Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Alfred Nobel: The Man Behind the Peace Prize by Kathy-Jo Wargin illustrated by Zachary Pullen J Biography, 2009, Sleeping Bear Press unnumbered pages Here's a nice biography for young children; straight forward facts, not too detailed; large, full-spread illustrations; simple explanations and definitions; well written. Wargin does a nice job with this children's version of Alfred Nobel and how the Nobel Prizes came to be. Even more interesting, though, is how Nobel's intentions for his famous invention, dynamite, were the exact opposite of how it is most often used. This gets a high recommend.

Roman Diary by Richard Platt illustrated by David Parkins J Fiction, 2009, Candlewick Press 64 pages, includes glossary Roman Diary is the fourth and latest in Richard Platt's Diary series. The others are; Castle Diary, Pirate Diary , and Egyptian Diary . They are cataloged under Fiction, but are rich in historical facts. Roman Diary tells the story of Iliona, a Greek girl whose ship is attacked while sailing from Greece to Egypt. She and her younger brother are captured and taken to Rome where they are sold as slaves. Iliona chronicles her new life in her diary, which consists of goose quills for pens, an ink pot, and papyrus. She describes the work assigned to her as a house slave and her sadness at being separated from her brother, who is sent out to the master's farm. Through her observations and descriptions, Iliona teaches us about life in Rome in AD 107. She goes to visit Nero's Bath and gets to experience the caldarium , a hot, steamy bath. She meets other...

Bunny Days By Tao Nyeu Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. Another set of literary funny bunnies are here to stay! In this picture book that contains three laugh-inducing stories featuring a bunny family and their woodland friends, all kinds of mishaps occur, getting the bunnies into messes of some sort or another. Thankfully, Bear is always around to help, whether it be with fans, sewing, or brute strength! This book is a definite stand-out! It's beautifully illustrated in a deliciously old-meets-new style and oozes charm from every page. The stories are funny, clever, and read like a comfortable classic, but the best part is that the endings are all unexpected and loads of fun! This is sure to become a loved favorite in many a home. All thumbs and big toes up!

The Magical Ms. Plum by Bonny Becker Knopf, 2009. 104 pgs. Intermediate A sort of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle of the classroom, Ms. Plum works her wonders by asking her students to retrieve items from that most mysterious of places "The Teacher's Closet." Eric, whose bad habit is finishing everyone else's sentences, gets a real live parrot out of the closet, who shrieks out everything he is thinking before he has a chance to say it. The little girl who always sees everything in a rosy light thinks the alligator that comes out of the closet with her is a poodle. Children who are shy or frightened find a comforting kitten or caretaker squirrels, each to his or her need. The magical Ms. Plum, who whispers to her closet at the end of each year that "this was surely the best class ever," stands in for teachers everywhere who work wonders day by day, with or without "magic."

10 King and Queens Who Changed the World by Clive Gifford Illustrated by David Cousens MacMillian Children's Books; 2009; 64 pages Can you think of 10 kings or queens that changed the world? This question is the main reason that I picked this book up. Some of the rulers found in this book I expected to be in there, some I was surprised they had made the cut, and some I got to learn about for the first time. One that I expected in there was Elizabeth I. One that I was shocked by was the fact that Henry VIII made it in this book. (He actually had other accomplishments other than killing his wives!) One that I wasn’t familiar with was Suleiman the Magnificent, but after this brief overview I can now say I know a little more about him and his reign. Each ruler has a few pages dedicated to them and their life. The pictures are comic book like pictures. (They are nice, but I think they made Queen Elizabeth I a lot prettier then she really was.) There are also numerous te...

Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Polly Dunbar Clarion Books, 2008, Picture Book Wow! This book is great! So rich in language, rhyme, alliteration, cadence, and vocabulary! No wonder it's the winner of the 2009 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award. Margaret Mahy's fun, upbeat poetry is accompanied by Polly Dunbar's whimsical watercolor and cut paper art work. Bubble Trouble is a bright star in the world of read-alouds . . . but be sure to practice first! Little Mabel blew a bubble, and it caused a lot of trouble . . . Such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way. For it broke away from Mabel as it bobbed across the table, Where it bobbled over Baby, and it wafted him away. The baby in the bubble floats gently away with Mabel chasing after. Along the way, various characters, such as; Chrysta Gribble and her lazy brother Greville; Tybal and his jolly mother, Sybil; and the feeble Mrs. Threeble, all join the chase to save Baby. All ends well (of course, it's a...

