Geo Librarian

  STANLEY'S TOY BOX by William Bee Peachtree Publishing, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-68263-284-0 Source: publisher for review Ages 0-3 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK (From Amazon)   Everyone’s favorite hard-working hamster Stanley teams up with friends to introduce young readers to basic toys and their uses. Join Stanley at the park where he and his friends explore and play with all the toys in his toy box. They bounce balls, sail toy boats, and fly kites. What else is in Stanley’s toy box? An early introduction to the toy vocabulary and object identification, this board book will appeal to Stanley’s youngest fans. REVIEW Stanley and his friend Little Woo go to the park where they meet up with Betty!  Together the friends play with the toys that Stanley brought in his toy box.  A jump rope, bouncing balls, beach buckets, and bowling pins all get played with by the group of friends.  A mishap with the toy boats and wind-up submarine caus...

AWAY WITH WORDS The Daring Story of Isabella Bird written by Lori Mortensen, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell Peachtree Publishing, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-68263-005-1 Source: publisher for review Ages 5-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK "Isabella Bird was like a wild vine stuck in a too-small pot. She needed more room. She had to get out. She had to explore." Exploring was easier said than done in Victorian England. But Isabella persisted, and with each journey, she breathed in new ways to see and describe everything around her. Question by question, word by word, Isabella bloomed. First, out in the English countryside. Then, off to America and Canada. And eventually, around the world, to Africa, Asia, Australia, and more.  This dashing picture book biography about the first female member of the Royal Geographic Society takes readers around the world with a daring nineteenth-century female explorer and author. Kristy Caldwell...

KING & KAYLA AND THE CASE OF THE MISSING DOG TREATS written by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers Peachtree Publishing, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-145-877-6 Ages 6-9 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Kayla made peanut butter treats for Jillian's new puppy, Thor. But now the treats are missing.  What does Kayla know? There are three treats missing. King was in the kitchen. King's breath doesn't smell like peanut butter.  What does King know? There's an intruder in the house.  How will they solve the mystery? REVIEW I'm always on the lookout for fun early chapter books.  These books need to be fast moving with short, easy to read sentences for children just learning to read.  But the stories and illustrations are important as well.  In this first of a new series, King wants to eat the peanut butter treats that Kayla has made.  And when some of the treats go missing, ...

STANLEY'S COLORS by William Bee Peachtree Petite, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-56145-948-3 Ages 0-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Its another busy day for Stanley and friends. Stanley and Little Woo are learning about colors and vehicles. There's a red car, a yellow motorbike, and even a pink balloon! REVIEW Stanley is an adorable little hamster who actively travels around in his variously colored vehicles.  The colors are bright and appealing and sure to catch a youngster's eye.  The variety of vehicles provides another fun part of the story.  Stanley fixes his red car, delivers a flower in his orange truck, and loves riding his yellow motorcycle among other things.  There is much to talk about here with a young child providing an enjoyable reading experience that also helps children learn to start thinking and talking about what they read.  I loved the last page which shows all the di...

RODEO RED written by Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-816-5 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Rodeo Red and her hound dog Rusty are happier than two buttons on a new shirt 'til Side Swiping Slim shows up. Red's sure anyone who hollers that much'll be hauled to the edge of town and told to skedaddle, but her parents are smitten. When Slim sets his eye on Rusty, Red'd better figure out a way to save her best friend in all the world. Can she bargain with a varmint? ABOUT THE AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR Maripat Perkins  is a former Montessori teacher who lives in Michigan with her plum peach of a  family and a few rascally varmints.  Rodeo Red  is her first picture book. Molly Idle  had a career with DreamWorks Feature Animation Studios before leaping into the world of children's book illustration. She is the author-illustrator of ...

SONA AND THE WEDDING GAME by Kashmira Sheth, illustrated by Yoshiko Jaeggi Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-735-9 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Sona's big sister is getting married and she's been given an important job to do. She has to steal the groom's shoes. She's never attended a wedding before, so she's unfamiliar with this Indian tradition as well as many of the other magical experiences that will occur before and during the special event. But with the assistance of her annoying cousin Vishal, Sona finds a way to steal the shoes and get a very special reward. ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Kashmira Sheth is the author of the picture books Monsoon Afternoon and My Dadima Wears a Sari , as well as the award-winning young adult novels Blue Jasmine and Koyal Dark, Mango Sweet . She lives in Wisconsin. You can visit Kashmira Sheth’s website here . ...

