Geo Librarian

I’ll Hug You More By New York Times bestselling author and Ambassador of Hugs, Laura Duksta January 3, 2017; Hardcover, ISBN 978-1-4926-2618-3 Book Info: Title: I’ll Hug You More Author: Laura Duksta Release Date: January 3, 2017 Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Praise for I’ll Hug You More “Cheery, multi-textured illustrations highlight the sheer versatility of hugs one can give  a small hippo offers a one-handed, behind-the-back number as it eats cereal at the breakfast table, a ladybug uses all six limbs to cling to its parent, and two snakes entwine in a cozy, circular embrace....[Duksta’s] reassuring message comes through loud and clear.” – Publishers Weekly “A menagerie of lovable beasts from rhinos to raccoons and ladybugs to lemurs snuggle up to mom and dad, in Laura Duksta’s I’ll Hug You More . Feathers, fur, and scales embrace in a rainbow of hues from illustrator Melissa Iwai as heartwarming rhymes told from the chi...

FOREST OF WONDERS Wing & Claw #1 by Linda Sue Park Harper, 2016 ISBN: 978-0-06-232738-3 Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy) Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Raffa Santana has always loved the mysterious Forest of Wonders. For a gifted young apothecary like him, every leaf has the potential to unleash a kind of magic. If only Raffa's cautious father would allow him to experiment freely, Raffa knows he could discover miracles. When an injured bat crashes into Raffa's life, he invents a cure from a rare crimson vine that he finds deep in the forest. The powers of the vine are stronger than Raffa could have imagined. His remedy saves the animal but also transforms it into something much more than an ordinary bat, with far-reaching consequences. Raffa's experiments lead him away from home to the forbidding city of Gilden, where troubling discoveries make him question who he can trust . . . a...

GREENLAND Travels with Gannon & Wyatt #4 written by Patti Wheeler & Keith Hemstreet Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2014 ISBN: 978-1-62634-120-3 Ages 9-12 Middle grade contemporary (travel/adventure) Source: purchased All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Upon arriving in Ilulissat, Greenland, Gannon and Wyatt prepare for the adventure of a lifetime—a dogsled expedition in the Arctic! But before the explorers even crack a whip, they receive a desperate mayday call from an Inuit family that is stranded in the far north. Suddenly, Gannon and Wyatt’s expedition to study climate change and Greenlandic culture turns into something far more dangerous—a mission to save lives. As they rush north to rescue the family, led by Inuit guides, the brothers must steer clear of deadly hidden crevasses, hungry polar bears, and bitter cold as they race into an Arctic super-storm, putting even more lives in jeopardy—their own. In the tradition of the ...

Brightly is a fun website designed to encourage book sharing between parents and children and teachers and students.  I have found a number of fabulous lists and ideas on this website.  Here are a few of the most recent lists (I found them intriguing and helpful).  I've also included the link for a giveaway they are running. 17 Picture Books Not to Be Missed in 2017  2017 boasts new offerings from bestselling authors, funny debuts, poetry collections, inspirational biographies, and much, much more. Highlights include a picture book for younger children from the author of the middle grade phenomenon  Wonder , a math-infused bedtime story from actress and mathematician Danica McKellar, and a tale that’s part mystery, part fable, and all fun from award-winning author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Helen Oxenbury.     17 Middle Grade Books to Look Forward to in 2017 Check out this list of incredible 2017 middle grade books that B...

POOP DETECTIVES Working Dogs in the Field by Ginger Wadsworth Charlesbridge, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-58089-650-4 MG/YA Nonfiction Ages 9 and up Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK How can dogs that sniff for excrement, urine, vomit, and mucus help protect animals from extinction? Scat-detection dogs like Wicket, Tucker, and Orbee are conservation heroes and pioneers in a cutting-edge field of science. Canine detec-tives use their super sense of smell to locate the scat of target animals. From loose bear dung to gooey whale poop, scat can tell scientists valuable information about an animal’s sex, age, diet, and health—all without harming the animal or endangering the researcher. REVIEW While poop is not something that I normally like to read about, I found this book fascinating.  Poop Detectives explores the use of trained dogs to track wild animals through there scat (droppings).  Instead of catching ...

