Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The Secret Chicken Society by Judy Cox, illustrated by Amanda Haley Holiday House, 2012. 88 pgs. Intermediate. Daniel loves animals and is out of his head with excitement when his third grade teacher announces that the class will incubate some eggs and try to hatch baby chicks. Only five chicks make it out of the twelve eggs, and Daniel gets to keep all five because everyone else's parents fish out on the idea of keeping chickens at home. Only problem is, Daniel's favorite hen chick is really a rooster--forbidden by the backyard chicken rules of his small town. How Daniel and his siblings save their chickens from Poison the Cat, keep them out of Mr. Grafalo's flower beds, and hide Peepers the Rooster from the neighbors and the police is the substance of this charming tale. Cox appends useful information about how to raise backyard chickens, and Amanda Haley's pictures perfectly communicate the frenzy of chicken farming.

Poem Runs: Baseball Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian Harcourt, 2012. Unpaged. Poetry. Just in time for Opening Day and National Poetry Month, the inimitable Douglas Florian rounds the bases with a new book of baseball poems. Players, umpires, and the ball itself find voice in these delightful--and delightfully illustrated poems. The pictured catcher has an enormous mitt filled with baseballs and ballerina-sized cleats: "I can catch curve balls./I can catch heat./I can catch sliders/With glove or with feet." My favorite is the umpire whose called third strike shows itself in a wildly exaggerated pose that perfectly illustrates the final "Steee-rike!" of the hapless player's at-bat. Baseball players and fans will love this book; fans of lesser sports should have a look and get their heads back into the National Pastime.

Twelve Dancing Princesses Retold and illustrated by Brigette Barrager Chronicle Books, 2011. Unpaged. Picture book. The traditional story of the Twelve Dancing Princesses is told yet again--but this is my favorite picture book version to date. Written in a more accessible format than some other options, this book is perhaps a more appealing, lighter retelling of the classic fairy tale. The illustrations, however, really make this book shine. Digitally drawn in a lovely 50s retro-modern style, the pictures feel like a nod to the beloved Mary Blair's work, made fresh and new. I was completely charmed by the illustrations and could look at them again and again! This is a gorgeous rendition of an old tale.

The Unforgotten Coat by Frank Cottrell Boyce Candlewick, 2011. 42 pgs. Fiction Two Mongolian boys turn Julie's sixth grade class on its ear with their tales of demons, eagles, the endless steppes and innumerable horses of Mongolia, and their nomadic life. For reasons which escape her, they choose Julie as their "good guide," to help them navigate life in Liverpool. Chingis, the older boy, devotes himself to keeping his younger brother Nergui safe from the demon who has followed them from Mongolia. A dough boy baked and left on the front steps of Julie's house tricks the demon for awhile. Changing clothes, and performing a clockwise circling of a heap of totemic objects, stay the threat again, but eventually the boys do disappear and the demon turns out to be British Immigration. Cottrell Boyce's bittersweet story has a sad ending and a happy one. Both will make you cry, and perhaps rethink our relentless efforts to keep ourselves apart from people not exactly like...

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny--Detectives Extraordinaire! by Mrs. Bunny, translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath Schwartz & Wade, 2012. 248 pgs. Fiction. Madeline's feckless hippie parents have been kidnapped by foxes. Who will believe her and help? No one. Except, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Bunny who have decided to become detectives and wear fedoras, not necessarily in that order. Madeline and the Bunnies' efforts are thwarted at nearly every turn if not by the marmots, then by The Marmot, and if not by The Marmot, then by the vindictive and silly Bunny Council. Mr. and Mrs. Bunny's sniping and one-upping each other, along with the drifty ways of Madeline's parents, probably make this a better children's book for adults than for kids, but it is very funny in an incredibly goofball way, as befits Ms. Horvath, Queen of the Loons. My kind of people.

Aftershock by Bernard Ashley Frances Lincoln, 2011. 139 pgs. Fiction. Makis Magriotis and his parents are used to earthquakes where they live on the Greek island of Kefalonia, but nothing like the quake that destroyed their village and killed Makis's father. With their home gone, Makis and his mother are repatriated to London where the dank climate, unfamiliar language and customs, and the loss of her husband throw his mother into a deep sorrow. Makis does better because he turns out to be good at soccer and soon has mates on his school team. Also, their neighbors upstairs hears him tuning his father's mandolin and invites him up to play for him. Makis's attempts to help his mother adapt and learn the language are bearing some fruit, but on the morning of the championship match, things go dreadfully wrong. Aftershock is the story of how a young boy becomes the man of his family, setting aside his own needs to care for his mother, even when it means his own troubles will in...

