Provo Library Children's Book Blog

In another fast-paced novel by Margaret Peterson Haddix, Found features the story of teen-aged Jonah Skidmore, an adopted child. The drama begins when he starts receiving cryptic letters suggesting he may be in danger. Then things start to get hairy when he discovers he's not the only one getting strange letters. Jonah, his sister, and friend, Chip, start to dig into the mystery that keeps expanding as they search. As the FBI becomes involved and things get more and more bizarre, the trio wonders if the knowledge is worth the danger. Read the book to find out what happens, but be aware the ending keeps you wishing for the sequel! I thought this was an entertaining book. It's a very fast read and has some interesting elements. Although it's definitely not my favorite juvenile science fiction work, it will be a fun book for kids who are interested in the the idea of time travel and who already enjoyed other books by Haddix, such as the Shadow Children series.

Poor Henrietta--her older sisters never stop teasing her! When they tell her she's a chicken, she begins to wonder if it's true. One morning she even finds an egg in her bed and feathers on the floor! Convinced of her fowl heritage, she heads to the farm to unite with her real chicken family, proving that birds of a feather don't always flock together. This funny little book will hit home with anyone who's been teased by siblings, as well as practical jokers. The vivid "henscratchy" illustrations by Delphine Durand are fun and quirky, the perfect compliment to the text.

In this wonderful spin on the old rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb," young Mary is very fond of an unusual object--a desk lamp. Mary loves all of the lamp's characteristics and takes it everywhere, which always seems to cause problems. Everyone is mystified by her strange companion, but Mary remains oblivious. However, after summer camp, something changes. Read Mary Had a Little Lamp for a great laugh! This is a marvelous book. The story was fresh, hip, and hilarious. The illustrations by Bob Staake accompany the text beautifully with a sharp, graphic, modern style that manages to be charming as well. This book is definitely a great one to add to your shelf.

Other Goose is a collection of altered nursery rhymes. This book is marketed for children but will most likely not be enjoyed by them. The rhymes are forced and do not read smoothly. The illustrations are rather creepy and not at all engaging for young children. Klunder seems to be writing a book of political views disguised as children's nursery rhymes. My recommendation is to steer clear of this one unless you like verse such as: Twinkle, twinkle, little starlets More and more resembling harlots Up above the world so high - Celebrity fame's the reason why.

In this twisted little fairy tale, Prince Charming is not quite "with it." He wants to wake Sleeping Beauty and tries everything but the traditional method first, including jumping on her bed, screaming, and a cannon! Will he ever figure out how to wake her? Waking Beauty is a delightfully irreverent spoof that will entertain boys and girls alike. The girls will enjoy the feminine details in the illustrations such as lots of pink, pretty patterns, and glitter. Boys will snicker at the outrageous things the prince does to wake the girl. Check this book out for a fun new take on an old story.

A little girl visits a strange land called the "growling place" across the water--a land inhabited by large bears. They try and scare her, but in stereotypical bully style, they turn out to be old softies at heart. A Growling Place is a very strange picture book that feels much too close to the famous "Where the Wild Things Are." The story line is very similar as well as the overall mood, although not even close to the quality of Sendak's classic tale. The illustrations are the only redeeming aspect of this book--they are quirky, whimsical, and drawn with a lovely original style.

BASEBALL CRAZY: TEN SHORT STORIES THAT COVER ALL THE BASES ; New York: Dial, 2008; 191pgs. Fiction. For anyone who loves, plays, or has played baseball, Baseball Crazy is a delight. Rather than a table of contents, this book has a Lineup chart. Jerry Spinelli leads off with a story of an orphan boy who is taken to a ball game by a very nice bald guy, who explains the game to him for the first time. Batting cleanup is Paul Acampora with "Great Moments in Baseball," the story of a brother and sister whose father is gone, and whose mother has become cranky and demanding. They cope by working together on the brother's slider (the "wishball," and reeneacting great moments from baseball). My favorite is Sue Corbett's "Fall Ball"--". . . height is my shortcoming as an athlete," but Ron Koertge's "Riding the Pine: a Play," and John H. Ritter's title piece, "Baseball Crazy" are both funny and touching. Each author has

