Geo Librarian

  SNOWMEN'S TWELVE NIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS written by Carolyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-593-62472-2 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A classic Christmas carol told with a hilarious Snowmen twist, from the New York Times bestselling creators Caralyn and Mark Buehner The Twelve Days of Christmas has never been funnier or more chaotic as an energetic dog chases an elf, peeking penguins, scolding squirrels, and many more snowmen and creatures up a tree. With a pitch-perfect and jaunty rhyme and illustrations chockful of fun details, this cumulative book from New York Times bestselling husband-and-wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner begs to be read (and sung!) aloud over and over again. REVIEW The Buehner's have created yet another delightful snowmen story. This time readers get to see snow penguins, snow rabbit...

  CLARICE BEAN - THINK LIKE AN ELF written and illustrated by Lauren Child Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2365-1 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 9-12 Middle grade realistic fiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Join the one and only Clarice Bean and ‘Think Like an Elf’ in this irresistible and spectacularly sparkling Christmas story from the inimitable Lauren Child. Clarice Bean usually looks forward to Christmas. Except this year it is going to be a quiet-ish Christmas in her house, which doesn’t feel right because Christmas is all about noisiness and being full up and FAMILY. And without those things, she is going to have to try exceptionordinarily hard to stop the Christmas spirit completely floating away…But luckily, there is no one in the world like Clarice Bean – and she is going to THINK LIKE AN ELF, and that means everything will be A-OKAY. Won’t it? The one...

HOW DOES SANTA GO DOWN THE CHIMNEY? by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2376-7 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The beloved, multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question. When Santa arrives at a child’s house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feetfirst or headfirst? What if he gets stuck? What if there’s no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the faucet? What happens once he’s inside? Whether it’s shape-shifting or impromptu laundry use, Mac Barnett’s iconic talent for earnest deadpan humor and Jon Klassen’s irresistibly funny art honor the timeless question with answers both ridiculous and plausible, mounting in hilarity as the night continues. Channeling a child’s ...

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE SLEIGH! words and pictures by Mo Willems Union Square Kids, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-4549-5277-0 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a new holiday classic. It’s the most wonderful time of the year—for driving a sleigh! ’Tis also the season—for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the—driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it once. Can his holiday dream come true? Or will The Pigeon be left out in the cold? You’ll share some HO-HO-HOs and HA-HA-HAs finding out in three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems’ ninth Pigeon book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! REVIEW Mo Willems hits it out of the park again. The pigeon once again wants to drive something. This time it's a sleigh. As in previous volumes, he begs and pleads before throwing ...

  JOY TO THE WORLD: Christmas Around the Globe written by Kate DePalma, illustrated by Sophie Fatus Barefoot Books, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-64686-297-9 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Explore Christmas traditions from 13 different countries! Rhyming text and detailed illustrations make the book accessible to younger readers, while educational endnotes about the 13 celebrations add interest for older children. Gold ink and festive illustrations capture the joy of the season and make this book a beautiful gift in itself. Engaging and informative for anyone who wants to learn about the holiday. Features Christmas traditions from *Ethiopia *Colombia *Australia *Italy *Serbia *Mexico *India *Iceland *Egypt *Argentina *Philippines *Lebanon *Canada REVIEW Reading about cultural traditions from other places provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of other people. So...

DASHER CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS written & illustrated by Matt Tavares Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3013-0 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 Matt Tavares's sequel to the New York Times best-selling Dasher is a joyful ode to helping others--and another holiday classic in the making. "If you ever get lost, just look for the North Star." With only one sleep left before Christmas Eve, Dasher can't contain her excitement for her favorite holiday. With the sound of Christmas carols on the breeze and twinkling lights radiating from a nearby city, she sneaks off to visit the festivities. But as night deepens and snow starts to fall, Dasher realizes she can no longer spot the North Star in the sky to lead her home. Will the kindness of a child, an unexpected gift, and a dose of Christmas spirit get her back in time to help guide S...

