Geo Librarian

43 Old Cemetery Road (series) written by Kate Klise, illustrated by M. Sarah Klise Harcourt Children's Books, 2009-2011 Grades 2-5 Reviewed from personal copies. This series revolves around the experiences of three characters, Ignatius B. Grumply, a famous author of children's books, Seymour Hope, an 11-year old boy who has been abandoned by his parents and his cat, Shadow, and Olive C. Spence, an unpublished author and resident ghost.  Book one, Dying to Meet You , begins with Ignatius looking for a house to rent for the summer while he wrestles with writing a new children's book in his Ghost Tamers series.  Unfortunately, or so Ignatius thinks, he discovers that the house that he rents has other residents, namely Seymour and his friend Olive.  Ignatius becomes increasingly frustrated with what he believes is Seymour's pranks and references to his ghost friend, Olive.  But when Olive inserts herself into his increasingly frantic efforts to overcome his write...

Billy & Milly Short & Silly written by Eve B. Feldman, pictures by Tuesday Mourning G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2009 ISBN: 978-0-399-24651-7 Grades K-2 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB: Follow Billy and Milly through thirteen adventures in these funny and simple short stories. Through very basic storytelling, these brief narratives are told in only three or four words apiece. For example, "Stoops (Billy and Milly sit on their front stoops as the ice cream truck drives by.), Hoops (Billy shoots his basketball...), Scoops (...as Milly licks her ice cream cone...), Oops (...until the ball hits the cone and squashes her ice cream!)." I used this book last week with my first and second grade students as an introduction to story elements.  I explained to them that to be a story there needs to be at least three things: characters, setting, and plot.  The short stories in this book worked perfectly to emphasize my point that a story doesn't need to have 100...

I've decided to enter this year's Happy Haul-idays contest sponsored by Chronicle Books.  Chances are I won't win, but it's fun to dream.  My charity would be my local public library, Smithfield Public Library, where I spent many happy hours in my younger years.  Please leave a comment for a chance to win, should I be chosen. Thanks! If I were to win, here are my choices: A Dog is a Dog by Stephen Shaskan ($14.99) E-mergency by Tom Lichtenheld, et.al. ($16.99) Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner ($16.99) Follow the Star by AndyMansfield ($19.99) The Orphan of Awkward Falls by Keith Graves ($16.99) Worst-Case Scenario Ultimate Adventure: Mars by Hena Ghan, et.al. ($12.99) Sea Monster's First Day by Kate Messner ($16.99) Kokeshi Kimonos by Annelore Parot ($17.99) A Zeal of Zebras: An alphabet of collective nouns by Woop ($17.99) Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker ($16.99) Out of Sight by Pittau & Gerv...

Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off! The Science Scoop on more than 30 Terrifying Phenomena! written by Glenn Murphy Roaring Brook Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-59643-633-6 Grades 3 and up Reviewed from purchased copy. BLURB : Beginning with a gripping description of the worst-case scenarios we've all heard on the news, expert explainer Glenn Murphy explains the science behind our terror and delivers a reassuring message that life is only as scary as we make it! There were several things that I really liked about this book.  First, I appreciated the humor that Murphy included trying to lighten up a rather heavy topic (fear). Second, the title and cover of the book are an immediate draw, especially for reluctant readers. Third, the organization of the material is such that a student could flip to any section and read about the topics that interest him/her the most. Fourth, I liked how the author explained fear, both the physical reaction and the feelings associated with it....

Missing on Superstition Mountain written by Elise Broach, illustrations by Antonio Javier Caparo Henry Holt and Company, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-8050-9047-5 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from purchased copy. BLURB : It’s summer and the three Barker brothers—Simon, Henry, and Jack—just moved from Illinois to Arizona. Their parents have warned them repeatedly not to explore Superstition Mountain, which is near their home. But when their cat Josie goes missing, they see no other choice. There’s something unusually creepy about the mountain and after the boys find three human skulls, they grow determined to uncover the mystery. Have people really gone missing over the years, and could there be someone or some thing lurking in the woods? Together with their new neighbor Delilah, the Barker boys are dead-set on cracking the case even if it means putting themselves in harm’s way. I have really enjoyed Elise Broach's other books, Shakespeare's Secret and Masterpiece.  So I was look...

Ponies (National Geographic Kids, Level 1) written by Laura Marsh National Geographic, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4263-0849-9 Grades K-1 Reviewed from purchased copy. Ponies addresses a perennially favorite topic.  The book takes a look at what a pony is, how they are different from horses, different markings, and different breeds, along with advice about riding them. The photographs compliment the text which is very important in nonfiction books.  The photographs are clear and crisp, the text is suitable for new readers. I especially like the photos in the glossary that help students understand the highlighted words better. The jokes are a nice touch, since I have yet to meet a child that didn't love a good joke. Trains (National Geographic Kids, Level 1) written by Amy Shields National Geographic, 2011 ISBN: 978-1-4263-0777-5 Grades K-1 Reviewed from purchased copy.   TRAINS BLURB:   Choo Choo! Kids love trains! Especially the old-timey steam engi...

Up, Up, Up written and sung by Susan Reed, illustrated by Rachel Oldfield Barefoot Books, 2010 ISBN: 978-1-84686-550-3 Grades PreK-1 Reviewed from purchased copy. BLURB : This airborne adventure takes readers ballooning over lands near and far, all the way to the stars. The charming singalong song on the accompanying CD keeps spirits high, while the rhyming and playful text introduces all sorts of settings and vocabulary-building words. Education Market: It includes aerial maps throughout of changing landscapes and seascapes with many items to talk about. It joins Barefoot Books' popular "Singalong Songs" series. Cultural Diversity: It features three children each from a different cultural background. The bright colors and fun song make this a fun read-a-loud.  I used it with both kindergartners and special needs children.  I felt a little self-conscious doing this, since I sung along with the accompanying CD.  I am not a real great singer, but the stu...

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...

Human Footprint:  Everything You Will Eat, Use, Wear, Buy, and Throw Out in Your Lifetime written by Ellen Kirk National Geographic, 2011 Grades K and up Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : What is your human footprint? Well, it's 13,056 pints of milk, 28,433 showers, 12,888 oranges, 14,518 candy bars, and $52,972 worth of clothes, all in one lifetime. Makes you want to step more lightly on the planet! Perfectly timed for Earth Day, this book doesn't preach or judge, but simply shows kids—in an exciting, visual way—how humans interact with the environment and how we can lessen our impact. Astonishing photography captures the full picture of consumption, documenting all the diapers you wore as a baby, the bread you'll eat in a lifetime, and the cans you'll recycle, based on national averages. This book is very eye-opening in terms of American consumerism.  It's easy to ignore the vast amount of food, goods, and services that we use.  The photograph...

The Flint Heart written by Katherine Paterson & John Paterson, illustrated by John Rocco Candlewick Press, 2011 ISBN: 978-0-7636-4712-4 Grades 3-6 Reviewed from personal copy. BLURB : An ambitious Stone Age man demands a talisman that will harden his heart, allowing him to take control of his tribe. Against his better judgment, the tribe’s magic man creates the Flint Heart, but the cruelty of it causes the destruction of the tribe. Thousands of years later, the talisman reemerges to corrupt a kindly farmer, an innocent fairy creature, and a familial badger. Can Charles and his sister Unity, who have consulted with fairies such as the mysterious Zagabog, wisest creature in the universe, find a way to rescue humans, fairies, and animals alike from the dark influence of the Flint Heart?  I found this book rather intriguing for several reasons.  First, the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous.  I especially appreciate Rocco's use of color as well as th...