Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  It is the time of year when people like to start dreaming about the 4th of July, fireworks, and the history of the USA. As a person who grew up in a household that loved to celebrate the founding of this country, I tend to read a lot of books that make me want to go out and cheer for the red, white, and blue. Here are five books that are all about the United States and what makes it great. Enjoy!  America is Wild!: A State-By-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife   Written by Brad Timm  Illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie  Beverly, MA: Wide Eyed Editions, 2026. 207 p.  This is a great encyclopedia that celebrates all the plants, animals, and insects that are found around the 50 states. The book is organized according to state, so readers who want to know what the main trees, bugs, or whatnot in each state are can find things that way.  America’s Dreaming   Written by Bob McKinnon  Illustrated by Thai My Phuong  New ...

Story time is a wonderful time for families to come together. This collection of picture books centers on family: families playing together, learning together, and celebrating their histories and differences. All families will be able to relate to the stories found in these pages, regardless of their own backgrounds.  Mama Car Written by Lucy Catchpole  Illustrated by Karen George New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture book.  A child notices the similarities between her tricycle, her dad's big car, and her mom's Mama Car. The Mama Car can take them on expeditions, leading way to exciting adventures before heading back home. The Mama Car is special in many ways, but the most important thing is who it contains: Mama.  Let's Rumble Written by Rachel G. Payne Illustrated by Jose Pimienta  New York: Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2025. Picture book.  This "rough-and-tumble book of play" depicts a mom and her two children rough housing together. The illustr...

When I was in elementary school, our internet safety training was pretty simple: don't go to online chatrooms and don't give out your personal information. That was before the big social media platforms took off and became a huge part of communicating. Now there's a lot more complexity towards being safe online. If you want to find a story to start a conversation about the effects of social media and online safety, check out one of these new books! So Over Sharing By Elissa Brent Weissman New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 326 pages. Hadley and Willow are different, but have one major thing in common: both of their moms are influencers who post their daughters on social media for content. Tired of the over-sharing and double lives, they create a private Instagram account @WeAreNOT_Content, where they share the realities of being children of content creators. A great story to talk about the effects of internet fame and children. Confessions of a Mango By ...

  The Way of the Hive by Jay Hosler New York: Harper Alley, 2021. Comic. 136 pages.  " Nyuki is a brand-new honey bee, and she has a lot of questions. Follow her on a lifelong journey as she annoys her sisters, avoids predators, and learns to trust her inner voice as she masters the way of the hive." --Publisher  Ant Story by Jay Hosler New York: Harper Alley, 2024. Comic. 156 pages.  "Meet Rubi, a tiny ant with a big personality and an even bigger love for stories. Who knew the small world of her colony could be full of unexpected friendships, epic adventures, and death-defying escapes?" --Publisher Santiago!:  Santiago Ramón y Cajal--Artist, Scientist, Troublemaker by Jay Hosler New York: Holiday House, 2022. Comic. 217 pages.  "A graphic novel biography of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of neuroscience." --Publisher Sandwalk Adventures by Jay Hosler Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing, 2013. Comic. 162 pages.  "The Sandwalk Adventures is ...

I Am a Big Fish By Susie Lee Jin New York: Simon Spotlight, 2026. Easy Reader. When pufferfish insists that she's "a big fish," the other sea creatures are quick to one-up her. Shrimp is bigger than pufferfish, and octopus is bigger than shrimp. All of their bosting is quickly forsaken when a shark comes by, looking for "a big fish" for his meal. Pufferfish's ability to quickly become "a big fish" ends up saving the other creatures from a hungry shark and pufferfish is extremely glad she can be a big fish...when she wants to be. This book has everything I want out of an easy reader. The words are easily decodable–relying on mostly sight words and words with short-vowels flanked by consonant blends. The story is told entirely through speech bubbles, promoting reading out loud with or without a partner. Lastly, the story is fun! Filled with aquatic puns and a sweet story of knowing who you are, this is easily my favorite book to recommend to kids lea...

Peachaloo in Bloom By Chris Raschka New York : Neal Porter Books / Holiday House, 2025. Fiction. 295 pages. Peachaloo Piccolozampa is stung by a wasp and gains a superpower: she understands what people mean and not just what they say. This newfound ability has come at just the right time–an audacious villain has moved into town and is planning to replace her favorite swimming hole with a golf course. Simultaneously, the citizens of Fourwords are planning their annual pageant, which reenacts a historical bank heist.  Altogether this book reminds me of  True Stories,  my favorite movie when I was twelve. Talking Heads' front man David Byrne (wearing a cowboy hat) narrates vignettes leading up to a Texan town's sesquicentennial celebration. Chris Raschka's novel is similarly rambling, off-kilter, and sweet. Peachaloo is a thoughtful and bighearted protagonist. An omniscient townsperson acts as a chatty narrator, packing the book with peculiar characters and funny asides. It...