Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Cool Structures: Creative Activities that Make Math & Science Fun for Kids! By Anders Hanson and Elissa Mann ABDO Publishing Company, 2014. 32 pages. Cool Structures does the unique job of supplementing your child's math education while also satisfying their creative energy. It has fun projects, like building a Popsicle stick bridge; here, the authors use principles like parallels, diagonals, and triangles to demonstrate the science behind bridge architecture. I love the combination of hands-on work with easy to understand math rules. The projects are best suited to children 8 and up, who are more dextrous- think origami-level precision and patience. Check out the other titles in the Creative Activities series for more math and science fun!

Bugs in My Hair! By David Shannon The Blue Sky Press, 2013. Unpaged picture book. David Shannon's newest picture book shines the spotlight on the most humiliating creatures a child can face: head lice. To Mom's horror, her little boy has itchy, egg-laying lice in his hair! The boy wonders what this "Lice-A-Palooza!" means. Where did he get them? How do you get rid of them? His imagination runs wild, and pretty soon the bugs seem like giant, life-controlling monsters. Happily, Mom's battle-tested anti-lice weapons of "stinky stuff that lice hate, magnifying eyeglasses, and a nit comb," do the trick. The boy gleefully declares, "The party's over, Little Nasties!" The warning on the back reads: This book will make you ITCHY! This warning is a little too late, as you'll probably have been scratching your scalp since page one. However, kids will think this book is a riot! It's helpful in getting information to them, in a funny wa...

Patrick Eats His Peas and Other Stories by Geoffrey Hayes 31 pages. Graphic Novel.  New York : Toon Books, c2013   Patrick is your typical active, little boy - though a little fuzzier than most. In this reader-friendly graphic novel we see four examples of what a day in Patrick's life is like. Despite his protests at dinnertime his mother makes "little green balls of mushy poison!" Of course he ends up eating them in his own unique way. Patrick then spends a day "helping" his father and keeping his mother company. When it is time for Patrick's bath he has a little too much fun and is disappointed to find out bedtime is imminent. Not surprisingly, Patrick does everything possible to delay the inevitable. Finally his parents think he is asleep so they can get some much deserved peace and quiet only to be startled by a final entertaining plea from adorable Patrick. If you haven't already read Patrick in a Teddy Bear's Picnic , then do so as ...

The Story of Fish & Snail Written and Illustrated by Deborah Freedman Viking, 2013.  Unpaged picture book. Fish and Snail are best friends who live in a book in the library, but best friends don't always see eye to eye.  Fish craves adventure and wants to explore other books, while Snail is secure and content right where he is.  When their disagreement leads to each choosing their own path, they soon discover that a little compromise can go a long way, as Snail finds the courage to try something new.  An interesting combination of both color and black and white illustrations, kids will be charmed by their new little aquatic friends.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 Who is Bob Dylan Who is Bob Dylan by, Jim O' Connor, Illustrated by, John O'Brien New York, New York, Grosset & Dunlap 102 pages, Chapter Book As a product of the 60's, surrounded by HUGE fans of Bob Dylan, I felt it was my duty to review this children's biography of Bob Dylan.  I also hoped it would help me understand what makes him so interesting to so many people, and where the inspiration for his music came from.  I also really liked the drawing of Dylan on the cover We learn that Bob was born Robert Zimmerman.  At an early age he became interested in music and taught himself to play the piano and the guitar, after just one lesson from his teacher.  He was inspired by artists such as Little Richard, with his flamboyant style and musical skill.  Once he became older, and went off to college, he spent as much time as he could honing his musical skills and becoming more well known around town.  As he became more...

Doll Bones by Holly Black New York, N.Y. : Simon & Schuster, c2013. 244 pages. Chapter Book.  Zach and his two friends, Alice and Poppy are at a critical crossroads. When Zach's father tosses out all of his childhood toys in an attempt to make him "grow up" this leads to a series of events that ends up shattering the once stable world of all three friends. In desperation, they embark on a final exciting adventure together. All three runaway from home in order to lay to rest one really creepy (and quite possibly haunted) doll named--The Queen. Though there are many a deliciously creepy moment hidden within the covers of this book, it is not so much a ghost story as it is a tale of three children who must each come to terms with the changes that growing up brings. Written with sensitivity and grace, it is no wonder that this book has received so much well-deserved  buzz as a Newbery contender. It will certainly give the other books that have come ...

