Geo Librarian

  THE 13TH DAY OF CHRISTMAS written & illustrated by Adam Rex Neal Porter Books, Holiday Publishing Inc, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-8234-5653-6 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com ABOUT THE BOOK A partridge in a pear tree? Ten lords a-leaping? Now who would want such gifts? And more importantly—why would they be given? Adam Rex investigates in this hilariously heart-warming tale based on one of the best-loved Christmas carols. Our hero is having a lonesome Christmas away from his true love. So when she sends him a gift, of course he loves it—even if a partridge in a pear tree wasn’t exactly on his Wishlist. Twelve days later, his home is crowded with more birds, milkmaids, pipers, and other guests than he can possibly make sense of. Why would his true love think he’d like this?! His search for answers transforms the disaster into a source of joy for the whole town—complete with a parade...

  IT'S ALMOST TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! written by Maisha Oso, illustrated by Tom Knight Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-8014-2 Source: publisher for review (thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK How to Catch Santa Claus meets The Night Before series in this present-wrapping, mistletoe-hanging picture book anticipating Christmas in the laugh-out-loud, rhyming It’s Almost time For… series. It’s almost time for Christmas, and excitement is running high! It might not be here yet, but there’s so much to do before the merry day arrives… From decorating the Christmas tree with ornaments to wrapping presents, baking cookies, and caroling, there are endless ways to celebrate! But not everyone can read the signs of the highly anticipated holiday on the way… It’s Almost Time for…Christmas! is a perfect blend of festive fun and read-aloud magic that will have young reade...

THE MUTTCRACKER written by Anna Kemp, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-6659-8103-3 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Festive fun from the team that brought you beloved bestseller Dogs Don't Do Ballet! My dog is not like other dogs. My dog is a ballerina who dreams of being the Sugar Plum Fairy. So when Miss Polly announces the parts in our Christmas show, The Nutcracker, will my dog’s dream come true? Or will we both just be… bonbons? REVIEW The little girl who narrates the book describes her dog, Biff's love of ballet. At ballet class, the instructor announces that they will be performing The Nutcracker and Biff wants to be the Sugar Plum Fairy. When Biff and his girl are assigned to do the Dance of the Bonbons, Biff is thoroughly disappointed. At first he refuses to participate in rehe...

THE CHRISTMAS SWEATER written & illustrated by Jan Brett G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-53391-8 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK A new Christmas classic from Jan Brett with an adventurous boy and an adorable pug in a Christmas sweater who saves the day! When Yaya reveals the highly adorned Christmas sweater she has knit for pet pug, Ari, her grandson thinks it’s just perfect. It’s covered in bells, candy canes, ornaments and more—how fun! Ari, however, disagrees. Convinced a hike in the December air will change her mind, they set off, the boy in his new snowshoes and the dog in her new sweater. It isn’t long before snow begins to fall, cloaking the world around them in white. Suddenly, the boy realizes that Ari’s sweater has disappeared along the way, and what’s more, the snow has covered their footsteps and every landmark. How will they find their way back? Ari bark...

  INTERRUPTING CHICKEN SAVES THE NUTCRACKER written & illustrated by David Ezra Stein Candlewick Press, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0779-8 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK At her first ballet ever, can an excitable little Chicken resist helping the story along? Fans will cheer as their favorite interrupter puts her spin on a beloved holiday classic. “Hi, Clara! Like my tutu?” “Ahem,” said the narrator. “Chicken!” said Papa. “You can’t go onstage!” It’s winter vacation for the little red chicken and, with promises of best behavior, she’s on her way to see The Nutcracker with Papa. She can’t wait! In fact, she’s so excited that Papa is worried she might get a little carried away . . . Take your seats and get ready to giggle as a certain irrepressible audience member dances onstage at key moments, determined to save the nutcracker from that bully Fritz and the swo...

