Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Beyond the Pawpaw Trees: the Story of Anna Lavinia by Palmer Brown New York Review Children's Collection, 2011. 122 pgs. Fiction The New York Review of Books continues its admirable program of reissuing classic children's texts with this book about a young girl whose father has gone somewhere to "chase rainbows" and whose mother makes endless jars of pawpaw jelly to pass the time, apparently, since they never eat any of it. By and by Anna Lavinia's mother sends her off on the train to visit her Aunt Sophia Maria. On the train she meets a fat lady who gives her a tea cosy because you never know when you might need on. She is worried when she sees far ahead that the tracks narrow to a point, and indeed they do and the train has to stop. From there she and her cat Strawberry float down from a cliff to a desert, find an Arabian city with a most obliging Pasha who gives her a camel and a parrot, and then to Aunt Sophia Maria's where a most surprising visitor arrive...

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Written by Barbara Robinson, Illustrated by Laura Cornell Harper, 2011. Unpaged picture book. This classic Christmas chapter book has been adapted into a wonderful picture book. Join the six Herdman children, "the worst kids in the history of the world," as they invade the annual church Christmas pageant. During rehearsals, they wreak havoc on the congregation with their unusual interpretation of the first Christmas. Imogene thinks that "Bill" is a more appropriate name for the baby Jesus, and Claude thinks that the Wise Men would be better off bringing pizza instead of perfumed oils. But on the night of the Christmas pageant, the Herdmans are on their best behavior and perform their parts with touching honesty. Barbara Robinson, the author of the original chapter book, has perfectly adapted the tale into a picture book that the whole family will love. Laura Cornell's illustrations capture the story flawlessly. This would mak...

The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs: A Scientific Mystery by Sandra Markle Millbrook Press, 2012. 48 pgs. Nonfiction. When Panama's beautiful and unique golden frogs began to die in droves, biologists leaped into action. The dead frogs had unusual sacs on their skin, which turned out to be symptomatic of the terrible chytrid fungus which can wipe out total populations of frogs in a very short time. Healthy frogs were quickly captured and isolated from the general populations, and not a minute too soon, since wild golden frogs are now effectively extinct in Panama. Only those in zoos and scientific laboratories have survived. Frogs around the world are in trouble and since they are a bellwether species--one that reflects the health of the environment--entire ecosystems are in danger as well. Markle's book about this particular and very beautiful species of frog is both fascinating and alarming. There is information at the end of the book about the search for a cure for...

This Jazz Man (book and CD) by Karen Ehrhardt, illustrated by R. G. Roth CD Narrated by James "D Train" Williams Harcourt, 2006. Unpaged. Picture book. CD, Live Oak Media, 2010. This Jazz Man won a 2011 Audie award for best audio-book for children, and it is easy to see why. A counting book written to the tune of "This Old Man," This Jazz Man be-bops and tap dances from one through ten, introducing youngsters to Louis Armstrong, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller, and so on. The background music illustrates the styles of each Jazz Man, and a section at the end reiterates those musical styles as the narrator shares a bit about the life and times of each man. This book/CD combination is a perfect introduction to the great American musical form for youngsters, or for any child who loves music. (Book and CD may be found in the hanging bags by the Juvenile music CDs.)

Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five by Valorie Fisher Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011, unpaged. Picture Book. If ever there was a perfect preschool concept picture book, this is it. Counting, opposites, shapes, colors, weather, and the alphabet—this book covers all the basics a preschooler needs to learn before kindergarten. It presents them in a simple and fun format that will capture any child’s imagination. All the concepts are presented in photographs of toys set up in miniature scenes reminiscent of the I Spy books. Your child won’t just learn how to recognize the numbers; they can also count all the fun objects that go along with it. The Alphabet is presented not just in uppercase letters, but in lower case ones as well. In every detail, this delightful picture book goes far beyond the mark. Make sure to check it out for your preschooler!

Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal Chronicle, 2011. Unpaged. Nonfiction. A father and daughter skiing through the woods see the serene surface of the snow, but underneath a winter animal community thrives. Shrews, mice, and voles run in tunnels beneath the snow and sleep in nests of moss, leaves, feathers, and fur. Beavers huddle for warmth in their snow-covered lodges eating the shoots and aspen bark, and bears and bullfrogs hibernate. Christopher Neal's wintry colors and slate-clean lines picture perfectly the over and under world of wintertime, culminating in our little girl in her red longjohn pajamas, under the covers, asleep. A beautiful, quiet, evocative picture of a wintry world.