Dalen & Gole: Scandal in Port Angus by Mike Deas juvenile graphic novel 123 pages Victoria, BC : Orca Book Publishers, c2011 Dalen & Gole are a couple of youngsters from the planet Budap. When they unexpectedly lose the Annual Junior-Jet Racer Competition Dalen is happy for the kid that did win whereas Gole is suspicious of him and his Jet Racer. As they explore the winner's garage they discover a tunnel that leads them straight to Port Angus, USA, Earth. Finding themselves in a strange new world the friends are again divided in their reaction. Dalen is all about getting back to Budap while Gole is determined to find out what is going on between the two planets. They befriend a young girl, and frighten many more Earthlings. They are chased by big brutes with guns and end up disguising themselves in some pretty silly costumes. There is action, humor, and a few life lessons in this short, easy-to-read graphic novel. The illustrations are fun and colorful with very ...

Gooney Bird on the Map by Lois Lowry ill. by Middy Thomas 125 pages intermediate chapter book Boston : Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011 The one-and-only Gooney Bird Greene is back with another idea! Gooney Bird is quite the individual. She is in second-grade and doesn't care what anyone else thinks about her wardrobe, her ideas or anything! She shows kids that it is okay to wear mismatched socks, to talk to the principal and to beat whatever you want for lunch. Her class is studying US geography right before February vacation time. There are three students in the class going to relatively exotic destinations and they can't help but brag to the class over and over and over again. Gooney Bird thinks up a plan to involve the whole class, in fact the whole school in a geography lesson they will not soon forget. She works her magic to tone down the boasters and make those staying at home feel good, all at the same time. She even teachers her class about observing "a mo...

The Crazy Case of Missing Thunder Goofballs #1 by Tony Abbott ill. by Colleen Madden 101 pages intermediate mystery New York : Egmont USA, 2012 Tony Abbott of Secrets of Droon fame has launched a new series for the intermediate chapter book crowd. At a slightly easier reading level than his previous series this is the perfect book for those just starting into chapter books. Jeff is the original Goofball. At the same young age he earned that nickname he also solved his first case as a private eye. A few years later he met Brian and instantly knew he was a fellow Goofball. The two later joined forces with Mara and Kelly. The foursome has since solved many mysteries in their hometown. Their newest case begins with a bizarre phone call from Randall Crandall who lives in the wealthiest part of town. When they arrive at his mansion (which is bigger than the White House) they quickly discover that Randall Crandall is not what they expected. His missing Thunder is even more unexpected. But ne...

Sophie's Fish by A. E. Cannon, illustrated by Lee White Viking, 2012. Unpaged. Picture book. Jake is happy to oblige when Sophie asks him to babysit her fish Yo-Yo while she visits her grandmother. "How hard can it be to babysit a fish?" But then he starts to worry: What if the fish wants a snack--what do fish like to eat? What if the fish wants a story--what do fish like to hear? By the time Sophie rings the doorbell, Jake is in a lather and almost doesn't answer the door. But when he does, Sophie is so cheery his worries go away, until he walks out to Sophie's wagon, and sees Yo-Yo. . . . What a charming story, repetitive in the way kids love, with perfect pictures. Another winner for our dear Ann Cannon, and dedicated to another local favorite, Rick Walton, "the granddaddy of us all."

Bliss by Kathryn Littlewood Kathryn Tegen Books, c2012. 374 pages. Fiction. Rosemary Bliss's family owns the most popular bakery in town. That's because Bliss Bakery has in its possession a Cookery Booke full of magical recipes. When Rosemary's mother and father are called away for a week, Rosemary and her two brothers are left to take care of the bakery in their absence. Add one suspicious "Aunt" Lily who shows up suddenly on their doorstep and a couple  magical recipes gone seriously wrong and the children soon find themselves in a world of trouble. Can they fix everything before their parents return? The over the top antics of the Bliss family will have you laughing until your sides hurt. Kids who love books like Series of Unfortunate Events , The Name of this Book is Secret , and the Mysterious Benedict Society , will want to give Bliss a try.

