Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Science Fair : a Story of Mystery, Danger, International Suspense, and a Very Nervous Frog By Dave Barry New York: Disney Editions, 2008. Fiction. 394 pages.  The president of Kprshtskan is plotting to infiltrate the science fair at Hubble Middle School in Maryland in order to take over the United States government, but when Toby Harbinger, an ordinary student, makes up his mind finally to win the fair, the terrorists' plans go awry. --Editor Frogkisser By Garth Nix  New York: Scholastic Press, 2017. Fiction 372 pages.   Princess Anya has a big problem: Duke Rikard, her step-stepfather, is an evil wizard who wants to rule the kingdom and has a habit of changing people into frogs, and her older sister Morven, the heir, is a wimp--so with the help of the librarian Gotfried (who turns into an owl when he is upset), and the Royal Dogs, she must find away to defeat Rikard, save her sister, and maybe even turn Prince Denholm back into a human being. -- Editor Froggy...

Stories in the Park Dad and the Dinosaur Written by Gennifer Choldenko Illustrated by Dan Santat New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2017. Picture Book. A boy keeps a toy dinosaur in his pocket to help him be brave like his dad--but when the dinosaur goes missing, Dad knows just what to do. --Publisher Stories in the Park Crunch, the Shy Dinosaur Written by Cirocco Dunlap Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli New York: Random House, 2018. Picture Book. Advises the reader on how to interact with a very shy dinosaur. --Editor Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time The Dinosaur in the Garden By Deb Pilutti New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2024. Picture Book.  After waiting millions of years, a T Rex thinks a curious girl might just find the clues he left behind, making his story part of hers. --Publisher Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time A Delicious Story By Barney Stalzberg New York: Hippo Park, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. Two mice--one big and one small--have a ...

  Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah By Margaret Gurevich  New York: Penguin Workshop, 2026. Fiction. 233 pages.  Yasha, a thirteen-year-old in 1986, is about to start his final year of junior high at a new school after moving from Brighton Beach, a neighborhood in New York City, to Rockwood, a town right in the middle of New Jersey's suburbia. He isn't used to being in the minority as a Russian American boy, and the only other Russian family in town seems desperate to hide their heritage. There is a lot to figure out in his new life between learning his Torah portion for his bar mitzvah and trying to find friends that will accept him for his true self. Through it all, the Met's amazing season is a beacon of hope, bringing a community together to help Yasha feel at home.  Yasha's story will be sure to resonate with many middle grade readers trying to find their place in the world. His various friendships, both with kids his age and the senior citizen he befriends as pa...

The Six Queens of Henry VIII Written by Honor Cargill Illustrated by Jaimee Andrews Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks eXplore, 2026. Informational. 41 pgs.  Henry VIII was married to six different women, and all six had to put up with a LOT being married to Henry—his wandering eye, accusations of treason and scandals, dangerous childbirth and more. Some wives even left the marriage without their heads!  Regardless, each queen had her own strengths, weaknesses, and a life that Henry VIII could end, but not erase.   I think most people know that Henry VIII was an absolute villain, but I didn't know much about the 6 wives he dragged into his villainy.  Catherine of Aragon led her troops into battle while very pregnant and won!  Catherine Parr, Henry's final wife, persuaded Henry to return his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, to the line of succession.  They went on to become two of Britain's most famous rulers.  Anne Boleyn was the epitome of poise and humo...

Poetry has found such a special place in my heart as I have gotten older. As a child I didn't really understand the people who were drawn to poetry books. Nothing about them ever pulled me in when I was younger. But then at some point as a grown-up, I discovered how healing and hopeful poetry made me feel. I wish I could remember the first poetry book that stirred these emotions within me. Even though I don't remember the title, I will always remember how it impacted me, and because of those feelings, now I try to share poetry books as often as I can. Here are five recent favorites that I have read and I hope you enjoy! Pondering: A Story in Cinquains Written by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer Illustrated by Dao Linh New York, NY : WorthyKids, 2026. Picture Book. People often (mistakenly) think of poetry as having to rhyme. Cinquain poems are a great way to introduce kids and grownups alike to a form of poetry that doesn't require rhyming. Cinquain poems have 5 lines, and a sp...

The Wild Journey of Juniper Berry By Chad Morris & Shelly Brown Salt Lake City, Utah : Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. 250 pages Eleven-year-old Juniper Berry lives off the grid in the California woods with her family, but when her brother gets sick, they have to leave to get help. -- Editor Squint By Chad Morris & Shelly Brown Salt Lake City, Utah : Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2018. 252 pages Flint Minett has keratoconus, an eye disease, but desperately wants to win a comic book art contest so that he and his new friend McKell Panganiban will be better accepted at middle school. -- Editor Mustaches for Maddie By Chad Morris & Shelly Brown Salt Lake City, Utah : Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2017. 245 pages Inspired by the true story. Maddie is a normal twelve-year-old, but when a CT scan reveals she has a brain tumor, it will take all her imagination, courage, and support from her friends and family to meet this new challenge. -- Publisher The Playmakers By Chad Morris ...