Geo Librarian

AVA AND TACO CAT by Carol Weston Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4022-8873-9 Middle Grade Contemporary Ages 9-12 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Ava desperately wants a pet for her eleventh birthday-but gets way more than she bargained for when she adopts T-A-C-O-C-A-T. When Ava Wren hears about an injured yellow tabby with mismatched ears, she becomes obsessed and wants to rescue him. She even picks out a perfect palindromic name: T-A-C-O-C-A-T. But when Taco joins the family, he doesn't snuggle or purr-all he does is hide. Worse, Ava's best friend starts hanging out with Zara, a new girl in fifth grade. Ava feels alone and writes an acclaimed story, "The Cat Who Wouldn't Purr." What begins as exciting news turns into a disaster. How can Ava make things right? And what about sweet, scared little Taco? REVIEW I enjoyed reading more about Ava and her family.  When Ava's mother tells ...

I've been pretty busy the last couple of days with school and the numerous things that need to be done, but I have finished another book.  I'm also about a third of the way into The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman .  I also plan to start Grace Lin's Dumpling Day s about which I have been hearing many good things.  Miles to Go for Freedom is on my list as well.  I need at least one good nonfiction read.  head on over to Just Deb for some Middle Grade fun. The Familiars written by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson HarperCollins, 2010 ISBN:  978-0061961106 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from purchased ebook. BLURB: Is the kingdom's fate in the hands of an orphan cat?  Running fast to save his life, Aldwyn ducks into an unusual pet store. Moments later Jack, a young wizard in training, comes in to choose a magical animal to be his familiar. Aldwyn's always been clever. But magical? Jack thinks so and Aldwyn is happy to play along.  He just has t...

A Bad Kitty Christmas written and illustrated by Nick Bruel Roaring Brook Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59643-668-8 Grades 1-5 Reviewed from purchased copy. BLURB :  A HILARIOUS NEW HOLIDAY PICTURE BOOK ABOUT EVERYONE'S FAVORITE NAUGHTY FELINE "Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city, not a creature was stirring...Except for BAD KITTY." A greedy Bad Kitty didn't get all the presents she wanted for Christmas, but after she goes on a Christmas caper across town and through multiple alphabets, she makes a new friend, finds an old friend, and learns the true meaning of Christmas. Or not. Nick Bruel's first picture book about Bad Kitty since the uproarious Poor Puppy in 2007 is full of rhyming mayhem... and Christmas cheer. I have enjoyed all the Bad Kitty books, but I think this one is my favorite.  Maybe because Bad Kitty for the first time, thinks of someone besides herself (a temporary fluke I'm sure).  Once again, the way Bruel us...

Waiting for the Magic w ritten by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Amy June Bates Atheneum Books for Young Reader, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4169-2745-7 Interest Level: Grades 3-6 Reviewed from copy borrowed from school library. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own. BLURB : People may drift apart But love can hold them together. Sometimes we find that love through magic – Sometimes that magic is all around us This is a story about all of these things. But it's also a story about how four dogs and one cat help one boy and his sister save their family. This is a rather interesting blurb.  I think this is the first blurb I've read that reads like a poem.  Yet it fits the rather dreamy, gentle nature of the story.  In some ways it reminds me of Kate DiCamillo's work on The Tale of Despereaux , The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane , or The Magician's Elephant .  The writing is certainly as good as DiCamillo's and the illus...

The Cheshire Cheese Cat: A Dickens of a Tale written by Carmen Agra Deedy & Randall Wright, drawings by Barry Mose Peachtree, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-56145-595-4 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from copy received from publisher. BLURB: Skilley, an alley cat with an embarrassing secret, longs to escape his hard life dodging fishwives brooms and carriage wheels and trade his damp alley for the warmth of the Cheshire Cheese Inn. When he learns that the innkeeper is looking for a new mouser, Skilley comes up with an audacious scheme to install himself in the famous tavern. Once established in the inn, Skilley strikes a bargain with Pip, the intelligent mouse-resident, and his fellow mice. Skilley protects the mice and the mice in turn give to Skilley the delectable Cheshire cheese of the inn. Thus begins a most unlikely alliance and friendship. The cat and mouse design a plan to restore Maldwyn wounded raven and faithful guard in the service of Queen Victoria to his rightful place in...

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes written by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean HarperCollins Publishers, 2008 ISBN:978-0-06-190622-0 Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy.   Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes written by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean HarperCollins Publishers, 2011 ISBN:978-0-06-191024-1 Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB: Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song . . . because it's all good. In the sequel, Pete the Cat is now one fleet-footed feline in his shiny school shoes. I used these two books with my kindergarten and special needs classes a couple of weeks ago.  I downloaded the songs and played them while I showed the pi...

I consider myself pretty much a cat person.  I do like dogs, but I think personality wise, I get along with cats better.  So, I've really enjoyed reading some great books about cats, specifically big cats, over the last couple of weeks. The first three books are all based on the new Disneynature movie African Cats .  I have not yet seen the movie, so my impressions are based solely on the books. Disneynature African Cats: Sita the Cheetah by Laura Driscoll Photographs by Keith Scholey, et.al. Disney Press, 2011 Grades K-1 Reviewed from personal copy. This book focuses on the experiences of a female cheetah and her cubs trying to survive on the African plains.  Cheetahs while being the fastest land animal on the planet have a disadvantage when it comes to hunting.  They simply are not strong enough to hold off other predators, like lions or hyenas, who wish to take their kill.  In addition, a female cheetah must protect her cubs from not only other ...

Ragdolls Are the Best Elaine Landau Lerner Publishing Group, 2011 Grades K-5 Reviewed from ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley Ragdoll cats earned their name from the way they relax and hang like a 'ragdoll' when they are picked up.  They are also soft and warm, and the perfect cat to cuddle with.  But like all cat breeds they are not for everyone as Landau smartly points out.  With gorgeous blue eyes and bushy tails, ragdolls can make themselves at home almost anywhere.  Because of their friendliness and the high maintenance care they require however, they make better indoor cats than outdoor. Landau does a great job of presenting a good overview of this cat breed.  The writing is clear and easy to follow.  The author provides just enough information with becoming heavy handed.  She covers all of the major points, history of the breed, characteristics, how to chose a cat, and the kind of care required.  The layout is outstanding a...