Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Keys to the Demon Prison By Brandon Mull Shadow Mountain, 2010. 593 pp. Chapter book. In this action-packed finale to the Fablehaven series, the Sphinx is on the verge of claiming the last of the five artifacts needed to open the great demon prison Zzyzx, which houses the most powerful and terrible of the world's demons. All those on the side of light must band together to prevent this great catastrophe from destroying everything good in the world. A seemingly endless and impossible string of quests ensue that would daunt any mere group of heroes, but those in this story are not your ordinary people. Kendra and Seth are joined by new, fascinating characters as well as reunited with old friends throughout the course of their missions. The question overlying everything is whether they will succeed or fail, and in so doing, will they live to tell their tales? Another exciting volume concludes the Fablehaven series in a most satisfying way. Although this book could be much improved by ...

Something Wonky This Way Comes by Kate DiCamillo Illustrated by Chris Van Dusen Candlewick Press; 2009; 86 pages Mercy Watson is a porcine wonder (pig that thinks like she is a human) that loves butter! Something Wonky This Way Comes is the newest title in the intermediate Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo. The book starts as Mercy and Mr. and Mrs. Watson are on their way to the drive in. Disaster arises when Mercy gets a whiff of the extra buttery popcorn and goes on a search to find out who is eating it! This book as well as all the others in this series is a great beginning reader chapter book. The story is entertaining and full of bright, colorful pictures. Children are sure to find this book just as good as the others in the series. Parents, you will enjoy this one too!

Gooney Bird Is So Absurd by Lois Lowry Illustrated by Middy Thomas Houghton Mifflin; 2009; 105 pages Gooney is back again, and this time she is wearing her underwear on her head. And why not? After all they are clean and it’s not really underwear but a double ponytail holder! This book is different from the others in the series because while Gooney is there in the story, a lot of her classmates are also very talkative and full of stories, instead of mainly Gooney. Mrs. Pidgeon is teaching her second grade class all about poetry. Many of different types of poetry are introduced and then the class writes their own poems. Some of them are quite creative and hilarious. The poetry section is inspired by Mrs. Pidgeon’s mother who is also the class’s room mother (read Gooney Bird Green and the Room Mother) who is sick. This is a fun addition to the Gooney Bird Green series and is the perfect book for any teacher to read to their class before starting poetry month.

Pierre Le Poof by Andrea Beck Picture Book Orca Book Publishers 2009 Pierre, a poodle, lives with his owner, Miss Murphy, and lives a pampered life, being constantly puffed and fluffed, and sleeping on cushions in the big bay window which looks out onto the park. Pierre longs to run through the park with the wind whipping through his long hair, completely unpuffed and unfluffed. He gets the chance to live out his fantasy and discovers freedom is not all he thought it would be. If you're a pet owner who treats their animals like they are humans, you'll like this story. Pierre is dressed for outings, has his own bed, and keeps regular weekly appointments for various lessons and shampooing. You'll find comfort in the fact that Pierre learns his lesson about acting like a real dog and, in the end (yes-I'm giving a spoiler), gains a full appreciation for his comfy, easy, human life, and his doting owner. (I could launch into a psychoanalysis of how Pierre is humanized b...

A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home by Henry Cole New York: HarperCollins, 2010. 342 pgs. Fiction. Celeste is a mouse who lives under the floorboards of an 1800s Louisiana plantation house. She weaves baskets from dried grass, bits of horsehair, flowers, and feathers. Terrorized not only by the cat of the manor, but by two rats who shake her down for the food she has gathered, she is eventually driven upstairs to take shelter in a boot left on the floor. The boot belongs to Joseph Mason, apprentice and assistant to John James Audubon, and who takes a shine to Celeste, calling her "Little One" and carrying her around in his shirt pocket. Celeste's many adventures as she looks for a real home include flying with an osprey, escaping (again! and again!) the terrible cat, another run-in with the rats, and finding a home just her size in the attic. Cole's lovely pencil drawings and his evocative prose fit beautifully together, though ...