The Iceberg Hermit By Arthur Roth Scholastic, c1974. 219 pages. Fiction. Iceberg Hermit is about Allan, who is an apprentice aboard an Arctic whaling ship in the 1700's. The ship wrecks on an iceberg, and the boy is the only one to survive. He manages to make shelter, find food, and live off the (ice)land for over a year. He also befriends and raises a baby polar bear. Eventually, Allan sets out to cross the ice in hopes of finding others. He finds some natives and they help him find a returning whaling ship to get him home from Scotland. Ignore the horrendous cover, and let's pretend there's a better title...like, " Hatchet on Ice !" This gem of fiction was suggested to us by a patron. I loved it, and found it to be a very close readalike to Gary Paulsen's Hatchet , as far as the writing style and story elements.There's something for everyone: survival, history, and realism.

Who Was Jim Henson? by Joan Holub ill. Nancy Harrison juvenile biography 106 pages New York : Grosset & Dunlap, c2010 Jim Henson was always a creative boy, inspired by his grandmother, Dear. When he was a young boy televisions began appearing in people's homes. From the moment his family acquired one, Jim knew he wanted to work in TV. He got his start on a puppet show. We all know where it went from there. Jim Henson is famous for his Muppets. His Muppets helped make Sesame Street the raging success it still is today. He even went on to make movies and many other TV shows, though none were ever as successful as The Muppets and Sesame Street. He was a n even-tempered man who loved his children. In fact he always felt like a kid at heart himself. It is a joy to learn about the life of a man that has brought so much entertainment into the lives of people of all-ages all over the world. If you read this book you will learn what the original Kermit the Frog was made o...

Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy ill. Heather Potter intermediate novel in verse 73 pages Somerville, Mass. : Candlewick Press, 2011 Young Pearl is trying to cope with many things at one time. At school she is lonely and friendless, "a group of one". Her teacher is constantly demanding poetry that rhymes, but how can Pearl do that when there is no rhyme or reason in her life. At home she is lonely and sad. Her beloved grandmother who has always been part of her life is ill and doesn't even know Pearl anymore. Her mom is busy caring for Granny or losing herself in a book leaving no time to help Pearl. Then one day she is summoned to the principal's office - what has she done? As things culminate Pearl realizes she isn't as friendless as she once was. She also begins to come to terms with the loss of Granny, realizing that although she isn't there physically, her memories surround Pearl and she will never forget the wise woman who helped raise h...

The Aviary by Kathleen O' Dell Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. 339 pages. Fiction. Because of her weak heart, Clara Dooley has lived her whole life within the walls of the run down Glendoveer mansion. When old Mrs. Glendoveer dies, Clara's world is turned upside down. She quickly discovers that there are dark and possibly magical secrets hidden within the old mansion. Especially concerning the birds housed within the Glendoveer aviary. This story has the same ageless feel as books like The Secret Garden and A Little Princess . A touch of magic and the hint of a ghost story makes this a timeless tale for any readers who love a good mystery.

Winterling by Sarah Prineas Harper, 2012. 248 pages. Fiction. One enchanted moonlit night, Fer saves the life of a big black dog being attacked by wolves. The dog immediately turns into a boy, named Rook, who Fer quickly discovers is not human. But tricksy Rook is just the beginning of Fer's troubles. A gate to the world of the fey has been opened. Fer is drawn there to fulfill her destiny--or dying trying. Winterling is a by-the-seat-of-your-pants adventure full of magical spells, cunning fey creatures, and fearsome  strong beasties.  Kids who love stories like Fablehaven , The Night Gate , and The Ruby Key will love Winterling .

Artist Ted by Andrea Beaty; illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2012. Unpaged. Picture book. Ted wants a more exciting and beautiful room--so he decides he need an artist, and who better to fill that role than himself? He makes a paintbrush out of a curtain tassel and spoon and paint from various colored foods. His room turns out perfectly to his delight (but not his mother's) and he turns to the halls of his school next, to the dismay of his principal. His painting antics continue as Ted decorates to his heart's delight, unaware of the effect he's having on others. How will his painting spree end? This is a fun and silly book that talks about making friends and how it's sometimes hard to understand that our actions may be upsetting others even when we aren't aware of it. Kids will love this book--just watch out for your blank walls!

