Geo Librarian

KID ATHLETES True Tales of Childhood from Sports Legends stories by David Stabler, illustrations by Doogie Horner Quirk Books, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-59474-802-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The author and illustrator of Kid Presidents have reteamed to share 20 true tales from the childhoods of famous athletes. From Babe Ruth (so incorrigible that his parents put him in reform school at age 7) to Muhammad Ali (who learned to fight at age 12 after a thief stole his bicycle), Kid Athletes is packed with inspirational stories from the world of sports. Billie Jean King rose from modest circumstances to win 39 Grand Slam championships; race car champion Danica Patrick fended of bullies who told her "girls can't drive"; and martial arts legend Bruce Lee credited his success, in part, to childhood dance lessons. Every goal, touchdown, and championship comes to life in these kid-friendly and relatable stories, al...

OLD SCHOOL Diary of a Wimpy Kid #10 by Jeff Kinney Amulet, 2015 Source: school library All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In the latest installment of the phenomenally bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, author-illustrator Jeff Kinney brings the series back to its roots, as Greg starts a new school year and faces a challenge he never could've imagined. REVIEW I confess, I am not really the best audience for these books. I find Greg rather obnoxious, which is typical of some teenagers, so I shouldn't be too surprised. But I did find myself empathizing more with Greg in this one as he heads off to an electronics-free camp with some of his schoolmates in order to avoid his father after a car disaster.  At this camp, Greg and his bunkmates get themselves in trouble by using sweat to fill the water bucket (which is then used for showers, ewww), leaving their dirty clothes everywhere, and generally making a mess.  But the ultimate hijinks ...

WELCOME TO MARS: Making a Home on the Red Planet by Buzz Aldrin with Marianne J. Dyson National Geographic Kids, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-4263-2206-8 Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Space is still the final frontier and Mars continues to make news and attract generations of young people. In this fascinating book, hero-astronaut Buzz Aldrin challenges curious kids to think about Mars as not just a faraway red planet but as a possible future home for Earthlings! What will your new home be like? How will you get there? What will you eat for breakfast? Find out what life might be like far, far from Earth as you navigate your way through this fun and fascinating book. What kid wouldn't want to blast off with him on this (literary) journey! REVIEW While I am not interested in going to Mars myself, the ideas is certainly an intriguing one.  This book by former astronaut Buzz Aldrin addresses what it is likely to take...

LINCOLN'S SPYMASTER Allan Pinkerton, America's First Private Eye by Samantha Seiple Scholastic Press, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-545-70897-5 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK From Samantha Seiple, the award winning author of Ghosts in the Fog, comes the first book for young adults to tell the story of Allan Pinkerton, America's first private eye. Lincoln's Spymaster tells the dangerous and action-packed adventures of Allan Pinkerton, America's first private eye and Lincoln's most trusted spymaster. Pinkerton was just a poor immigrant barrel-maker in Illinois when he stumbled across his first case just miles from his home. His reputation grew and people began approaching Pinkerton with their cases, leading him to open the first-of-its-kind private detective agency. Pinkerton assembled a team of undercover agents, and together they caught train robbers, counterfeiters, and other outlaws. Soon these outlaws, incl...

THE NORTHERN FRIGHTS Scary School #3 by Derek the Ghost, scary pictures by Scott M. Fischer Harper, 2013 ISBN: 978-0-06-196098-7 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In The Northern Frights, the third book in the spooky Scary School series, Charles “New Kid” Nukid and his friends, including Lattie, a girl ninja, must fight an epic battle with an ice dragon to save their school. But first they must survive going to Scream Academy as exchange students. And that may be hard, because the Academy has an abominable snowman for a principal, a Headless Horseman as one of the teachers, and the students are yetis, trolls, and ogres! Will Charles survive to make an ancient prophecy come to pass and save everyone? The illustrated Scary School trilogy by Derek the Ghost, with its mix of humor, scares, and adventure, is a perfect pick for middle-grade readers of the Wayside School series and the Zach Files books. REVIEW There aren't a ...