Fireboy to the Rescue: A Fire Safety Book written and illustrated by Edward Miller Juvenile Nonfiction - 628.92 Holiday House - 2010 Fireboy will teach you all about fire safety! He explains how fire is good, when it can be bad, what to do during a fire, and how to prevent one. He's so knowledgeable and helpful, that Fireboy! Every page is bright and bold with illustrations that reminded me of "The Incredibles", sure to keep the attention of children. Some of the pages are in comic book form which help give the book a feeling of energy. It fits, since fire is energy. The author lists his web site on the dedication page. There are activities and materials that can be used in accompaniment with Fireboy . An excellent read, supplying both education and enjoyment.

The Eternal Hourglass Magickeepers Book One by Erica Kirov 231 pages grade 5+ Naperville, Ill. : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2009 Nick Rostov is looking forward to summer vacation. No homework, sleeping-in every morning and riding his skateboard everywhere. Life would be even better if his dad wasn't the worst the magician in Las Vegas. Nick's world turns upside-down on his 13th birthday when his true heritage is revealed. He is a Gazer and is one of a long line of Magickeepers. His lineage extends back to Ancient Egypt, twisting its way through many important people in history. The family are powerful magicians who also take upon themselves the task of guarding important magical artifacts. The most amazing illusion act the city has ever seen is the perfect cover for real magicians. Nick is astonished and reluctant to be a part of this new act, he would rather be back in his old life. He realizes the importance of his powers when the dark side of the family tree, the Shadowkeeper...

A Whole Nother Story As told by (the one and only) Dr. Cuthbert Soup Juvenile Adventure/Humor 264 pages New York : Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books, 2010 Ethan Cheeseman has three (er, four?) children who are "attractive, polite, and relatively odor-free". The family, along with their psychic hairless dog, has been living on the run since Mrs. Cheeseman died a few years before. They are being pursued by some top-secret government agents, international super-spies accompanied by a variety of pets, and some evil corporate henchman. This motley crew of bad guys all have the same motive - get the LVR! The LVR is an amazing machine invented by Mr. and Mrs. Cheeseman. The nasties will do anything they can to gain control of it. Exciting adventure follows this quirky family everywhere they go in their quest to settle down and lead a normal life. As a general rule, I don't read books this off-the-wall. Yet something about the Cheesemans grabbed my attention. Despite a...

The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes by Kelly Easton ill. by Greg Swearingen juvenile adventure 214 pages New York : Wendy Lamb Books, c2009 Liberty (Libby) Aimes leads a miserable life, but she doesn't fully realize it as she has known nothing else. Confined to her house Libby spends all of her time frying everything in sight for her extremely overweight mother, Sal, to eat. The rest of the time she is cleaning or laying bricks, depending on her nasty father's mood. Mal, is always trying to teach his daughter "a lesson". Libby is always looking for a chance to discover the secrets that Mal keeps in the basement. When the opportunity finally arises, nothing is ever the same. A bizarre adventure literally whisks Libby off her feet and sends her flying feet-first into an amazing world that she had never dreamed existed. As she encounters numerous people and animals she realizes that some people are good and some "scoundrels". As she tries to avoid the la...

Lawn to Lawn by Dan Yaccarino unpaged picture book New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2010 The lawn ornaments in Pearl's yard are devastated when the family moves and they are left behind. Only Pearl knows the decorations are real. The pink flamingo, deer, jockey and garden gnome decide to follow a map they found in the driveway until they are reunited with Pearl. Danger lurks around every corner in the form of the garbage truck. Will Pearl and the decorations have a joyous reunion? Or will they suffer a tragic end in the trash heap? Dan Yaccarino's illustrations are perfect for his quirky little story about lawn ornaments.

Wow! New York City imagine a city built with a paper clip... By Puck Art by Rey David Rojas New York : Duo Press, 2010 Take a visual tour of New York City thanks to the amazing wire sculpture by Rojas. Brief text guides you through his masterful works. At the end of the book there are a couple of pages with more in depth information about the various aspects of New York City. A short but informative book that even if you don't really care to learn about the city, it is worth looking at for the unique art alone.