A Zeal of Zebras: an alphabet of collective nouns By Woop Studios Chronicle Books, 2011. Unpaged. Juvenile nonfiction. In this beautiful, graphic alphabet book, groups of animals are named by their herd terms, known as collective nouns--such as a galaxy of starfish--and fascinating facts are listed about each type of animal. The computer-rendered illustrations are gorgeous with a screen print feel and make a collective gallery of high-quality art. The information is concise and incredibly interesting and children who enjoy facts are sure to eat this book up!

The King's 6th Finger Written by Jolby and Rachel Roellke Coddington Illustrated by Jolby Following the trend of graphic designers turned children's book creators (like Frank Viva's Along a Long Road ) is the magnificent picture book The King's 6th Finger . This is a twisted fairy tale in all its finery. Our story begins: "There once was a simple king named Mortimer/Who had an obsessive compulsive disorder-er." King Mortimer's obsession is with the number five- all things must come in fives, from turrets in his castle to hairs on his head. One day, "Morty" wakes up to find an extra finger on his hand! This throws his disorder-er into overdrive, but no one can cure his 6th finger syndrome. Eventually, he tires of trying to remove the finger and deals with it! The story ends: "The moral of the story is truly a zinger/ Be willing to change when life deals you a finger!" Witty and irreverent, The King's 6th finger is well-written an...

Nowhere Girl By A.J. Paquette Macmillan, 2011. 246 pages. Fiction. Luchi was born in a Thai prison to her American mother. When her mother passes away, Luchi has to leave the only home and family she’s ever known. Although her home was a jail cell and her family was made up of inmates, she is still sad to leave. She tries to find her way back to America, although the only clues she has to help her find any relatives are a cryptic letter and a storage unit key with a Thai address. Nowhere Girl is a very unique story about survival, one that I think boys might enjoy if you can get them to look beyond the cover. Luchi is a wonderful heroine for girls, especially those who like survival stories or the Asian flavor of Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai.

Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham ill. by Paul O. Zelinsky New York : Greenwillow Books, 2012 Moose is excited when his friend Zebra decides to direct an alphabet play. In fact he is so excited, he almost ruins everything by being impatient for his letter to have a turn. When things don't go exactly as Moose anticipated he really wreaks havoc for poor Zebra. However, Zebra finds a great solution to make everyone happy and save the show! This is a wonderful picture book to show small children cause and effect for their actions. The story is charming and the illustrations are perfect!

I Lay My Stitches Down: Poems of American Slavery by Cynthia Grady, illustrated by Michele Wood Eerdmans, 2012. Unpaged. Poetry. A beautiful, beautiful book about a drear subject. Each page has the name of a type of quilt block, followed by a poem, followed by a runner of the quilt block named, and then a brief comment on the historical background of the poem. Grady's poems are tightly and brilliantly structured: "The poems are written in unrhymed verse, ten lines of ten syllables, to mimic the square shape of a quilt block. To reflect the three layers of a quilt, I've engaged three references in each poem: a biblical or spiritual reference, a musical reference, and a sewing or fiber arts reference . . . ." Singing and sewing eases the heart of an aging house slave. Two black children think they will be whipped for listening outside the window of a whites' only schoolroom and tracing letters in the dirt, but the teacher pulls aside the curtain and speaks loudly so...

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate Harper, 2012. 304 pgs. Fiction. Ivan is a gorilla. "It's not as easy as it looks." Particularly if one's "domain" is a small cage in the Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade. Ivan's neighbor, Stella the elephant, has a bad foot but Mack, the proprietor of the Big Top Mall wants her to get well on her own because business is bad and he doesn't want to shell out for a vet. Business is so bad, in fact, that Mack brings in a baby elephant, Ruby, to pick up ticket sales. What happens from there you should discover for yourselves, but suffice it to say that Ivan uses a very unusual gift to deliver himself and his animal friends (including a smart-aleck dog named Bob) from a life of servitude to a degree of happiness and peace. The One and Only Ivan is a beautiful, gentle book about a beautiful, gentle primate and his friends--where they came from, why they should have stayed there, where they get to go. ...