Franklin and Winston: A Christmas that Changed the World by Douglas Wood, illustrated by Barry Moser Candlewick, 2010. Unpaged. Non-fiction. Shortly after the Japanese attack on America at Pearl Harbor, Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt met in Washington, D. C., at Christmastime to plan the future of U. S. and British joint operations. Douglas Woods' admirable recounting of this event, is filled with specific details to bring the story to life--Churchill's delight at seeing the un-blacked-out lights of Washington as his plane flew over the city; Roosevelt's accidentally walking in on Winnie as he was getting out of the bathtub ("The prime minister of Great Britain has nothing to conceal from the president of the United States.") Barry Moser's peerless (as usual) illustrations are evocative of the time and true to what we know of the personalities of the people. Franklin and Winston . . . is a beautiful story reminding us that hard times may, i...

Digging for Troy: From Homer to Hisarlik by Jill Rubalcaba and Eric H. Cline Charlesbridge, 2011. 66 pgs. Nonfiction. The ongoing argument about whether the Trojan War was real or simply a product of Homer's imagination plays out in this fine volume of history and archaeology. Heinrich Schliemann, long feted as the discoverer of the historical Troy, financed and direct the excavation of the site at Hisarlik which English diplomat Frank Calvert had already identified and purchased. So anxious was he to become known as the discoverer of Troy that he tore into the mound with careless abandon, destroying artifacts and recording findings only at the end of the day rather than at the moment of discovery. Later expeditions proceeded with greater care to discover not one but 9+ different Troys built atop each other's ruins. The overlaps of Troys 6 and 7 showed archaeological evidence of the destruction that was probably caused by war. Young students interested in Greek and Roman...

Eco Dogs by Judith Bauer Stamper Bearport, 2011. 32 pgs. Nonfiction Most of us know the working dogs who track criminals or missing children, sniff out drugs at the airport, and keep the sheep rounded up, but in Eco Dogs, Judith Stamper tells the stories of dogs who help protect the earth and her wild creatures. Python Pete, for instance, sniffs out Burmese pythons, an invasive species disrupting the ecosystem of the Everglades. Jamberry is a black lab who can smell ringed seals through their breathing holes. By helping scientists capture and tag the seals, Jamberry helps save and endangered species. Eco dogs are also used to detect illegally imported animals at airports, and even to sniff out whale scat under the water. Interesting information on how dogs are trained for their respective assignments is also included, along with excellent photographs of the dogs in action. Young dog-and-nature lovers will go for this book bigtime--one in an excellent series about Dog Heroes.

Saint Louis Armstrong Beach by Brenda Woods Penguin, 2011. 136 pgs. Fiction. Not a place but a person, Saint Louis Armstrong Beach plays the clarinet, and plays it well. He is trying to earn money for a really nice clarinet by working as a street musician in New Orleans where he lives with his mother, a nurse, and his father, a chef. The neighborhood has a dog--a black lab Saint has named Shadow, whom Saint would like for his own. So when Hurricane Katrina strikes and Saint is leaving town with his Uncle's family, he runs away and goes back to the city to find Shadow. His neighbor Miz Moran saves his life, and then he saves hers even though Shadow has shown up by then and manages to puncture the rubber raft Miz Moran has in her attack. His dead grandfather warns him in a dream to go to the Jazz Shack instead of the Superdome, and then Shadow helps his parents find him, which is a good thing for Shadow because up until then he has been a worthless nuisance. All's well that ends ...

A Friend for Einstein: the Smallest Stallion By Charlie Cantrell and Dr. Rachel Wagner Hyperion Books, 2011, unpaged. Picture Book. This is an picture book about the smallest horse in the world. His name is Einstein and when he was born he was only about the size of a shoe box. Einstein is lonely, but he is too small to play safely with the other miniature horses. He decides to find a friend, but the duck and the turtle are not good playmates for Einstein. At last he discovers a friend who likes to play and is just his size. The book is illustrated with bright color photographs of Einstein and his friends. The author includes an end note about Einstein's pedigree and how the author and his wife (the illustrator) came to own the precious little horse. This is a must see for horse lovers of all ages.

Sea of Dreams by Dennis Nolan Roaring Brook Press, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book. A young girl spends the day making a sand castle down at the beach. But it is only after she leaves that the adventures begin in this delightful picture book. A family of tiny people live in that sand castle—and the tide is quickly coming in. Told only through pictures, readers (young and old) can enjoy the magical adventures of what happens next . . . Dennis Nolan's illustrations are gorgeous, filled with bright and exciting colors, as well as, lots of fun new details to discover each time the book is read again and again.

