Geo Librarian

  ZOMBIE AND BRAIN ARE FRIENDS written by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, illustrated by Laan Cham Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-5476-1973-3 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 Zombie in Love meets Gustavo, the Shy Ghost in this story about a young zombie who must Are brains friends…or food? Zeb comes from a family of farmers-zombie farmers. Each week they pickle, bake, fry, and sell their grain-fed, free-range brains to be enjoyed by the masses. Zeb understands that brains are food, not pets…until one day he comes across the tiniest, pinkest, squishiest brain he ever did see! Can he convince his parents that his brainy bestie is better off as a member of the family than family dinner? REVIEW Zeb's family of zombies raise brains for consumption. When a baby brain tumbles into his arms one day and he sees how pink and how squishy it is, he names it...

  THE LITTLE KITTEN by Nicola Killen Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 9781534466968 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Ollie and her cat Pumpkin are out frolicking on a beautiful fall day when they come upon a tiny kitten shivering in a pile of fallen leaves. Ollie warms the kitten up and the three become fast friends, but when Ollie sees “Lost Kitten” posters hanging on the trees in the forest, she knows she has to help her new friend get home. As Halloween draws nearer, magic is afoot, and Ollie’s good deed is rewarded in an unexpected way.   REVIEW   This adorable book follows the adventures of a young girl named Ollie and her cat Pumpkin.  As they go to play in a pile of leaves the wind reveals a young kitten hiding therein.  After playing with the kitten for a while, the three curl up under a tree to rest.  Afterwards, Ollie and the kitten go off to play...

I LOVE MY FANGS! by Kelly Leigh Miller Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-5344-5210-7 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Is a vampire still a vampire if his fang is all wobbly? Find out in this funny and endearing spin on the classic first lost tooth story. Young Dracula loves his fangs. They are pointy. They are sharp! They are a cherished family trait. So one day, when a fang wiggles…and jiggles…and falls loose, Dracula doesn’t know what to do. He tries pushing it back in. Then taping it. Then sticking it. Because a vampire can’t have only one fang!…Right?   REVIEW   While there are plenty of losing a tooth stories available, there aren't any quite like this one. Not only is the main character a vampire, but he doesn't actually want to lose a tooth.  In fact, Young Dracula is really proud of his fangs.  He brushes and flosses his teeth to such a de...

THAT MONSTER ON THE BLOCK by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, illustrated by Luke Flowers two lions, 2020 ISBN: 978-1542005333 Source: Blue Slip Media for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Monster is excited to see what kind of creature will move into Vampire’s old house on the block. He even starts practicing his welcome growl for the new neighbor. But when the moving truck pulls up, it’s not a greedy goblin, an ogre, or a dastardly dragon that steps out. Instead, it’s something even more terrifying than Monster could have imagined! Monster quickly rallies the other neighbors to unite against the new guy on the block. But what if the new neighbor isn’t exactly as bad as Monster thinks? Join Monster as he confronts his fears in this charming and lighthearted look at what it means to accept others who are different from us.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Sue Ganz-Schmitt was born on the Fourth of July and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. She now...

SPENCER'S NEW PET by Jessie Sima Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-1877-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From the creator of Not Quite Narwhal comes a classic tale of a boy and his dog—except in this unique story, one of them is a balloon! When Spencer gets a new pet, he’s excited to do all the things that pets do—taking walks in the park, going to the vet, and attending parties together. There’s just one hitch: Spencer’s new pet is a balloon. And that means No. Sharp. Objects. No drooling dogs at the park. No prickly porcupines at the vet. And absolutely no pinning tails on any donkeys! Spencer’s New Pet is a story of pure fun about a boy, his dog, and a friendship that endures life’s sharpest...and most unexpected twists. REVIEW This primarily wordless picture book follows a young boy named Spencer and his dog.  That seems simple enough until the author/i...