  HAVE YOURSELF A CHEESY LITTLE CHRISTMAS written by Jory John, illustrated Pete Oswald Harper, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-06-343786-9 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From the #1 New York Times bestselling creators of the Food Group series comes a Christmas picture book featuring the ever-popular character the Big Cheese. Perfect for holiday promotions, this book includes a tear sheet of twelve holiday cards and festive foil on the cover. Every December, the Big Cheese hosts a gigantic jamboree with flashy decorations, sparkling outfits, extravagant gifts, ear-bursting music, and jaw-dropping entertainment. It's the #1 party in town and it can't be beat! But this holiday season, mere hours before the festivities, disaster strikes! With no backup plan in place, the Big Cheese must call in a big favor to help save the big day. But will Christmas still be Christmas i...

  CANDY CORN CHRISTMAS written & illustrated by Jonathan Fenske Little Simon, 2025 ISBN: 9781-6659-7366-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The most underrated Halloween candies are determined to celebrate Christmas in this wildly sweet holiday mash-up with a dash of humor, a pinch of holiday cheer, and a sugar rush of Christmas magic. The candy corn exclaimed with glee, “What is this magic land we see?” “It’s Christmas,” squeaked a sugarplum. “Well, watch out, Christmas. Here we come!” Candy corn is used to being left on the shelf long after Halloween ends, but this year, they’ve had enough of being limited to one holiday. It’s time to join the ranks of Christmas sweet treats for a new festive adventure. But there’s one problem… All the Christmas candies agree candy corn is nota Christmas treat! Can holiday joy really be shared with e...

  DASHER AND THE POLAR BEAR written & illustrated by Matt Tavares Candlewick Press, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3631-6 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK In this all-new Christmas tale, Dasher the reindeer discovers that the only thing better than making Christmas magic is making a new friend to share it with. One bright night just before Christmas, Dasher the reindeer is out admiring the stunning colors of the northern lights when she meets George, a sweet polar bear. Astounded to see that Dasher can fly, George confides that he has dreamed of soaring through the sky himself. Dasher would like nothing more than to bestow some Christmas magic on her new friend, but their flying lesson turns out to be a disappointing failure. Even Dasher, an intrepid reindeer in the habit of giving—not giving up—begins to wonder if anyone can make George’s dream take flight. In th...

  HOLLY JOLLY KITTY-CORN written by Shannon Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-4197-6879-8 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Bestselling Itty-Bitty Kitty-Corn creators Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham are back with a festive kitty-corn tale, featuring Christmas decorations, gingerbread houses, one (almost) perfect tree—and the magic of true friendship The best part of Christmas is the merry music! No, it’s the gingerbread! No, it’s definitely decorating the tree! Kitty and Unicorn can’t wait to spend their first Christmas together! But try as they might, they can’t seem to agree on their favorite festivities. Will the magical best friends pull off the perfect Christmas, or will all their plans come tip-timber-crashing down? The magical, bestselling team of Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham return with a cozy and...

SANTA POST written & illustrated by Emma Yarlett Kane Miller, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-68464-196-3 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An irresistible festive follow-up from award-winning author-illustrator Emma Yarlett, with hilarious letters and parcels to open. Santa receives post from children all over the world. But when Amy sends him a letter, he just can't work out what she wants as her gift. Will Santa manage to find Amy the right present in time for Christmas Eve? This joyous story sparkles with Emma Yarlett’s vibrant illustrations and quirky humor. REVIEW As a fan of novelty books with movable parts, Christmas stories, and Emma Yarlett, I was thrilled to find this book. Amy sends a letter to Santa but it's been singed and Santa can't read what Amy wants for Christmas. As it is Christmas Eve and he is tremendously busy, he seeks help finding the per...

  SNOWMEN'S TWELVE NIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS written by Carolyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-593-62472-2 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A classic Christmas carol told with a hilarious Snowmen twist, from the New York Times bestselling creators Caralyn and Mark Buehner The Twelve Days of Christmas has never been funnier or more chaotic as an energetic dog chases an elf, peeking penguins, scolding squirrels, and many more snowmen and creatures up a tree. With a pitch-perfect and jaunty rhyme and illustrations chockful of fun details, this cumulative book from New York Times bestselling husband-and-wife team Caralyn and Mark Buehner begs to be read (and sung!) aloud over and over again. REVIEW The Buehner's have created yet another delightful snowmen story. This time readers get to see snow penguins, snow rabbit...

