Geo Librarian

PEPPA PIG AND THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE created by Mark Baker and Neville Astley Candlewick Entertainment, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2810-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Join Peppa Pig and her family for a high-flying Christmas—and a special surprise—when Grandpa Pig receives a drone from Santa. It’s Christmas morning, and Santa has left presents under the tree for everyone. But no one is more delighted than Grandpa Pig, whose gift is something he’s always wanted: a drone! Everyone rushes outside to try it out, and Peppa and George love watching where it flies. But when its battery runs low, the drone is supposed to fly home. Where is that? Could it be . . . the North Pole? As Peppa and George watch and wait, they spot friends having wintry fun while Grandpa’s gift flies farther and farther away. What kind of Christmas surprise will it take for him to get it b

THROUGH THE NORTH POLE SNOW by Polly Faber, illustrated by Richard Jones Candlewick Press, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2852-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK What happens when a little white fox meets a certain jolly old soul? A sweet, enchantingly illustrated take on how Santa spends the year leading up to Christmas. When a hunting fox pounces through the snow and finds itself inside a warm home, it's welcomed and given dinner by a kind bearded man with a big round belly. Soon yawning, the man leaves the fox to explore through piles of strewn wrapping paper and rows of empty shelves. As the man sleeps, the fox curls up, too, until sun and flowers return, luring them both outside. But soon the man gets back to work—drawing and measuring, painting and hammering, sewing and stuffing, until all the empty shelves are filled from top to bottom. Paired with Richa

REINDEER IN HERE: A Christmas Friend written by Adam Reed, illustrated by Xindi Yan Simon Spotlight, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-6659-0013-3 Source: publisher for review Ages 4 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & images provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE SET Soon to be airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+! Start a new holiday tradition and celebrate what makes each child unique with this giftable boxed set that comes with a timeless picture book and a lovable, huggable plush. Reindeer in Here celebrates that being different is normal. This holiday legend from long, long ago is a very special story that children should know. A kind and true reindeer with one antler small miraculously changed Christmas once and for all. At holiday time, a special little reindeer with mismatched antlers shows up as an early gift from Santa to stay with each child and go on daily adventures with them. The reindeer learns the child’s true Christmas wishes (and m

JUST JOKING SCIENCE by Rosie Gowsell Pattison National Geographic 2022 ISBN: 978-1-4263-7151-6 Source: Media Masters Publicity for review (THANKS!) Ages 8-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK This hilarious new book in the kid-favorite Just Joking series—packed with 300 science-themed jokes, riddles, knock-knocks, tongue twisters, and more—is scientifically proven to leave kids laughing, chuckling, and exclaiming “Eureka!” It’s got jokes about all kinds of science stuff—kooky chemistry, funny physics, dinosaurs, space, and more—plus 10 stories of real-life scientific experiments that are so wacky you’ll hardly believe them! This book is a gut-busting party-starter or a quiet-time entertainer, great for chuckling alone or reading aloud to friends and family. It’s also perfectly portable: Toss it in a backpack or take it on the road for on-the-go giggles. The perfect read for science whizzes (and

ALL THE PLACES WE CALL HOME written by Patrice Gopo, illustrated by Jenin Mohammed Worthy Kids, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5460-1266-5 Source: WorthyKids for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Fall in love with this lyrically written and lushly illustrated exploration of identity and home that celebrates all the places and people who make us who we are. "And where shall we go?" Mama asks as she tucks me in. "South Africa. Where I was born." My answer summons Mama's stories, stories that send us soaring back in time to when I was a baby. Out my window. Down my street. Across water. Across continents. Where do you come from? Where does your family come from? For many children, the answers to these questions can transform a conversation into a journey around the globe. In her first picture book, author Patrice Gopo illuminates how family stories help shape ch

These two beautiful novels-in-verse have a lot in common.  Both have black male protagonists who love music and play the guitar.  Both boys have fathers who have health problems.  Both books are written by BIPOC female authors who are known for their poetic abilities.  The books have their differences as well, Garvey faces isolation during the pandemic while ZJ has his family and his 'boys' to help and support him. BEFORE THE EVER AFTER by Jacqueline Woodson Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020 ISBN: 978099545436 Source: school library Middle grade realistic/contemporary fiction/novel-in-verse Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Jacqueline Woodson's novel-in-verse explores how a family moves forward when their glory days have passed and the cost of professional sports on Black bodies. For as long as ZJ can remember, his dad has been everyone's hero. As a charming, talented pro football star, he's as beloved to the neighborhood kids he plays with

BRIGHT WINTER NIGHT by Alli Brydon, illustrated by Ashling Lindsay Two Lions, 2022 ISBN: 978-1542022248 Source: Blue Slip Media for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, summary, & illustrations are provided by Blue Slip Media & the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK The forest calls, and creatures come: big and small, one by one. They sense there is a task to do as night descends, replacing blue. On one bright winter night, a group of woodland creatures emerges from the forest. Despite their differences, they start to build something together, using items found on the forest floor. What are they making? And how quickly can they build it? Something special is happening tonight, and soon the animals are off—in a race to catch a glimpse of one of nature’s most astounding wonders! With lyrical text and sparkling artwork, Bright Winter Night is a celebration of the joy and beauty of nature and the special gift of friendship and togetherness. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