Binh’s family lives in a small Vietnamese village. They are so poor they can’t afford to send Binh to school. Instead she spends her days selling fruit from a cart to make the little extra money needed to get by. Then one day Ba Ngoai (her grandmother) announces that Binh has a previously unknown aunt who lives in the United States and is now coming back for a visit. Binh is certain this new aunt must be rich, (Isn’t everyone in America?) and dreams of how her own life will change now that Di Hei is coming home. This book is filled with loving family, culture conflicts and the basic longings of every human heart. I was glad to finally see a juvenile fiction book in which the Vietnam War was touched upon. I learned a few things I did not know about this important event in world history. I also enjoyed seeing how those of other cultures might view the strange unorthodox ways of those who come from that far off place called America. I would recommend this gentle heartwarming story to anyo

Lucy and Jesse have been best friends since they were four years old, but now that they are growing up life has become complicated. Lucy loves her home in the mountains and wants to live there forever. Jesse wants nothing more than to join the navy and leave their small mining town forever. Lucy’s father wants her to go to Boston and marry a man of proper standing and not one of the poor boys in the village. Jesse’s father wants him to stay and work the mines until he dies. With new love blossoming between them, Lucy and Jesse must decide what it is they really want most. This book is filled with angst, unexpected twists, and humorous moments—all the things that make a fantastic story.

SWEET RIDES ; Katherine Bailey; NY: Crabtree, 2007; 32 pgs. Juvenile Non-Fiction Before I even started typing this review, a young man in a Corvette t-shirt came by and snapped this book up without a backward look. These are a librarian's happiest moments, and I am delighted to recommend this book to help feed young boys' apparently insatiable curiosity about cars. Who wouldn't pore over these pages without wishing for a boat-back Rolls, or a sleek silver Maserati. Minimal text and great pictures will make these a book the pre-teen dudes will crave. (One of several in the Automania series.)

Alice wanted a doll for her birthday. She wouldn't settle for anything less. She had a baby carriage and socks ready for the doll she was sure she was getting. However, her birthday gift didn't look exactly as she had pictured him. Her mom tried convincing Alice that it was a much better gift than a regular doll. Alice wasn't convinced. She took him to the park in the baby carriage (she couldn't figure out where to put the socks) but she kept him hidden from her friends, telling them "he was very fragile, and often got the flu". Can Alice keep the truth about her "doll" a secret? And if he isn't a doll, what is he? Read My First . . . by Eva Montanari to learn the secret of Alice's birthday gift. Not only is this a unique and curious story, but Montanari's quirky, atmospheric illustrations are fantastic.

Addie's life is full of "twists and turns" and keeps her always "waiting for normal". She and her mom, who comes and goes, sometimes leaving Addie, who is 12, alone for days, find themselves living in a trailer, under a train. Addie's stepfather, Dwight, still gives them money and is, in fact, responsible for making sure they have at least a trailer to live in. Addie's two little half-sisters live with Dwight and Addie misses them and her loving stepfather terribly. Her life in the trailer has it's shining moments; like making new friends with the owners of the corner store, making it into the concert orchestra at her new school, all the while dealing with her learning disorder she refers to as "a lack of the love of learning". Told in first person, the optimistic Addie tells a story that is heartwarming and inspiring. Quite suitable for 4th grade and up.

The children’s media collection at Provo City Library boasts some delightful hidden gems most people know nothing about (unless they stumble onto them accidentally). Here are a couple music CD titles you won’t want to miss. A Flower Fairy Alphabet – Who doesn’t know and love Cicely Mary Barker’s fantastic flower fairy artwork? This CD is a compilation of songs, sung by darling children voices, about many of the fairies featured in her work. Any girl who loves fairies will love this CD. Swashbuckling Sea Songs – Inspired by Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean this CD is filled with lively pirate songs that will get any pirate-loving child excited. My favorite track was the actual soundtrack for the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. The whole ride was in there and brought back fond memories from my childhood of going on one of my all time favorite rides over and over again. There is the occasional mention of a bottle of rum in some of the lyrics, but what true pirate song wou