THE WIZARD'S DOG by Eric Kahn Gale Crown Books for Young Readers, 2017 ISBN: 978-0-553-53736-9 Ages 9-12 Middle grade speculative (fantasy) Source: ARC from author for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Meet Nosewise. He’s spunky. He’s curious. And he’s a dog who can’t understand why his pack mates Merlin and Morgana spend all day practicing magic tricks. If it’s a trick they want, he’s the dog to ask! He can already Sit!, Stay!, and Roll Over! But there’s no way Nosewise is Stay!ing when his master and best friend, Merlin, is kidnapped. There’s nothing Nosewise won’t do to get Merlin back, even if it means facing the strange Fae people and their magic-eating worms, or tangling with the mysterious Sword in the Stone. But it may take more than sniffing out a spell to do it! Nosewise’s hilarious escapades and steadfast loyalty get him and his companions through King Arthur’s Dark Ages. REVIEW I was intrigued when I first re...

Hi Friends,   I want to make sure my students have the materials they need to succeed. That's why I've created a classroom project request at DonorsChoose.org, an award-winning charity.   I'm asking for donations of any size to help my kids. For the next 4 days, any donation you make to my project will be doubled (up to $50). If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you'll get photos and thank yous from our class.   Check out the exciting things we're up to in my classroom:   Chromebooks in the Library   To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the promo code LIFTOFF during checkout. This awesome match offer lasts through   January 17 .   My students and I greatly appreciate your support!   Ms. Grange

WARREN THE 13TH AND THE ALL-SEEING EYE written by Tania Del Rio, illustrated by Will Staehle Quirk Books, 2015 ISBN: 978-1-59474-803-5 Source: publisher for review Middle grade speculative/fantasy Ages 9-12 All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK Warren the 13th is the lone bellhop, valet, waiter, groundskeeper, and errand boy of his family’s ancient hotel. It’s a strange, shadowy mansion full of crooked corridors and mysterious riddles—and it just might be home to a magical object known as the All-Seeing Eye. Can Warren decipher the clues and find the treasure before his sinister Aunt Annaconda (and a slew of greedy hotel guests) beats him to it? This middle-grade adventure features gorgeous two-color illustrations on every page and a lavish two-column Victorian design that will pull young readers into a spooky and delightful mystery. REVIEW I can honestly say that this book is one of the most unusual that I've ever read.  Is it bec...

THE BIG SECRET Tales of Sasha, #1 by Alexa Pearl, illustrated by Paco Sordo little bee books, 2017 ISBN: 978-1-4998-0389-1 Ages 6-9 Early chapter book (fantasy) Source: publisher for review All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK In the  Tales of Sasha  series debut, Sasha discovers that she really isn't like the other horses in her valley when wings sprout from her back and she soars through the air! In the first book of Tales of Sasha , readers meet Sasha, a kindhearted young horse who has always felt a little bit different from the other horses in Verdant Valley. For starters, she looks nothing like her two older sisters, Zara and Poppy, who are black and brown while Sasha is pale gray—except for a small white patch on her back. Sasha also loves running and jumping and the feeling of being in the air, and she longs to explore the forest beyond her valley. One day during school, Sasha is having trouble concentrating, and the wh...

FAMOUS FAILS! Mighty Mistakes, Mega Mishaps & How a Mess can Lead to Success! by Crispin Boyer National Geographic Kids, 2016 ISBN: 978-1-42-63-2548-9 Source: Media Masters Publicity  Ages 9-12 Middle grade nonfiction All opinions expressed are solely my own. ABOUT THE BOOK This fun book of quirky failures and famous flops will keep kids laughing while they learn the importance of messing up in order to get it right. Science, architecture, technology, entertainment -- there are epic fails and hilarious goof-ups from every important field. Silly side features help to analyze the failures: "Lesson Learned," "It Could be Worse!," "Losing Combinations," and a "Fail Scale" to help readers navigate the different kinds and scope of the mistakes made. The stories will include what went wrong, what went right, and what kids can learn from each failed attempt. REVIEW I feel much better about my life and many failures a...