Geo Librarian

  LING & TING'S LUNAR NEW YEAR Two Times Lucky written & illustrated by Grace Lin Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2026 ISBN:   9780316578073 Source: eARC from 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 Ling and Ting are twins. They are Chinese and American. They celebrate the new year two times. Now they are preparing for Lunar New Year. They want a lucky year. What happens when Ting makes a mistake? Can their year still be lucky? REVIEW The latest entry in the Ling & Ting series finds the sisters celebrating the Lunar New Year. But when Ting accidentally tosses the dust (bad luck from the previous year) from the floor out the front door, the girls are frightened that the New Year will bring back the bad luck. In an effort to save their year the girls decide to welcome the new year through the side door by decorating there instead o...

  THE INVISIBLE PARADE written by Leigh Bardugo, illustrated by John Picacio Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025 ISBN:   9780316295703 Source : F&G from publisher for review Ages 9   and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK It's time to join the party! Adventure awaits readers of all ages on Día de Muertos in this stunningly original and lushly illustrated tour de force about family, love, and overcoming grief from #1 bestselling superstar Leigh Bardugo and World Fantasy Award and Hugo Award-winner John Picacio. Everyone in the neighborhood was getting ready for the party. Everyone knew somebody on the guest list. . . . This was the day the dead returned. There's a party tonight, but Cala doesn't want to go. While her family prepares for the celebration, Cala grieves her grandfather and tries to pretend she's not afraid. But when she is separated from her family ...

  THE INTERPRETER words by Olivia Abtahi, pictures by Monica Arnaldo Kokila, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-62044-1 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 A sharp and heartfelt picture book about a young soccer-loving girl who’s an interpreter for her Spanish-speaking parents.Some kids have one to be a kid! Cecilia has two. When she isn't on the soccer field scoring goals, she's accompanying her parents to all kinds of grown-up places, like the DMV, the accountant's office, and the auto shop. She helps them translate from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish. It’s an important job, and it can even be fun. It’s also hard work. Sometimes Cecilia's second job is so much responsibility, it feels like she'll split in two! Is it time for Cecilia to blow her whistle and call for a time-out?Olivia Abtahi’s clever text and Monica Arnaldo’s charming illustra...

THE UNSTOPPABLE JAMIE written by Joy Givens, illustrated by Courtney Dawson Two Lions, 2023 ISBN: 978-1662505768 Source: Blue Slip Media/publisher Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover, bios, & illustrations provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK Inspired by the author’s son, the story of a boy with Down syndrome who goes on a superhero’s journey to New York City and learns what truly makes him unstoppable. Jamie likes to pretend he’s a superhero. With his cape and gadgets, he feels like he can face anything. When his picture is chosen to be shown in Times Square for the NDSS Buddy Walk®, his family travels to New York City to see it. As he makes his way through the loud, busy, unfamiliar city, Jamie discovers that he doesn’t have all his special tools. But he soon realizes that it isn’t what he wears or the gadgets he uses that make him brave―it’s who he is inside. This uplifting story includes an author’s note with information about Down syndrome. ABO...

ONLY A TRENZA AWAY: A Tale of Trust and Strength written by Nadine Fonseca, illustrated by Camila Carrosone Shadow Mountain, 2023 ISBN: 9781639930982 Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary are provided by the publisher through Deseretbook.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A little girl feels her father's love as he takes time to braid her hair each night and share imaginative bedtime stories. Every night, Xiomara's (zee-oh-MA-da) papa delicately braids her hair before bed. As he gently tugs and twists and tightens her hair, father and daughter embark on imaginative and fun adventures as he makes up stories about Xia and her trenzas, or "braids" in Spanish. In one story, her trenza becomes a sturdy twisted vine that she uses to bravely swing through the jungle. In another, her trenzas are jump ropes as she catches the beat to play double Dutch with the best players in the neighborhood. But Xia worries what she would do if Papa was not there to he...

FIGURE IT OUT, HENRI WELDON by Tanita S. Davis Katherine Tegan Books, 2023 ISBN:978-0063143579 Source: eARC from Netgalley/Kindle version purchased Ages 10-14 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW Henri Weldon's efforts to balance home life, school work, and soccer make up the heart of this relatable middle grade novel. Henrietta, called Henri, struggles to adapt to a public middle school after attending a private school to help with her learning disability. She befriends a group of foster siblings much to her sister's dismay and tries out for the soccer team despite her family's doubts of her ability to handle it on top of her school work. Increasing conflict with her sister and feeling a lack of support from her family leads Henri to attempt to juggle everything on her own which naturally leads to her making mistakes. The ups and downs of her relationships felt realistic and empathy-inducing. The relations...