The Scarlett Stockings: the enchanted riddle By Charlotte Kandel Dutton Children's Books, 2008. 367 pp. Chapter book. This is a story about a young orphan girl named Daphne who receives two anonymous gifts on her birthday. One is a book about ballet and the other is a pair of scarlet stockings with a magical secret. These stockings might give Daphne the power to accomplish her greatest dream—or they could eventually destroy her. This book is written in the same gentle style as classics such as Ballet Shoes , Girl of Limberlost and the Betsy Tacy series. Like in those books, the imperfect but charming Daphne grows and develops over an extended period of time. This book will appeal to any girl who loves tales of mysterious magic or dreams of one day becoming a prima ballerina just like Daphne does.

SOW AND GROW: A GARDENING BOOK FOR CHILDREN ; Tina Davis; New York: Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2008; 143pp. Even though the delightfully retro illustrations of this book show children outdoors, the book itself is devoted to indoor gardening, though, as the author points out, everything taught about growing things indoors could also be applied to growing them outside. Beginning with a plain-spoken and comprehensive introduction to plant life and what plants need to grow, Ms. Davis outlines indoor gardening projects for each month of the year. From starting seeds on a plate (in January) to growing African violets from leaves (in November), this book is filled with easy, excellent activities for acquainting children with the natural world and keeping them connected.

Flight Explorer is a graphic novel anthology for children. The short stories are created by some of the best writers and artists in the business. The themes are diverse as are the artistic styles. Some of the entries are humorous while others are slightly creepy. With so much variety there is sure to be something for everyone, boy or girl, child or adult.

As a child I loved to read those deliciously spine-tingling ghost stories that kept me up all night if I read them after dark. Stories like Wait Till Helen Comes, Dollhouse Murders and The House on Hackman's Hill . As a librarian, I still read lots of ghost stories, but much to my disappointment I find most of these books predictable and not that scary anymore. Seer of Shadows not only put a few chills in my spine, but it was the most original ghost story I’ve read in a long time. The year is 1872 and Horace, a photographer’s apprentice, finds himself in something of a moral dilemma when his master decides to make some money for himself by creating photographs with fake ghosts in them. To say any more about the plot would spoil it. Dark and deadly secrets hidden in the shadows of a sprawling mansion, a graveyard visit on a stormy night, this book has all the elements to draw a reader in and scare them silly. Put this book on hold right away—if you DARE.

These two books have just a couple things in common, they are both graphic novels with girls as the main character and they both involve a mystery. Claire and the Bakery Thief by Janice Poon is about a young city girl who moves to the country so her parents can start an organic bakery. Claire meets a girl who has as vivid an imagination as she does. When Claire's mom disappears with the Artificial Flavoring Salesman the girls are ready to solve the mystery. Will their sleuthing lead to danger or will the world be saved from imitation bread? As an added bonus several recipes mentioned in the book are given at the end with complete instructions so you can make them at home. Teacher Torture , volume one in the Kat & Mouse series, is a manga graphic novel by Alex de Campi. Kat moves across the country when her father gets a teaching position in a prestigious private school. As a new student at the school, Kat soon realizes who the popular kids are, and that they mean trouble. Lucki

It's summer vacation and Jordan O'Blenis is extremely bored. His parents are in Belize on an archaeological dig. Jordan's older sister is finishing her engineering thesis at the local college. This leaves plenty of time for Jordan and his best friend Helen to get into trouble. Jordan is a computer genius and decides to create a virtual super computer that acts like a virus. When the wrong people find out about the program they'll do anything to get their hands on it. Jordan and Helen are faced with some ethical dilemmas when the Cassandra Virus begins reading e-mails and other personal documents. Things really get crazy when Jordan realizes that his super computer is developing it's own personality and starts acting independently. While not the most well-written novel, this book has some funny moments as well as lots of action. Most sci-fi fans will enjoy the quick read of this slightly futuristic beginning to a series (The Drone War is the second part).

