Geo Librarian

 ABDUL'S STORY by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, illustrated by Tiffany Rose Salaam Reads, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5344-6298-4 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Goodreads.com & the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK A little boy who loves storytelling but struggles with writing learns that it’s okay to make mistakes in this charming and encouraging picture book from the author of Mommy’s Khimar. Abdul loves to tell stories. But writing them down is hard. His letters refuse to stay straight and face the right way. And despite all his attempts, his papers often wind up with more eraser smudges than actual words. Abdul decides his stories just aren’t meant to be written down…until a special visitor comes to class and shows Abdul that even the best writers—and superheroes—make mistakes.  REVIEW What a beautiful book!  I loved this one both in terms of story and illustrations.  The story follows...

  NERDLET : ANIMALS by T.J. Resler National Geographic Kids, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4263-3872-4 Source: Media Masters Publicity Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Sometimes big nerdiness comes in a small package--and this little book is an animal nerd's dream! Meet animals of all kinds--from sharks and moles to orangutans and okapis-- in this quirky, jam-packed original from National Geographic Kids.If you thought you were brainy, take a look at the incredible critters in this book. Inside, you'll find a spider that spends its whole life in a bubble and birds that build nests so big, they're like avian apartment complexes! (And we're just getting started!)In this little animal "Nerdlet" you'll learn about the weirdest, coolest, most amazing creatures in the animal kingdom--and what makes them so complex. Plus, you'll have some of your most burning animal questions answered, such as What's the deal with croco...

  THE COOLEST STUFF ON EARTH: A Closer Look at the Weird, Wild, and Wonderful National Geographic, 2020 ISBN : 978-1-4263-3858-8 Source: Media Masters Publicity Ages 9 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Did you know that dogs can shake off a pound of water in less than a second? That some sand dunes whistle and sing? That the U.S. dollar bill is full of hidden symbols related to the number 13? Our world is filled with strange, bizarre, and weird happenings. But what do they mean? WHY are they important? And what secrets are behind them? These secrets and MORE are revealed through cool stories, action-packed photos, fantastic infographics, and exciting Q&As with in-the-field experts. Discover the secrets of sharkskin, the mysteries behind incredible island animals, the power behind lightning, how a rare gemstone changes color, and more. Kids will be captivated by this fresh way of looking at our amazing planet.   REVIEW    T...

  BENEATH THE WAVES :  Celebrating the Ocean Through Pictures, Poems, and Stories by Stephanie Warren Drimmer National Geographic Kids, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4263-3916-5 Source: Media Masters Publicity Ages 9 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Open this charming read-aloud book and you'll find amazing animal profiles, whimsical poetry, stunning photography, plus fascinating information about the wondrous creatures that call the ocean home. Starting with the seashore and journeying through the ocean's zones, readers will discover mangrove forests, coral reefs, and the deepest ocean depths. On this journey they will discover some of the extraordinary animals that live on shore and under the sea. Along the way, readers will enjoy poems, stories, fun facts, photo galleries, and more. Highlights include a foreword from explorer and renowned photojournalist Brian Skerry; an interview with National Geographic Explorer and marine conserv...

  CHAMPION OF THE TITAN GAMES Dragonwatch #4 by Brandon Mull Shadow Mountain, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-62972-788-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK As the war with the dragons intensifies, all eyes are turning to Titan Valley for help. A dragon sanctuary unlike any of the others, this one is home to enslaved dragons ruled by the powerful Giant Queen, one of the five monarchs of the magical world. In addition, it houses the arena for the Titan Games, a series of gladiator-style battles presided over by none other than Humbuggle, the demon who stole Seth’s memories! Seth is seeking for his memories. Kendra is seeking for Seth. And everyone is seeking to stop the dragons from taking over the world—everyone but Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who has his own devious agenda. In the monstrous battle between giants and dragons, who wins? In the race to retrieve a magical talisman that could help win the war, can Kendra trust Set...

  WHEN STARS ARE SCATTERED by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed Color by Iman Geddy Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 978-0-525-55391-5 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Omar and his little brother, Hassan, arrived in Dadaab, a refugee camp in Kenya, seven years ago. Their father was killed the day they left home, and they haven't seen their mother since they joined their neighbors who were fleeing to Dadaab. Now Omar is eleven and Hassan is nine, and Omar has quit school to look after his brother, who has an intellectual disability. When Omar is given the opportunity to return to school and carve out a future for himself and Hassan, he feels torn. He loves school and could have the opportunity to earn a coveted scholarship to a North American university--and with it a visa for himself and Hassan. But is it worth the risk and heartache of leaving his vulnerable brother for hours each day? Told in Victoria Jamieso...