YOU SO BLACK written by Theresa The S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D., illustrated by London Ladd Denene Miller Book/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023 ISBN: 9781665900348 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 4 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. Video and images provided by the publisher: Simon & Schuster. REVIEW "You so Black, when you smile, the stars come out. You so Black, when you're born, the god come out." Theresa The S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. begins her poem highlighting the remarkable nature of being black.  Adapted from a spoken word poem of the same name, Theresa The S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. shares with readers the wonders and challenges of blackness.  The use of various font sizes emphasizes certain words making this a poem/book made for reciting out loud.  The illustrator takes the beautiful text and hits it out of the park with stunning mixed media collage art. Families, children, leaders, and fo...

A DREAM OF BIRDS by Shenaz Patel, illustrated by Emmanuelle Tchoukriel Translated by Edwige-Renee Dro Amazon Crossing Kids, 2022 ISBN: 978-1662500930 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by Goodreads.com & publisher. ABOUT THE BOOK Sara has a thing for birds. They remind her of her grandfather, who loved birds, and the wonderful show the creatures would put on in his yard each day—like a cloud of colorful flowers carried by the wind. As Sara walks to school in her island town, she longs for the freedom of those birds. Then she spots a new birdhouse full of parakeets in someone’s yard. Sara feels drawn to them and unable to forget them. So what happens the next time, when she finds the door to the birdhouse unlocked? With poetic language and beautiful art, this story set on the African island of Mauritius brings to life a little girl’s deep love of nature, her brash but well-meaning choice, and ultimately, her ...

PLAYING WITH LANTERNS by Wang Yage, illustrated by Zhu Chengliang translated by Helen Wang Amazon Crossing Kids, 2021 ISBN: 9781542029842 Source: Blue Slip Media for Review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. All images provided by Blue Slip Media. ABOUT THE BOOK Zhao Di wishes the New Year would never end! Zhao Di and her friends are excited to go out at night with their paper lanterns and celebrate Chinese New Year. Each holding a unique colorful lantern with a lit candle inside, they admire the breathtaking colors while doing their best to avoid the wind and the sneaky boys in the village. Every night, until the fifteenth day of New Year, Zhao Di and her friends take part in this fun tradition, experiencing the thrill of nighttime in their village. And then—it’s time to smash the lanterns! In this cheerful book first published in China, readers are invited along with Zhao Di and her friends as they experience all the joy and excitement of this folk Chinese custom. Det...

DANCING WITH DADDY by Anitra Rowe Schulte, illustrated by Ziyue Chen two lions, 2021 ISBN: 978-1542007191 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Elsie can’t wait to go to her first father-daughter dance. She picked out the perfect dress and has been practicing swirling and swaying in her wheelchair. Elsie’s heart pirouettes as she prepares for her special night. With gestures, smiles, and words from a book filled with pictures, she shares her excitement with her family. But when a winter storm comes, she wonders if she’ll get the chance to spin and dance her way to a dream come true.  ★“Refreshingly, Elsie’s disability is seamlessly presented as simply another aspect of family life…As she swings and sways in her father’s arms, her forehead against his, their love is palpable; Chen’s illustrations fairly glow with affection…A heartwarming portrayal of a family embracing disability.” ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “[Anitra] Rowe Sc...

  TOO SMALL TOLA by Atinuke, illustrated by Onyinye Iwu Candlewick Press, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1127-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK   Tolu may be small, but she's very determined. Three delightful stories about Too Small Tola, a young girl who, though small, is very determined. Tola lives in a flat in Lagos with her sister, Moji, who is very clever; her brother, Dapo, who is very fast; and Grandmommy, who is very bossy. Tola proves to be stronger than she seems when she goes to market with Grandmommy and manages to carry home a basket full of yams and vegetables, chilli peppers and fish. When the taps in the flat don't work, it's Tola who brings water from the well, and it's Tola who saves the day when Mr Abdul, the tailor, needs his goods to be delivered quickly. Too Small Tola is a wonderful new character in the world of children's books by multi-award-winning children's writer and...

