Geo Librarian

49 MILES ALONE by Natalie D. Richards Sourcebooks Fire, 2024 ISBN:   9781728276007 Source: NetGalley--eARC from publisher for review Ages 14-18 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Four days alone in the desert. Except they're not as alone as they think. A year ago, Katie and her cousin Aster survived a night that left their world and easy friendship fractured. Desperate to heal and leave the past behind them, they tackle four days of hiking in the Utah backcountry. But the desert they've loved for years has tricks up its sleeve. An illness, an injury, and a freak storm leave them short on confidence and supplies. When they come across a young couple with extra supplies on the trail, they're grateful and relieved―at first. Riley exudes friendliness, but everything about her boyfriend Finn spells trouble. That night, after some chilling admissions about Finn from Riley, Katie and As

  THE SHAPE OF THINGS: How Mapmakers Picture Our World written by Dean Robbins, illustrated by Matt Tavares Alfred A. Knopf, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-47925-4 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 Nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher & Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK How did the first people explore the land they lived on? How did civilizations expand their boundaries and chart courses into new lands? Learn about the history of cartography across cultures in this ode to mapmaking through the ages. Join history's first mapmakers as they explore the wonders of the world! In these pages, you’ll find the tools ancient people used to depict their surroundings, methods different cartographers developed to survey new lands, and how we’ve arrived at modern mapmaking today. Above all else, the thread that runs throughout thousands of years of civilization is the spirit of exploration that helps us measure the shape of things aroun

  OLIVETTI written by Allie Millington Feiwel and Friends, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-250-32693-5 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A heartfelt novel praised by Tom Hanks in the New York Times as including "a conclusion nearly impossible to divine and yet so perfect it includes that most tactile of memories..." Being a typewriter is not as easy as it looks. Surrounded by books (notorious attention hogs) and recently replaced by a computer, Olivetti has been forgotten by the Brindle family—the family he’s lived with for years. The Brindles are busy humans, apart from 12-year-old Ernest, who would rather be left alone with his collection of Oxford English Dictionaries. The least they could do was remember Olivetti once in a while, since he remembers every word they’ve typed on him. It’s a thankless job, keeping memories alive. Olivetti gets a rare glimpse of action fro

A ROYAL CONUNDRUM The Misfits #1 written by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat Random House, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-90562-3 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 When a notorious thief is out for priceless treasure (gems! cats! general decorum!)—who're you gonna call? An elite team of crime-fighting underdogs, that's who! The Misfits are on the case in this hilarious illustrated series from Newbery Honoree Lisa Yee and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat! “For any kid who’s felt like a misfit, this crackling adventure packs a wallop!” —Lincoln Peirce, creator of Big Nate and Max & the Midknights Olive Cobin Zang has . . . issues. And they mostly aren’t her fault. (No, really!) Though she often slips under the radar, problems have a knack for finding her. So, imagine her doubts when she’s suddenly dropped off at the strangest boarding school a former castle turne

  VACATION Bat, Cat & Rat #2 written by American Dyckman, illustrated by Mark Teague Beach Lane Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-6659-3044-4 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK In the second book in the Bat, Cat & Rat picture book series from New York Times bestsellers Ame Dyckman and Mark Teague, the roommates try to compromise on vacation plans in three-and-a-half sweet and silly stories. Bat, Cat, and Rat decide they need a vacation, but planning a trip is no picnic. Conflicts, compromise, and some well-meaning pranks ensue as prep work brings out the trio’s mischievous side. In “Working,” Bat, Cat, and Rat discover their Vacation Jar is empty, and set off working odd jobs to save up funds. But Rat believes that all work and no play is no fun at all—and he knows just the way to fix that. In “Choosing,” the trio can’t decide where to go on thei

  HELLO, I'M A SLOTH Meet the Wild Things by Hayley & John Rocco G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-61812-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Say hello to a sloth, and learn all about this incredible endangered species—and why they need protecting—in this clever, funny, and informative nonfiction picture book, illustrated by a Caldecott Honoree. Did you know sloths only poop once a week? Or that they can fall up to 100 feet without getting hurt? They have hundreds of bugs living on them, including a species of moths that only lives on sloths! And they move so slowly that algae grows on their fur, which—far from being gross—can actually helpsloths by camouflaging them from predators. Chock-full of amazing, kid-friendly facts and inviting artwork from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of Blackout, the Meet the Wild Things ser

ELSE B. IN THE SEA: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep by Jeanne Walker Harvey, illustrated by Melodie Stacey Cameron Kids, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-949480-28-3 Source: Blue Slip Media for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & illustrations provided by publisher through Blue Slip Media. Book summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Else B. in the Sea is a poetic picture book biography about a daring and pioneering woman artist that combines themes of art and science from author Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrator Melodie Stacey. Else Bostelmann donned a red swimsuit and a copper diving helmet and, with paints and brushes in hand, descended into the choppy turquoise sea off the coast of Bermuda. It was 1930, and few had ventured deep into the sea before. She discovered a fairyland six fathoms below the surface—fantastic coral castles, glittering sunbeams, swaying sea plumes, and slender purple sea fans. And fish! F

  CLOUD PUPPY Cloud Puppy #1 written & illustrated by Kelly Leigh Miller Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5582-9 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. Thanks to the publisher for arranging the interview and to Kelly Leigh Miller for answering my questions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Kelly Leigh Miller is an illustrator and author who loves everything cute and whimsical. She is the author of I Love My Fangs!, I Love My Fur!, I Love My Magic!, and many more books. Visit her online at KellyLeighMiller.com . INTERVIEW with KELLY LEIGH MILLER What is the 'story behind the story'? The idea for Cloud Puppy came from me revisiting my old love of Tamagotchis and Sanrio characters. At the time, I had also been studying Japanese mascots, the ones that are for businesses and cities, for character design inspiration. The character of Cloud Puppy c

