawl, Leif prefers spending time by himself atop the beautiful fjord. But when it's time for the Viking Games, everyone must participate. Will Leif let down his clan . . . or surprise them? Highlighting the value of nature and earthly wonders, best-selling author Laura Gehl teams up with illustrator Timothy Banks to remind readers to stay true to themselves and to look at things from a new perspective.  ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than thirty popular picture books, board books, and early readers including One Big Pair of Underwear, Except When They Don't, My Pillow Keeps Moving, and the Baby Scientist series. She loves spending time outdoors, especially hiking. Lau

ODD BIRDS Meet Nature's Weirdest Flock by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas Abrams Appleseed, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4223-1 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 1-3 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary, author information, and illustrations provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet nature’s oddballs in this charming board book about some of the most unique birds in the world. Backyard birds—move over! Odd Birds introduces babies and toddlers to unusual bird species, including the magnificent frigatebird with a bright red throat pouch and the California condor—the largest flying birds in North America! Gentle rhyming verses provide the comforting repetition that little ones crave, even as their minds are opened to new and fascinating creatures from around the world. At the end of the book, readers will find photographs of each bird, along with more detailed factual information. The eight birds featured are the magnificent frigatebird, blue-footed booby, shoebil

KINGSTON AND THE MAGICIAN'S LOST AND FOUND by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-525-51686-6 Source: MB Communications Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by MBCommunications & publisher ABOUT THE BOOK Magic has all but disappeared in Brooklyn, but one tenacious young magician is determined to bring it back in this exciting middle grade mystery. Kingston has just moved from the suburbs back to Echo City, Brooklyn--the last place his father was seen alive. Kingston's father was King Preston, one of the world's greatest magicians. Until one trick went wrong and he disappeared. Now that Kingston is back in Echo City, he's determined to find his father. Somehow, though, when his father disappeared, he took all of Echo City's magic with him. Now Echo City--a ghost of its past--is living up to its name. With no magic left, the magicians have packed up and left town and those who've