  THE GIRL WHO SPEAKS BEAR by Sophie Anderson Scholastic Press, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-338-58083-9 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Discovered in a bear cave as a baby, 12-year-old Yanka dreams of knowing who she really is. Although Yanka is happy at home with her loving foster mother, she feels out of place in the village where the other children mock her for her unusual size and strength. So when Yanka wakes up one morning to find her legs have become bear legs, she knows she has no choice but to leave her village. She has to find somewhere she truly belongs, so she ventures into the Snow Forest with her pet weasel, Mousetrap, in search of the truth about her past. But deep in the forest there are many dangers and Yanka discovers that even the most fantastic stories she grew up hearing are true. And just as she draws close to discovering who she really is, something terrifying happens that could trap her in th...

  ELEANOR, ALICE, AND THE ROOSEVELT GHOSTS by Dianne K. Salerni Holiday House, 2020 ISBN: 978-0-8234-4697-1 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Murderous ghosts and buried family secrets threaten young Eleanor and Alice Roosevelt in this thrilling middle-grade novel that puts a supernatural spin on alternate history. It's 1898 in New York City and ghosts exist among humans. When an unusual spirit takes up residence at the Roosevelt house, thirteen-year-old Eleanor and fourteen-year-old Alice are suspicious. The cousins don't get along, but they know something is not right. This ghost is more than a pesky nuisance. The authorities claim he's safe to be around, even as his mischievous behavior grows stranger and more menacing. It's almost like he wants to scare the Roosevelts out of their home - and no one seems to care! Meanwhile, Eleanor and Alice discover a dangerous ghost in the house where Alice was born and...

CLEO PORTER AND THE BODY ELECTRIC by Jake Burt  Feiwel and Friends, 2020 ISBN: 9781250236555 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A woman is dying. Cleo Porter has her medicine. And no way to deliver it. Like everyone else, twelve-year-old Cleo and her parents are sealed in an apartment without windows or doors. They never leave. They never get visitors. Their food is dropped off by drones. So they're safe. Safe from the disease that nearly wiped humans from the earth. Safe from everything. The trade-off? They're alone. Thus, when they receive a package clearly meant for someone else--a package containing a substance critical for a stranger's survival--Cleo is stuck. As a surgeon-in-training, she knows the clock is ticking. But people don't leave their units. Not ever. Until now.   REVIEW   Cleo Porter plans to be a surgeon like her mother. She's working hard to prepare for the test she must pass to continue ...

  THE PRINCESS WHO FLEW WITH DRAGONS Tales from the Chocolate Heart #3 by Stephanie Burgis Bloomsbury, 2020 ISBN: 9781547602070 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Princess Sofia of Drachenheim is sick of being used for her older sister’s political gains. At twelve years old, she’s already been a hostage to invading dragons and a promised future fiancé to a wicked fairy. Her only comfort lies in writing letters to her pen pal and best friend--Jasper, a young dragon whom she's never even met. When Sofia's older sister sends her on a diplomatic mission to far-off Villenne, she's meant to play the part of a charming, smiling princess. But when an accident leads to her exile from the city, Sofia is free to wander as she pleases for the first time in her life. And when Jasper's food-mage sister Aventurine turns him into a human boy, Sofia thinks life can't get any better. Until… the legendary ice giants of the n...

  CURSE OF THE NIGHT WITCH Emblem Island #1 by Alex Aster Sourcebooks Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-4926-9720-6 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it. Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power. The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin...the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch. With only his village's terrif...

  HIDE AND SEEKER by Daka Hermon Scholastic, 2020 ISBN: 9781338583632 Source: school library Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   One of our most iconic childhood games receives a creepy twist as it becomes the gateway to a nightmare world. I went up the hill, the hill was muddy, stomped my toe and made it bloody, should I wash it? Justin knows that something is wrong with his best friend. Zee went missing for a year. And when he came back, he was . . . different. Nobody knows what happened to him. At Zee's welcome home party, Justin and the neighborhood crew play Hide and Seek. But it goes wrong. Very wrong. One by one, everyone who plays the game disappears, pulled into a world of nightmares come to life. Justin and his friends realize this horrible place is where Zee had been trapped. All they can do now is hide from the Seeker.   REVIEW   This book sucked me in from the very first page.  From the moment Justin a...

