Provo Library Children's Book Blog

En Guard! I'm a big fan of fantasy, which means that I tend to admire characters who can wield a sword. However, lunges, parries, and ripostes are not just for medieval combat, they're also terms used in modern fencing. Fencing can be a fun sport to increase your dexterity and precision, and it's pretty fun to watch. If you also think fencing is interesting, here's four books highlighting this cool sport. It's All or Nothing, Vale By Andrea Beatriz Arango New York: Random House Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 252 pages. Vale loves fencing, but after a car accident leaves her injured, she has to heal from her injuries while getting back in shape to fence competatively. However, her determination to return to her former capabilities leaves her in pain and frustrated with her friends. A newcomer to the team who performs better than Vale also adds tension, especially as Vale finds herself with a bit of a crush on this teammate. This novel in verse explores Vale com...

  Garvey in the Dark By Nikki Grimes New York: Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2022. Fiction. 170 pages. Capturing the shock and reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic through poetry, as Garvey's life goes into lockdown and his father becomes sick, Garvey must find a way to use his newfound musical skills to bring hope to both his father and himself. --Editor A Walk in the Woods Written by Nikki Grimes Illustrated by Brian and Jerry Pinkney New York : Holiday House, 2023. Picture Book. A grieving son follows a treasure map his late father left him through the woods they used to explore together. --Editor Garvey's Choice By Nikki Grimes Honesdale, PA: Wordsong, an imprint of Highlights, 2016. Fiction. 108 pages. Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading--anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend,...

  Cuentos Pinkalicious Por Victoria Kann y Elizabeth Kann New York: Rayo, una rama de HarperCollinsPublishers, 2011. Libro ilustrado. "Una niña obsesionada con el color de rosa se come tantos pastelitos rosados que ella misma se vuelve rosada." --Editor Cuentitos Elena monta en bici Por Juana Medina Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2023. Fácil. "Elena quiere montar en bici. Empieza a monter, empieza a rodar. Ella se mece y se bambolea ¡Cataplam! Elena, aprender a montar en bici es difícil. Pero tú puedes lograrlo. ¡Inténtalo, inténtalo de nuevo!"--Editor

  Stories in the Park Nature Is an Artist Written by Jennifer Lavallee Illustrated by Natalia Colombo Vancouver; Berkeley; London: Greystone Kids, 2022. Picture Book. A celebration of creativity and a child's ability to observe, this playful picture book explores different art forms to be found in the natural world. A group of children follow Nature--the most inspiring of teachers--as they explore a series of colorful landscapes to discover the world's greatest art show hidden in plain sight. Along the way, these young artists create their own fine works of art--from fingerprint bumblebees to sand sculptures and charming paper collages. This story honors the beauty and variety of Nature's art with gentle rhythms and pleasing alliterative language, while instilling confidence in young readers to see themselves as skilled artists too. --Publisher Stories in the Park A Rainbow in Brown By Pavonis Giron New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2024. Picture Book. Jo wants to paint all...

The Baby Who Stayed Awake Forever By Sandra Salsbury New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. This story is about the indomitable spirit of a baby who will not sleep. It defies logic! And yet it is all too familiar. Dynamic page spreads show the night slowly creeping by, filled with a baby's adorably aggravating bedtime hobbies (spitting out each of her seventeen pacifiers; singing the song of her people for the downstairs neighbor). Spoiler alert: the title is accurate. Sandra Salsbury got the tone just right. The baby's loving family is too exhausted to be amused, so we get to be amused for them. My two-year-old cracked up at the onomatopeia. We imitated the baby's midnight dance moves. When we closed the book my preschooler said, "Heh. Babies are funny." True! This would be a fun (and validating) gift for new siblings or new parents. 

  Orris and Timble: Lost and Found Written by Kate DiCamillo Illustrated by Carmen Mok Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Intermediate. 66 pages. Orris and Timble are friends. Every night, Timble, the owl, comes to visit Orris, the rat, in the barn where he lives. Orris then tells Timble a story from one of the many books that have been abandoned in his home. Night after night, the rat weaves magical tales for the young owl until one day the owl is not so little anymore. Then, one evening Timble doesn't come, nor the evening after. Orris begins to worry that Timble has forgotten him. Is their friendship over? Though the text in this book is sparse, the emotional gravity that DiCamillo is able to imbue in her words is wonderous. The story is gently complimented by the soft and spare drawings of Mok, really giving young readers the ability to deeply empathize with the plight of the old rat. Lost and Found is perfect for 7 through 9-year-olds who love tales of friendship. Be sur...