Odd Duck by Cecil Castellucci and Sara Varon New York : First Second, 2013 87 pages. Graphic Novel   Theodora is a unique duck who lives in a little house. She has a daily routine that can not be disrupted. Every day she practices wingspan exercises (though she rides her bike everywhere), swimming - with a full teacup on her head, and she shops at the local store for her favorite mango salsa. These are all perfectly ducky things to do, aren't they? Her life is so perfect that she hopes nothing will ever change.  But alas, it wasn't meant to be. Someone moves in next door. And it is quickly apparent the new neighbor is a very odd duck, at least by Theodora's standards. She decided there was no way they could be friends. When winter came along all of the other ducks flew south except the two quirky neighbors. Theodora realizes Chad might not be the only odd duck in the neighborhood. The two embrace their differences and finally become friends. Readers of all age...

My Happy Life by Rose Lagercrantz ill. by Eva Eriksson Wellington, N.Z. : Gecko Press, 2013, c2012. 134 pages. Intermediate chapter book. Dani is super excited to start school. When she meets Ella the two quickly become best friends. Dani is an adorable little girl who likes to be happy. Instead of counting sheep at night as she tries to go to sleep, Dani likes to think of happy times in her life. She has several memories to carry her to dreamland, despite some significant sad times as well. This is a sweet beginning chapter book that young girls will appreciate. The writing is very reader-friendly and the illustrations are quite charming.

Chews Your Destiny The Gumazing Gum Girl! #1 by Rhode Montijo Published August 20th 2013 by Disney-Hyperion 128 pages. Intermediate chapter book/graphic novel Gabby Gomez has a real problem. She chews gum constantly, much to the distress of everyone around her. Her mother finally puts her foot down when Gabby's night time piece ends up in her hair. Of course, Gabby has a hidden piece of gum she chews defiantly on her way to school. But when her ginormous bubble meets a power-line Gabby instantly becomes that which she loves most, chewy, sticky, stretchy, and pink - bubble gum! She doesn't like it much at first because everything sticks to her. But when she is able to help someone in need she realizes she can be a superhero and Gum Girl is born. As Gabby gets control over her new powers she has a hard time keeping it secret from those who know her. This hybrid beginning chapter book and graphic novel is fabulous fun! Boys and girls alike will laugh at G...

Night of the Zombie Goldfish Dr. Roach's Monstrous Stories #1 by Paul Harrison ill. by Tom Knight New York : Scholastic Inc., 2012, 54 pages. Intermediate chapter book. What do you get when you mix fifteen innocent little goldfish and the goop from a half-finished experiment hidden in a fish food container? Why Zombie Goldfish, of course! Judd is an enterprising young scientist. His lab is in the garage where he can make anything he wants to. Unfortunately, he is not the most organized of chemists so when his friend, Zak, comes to feed his fish there are some unexpected and disastrous results. The two team up to set things right and they become  heroes of their town. This is a cute and silly chapter book for kids, especially boys, just starting into longer tales.

Into the Woods Bigfoot Boy #1 by J. Torres and Faith Erin Hicks 100 pages, juvenile graphic novel. Toronto : Kids Can Press, c2012. When Rufus visits his grandparents he is so bored he decides to explore the nearby forest. While there he discovers a magical totem that allows him to understand what animals are saying. It also turns him into Bigfoot Boy! This new power causes him a little bit of trouble, but with the help of the animals he gets things figured out. This is a cute fantasy adventure graphic novel for 3rd graders on up.

A Funny Little Bird by Jennifer Yerkes unpaged picture book [Naperville, Ill.] : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, c2013.   The funny little bird was invisible most of the time. Once he was spotted the other birds mocked him because of he looked different. One day he stumbled upon a plan that would surely get him noticed! However, his new looks got him more attention than he had anticipated. Maybe being his invisible old self wasn't so bad after all.  

