Geo Librarian

THE WORST CLASS TRIP EVER by Dave Barry Disney-Hyperion, 2015 ISBN: 978-148470849-1 Genre: Humor Ages 9-12 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In this hilarious novel, written in the voice of eighth-grader Wyatt Palmer, Dave Barry takes us on a class trip to Washington, DC. Wyatt, his best friend, Matt, and a few kids from Culver Middle School find themselves in a heap of trouble-not just with their teachers, who have long lost patience with them-but from several mysterious men they first meet on their flight to the nation's capital. In a fast-paced adventure with the monuments as a backdrop, the kids try to stay out of danger and out of the doghouse while trying to save the president from attack-or maybe not. REVIEW I jumped into this book with both feet after reading a fabulous review from someone whose opinion I greatly respect.  And I have to say the book did not disappoint, it was funny and absurd and the students I...

FORK-TONGUE CHARMERS The Luck Uglies #2 by Paul Durham HarperCollins, 2015 ISBN: 9780062271532 Middle Grade Fantasy Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK It's not easy being the daughter of the High Chieftain of the Luck Uglies. Now an insidious new lawman in Drowning has declared Rye an outlaw, and she's stuck on the strange and remote Isle of Pest. But the island quickly feels much less remote when the battle to control the future of the Luck Uglies moves to its shores. To defeat the Luck Uglies' bitterest rivals, Rye must defy a deranged earl, survive a test meant to judge the grit of the fiercest men--and uncover some long-buried family secrets. And when Rye leads the charge to defend the island, she and her friends will meet an eerily familiar enemy.  REVIEW Paul Durham has written a worthy sequel to his fabulous Luck Uglies .  Like most second books in trilogies this one throws s...

GREETINGS FROM THE GRAVEYARD 43 Old Cemetery Road, #6 by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 Middle Grade Humor/Adventure Ages 7-10 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Roses are red, Violets are blue. If a ghost can write books, Why not greeting cards, too? The bestselling trio from Spence Mansion are launching a greeting card company called Greetings from the Graveyard. But what kind of card do you send to an ex-girlfriend who threatens to publish the love letters of Ignatius B. Grumply? And what do you send when the town of Ghastly is rocked by its first crime wave and two escaped convicts are on the loose? If you’re Olive C. Spence, you send for your old butler, T. Leeves, who arrives just in time for tea—and trouble! Told in generously illustrated letters and newspaper articles, these books are a visual feast perfect for kids who love series like Big Nate and the Dork Diaries ...

WATER IS WATER A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul, illustrated by Jason Chin Roaring Brook Press, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-59643-984-9 Picture Book Ages 4-8 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Drip. Sip. Pour me a cup. Water is water unless...it heats up. Whirl. Swirl. Watch it curl by. Steam is steam unless...it cools high. This spare, poetic picture book follows a group of kids as they move through all the different phases of the water cycle. From rain to fog to snow to mist, talented author Miranda Paul and the always remarkable Jason Chin (Redwoods, Coral Reefs, Island, Gravity) combine to create a beautiful and informative journey in this innovative nonfiction picture book that will leave you thirsty for more. REVIEW There are some authors or illustrators that I automatically buy the works of just because I know that they will be fabulous.  Jason Chin is one of those illustrators.  This book is so beautiful...

BIG TRACTORS with Casey & Friends by Holly Dufek, illustrated by Paul E. Nunn Octane Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781937747534 Picture Book Nonfiction Ages 4 and up Source: publisher for review along with a toy tractor that matches the one in the book. All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Big Tractors teaches kids about a tractor's role on the farm, explaining why a farm needs these powerful machines. Animated characters and real illustrations show the machines at work, and also showcase the features of the tractors. Join Big Red the Magnum tractor, Sammy the Steiger, and the rest of their farm equipment friends work with their friends for the farmer, Casey, to complete the hard tasks on the farm. With a detailed sidebar walking you through the science of tractor systems and functions as well as an easy-to-use glossary, children ages 4-8 will walk away with a better knowledge about how farms need big, powerful tractors to get the year...