Geo Librarian

  THE TRUE UGLY DUCKLING: How Hans Christian Andersen Became a Swan written by Sandra Nickel, illustrated by Calvin Nicholls Levine Querido, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-64614-576-8 Source: Blue Slip Media & publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 Biography All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher for review. ABOUT THE BOOK Picture book biography of one of the most iconic storytellers of all time, Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by papercut artist Calvin Nicholls He brought to life stories and characters that millions have A one-legged tin soldier who yearned for love. A poor little match girl. A mermaid who gave up her voice for a prince. But who was Hans Christian Andersen? He was a “strange child.” An ugly duckling. Even his mother said so. He didn’t seem to think like, or look like, anyone around him. But while his tender heart was bruised by ridicule, it responded by driving an unstoppable urge to create, to entertain. If he co...

  HOW TO HATCH:  A Goslings Guide to Breaking Free written by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Galia Bernstein Alfred A. Knopf, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-593-81106-1 Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Discover how a gosling hatches into the world, step by step, in this irresistibly cute and funny nonfiction picture book. Is it getting stuffy in there? Has your yolk dwindled to a smidge? Is the beak in your wingpit cramping your style? Gosling, it’s time to . . . HATCH! With humorous, spare text that reads as an instructional "how to", this story is a delight to read aloud and walks children through every step of the hatching process--with a surprise ending that all readers will enjoy. Includes bonus facts on gosling hatching and growth, as well as an author's note from the author, an experienced preschool and elementary teacher who has hatched many goslings herself in the cl...

  THE OCTOPUS written & illustrated by Guojing two lions, 2026 ISBN: 978-1662521508 Source: publicist 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 Join a little girl as she discovers the hidden world of her new octopus friend in this stunning wordless picture book by critically acclaimed author-illustrator Guojing. A little girl goes to the beach with her mother, never expecting the day full of magic and wonder that is ahead of her. When she scoops up a tiny octopus in her small, clear container, and they see each other eye to eye, there’s a spark between them! But a little octopus cannot be happy for long in a container. So the girl sets out to discover what the octopus needs. And that’s when something truly magical happens! Soon, the little girl is on an underwater adventure with her new octopus friend, where she discovers the joy and beauty of the octopus’s wor...

  RELIC OF THIEVES The Underwild #2 written by Shana Targosz Aladdin, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5766-3 Source : ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An ordinary girl’s longing to return to the way things were sets off a chain of events that lands her and her best friend in the Underwild in this second book in the New York Times bestselling middle grade fantasy series The Underwild—perfect for fans of Greenwild and Rick Riordan. The best ways Anya knows how to cope with the struggles life throws her way is to keep her head down, stay invisible, and stick close to her best friend, Lizzie. Lizzie has been Anya’s rock since second grade. Together, they pretend the world away. But when Lizzie moves out of state, Anya is left adrift and desperately lonely. One day, Anya follows a strange girl home from school and is shocked to see her go into the home of the w...

  BARBED WIRE BETWEEN US written by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnacion Red Comet Press, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-63655-192-0 Source: author for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A powerful reverso poem about two girls separated by barbed wire and 80 years of history Barbed Wire Between Us is a powerful reverso poem that tells two deeply resonant stories across time. It begins with a Japanese American girl sent to an internment camp in Oklahoma during World War II. Read in reverse, it reveals the journey of a Latina girl detained in the very same camp decades later, during the U.S. policy of migrant family separation. Harrowing and emotionally charged, this poetic narrative compels us to confront a haunting question: What have we truly learned in the past 80 years about how we treat the most vulnerable among us? With haunting symmetry and striking parallels, Ba...

  WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Pollution Changes Our World written by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi illustrated by Valentina Gottardi translated by Sylvia Notini Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5651-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A richly illustrated picture book exploring light pollution and its surprising impact on nature and wildlife. When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including: How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns How streetlights gather insects—and their predators How turtles struggle to hatch without da...

  LOOPS written & illustrated by Jashar Awan Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-7494-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 3-7 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor–winning author-illustrator Jashar Awan comes a hilarious and all-too-relatable picture book about the perseverance and positive self-talk needed to learn to tie your shoelaces! This big kid is wearing his first pair of big-kid shoes, the kind with laces! Even though they’re a little on the roomy side—shoes to grow into, of course—he knows he can take care of them. Except they keep falling off! Not to worry, he’ll just tie them up again, because he knows how to tie those loops! But wait a second, where did that darn shoe go? Nothing is ever truly easy when you’re just starting something new; but, just like with any stage in childhood, whether it’s making...

  CAMP MONSTER written by Kate Messner, illustrated by Falynn Koch Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-5476-0941-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary are provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK New York Times bestselling author Kate Messner invites you to Camp Monster in this fun-filled young middle-grade graphic novel series perfect for fans of InvestiGators. Tasha's family has run Camp Yeti for generations, but these days there just aren't enough Yetis to fill the bunks. This summer they are rebranding as CAMP MONSTER--a super fun summer camp experience for ALL of monster-kind. Tasha can't wait to show off all the camp traditions she loves! But things get off to a rocky start--the goblins are causing a ruckus, the ogre is a total diva, and the werewolf keeps disappearing. This is not the perfect summer Tasha had hoped for. Then a series of mysterious mish...

BOOKIE & COOKIE written & illustrated by Blanca Gomez Rocky Pond Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-69680-4 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Even the best friendships have rough moments, but a true friend will always find a way to compromise (especially when cookies are involved!) – a scrumptious and clever read-aloud by the illustrator of Very Good Hats and Besos for Baby.Bookie and Cookie are best friends. They love to spend time together, reading books and snacking on treats. But whenever this happens, it’s always at Cookie’s home . . . until the day when Bookie insists on getting together at his home instead. Cookie He doesn’t want to try something new. And now Bookie and Cookie are both alone, and the activities they used to enjoy together aren’t nearly as much fun. Can the two buddies each try something new for the sake of their friendship? REVIEW Bookie a...