Bright Island by Mabel L. Robinson 288 pages. Juvenile historical fiction. Originally published: New York : Random House, c1937. This edition: New York : Random House Books for Young Readers, 2012. Thankful Curtis loves her life on Bright Island. She is happy to help her father on the farm and even happier sailing the sea like her grandfather before her. Thankful is devastated when her interfering yet well-intentioned sisters-in-law decide she needs some formal schooling on the mainland. She has an incredibly hard time fitting in with her classmates and teachers. She tries her best to adjust though her heart and thoughts are always on Bright Island. This delightful coming-of-age story won a Newbery honor in 1938 and is still a treasure to read today. The characters are fabulous and Thankful's world is a pleasant diversion.

Big Birthday by Kate Hosford ill. by Holly Clifton-Brown unpaged picture book Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books, c2012. Annabelle has grown tired of having her birthdays at the zoo, every year the same thing. Now she is ready for something new and different. She has it all planned. The only thing left to do is convince her parents that a birthday on the moon is the perfect way to go. Yet she runs into trouble when her rocket ship won't start. Her parents finally give in and rent a space shuttle for them and all Annabelle's friends. When they arrive on the moon everything is fun at first and Annabelle knows she has made the right choice. Sadly, the party goes downhill from there. The candles won't light, no one can even eat cake and ice cream because they have to wear their astronaut helmets and her beautiful new party dress gets ripped when she tries it on. Maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all...there's always next year to try something new. The rhymin...

Beep and Bah by James Burks unpaged picture book Minneapolis : Carolrhoda Books, c2012.   Beep, a robot, sets out to help his goat friend, Bah find a missing sock. They travel through their quirky world asking every creature they encounter if the lone sock they have belongs to them. Determined Beep wakes a bear, confronts a bull and rolls through quicksand in his quest for the wayward sock. When they reach the end of the road they turn back for home never having found what they were looking for, but the reader will discover it. The cute cartoon panels are very fun to look at. Beep's personality is delightful and Bah is such a pleasant companion. Hopefully there will be more tales of this fun pair.

Baby Flo Florence Mills Lights Up the Stage by Alan Schroeder ill. by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu unpaged picture book biography New York : Lee & Low Books, c2012.   Florence Mills was full of charisma and talent from the moment she was born. She sang and danced her way everywhere especially along the street with her mother as they delivered the bundles of clean laundry. She drew an audience wherever she went and soon her parents realized what a little star they had on their hands. A friend happened to be a theater manager in Washington DC and quickly put her in a show. That is how her career officially began, at the age of three. Her dance steps were as delightful as her singing voice as she performed her way into the hearts of all who saw her. This adorable picture book biography is beautifully illustrated and quite heart-warming. 

I am Harriet Tubman by Grace Norwich 127 pages. Juvenile biography. New York, NY : Scholastic, 2013. Scholastic's new biography series is perfect for 2nd graders on up. The reader-friendly chapters are short and engaging. Numerous detailed illustrations fill the book adding to the story. This particular volume focuses on Harriet Tubman and her heroic deeds throughout her life. She was born a slave and a woman, a small woman at that. So it is quite amazing all that she accomplished despite these seemingly insurmountable circumstances. At barely five feet tall Harriet was not afraid to stand up to her white owners which usually resulted in severe beatings. She eventually escaped on the Underground Railroad and later became its most well-known conductor. She saved over 70 slaves and never lost a single passenger on her railroad. Harriet also was a spy and scout during the Civil War. Later she continued to fight for equal rights for her people of color as well as her gender....

Flying Solo: How Ruth Elder Soared into America's Heart by Julie Cummins, illustrated by Malene R. Laugesen Roaring Brook Press, 2013.  Unpaged.  Biography      Young girls may be mystified at stories like this one, of a time when women were not allowed or not expected to engage in certain activities; in this case, flying airplanes.  Ruth Elder was not the most famous, nor anywhere near the most successful, of early female pilots, but her good looks and sparkling personality made her America's sweetheart of the air. She was the first woman to to attempt a transatlantic flight, along with her flying instructor George Haldeman, but after 36 hours in the air, they had to ditch into the Atlantic because of a ruptured oil line. Not fazed in the least, Ruth went on to Paris, was featured in a few movies, and participated in the first women's cross-country air race, named the Powder Puff Derby by Will Rogers, who saw the women refreshing their makeup as...

