Geo Librarian

  SHARKS IN KANSAS The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America written by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Becca Stadtlander Random House Studio, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-593-90471-8 Source: Blue Slip Media Book cover, author photo, and book information provided through Blue Slip Media. All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Sharks in Kansas? Yes, it's true! Take a fascinating journey back 85 million years to a time when Kansas was submerged under a vast ocean teeming with incredible prehistoric sharks. Sharks in Kansas? Seems impossible, right? After all, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the United States—more than 1,000 miles from the closest ocean. But the world hasn’t always looked the way it does today. Once upon a time, 85 million years ago, the middle of America was submerged in water--and incredible creatures roamed the sea. On a typical afternoon, a small herd of Claosaurus munches on plants along the shoreline. Above them, a Pteranodon glides across the sky in s...

  TAKE IT APART written by Katey Howes, art by E.V. Carolrhoda Books, 2026 ISBN: 979-8-7656-4856-8 Source: publisher through Blue Slip Media All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, illustrations & summary provided by the publisher through Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK This rhyming picture book joyfully celebrates the many benefits of breaking big things down into smaller pieces. From gathering spare parts for fixing things to learning math and spelling to recycling and composting, taking things apart can be a surprisingly great strategy! Energetic rhyming verse and playful illustrations will inspire readers to see taking things apart in a whole new light! ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Katey Howes was an award-winning children’s author and poet whose books celebrated curiosity, creativity, STEAM learning, and social-emotional growth. Her acclaimed works include Be a Maker, Rissy No Kissies—named a Kirkus Best Children’s Book, a Rise: A Feminist Book Project...

  WHO'S MAKING THAT BIG STINK? written by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Erica J. Chen Charlesbridge, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6235-4625-0 Source: eARC from 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 Eww! Who smells like rotten eggs and smelly feet? Yuck! Whose burps smell like cow poop? Find out which animals stink (and why) in this reeky, cheeky guessing game for ages 3-7. Animals make all sorts of smells for all sorts of reasons! Can you guess the stinker from its stink? Simple clues and laugh-out-loud art make this guessing game perfect for rowdy read-alouds. Fun facts from a world-class zoologist reveal the science behind the stink. REVIEW Appealing digitally-created illustrations and an intriguing topic make this book very kid-friendly. Illustrations of animals noticing a smell, "Ewww" or "Yuck" open a two page spread describing a smell before the pa...

  HOW TO HATCH:  A Goslings Guide to Breaking Free written by Sara Holly Ackerman, illustrated by Galia Bernstein Alfred A. Knopf, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-593-81106-1 Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Discover how a gosling hatches into the world, step by step, in this irresistibly cute and funny nonfiction picture book. Is it getting stuffy in there? Has your yolk dwindled to a smidge? Is the beak in your wingpit cramping your style? Gosling, it’s time to . . . HATCH! With humorous, spare text that reads as an instructional "how to", this story is a delight to read aloud and walks children through every step of the hatching process--with a surprise ending that all readers will enjoy. Includes bonus facts on gosling hatching and growth, as well as an author's note from the author, an experienced preschool and elementary teacher who has hatched many goslings herself in the cl...

  WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Pollution Changes Our World written by Valentina Gottardi, Maciej Michno, and Danio Miserocchi illustrated by Valentina Gottardi translated by Sylvia Notini Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-8028-5651-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A richly illustrated picture book exploring light pollution and its surprising impact on nature and wildlife. When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including: How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns How streetlights gather insects—and their predators How turtles struggle to hatch without da...

  THE SECRETS OF THE JELLIES Amazing Jellyfish and Their Surprising Talents written by Karen Jameson, illustrated by Marie Hermansson Chronicle Books, 2026 Source : Blue Slip Media/publisher Ages  4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Blue Slip Media & Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Soak up a sea of secrets and fun facts about jellyfish in this information-rich picture book! A spectacular world of weird and wonderful jellyfish awaits in The Secrets of the Jellies. Engaging rhyming text will amaze young readers with awe-inspiring information about these beguiling sea creatures. Filled with facts and energetic undersea artwork, this aquarium-exhibit-in-a-book helps us learn all about jelly anatomy, behavior, habitats, and ecosystems as we get to know the moon jelly, lion’s mane jellyfish, fried-egg jellyfish, flame jellyfish, and so many more. Dive in and be dazzled! ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Karen Jameson is a children’s ...

  THE SECRET LIFE OF A SEA TURTLE written by Maddalena Bearzi, illustrated by Alex Boersma Roaring Brook Press, 2025 ISBN: 978-1-250-90167-5 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Follow the captivating yet perilous life of one sea turtle in this dazzling nonfiction tale by the co-founder of the Ocean Conservation Society, perfect for fans of Jason Chin's ISLAND. On a beach at the Ría Lagartos nature reserve in Mexico, a sea turtle is born. Newly hatched into a big world, she breaks out of an egg buried in the sand. Now, her journey begins. To reach the ocean she must avoid predatory opossums, crabs, and raccoons -- many of her siblings will not make it. But our sea turtle does, and when she finally dives beneath the blue sea, she’ll travel for thousands of miles on a beautiful and pulse-pounding adventure. Brilliant, informative, and compelling, The Secret Life o...

