Geo Librarian

SERIES TITLE: Mr. Wolf's Class Author: Aron Nels Steinke Volumes: #1: Mr. Wolf's Class  #2: Mystery Club #3: Lucky Stars #4: Field Trip #5: Snow Day Publisher: Scholastic, 2018-2022 Sources: school library, purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book covers and summaries provided by goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOKS #1--Mr. Wolf has just started teaching at Hazelwood Elementary. He wants the first day of school to go well, but he's got his hands full with his new class. Some of his students include: Margot, who is new in town and is trying to make friends. Sampson, who brought something special to school for show-and-tell. Aziza, who just wants everyone to be quiet and do their work. And Penny, who is VERY sleepy because she has a new baby brother at home, goes missing! This delightful new series captures the everyday -- and unexpected -- ups and downs of a fourth-grade classroom.  #2--Mr. Wolf's students are settling into their new classroom, ...

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...

DUST STORM! Survivor Diaries  by Terry Lynn Johnson Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-544-97098-4 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade adventure/survival All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Stranded after a dust storm hits in a desert in New Mexico, sixth-graders Jen and Martin must call upon real-life skills to come to the rescue. When disaster strikes, they will have to use all their knowledge and grit to survive. REVIEW In this fourth book in the Survivor Diaries series, Jen and Martin leave the geocaching group they are with in an effort to get to the cache first.  But when they get caught in a sandstorm they become lost and disoriented.  The fact that they used to be friends and aren't any more doesn't help them work together, especially when Jen senses Martin's competitiveness.  But in order to survive long enough to get help, they must put their differences aside and work together to survive. ...

ROSIE REVERE AND THE RAUCOUS RIVETERS The Questioneers #1 by Andrea Beaty, illustrations by David Roberts Amulet Books, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-4197-3360-4 Source: purchased Middle grade magical realism Ages 6-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Rosie Revere is no stranger to flops and fails, kerfuffles and catastrophes. After all, engineering is all about perseverance! But this time, Rosie has a really important project to tackle—one that feels much bigger than herself. Rosie’s beloved Aunt Rose and her friends, the Raucous Riveters—a group of fun-loving gals who built airplanes during World War II—need help inventing something new. And Rosie is just the engineer for the job! After one flop . . . then another . . . and another . . . Rosie starts to lose hope. But thanks to some help from her fellow Questioneers Iggy Peck and Ada Twist, Rosie gets the job done. And, along with the Riveters, she rediscovers the meaning of home. REVIEW There w...

THE CHUPACABRAS OF THE RIO GRANDE The Unicorn Rescue Society #4 by Adam Gidwitz & David Bowles, illustrated by Hatem Aly Dutton Children's Books, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-7352-3179-5 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Elliot and Uchennna have only just returned from their most recent Unicorn Rescue Society mission when they (along with Jersey!) are whisked away on their next exciting adventure with Professor Fauna. This time, they’re headed to the Mexican border to help another mythical creature in need: the chupacabras! The Chupacabras of the Río Grande is co-written with David Bowles, author of the Pura Belpré Honor-winning book, The Smoking Mirror! REVIEW Elliot and Uchenna, along with Professor Fauna, are off on another adventure.  This time they are investigating reports of a rogue chupacabras.  Meeting a former colleague of the professor's complicates things a bit...

SCIENCE FAIR CRISIS Secret Hero Society #4 by Derek Fridolfs, Pamela Lovas, and Shane Clester Scholastic, 2019 ISBN: 978-1-338-52850-3 Source: book fair Ages 9-12 Graphic novel All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Clark Kent (Superman), Bruce Wayne (Batman), and Diana Prince (Wonder Woman) are starting a new school year at Justice Prep. This semester, everyone is focusing on their science projects: Principal James Gordon announced that the winner of the upcoming science fair gets an all-inclusive trip to the new S.T.A.R. Laboratories space facility. Who wouldn't want to win a trip to outer space? All the kids want to try their best to win. As the fair draws closer, the students receive a text message from a mysterious, untraceable number saying: "if you help me, I can help YOU win the science fair!" Just who is behind this mystery number, and what do they have to do with the science fair? It's up to Clark, Diana, and Bruce...

