Geo Librarian

THE DAY THE CRAYONS MADE FRIENDS written by Drew Daywalt & Oliver Jeffers Philomel, 2025 ISBN: 979-8-217-04039-1 Source: purchased Ages 6-9 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Duncan’s crayons just can’t seem to stay put! After convincing one group of crayons to go back to work after they wanted to quit and rescuing another group who got lost in the most inconvenient places, Duncan’s crayons have disappeared once more. But this time they’ve gone out into his room to make friends. From Red Crayon who fulfills his dream of driving a firetruck, to Blue Crayon, who meets a fashion doll desperately in need of a head, to fan favorite Esteban, who is off to tame a teddy bear (or as he would call it, a wild beast), each crayon has an exciting story to share about the new objects they’ve met and the new adventures they’ve had. REVIEW What a delightful addition to an already popular series. Duncan...

HURRICANE written and illustrated by Jason Chin Neal Porter Books, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-8234-5849-3 Source: purchased Ages 8 and up  Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Caldecott Medalist Jason Chin charts the thrilling saga of an island community’s brush with a category three hurricane, and the cutting-edge science that helps them prepare. It’s a beautiful day on Hatteras Island, North Carolina. But while all seems calm now, a hurricane is barreling across the Atlantic, and everyone is wondering when it will hit the U.S. coast. And where. Night and day, meteorologists use satellites to monitor the storm. Brave pilots fly directly into the tempest, dodging lightning bolts to gather crucial data. Back on the island, families board up windows, drag furniture upstairs, and stock survival kits to prepare for what may come. From its dramatic opening, Hurricane alternates be...

  POETRY COMICS words and pictures by Grant Snider Chronicle Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-7972-1965-3 Source: purchased Ages 9 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK From the cloud-gazing hours of early spring to the lost bicycles of late autumn, Grant Snider’s brilliantly illustrated Poetry Comics will take you climbing, floating, swimming, and tumbling through all the year’s ups, downs, and in-betweens. He proves that absolutely everything, momentous or minuscule, is worthy of attention, whether snail shells, building blocks, the lamented late bus, or the rare joy of unscuffed shoes. These poems explore everything you never thought to write a poem about, and they’re so fun to read you’ll want to write one yourself. Not to worry, there’s a poem for that, too! FOR COMIC BOOK These poems for kids are brightly illustrated in graphic novel-style panels, adding a delightful new element to appr...

  HELLO, I'M AN AXOLOTL by Hayley & John Rocco G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2025 ISBN: 978-0-593-61821-9 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 axolotl in this clever, funny, and informative nonfiction picture book, part of a series that focuses on endangered species. “Wild, fun, and truly eye-opening, Meet the Wild Things gets us up close and personal with some of the world's most amazing creatures. With this series, Hayley and John Rocco are doing more than entertaining our kids—they’re inspiring them to care about the future of our planet.” —Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of the Ordinary People Change the World series Did you know that axolotls have a superpower? They can regrow lost limbs, tails, and even parts of their hearts and brains! And they sparkle! That's because they have special cells in their bodies that reflect light lik...

THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE KITTY CATASTROPHE written by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2024 ISBN: 978-1-5362-3409-1 Source: publisher for review (Thanks!) Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK The Princess in Black may know how to handle all kinds of monsters, but a kitten set on destruction? Me-OW! Duchess Wigtower had heard that pets are fun, but all her kitten has gotten her is nine lives' worth of problems. Eeeeek! It’s time for someone else to deal with this catastrophe. Princess Magnolia is thrilled when a kitten lands on her doorstep, but just as she’s about to play with Plumpkins (or should it be Hugmaster Floof?) the monster alarm goes off. When Princess Magnolia returns to her castle, her furry companion has carved up the wallpaper! In fact, each time Princess Magnolia leaves to help the Goat Avenger fight a very grouchy mon...

ROAR-CHOO! written by Charlotte Cheng, art by Dan Santat Rocky Pond Books, 2024 ISBN: 978-0-593-53175-4 Source: Purchased Ages 4-8 Picture book -- Speculative (fantasy) fiction; folklore All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by the publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Patient, peaceful Phoenix tries to take care of rambunctious and cold-ridden Dragon, which leads to hilarious and sweet results (with vibrant illustrations by the Caldecott Medal-winning creator of Beekle ). Everyone knows that dragons are fierce, capable of taking on the world! But this dragon can’t stop sneezing long enough to get a roar out. Even with friendly Phoenix insisting that Dragon get some rest, this powerful creature refuses to stop for any orange ginger tea or a drop of bone broth soup. It's only when Dragon realizes Phoenix has caught the same cold that they are both able to take the break they so badly need. This tale of helping your friends and valuing ...

  THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PRINCE IN PINK The Princess in Black #10 by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2023 ISBN: 978-1-5362-0978-5 Source: purchased Ages 7-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. REVIEW The Princess in Black teams up with a new friend when she runs into a problem that her superhero self can't solve. Princess Magnolia arrives at the Flower Festival ready to set up for the upcoming ball.  But a visit from an angry emu leaves her decorations in tatters.  A knight forces the emu out but the damage has been done. Luckily, the Prince in Pink shows up to help Princess Magnolia get ready for the ball in time.  And all the royals come together with their various alter egos to face the emu and her ostrich cohorts when they show up at the ball. When a series gets to the tenth book it can be difficult to find new and fresh stories to tell, but the Hales ...

