Geo Librarian

PINGO AND THE PLAYGROUND BULLY written by Brandon Mull, illustrated by Brandon Dorman Shadow Mountain, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-60907-178-3 Picture Book Fantasy Grades 1-5 Reviewed from purchased copy. ABOUT THE BOOK In first grade, Chad and his imaginary friend, Pingo, meet other kids and their imaginary friends: Gary protects the galaxy with Sparky the robot; Tiffany helps save the day with Awesome Girl; and Dustin can hide Mr. Bob in his pocket. One recess, after defeating a clan of lava monsters, Chad and his friends decide to have a contest to see which imaginary friend is the smartest or the strongest or the sneakiest. However, when Jeremy, the schoolyard bully, and his imaginary friend, Grunt, decide to prove that they re the best, Pingo saves the day by befriending Jeremy and Grunt and inviting them on an adventure down the Amazon River. We re all good at different things, and that makes friendship fun. Let s go play! A delightful, full-color picture book about the...

As part of this month's celebration of picture books, I'm going to highlight some of my recent favorites.  The one I'm highlighting today, I found hilarious and the students I shared it with did as well. Title: Kel Gilligan's Daredevil Stunt Show Author: Michael Buckley Illustrator: Dan Santat Publisher: Abrams Books for Young Readers Date: 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4197-0379-9 Picture Book Grades PreK-3 ABOUT THE BOOK From Michael Buckley, the bestselling author of the Sisters Grimm and NERDS series, and Dan Santat, author-illustrator of Sidekicks , comes this hilarious picture book starring Kel Gilligan (a.k.a. “The Boy Without Fear”) that encourages kids to laugh at their fears and celebrates the bravery it takes to try new things no matter how ordinary. Narrated by Kel himself as he attempts his “stunts” with Evel Knievel–like flair, the story unfolds as a performance in which readers themselves become part of the audience, encouraging Kel to get dresse...

On Wild and Wonderful Wednesday's I highlight books I've read that have characters or settings or plot that strike me as wild and/or wonderful.  The Library Dragon is definitely a wild charcter and The Fantastic Flying Books has well, fantastic flying books. :) RETURN OF THE LIBRARY DRAGON by Carmen Agra Deedy, illustrated by Michael P. White Peachtree Publishers, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-56145-621-5 Grades K-3 Reviewed from personal copy. After 682 years of faithful service, Miss Lotty is retiring from guarding books. But before she can check out of Sunrise Elementary for good, disaster strikes. Someone has ordered all the books removed from the library and replaced with machines! It s enough to make Lotty feel a little...dragon-like. When she bursts into a fiery rage, only one thing can make her shed her scales: assurance that someone will fight to keep her precious books in the hands of Sunrise s children. Lotty is sure she ll have to stay on and do the job herself...

MILLIE FIERCE written and illustrated by Jane Manning Philomel Books, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-399-25642-4 Grades K-2 Copy provided for blog tour in return for an honest review. No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own. If Fancy Nancy got angry. Really, really angry. Millie is quiet. Millie is sweet. Millie is mild. But the kids at school don't listen to her. And she never gets a piece of birthday cake with a flower on it. And some girls from her class walk right on top of her chalk drawing and smudge it. And they don't even say they're sorry! So that's when Millie decides she wants to be fierce! She frizzes out her hair, sharpens her nails and runs around like a wild thing. But she soon realizes that being fierce isn't the best way to get noticed either, especially when it makes you turn mean. So Millie decides to be nice--but to keep a little of that fierce backbone hidden inside her. In case she ever needs...

DOG IN CHARGE by K.L. Going, illustrated by Dan Santat Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-8037-3479-1 Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy. Book synopsis comes from Goodreads. When the going gets tough, Dog . . . takes a nap Dog can Sit . He can Stay . He can even Dance . But when he's in charge, can he keep the cats in line? All one, two, three, four, five of them? With slapstick silliness and utterly earnest charm, Dog will quickly wiggle his way into preschoolers' hearts. I had a good time sharing this with the kindergartners I see every week.  It made for a great discussion of feelings and nonverbal communication.  Plus, it's just a fun story.  I imagine a lot of parents feel like dog, after a day of running after children who make one mess after another, only to have the child or children turn around and do something sweet.  I know in my job that is often the case.  I get really frustrated and than one child does something nice maki...