J Nonfiction - 970.01 MAN Atheneum Books for Young Readers 2009 109 pages, includes glossary Do you enjoy reading new research that debunks old beliefs and theories? Do you like being updated with new facts that clear up past historical "mysteries"? Then, THIS is the book for you! Charles Mann takes readers way back in the Americas' history and shows how people and civilizations were present much earlier that scientists had previously believed. He also discusses how these magnificent ancient civilizations were each conquered, sometimes wiped out, by Europeans. The reasons for that, a small army vastly outnumbered being able to capture the leader and take over a city, may surprise you. It actually has very little to do with weapons. The book is full of artist's renditions of past events as well as modern photographs showing some of the incredible ruins of these cultures. Thoroughly enjoyable, a great nonfiction read.

The Most Extreme Animals by Sherry Gerstein John Wiley & Sons; 2007; 80 pages Animal Planet has published a fun about extreme things in our world. This particular book focuses on The Most Extreme Animals. Inside, the book is divided into sections such as the most poisonous, stinky, and horrible animals. In each section the top ten animals on each subject are described in a paragraph. The pictures are great and relevant. This book is great for nature lovers, boys, and people with short attention spans. Fascinating information!

The War of the Worlds By H.G. Wells, retold by Davis Miller & Katherine Brevard Stone Arch Books, 2009. 63 pp. Juvenile graphic novel. Adapted from H.G. Well's classic story, the graphic novel version is a great way to introduce children his famous tale of an earth-shattering alien invasion. After a strange vessel crashes in England during the nineteenth century, the Martians' invasion of earth begins as the aliens destroy everything--and everyone--in their path. Is there any hope for survival in the face of such a devastatingly powerful force? With an alien invasion and mass destruction as the topics, tender readers should avoid this story, but it is sure to interest older, avid graphic novel fans. This fast read is a wonderful way to get a taste of the classic book and to spark interest in the original story for future reading. The illustrations are colored with a beautiful palette that reflects the dark, foreboding nature of the story without making it overly frightening...

The Shadow Project By Herbie Brennan Balzer and Bray, 2010. 355 pp. Juvenile fiction. Thieving for a living, Danny Lipman stumbles upon a top secret organization in one of his robbery attempts. After being caught by the group, called the Shadow Project, he is given the choice to either serve jail time or to work as one of their agents. Choosing the latter, he delves into the deadly missions by means of astral projection and remote viewing, but there is much more at stake than anyone realizes. Despite the seeming safety of being out of body during the missions, things no one thought possible are happening, and they are causing harm to the operative's physical bodies. As ancient, dark forces gather to overcome the Shadow Project, Danny is forced to learn fast in order to protect himself and his friends. Fast paced and exciting, this book is sure to spark interest in older readers, perhaps 5th and 6th graders especially as well as younger teens. I really liked the aspect of mind-trave...

The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches ill. by Mark Chambers unpaged picture book New York : Little Simon, c2009 Follow the process as a little speck of alumina is mined then eventually transformed into an aluminum can. The aluminum tells us its story through perky little diary entries complete with "photos". Our little can has a pleasant journey through her life until she reaches the recycling plant. You would think that being shredded and recast into something else might be a little traumatic, but not this upbeat aluminum! Recycling is so pleasant she never stops smiling. Cleverly drawn illustrations give a fun personality to the can and help inform the reader as to the steps of recycling. I also think it is great that the book was made from 100% recycled materials.

One Weighs a Ton by Salina Yoon unpaged interactive picture book Philadelphia, PA : RP Kids, c2009 Young children will delight in this interactive book. One Weighs a Ton has a little bit of everything; lift-the-flaps, touch-and-feel, counting, information, humor and great illustrations. The text as well as the illustrated rendition of the number give clues as to what animal you will be learning about once you lift the flap. Entertaining and educational, what more can you ask for?

Big Chickens Fly the Coop by Leslie Helakoski ill. by Henry Cole unpaged picture book New York : Dutton Children's Books, c2008 A flock of nervous chickens are trying to explore the barnyard beyond their hen-house. Their ultimate destination is to see the view from the farmhouse. After many failed attempts to get there, they finally succeed only to find it wasn't as exciting as they had hoped. Not necessarily an amazing story, but the illustrations were great! Don't get me wrong, the story is fun, especially to read-aloud.

