Geo Librarian

SIDEKICKS by Dan Santat Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-439-29811-7 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from personal copy. INTRODUCING: METAL MUTT! STATIC CAT! AND... FLUFFY!?! Captain Amazing, hero of Metro City, is so busy catching criminals that he rarely has time for his pets at home. He doesn't even notice when they develop superpowers of their own. So when he announces that he needs a sidekick, his dog, hamster, and chameleon each decide to audition. But with each pet determined to win the sidekick position, the biggest battle in Metro City might just be at the Captain's house. Then archvillain Dr. Havoc returns to town, and suddenly the Captain's in serious trouble. Can the warring pets put their squabbles aside? Or is it curtains for the Captain? It's stay, sit, and save the world in this romp of a graphic novel! This book provides a delightful reading experience for those who enjoy graphic novels. Not only are the illustrations bright and appealing ...

FLUTTER: The story of four sisters and one incredible journey by Erin E. Moulton Philomel Books, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-399-25515-1 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from personal copy. Big things are about the happen at Maple's house. Mama's going to have a baby, which means now there will be four Rittle sisters instead of just three. But when baby Lily is born too early and can't come home from the hospital, Maple knows it's up to her to save her sister. So she and Dawn, armed with a map and some leftover dinner, head off down a river and up a mountain to find the Wise Woman who can grant miracles. Now it's not only Lily's survival that they have to worry about, but also their own. The dangers that Maple and Dawn encounter on their journey makes them realize a thing or two about miracles-and about each other. I have mixed feelings about this book.  I did enjoy it, but as a teacher, there were parts where I wanted to jump into the book and tell the girls not to ...

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME OF PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs Quirk Books, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59474-476-1 Grades 7 and up Reviewed from ARC received in giveaway. A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live. I've been wanting to read this book for awhile.  It's received so much attention that I was curious to see what it was like. I was rather uncertain at first, the swearing and dark nature of the story were not appealing to me, but I kept with the story and found that I liked it more than I had originally thought I would. The photographs were mind boggling in and of themselves and the way ...

Both books that I'm highlighting today deal with a difficult topic: terminal illness of a parent.  I'll say right off that both books made me cry because they were well told and the characters so real.  But both books will need to be shared in a sensitive manner because they won't be appropriate for all students. MERCY LILY by Lisa Albert Flux, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-7387-2699-1 Grades 9 and up Reviewed from copy received from author. All opinions expressed here are solely my own. Lily's mother has slowly been losing herself to multiple sclerosis.  After traditional treatment fails, she uses bee sting therapy, administered by Lily, to alleviate her pain.  Lily is trained as a veterinary assistant, so she can easily handle the treatments. What she can't handle is what happens when the bee sting therapy fails and it becomes clear that her mom wants to die.  One beautiful spring day, Lily's mother asks her for the most impossible thing of all--mercy.  Whi...

This is my first Marvelous Middle Grade Monday post, but since I love middle grade as a genre, it will not be my last. WOLF STORM by Dee Garretson Harper, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-06-200032-3 Grades 4 and up Reviewed from copy received from author in giveaway. All opinions here expressed are solely my own. This is Stefan's big break.  He's on location in the mountains far from home for his first movie role, filming a blockbuster sci-fi adventure.  The props, the spaceships, and the trained wolves on set should add up to a dream job, but acting turns out to be much tougher than he ever imagined, and he feels like his inner loser is all that's showing through.  From the way his famously stuck-up co-star, Raine, treats him, he's pretty sure she thinks so too.  And worst of all, no one will believe his claim that there are wild wolves haunting the forest around the set. When a blizzard strikes, isolating the young co-stars and bringing hungry feral wolves into the ...

THE ORPHAN, THE SOULCATCHER, And the BLACK BLIZZARD by Kimberlee Ann Bastian Self-published, 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1105066337 Grades 8 and up Reviewed from copy provided by author. All opinions expressed here are solely my own.     Most of his life, Charlie Reese has been surrounded by a loving family and all the comforts of home. But when a house fire claims them, he and his cousin, Jimmy are sent to an orphanage in the heart of ‘Depression Era’ Chicago. A year later, Charlie’s life is shaken by yet another tragedy and with it comes the mysterious introduction of a secretive runaway, named Bartholomew. As Charlie begins to discover more about his new companion, he unknowingly becomes a participant in a two-hundred year old secret. Come the morning of the Black Blizzard, Charlie finds he must make a choice - flee the destiny laden at his feet or take on his responsibility and follow a path full of supernatural wonders. This book was quite a bit darker tha...