Once again I have some picture books to share.  I used these books with four classes of kindergartners.  Each book works well as a read-a-loud and one even got the kids giggling madly. BABY BEAR SEES BLUE written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff Beach Lane Books, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-4424-1306-1 Grades PreK-2 Reviewed from personal copy. Explore the world of color with Baby Bear! Baby Bear has so much to learn about the world! From the moment he wakes until it’s time to curl up and go to sleep, he explores outside with his mama. They see green leaves, blue jays, brown trout, and—best of all—a patch of yummy red strawberries.From bestselling picture book creator Ashley Wolff, here is a clever concept book that combines engaging and intricate linocut illustrations with a story that enthusiastically encourages children to identify a variety of vibrant colors. Young readers will delight in this chance to join Baby Bear as he discovers the colorful wonders of his live...

I've gotten behind on highlighting some of the books I share at school in the library.  Today I'm sharing four books about birds that I shared with my kindergarteners a couple of weeks ago.  The students enjoyed them and I enjoyed sharing them. FALCON written and illustrated by Tim Jessell Random House, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-375-86866-5 Grades K-3 Reviewed from personal copy. Summary comes from Goodreads. A young boy imagines what it would be like to fly as a falcon and see the world from on high. Soaring through the skies, he describes the sights and sounds of the world below. From snow-capped mountains to lush valleys, over rolling ocean and up rocky cliffs, Falcon will awaken the senses of every reader. I knew I had to get this the minute I saw the gorgeous cover.  The theme also grabbed me from the first time I heard it.  The book did not disappoint.  I thoroughly enjoyed sharing this book with students and highlighting the power of imagination ...

SAME, SAME, BUT DIFFERENT written and illustrated by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw Henry Holt and Company, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8050-8946-2 32 p. Grades PreK-2 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different! Through an inviting point-of-view and colorful, vivid illustrations, this story shows how two boys living oceans apart can be the best of friends. I enjoyed reading and sharing this book. Not only is the language simple and straightforward, but the illustrations compliment the writing perfectly. The illustrations are bright and colorful and highlight the similarities and differences between the two boys.  I've really come to love collage as an art form and this book demonstrates the characteristics that make co...

IT'S A SMALL WORLD words and music by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman illustrations by Joey Chou Disney Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-142314689-6 32 p. Grades PreK-1 Reviewed from personal copy. Originally created for the 1964 World's Fair, the song "it's a Small World" quickly worked its way into the hearts of millions.  Nearly half a century later, its simple and poignant message still rings true.   Joey Chou's bright, colorful illustrations accompany the words, taking us on an international tour from the mountains of China and Russia to the plains of Africa and the Americas and more.  Plus there's a CD that features a wonderful recording of the song.  Through its poetic text, charming illustrations, and bonus CD, this book reminds us that it really is a small world, after all.  This book is adorable with it's childlike simplicity.  I  loved the bright colors and energetic design.  I found lots of things in the book to talk about wh...

ALL THE WATER IN THE WORLD written by George Ella Lyon, illustrated by Katherine Tillotson Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4169-7130-6 32 p. Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy.  Illustrations come from Amazon.com and are copyrighted material. BLURB : All the water in the world is all the water in the world. We are all connected by water, and this message is beautifully, lyrically delivered from poet-musician-author George Ella Lyon. Where does water come from? Where does water go? Find out in this exploration of oceans and waterways that highlights an important reality: Our water supply is limited, and it is up to us to protect it. Dynamic, fluid art paired with pitch-perfect verse makes for a wise and remarkable read-aloud that will resonate with any audience. This is a wonderful book, full of poetic language and gorgeous illustrations.  In fact, the book flows rather like its subject, water. I love the way the water cycle is introduc...

Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles written by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger Chronicle Books, 2009 ISBN: 978-0-8118-4668-4 36 p. Grades 1-5 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : Thirteen witty and wacky poems pose riddles that challenge readers to Name That Book. With a glass slipper here and a spider web there, Munsinger's adorable illustrations lead young readers to the solutions.    I love this book.  Not only does this book have clever riddles, but also cute illustrations.  I enjoy sharing these with my students and having them try to guess what book is being described.  For the older students I wait to show the pictures until they've had a few guesses because the illustrations really give some great clues.  Several of the books highlighted have been made into movies so the younger students have a good chance at guessing most of the titles.  Some of the books included are: The Wizard of Oz, Madeline, The Tale...

Mr. Prickles: A Quill-Fated Love Story written by Kara LaReau, pictures by Scott Magoon Roaring Brook Press, 2012 ISBN: 978-1-59643-483-7 32 p. Grades K-3 Reviewed from purchased copy. BLURB : Mr. Prickles was not a particularly friendly fellow. He was tough to get close to . . . because he was a porcupine. "You're not cute like us," said Raccoon. "Or cuddly like us," said Chipmunk. "Or playful like us," said Skunk. "I am," said Mr. Prickles. "On the inside." Poor Mr. Prickles was very lonely-until the day he met Miss Pointypants. Could she be the perfect prickly companion for moonlit strolls and midnight feasts? Was love in the air for even the sharpest of sorts? I read this book to a group of kindergarteners.  I enjoyed it and I think they enjoyed it as well.  But it's not one of my favorites.  It didn't have as much humor as I expected.  In addition, the puns pretty much go over the head of young children.  E...

Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish written by Janet Halfmann, illustrated by Joan Paley Henry Holt and Company, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8050-9073-4 unp. $16.99 5 stars Grades K-5 Reviewed from library copy. BLURB : With the ocean her home, an ochre sea star hunts for her morning meal.  She folds over her rays and grips the rocky shore with sticky feet as she feasts on shellfish.  When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her and Sea Star becomes easy prey.  But she is built to survive and eventually makes her way back to the sea, although with one less ray than before.  This inspiring story informs young children about the important role of a small but fascinating sea creature. Not only is this book gorgeously illustrated but very informative as well. The book follows a single day of a sea star struggles to survive as both predator and prey. The reader watches as the sea star makes her way out of the water toward a group of musse...

H ow I Learned Geography written and illustrated by Uri Shulevitz Farrar Straus Giroux, 2008 ISBN: 978-0-374-33499-4 unp. Grades 2-5 Reviewed from library copy. BLURB : Having fled from war in their troubled homeland, a boy and his family are living in poverty in a strange country. Food is scarce, so when the boy’s father brings home a map instead of bread for supper, at first the boy is furious. But when the map is hung on the wall, it floods their cheerless room with color. As the boy studies its every detail, he is transported to exotic places without ever leaving the room, and he eventually comes to realize that the map feeds him in a way that bread never could. The award-winning artist’s most personal work to date is based on his childhood memories of World War II and features stunning illustrations that celebrate the power of imagination. An author’s note includes a brief description of his family’s experience, two of his early drawings, and the only survivi...

Today I am highlighting three books that look at what life can be like when one is different in significant ways from those around them or how to deal with the changes that happen to all of us.  The Splendid Spotted Snake (A Magic Ribbon Book) written by Betty Ann Schwartz, illustrated by Alexander Wilensky Workman Publishing, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-7611-6360-2 Unpaged $13.95 Grades PreK-1 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB:  It's a marvel Every time you turn the page the little snake grows bigger. And it's a book that teaches colors: with every page his spots change color. Amazing "But how does it work "Using a unique Magic Ribbon format invented by the authors, "The Splendid Spotted Snake" follows the adventures of a little spotted snake made out of sturdy, polka-dotted cloth ribbon. "When Yellow Snake was born, he had bright red spots. But then he grew . . . His new spots were blue."Not only does the little snake double in size, ...