Celebritrees: Historic & Famous Trees of the World by Margi Preus, illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon Henry Holt, 2011. Unpaged. Nonfiction. Everyone knows famous people, but who knew there were famous plants? Trees, to be exact. The oldest known single living organism on earth is "Methuselah," a 4,800 year old bristlecone pine located in the Inyo National Forest in California. The Chapel Oak in France has two chapels built into it. The Dueling Oaks in Louisiana were the preferred site for gentlemen to shoot it out if they had been offended in the slightest possible way (one duel was over an insult to the Mississippi River). Margi Preus and Rebecca Gibbons' unusual take on unique foliage is great fun and highly informative. Who knew? Kids' should enjoy this tour of the world's most famous trees, and perhaps find a greater respect for those very large plants that give us shade, shelter, and beauty.

Neville by Norton Juster, illustrated by G. Brian Karas Random House, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book. When a young boy moves with his family away from his beloved home to a cookie cutter new neighborhood, he is horrified to find himself in "a new house where he'd never feel at home. And a new school where nobody knew him." He imagines his new teacher will introduce him as a recent resident of the South Pole available for teasing and abuse. When his mother suggests he walk down the block in hopes of meeting someone, he strolls off. When he comes to the corner he starts shouting at the top of his lungs, "Neville! Neville!" Soon another kid comes along who joins in the shouts. More and more kids show up looking for Neville and sending up a great shout for him. All the kids want to know what Neville is like and when it's time to go home, they want to know if they can come help look for him tomorrow. "I hope we find Neville," they all say, but "even i...

Arlington: The Story of our Nation's Cemetery by Charles Demarest Roaring Book Press, 2011. Unpaged. Nonfiction. Arlington House was built by George Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis. Parke's daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis married Robert E. Lee, and they lived in Arlington House until Lee resigned from the United States Army to eventually become the commander of the Confederate Army. General Lee and his family never returned to Arlington House, and the conversion of the property surrounding Arlington House into a cemetery for military dead was symbolic of northern anger at Lee's "desertion." From that resentful beginning came Arlington National Cemetery, resting place for America' honored dead. Demarest's pictures provide a lovely accompaniment for his stories of the Tomb of the Unknowns, President Kennedy's eternal flame (he and President Taft are the only two presidents buried at Arlington), and the tradition o...

Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion by Samantha Seiple Scholastic, 2011. 221 pgs. Nonfiction. Most of us think the United States escaped invasion during World War II, but several Aleutian Islands were not only invaded but seized by the Japanese and were only retaken at an enormous cost in lives and suffering. The Aleuts on the islands who were taken prisoner by the Japanese mostly died. Only 25 returned to their homeland, and none to their original settlement which had been destroyed in the fighting. Those Aleuts who were "lucky" enough to be evacuated by the United States were taken to abandoned barracks and treated almost as badly as they would have been if they were prisoners of war. Tales of extraordinary heroism, and extraordinarily bad luck fill these pages: for instance, Private Joseph P. Martinez--a sugar beet farmer before he enlisted, single-handedly took out a Japanese machine gun nest that had him and his comrades pinned down u...

The Spaghetti Detectives by Andreas Steinhofel, translated by Chantal Wright Scholastic (Chicken House), 2011. 167 pgs. Fiction. The cover art for The Spaghetti Detectives suggests a funny, lighthearted romp, but the text is somewhat more ominous. Rico--"a child proddity"--lives with his Mom in an apartment house filled with interesting and unusual people whose lives and apartments Rico would like to nose around in. Rico manifests autistic tendencies, and doesn't go anywhere much and doesn't have many friends because if he can't go in a straight line away from and back to his home, he gets lost. But one day he meets a boy in the park--Oscar of the giant front teeth and the blue motorcycle helmet. Oscar is a bit quirky, too--he wears the helmet because the world is so filled with dangers--but in a more genius sort of way. The two boys hit it off and arrange for a play date, but Oscar never shows up. Scary thing is, a kidnapper known as Mr. 2000 is in the area. He ...

What Animals Really Like by Fiona Robinson Abrams, 2011. Unpaged. Picture Book. "What Animals Really Like" is a new song "composed and conducted by Mr. Herbert Timberteeth." Maestro Timberteeth, an appropriately named beaver, begins his magnum opus as each animal group sings in turn, its pleasures: "We are lions and we like to prowl./ We are wolves, and we like to howl./ We are pigeons and we like to coo. . . . So far so good, but then the animals start to foul (and sometimes fowl) up the song. The cows suddenly like to dig. The monkeys like to play, the horses like hay, but the warthogs like to blow enormous bubbles. After Mr. Timberteeth blows all the buttons off his tux in his frustration, the animals talk him into letting them sing about what they really like. Nothing rhymes, but the truth is told; i.e., that horses like deep-sea diving, worms like bowling, and that shrimp like to ski. Fiona Robinson's charming illustrations (glowworms power the shell-...

