Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Tumblebaby Written by Adam Rex Illustrated by Audrey Helen Weber New York : Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Picture book. I love a funky picture book. Slumbering Tumblebaby rolls out the door and into a wonderfully meandering yarn, thwarting scoundrels and coyotes, scaling unclimbable mountains, and even building a community center in Colorado City. Adam Rex's text reads like a folksy tall tale, punctuated by funny lines and rhyming chants.  Weber's colorful, round illustrations feel a little Fauvist, a little cubist. It's a sort of "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"  but in reverse - we learn in the last few pages that, in fact, that baby was YOU! This revelation made my young son gasp, which made me choke up.  Tumblebaby is a surreal delight perfect for reading together. 

It seems like towards the end of the year there's holiday after holiday to celebrate. One of my favorite holidays that often gets overlooked is Día de los Muertos. Day of the Dead is an excellent opportunity to take time to celebrate those in our family who came before us as the year ends. So if you want to celebrate (hopefully) before all of the books are already checked out, here are some of my favorite books to celebrate the holiday. The Invisible Parade Written by Leigh Bardugo Illustrated by John Picacio New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture Book. This picture book by Leigh Bardugo (who you may know from her Six of Crows YA series) beautifully depicts the loss of a loved one through the eyes of a young child who recently lost her grandfather. Cala can’t focus on Día de los Muertos preparations like the rest of her family. When they head to the cemetery, Cala is separated from her family and swept up by four mythical horsemen who eventually help her find her way th...

  Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book Written by María Dolores Águila Illustrated by Erika Meza New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. Sunday just got even sweeter with the heartwarming, Menudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting Book.  Join a joyful Latinx family as they gather for their traditional menudo feast, with grinning abuelitos, playful cousins, and even mischievous perritos filling the pages. This vibrant and fun story isn't just about counting from uno to quince in both English and Spanish; it's a celebration of love, togetherness, and learning to work as a team --especially when a menudo mishap occurs. With charming illustrations that capture the warmth of this Mexican American home, and helpful extras like a glossary and tips for hosting your own menudo Sunday, this book is a treasure for every family library.

Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees Written by Michelle Schaub Illustrated by Anne Lambelet Ann Arbor, MI : Sleeping Bear Press, 2024. Informational.  "Leafy Landmarks" takes readers on a cross country introduction to historical trees in the United States. At every stop, the location and species of the tree is listed, as well as a poem and informational paragraph about the significance of each tree landmark.   Living Bridges: The Hidden World of India's Woven Trees Written by Sandhya  Acharya Illustrated by  Avani Dwivedi New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Informational.  When flood waters envelope a child's community in India, they learn from family and neighbors how to weave ficus roots into a living bridge for all to cross.  Readers are reminded to be mindful of and proactive in protecting their environment.  A Tree is a Community Written by David L . Harrison Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove New York : Holiday Hous...

  The Library in the Woods Written by Calvin Alexander Ramsey Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Minneapolis, MN : Carolrhoda Books, 2025. Picture Book. I am always intrigued by picture books that tell stories from the past in beautiful and meaningful ways, leaving the reader educated, and also hopeful and inspired. This book definitely did that for me! The cover is a beautiful peek into the story waiting on the pages. Junior and his family have lived on a farm that is having a hard time producing what it needs to for the family to survive economically. The parents make the hard decision to move away from the farm and into the city. Junior misses a lot of things about his life in the country. However, when Junior's friends tell him about a library in the woods, things change for him in the best way! He is amazed by the seemingly endless collection of books, and is eager to check some out for his family. Junior excitedly borrows a few books, including one about a farmer for his dad ...

Abe Lincoln's Dream By Lane Smith New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Picture Book. Ghost Cat Written by Eve Bunting Illustrated by Kevin M. Barry Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2017. Picture Book. Goldfish Ghost Written by Lemony Snicket Illustrated by Lisa Brown New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2017. Picture Book. The Lady of the Library Written by Angie Karcher Illustrated by Rachel Sanson Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2021. Picture Book. A Friend for Ghost By Suzanne Kaufman New York: Holiday House, 2022. Picture Book Yikes! It's Haunted By Rourke Educational Media Greensboro, NC: Rourke Educational Media, Carson Dellosa Education, 2019. Informational. 192 pages. Not So Ghoul Written by Karen Yin Illustrated by Bonnie Lui Salem, MA: Page Street Kids, 2022. Picture Book. Sir Simon: Super Scarer By Cale Atkinson Toronto: Tundra Books, 2018. Picture Book. The Night Gardener By Jonathon Auxier New York: Amulet Books, 2014. Fiction. 350 pages. Hide and Seeker By Daka H...