Geo Librarian

  JUST IN CASE : Saving Seeds in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault written by Megan Clendenan, illustrated by Brittany Cicchese Charlesbridge, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-62354-480-5 Ages 6-10 Source: Blue Slip Media All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Psst . . . Guess what? 800 miles from the North Pole, buried deep in a mountain, the Svalbard Seed Vault holds priceless treasure. Seeds! Perfect for 5-8-year-old future conservationists, this is a fascinating glimpse into a unique conservation collection, highlighting the importance of natural resources and protecting planet Earth. On the Arctic island of Spitsbergen in Norway, polar bears roam and there are no gardens, forests, or fields. But buried deep underground, the Svalbard Seed Bank protects more than 580 million seeds with plenty of room for more. How and why was the vault built? What's it like inside? How does the vault protect the seeds? Lear...

Ironically, I am choosing to review two books today that directly contradict the weather I'm experiencing here in Utah. It hovered around 0 degrees today. Burr! But these books brought a smile to my face in reminding me that the warmth will return and in the meantime I'll keep reading books like these and sharing them with children. Another remarkable thing is that HOT DOG just won the Caldecott Medal! Congratulations, Doug Salati! Thank you for producing such a wonderful book. HOT DOG by Doug Salati Alfred A. Knopf, 2022 ISBN: 978-0-593-30843-1 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW In poetic text combined with lovely pencil, gouache on paper and Photoshopped illustrations, Salati presents readers with a delightful reminder of the need to enjoy nature's beauty's once in a while. The story follows a dachshund getting walked around New York as his owner runs errands. Eventually t...

THE LAST CUENTISTA by Donna Barba Higuera Levine Querido, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-64614-089-3 Source: purchased Ages 10 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover and book blurb obtained from Goodreads.com and publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita. But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children – among them Petra and her family – have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race. Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet – and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard – or purged them altogether. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, ...

MARCH, BOOK 1 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, & Nate Powell Top Shelf Productions, 2013 ISBN: 978-160309-300-2 Graphic Nonfiction  Ages 12 and up Source: Myrick Marketing All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) is an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper’s farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president. Now, to share his remarkable story with new generations, Lewis presents March, a graphic novel trilogy, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and New York Times best-selling artist Nate Powell (winner of the Eisner Award and LA Times Book Prize finalist for Swallow Me Whole). March is a vivid first-hand account of John L...

TROMBONE SHORTY by Troy Andrews, illustrated by Bryan Collier Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015 ISBN:  978-1-4197-1465-8 Ages 6 and up Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Hailing from the Tremé neighborhood in New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews got his nickname by wielding a trombone twice as long as he was high. A prodigy, he was leading his own band by age six, and today this Grammy-nominated artist headlines the legendary New Orleans Jazz Fest. Along with esteemed illustrator Bryan Collier, Andrews has created a lively picture book autobiography about how he followed his dream of becoming a musician, despite the odds, until he reached international stardom. Trombone Shorty is a celebration of the rich cultural history of New Orleans and the power of music. REVIEW Andrews and Collier's work comes together in beautiful ways to tell the story of Andrews adventures with a trombone.  Growing up in the Treme ...

For those not aware, the CYBILS (children's book bloggers awards) were announced today. There are some great reads here. Some I've read but others I haven't. More books for the ever growing TBR pile.  I'm especially thrilled to see The False Prince and Wonder honored. Two of my favorite books ever.  See my reviews here and here . Without further ado, here is the announcement direct from the CYBILS website : "Good morning, book lovers, and welcome to the apex of the seventh season of the Cybils--that is, announcement day for our latest list of favorite books of 2012. They're a perfect blend of kid appeal and literary awesomeness, as befits the criteria of the Cybils Awards. Librarians love 'em, kids can't get enough, and we're thrilled to announce the crop of winners. If you're an author or an illustrator and you spot your name on this list, don't forget we have shiny gold stickers now and a fancy logo for you. For everyo...