Stars By Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee Beach Lane Books, c2011. Unpaged picture book. Stars is a phenomenal picture book showcasing Marla Frazee's lively illustrations and Mary Lyn Ray's engaging words. The illustrations range from somber to magical, which perfectly mirror the text that follows a range of childhood emotions. This book is an imaginative and hopeful exploration of the possibilities of stars. With a star pinned to your shirt, you can live the life of a sheriff. You can put one in your pocket, and reach for it on the "days you don't feel shiny." Stars is a quietly uplifting pick for a bedtime read-aloud, and will guarantee sweet dreams! I hope it is picked as a Caldecott Honor.

Kimonos By Annelore Parot Chronicle Books, 2011. Unpaged picture book. Kimonos is a delightful interactive picture book about kokeshi, which are simple Japanese dolls. There are look-and-find items, basic Japanese words, lift-the-flap surprises, and fun cutouts, all done in a sweet and special way. Girls of all ages will love it, and I suspect some boys may even like the discoveries, such as a page full of silly hairdos. I think this one is an instant hit for fans of Hello Kitty, as the artwork is equally appealing. The illustrations feature many beautiful patterns, textures, and details throughout. A new favorite!

Train Trip by Deanna Caswell illustrated by Dan Andreason Disney, 2011, Picture book Almost every toddler goes through a stage when they love trains and here is the perfect book for those littlest engineers. A little boy boards a train that will lead him from his home in the country to his grandparents in the city. On the way the boy enjoys the scenery, eats a snack, and even gets to go up in the engine with the conductor. At the end of the trip he happily disembarks and runs into the waiting arms of his grandma. Caswell's super simple rhyming text is all written in two or three word phrases. "Ticket ready. Tight Grip/To Grandma's house. Train trip!" The rhythm of the words imitate the rocking rhythm of a train. Andreasen illustrates the charming tale with computer drawn, cartoon images that have a retro feel. The train itself is reminiscent of the circus train in Dumbo with a smiling face and rosy cheeks. Kids who love Thomas the Tank Engine will enjoy this ...

Scrawny Cat by Phyllis Root, illustrated by Alison Friend Candlewick, 2011. Unpaged. Picture book. Scrawny Cat used to belong to someone--and she belonged to him. But now he is on his own, lonely and little and lost. He can't remember his real name, since now his name seems to be "Get Out of Here!" To add to his troubles, he runs into a big black dog who chases him until Scrawny Cat jumps into a covered dinghy just as a downpour begins, and the dog runs off. When the strong wind pulls the boat away from its moorings, Scrawny Cat is alone at sea, hungry and cold. Lucky for him that he washes ashore near the cottage of a lonely woman named Emma who takes him in, dries and feeds him, names him Skipper, and gives him a home. Such a lovely story with perfect pictures that make you want to open a can of tuna and bring home a stray cat. Little animal lovers in your home should quickly take to Scrawny Cat and rejoice in the happy ending of a well-told story.

The Chronicles of Harris Burdick: 14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tales by Chris van Allsburg, et. al. Houghton Mifflin, 2011. 195 pgs. Short Stories Can the Newbery be awarded to an anthology? One can only hope this year's committee is giving The Chronicles of Harris Burdick a close look. Based on Chris van Allsburg's artful, enigmatic The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (1984), this new volume allows authors the likes of Walter Dean Myers, Gregory Maguire, Sherman Alexie, Lois Lowry, Cory Doctorow, and many more the chance to extrapolate stories from the enigmatic evidence of Burdick's (van Allsburg's) original pictures. Why is that ocean liner barging down the canals of Venice? And what on earth (or elsewhere) allows a nun on a straight-backed chair to float mid-air in the middle of a French cathedral? Kate DiCamillo's story of the wallpaper bird pulling free is particularly affecting, and Stephen King's of the middle-class house blasting off from a tree-lined street...

marty mcguire by Kate Messner, illustrated by Brian Floca Scholastic, 2011. 131 pgs. Intermediate Marty McGuire has high hopes for third grade but she is disappointed. Veronica Grace Smithers has stolden Marty's best friend Annie, and has also taken over recess where everyone has to do dress-ups. Marty would rather be with the boys catching frogs. To make matters far worse, Marty is picked as the Frog Princess in the third grade school play. The frog part is ok, but the princess part--yecchh. How Marty makes the princess part her own, comes up with a better-than-boffo ending to the class play, resumes her friendship with Annie, and even goes frog-hunting in a tiara, as a nod to Veronica Grace, is the substance of this charming tale. Kate Messner has done her usual fine job of creating an engaging story where Marty can pursue her Jane-Goodall-like pleasures, Veronica Grace can channel her inner Princess Katherine, and Annie can like to do whatever she wants. Why not?