SUPER ZOMBIE JUICE MEGA BOMB by MJA Ware CG Press, LTD, 2011 ISBN: 9781466355019 Grades 4-8 Reviewed from copy provided by author. All opinions expressed are solely my own. Summary is from Goodreads. When life gives you lemons, kill zombies -- turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead. After a failed attempt at running away, best friends Nathan and Misty return home expecting to face angry parents. Instead, they discover the military has destroyed the bridges out of their rural town and everyone's fled--except a small horde of the living dead. The stress of flesh-eating zombies may be more than their already strained relationship can handle. Even with the help of the town geek and lemonade-powered Super-Soakers, there's not enough time to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess. Unless the trio eradicates the zombie infestation, while avoiding the deadly zombie snot, the military will blow the town, and them, to pulp. Their only shot is something with ...

EXPLORE TITANIC: Breathtaking New Pictures, Recreated with Digital Technology by Peter Chrisp, with illustrations by Somchith Vongprachanh Barron's, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4380-7159-6 Grades 3 and up Reviewed from purchased copy. Boys and girls will be enthralled by this dramatic pictorial history of the great ocean liner "R.M.S. Titanic, " and its fateful sinking in the North Atlantic. Approximately 125 photos and illustrations in color and black and white--including 12 astonishing 3D-rendered graphics--tell the "Titanic's " story, from its 1911 launching at the Belfast shipyard to its tragic destruction on April 15, 1912 during its maiden Atlantic crossing. Young readers will see faithful reproductions of both exterior and interior ship's details, from the Boiler Room and Engine Room far below decks to the luxury passengers' cabins and the ship's grand ballroom. Among the 3D-rendered artworks are two remarkable double-gatefold illu...

ALIAS DRAGONFLY by Jane Singer Bell Bridge Books, 2011 ISBN13: 9781611940411 Grades 4-8 Reviewed from e-book provided by publisher through NetGalley. Fifteen years old. Wanted: Dead or Alive. "Don't love a spy," warns fifteen-year-old Pinkerton agent Maddie Bradford, a lonely, rebellious outsider with a mind on fire and a photographic memory. It is 1861, the Civil War has just started and this motherless teen must move with her soldier-father from New Hampshire to Washington, DC-a city at war, packed cheek by jowl with soldiers, Rebel spies, slave catchers and traitors of all stripes bent on waging a war of destruction against the Union, and President Lincoln himself. Maddie's journal, written in secret, of course, begins with her arrival at her aunt's DC boardinghouse through the first year of the Civil War, a time, as Maddie puts it, full of "dips and dangers," when she becomes a fearless Union spy. And then there is the mysteriou...

Welcome to the Return to Exile Blog Tour! Keep reading for my review of the first book in the Hunters Chronicles series, plus a giveaway of a signed copy of the book and bookmark.  Also check out the book trailor below and the calender to check out the other blog tour websites for other reviews, interviews, and giveaways. REVIEW: Sky doesn't belong anywhere, not at home and not at school, and he has no idea why.  Long nights wandering spent looking for something he cannot name have left his parents sensitive to the slightest abnormal behavior.  Sky can't explain his behavior except for the 'little monster' he has in his head and the marks on his hands.  But when his family returns to Exile without his Uncle Phineas and the black mark on his hand bleeds black blood, Sky knows something is very wrong, and he starts to realize that what he always assumed were made-up stories about monsters may very well be real.  With the reluctant help of some teenage m...

SAME, SAME, BUT DIFFERENT written and illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Henry Holt and Company, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8050-8946-2 32 p. Grades PreK-2 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different! Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends. I enjoyed reading and sharing this book. Not only is the language simple and straightforward, but the illustrations compliment the writing perfectly. The illustrations are bright and colorful and highlight the similarities and differences between the two boys.  I've really come to love collage as an art form and this book demonstrates the characteristics that make co...