THE STONEKEEPER (Book 1, the Amulet); Kazu Kibuishi; New York: Scholastic, 2008, 185 pp. Finding graphic novels for children is a tricky business, because most graphic novels are created for teenagers or adults and are unsuitable for the little dudes. Kazu Kibuishi's new "Amulet" series is a welcome exception. Just scary enough to fully engage the pre-teen crowd, The Stonekeeper begins on a sorrowful note, as Emily's father is killed in an accident. Two years later Emily, her mom, and her little brother Navin move to great-uncle Silas' ancestral home. Strange creatures make furtive appearances, Emily's mother is ingested and poisoned by an octopus-like monster, and Emily and Navin must figure out a way to save her. Luckily, Emily has discovered a mysterious amulet which gives her power beyond her own, and directions for saving herself and her family. Kibuishi's fine drawings create just the right atmosphere--creepy, but not gory or gross. Uncle Silas'

Here's a delightful book about a bear and all the things he does throughout his year in the woods. He's quite active; fishing for silver salmon in the spring, licking honey out of a bee tree during summer, eating the squirrels' hidden acorns in the fall, and crawling deep into his cave when winter comes. He's "shaggy, raggy" and "boulder-big" but when it comes to his "no-hair nose" and ice cold air, he'g got to find a way to keep it warm. The beautiful pastel and pencil illustrations by Matt Phelan, colors fitting the particular season, bring alive Alice Schertle's fun, prosey, child-like text. Schertle manages to teach us something about a bear's life, like what he eats and how he hunts. We learn about hibernation, even though the word is not used. The text lends itself to some nice narrative and sequencing skills practice: "What did the bear eat in the spring? The summer? Fall? What did he do in the end, when winter came?

Betty Crocker Kids Cook! is an excellent choice for aspiring young chefs. The recipes range from super easy to more difficult. Kids can learn how to make French toast sticks, mac and cheese, caramel corn, chicken pot pie, fried rice, indoor s’mores and more! The recipes each have both pictures of the food and a cartoon. Not only are there recipes but the food pyramid an how to eat healthy is also addressed in the book. This is a children’s recipe book that I would recommend to any young chef. Also, since it is carries the Betty Crocker name, the recipes are bound to be delicious.

". . . if we're going to explore Death, first we have to answer some questions about Life . . ." I knew when I read this sentence on the opening pages of Jan Thornhill's I Found a Dead Bird: The Kids' Guide to the Cycle of Life & Death, that this book would be well-written and sensitive to children's feelings and thoughts. Not an easy topic, death. But Thornhill handles it masterfully by asking simple questions like "What does it mean to be alive?", "Why are some lives long?" and "Why are some lives short?", and answering them by first using examples from animals, plants, insects, and even bacteria. She devotes one chapter completely to human beings: "When People Die". Thornhill gently and tactfully addresses subjects such as grieving, funeral customs, and afterlife, with a straightforward manner meant for children, but without a trace of condescension. Adding to the beautifully written text are many photographs fro

STORM: THE INFINITY CODE ; E. L. Young; New York: Dial, 2008; 311 pgs. Upper Middle School/Young Adult Will Knight, a brilliant young inventor, is staying with a family friend because his father is dead and his mother has gone to Russia to stay with Will's grandmother. Usually a loner, he meets a girl at school who has seen him trying out his reverse rappelling invention and now wants him to join STORM, a secret organization of teens working to right the wrongs of the world. At first Will blows them off: Gaia, Andrew, and sometimes Caspian, but when Caspian's father is kidnapped and taken to Russia to work on a secret weapon that could destroy the planet, Will is all in. Fans of the Alex Ryder series will love this new high-octane thriller for teens--wicked science, boffo gadgets (for instance, the live "robot" mouse, and the "fly spy"),and explosions. The author, a science writer from Australia, explains in an appendix everything in the book that is b

LARUE FOR MAYOR ; Mark Teague; New York: Blue Sky Press, 2008, unpaged. Picture Book Mrs. LaRue's irrepresible dog Ike is back and in trouble as he and some of his doggy friends upset a hotdog cart at a campaign rally, sending Mrs. LaRue to the hospital. In his usual thoughtful fashion, Ike keeps Mrs. LaRue posted by post--his letters detail the noxious campaign of Hugo Bugwort, who vows to rid the city of its dog problems--a ball stolen during a baseball game, campaign signs vandalized, and Rocky Road ice cream stolen from Mr. Ding-a-Ling's truck. Ike's decision to run for mayor representing the pro-dog faction leads to a meeting of minds and a happy resolution for all (except Snort City's cats). Teague's delightful side-by-sides of the truth, and the truth as Ike sees it, should tickle young readers.