  CLARICE BEAN - THINK LIKE AN ELF written and illustrated by Lauren Child Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2365-1 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 9-12 Middle grade realistic fiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Join the one and only Clarice Bean and ‘Think Like an Elf’ in this irresistible and spectacularly sparkling Christmas story from the inimitable Lauren Child. Clarice Bean usually looks forward to Christmas. Except this year it is going to be a quiet-ish Christmas in her house, which doesn’t feel right because Christmas is all about noisiness and being full up and FAMILY. And without those things, she is going to have to try exceptionordinarily hard to stop the Christmas spirit completely floating away…But luckily, there is no one in the world like Clarice Bean – and she is going to THINK LIKE AN ELF, and that means everything will be A-OKAY. Won’t it? The one...

HOW DOES SANTA GO DOWN THE CHIMNEY? by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-2376-7 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The beloved, multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question. When Santa arrives at a child’s house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feetfirst or headfirst? What if he gets stuck? What if there’s no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the faucet? What happens once he’s inside? Whether it’s shape-shifting or impromptu laundry use, Mac Barnett’s iconic talent for earnest deadpan humor and Jon Klassen’s irresistibly funny art honor the timeless question with answers both ridiculous and plausible, mounting in hilarity as the night continues. Channeling a child’s ...

DON'T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE SLEIGH! words and pictures by Mo Willems Union Square Kids, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-4549-5277-0 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a new holiday classic. It’s the most wonderful time of the year—for driving a sleigh! ’Tis also the season—for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the—driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it once. Can his holiday dream come true? Or will The Pigeon be left out in the cold? You’ll share some HO-HO-HOs and HA-HA-HAs finding out in three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems’ ninth Pigeon book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh! REVIEW Mo Willems hits it out of the park again. The pigeon once again wants to drive something. This time it's a sleigh. As in previous volumes, he begs and pleads before throwing ...

DASHER CAN'T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS written & illustrated by Matt Tavares Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3013-0 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Matt Tavares's sequel to the New York Times best-selling Dasher is a joyful ode to helping others--and another holiday classic in the making. "If you ever get lost, just look for the North Star." With only one sleep left before Christmas Eve, Dasher can't contain her excitement for her favorite holiday. With the sound of Christmas carols on the breeze and twinkling lights radiating from a nearby city, she sneaks off to visit the festivities. But as night deepens and snow starts to fall, Dasher realizes she can no longer spot the North Star in the sky to lead her home. Will the kindness of a child, an unexpected gift, and a dose of Christmas spirit get her back in time to help guide S...

THE CHRISTMASSY CACTUS written by Beth Ferry, illustrated by A.N. Kang Harper, 2023 ISBN: 978-0-06-303964-3 Source: purchased Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Bestselling author Beth Ferry of Stick and Stone and The Scarecrow is back with an irresistible holiday picture book. Tiny Cactus loves Christmas! But she doesn’t love that her little girl seems to be spending more time with the giant sparkly tree in the living room than with her. Maybe if she were decorated like the Christmas tree, her little girl would notice her again. And so Tiny Cactus makes a wish—to be special, to be noticed, to be a part of the magic of Christmas. With the support of her friend and some Christmas magic, Tiny Cactus learns that wishes can come true if you believe hard enough. REVIEW Tiny Cactus loves being called "little cupcake", "little bonbon", and "little gingersnap" by h...

ELVES ARE THE WORST! by Alex Willan Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-6659-2179-4 Ages 4-8 Picture book humor/holiday All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & author interview provided by publisher. ABOUT THE AUTHOR If it was ALEX WILLAN, and not Gilbert the Goblin, who was in charge of writing the stories, he’d make a book called Anchovies are the Worst!. Alex is the author-illustrator of Unicorns are the Worst!, Dragons are the Worst!, Yetis are the Worst!, and the Jasper & Ollie series, as well as the illustrator of Got Your Nose, written by Alan Katz. Alex lives in Chicago with his dog, Harley, who is the absolute best. Visit him online at AlexWillan.com . REVIEW In this fourth book in the ...Are the Worst series by Alex Willan, Gilbert is once again complaining about another creature. This time it's 'hardworking and so perfect' elves. Gilbert sets out to prove that he works just as hard and just as perfectly as elves d...