The Little Secret by Kate Saunders juvenile fantasy adventure 231 pages New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2009, c2006 Jane's new best friend, Staffa, is definitely strange. Yet Staffa's mother is even more unusual. Nevertheless, Jane is excited when they invite her to spend summer vacation at their family castle. After a bizarre road trip they eventually arrive in a whole new world unlike anything Jane could have imagined. Everything centers around the box that Staffa's mother treasures and nearly worships. The big question soon becomes will Jane ever be able to return to her beloved family? Does she even want to return to life in The Boy Garden with her six rowdy brothers? This is a great fantasy adventure that also explores friendships and familial relationships.

Letters to a Soldier by First Lieutenant David Falvery and Mrs. Julies Hutt's Fourth-Grade Class This book is an awesome reminder of the sacrifices our troops make for us and how we can help them while they are away from their family. First Lieutenant David Falvey was in Iraq when Mrs. Julie Hutts’ fourth grade class decided to write him thank you letters. This is a book of these letters and his responses to each and every one of them. The children asked him questions such as What is your favorite baseball team?, What animals do you like?, and What is your life like out there? At the back is information on how to write a soldier to your own. I loved this book because of the support these children showed the troops. The soldier didn’t throw politics into anything he just states and explains the reason why there is a war right now. It makes me want to write a letter myself!

Dogs by Emily Gravett Simon & Schuster; 2009 I love dogs, so naturally I loved the book dogs! Dogs by Emily Gravett shows how opposite dogs can be. There are dogs that bark loud and others that don’t. Some that are very hairy and some that aren’t. The ending was very cute and took me by surprise. The illustrations are cute and entertaining and portray the life a typical dog perfectly. Check this one out!

The Genie by M(ary) Hooper ill. by Jessica Fuchs Intermediate Chapter Book Fantasy/Magic/Humor 57 pages Minneapolis : Stone Arch Books, 2007 Fiona (fondly called Fudge by family and friends) and her older sister Sarah are struggling to find a gift for their father's birthday. They stumble across a church rummage sale with a great variety of treasures. Fudge finds an old box with stars and moons decorating the outside. After purchasing it she opens it and finds a mysterious note inside. When she does what the note says, magic and mayhem follow. The box's resident genie isn't quite used to life in the 21st century so his magic doesn't always turn out right! A fun and easy-to-read beginning chapter book with quirky illustrations to add to the text.

Vacation: We're Going to the Ocean poems by David L. Harrison ill. by Rob Shepperson Poetry unpaged Honesdale, Pa. : Wordsong, c2009 A young boy is excited for his family vacation. He isn't excited about the car trip to get there (his siblings are not the ideal seatmates). His story is told through brief poems and adorable black and white illustrations. His insight into such things as appropriate beach-wear and what makes an ideal pet are laugh-out-loud funny at times. I especially loved the illustrations that accompanied this entertaining story.

January Joker Calendar Mysteries #1 by Ron Roy ill. by John Steven Gurney Intermediate Chapter Book Mystery 77 pages New York : Random House, 2009 Popular intermediate series author Ron Roy, brings us a brand-new series featuring the younger siblings of the main characters from the A-Z mysteries. Twins Brian and Bradley along with their best friends Lucy and Nate, are having a sleepover when strange things start happening. Unusual sounds awaken them followed by bizarre lights out in the yard. The next morning, when their parents head out to meet friends for breakfast, their older siblings are left in charge. When the big kids disappear, the young friends call in the police who are as mystified as they are. A pleasant introduction to a new series that will surely be a hit with early chapter book readers.

Lion's Lunch? By Fiona Tierney; illustrated by Margaret Chamberlain Chicken House, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. During a casual stroll through the jungle, young Sarah is accosted by an angry, grumpy lion who claims he will gobble her whole unless she can prove she can do something better than the jungle animals. She draws a picture of the lion, but he doesn't like how she portrays him and wants to dispose of her immediately! The other animals come to her defense and escort her safely out of the jungle, but the lion has a change of heart after pondering his angry-looking portrait. Is it enough to cure him of his bullying ways? Dynamic pen and ink illustrations that have been digitally colored in vibrant hues create a fun atmosphere for the story. The tale will help children understand that being kind and friendly will bring much more happiness than being pushy and aggressive. An added charm to the story are all the fun animal sounds and actions included in the book that children...