BABY BRAINS AND ROBOMOM ; Simon James; Cambridge, MA: Candlewick, 2007, unpaged. Picture Book Readers of Simon James' previous Baby Brains books will welcome the return of "the smartest baby in the whole world" in this latest adventure. Baby Brains worries about hard his mother has to work. Even though he has invented the self-rocking cradle and the motorized stroller, his mother still falls asleep sometimes in the middle of his bedtime story ("Hamlet"). At first Robomom is a great asset to the household--she irons, cooks, and does dishes. But when she takes over tasks that Baby Brains wants his parents to do--give him a bath, tuck him in--things go from bad to worse. Robomom begins washing Baby Brains with the dishes and serving nuts and bolts in crankcase oil for breakfast. Mercifully, Robomom blows up, and peace, love, and order are restored. This is a fun book for families, poking gentle fun at parents who are looking for ways to give their baby a leg up on

Long ago, violence was abolished and a computer game known as Epic became the ruling system. All disputes must be settled through the game and all real-world wealth and status is also gained or lost through it. In this story, Erik's family is very poor with little status. As he creates a new and rather unusual game character, he begins to discover some interesting things about the workings of Epic. This leads to riches, fame, and also much unexpected trouble with the Central Allocations committee. Due to the corruption of the Committee, Erik and his friends attempt to end the game of Epic permanently, despite the danger. Epic was a very unique and truly enjoyable read. I found the intricacies of the plot fascinating and the characters well-developed and engaging. It is interesting to note the author, Conor Kostick, was a designer for the world's first live fantasy role-playing game. This most certainly added to the book's authenticity. This book is an excellent read for

Thelonious is a talking chipmunk who lives in the The Untamed Forest. He is a firm believer in the ancient legends about humans and his most prized possession is a human artifact (a postcard). When Thelonious' nest is flooded he is washed up far, far away on the banks of The City of Ruins. This strange new world is scary and bewildering to a small animal like Thelonious. With the help of his new friends, a porcupine, a lizard and a bear, he discovers the wonders of canned peaches, books, flight and sweaters. A new series about talking animals is not something I would normally pick up. However, the alternating chapter styles (text with illustrations and graphic novel format) intrigued me. The Fog Mound series written by Susan Schade and illustrated by her husband Jon Buller will remind readers of the Mistmantle Chronicles by McAllister. Travels of Thelonious is written for a slightly younger crowd and will probably appeal to reluctant readers. This book was a fast and fun read. How

Lenny's life is not that of an average nine year old. His mother constantly wears gloves, his father is somewhere out in space (or is he?), and he is always being sent to the principal. With the friendship and guidance of Muriel, the school counselor, as well as his newly discovered friend, Van, Lenny begins to find his place in the world and learns to interact meaningfully with others. Lenny's Space by Kate Banks is an interesting and quick read. I found the relationship between Lenny and Muriel very reminiscent of There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by Louis Sachar, except that Sachar's version is much better in my opinion. However, Lenny's Space is still successful as a book that delves into the life of a misfit child who finds his space in the world as well as one that deals with mortality.

WOOL by Guinevere Healy-Johnson; FARMS by Adele Richardson. Creative Education Press has published a multitude of non-fiction books under the Let's Investigate series about commodities, economics, transportation, all in brightly-illustrated, well-written books. Adele Richardson's book about farming records a brief history of farming along with information about different kinds of farms. Interesting tidbits of farm lore line the margins (e.g., some farms now use computerized scarecrows; the largest bales of hay are made by the Hesson 4800 baler). Guinever Healy-Johnson's Wool follows suit with information about how many different animals produce wool, and where the best wool on a sheep can be found. Fascinating and short, these books provide an excellent introduction