KING & KAYLA AND THE CASE OF THE LOST TOOTH written by Dori Hillestad Butler, illustrated by Nancy Meyers Peachtree Publishing, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-56145-880-6 Source: ARC from publisher for review Ages 4-8 Early chapter mystery All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Kayla places her tooth in a Tooth Fairy pillow, but it disappears before the Tooth Fairy has a chance to visit--can her dog King help Kayla find the missing tooth? REVIEW When Kayla can't find the tooth she lost, King helps her search for it.  As with the other books in this series, King tells the story and shares information with the reader that Kayla doesn't know.  This is kind of fun for the reader who now knows more than one of the main characters.  It's fun to then take the information and try to solve the mystery.  The book also teaches basic problem/mystery solving in addition to providing a fun story.  Even though King solves the mysteries with Ka...

NARWHAL'S OTTER FRIEND Narwhal and Jelly #4 by Ben Clanton Tundra Books, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-7352-6248-5 Graphic novel Ages 6-9 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Narwhal and Jelly . . . and Otty?! Exuberant Narwhal and skeptical Jelly test the waters of adding a new friend to their pod when they meet Otty the super-adventurous otter in the fourth book of this blockbuster early graphic novel series! Dive into three new stories about the joy of adventure and the power of friendship! In the first story, Otty the otter makes her debut splash; while Narwhal greets her with immediate enthusiasm, Jelly's not so sure about her...mostly because he worries she'll take his place as Narwhal's best friend. Readers will easily see why Narwhal's so excited to meet Otty, a boisterous explorer who even has an aunt who's a real live sea captain! But readers will also relate to Jelly's uneasiness seeing his...

THE ADVENTURER'S GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL ESCAPES by Wade Albert White, illustrations by Mariano Epelbaum Little, Brown and Company, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-316-30528-0 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy)/humor All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Anne has spent most of her thirteen years dreaming of the day she and her best friend Penelope will finally leave Saint Lupin's Institute for Perpetually Wicked and Hideously Unattractive Children. When the big day arrives, a series of very curious happenings lead to Anne being charged with an epic quest. Anne, Penelope, and new questing partner Hiro have only days to travel to strange new locales, solve myriad riddles, and triumph over monstrous foes--or face the horrible consequences. REVIEW If you enjoy snarky comments and plenty of humor, this enjoyable fantasy novel is for you.  I'm a fan of snarky comments and humor so I really enjoyed this book.  Anne has spent her ...

OVERBOARD! Survivor Diaries #1 by Terry Lynn Johnson Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-544-97010-6 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade contemporary/adventure/survival All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A high-stakes adventure series perfect for fans of the I Survived series and Hatchet. Eleven-year-old Travis and his family are on a whale watch off the coast of Washington when disaster strikes. The boat capsizes, throwing everyone into the ice-cold chaotic waves. Separated from their families and struggling to stay afloat, Travis and twelve-year-old Marina must use all of their grit and knowledge to survive. With seventeen years of hands-on experience and training in remote areas, survival expert Terry Lynn Johnson (Ice Dogs; Sled Dog School) creates on-the-edge-of-your-seat storytelling featuring the real skills that kids need to survive a disaster. This book includes Coast Guard-approved cold-water survival tips; you may ha...

MIGHTY JACK by Ben Hatke First Second, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-62672-265-1 Source: purchased Graphic Novel Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Jack might be the only kid in the world who's dreading summer. But he's got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It's a lot of responsibility, and it's boring, too, because Maddy doesn't talk. Ever. But then, one day at the flea market, Maddy does talk—to tell Jack to trade their mom's car for a box of mysterious seeds. It's the best mistake Jack has ever made. What starts as a normal little garden out back behind the house quickly grows up into a wild, magical jungle with tiny onion babies running amok, huge, pink pumpkins that bite, and, on one moonlit night that changes everything…a dragon. REVIEW Mighty Jack is a fun adventure which isn't surprising.  Fun stories are what...

STINK: Hamlet and Cheese Stink #11 by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds Candlewick Press, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9163-9 Ages 6-9 Chapter book--contemporary Source: ARC from publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Hie thee to Shakespeare camp with Stink to learn fake sword-fighting, spout silly curses, and prithee try to escape a kiss . . . BLUCK! It's spring break, and Stink is faced with a difficult choice: hang out at home with his sister, Judy, or become a Shakespeare Sprite with his friend Sophie of the Elves. Hanged be! When Sophie tells Stink that there will be swordplay and cursing at Shakespeare camp, his choice is made. But wait! How now? The eager young thespian hadn't counted on Riley Rottenberger being a Sprite, too. And he positively had not counted on being the only boy! Fie upon't! REVIEW I'm not a huge fan of introducing Shakespeare to children.  I had a hard enough ...