Freeze-Framed Time Runners #1 by Justin Richards Juvenile Science Fiction 169 pages London : Simon & Schuster, 2007 Jamie Grant gradually becomes invisible to those around him, including his parents. Only Anna, a strange girl in an old-fashioned dress, takes notice of him. She tells Jamie that due to a break in time, he no longer exists. If he doesn't help repair the problem, then many more people will cease to be and the world will become a totally different place. Midnight and his skitters are out to get him on the side of darkness and evil - those who want the time break to expand. As with most books about the paradox of time and time travel, it is interesting but if you think too long and hard about it you will get a whopper of a headache. The villain, Midnight, wasn't as well-developed of a character as I had hoped for. Even the good guys, the Time Runners, remain mysterious in their purpose and existence. I can only hope that more is revealed in further volumes in the...

Freefall - the third book in the Tunnels series Juvenile Fiction 2010 - Chicken House - Scholastic 599 pages For some reason, I thought this was the last book in the series. How wrong I was! There's a fourth, Closer , and probably at least one after that since it's not described as the "conclusion". Here's what's going on . . . Mrs. Burrows redeems her selfish self by not acting so selfish. Dr. Burrows, on the other hand, is insufferable! Selfish doesn't even describe him! His arrogance and obsession with his own interests, which take priority over his family, even at the peril of their safety, make him a top contender for "Worst Father of the World, Topsoil or Underground". Drake and Elliott are still heroes. Will Chester ever see the sun again? Is Martha, a new character, a potential hero or certain wacko who is bound to make things difficult? And, lastly, Will, our main character, still likeable, still watching out for eve...

Sweethearts of Rhythm: The Story of the Greatest All-Girl Swing Band in the World Marilyn Nelson and Jerry Pinkney Dial, 2009. Unpaged. Juvenile nonfiction. Jerry Pinkney won the 2009 Caldecott Award for his book The Lion & the Mouse but he could easily have been a runner-up to himself for his illustrations in Sweethearts of Rhythm . . . , the perfect jazzy, swingin', forties volume of Americana where Marilyn Nelson gives poetic voice to the instruments of the band and Pinkney paints what music felt like and did for America during the Dust Bowl and World War II. Each poem bears the title of a hit song from the swing era. In "It Don't Mean a Thing" Pauline Baddy's drum set recalls that "she'd lash my bass home like a jockey;/on some all she did was high-hat tickle the beat , . . . ./The jitterbug was one way people forgot/ the rapidly spreading prairie fires of war. . . ." With "Tiny" Davis on trumpet, "taking the 'A...

My Garden By Kevin Henkes Greenwillow Books, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. In this winsome book about a child's ideal garden, a little girl dreams of her perfect garden while helping her mother tend for their personal plot. Her beautiful dream garden is filled with wonderful things that would delight anyone, child or adult. Some of the best aspects of her imagined garden are the chocolate bunnies--a wonderful alternative and much less pesky--sprouting umbrellas, jellybean bushes, and strawberries that glow by night. In a child's daydream, anything is possible. Henkes' illustrations are simple, playful, and sweet and will inspire curious minds to try and hand at growing their own magical garden (although perhaps they can be persuaded to draw a picture instead). The story is wonderful, especially in its clear simplicity. Altogether, this book is chock-full of charm and a true delight.

Wishing for Tomorrow: the sequel to A Little Princess By Hilary McKay Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. 273 pp. Chapter book. It's always been a mystery as to what happened to the rest of the students after Sara Crewe escaped Miss Minchin's Select Seminary for Young Ladies . In this lovely sequel, written by Hilary McKay, the continuing stories of Lottie, Ermengarde, and even Lavinia are revealed. How the school, pupils, and teachers are changed and how they all manage to find some happiness in one way or another are addressed, making the original story of A Little Princess even richer. Lavinia is given a more human side and a fuller scope of personality is revealed, showing her deep longing to learn. Lottie is still up to her usual mischief but has matured a small bit. Ermengarde seems to be suffering from Sara's absence the most--her journey of maturing and finding peace is the heart of the story. Reading a sequel to a childhood favorite, when penned by a different auth...