UNSETTLED by Reem Faruqi, narrated by Ariana Delawari HarperCollins, 2021 ISBN:  9781665077606 (AUDIOBOOK) Source: school library -- Sora Ages 9-12 Middle grade contemporary fiction (novel-in-verse) All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK For fans of Other Words for Home and Front Desk, this powerful, charming own voices immigration story follows a girl who moves from Karachi, Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia, and must find her footing in a new world. Reem Faruqi is the ALA Notable author of award-winning Lailah's Lunchbox. A lyrical coming of age story exploring family, immigration, and most of all belonging. Nurah is a compelling main character who I was rooting for all the way through. --Aisha Saeed, New York Times bestselling author of Amal Unbound When her family moves from Pakistan to Peachtree City, all Nurah wants is to blend in, yet she stands out for all the wrong reasons. Nurah'

I CANNOT DRAW A HORSE by Charise Mericle Harper Union Square Kids, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-60582-261-7 Source: F&G from publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Award-winning author and illustrator Charise Mericle Harper delivers a fantastically funny adventure about doing the impossible: drawing a horse.   The cat wants a horse. The book cannot draw a horse. The book CAN draw a squirrel, a beaver, and a bunny. Fun . . . but the cat still wants a horse.   Can the quick-draw book appease the horse-obsessed cat with an impressive collection of horse-y alternatives (all created from the same “nothing shape”)? Or will the cat finally get a horse? The cat REALLY wants a horse. REVIEW I Cannot Draw a Horse  struck a chord with me.  As a non-artist I could relate to the author/illustrator's reluctance to try drawing a horse.  Horses can be quite difficult to draw after all depe

THE DOOR OF NO RETURN by Kwame Alexander Little, Brown and Company, 2022 ISBN: 978-0-316-44186-5 Source: purchased Ages 12 and up Historical fiction/novel in verse All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Award winning author Kwame Alexander, comes the first book in a searing, breathtaking trilogy that tells the story of a boy, a village, and the epic odyssey of an African family. Young Kofi lives and dreams on the banks of the river Offin. He loves these things above all else: his family, the fireside tales of his father’s father, a girl named Ama, and, of course, swimming. It is in the river that he feels invincible and where he thinks he can finally prove himself in a race against his schoolyard rival. But the river also holds dark secrets that Kofi will soon discover. Told never to venture there after nightfall but never told why, Kofi seeks his own answer

ODDER by Katherine Applegate Fewer and Friends, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-250-14742-4 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Now a #1 New York Times bestseller! A touching and lyrical tale about a remarkable sea otter, from Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate, author of Wishtree. Meet Odder, the Queen of Play: Nobody has her moves. She doesn’t just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs. She doesn’t just somersault, she triple-doughnuts. She doesn’t just ride the waves, she makes them. Odder spends her days off the coast of central California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spinning the quirky stories for which she’s known. She’s a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself—and about the humans who hope to save her. In

MY GRANDMOM written and illustrated by Gee-Eun Lee Amazon Crossing Kids, 2022 ISBN: 978-1662508257 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, illustrations, summary & author/illustrator information provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK Gee-eun is a little girl whose parents work a lot. So she spends her days with her beloved grandmother. Grandma comforts Gee-eun when she’s sad to see her parents leaving and shares in all of Gee-eun’s daily joys and problems. She even fills in for Gee-eun’s mom at the family sports day, though things don’t quite go as planned…But one thing is for sure: Grandma and Gee-eun always have an unforgettable time until the end of the day, when the whole family can come together for a meal made by Grandma. Based on the author’s relationship with her own grandmother, this is a heart-warming celebration of a most unique and precious guardian: the GrandMom. ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLSTRATOR & TRANSLATOR Gee-eun Le

LEAVE IT TO PLUM! by Matt Phelan Greenwillow Books, 2022 ISBN:     978-0-06-307916-8 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK When a small mammal with an oversized ego tries to take over the zoo, just leave it to the big-hearted peacock Plum to save the day! From award-winning author Matt Phelan, the creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs and its two sequels, Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere. Young Plum is one of the peacock ambassadors for the Athensville Zoo. Every day the peacocks are allowed to wander freely among the zoo's visitors, delighting and guiding kids and grown-ups alike. The peacocks are very proud of their responsibility; none so much as kind, curious Plum. But Itch the ningbing--a type of very small marsupial--doesn't understand why those birdbrains should get so

RED, WHITE, AND WHOLE by Rajani LaRocca Quill Tree Books, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-304742-6 Source: my school library Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An #ownvoices novel in verse about an Indian American girl whose life is turned upside down when her mother is diagnosed with leukemia. Reha feels torn between two worlds: school, where she’s the only Indian American student, and home, with her family’s traditions and holidays. But Reha’s parents don’t understand why she’s conflicted—they only notice when Reha doesn’t meet their strict expectations. Reha feels disconnected from her mother, or Amma, although their names are linked—Reha means “star” and Punam means “moon”—but they are a universe apart. Then Reha finds out that her Amma is sick. Really sick. Reha, who dreams of becoming a doctor even though she can’t stomach the sight of blood, is determined to make her Amma well again. S

  THE GREAT CAPER CAPER Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast #5 by Josh Funk, illustrated by Brendan Kearney Union Square & Co., 2022 ISBN: 9781454943631   Source : eBook for review from author Ages: 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are back in a Las Veggies heist for the ages! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast awake one morning to near-darkness. Who could possibly have stolen the fridge light? And what if the fridge is—gasp—dark all the time? Not to worry; Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast are on the case! Along with their friends, they assemble blueprints, collect supplies, and investigate. Will they bring the fridge back to its bright self, or will they have to live in semi-darkness . . . forever? REVIEW Josh Funk's continuing Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast series returns with another winning tale of friendship and adventure.  After waking up