Geo Librarian

PIG AND SMALL by Alex Latimer Peachtree Publishing, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-56145-797-7 Picture Book K-2 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Pig and Bug just want to be friends. But their size difference is proving to be a BIG problem. Pig wants to play games - but Bug is too small. Bug wants to make things for his friend - but Pig is too big! Just as they've given up all hope for their friendship, Pig has an idea But will it work? (Yes, it will!) ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alex Latimer lives in South Africa near the border of a national park, so when not writing or drawing he spends his free time shooing baboons out of his lounge. alexlatimer.co.za. REVIEW Pig and Small is a delightful story about the power of friendship to overcome obstacles.  Pig and Bug want to be friends, but their difference in size makes it tough to find things to do that suit them both.  It takes some time and effort for them to find a way to...

LUG, DAWN OF THE ICE AGE How One Small Boy Saved Our Big, Dumb Species by David Zeltser Egmont, 2014 ISBN: 9781606845134 Middle Grade Humor Grades 3-5 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A hilarious middle-grade novel about a misunderstood caveboy perfect for fans of Ice Age, Happy Feet, The Time Warp Trio, and Platypus Police Squad. Lug is a caveboy who would rather paint than club other caveboys. The clan even mocks him, calling him "Little Slug." Like all the other caveboys, Lug must enter the contest to become the clan's next Big Man and attempt to catch the Biggest Beast--even though he would much rather spend his days painting in his secret art cave. When Lug is banished for failing to catch a jungle llama, he thinks he is alone in the world but finds others who believe in him: his clanmate Stony and a new friend, Echo, a girl from a rival clan who can talk to animals and just may be prehis...

ABOUT PARROTS A Guide for Children written by Cathryn Sill, illustrated by John Sill Peachtree Publishers, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-56145-795-3 Nonfiction Picture Book Source: Publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this appealing addition to the acclaimed About series, educator and author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what parrots are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. Illustrator John Sill introduces readers to a variety of parrots, from the colorful Blue Lorikeets of the Polynesian Islands to the Rosy-faced Lovebirds of southwestern Africa. An afterword provides details on the parrots featured and inspires readers to learn more. ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Cathryn Sill, a graduate of Western Carolina University, was an elementary school teacher for thirty years. She lives in North Carolina. John Sill holds a BS in wildlife biology from North Carolina S...

WISH YOU WEREN'T by Sherrie Petersen Intrepid Publications, 2014 ISBN13: 9781494766825 Middle Grade Science Fiction/Fantasy Grades 3-6 Source: e-book provided by author for review (Thanks!) ABOUT THE BOOK Marten doesn't believe in the power of wishes. None of his have ever come true. His parents ignore him, his little brother is a pain and his family is talking about moving to Texas. Not cool. So when he makes an impulsive wish during a meteor shower, he doesn't expect it to make any difference. Until his annoying brother disappears. With the present uncertain and his brother’s future in limbo, Marten finds himself stuck in his past. And if he runs out of time, even wishes might not be enough to save the ones he loves. AMAZON                     BARNES & NOBLE                   KOBO Praise for WISH YOU WEREN’T: “If you’re looking for the same old formula middl...

LOST FOR WORDS by Natlie Russell Peachtree Publishers, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-56145-739-7 Picture Book Grades PreK-2 Source: Publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Tapir wants to express himself, but he can't find the words! He and his friends all have nice new notebooks, just waiting to be filled. Giraffe decides to write a poem, Hippo writes a story, and Flamingo composes a beautiful song. But poor Tapir can't think of anything to write - and the harder he tries the more upset he becomes! But everything starts to change when Tapir stops trying to write, and instead he begins to draw . . ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Natalie Russell is an author, illustrator and printmaker whose work has been widely exhibited. When she's not in her studio creating books, she can be found at Dundee University in Scotland where she teaches illustration. For more information, please visit www.natalierussell.co.uk . REVIEW I found Lost f...

A DEATH IN THE FAMILY An Erica Coleman Mystery by Marlene Sullivan Covenant Communications, 2014 LDS Fiction Source: Publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet Erica Coleman—a gifted and quirky private investigator with an OCD-like passion for neatness and symmetry, a penchant for cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and a weakness for chocolate. In A Death in the Family , the second in the Erica Coleman series, private eye Erica Coleman and her family happily anticipate Grandma Blanche’s eighty-first birthday celebration in the picturesque town of Florence, Oregon. But when the feisty matriarch, a savvy businesswoman, suspects wrongdoing and asks Erica to investigate her company, things get sticky. Before the investigation can even begin, Blanche’s unexpected death leaves Erica with more questions than answers—and it is soon clear Grandma’s passing was anything but natural: she was murdered. When another relative ...

MAX MAKES A CAKE by Michelle Edwards, illustrated by Charles Santoso Random House, 2014 ISBN: 978-0-449-81431-4 Picture Book Grades K-2 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Baby sisters can be so annoying! That's what Max thinks. Max needs his daddy's help—right now!—to bake a surprise Passover birthday cake for his mommy. But as baby Trudy fusses instead of napping, and Daddy tries to settle her down, their time to bake is slipping away. With her warm and pithy storytelling, Michelle Edwards captures the moment in a child's life when he realizes that he has the power to do things on his own. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michelle Edwards is the author and illustrator of many books for children, one book for adults, and nearly one hundred essays and cards for knitters. Her picture book titles include Chicken Man , winner of the National Jewish Book Award. Michelle lives in Iowa City, Iowa, with her husband, a hou...

LIKE CARROT JUICE ON A CUPCAKE by Julie Sternberg, illustrations by Matthew Cordell Amulet Books, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-4197-1033-9 Middle Grade Contemporary Grades 2-5 Source: Publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. Available March 18th ABOUT THE BOOK I did a mean thing. A very mean thing. I HATE that I did it. But I did. This is worse than carrot juice on a cupcake or a wasp on my pillow or a dress that’s too tight at the neck. In the third installment from the team who created  Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie  and  Like Bug Juice on a Burger , Eleanor’s relationship with her best friend, Pearl, experiences its first growing pains. When a glamorous new student transfers to school, at first Eleanor’s excited about the possibility of a new friend. But when Pearl is assigned to be the new girl’s buddy, Eleanor fears she can’t compete. To make matters worse, Eleanor’s been chosen for the lead role in the springtime musical, which m...

Welcome to Day 6 of the SECRETS, SPIES & SHERLOCK BLOG TOUR , featuring two exciting new middle grade mystery series: Sherlock, Lupin & Me: The Dark Lady by Irene Adler and Secrets & Spies: Treason by Jo Macauley. Each stop on the 2-week tour will feature fun posts and a chance to win a set of finished copies of the books!   Today’s post features Treason by Jo Macauley. Walking Tour of Restoration London Treason by Jo Macauley is set in 17 th century London, and many of its events take place at important landmarks that are still standing today. Let’s take a tour of some of these key locales. Theatre Royal: Beth Johnson is an actress with the King’s Company, which performed at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane, built in 1663 – a year before the events of Treason. This is what the Drury Lane Theatre would have looked like during Beth’s time. However, the the...