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce New York: HarperCollins, 2010 Liam Digby is tall for his age. So tall, in fact, that he is often mistaken for a grown-up which is why when his parents think he is at the South Lakeland Outdoor Activity Center he is actually in a rocket circling the moon with five kids who think he is a dad. When his real father gets a text inviting him to enter a competition, Liam responds and soon finds himself and his fake daughter Florida ready to go on a short trip into space and back. Everything is to be controlled from the ground except for the part where the kids are to push a set of colored buttons in a specific order to release a space module. But, kids being kids, everyone wanted to push the buttons which were then not pushed in the specific order and the whole works--kids, rockets, shuttle--were propelled out of earth orbit and around the far side of the moon. Liam, who is not really a dad but who must suddenly be The Dad takes charge in a remarkable way...

Sit-In: how four friends stood up by sitting down By Andrea and Davis Pinkney, illustrated by Brian Pinkney Little, Brown; 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. Masterfully written, this is the story of four young black men who peacefully protested against segregation in 1960. Bravely taking a stand for justice, they sat in Woolworth's, patiently waiting to be served. When word of this protest was heard, it caught on quickly, sparking various sit-ins all over the southern states. The peppering of moving, powerful phrases from the famous Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. adds a wonderful dash of extra flavor to an already well-seasoned story. The recipe for integration finishes the book with just the right touch. With lyrical writing and vivid, dynamic illustrations, this book is an excellent source for children to learn about justice, courage, and the power of working together.

Alice in Wonderland: the visual guide By Jo Casey and Laura Gilbert DK Publishing, 2010. 72 pp. Juvenile nonfiction. In this beautiful visual guide to Tim Burton's film with illustrations, movie stills, and photographs, the reader is given a glimpse into the crazy world of Wonderland as well as a bit of Alice's life above ground. This book is particularly good for discovering small tidbits of information about this version of the story and for seeing some of the fantastic detail work up close. I particularly enjoyed seeing some of the costume details, such as Alice's dress and the Mad Hatter's amazing hats. I also loved all the heart-shaped bits from the Queen of Hearts' domain, such as the gorgeously asymmetric heart-shaped arch over the castle door. This book is a treat to view and really gives a wonderful taste of the artistic beauty of the film.

The Snow Queen by Naomi Lewis Illustrated by Christian Birmingham New York, Scroll Press; 2007; 32 pages Naomi Lewis and Christian Birmingham have teamed up to create, what I think, must be one of the best versions of The Snow Queen to date. Lewis’ lyrical retelling of the story has all the important details from the original tale. Nothing has been left out. Birmingham’s soft as snow artwork brings the tale to life in beautiful perfection. The wintry Snow Queen is depicted as fittingly beautiful but empty of color or emotion, whereas young Gerda is painted in the warm colors of spring, bringing life to every painted landscape she visits. Just as she does in the story. This version is slightly longer than your average picture book, so very young readers might have trouble sitting still through a complete reading, but anyone else, old or young, will have their breath taken away by this fabulous retelling of a beloved tale.

Babymouse Burns Rubber by Jennifer L. and Matthew Holm Random House, 2010. 91 pgs. Comics. Babymouse meets NASCAR in this celebration of friendship and vehicular speed. As the story begins, Babymouse walks out of the tunnel in her fireproof racing suit adorned with a large pink heart, to the cheers of a large crowd of motorheads. In real life, she is riding her bike and, veering right instead of left, lands in the pigpen. Luckily, good friend Wilson agrees to repair her bike (again!) and then tips her off to the upcoming Downhill Derby where Wilson hopes his Flying Ferret will finally defeat Chuck E. Cheetah, the three-time champion. But now Babymouse wants to enter and the "little help" she needs means Wilson pretty much builds her car. Who will win the race? Babymouse, the scheming daydreaming last-minute rookie? Chuck E. Cheetah in his frightening "Dark Star"? or Wilson, the long-suffering, self-sacrificing friend? Read Babymouse Burns Rubber to discover the shoc...

written and illustrated by Hannah Shaw Picture Book 2009 I'm officially a Hannah Shaw fan! Her first book, Sneaky Weasel , was cute, funny, with a good message without being preachy. Now, here's Erroll (I think it pronounced air-roll), a lively squirrel who finds his way into a little boy's bag of Nutti Nutts. The boy, Bob, and Erroll have an eventful afternoon together, as evidenced by the condition of the house when they're done. Bob's mom isn't too happy when she sees it all. What does she do about it? Well, read Erroll and find out. It doesn't end there, though. Shaw throws in a funny twist at the end which will draw a great reaction from kids! (Also sets up a nice "prediction" discussion.) Well done, again, Hannah!

