Geo Librarian

SPECTACULAR SPOTS written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale Peachtree Publishers, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-817-2 Picture Book Ages 4-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK With engaging rhymes and bright, bold images, award-winning author and illustrator Susan Stockdale introduces young readers to the many ways in which animals benefit from their spots. An afterword tells a little bit more about each animal and where it lives, and readers can test their knowledge of animal spots with a fun matching game at the end! REVIEW Susan Stockdale has created a fun book that works well as a read aloud for both personal and classroom use.  This book along with her others introduces patterns to young readers.  The text of the book is rhyming and works well for reading out loud.  The additional information about each animal at the end helps explain why these animals have spots.  The guessing game makes fo...

STANLEY THE FARMER by William Bee Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-803-5 Ages 3-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own . ABOUT THE BOOK Down on the farm, there's seeds to be sown. Stanley has to get on his tractor and plough the field. There's lots to be done, and friends to help him out, but will the seeds grow? ABOUT THE AUTHOR William Bee was born in London but now lives in the English countryside. In addition to writing children’s books, he races a vintage sports car, is an international skier, and when at home tends his lawns and meadows. REVIEW Stanley's hard at work again, this time as a farmer.  This book walks the reader through the planting and harvesting of a field of wheat.  The illustrations and text highlight the different machines and processes that go into growing wheat.  Each machine and action taken is clearly labeled in the text.  It would be fun to ask the students what Stanley ...

COMPLETELY CLEMENTINE Clementine #7 by Sara Pennypacker, pictures by Marla Frazee Disney Hyperion, 2015 ISBN: 978-142312358-3 Ages 8-12 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Summer is coming, and Clementine is not ready. She is not ready to start speaking to her father again, because she’s still mad at him for eating meat. Instead, she has to express her sadness by giving him drawings of animals she knows would not want to be somebody’s dinner.  Then there is the new baby on the way. Clementine’s mom sure doesn't seem ready. She’s suddenly crazy about cleaning (Dad says she is nesting), but she doesn't even have a name picked out yet. Clementine just hopes the baby won’t be a dud. What Clementine really isn't ready for is saying good-bye to her third grade teacher. She knows Mr. D’Matz is going to tell her all kinds of things that aren't true. Everything else may be changing around her, but that doesn't mean th...

JACK AT THE HELM The Berenson Schemes #3 by Lisa Doan, illustrated by Ivica Stevanovic Darby Creek, 2015 Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review (ARC) All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Jack's parents have bought a farmhouse in Nepal.  It'll be the site of a new religion--their latest get-rich-quick scheme.  sure, the Berensons don't know quite how to get to the place.  But once they arrive, their plan is sure to work. When the Berenson family's travels leave Jack lost in the wilderness of Nepal, a patched-up old raft is the only way to track down his mom and dad.  At least this time, Jack has company.  He's riding with Harry from Connecticut, a traveling dude who has been trying to find himself--and who also wound up stranded. As Jack and Harry ride down a winding river, they'll have to watch out for rocks, rapids, and even crocodiles! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Doan is the author of The Berenson Schemes series – Jack th...

“Countdown to a Meaningful Life” Week 7: Hope To celebrate the upcoming publication of   THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: 7 Magical Words for a Meaningful Life   by T.A. Barron, we are participating in a countdown campaign based on Merlin’s answer to the question “What is the meaning of life?” Surprisingly, the answer has only seven words…but they are the most powerful words of all.  Each week we will focus on one of these magical words with supporting content that will help your readers and followers acknowledge, reflect, practice and get inspired to embark on a new adventure or live life to its fullest. We continue this week with Hope . Excerpt from THE WISDOM OF MERLIN: “Hope requires courage.” “Blow on the embers of hope in yourself. Strengthen them into flames. For those are the fires where new worlds are born.” “Whenever I feel touched by despair, I think about two good sources of hope. The first is young people… the second source is nature.” ...

