Geo Librarian

RACE CAR DREAMS by Sharon Chriscoe, illustrated by Dave Mottram Running Press Kids, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5964-3 Picture Book Ages 3-6 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK After a day at the track of zipping and zooming, a race car is tired and ready for bed. He washes his rims, fills his tummy with oil, and chooses a book that is all about speed. All toasty and warm, he drifts off to sleep, he shifts into gear . . . and dreams of the race! REVIEW Race Car Dreams  is an adorable story about a tired little race car and the routine he follows before going to sleep. This book reminds me greatly of Cars the Pixar movie.  The rhyming text beautifully complements the sweet, colorful illustrations as the reader follows the car as he goes through a car wash, gets tuned up, and chooses a good book to read before going to sleep where he has sweet dreams about racing.  I especially enjoyed the details, such as ...

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING by Arthur A. Levine, illustrated by Katie Kath Running Press Kids, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5906-3 Picture Book Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Every morning is beautiful when Noah visits his Grandparents. When Grandpa and Noah wake up, they take off singing and hardly stop: walking the dog, splashing through puddles, and eating French toast with cinnamon. But one summer Grandpa seems to have forgotten how to do the things they love. Does he even know who Noah is? Grandma steps in energetically, filling in as best she can. But it is Noah who finds the way back to something he can share with Grandpa. Something musical. Something that makes the morning beautiful again. This is a story about how love helps us find even what we think is lost. REVIEW Okay, I'll admit it, this book brought tears to my eyes.  Probably because it's hard to watch the people we love g...

ROAR! by Julie Bayless Running Press Kids, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5750-2 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A moonlit tale of friendship and play. It is nighttime in the savanna, which means that it is time to play for one rambunctious lion cub! The cub tries to make new friends with the hippos and the giraffes, but roaring at them only chases them away. The young lion is about to give up, but when a rabbit accidentally mistakes the cub's tail for a carrot, the lion realizes she might have met her match, in all the right ways. REVIEW A young lion cub sets out to find a playmate when her family prefers to sleep.  First, she tries the hippos but they run away when she roars as do the giraffes.  But when she inadvertently meets up with a rabbit who is as loud as she is they run off to play together.  Bayless presents a cute story here that preschoolers are bound to have a really fun time with, especi...

THE PERFECT PERCIVAL PRIGGS by Julie-Anne Graham Running Press Kids, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5506-5 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Percival Priggs seems to be the perfect child. His parents are perfect, his grandparents are perfect, and even his pets are perfect. Percy’s shelf is packed with gleaming trophies. But with all the practice and preparation needed for his competitions, Percy never has a free moment. Percy worries that his parents will not love him if he does not smile his prize-winning smile and perform perfectly in every competition. But after his rocket experiment turns into an imperfect mess, Mr. and Mrs. Priggs reveal their own funny imperfections and show Percy they are proud of him exactly as he is. The message of reassurance and acceptance in THE PERFECT PERCIVAL PRIGGS is timely in our age of helicopter parenting, overscheduling, and increased testing standards for young childr...

MY LIFE IN DIORAMAS by Tara Altebrando Running Press Kids, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5681-9 Middle Grade Contemporary Source: ARC from publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Twelve-year-old Kate Marino thinks she is a real mastermind. At least when it comes to hatching a plan to dissuade potential buyers from purchasing Big Red, the old farmhouse that has been the only home Kate has ever known, and which her parents must sell in order to downsize. Kate has not even moved yet, and already her life is changing in unwelcome ways. Every moment and memory seems fleeting. Making dioramas of the people she loves in the places that she holds dear gives Kate a sense of calm. But there’s no way Kate is going to move now, when her dance troupe is finally going to compete at Dance Nation, and her best friend is starting to replace her with her enemy, Megan. It may take several bags of stink, the help of her friends, and a few fake dogs in orde...

DAREDEVIL DUCK by Charlie Alder Running Press, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7624-5456-3 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK Meet Daredevil Duck He is afraid of everything. But that doesn't stop him from DREAMING of being brave. Then one day he is given the biggest challenge of all . . . Can Daredevil Duck prove that he is the bravest duck in the whole wide world? REVIEW I was a little bit startled when I discovered that this book has a few foldout pages, but after reading the book decided that it really works for this book.  Daredevil Duck is an adorable character who doesn't really live up to his nickname leading other ducks to make fun of him. After a disaster occurs and Daredevil Duck panics, he is shocked to discover that Mole wants his help retrieving his balloon from a tree.  Can Daredevil Duck overcome his numerous fears to help a new friend?  I loved the theme here of overcoming one's fea...

GO, PEA, GO by Joe Moshier, Chris Sonnenburg Running Kids Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780762456789 Ages 3-5 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Pea Junior has to go, go, go, go! The end feels so far away, but with his family and friends cheering him on, Pea knows he can make it and go number one! A potty chart, a sheet of stickers, and the lyrics and music notation for the "Go, Pea, Go!" song are included to make an easy, all-in-one, go-to book for parents to help ease the pressure of the race to the Pea Bowl. ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR Joe Moshier is a character design artist who has worked on such films as Bolt , Hercules , Chicken Little , The hunchback of Notre Dame , and Rise of the Guardians .  He attended California Institute of the Arts and lives in Los Angeles, CA, with his family. Chris Sonnenburg has worked in development, direction, and as an artist at a variety of animation studios. He attend...

BUTTERFLY PARK by Elly MacKay Running Press Kids, 2015 ISBN: 9780762453399 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK When a little girl moves to a new town, she finds a place called Butterfly Park. But when she opens the gate, there are no butterflies. Determined to lure the butterflies in, the girl inspires her entire town to help her. And with their combined efforts, soon the butterflies—and the girl—feel right at home. Elly MacKay's luminous paper-cut illustrations and enchanting story encourage community, friendship, and wonderment in the beauty of everyday life. Free poster on reverse side of book jacket.   ABOUT THE AUTHOR Elly MacKay is the author and illustrator of IF YOU HOLD A SEED and SHADOW CHASERS.  She attended Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, and now her artwork is sold around the world, including through her Etsy.com shop, Theater Clouds.  To learn more about Elly, vi...