  MYSTERIOUS, MARVELOUS OCTOPUS written by Paige Towler National Geographic Kids, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-4263-7667-2 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet one of Earth’s most incredible ocean animals in this lyrical, whimsical picture book uniquely layered with photographs, rhyming text, and fascinating facts about octopuses. This playful book introduces young readers to the fascinating world of octopuses big and small, ink-squirting and shape-shifting, all around the planet. With their super smarts and awe-inspiring abilities, octopuses have captivated human imaginations. This book is a celebration of all things weird and wonderful about these beloved creatures—with their eight arms, nine brains, and one-of-a-kind personalities. Inside, find lyrical poetry paired with informational sidebars—perfect for a charming bedtime read or for pouring ov

  THE ELEPHANT AND THE SEA written and illustrated by Ed Vere Doubleday, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-525-58090-4 Source: Publisher through Blue Slip Media (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Blue Slip Media & Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An inspiring, seafaring fable about a determined and brave elephant who reaches for his dreams, from New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Ed Vere. "There is only one thing I want to do . . . So I will do it!" Gabriel the elephant dreams of being part of the lifeboat crew in his seaside town, but he is too young, and too little. But soon, Gabriel grows up and he is too . . . BIG! Disappointed but undaunted, Gabriel makes a plan. He hammers and chops, saws and sands, and builds his very own boat. One night, a great storm hits, and it's Gabriel's time to shine, pulling his oars alone against the crashing waves to save a crew in peril. Young children wi

  UNICORN BOY Unicorn Boy #1 written & illustrated by Dave Roman color by Heather Mann First Second, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-250-37317-5 Source: purchased eBook Ages 8-11 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The first few years of Brian Reyes’ life were unremarkable―nothing weird about this kid, no sir. Then, one day, a bump appeared on his head, and it grew…and grew…and grew until it was a full-blown, sparkling, SINGING unicorn horn. That’s absolutely the last thing a shy kid like Brian wants, but destiny waits for no unicorn boy. Luckily, Brian has his reassuring pal Avery to keep him grounded as weird occurrences start stacking up, like Brian’s breakfast muffin talking to him, or a bizarre black cat offering him a business card. But when shadowy creatures from another realm kidnap Avery, Brian has to embrace his fate to rescue his best friend. In the pages of Unicorn Boy, Dave Roman has created a

  BUTT OR FACE? Revenge of the Butts by Kari Lavelle Sourcebooks Explore, 2024 ISBN: 9781728271200 Ages 6 and up Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Are you ready for round two of the hilarious guessing game picture book? Discover fascinating facts about animals while guessing if you're looking at a butt or a face! Butt or Face? Volume 2 continues the delightfully cheeky challenge with a whole new set of animals from all over the world. Examine a close-up photo of an animal and then guess whether you're looking at the top or the…um…bottom. The answer is revealed on the next page with a compete photo of the animal! Also included are factual animal details along with how these animals use camouflage or other trickery to engage with their home. Readers will discover animals like the alien butt spider who turns leaves into burrito-like hideaways, the leaf-tailed ge

ROAR-CHOO! written by Charlotte Cheng, art by Dan Santat Rocky Pond Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-53175-4 Source: Purchased Ages 4-8 Picture book -- Speculative (fantasy) fiction; folklore All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Patient, peaceful Phoenix tries to take care of rambunctious and cold-ridden Dragon, which leads to hilarious and sweet results (with vibrant illustrations by the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Beekle ). Everyone knows that dragons are fierce, capable of taking on the world! But this dragon can’t stop sneezing long enough to get a roar out. Even with friendly Phoenix insisting that Dragon get some rest, this powerful creature refuses to stop for any orange ginger tea or a drop of bone broth soup. It's only when Dragon realizes Phoenix has caught the same cold that they are both able to take the break they so badly need. This tale of helping your friends and valuing

ALL THAT GROWS words and pictures by Jack Wong Groundwood Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-77306-812-1 Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Boston Globe–Horn Book Award winner Jack Wong, a story of a boy who discovers that the more he learns, the more there is to know! On their neighborhood walks together, a boy learns from his older sister all about the plants they see — magnolias that smell like lemon cake, creeping weeds that used to be planted for decoration, and even how dandelion greens can be eaten with spaghetti! But what makes a plant a flower, vegetable or weed, anyway? How can his sister tell, and how does she know so much? The boy’s head spins as he realizes how vast the universe is and how much there is to learn … until he resolves to let his knowledge grow in its own way and time, just like the mysterious plants he has decided to nurture in the garden. Award-winning creator

EVERYONE STARTS SMALL written by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Dominique Ramsey Candlewick Press, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2615-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Sun and Grass, Water and Tree, Fire and Rain—nature’s cycle of creation unfolds in a compelling lyrical text and striking illustrations. Sun grows beams and Grass grows blades and Cloud cannot contain herself. Spring rains change Water from a tumbling creek to a roaring river and bring Tree nutrients it needs to stretch toward the sky. As Sun’s rays intensify, the sprouts and fruits and insects of the forest grow and bloom and develop, all working together in harmony. Even Fire, whose work causes Tree to ache from the inside, brings opportunity for the next generation of flora and fauna. Paired with the vivid, organic imagery of Dominique Ramsey, Liz Garton Scanlon’s poetic tribute to our p