THE RIGHT ONE FOR RODERIC by Violeta Noy Templar Books, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0572-5 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK What happens when one little ghost wants to stand out? All ghosts wear white sheets. That’s just what ghosts do. White sheets are good for haunting people, and they make the ghosts feel like part of one big family. But one little ghost named Roderic wants to wear something different. He tries all sorts of things: a bag, a rug, a boot. Can he find the right one for him? Find out in this colorful picture book from debut author-illustrator Violeta Noy. REVIEW Roderic, a young ghost, comes from a large family, so large in fact that he isn't even the first Roderic.  He's tired of feeling invisible and overlooked by his relatives who all wear white sheets.  So he starts looking for different ways to express himself.  He tries hats and scarves and rugs, but nothing feels quit...

THE MONSTER SQUAD Junior Monster Scouts #1 by Joe McGee, illustrated by Ethan Long Aladdin, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-3677-0 Source: publisher for review Middle grade fantasy (Speculative) Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Wolfy, Franky, and Vampyra—the children of the classic monsters—are Junior Monster Scouts. And even though ‘monster’ is their middle name, these funny fiends just want to help anybody in need, earn their Junior Monster Scout merit badges, and make friends. But, their good deeds are always foiled by Baron Von Grump, a cranky schemer who doesn’t like noise, doesn’t like kids, and most of all doesn’t like the Junior Monster Scouts. Peter Piper’s kitten Shadow is lost deep in The Gloomy Forest, and the Scouts want to help their new friend. But today is also the Village Cheese Festival and all of the celebrating has Baron Von Grump at wits’ end. How can he play his violin in peace if the villagers are making such a racket...

SNOWMAN's MAGIC HAT A Life-the-Flap Book by Jeffrey Burton, illustrated by Ross Burach Little Simon, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-5325-8 Source: publisher for review Ages 3-5 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Snowy-cadabra! Can you pull a snowman out of this magical lift-the-flap book? Everyone loves winter, when snow drifts this way and that, Now can you pull a snowman out of this magic hat? This shaped novelty book is a magical lift-the-flap adventure full of wacky wintery spells! Little ones will love lifting the flaps after saying each magic word to see if the spell worked. From a handful of carrots, to buttons, to three pieces of coal, the magic trick goes on until… Blizzard, lizard, wizard, whoa…we meet a person made of snow! REVIEW In this interactive board book, readers are asked to help the rabbit pull a snowman out of his magic hat.  But it doesn't work despite the use of magical words, but the rabbit is determined.  And...

PJ MASKS SAVE HALLOWEEN! Based on the episode "Halloween Tricksters" adapted by May Nakamura Simon Spotlight, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-5344-4058-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 1-4 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko celebrate Halloween in this action-packed board book based on PJ Masks , the hit preschool series airing on Disney Junior! The PJ Masks have to protect all the kids from Luna Girl, Night Ninja, and the Wolfy Kids who team up to steal everyone’s treat bags. It’s up to the PJ Masks to save the day—and Halloween! REVIEW To put it simply, if you have children who love the show, they will probably love this book.  Admittedly, the story feels truncated which is natural when creating a short board book from a 20-minute TV show.  But most children who hear or read this will have probably already seen the episode it is based on so its not a huge issue.  There is more text in this sort of book than ...

BONAPARTE FALLS APART by Margery Cuyler, illustrations by Will Terry Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN:978-1-101-93768-6 Ages 4-8 Source:purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Bonaparte is having a tough time. It's hard for this young skeleton to just hang loose when he can't keep hold of himself.  When he plays catch, his throwing arm literally takes a flyer. Eating lunch can be a real jaw-dropping occasion. How can he start school when he has so many screws loose? Luckily, Bonaparte hit the bone-anza when it came to his friends. Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula all have some boneheaded ideas to help pull him together. But will it be enough to boost his confidence and get him ready for the first day of school? REVIEW Bonaparte fears going to school when he is constantly losing body parts.  A valid fear when you are a skeleton.  Bonaparte's friends try to help him come up with a solution, but their...