Rotten Pumpkin: A Rotten Tale in 15 Voices Written by David M. Schwartz Photos by Dwight Kuhn Creston Books, 2013. Unpaged non-fiction. What happens to a jack o' lantern after Halloween night? He's put back in the garden, and life carries on. Sort of. Rodents, slugs, and flies nibble away at him. Then, Jack begins to shrivel up. An amazing and icky close-up photograph shows the cause of his wrinkling to be black mold. The pumpkin is also starting to grow an impressive white beard of Penicillin! Jack wonders, the smaller and more shriveled he gets, "Am I still a pumpkin?" His pumpkin days are indeed numbered, and his body eventually decomposes and fertilizes the soil. Happily, seeds are still left, and new life can begin in the garden. This is a great book about the science of post-harvest life, told through some interesting narratives from the various creatures that come across Jack. A rotting good time!

Splat and the Cool School Trip Rob Scotton 32 pg. Picture Book Harper/Collins Publishers "It's Penguin Day!" cried Splat, today his class was going to the Zoo, Splat was so excited he could not sleep, all he could think while he was getting ready for school was, those cute wonderful penguins. Seymour, his mouse friend wants to go with him, but Splat told him he could not, elephants were afraid of mice! Seymour stays behind sad, but wait, he has a plan! Meantime his teacher, Mrs. Wimpydimple, is in the bus asking the students about their favorite animals, they all say who their favorite is, and of course Splat's is "penguins." At the zoo Splat can't wait he is ready to see the penguins, as the are going around a mysterious paper airplane comes zooming around, is it a bird? No! is it a plane?, well sort of, is Seymour on a paper airplane, and he lands....right on the elephant's nose! Oh, My! Elephant end-up on the penguin's pool. Nee...

The Case of the Vanishing Honeybees: A Scientific Mystery By Sandra Markle Millbrook Press, 2014. 48 pages. Nonfiction. From Sandra Markle ( The Case of the Vanishing Golden Frogs ) comes another book about the mysterious dwindling of an animal population; this time, she studies the vanishing honeybees. With brilliant photographs and thorough research, Markle discusses potential causes and solutions. Scientists believe some causes of Colony Collapse Disorder include climate change (extended hot, dry seasons), overworking due to large, unvaried crops, and widespread attacks by mites and fungi. There have been some gains in preservation research, such as breeding special "hygenic" bees that are not as susceptible to mites and hive infestations. But, tragically, 2013 has been shaping up to be the biggest loss of honeybees yet. This fascinating non-fiction title is dedicated to "curious children everywhere," and I believe that they will enjoy it. The informatio...

What is a Teacher? By Barbara Lehn What makes a teacher? This wonderful follow-up to the award-winning What Is A Scientist? distills teaching down to 13 qualities that are the essence of teaching -- proving in a delightful way that we are all teachers! Illustrated with photographs make each concept concrete for even the very youngest reader.   I Love School! By Calliope Glass Shares ways that children in different countries learn and play at school. The Little School Bus By Carol Roth An assortment of animals, including a goat in a coat, a quick chick, and a hairy bear, ride the bus to and from school.   Late for School By Stephanie Calamenson When Mr. Bungles the teacher oversleeps, he goes to great lengths, trying every form of transportation he can find to get to school on time. I Pledge Allegiance By Francis Bellamy  Divides the Pledge of Allegiance into words and phrases in order to define its meaning. Middle Sc...

Because You Are My Teacher By Sherry North In illustrations and verse, lists some of the places a teacher would take her students if she had the means, from a hot-air balloon trip over China's Great Wall to an airboat ride in the Everglades to observe alligators. You Can Write Excellent Reports By Jan Fields  Introduces readers to the key steps in writing a school research report through the use of examples and exercises. Rules for School By Alec Greven School is hard! There's a lot to know, like where to sit on the bus, how to find your way around the halls, and what to do to make sure you stay on your teacher's good side. Lucky for you Alec Greven has just turned eleven, and he's seen it all. Alec passes down his sixth-grade wisdom and gives advice that will help every student who's starting out or just started out on the wrong foot. The Magic School Bus Explores the Senses By Joanna Cole  Ms. Frizzle and her class exp...

