Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Posts

Five Faves: Eclipses and Fun Space Facts

Did you know that we experience eclipses of the sun and moon every year? This year the Solar eclipse was on August 12th and blocked out the sun for a full 2 minutes. Did you see it? It's okay if you missed it, because we're going to have a lunar eclipse on August 28th. Earth is one of the few planets that experience solar eclipses. Here are some books to learn more about eclipses, what they've meant to the people that view them, and other fun space facts. Eclipse of 1919: How Einstein's Theory of General Relativity Changed Our World by: Emily Arnold McCully New York: Christy Ottaviano Books, 2025. Informational Albert Einstein has always had a curious mind, fascinated with the laws of the universe and finding ways to explain how it all worked together. He had a theory, an idea, that gravity is what happens when objects bend the space and time around them. But gravity isn't something easily seen so to test his hypothesis, he needed to see if the gravity of the sun ...

Review: Case of the Pilfered Pearls

The Case of the Pilfered Pearls (The Shrew Detective #1) By Margi Preus New York: Amulet Books, 2026. Intermediate. 119 pages. Detective Minerva Shrew prefers to keep her mystery solving to the woods where she lives. But when her cousin Tenacity comes to solicit her help to prevent a murder, Minerva breaks her rule of "woodland cases only" to journey from the forest to the human house to help. Sure enough, the lady of the house has lost a pearl necklace, and if it doesn't turn up, she's prepared to call an exterminator on all of the critters in her house. Minerva proves herself a shrewd shrew, as she carefully tracks down clues to save the critters and the day. This short novel is dripping in charm, enhanced by lots of black and white illustrations. Minerva is the kind of character that becomes an instant star - she's smart, kind, and good with words. Her loquaciousness is the result of her unique wallpaper, pages of a dictionary cover her home and she shares new...

Review: A Sea of Lemon Trees

A Sea of Lemon Trees By Maria Dolores Aguila New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2025. Fiction. 272 pages. I will be recommending this book to anyone and everyone! It's a gorgeous novel in verse, based on true events in an agricultural town in California in the early 1930s. Some in the community were in favor of segregation and planned to send all of the Mexican American children to a separate school. However, many in the community knew segregation was wrong and they put their own plans in place to resist segregating the schools. This decision to oppose segregation required the sacrifice, persistence, courage, and bravery of community members young and old. Roberto Alvarez, a 12-year-old will become the lead plaintiff in the court case fighting school segregation. Roberto believes in the power and strength of community, and knows that even though he is young, he can make a difference by standing up for what he believes in. I loved reading about Roberto's determination and willingn...

Review: Wilderness Hacks

Wilderness Hacks By Joslin Brorsen New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2026. 327 pages. Sadie Hahn hasn't spent much time outdoors since her father, who taught her everything she needs to know about camping and outdoor survival, died. Her younger brother Silas, however, leaned in the opposite direction. He focused all of his energy on learning more about outdoor survival—particularly from his favorite YouTuber, Radley Shaw. So when Radley opens up a contest to kids who live the Rockies encourage them to show him around their local spots, Silas convinces his sister to cook and eat grubs as part of their entry. When Sadie unexpectedly wins the contest, she brings Silas with her to meet Radley. Unfortunately, Radley isn't what he appears to be on their channel, but when an earthquake breaks open the dam and floods the river that they are traveling, Sadie and Radley will have to work together to survive. For kids who love survival stories like Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain but are ...

Review: Worm on the Job

Worm on the Job Written by Maureen Fergus Illustrated by Paul G. Hammond Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2026. Picture Book. Worm is on the hunt for a new job after he tires of being the head librarian at his local library. After considering and rejecting several different options (lifeguard, window washer, etc.), he decides to apply to be the newest security guard for the Invention's Convention building. At first, the hiring manager doesn't quite believe in Worm's abilities, but once Worm is given a chance, he proves that you don't have to be big to make an impact. This book was so much fun, and all the worm facts throughout were a welcome bonus to all of the absurd and hilarious hijinks that Worm got up to. Preschoolers and early elementary school kids who love humorous picture books will definitely love Worm! Adult readers will also get a kick out of the story, making this a perfect book for read-alouds.

Review: One Whole Hippopotamus

One Whole Hippopotamus By Carter Higgins San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2026. Picture Book. Counting, sorting, parts and wholes! This book is a science and math primer disguised by a bouncy rhyme. One Whole Hippopotamus explores similarities and differences by showing two shapes, and asking how they are the same and how they are different. Some are speckled, differently sized, or in pieces. Back matter gives ideas on how to read this book with different age groups. I love a Carter Higgins book. Her illustrations have a classical feel, similar to Eric Carle, and the bright colors help kids answer the questions the narration asks. This book is a fun bouncy story to read straight through and it will be fun to methodically go through the pages with a child. This discussion provoking title is sure to help teach concepts of similar, different, parts, and builds vocabulary to describe patterns (e.g. speckled, checkered). All over, a delightful read for multiple ages.