  MONARCH AND MOURNING CLOAK : A Butterfly Journal written by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-6271-1 Source : Publisher through Blue Slip Media Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK A luminously illustrated and thoroughly informative picture book poetry collection by Sibert Honor–winning duo Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen that captures the beauty and complexity of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies. Monarch and mourning cloak butterflies may seem similar on the surface; they are about the same size and common throughout North America. But following along at a butterfly’s-eye-view, readers will discover how they live in different habitats, eat different foods, and have different strategies for avoiding enemies and making it through winter. Because even though all butterflies have the same basic body features and life cycle, each specie...

  THE CURIOUS LIFE OF CECILIA PAYNE Discovering the Stuff of Stars written by Laura Alary, illustrated by Yas Imamura Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK An incredible picture book biography about how the trailblazing astronomer found her people — and figured out what stars are made of.  Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature's wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn't belong among stars or atoms.  So, Cecilia packed her bags for Harvard, where she could surround herself with women who also loved astronomy and physics. These "Harvard Computers" shared their treasures with her—thousands of photographs of starlight. Ceci...

MARY MORLAND IN THE TIME OF DINOSAUR DISCOVERY written by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by Giselle Potter Beach Lane Books, 2026 ISBN: 978-1-6659-5554-6 Source : Blue Slip Media & publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, author information, & summary provided by Blue Slip Media & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Unearth the extraordinary contributions Mary Morland made to 19th-century paleontology by pursuing her passion in spite of society’s expectations in this fascinating picture book biography with a question-and-answer structure perfect for reading aloud. While other little girls were sipping tea perched on their chairs, Mary Morland was given the freedom to spend her time outside exploring. After her mother died, her father sent her to live with a professor who taught Mary how to examine plants, animals, rocks, and fossils. She soaked up all the knowledge she could and captured her discoveries in her journals. Mary continued stu...

  HOW TO HAVE A THOUGHT A Walk with Charles Darwin written by Nicholas Day, illustrated by Hadley Hooper Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2026 ISBN: 978-0-8234-5850-9 Source : purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Take a walk with Charles Darwin in this electrifying new picture book from Sibert Medalist Nicholas Day. How do you work through a complicated idea, solve a tricky problem, or make a big discovery? Charles Darwin had a lot of ways to do it. He paced in circles and hit rocks with a stick. He studied the bones of his dinner. He even rode around the world on a boat called The Beagle. These methods may sound unorthodox, but they led him to some pretty great thoughts—and discoveries about the origins of life as we know it. Sibert Medalist Nicholas Day’s conversational text has all the charm of a true story told by your smartest, most interesting friend. With Hadley ...

  BEANSPROUT written & illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul Charlesbridge, 2025 978-1-62354-475-1 Source: publisher for review Ages 5-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK What happens when you do everything right, but it doesn’t work out? When classmates start having success with their seeds, one student's just won't sprout. A picture book about planting and growing, where grown-ups and kids can talk about disappointment, emotions, and second chances. It's seed-planting time in Ms. Greene's classroom! One of the kids has big predictions for their mystery seed and does everything just so to make sure it grows. But as all the other seeds start to sprout, theirs . . . doesn't. So they proclaim they'll never try to grow another seed again! But when they learn the leftover seeds will be thrown out, they start to think about second chances and enlists their classmates to hel...

HELLO, I'M A TOUCAN Meet the Wild Things #5 written by Hayley Rocco, illustrated by John Rocco G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-85875-2 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 Meet the toucan in this clever, funny, and informative nonfiction picture book, part of a series that focuses on endangered species. Did you know a toucan's bill is four times the size of its head? But you might be surprised by how lightweight and strong it is. And did you know that toucans use their bills to keep cool when it's hot outside, by increasing blood flow from the rest of their body to maintain the perfect temperature? You can't get much cooler than that. But did you also know the toucan is endangered and needs our help? With humans chopping down rainforests and taking toucans from their homes to make them pets, these unique birds need our protecti...

RAY: How Light Works A Science Pals Book written & illustrated by Emily Kate Moon Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-85798-4 Source: Penguin Young Readers for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The Science Pals series introduces the dazzling Ray, revealing how light works—from the creator of An Adventure through the Water Cycle and All About Air Meet Ray. He's light! And he's been shining since time began. Wherever there's life on Earth, there's Ray, helping everything under the sun thrive. And Ray can really move—fast. Have you ever hurtled through space? Become a rainbow? Made food for plants? Ray has! With brilliant wit and sparkling one-liners, Ray introduces readers to a light show like no other. Filled with awe-inspiring artwork, funny asides, and a spotlight on kid-enticing facts, Ray invites us to bask in his warmth, as he illumina...

ISLAND STORM written by Brian Floca, illustrated by Sydney Smith Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-8234-5647-5 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 In Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca and acclaimed illustrator Sydney Smith’s thrilling picture book, young readers will experience the sheer power of a violent thunderstorm and the calm of its aftermath. Can you tell when a storm is coming? Can you feel the wind coming and growing? Do you hear the branches bouncing together, hear the whispers of the wind through the leaves? Join in the journey as two siblings bear witness to the steady start, thrilling apex, and gentle end of this island storm. They’ll shelter soon, but first they want to feel it all. Sydney Smith is the winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators o...