School Power: Study Skill Strategies for Succeeding in School By Jeanne Shay Schumm Step-by-step instructions, practical advice, and insider tips from real students cover every conceivable topic, from how to get organized and create a study space to how to take notes, write papers, prepare speeches, follow directions, set goals, handle long-range assignments, and much more.  No T. Rex in the Library By Toni Buzzeo A rampaging tyrannosaurus rex demonstrates to an out-of-control little girl the results of "beastie" behavior in the library. Going to School By Melinda Beth Radabaugh Answers kids' common questions about going to school, including: Why do children go to school? What kinds of schools are there? When do you go to school? Where is your school? What do you do during the school day? What do you eat at school? Who works at your school? What things do you need for school? What happens at the end of the day? What to Expect at Presc...

  Amulet: The Stonekeeper By Kazu Kibuishi Emily's and Narvin's mother is kidnapped and dragged into a strange and magical world where, it seems, the children's great-grandfather has been before. It's up to the children to set things right and save their mother's life.    Science Fair By Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson The president of Kprshtskan is plotting to infiltrate the science fair at Hubble Middle School in Maryland in order to take over the United States government, but when Toby Harbinger, an ordinary student, makes up his mind finally to win the fair, the terrorists' plans go awry.   Pickle By Kimberly Baker Using a bogus name, the League of Picklemakers, sixth-grader Ben and three recruits start a prank-pulling club and receive funding from their middle school's PTA.   The Strange Case of Origami Yoda  By Tom Angleberger Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger...

The Princess and the Frog (DVD) Arrogant, carefree Prince Naveen and hardworking waitress Tiana cross paths. Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by a conniving voodoo magician. Tiana follows suit when she decides to kiss the amphibian royalty. With the help of a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun firefly, and an old blind lady who lives in a boat in a tree, Naveen and Tiana must race to break the spell and fulfill the ir dreams. Tuesday By David Wiesner Frogs rise on their lily pads, float through the air, and explore the nearby houses while their inhabitants sleep.  Kermit's Swamp Years (DVD) Young Kermit is a curious, fun-loving frog who likes hanging out with his amphibious best friends. He loves the s wamp, but wonders what lies beyond the tall marsh grass. When one of Kermit ' s friends gets nabbed by a pet s tore owner, Kermit leaps into action, leaving the s wamp and racing to rescue his friend. The Frog Princess By E.D. Baker ...

Bogart and Vinnie By Audrey Vernick, Illustrated by Henry Cole Walker Books for Young Readers, Bloomsbury Publishing Inc. Picture Book, 32 pg. Vinnie, a very crazy little dog is lost, so he goes around town trying to find his home. As he goes, he tries to make friends with everyone he sees. He meets with Hap, a man that works at an animal preserve. Vinnie runs into the place and tries to be friends with all the animals he sees, the giraffes, the zebras, the leopard, the exotic birds, but they all don't know what to make of him. He keeps going, happy as he can be until.....he finds Bogart, a big rhino who loves his quiet life in the preserve. Hap has been watching, horrified, thinking what the rhino could do to Vinnie. He tries to lure Vinnie out by offering all kind of things, but nothing could lure this crazy little dog. After a few runs of chasing, Vinnie thinking rhino is playing.....something happens......A funny little story that will make laugh and also teach, an...

Seymour Simon's Extreme Earth Records by Seymour Simon Chronicle, 2012.  57 pgs.  Nonfiction      Kids (and their grownups) love information about extremes, as we know from the library's raggedy copies of the Guinness and Scholastic world record books. This book is filled with fascinating information about what are truly world records, the extremes of our planet. From the deepest (Challenger Deep) to the highest (Everest), from the rainiest (Mount Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii) to the driest (the Atacama Desert, Chile), Simon takes kids on a tour of what's way up and what's way down on the planet, and throws in lots of extra information about, for instance, the nature of deserts in general, types of lava, how tsunamis form and why the largest ever was so devastating. . . . Extreme Earth Records  is a terrific little book that exemplifies the most appealing aspects of children's nonfiction:  it is filled with information that goes down easily, a...

