Geo Librarian

FANCY NANCY TEA PARTIES FOR FANCY ________ by Jane O´Connor, illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser Put Me in The Story, 2016 $29.99 Source: publisher for review (personalized for my niece) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Fancy   Nancy  Tea Parties $29.99 Hardcover Personalized Book Fancy Nancy, hostess extraordinaire, can’t wait to share her party-planning expertise with your little one! From recipes and crafts to etiquette tips and French lessons, this precious personalized book contains everything your child needs to throw the perfect tea party. A personalized letter from Nancy herself to your fancy kiddo? Oui! Plus, your child’s name is worked into the text and adorable illustrations throughout the book. Wrap up with a set of recipe cards from the Kitchen of Fancy Nancy, and best of all, cut out and frame the certificate declaring your child a graduate of Fancy Nancy’s Tea Party Course! Que magnifique! REVIEW Any Fancy N...

TOAD WEATHER written by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Thomas Gonzalez Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-818-9 Picture book Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK There's nothing to do on a rainy day, Ally thinks. But Mama says shes seen something amazing, so despite Ally's misgivings, she sets out with her mother and grandmother. On her journey, she sees all sorts of things: dripping awnings, splashing cars, storm drain geysers, and oil slick patterns. They turn the corner, just in time to see a big crowd. Whats happening? ABOUT THE AUTHOR   Sandra Markle is the author of more than two hundred children's books, which have won numerous awards, including Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book , IRA/CBC Children's Choice, NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Books for Children, NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended, and ALA Notable Books for Children. She lives in New Zealand. You can vi...

RODEO RED written by Maripat Perkins, illustrated by Molly Idle Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-816-5 Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Rodeo Red and her hound dog Rusty are happier than two buttons on a new shirt 'til Side Swiping Slim shows up. Red's sure anyone who hollers that much'll be hauled to the edge of town and told to skedaddle, but her parents are smitten. When Slim sets his eye on Rusty, Red'd better figure out a way to save her best friend in all the world. Can she bargain with a varmint? ABOUT THE AUTHOR and ILLUSTRATOR Maripat Perkins  is a former Montessori teacher who lives in Michigan with her plum peach of a  family and a few rascally varmints.  Rodeo Red  is her first picture book. Molly Idle  had a career with DreamWorks Feature Animation Studios before leaping into the world of children's book illustration. She is the author-illustrator of ...

SPECTACULAR SPOTS written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale Peachtree Publishers, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-817-2 Picture Book Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to the many ways in which animals benefit from their spots. An afterword tells a little bit more about each animal and where it lives, and readers can test their knowledge of animal spots with a fun matching game at the end! REVIEW Susan Stockdale has created a fun book that works well as a read aloud for both personal and classroom use.  This book along with her others introduces patterns to young readers.  The text of the book is rhyming and works well for reading out loud.  The additional information about each animal at the end helps explain why these animals have spots.  The guessing game makes fo...

RANDOM BODY PARTS Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse written by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Mike Lowery Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-737-3 Poetry Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Witty verse about the body pairs with whimsical art in this fun collection. The poems pose puzzles in verse (nod slyly to Shakespeare) and give hints for uncovering the body part. Sidebars educate readers on anatomy, while appended notes look at poetic form and Shakespearean works that inspired the verses. Captivating lines will spark interest in poetry and biology alike. REVIEW Poetry is an interesting method for learning about the human body.  But the riddles in this book make for a fun way to learn about different parts of the body. While the poetry is not the best I've ever read, it works for the topics being covered.  Some of the poems display great imagery, such as the poem about blood being lik...