THE CHRISTMASSY CACTUS written by Beth Ferry, illustrated by A.N. Kang Harper, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-06-303964-3 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Bestselling author Beth Ferry of Stick and Stone and The Scarecrow is back with an irresistible holiday picture book. Tiny Cactus loves Christmas! But she doesn’t love that her little girl seems to be spending more time with the giant sparkly tree in the living room than with her. Maybe if she were decorated like the Christmas tree, her little girl would notice her again. And so Tiny Cactus makes a wish—to be special, to be noticed, to be a part of the magic of Christmas. With the support of her friend and some Christmas magic, Tiny Cactus learns that wishes can come true if you believe hard enough. REVIEW Tiny Cactus loves being called "little cupcake", "little bonbon", and "little gingersnap" by h...

FOOD FOR THE FUTURE Sustainable Farms Around the World words by Mia Wenjen, art by Robert Sae-Heng Barefoot Books, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-64686-840-7 Source: author for review (Thanks!) Picture book nonfiction Ages 6 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book summary & cover provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Go on a tour of eco-friendly farms around the globe! From urban gardens to farms under the sea, discover the many different sustainable ways people have been growing food for centuries, and new innovations that are battling the effects of climate change on farming. Rhyming text and inset boxes with definitions for new vocabulary words make the topic accessible to young learners. End matter includes detailed information about each country's farming practice, sustainable farming and more. REVIEW Food for the Future  provides readers with a great introduction to a variety of different farming methods used around the globe. Not only does the b...

  SIMON SAYS GOOD NIGHT written and illustrated by Orit Bergman, translated by Annette Appel Amazon Crossing Kids, 2023 ISBN: 978-1662514289 Source: Blue Slip Media/publisher Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & illustrations provided by Blue Slip Media. Book summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Simon didn’t say go to sleep…did he? After he’s tucked into bed, Simon and his favorite toys get ready to play…Simon Says! The nighttime comes alive, and imaginations run free as Simon issues his commands to his little friends. There’s just one you’d better make sure he said “Simon says,” or else it’s your turn to go to sleep! ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR & TRANSLATOR Orit Bergman is an Israeli author and illustrator. She was born in Jerusalem and lives and works in Kerem Maharal, Israel. She writes and illustrates children's books, adapts her stories for the theater, and frequently meets children across the country. Her boo...

  WHO MADE THIS MESS?      written by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Aleksandar Stojsic Capstone, 2023 978-1-68446-629-0 Source: Blue Slip Media/Publisher Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover and summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Mud splattered everywhere, tangled-up wool in huge piles, and carrot tops strewn about--what in the world is happening in this animal village? It's quite a mystery! But thanks to rhyming clues, everyone will be able to easily guess the animal culprits--or will they? In this laugh-out-loud, expectation-defying picture book, Laura Gehl (May Saves the Day and The Hiking Viking) uses a rhyming mystery to help readers adjust their outlook, keep an open mind, and learn not to make assumptions. REVIEW Books with fun surprises like this one make for laugh-out-loud story times. The way the text is written, the reader immediately feels like the answer is obvious as a rhyme, but it turns out that ...

  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND THE TAINO PEOPLE History Smashers written by Kate Messner and Jose Barreiro Random House, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-593-56426-4 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Myths! Lies! Secrets! Uncover the hidden truth about Christopher Columbus, and learn all about the Taino people. Perfect for fans of the I Survived books and Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed across the ocean and discovered America. Right? WRONG! Columbus never actually set foot in what is now the United States. His voyages took him to islands in the Caribbean and along the coast of South America. The truth is, when Columbus first arrived, Indigenous peoples, including the Taino, had been living there for thousands of years, raising their families, running their societies, and trading with their neighbors. He didn’t “discover” the lands at all! And his ...

THE WILD JOURNEY OF JUNIPER BERRY written by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown Shadow Mountain, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-63993-099-9 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Juniper Berry knows how to handle bobcats, bears, and mountain lions, but can she survive the toughest predator of all—middle school? Eleven-year-old Juniper Berry lives with her family deep in the wild woods. Living off the grid is pretty exciting, but her happy life in the wild ends abruptly when her younger brother gets sick, and they move to the city to be closer to the hospital. Juniper and her older sister end up living with cousins they hardly know and attending public school for the first time, which is harder to navigate than the wild woods ever were. Juniper feels like a wolf cub separated from her pack. As the hospital bills for her brother start piling up, Juniper knows they’ll need...