  RIVAL MAGIC by Deva Fagan Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 9781534439054 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   A young wizard's apprentice discovers that the best magic is not the biggest or the brightest, but the magic unique to you, in this cinematic middle grade fantasy in the tradition of Kiki's Delivery Service and The School for Good and Evil. Antonia may not be the most powerful wizard the world has ever seen, but she's worked hard to win her place as apprentice to renowned sorcerer Master Betrys. Unfortunately, even her best dancing turnip charm might not be enough when Moppe the scullery maid turns out to be a magical prodigy. Now that Betrys has taken Moppe on as a second apprentice, Antonia's path to wizarding just got a bit more complicated. But when Betrys is accused of treason, Antonia and Moppe are forced to go on the run. To prove their master's innocence--and their own--the...

  EVA EVERGREEN, SEMI-MAGICAL WITCH by Julie Abe Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN:  9780316493888 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Sometimes all you need is a pinch of magic... Eva Evergreen is determined to earn the rank of Novice Witch before she turns thirteen years old. If she doesn't, she'll lose her magic forever. For most young witches and wizards, it's a simple enough test: ONE: Help your town, do good all around. TWO: Live there for one moon, don't leave too soon. THREE: Fly home by broomstick, the easiest of tricks. The only problem? Eva only has a pinch of magic. She summons heads of cabbage instead of flowers and gets a sunburn instead of calling down rain. And to add insult to injury, whenever she overuses her magic, she falls asleep. When she lands on the tranquil coastal town of Auteri, the residents expect a powerful witch, not a semi-magical girl. So Eva comes up wit...

A WISH IN THE DARK by Christina Soontornvat Candlewick Press, 2020 ISBN: 9781536204940 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free. Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the t...

  MULAN : BEFORE THE SWORD An Original Tale by Grace Lin Disney Press, 2020 ISBN: 9781368020336 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Family is important to Hua Mulan-even if her parents don't understand why she would rather ride her horse, Black Wind, than weave, or how her notorious clumsiness can be so different from the graceful demeanor of her younger sister, Xiu. But despite their differences, Mulan has a deep love for her family, especially Xiu. So when her sister is bitten by a poisonous spider, Mulan does everything she can to help, including seeking out a renowned healer. However, it quickly becomes apparent that there is more to both the mysterious spider bite and the healer than meets the eye. On a quest with the Jade Rabbit of legend, Mulan visits extraordinary places, meets Immortals, and faces incredible obstacles while searching for an antidote for her sister. And the danger only rises when Mula...

THE CAPTIVE KINGDOM The Ascendence Series #4 by Jennifer A. Nielsen Scholastic Press, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-338-55108-2 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   In a peaceful Carthya, Jaron leads as the Ascendant King with Imogen beside him -- but the peace he fought so long for is not destined to last. On a routine sea voyage, Jaron's ship is brutally attacked, and he is taken hostage. The mysterious captors and their leader, Jane Strick, accuse Jaron of unthinkable acts. They are also in possession of some shocking items -- including the crown and sword that belonged to Jaron's older brother, Darius. The items unearth a past Jaron thought he had put behind him. Though it seems impossible, Jaron must consider: Could Darius be alive? And what does Strick want from Jaron? Against his will, Jaron will be pulled back into a fight for the throne -- and a battle to save his kingdom. REVIEW   The Captive Kingdom demonstrat...

WHEN PENCIL MET ERASER Story by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr,  Illustrated by German Blanco Imprint, 2019 ISBN: 9781250309396 Source: purchased Ages 3-8 All opinions expressed are solely my o wn.   ABOUT THE BOOK Ever wonder why there's a little pink eraser on every pencil? Find out in this picture book that tells the true story of how Pencil and Eraser became the best of friends. When Pencil draws on the pages of this book, Eraser erases parts of Pencil's work, and the book itself becomes a canvas for their different takes on creativity--until the two discover their artwork is even better when they work together.   REVIEW   This delightful story provides an explanation for how pencil and eraser came together.  Pencil loves to draw and is very good at it.  Pencil is not impressed when Eraser erased some of the picture Pencil drew. Pencil tries to ignore Eraser, but Eraser continues to change Pencil's pictures. Finally, Pencil tries to stump...