Geo Librarian

BEAR WITH ME by Kerascoet Random House Studio, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-593-30767-0 Source: Nicole Banholzer PR for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW In Bear with me , a young girl finds a way to handle her disappointment when she must leave her beloved stuffed bear at home when she attends school for the first time. Using only the words 'bear with me' scattered throughout the book, the author & illustrator tell the story of a young girl's attachment to her stuffed bear. When her father must wash it, she screams, and her father sits with her watching as bear gets his cleaning. Naturally she's thrilled when she gets bear back (bear with me). The use of the words 'bear with me' highlights the girl's desire to have the bear with her at all times. Some humor shines through when she tries to stuff the bear in her backpack for traveling to school (hint: it doesn't fit) before th...

FIGURE IT OUT, HENRI WELDON by Tanita S. Davis Katherine Tegan Books, 2023 ISBN:978-0063143579 Source: eARC from Netgalley/Kindle version purchased Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW Henri Weldon's efforts to balance home life, school work, and soccer make up the heart of this relatable middle grade novel. Henrietta, called Henri, struggles to adapt to a public middle school after attending a private school to help with her learning disability. She befriends a group of foster siblings much to her sister's dismay and tries out for the soccer team despite her family's doubts of her ability to handle it on top of her school work. Increasing conflict with her sister and feeling a lack of support from her family leads Henri to attempt to juggle everything on her own which naturally leads to her making mistakes. The ups and downs of her relationships felt realistic and empathy-inducing. The relations...

TO CHANGE A PLANET by Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell Scholastic Press, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-338-62861-6 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW Christina Soontornvat's winning writing continues with this beautiful book. Soontornvat's beautiful poetic writing combined with Rahele Jomepour Bell's stunning illustrations makes for an amazing book. I especially appreciated how the author explained the basics of climate change in a way that children will be able to understand. The author shows readers some of the challenges that earth is facing, how humans are contributing to those problems and how we can come together to help improve things. Factual and hopeful at the same time, this book makes for a great teaching tool and an inspiring read aloud. The symbolism and beauty of the illustrations adds to the power of the book. I also appreciated the large size of the ...

LAND OF BROKEN PROMISES by Jane Kuo Quill Tree Books, 2023 ISBN:   9780063119048 Ages 9-12 Source: eARC from Netgalley Middle grade historical fiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW In this follow-up to In the Beautiful Country , Anna's family continues to adjust to their new home. Anna's found a friend and she enjoys school.  Her classmates all seem to have fun summer plans while she's expected to spend her summer working at her family's restaurant/store, which she is not looking forward to, although the money she will earn will be welcome. But the discovery that the visa allowing them to stay in the country has expired and they are now in the country illegally throws the whole family into upheaval. Her mother takes a job in another city hoping to earn money to hire a lawyer to help and Anna is left to wonder if dreaming about the future is even worth the effort. The free verse beautifully convey...

  THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PRINCE IN PINK The Princess in Black #10 by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0978-5 Source: purchased Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW The Princess in Black teams up with a new friend when she runs into a problem that her superhero self can't solve. Princess Magnolia arrives at the Flower Festival ready to set up for the upcoming ball.  But a visit from an angry emu leaves her decorations in tatters.  A knight forces the emu out but the damage has been done. Luckily, the Prince in Pink shows up to help Princess Magnolia get ready for the ball in time.  And all the royals come together with their various alter egos to face the emu and her ostrich cohorts when they show up at the ball. When a series gets to the tenth book it can be difficult to find new and fresh stories to tell, but the Hales ...

WE ARE ONE by Jackie Azúa Kramer illustrated by Raissa Figueroa & Nina Mata Two Lions, 2023 ISBN: 978-1542016940 Source: publisher through Blue Slip Media for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & other materials provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATORS Jackie Azúa Kramer is the author of many books, including The Boy and the Gorilla, illustrated by Cindy Derby; I Wish You Knew, illustrated by Magdalena Mora; and The Green Umbrella, illustrated by Maral Sassouni. Her books have been named a Best of the Best Book by the Chicago Public Library and to Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list. Jackie lives with her family in New York. Visit her at www.jackieazuakramer.com . Instagram: @jackie_azua_kramer Twitter: @JackieKramer422 Niña Mata has illustrated many children’s books, including New York Times bestsellers She’s Got This by Laurie Hernandez and I Promise by LeBron James, and the Ty’...

A WORK IN PROGRESS by Jarrett Lerner Aladdin, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-6659-0515-2 Source: ARC from publisher/purchased copy Ages 9-12 Middle grade realistic fiction/novel-in-verse All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW The unkind words of another kid during elementary school sends Will into a tailspin when he begins to believe them.  Being called 'fat' leads Will down a road of self-reproach bordering on self-hatred that culminates in the loss of friends, confidence, and into disordered eating. The heart-breaking book focuses on Will as he struggles with not only his weight but even more with the way he sees himself.  The free-verse conveys Will's thoughts so clearly and emotionally that I found myself in tears more than once. I wanted to leap into the book and give Will a hug while reassuring him that his weight has nothing to do with his value. Thankfully, Will meets someone who nudges him toward healthier thinkin...