Wild & Wonderful Wednesday is a celebration of the amazing natural world, a chance to highlight some of the amazing nonfiction books available for children.  These two books are by some of my favorite children's nonfiction book creators.  These authors & illustrators have consistently produced high quality, amazing books.  I have yet to read anything by them that isn't remarkable and informative.  It's wonderful to see such beautiful books being produced. POLAR BEAR by Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann Neal Porter Books, 2022 ISBN: 9780823449163 Source: purchased Ages 8-12 Picture book nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. Beginning with the return of spring in the Arctic, Polar Bear follows a mama polar bear and her two cubs as they leave their den. With beautiful free verse, Fleming takes readers on a journey through a summer on the ice as the mother bear teaches her cubs abou...

FINDING FIRE by Logan S. Kline Candlewick Press, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-5362-1302-7 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through Goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK Can a young boy find fire for his family—and bring it safely home? An exciting, nearly wordless picture book adventure as visually compelling as a Pixar short. After a hard rain douses the family fire, a brave young boy sets out to search for more fire to bring home before the cold season sets in. Along the way, he’ll face many challenges, from perilous mountains to fearsome predators to raging rivers, and find something wholly unexpected: a friend. In his picture book debut, artist Logan S. Kline crafts a dramatic tale inspired by prehistoric times and told almost entirely through stunningly detailed illustrations. “Finding Fire started with the sketch of a small boy holding a torch and grew from there,” he says. “A lot of research went into crea...

PERFECTLY PEGASUS by Jessie Sima Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022 ISBN: 978-1-6659-2133-6 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. Book cover & summary provided by publisher through goodreads.com. ABOUT THE BOOK A lonely pegasus looks for the perfect friend in this sweet and adorable picture book companion to the bestselling Not Quite Narwhal! Nimbus has always lived among the clouds. She’s a pegasus, after all, and the sky is where she belongs. She is one of a kind. And when she wants a friend, all she has to do is look up—and talk to the stars. Only...they don’t really talk back. The clouds don’t, either. And sometimes, being the only pegasus can be a little...lonely? So she decides to find a fallen star to make a wish on—and wishes for friends who are just like her. Along the way she meets a Unicorn named Kelp, and a host of other creatures...who might just open her eyes to something other than what’s up in the sky.  R...

PICTURING AMERICA Thomas Cole and the Birth of American Art by Hudson Talbott Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-399-54867-3 Ages 4-8 Picture book nonfiction Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK This look at artist Thomas Cole's life takes readers from his humble beginnings to his development of a new painting style that became America's first formal art movement: the Hudson River school of painting. Thomas Cole was always looking for something new to draw. Born in England during the Industrial Revolution, he was fascinated by tales of the American countryside, and was ecstatic to move there in 1818. The life of an artist was difficult at first, however Thomas kept his dream alive by drawing constantly and seeking out other artists. But everything changed for him when he was given a ticket for a boat trip up the Hudson River to see the wilderness of the Catskill Mountains. The haunting beauty of the landsca...

HELLO, I'M HERE! by Helen Frost and Rick Lieder Candlewick Press, 2019 ISBN: 978-0-7636-9858-4 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 Picture Book Poetry/Nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A poetic text and wonderfully intimate photographs follow a newborn sandhill crane as it takes its first steps into the world. Will my legs hold me? What if I fall? Peek in as a sandhill crane hatchling makes its first wobbly stand and takes its first steps alongside its brother. With their parents close by, they flap their wings and dance before enjoying a buggy treat. Someday they will fly with the majestic cranes overhead, but for now, Mama's soft feathers beckon. With a lyrical narrative and lovely photo illustrations, this latest venture from an acclaimed creative team makes a perfect new baby gift -- and will appeal to bird lovers, too. REVIEW Helen Frost and Rick Lieder have created another beautifully poetic ode to the won...

THE FAITHFUL SPY A True Story! Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the Plot to Kill Hitler by John Hendrix Amulet Books, 2018 ISBN: 978-1-4197-2838-9 Source: purchased Ages 12 and up YA Graphic Nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK   Interweaving handwritten text and art, John Hendrix tells the story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his fight against the oppression of the German people during World War II. Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was shocked to watch the German church embrace Hitler's agenda of hatred. He spoke out against the Nazi party and led a breakaway church that rebelled against racist and nationalist beliefs of the Third Reich. Struggling with how his faith interacted with his ethics, Bonhoeffer eventually became convinced that Hitler and the Nazi Party needed to be stopped--and he was willing to sacrifice anything and everything to do so. REVIEW Wow! Hendrix has really out done himself with ...

RAID OF NO RETURN Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales #7 by Nathan Hale Amulet Books, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-4197-2556-2 Graphic Novels (fictionalized nonfiction) Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK A top secret mission needs volunteers. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, the United States joined World War II. And soon after that, young pilots were recruited fro a very secret - and very dangerous - raid on Japan. No one in the armed forced had done anything like this raid before, and none of the volunteers expected to escape with their lives. But this was a war unlike any other before, which called for creative thinking as well as bravery. Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales are graphic novels that tell the thrilling, shocking, gruesome, and TRUE stories of American history. Read them all - if you dare! REVIEW As with his other books in the Hazardous Tales series, Nathan Hale takes an historical event and turns it into a ...

I GOT IT! by David Wiesner Clarion Books, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-544-30902-9 Source: purchased Ages 5 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK David Wiesner presents a near-wordless account of the most suspenseful, nerve-wracking few seconds in a baseball game. The few seconds after the ball leaves the bat can be infinitely long. For this eager young outfielder, there's plenty of time to envision the increasingly fantastic and funny situations that might interfere with making the catch. Summoning determination and courage, he overcomes the imaginary obstacles and turns them into a springboard for success. REVIEW I'll admit the first time I read this I was reading it to a class of first graders.  I didn't have time to read and ponder it the way I should a Wiesner book.  So when a tree root and then a tree popped up in the baseball field, I wasn't quite prepared.  And then an enormous baseball appeared, and then the boy playing b...