SCARY SCHOOL (Scary School #1) written by Derek the Ghost, illustrated by Scott Fischer HarperCollins, 2011 ISBN13: 9780061960925 237 p. Grades 3-6 Reviewed from e-book provided by author for review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review. BLURB : You think your school's scary? Get a load of these teachers: "Ms. Fang," an 850-year-old vampire. "Dr. Dragonbreath," who just might eat you before recess. "Mr. Snakeskin"--science class is so much more fun when it's taught by someone who's half zombie. "Mrs. T"--break the rules and spend your detention with a hungry "Tyrannosaurus rex" Plus Gargoyles, goblins, and Frankenstein's monster on the loose. The world's most frighteningly delicious school lunch. And the narrator's an eleven-year-old ghost. Join Charles "New Kid" Nukid as he makes some very Scary friends--including Pet...

IT'S A SMALL WORLD words and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman illustrations by Joey Chou Disney Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-142314689-6 32 p. Grades PreK-1 Reviewed from personal copy. Originally created for the 1964 World's Fair, the song "it's a Small World" quickly worked its way into the hearts of millions.  Nearly half a century later, its simple and poignant message still rings true.   Joey Chou's bright, colorful illustrations accompany the words, taking us on an international tour from the mountains of China and Russia to the plains of Africa and the Americas and more.  Plus there's a CD that features a wonderful recording of the song.  Through its poetic text, charming illustrations, and bonus CD, this book reminds us that it really is a small world, after all.  This book is adorable with it's childlike simplicity.  I  loved the bright colors and energetic design.  I found lots of things in the book to talk about wh...

ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD written by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4169-7130-6 32 p. Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy.  Illustrations come from Amazon.com and are copyrighted material. BLURB : All the water in the world is all the water in the world. We are all connected by water, and this message is beautifully, lyrically delivered from poet-musician-author George Ella Lyon. Where does water come from? Where does water go? Find out in this exploration of oceans and waterways that highlights an important reality: Our water supply is limited, and it is up to us to protect it. Dynamic, fluid art paired with pitch-perfect verse makes for a wise and remarkable read-aloud that will resonate with any audience. This is a wonderful book, full of poetic language and gorgeous illustrations.  In fact, the book flows rather like its subject, water. I love the way the water cycle is introduc...

Those Rebels, John & Tom written by Barbara Kerley, Illustrated by Edwin Fotheringham Scholastic Press, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-545-22268-6 48 p. Grades 2-6 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : A brilliant portrait of two American heroes from the award-winning creators of The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Susy)!John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were very different.John Adams was short and stout. Thomas Jefferson was tall and lean.John was argumentative and blunt.Tom was soft-spoken and polite. John sometimes got along with almost no one.Tom got along with just about everyone. But these two very different gentlemen did have two things in common: They both cared deeply about the American colonies, and neither cared much for the British tyrant, King George. With their signature wit, impeccable research, and inventive presentation style, award winners Barbara Kerley and Edwin Fotheringham masterfully blend biography and history to create a brilliant portrait of two ...

Today I am highlighting three books that look at what life can be like when one is different in significant ways from those around them or how to deal with the changes that happen to all of us.  The Splendid Spotted Snake (A Magic Ribbon Book) written by Betty Ann Schwartz, illustrated by Alexander Wilensky Workman Publishing, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-7611-6360-2 Unpaged $13.95 Grades PreK-1 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB:  It's a marvel Every time you turn the page the little snake grows bigger. And it's a book that teaches colors: with every page his spots change color. Amazing "But how does it work "Using a unique Magic Ribbon format invented by the authors, "The Splendid Spotted Snake" follows the adventures of a little spotted snake made out of sturdy, polka-dotted cloth ribbon. "When Yellow Snake was born, he had bright red spots. But then he grew . . . His new spots were blue."Not only does the little snake double in size, ...

For the Love of Music: The Remarkable Story of Maria Anna Mozart written by Elizabeth Rusch paintings by Steve Johnson & Lou Fancher Tricycle Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-58246-326-1 Grades 1 and up Reviewed from book borrowed from public library. Reviewed for Beehive Book Awards BLURB : By the time she was 12, she was considered one of the finest pianists in Europe, but today few people know her name. Maria Mozart, like her famous brother Wolfgang, was a musical prodigy. The talented siblings toured Europe, playing before kings and empresses, were showered with gifts and favors, and lived in a whirlwind life of music and travel. They were best friends, collaborators, and confidantes. As they grew older, Wolfgang was encouraged to pursue his musical ambitions, while Maria was told she must stop performing and, ultimately, marry. But she was determined to continue playing the piano every day, for the love of music . . . . I'll say up front that I loved this book, s...