Geo Librarian

A CHRISTMAS TOO BIG by Colleen Madden two lions, 2021 ISBN: 978-1542028004 Source: Blue Slip Media for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Kerry’s family goes completely berserk with Christmas every year. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, her home becomes a whirlwind of lights, music, and elves, elves, elves! Sometimes it gets a little overwhelming. This year, Kerry is desperate for some peace and quiet. Heading outdoors, she realizes a lot of her neighbors are having a Christmas too big. But not Mrs. Flores. She’s having a much quieter Christmas, complete with decorations and music from the country where she used to live. It sparks an idea: maybe there’s a way for Kerry to create her own Christmas traditions. But will anyone in her crazy Christmas house understand? Join Kerry as she finds her voice in this delightful holiday tale. “An intergenerational friendship and a busy holiday made meaningful set this title apart.” —Kirkus Reviews “Madden’s...

THREADS OF PEACE How Mohandas Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. Changed the World by Uma Krishnaswami Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-4814-1678-8 Source: publisher for review Ages 12 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Mohandas Gandhi and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. both shook and changed the world in their quest for peace among all people, but what threads connected these great activists together in their shared goal of social revolution? A lawyer and activist, tiny of stature with giant ideas, in British-ruled India at the beginning of the 20th century. A minister from Georgia with a thunderous voice and hopes for peace at the height of the civil rights movement in America. Born more than a half-century apart, with seemingly little in common except one shared wish, both would go on to be icons of peaceful resistance and human decency. Both preached love for all human beings, regardless of race or religion. Both believed that freedom ...

SOMETHING GOOD words by Marcy Campbell, pictures by Corinna Luyken Little, Brown and Company, 2021 ISBN: 978-0-7595-5742-0 Source: purchased Ages 6 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. REVIEW This book places the title page and copyright page at the end of the book, something I've never seen done before.  This allows the book to begin on the back of the flyleaf.  Interestingly, the child telling the story is never identified among all the children in the book.  The story has both a personal and community feel to it.  The individual narrator tells of the 'bad-something' that an unknown person put on the girl's bathroom wall.  Despite efforts by the principal to discover the source of the 'bad-something', the culprit is never identified.  But the consequences of the act run deep.  The children in the narrator's class feel worried, confused, sad, or angry.  The mix of emotions leads to more unkindness.  The principal calls the school...

A SARI FOR AMMI story by Mamta Nainy, pictures by Sandhya Prabhat Amazon Kids Crossing, 2021 ISBN: 978-1542035071 Source: publisher through Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Ammi weaves the most beautiful saris but never gets to wear any of them. Her two little daughters decide to do something about it—break their piggy bank! But when there isn’t enough money to buy Ammi a sari, the two girls must work together to find a solution. Will they be able to buy Ammi the gift she so deserves? With a text full of heart, and bright, cheerful artwork, this story brings readers into the home of a weaver’s family in Kaithoon, India, where the creation of saris is an art form. The book includes a glossary of Indian terms and a note about the saris made in this region. ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR Mamta Nainy is a children's writer, editor, and translator based in New Delhi, India. She is the author of many children's books, including A B...

A HOME AGAIN by Colleen Rowan Kosinski, illustrated by Valeria Docampo two lions, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5420-0720-7 Source: publisher for review/Blue Slip Media Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK After the last brick is laid, a family moves into a brand-new house. As the family grows, the house delights in the sound of laughter echoing in its halls and the pitter-patter of little feet traversing its floors and realizes it is no longer just a house. It has become a home—their home. One day, the family packs up, and with tears in their eyes, they say goodbye. The house doesn’t know if it can ever be happy again until two men appear. It begins to feel a sliver of hope about this new family…perhaps it can become a home once more. Told from the perspective of a house, this story’s heartfelt text and beautiful illustrations convey a warmth of feeling as two families change and grow at different times within the same four walls.  PROFESSIONAL COMMENTS “The expert...

CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER How Elizabeth Friedman Changed the Course of Two World Wars words by Laurie Wallmark, art by Brooke Smart Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-4197-3963-7 Source: purchased Ages 6-10 All opinions expressed are solely my own. REVIEW This stunning book about Elizabeth Friedman and her incredible code-cracking skills presents a fascinating look into a woman who used her skills to benefit her country, during not one, but two world wars.  The codes scattered throughout the book offer young readers a chance to learn some code-breaking skills themselves.  Interestingly, an encounter with a librarian set her on the path that lead to Elizabeth becoming one of the world's most accomplished code breakers.  Along the way she met her husband and helped form the United States first code-breaking unit.  Not only did she and her husband help break codes but they helped establish techniques and strategies that would be used for years to come. She ...

HARDLY HAUNTED by Jessie Sima Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5344-4170-5 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8  All opinions expressed are solely my own. REVIEW An old broken-down house thinks she might be haunted.  She doesn't want to be haunted, she wants to be a home for some people.  She tries to muffle her creaks and squeaks and groans and is surprisingly successful until a storm strikes.  The wind causes branches to scratch against the house's windows and the lights to flicker and a howl to burst out into the night.  The house finally realizes that she enjoys the noise, but she still wants to be a home, just a haunted one.  Sim's darling illustrations give this falling down house a surprising amount of personality.  The cat who appears throughout the book adds a nice touch to the story, especially when the black cat freaks out a bit at all the noises.  Sim has created a lovely tale that emphasizes themes of ap...

ODD BEASTS: Meet Nature's Weirdest Animals by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Gareth Lucas Abrams Appleseed, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-4197-4222-4 Source: Blue Slip Media Ages 2-6 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Barnyard animals—move over!  Odd Beasts  introduces babies and toddlers to more unusual species, including the glass frog with transparent skin and the pangolin—the only mammal with scales! Gentle rhyming verses provide the comforting repetition that little ones crave, even as their minds are opened to new and fascinating creatures from around the world. At the end of the book, readers will find photographs of each animal, along with more detailed factual information. The eight animals featured are the pangolin, ocean sunfish, glass frog, anglerfish, long-horned orb-weaver spider, Eastern snake-necked turtle, bush baby, and giant jumping stick.   COLORING SHEETS Extra! Find coloring sheets for   Odd Beasts  on Laura Gehl’s   website . ABO...

FLUFFY MCWHISKERS CUTENESS EXPLOSION explosions by Stephen W. Martin, cuteness by Dan Tavis Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2021 ISBN: 978-1-5344-4145-3 Source: publisher for review Ages 4-8 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Friendship is hard for Fluffy, a kitten so precious that anyone who looks at her explodes! Meet Fluffy—an adorable kitten.  So  adorable, in fact, that anyone who sees her will spontaneously explode into balls of sparkles and fireworks. KABOOM! Poof.  Poor Fluffy doesn’t want anyone to get hurt, but everything she tries, even a bad haircut, just makes her cuter! So Fluffy runs away someplace no one can find her. Find out if there’s any hope for Fluffy in this funny and subversive story about self-acceptance and finding friendship in unlikely places. REVIEW Fluffy McWhiskers'   cuteness causes anyone who looks at her to explode.  Naturally this makes it really difficult to find a friend.  Despite Fluffy's numerou...

SKI WEEKEND by Rektok Ross SparkPress, 2021 ISBN: 9781684631094 Source: NetGalley through publisher Ages 14 and up All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Six teens, one dog, a ski trip gone wrong . . . Sam is dreading senior ski weekend and having to watch after her brother and his best friend, Gavin, to make sure they don’t do anything stupid. Again. Gavin may be gorgeous, but he and Sam have never gotten along. Now they’re crammed into an SUV with three other classmates and Gavin’s dog, heading on a road trip that can’t go by fast enough. Then their SUV crashes into a snowbank, and Sam and her friends find themselves stranded in the mountains with cell phone coverage long gone and temperatures dropping. When the group gets sick of waiting for rescue, they venture outside to find help—only to have a wilderness accident leave Sam’s brother with a smashed leg and, soon, a raging fever. While the hours turn to days, Sam’s brother gets sicker and sicker, and their fo...