Ambushed by a Cougar by Sue Hamilton ABDO Publishing; 2010; 32 pages This is a book for boys. (And maybe a couple of girls with a strong stomach!) Cougars are deadly and this book proves it. The first of the book is a basic introduction to cougars. Did you know that a cougar can jump 30 feet? Or 18 feet straight up? These facts make it even more impressive that people live through cougar attacks. The rest of the book is filled with different stories about people who have been attacked by this animal. Readers beware though some of the stories have some gruesome details included and also some pictures. My biggest problem with the book is it mainly sounded like most cougar attacks happen in California. Hmm, doesn’t Utah have a lot of cougars? All in all though it made for fascinating, quick nonfiction read and makes you think twice about what you would do if you were the cougar’s next victim!

Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep! by Maureen Wright Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand Marshall Cavendish Children; 2009; unpaged Big bear is tired and needs to sleep! Old Man Winter keeps whispering to Big Bear that he needs to go to sleep, but big bear is having a hard time hearing. Instead of hearing the words sleep he hears funny things like leap and dive deep. This is a fun book that is sure to make its reader laugh at the silly things bear does. Also the illustrations are beautiful. The Old Man Winter is done very well and I loved the color scheme. This is Maureen Wright’s first book and it’s a good one! Make sure to check it out!

Hip Hop Dog by Chris Raschka, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky New York: HarperCollins, 2010 It's hard to sit still while reading Chris Raschka's latest which is so rhythmic it would probably be best read aloud while dancing. The Hip Hop Dog was born into a litter of "eight BROTHERS and eight SISTERS/Friendly TAKERS took the OTHERS;/Now I GOT NOT PUPPY-sitters." As other dogs walk by with their owners, Hip Hop Dog descends into a gloom reflected in the dark browns, blues, and grays of his street life, but by and by, Hip Hop Dog starts to relish his musical life on the streets and as his mood lifts, Radunsky moves from blue to green to yellow to in-the-pink. Radunsky's Raschka-like illustrations are the perfect visual expression of Raschka's wrap-around, UP and DOWN text. Even a broke-down old gal like me wanted to dance through this book--the kids will be hoppin' and boppin' like grease on a griddle. Have fun!

The Humblebee Hunter by Deborah Hopkinson; illustrated by Jen Corace Disney Hyperion Books, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. Little Etty can't wait to go outside to help her father study bees--that is a much more interesting pastime than baking indoors on a beautiful, sunny day! The children are delighted and excited to discover how many flowers a bee can pollinate in a minute. As Etty and her siblings observe the bees and their pollination patterns, their father, Charles Darwin, teaches them about the process of scientific theorizing. This is a lovely picture book that humanizes a well-known figure, Charles Darwin. Many people probably don't consider him having an ordinary, day-to-day life as a father and husband, but this book beautifully portrays it and gives him another face than just the Father of Evolution. I also appreciated it showing what joy can be found in the process of learning and discovering. The illustrations are lovely, especially in the palette used, making ...

Princess Party by Joy Allen Picture Book NY,G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2009 Unpaged A group of princesses always knows how to party. This group of girls in their princess gear show everyone what true fun and using your imagination is all about. The illustrations of this charming book are very reminiscent of Fancy Nancy so little girls who can’t get enough of those stories will be overjoyed to find some new friends to read about.