THE STORY OF DIVA AND FLEA As TOLD & SHOWN by Mo Willems and Tony DiTerlizzi Hyperion Books for Children, 2015 ISBN: 978-148472284-8 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Diva, a small yet brave dog, and Flea, a curious streetwise cat, develop an unexpected friendship in this unforgettable tale of discovery. For as long as she could remember, Diva lived at 11 avenue Le Play in Paris, France. For as long as he could remember, Flea also lived in Paris, France-but at no fixed address. When Flea fl neurs passed Diva's courtyard one day, their lives were forever changed. Together, Diva and Flea explore and share their very different worlds, as only true friends can do. REVIEW This book reminds me once again just what I love so much about Mo Willems' books.  And combining him with Tony DiTerlizzi is a genius idea.  I fell in love with Diva and Flea immediately.  Sweet, shy Diva lives in an apartment complex where sh...

THE NOT VERY MERRY POUT-POUT FISH by Deborah Diesen, pictures by Dan Hanna Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-374-35549-4 Picture Book Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK The grumpiest fish in children’s literature is back with another case of “the dreary wearies.” This time, Mr. Fish, star of The New York Times bestselling Pout-Pout Fish series, is down in the dumps over holiday shopping. With a message for readers of all ages, The Not Very Merry Pout-Pout Fish finds Mr. Fish so consumed with finding that perfect gift for each of his friends that he forgets the true meaning of the holidays: “A gift should be big, And a gift should be bright. And a gift should be perfect— Guaranteed to bring delight. And a gift should have meaning, Plus a bit of bling-zing, So I’ll shop till I drop For each just-right thing.” ! When Mr. Fish—with his signature Pout-Pout Fish frown—comes up empty-handed, Miss Shimmer int...

OLIVER MOON Series by Sue Mongredien Usborne Books, 2006-2015 Early chapter book series Ages 7-9 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own.   REVIEW For young readers who enjoy fantasy stories involving witches, wizards, and magic potions and mishaps, the Oliver Moon series makes for a great introduction to that world.  I would especially recommend this series for young readers who want to read Harry Potter but aren't ready for it yet.  Oliver Moon is a young wizard who lives with his parents and little sister, Witch Baby.  And like Harry he has to use his ingenuity to solve various problems, some of which are of his own making. In the books seen above, Oliver has to deal with pranks around the house, training a dragon for a parade, trying to 'retrain' his parents into a proper wizard and witch, as well as dealing with a duel with a competitive fellow student and his own birthday party.  There is lots to enjoy here ...

THE GREAT MONKEY RESCUE Saving the Golden Lion Tamarins by Sandra Markle Millbrook Press, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-4677-8030-8 Source: purchased Middle grade nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Golden lion tamarins are found only in Brazilian forests. These small, remarkable monkeys once had plenty of space to roam and claim family territories. But years of deforestation caused their numbers to shrink. They were in serious danger of becoming extinct. To help, scientists studied the animals in zoo settings. But they faced several mysteries. Why weren't golden lion tamarins reproducing in zoos? If scientists reintroduced zoo-raised tamarins to the wild, would those monkeys survive? And how could scientists give tamarins enough forest area for the population to grow? Find out how scientists and concerned citizens worked together to give golden lion tamarins a hopeful future. REVIEW Sandra Markle has done it again.  She's written a book...

THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PERFECT PRINCESS PARTY by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-6511-1 Ages 5-10 Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Inconvenient monster alarms, a sparkly array of princess guests, and spot-on slapstick pacing make for a party readers will celebrate. Today is Princess Magnolia’s birthday party, and she wants everything to be perfect. But just as her guests are arriving . . . Brring! Brring! The monster alarm! Princess Magnolia runs to the broom closet, ditches her frilly clothes, and becomes the Princess in Black! She rushes to the goat pasture, defeats the monster, and returns to the castle before her guests discover her secret. But every time Princess Magnolia is about to open her presents, the monster alarm rings again. And every time she rushes back—an inside-out dress here, a missing shoe there—it gets harder to keep the other princesses ...