  MING'S CHRISTMAS WISHES by Susan L. Gong,  illustrated by Masahiro Tateishi Shadow Mountain, 2020 ISBN: 9781629727790 Ages 5-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own.   ABOUT THE BOOK Ming wishes for three things at Christmas. First, to sing in the school Christmas choir. Second, to have a Christmas tree like the one in the department store window. And third, to feel she belongs somewhere. As a daughter of immigrants in 1930s California, Ming is often treated differently than other children at school. She's pointedly not invited to sing in the Christmas choir. At home, when Ming lobbies her parents for a Christmas tree, her mother scolds her for trying to be American. Ming doesn't seem to fit in anywhere: she's not quite American enough at school, not quite Chinese enough at home.  REVIEW Being the child of immigrant parents frustrates young Ming in 1930s California.  She wants to be part of the school Christmas choir but ...

AMERICAN AS PANEER PIE by Supriya Kelkar Aladdin, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-5344-3938-2 Source: publisher for review Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK An Indian-American girl who struggles to navigate her two very different lives: the one at home, where she can be herself, and the one at school, where she is teased for her culture. When a racist incident rocks her small town, she must decide to continue to remain silent or find her voice. REVIEW This book was eye-opening in a lot of ways.  The themes that permeate the book are so relevant to the world today.  The story revolves around Lekha Divekar, a young Indian American girl who wants so badly to belong with her classmates.  Her parents are immigrants from India and have kept many of their traditions.  Lekha enjoys many of these traditions but she dislikes having to always answer questions about her traditions and beliefs.  She's also been bullied and stereotyped by those around her....

NEW KID by Jerry Craft Harper, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-06-269120-0 Source: purchased Ages 9-14 Graphic Novel -- Realistic/Contemporary All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? REVIEW Jerry Craft has created a masterpiece of a story with his b...

MINDY KIM AND THE YUMMY SEAWEED BUSINESS by Lyla Lee, illustrated by Dung Ho Aladdin, 2020 ISBN: 978-1-5344-4009-8 Source: publisher (Simon & Schuster) for review Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Mindy Kim, a Korean American second grader moves to a mostly Caucasian Florida community. In an effort to adjust to her new school, she starts a snack trading ring with the Korean food from her lunch to make new friends.  REVIEW  Mindy Kim wants a puppy really badly.  But her father isn't eager to get her one.  Having just moved from California to Florida and learning to live without her mother, Mindy and her father try to settle into their new home.  Mindy reluctantly starts school as the new kid and the only Asian American in her school.  Her Korean-based lunch is one of the few things she looks forward to.  But when some of the other kids make fun of her seaweed snacks that pleasure is taken from...

THE STORM RUNNER Rick Riordan Presents by J. C. Cervantes Disney Hyperion, 2018 ISBN: 978-136801634-6 Source: purchased Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative/fantasy/myths All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Zane has always enjoyed exploring the dormant volcano near his home in New Mexico, even though hiking it is challenging. He'd much rather hang out there with his dog, Rosie, than go to middle school, where kids call him Sir Limps a Lot, McGimpster, or Uno — for his one good leg. What Zane doesn't know is that the volcano is a gateway to another world and he is at the center of a powerful prophecy. A new girl at school, Brooks, informs him that he's destined to release an evil god from the ancient Maya relic he is imprisoned in — unless she can find and remove it first. Together they return to the volcano, where all kinds of crazy happens. Brooks turns into a hawk, a demon attacks them in a cave, and Rosie gives her all w...

THE MISCALCULATIONS OF LIGHTNING GIRL by Stacy McAnulty Random House, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-5247-6757-0 Source: purchased Ages 9-14 Middle grade contemporary All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Lucy Callahan was struck by lightning. She doesn't remember it, but it changed her life forever. The zap gave her genius-level math skills, and ever since, Lucy has been homeschooled. Now, at 12 years old, she's technically ready for college. She just has to pass 1 more test — middle school! Lucy's grandma insists: Go to middle school for 1 year. Make 1 friend. Join 1 activity. And read 1 book (that's not a math textbook!). Lucy's not sure what a girl who does calculus homework for fun can possibly learn in 7th grade. She has everything she needs at home, where nobody can make fun of her rigid routines or her superpowered brain. The equation of Lucy's life has already been solved. Unless there's been a miscalculation? A celebrat...