Geo Librarian

MY LITTLE PRAYER by David Archuleta, illustrated by Sara Ugolotti Bushel & Peck Books, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-952239-54-0 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover and description from Goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Based on the lyrics of David's popular and moving song, My Little Prayer tells the story of a young boy who discovers that what God wants for him is even better than what he wanted for himself. Learn to trust, learn faith, and most of all, learn to pray in this beautifully woven tale of art, music, and faith. REVIEW While I am not usually a fan of books based on the lyrics of songs, I love the message in this one so much that I've made an exception.  The text of David Archuleta's song, My Little Prayer , is the text of this book.  Having heard him sing it in person, I appreciate the beauty and hope offered by the words.  Ugolotti's illustrations add to the text by showing a child praying and worki...

PARKER SHINES ON An Extraordinary Moment by Parker Curry & Jessica Curry illustrated by Brittany Jackson Aladdin, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5344-5474-3 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Cover images from Goodreads.com ABOUT THE BOOK The New York Times bestselling team behind Parker Looks Up returns with an uplifting story about Parker making a new friend and learning about self-expression, opening your heart, and helping others. Parker Curry loves being a big sister. She gets to play dress-up with her little sister, Ava, and piano with her baby brother, Cash. And Parker loves to dance, twirling and leaping and spinning in joy. But when a dancer joins her class and needs her help, Parker wonders if she has what it takes to be not only a real dancer, but a real friend. This inspirational picture book has an afterword by prima ballerina and New York Times bestselling author Misty Copeland. REVIEW In this follow-up to the Currys' Parker Looks Up...

INTERRUPTING CHICKEN: COOKIES FOR BREAKFAST by David Ezra Stein Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0778-1 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Wake up! The little red chicken is hungry--and sillier than ever--in her latest star turn since debuting in the Caldecott Honor Book Interrupting Chicken. It's bright and early on a Saturday morning, and the little red chicken wants cookies for breakfast. What better way to persuade Papa than by jarring him awake and gleefully interjecting cookies--and herself!--into every nursery rhyme they read together? Though the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe heartily endorses the little red chicken's plan, Papa has his own idea for a sweet breakfast for his determined daughter. Featuring the same riotous charm and bright, bold art as Interrupting Chicken and Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise, David Ezra Stein's third installment will have any fan with a sweet tooth an...

WHERE'S WALDO? Santa Spotlight Search by Martin Handford Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2013-1 Source: publisher for review (THANKS!) Ages 8-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. REVIEW In my experience, many children love these search and find type books.  And since I grew up with Waldo it's fun to look at these titles that bring back memories of those times I spent looking at these books.  This Waldo book offers a bit of a difference challenge.  Going beyond just finding Waldo and his friends, the book includes a 'spotlight searcher' that is inserted behind a plastic darkened screen on each spread.  The searcher lights up as the reader moves it around.  The fun thing about it is that the 'wand' allows the reader to focus on small parts of the page which makes it a bit easier to find the items.  For young readers who love the challenge of looking for specific items in the pictures this book can provide hours of fun, as long as the wand does...

DR. FAUCI: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America's Doctor by Kate Messner, illustrated by Alexandra Bye Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 9781665902434 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The definitive picture book biography of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and one of the most crucial figures in the COVID-19 pandemic. Before he was Dr. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci was a curious boy in Brooklyn, delivering prescriptions from his father’s pharmacy on his blue Schwinn bicycle. His father and immigrant grandfather taught Anthony to ask questions, consider all the data, and never give up—and Anthony’s ability to stay curious and to communicate with people would serve him his entire life. This engaging narrative, which draws from interviews the author did with Dr. Fauci himself, foll...

CARLA AND THE CHRISTMAS CORNBREAD by Carla Hall, illustrations by Cherise Harris Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5344-9469-5 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this heartwarming tale inspired by her childhood, superstar chef and TV host Carla Hall shares the story of young Carla, who eats a sugar cookie meant for Santa on the night before Christmas and tries to make things right. Christmas is Carla’s favorite holiday of the year. She goes to her grandparents’ house and eats grandma’s special recipe—a perfectly delicious cornbread. She listens to her grandpa Doc’s marvelous stories about traveling the world. And, best of all, she spends lots of time with her family. But when Carla accidentally takes a bite out of Santa’s sugar cookie, she thinks she’s ruined Christmas. How will Santa know to stop at their house if they don’t leave him a midnight snack? With her grandmother’s help, Carla comes u...

DANCING WITH DADDY by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen two lions, 2021 ISBN: 978-1542007191 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.  ★“Refreshingly, Elsie’s disability is seamlessly presented as simply another aspect of family life…As she swings and sways in her father’s arms, her forehead against his, their love is palpable; Chen’s illustrations fairly glow with affection…A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “[Anitra] Rowe Sc...

HELP MOM WORK FROM HOME! written by Diana Murray, illustrated by Cori Coerrfeld Little, Brown and Company, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-316-27365-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK For fans of Boss Baby and How to Babysit a Grandma comes an entertaining read aloud for parents working from home with their little ones.  Mom works at home all week long, and her little one is right by her side. After all, she's a natural boss at organizing, leading meetings, and making calls—or so it seems. But when Mom starts looking frazzled, her little helper knows just how to make it all better.  Diana Murray's rollicking rhyme paired with Cori Doerrfeld's energetic and adorable illustrations will bring parent and child together after a long work day. ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Diana Murray grew up in New York City and still lives close with her husband, two daughters, and bearded dragon. Some of Diana’s previous works include: City ...

A HOME AGAIN by Colleen Rowan Kosinski, illustrated by Valeria Docampo two lions, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5420-0720-7 Source: publisher for review/Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK After the last brick is laid, a family moves into a brand-new house. As the family grows, the house delights in the sound of laughter echoing in its halls and the pitter-patter of little feet traversing its floors and realizes it is no longer just a house. It has become a home—their home. One day, the family packs up, and with tears in their eyes, they say goodbye. The house doesn’t know if it can ever be happy again until two men appear. It begins to feel a sliver of hope about this new family…perhaps it can become a home once more. Told from the perspective of a house, this story’s heartfelt text and beautiful illustrations convey a warmth of feeling as two families change and grow at different times within the same four walls.  PROFESSIONAL COMMENTS “The expert...