P. ZONKA LAYS AN EGG by Julie Paschkis Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-819-6 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Extraordinary hen P. Zonka spends her time taking in the beauty around her: shiny green grass, buttery yellow dandelions, deep blue sky. The other hens can't understand why she never lays eggs like they do. Finally, P. Zonka gives in and lays an egg. To everyone's delight, she produces a wondrous egg containing all the colors and designs that she stores in her imagination. ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Julie Paschkis attended Cornell University and the School for American Craftsmen at RIT, where she earned a BFA. She taught art to grade school children for several years while working on her own art and illustration. Julie now works full-time painting, creating commercial illustrations, and illustrating children's books. Some of her books include Albert the Fix...

SPECTACULAR SPOTS written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale Peachtree Publishers, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-817-2 Picture Book Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to the many ways in which animals benefit from their spots. An afterword tells a little bit more about each animal and where it lives, and readers can test their knowledge of animal spots with a fun matching game at the end! REVIEW Susan Stockdale has created a fun book that works well as a read aloud for both personal and classroom use.  This book along with her others introduces patterns to young readers.  The text of the book is rhyming and works well for reading out loud.  The additional information about each animal at the end helps explain why these animals have spots.  The guessing game makes fo...

STANLEY THE FARMER by William Bee Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-803-5 Ages 3-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own . ABOUT THE BOOK Down on the farm, there's seeds to be sown. Stanley has to get on his tractor and plough the field. There's lots to be done, and friends to help him out, but will the seeds grow? ABOUT THE AUTHOR William Bee was born in London but now lives in the English countryside. In addition to writing children’s books, he races a vintage sports car, is an international skier, and when at home tends his lawns and meadows. REVIEW Stanley's hard at work again, this time as a farmer.  This book walks the reader through the planting and harvesting of a field of wheat.  The illustrations and text highlight the different machines and processes that go into growing wheat.  Each machine and action taken is clearly labeled in the text.  It would be fun to ask the students what Stanley ...

RANDOM BODY PARTS Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse written by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Mike Lowery Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-737-3 Poetry Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Witty verse about the body pairs with whimsical art in this fun collection. The poems pose puzzles in verse (nod slyly to Shakespeare) and give hints for uncovering the body part. Sidebars educate readers on anatomy, while appended notes look at poetic form and Shakespearean works that inspired the verses. Captivating lines will spark interest in poetry and biology alike. REVIEW Poetry is an interesting method for learning about the human body.  But the riddles in this book make for a fun way to learn about different parts of the body. While the poetry is not the best I've ever read, it works for the topics being covered.  Some of the poems display great imagery, such as the poem about blood being lik...

MURPHY, GOLD RUSH DOG, 1900 Dog Chronicles by Alison Hart, illustrated by Michal G. Montgomery Peachtree Publishing, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-56145-769-4 Middle Grade Historical Fiction Grades 3-6 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK An action-packed and heartwarming story of a dog in gold rush-era Alaska All Murphy wants is a home and a loving family. After escaping from his brutal and merciless owner, he is taken in by a young girl named Sally. She and her mother have just arrived in Nome, Alaska, intent on joining the other gold seekers and making a new life there, free from their wealthy but oppressive family in Seattle. Yet even with Murphy at their side, Sally and Mama find living in the mining town harsh and forbidding. When it seems they may have to give up and return to Seattle, Sally and Murphy decide to strike out on their own, hoping to find gold and make a permanent home. But dangers await them - n...

CLAUDE ON THE SLOPES by Alex T. Smith Peachtree Publishing, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-56145-805-9 Early Reader Grades 1-3 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this latest adventure, on a winter's day, Claude goes from throwing snowballs and making snowmen to causing an all-out avalanche! In a stunning hardback edition for the first time. ABOUT THE AUTHOR After briefly considering careers in space travel, cookery, and being a rabbit, Alex T. Smith finally decided to become an illustrator. He graduated from Coventry University with a degree in illustration and won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Children's Illustration. He lives in England. You can visit Alex T. Smith’s website here . REVIEW Another cute story about a fun loving dog and his best friend, Sir Bobblysock (who is in fact an actual sock), Claude on the Slopes takes the reader to a mountain resort where Claude and Sir Bobblysock e...