Groundhog Weather School By Joan Holub G.P Putnam's Sons, 2009. Unpaged. Picture book. Groundhogs decide to run a training school in order to more accurately predict the weather. The students learn all kinds of useful information, such as how to build a better burrow, facts about natural weather prediction, and statistics about other famous weather-predicting animals. In the end, the groundhogs all work together to average their results for the most accurate prediction ever--or is it? This book is filled with information about Groundhog's Day and relative facts and tidbits. The setup and illustrations make it particularly appealing with the use of fun diagrams, panels, and word bubbles. This is a great, entertaining way to learn more about weather and predictions!

Lousy, Rotten, Stinkin' Grapes By Margie Palatini; illustrated by Barry Moser Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009. Unpaged. Picture book. Patterned after the traditional Aesop's tale of "The Fox and the Grapes," Palantini puts her own spin on the story as the self-proclaimed cunning fox has all his friends help him with his clever, intricate plan to secure some delicious grapes. Despite each friend trying to offer simpler solutions, Fox brushes off every hint of a suggestion, completely assured that nothing could possibly top his brilliant idea. In the end, however, he experiences a very bitter case of "sour grapes." Beautifully illustrated in vibrant watercolors by the acclaimed Barry Moser, this book is sure to please fans of Aesop's fables.

Milo Armadillo By Jan Fearnley Candlewick Press, 2009. Unpaged. Picture book. Little Tallulah wants a fluffy pink bunny with all her heart. Grandma, being the typical doting relative, sets out to knit her one--but after a few mistakes, it turns out to be an armadillo instead. Although Milo Armadillo is a wonderful companion and does his best to make Tallulah happy, he realizes that he will never be the bunny of Tallulah's dreams and decides that maybe it would be better if he left. Will Tallulah find him before their friendship--and his yarn body--falls apart? Fearnley has woven a sweet story about making the most of what you already have and the discovery that the things we take for granted are also often the most important. Engaging illustrations with paper cutouts and digitally added yarn make a wonderful accompaniment to the charming story.

Nonfiction; 2009; 122 pages Dutton's Children's Books What did I like most about Years of Dust ? Was it the fascinating, heartbreaking historical account of over 10 years of drought, depression, wind, dust, and barren dryness that struck the Great Plains of the United States in the 1930's? Or was it the many haunting black and white photographs of people, places, dust storms, and shriveled plant life that so well document the horrible decade known as the Dust Bowl? Perhaps it was the very interesting "pre-bowl" information that Marrin lays out as to how and why the Dust Bowl actually happened. (It wasn't just "nature". People caused the Dust Bowl.) Or maybe it was the last section that describes other parts of the world where the same things that created the Dust Bowl in the US are happening, even as we speak (or as I write). While I figure out what I liked most, you go check out Years of Dust . You'll find it in the 900's - 978....

My Hippo Has the Hiccups and Other Poems I Totally Made Up by Kenn Nesbitt Illustrated by Ethan Long Illinois; Sourcebook Jabberwocky; 2009; 155 pages I love hilarious poetry which means that I loved My Hippo Has the Hiccups and Other Poems I Totally Made Up. This book was very similar to Shel Silvertein’s poetry. It was hilarious and even the format with black and white pictures is the same. Poem titles like Willie’s Wart, My Nostril Smells Awesome, My Puppy Punched Me In the Eye, I Often Contradict Myself, My Goldfish Took Up Tennis, and My Frog Has Got a Steering Wheel are sure to make any child laugh. This book also comes with a CD where the author reads aloud some of his favorite poems in the book. The poems are creative and for the most part rhyme well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

My Heart is Like a Zoo By Michael Hall Greenwillow Books, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. In this bright, attractive book, every animal is crafted out of heart shapes, making a full zoo of hearty, engaging animals. The text is charming and has a great rhythm, flow, and bounce that is sure to make this a book children will ask for multiple times. Children will love counting all the hearts used to create each individual animal and will get a kick out of discovering who the zookeeper is at the end of the story. This book is great fun and well-crafted!