Journey By Aaron Becker Candlewick Press, 2013.  Unpaged picture book. This stunning wordless picture book shares the story of a lonely young girl in a boring, drab world.  Everyone in her family is too busy to play, and she retreats to her room with her napping cat.  When even her cat leaves, she discovers it had been laying on top of a red marker with extraordinary powers.  Using the marker to draw a door on her bedroom wall, she escapes into a colorful world full adventure, and her magical journey begins!  In his debut book, Becker creates breathtaking and complex illustrations using watercolor, pen, and ink.   Journey is sure to capture the imagination of any child (or parent) and prompt many repeated explorations.  A Junior Library Guild Selection.  For a sneak preview, watch the book trailer here !

Donner Dinner Party by Nathan Hale Amulet, 2013. 123 pgs. Comics/Graphic Novels      Nathan Hale's third book in his Hazardous Tales series is grimmer than the first two; a graphic novel that tastefully considers a graphic subject--the ill-fated Donner party. Hale's story makes abundantly clear how truly ill-fated they were, what with James Reed foolishly--even idiotically--leading them off onto the Hastings Cut-Off in spite of numerous warnings, and the later decision not to summit the Sierra Nevada range the day before the snows fell in earnest, not to mention the accidental and clearly murderous deaths that troubled the party even before that point.  Hale lifts the gloom as much as he can through the framing device of the original Nathan Hale's storytelling to his hangman and to the British captain. "What's cannonballism?" asks the disingenuous hangman, who is also brokenhearted over the loss of animals along the Donner's trail, but cares not a fi...

Dinosaur Kisses by David Ezra Stein Hardcover , 32 pages Published August 6th 2013 by Candlewick Press    Little Dinah is raring to go the moment she bursts from her egg. She is excited to explore her new surroundings, trying out her new body and all that it can do. When she sees an adorable little pair of creatures share a kiss that becomes her goal. Her desires have some disastrous results as she stomps and chomps her way around in search of the perfect recipient for her sweet smooch. She returns to her hatching place to think for a bit only to discover someone who can handle the kind of affection she is dishing out! Dinosaur Kisses is a colorful tale to share with young readers.

Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf Hardcover , 40 pages Published August 6th 2013 by Schwartz & Wade     Young children are notorious for latching on to random playthings or even having invisible friends. Their imaginations giving life to almost anything they encounter. Sophie is no exception. She decides that a squash purchased for dinner would make a better companion for herself. She gives it a face and a name, Bernice. Bernice goes everywhere with Sophie despite her parents concerns for the inevitable squishy, rotten fate of all produce. Eventually Bernice starts showing signs of her age leading Sophie to consult the squash man at the farmers market. When she follows his advice she is a little lonely for awhile until something unexpected happens and Sophie has more "friends" than before. This adorable story does a great job of showing tolerant parents and a sweet young girl who will do anythin...

Cuento de Noche By Roberto Aliaga and Illustrated by Sonja Wimmer Cuento de Luz SL, 25 pages, Picture Book This beautifully illustrated picture book expresses the wonderful imagination of children. Night is a person that comes every night and and reads stories that come to life, there are many different stories, some are sweet, some are cold, some are magical, some are scary , some are funny, some are black, mysterious, others are perfect until the child wakes-up. But no matter what Night always comes with many dreams in her hands, she has them all....to dream away.... A must read! Sonja Wimmer brings the magic into the book. Este precioso libro illustrado espresa la inmensa y magnifica imaginación de los niños. Noche, es una persona que viene cada noche a leer cuentos que se hacen realidad, hay muchos cuentos que son diferentes, algunos son tiernos, otros fríos, hay magicos, otros que dan miedo, que dan risa, algunos son negros, de misterio y otros...perfectos! hasta q...