RANDOM BODY PARTS Gross Anatomy Riddles in Verse written by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Mike Lowery Peachtree Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-56145-737-3 Poetry Ages 8-12 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Witty verse about the body pairs with whimsical art in this fun collection. The poems pose puzzles in verse (nod slyly to Shakespeare) and give hints for uncovering the body part. Sidebars educate readers on anatomy, while appended notes look at poetic form and Shakespearean works that inspired the verses. Captivating lines will spark interest in poetry and biology alike. REVIEW Poetry is an interesting method for learning about the human body.  But the riddles in this book make for a fun way to learn about different parts of the body. While the poetry is not the best I've ever read, it works for the topics being covered.  Some of the poems display great imagery, such as the poem about blood being lik...

HORSE ESCAPE ARTIST! And More True Stories of Animals Behaving Badly by Ashlee Brown Blewett National Geographic Society, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-4263-1767-5 Ages 7-10 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Some animals have a mind of their own. This is certainly the case for Mariska the horse escape artist, Milkshake the charging cow,  and Pony the runaway goat! When these animals put their mind to something,  they can’ t be stopped—especially when they are causing mischief. In Horse Escape Artist!,  you’ ll find out how these determined animals caused chaos in three hilarious stories. Perfect for kids aging out of early readers, National Geographic Kids Chapters are written in simple prose appropriate to kids just reading on their own. REVIEW Anyone who thinks animals aren't intelligent needs to read this book. A horse that finds a way to escape her stall and paddock over and over, a cow with a grudge, and goats that...

ROSE AND THE MAGICIAN'S MASK by Holly Webb sourcebooks jabberwacky, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-4926-0430-3 Ages 9-12 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Rose is now a fully fledged magician's apprentice-will her new magic be enough to find the dangerous magician's mask? When a precious mask of unimaginable power is stolen from the royal palace, Rose suspects that dark magicians are at work and that danger looms. The race to stop the evil thieves will take Rose to the mysterious city of Venice, where nothing is quite what it seems. Can Rose use her magic to find the terrible mask before its true powers are revealed? REVIEW Holly Webb has quickly become one of my favorite middle grade authors.  Rose is a character that I have quickly grown to love.  Her courage in facing personal challenges including being a servant and a magician's apprentice at the same time makes her someone easy to root for.  The other main cha...

SILENCE by Deborah Lytton Shadow Mountain, 2015 ISBN: 9781609079451 Ages 12 and up Source: ARC from publisher All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK STELLA was born to sing. Someday Broadway. But everything changed when a tragic accident renders her deaf; she cannot hear, much less sing. Trapped in a strange new world of total silence, she must face not only the loss of her friends, her hopes, and her voice but also the loss of her identity and her life's purpose. Who is she is she's not a singer? HAYDEN is a quiet loner, an outcast, and the only person Stella can communicate with; his profound stutter makes him speak so slowly, she is able to easily read his lips. As they find new ways to communicate despite their disabilities, their friendship grows into an unexpected—but welcome—romance. But is it a romance that can last if Stella regains her hearing and resumes her former life? Alternating between Stella's and Hayden's points o...

From Chad Morris, author of   The Inventer’s Secret   and   The Avatar Battle , the first two books of his highly acclaimed   Cragbridge Hall series, comes   THE IMPOSSIBLE RACE   (Shadow Mountain; $18.99; ISBN: 978-1-609-07979-6), the final installment in the epic fantasy saga eagerly anticipated by fans everywhere. Morris yet again weaves an exhilarating adventure story around his beloved characters, bringing them together one last time to face the ultimate enemy: fate. Morris and his books continue to garner positive reviews from established authors, schools, and communities across the country. The popular reception of the   Cragbridge Hall   series has led Morris to add extensive book tours and school visits to his already busy schedule. Morris firmly believes that imagination is a help, not a hindrance, to lifelong learning, and his writing style reveals a unique flair for fusing fiction and nonfiction. “Kids, don’t be afraid to imag...