Dragons of Ordinary Farm by Tad Williams and Deborah Beal Juvenile Fiction NY, Harper, 2009 412 pages When Tyler and Lucinda are invited to visit their Great-uncle Gideon on his farm for the summer, they have no idea that it is far from as ordinary as its name would imply. This farm has dragons, unicorns and other dangerous mythological creatures living on it. Tyler and Lucinda are going to have to do a lot more than help out on the farm, they are going to have to learn how to survive while doing it! This is a book for any child who just can't get enough of the Fablehaven series. Plenty of mysterious characters, and hints of secret goings on will have children riveted to the pages of this book.

Smile! by Leigh Hodgkinson Balzer and Bray, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. Little Sunny is not feeling up to her name as she searches everywhere for something she lost--her smile! It could be anywhere, but Sunny makes sure to exhaust all options, including the fish tank and under her bed. When her smile finally shows up in a way she least expected, she realizes it was never far away. This is a cute, bright, sunshiny book with fun and cheerful illustrations. The text treatment is really creative, using different font styles to emphasize specific words. I also enjoyed the cute, slightly scribbly illustrations which are the perfect complement to the story. This book is a great for anyone who want to find their missing smile!

Inside-Outside Dinosaurs by Roxie Munro juvenile nonfiction picture book Tarrytown, NY : Marshall Cavendish Children, c2009 The best dinosaur book for little guys (and girls) that I have found. Beautiful full-spread illustrations. Two pages will show the dinosaur skeleton against a white background. The only text is the dinosaurs scientific name as well as the meaning of that name. These are printed in large child-friendly text. Turn the page and the next double-spread is a colorful scene including the dinosaur with his skin on surrounded by plants and fellow dinosaurs. No text on these pages. This pattern continues throughout the book, introducing several different dinosaurs. A fun book heartily enjoyed by my three-year-old son.

On Viney's Mountain by Joan Donaldson Historical Fiction 227 pages New York : Holiday House, 2009 There couldn't be two sisters more different than Lizzie and Viney! Lizzie, the oldest by a year, is well aware of her feminine charms and uses them to their utmost advantage. She is not afraid of work, but desires a man of money to take her away from their rustic and primitive mountain home. On the other hand, Viney loves the Cumberland mountains with every fiber of her being. She is a weaver and loves to create beautiful things with her hands. She too is a hard worker, but has no desire to settle down and be subservient to any man. Their lives are turned upside-down when a group of wealthy Englishmen choose their mountain to build a near-Utopian society upon. Young gentleman are sent to clear the land, build a town, and learn farming. Lizzie sees this as a fabulous opportunity to meet her dream man whereas it is nothing but a nightmare to Viney. A wonderful historical fic...

The Heart and the Bottle By Oliver Jeffers Philomel Books, 2010. Unpaged. Picture book. A young girl delights wholly in the world and in all the amazing things there are to learn and wonder about with her father. However, when he fades from her life, her heart hurts so much that she decides to put it in a bottle to keep it safe. There it stays, protected from pain but also kept from loving and experiencing joy, until one day she meets someone who helps her retrieve her heart from its glass prison. Unusual and interesting, this is not a typical children's picture book. It's more of a picture book written for older children and adults, with nuances too subtle for very young audiences to understand. The illustrations combine a fine art feel with a simple, sketchy quality and evoke the perfect mood for the story. Tender and thoughtful, this book will strike a chord with those who have tried to shield themselves from loss. Although the text is a bit obscure in places, this is still ...

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Cat the Cat, Who is That? Written and illustrated by Mo Willems Balzer & Bray, 2010. Unpaged. Easy reader. Looking for a fun, easy reader for your beginning reader? Mo Willems to the rescue! Cat the Cat is a new Willems character for his latest easy reader series. Cat the Cat has lots of friends; Fish the Fish, Duck the Duck, Bee the Bee, etc. (are you catching on to the pattern here?). Just a few words on each page, excellent text to picture match, simple, basic illustrations that, though simple, convey a wide variety of action and emotion. There is a special appearance by the Pigeon! Absolutely great! Look for Cat the Cat, Who is That? and the other two books in the series, Let's Say HI to Friends Who Fly! and What's Your Sound, Hound the Hound? in the Easy Reader section.