  THE CHIMPANSNEEZE A Hiccupotamus and Friends Book written and illustrated by Aaron Zenz Two Lions, 2023 ISBN: 978-1662518225 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover and illustrations provided by Blue Slip Media. Book summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A chimp’s big sneeze wreaks hilarious havoc in this delightful companion book to the Amazon bestseller The Hiccupotamus . A chimpanzee and a kinkajou took a walk one day through the wild. The kinkajou spotted buttercups, so he plucked them up and smiled. But when the chimp takes a big sniff of those buttercups… Ahhh-CHOO! The giant ChimpanSNEEZE sends the kinkajou flying, causing a chain of disasters for all their animal buddies. Can the kinkajou find his way back to his chimpanzee friend? Author-illustrator Aaron Zenz has done it again with this zany, rhyming read-aloud that’s perfect for family story time. Revised. This edition of The Chimpansneeze ...

THE BIG CHEESE The Food Group Series #7 written by Jory John and illustrated by Pete Oswald Harper, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-06-335517-0 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com, book summary provided by publisher through Amazon.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The Big Cheese is the best at everything, and brags about it, too. When the annual Cheese-cathlon comes around, the Big Cheese is prepared to win, as always. But what happens when the quiet new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, comes out on top? Is a slice of humility all the Big Cheese needs to discover that some things are better than being the best?  Jory John and Pete Oswald serve up another heaping plate of laughs and lessons with this empowering, witty, and charming addition to their #1 New York Times bestselling series! REVIEW If you love picture books and haven't yet discovered Jory John's and Pete Oswald's Food Group series you have been missing out. I've ...

  THE NIGHT RAVEN The Moonwind Mysteries #1 by Johan Rundberg, translated by A.A. Prime Amazon Crossing Kids, 2023 ISBN: 978-1662509582 Source: Blue Slip Media & Publisher Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, author bios & photos provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK Mika is not your average orphan—and she’s about to prove it. It’s 1880, and in the frigid city of Stockholm, death lurks around every corner. Twelve-year-old Mika knows that everyone in her orphanage will struggle to survive this winter. But at least the notorious serial killer the Night Raven is finally off the streets…or is he? Mika is shocked when a newborn baby is left at the orphanage in the middle of the night, by a boy with a cryptic message. Who is he? And who is this “Dark Angel” he speaks of? When a detective shows up, Mika senses something even more sinister is going on. Drawn in by Mika’s unique ability to notice small details—a skill Mika has always used to survive...

TEN-WORD TINY TALES TO INSPIRE AND UNSETTLE written by Joseph Coelho & illustrated by 21 Artist Friends Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3135-9 Source: publisher for review Ages 10 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK UK Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho presents twenty tiny tales—each one illustrated by a different artist, and each just ten words long—in a book that’s as much a work of art as an invitation to budding writers. “Invite me in,” she says, outside my tenth-story window. Is it possible to spin a tale using just ten words? In this magnificent compendium, author and poet Joseph Coelho proves that it is—with mini-stories of underwater worlds, demon hamsters, bears in outer space, and portals to places unknown. From charming to creepy, fantastical to mysterious, each tale is paired with an outstanding illustrator, and together words and pictures inspire creativity as ...

  THINGS IN THE BASEMENT written & illustrated by Ben Hatch First Second, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-250-83661-8 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From New York Times bestselling author Ben Hatke comes Things in the Basement , a young readers graphic novel about Milo, a young boy who discovers a portal to a secret world in his basement. It was supposed to just be a normal basement—some storage boxes, dust, you know, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they've moved into, Milo finds a door in the back that he's never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous. In fact, there is a whole world down there. As Milo travels ever deeper into the Basement World, he meets the many Things that live in the shadows and gloom...and he learns that to face his fears he must...