Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Early Bird  by Tony Yuly Feiwel and Friends, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Early Bird wakes up before the sun.  She stands up tall, takes a deep breath and starts out in search of breakfast.  Down the path, around the corner and over the cat she goes until she finds the garden where Early Worm is already awake.  Will Early Bird get the breakfast she is hoping for?  This is a charming little book for the early risers of the world.  With only a few words per page, and bright, geometric illustrations, Yuly conveys Early Bird's pluck and determination. A surprise ending gives a fun interpretation to the old saying.

Mister Bud Wears the Cone By Carter Goodrich Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014. Unpaged picture book. Mister Bud has a boo boo, so...it's time for the cone. Mister Bud doesn't like the cone. He and Zorro try to get it off, to no avail. Zorro, hyperactive as ever, quickly loses interest and moves on to breaking into the biscuits. He also gets into poor Mister Bud's toys! Mister Bud chases Zorro to get a toy back and creates a mess when his cone knocks over a lamp. When Mom comes home, Zorro jumps up and exclaims, "Look what Mister Bud did! Look what Mister Bud did!" Mom understands that the cone makes it hard to see and move, so Mister Bud doesn't get scolded. But when she sees the trail of biscuits on the other hand, she looks right to Zorro! This is another delightful book featuring the adventures of puppy pals Mister Bud and Zorro! These two are a hysterical and expressive pair. This book is a clever look at what might happen when th...

Tools and Treasures of Ancient China Candice Ransom Lerner Publications Company, 36 pg., Non Fiction This book has great pictures, map, and sketches of ancient rulers of this big country. It gives a simple explanation of the dynasties that ruled this vast area. The amazing statues that are being found today show the great craftsmanship and beliefs of their people. Third and fourth graders will really like this book, the descriptions are short and to the point. The pictures are great and help illustrate the culture well. 

Hopper and Wilson Fetch a Star by Maria Van Lieshout Philomel Books, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Hopper and Wilson are off on another adventure.  This time they want to find a star to use as a night light. They fold a paper airplane, pack a picnic, and fly off into the sky.  The two friends find lots of stars, but none is just right.  They stop for lunch on the moon, and as Wilson takes a nap, Hopper goes off on his own.  He finds himself on the dark side of the moon and doesn't know how to get back to the light.  Finally a star shows him the way back, and he and Wilson decide that the stars are better left where they are. This is a great story for even the youngest listeners.  The text is very simple, and the watercolor and mixed medium illustrations are soft and inviting. Best of all, there is a sweet friendship between the elephant and the mouse that comes through in both the text and the illustrations.

Daddy's Zigzagging Bedtime Story by Alan Sitomer illustrated by Abby Carter Disney Hyperion Books, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book It's bed time and the kids want a story.  When Daddy tries the books on the shelf, the kids complain that they have heard them before. Finally Daddy decides to make up a story for them.  It starts out as a princess story, but Dad can tell he is losing the interest of his little son, so he adds a monster truck.  The story moves back and forth between the boy's interests and the girl's until it comes to a spectacular ending that only a really cool dad could make up. Energetic ink and watercolor illustrations and crazy type setting add even more fun to an already fun story. This is a great affirmation for bedtime-story-telling dads everywhere.

  The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water by Gemma Merino North South Books, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Little crocodile has lots of brothers and sisters. He looks like his siblings, but unlike them, he doesn't like water. Determined to overcome his fear, the little crocodile tries a floating device, and that helps a little, but he still doesn't enjoy the feeling of being wet. Time and a stuffy nose help him to finally discover his true self and embrace his unique abilities. Merino tells this funny remake of the Ugly Duckling with just the right balance of text and visual storytelling. Her little cartoon crocodiles are expressive and amusing and succinct text printed with creative typesetting pulls the reader along to a delightful conclusion.

The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier Amulet Books, 2014.  350 pgs.  Fantasy      On a "March-morning-that-felt-like-October" two red-headed Irish children, a girl named Molly and a boy named Kip, are making their way towards the Sourwoods with a "borrowed" horse and wagon.  The children have been hired to work for the Windsor family who have just moved in to a wretched and frightening old house in the middle of the very wretched and frightening woods. The house and grounds are dominated by an enormous tree which seems to be cared for by a mysterious figure in black--the night gardener--who leaves muddy bootprints in the house and seems to be stealing something from the sleeping figures within. The Night Gardener  is the story of two brave and resourceful children who have only Kip's crutch named Courage left from their parents, and who must figure out a way to save themselves and the Windsor family from the tree and its caretaker, who will give ...

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by, Natasha Kim Illustrated by, Grace Zong Charlesbridge, Massachusetts 2014 Picture Book Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas is a great twist on an old favorite.  After Goldy luck eats all the panda's rice porridge, breaks the littlest pandas chair and messes up his futon, she decides to come back and make it right.  When she does this, she makes a new friend, and learns some valuable lessons of her own.  Besides being a wonderful story with great pictures and color, this book also teaches children about China and some of it's culture.  This would be a great read for children around Chinese New Year time, next February.  Perfect for preschool to 4th grade children.

Antonia, the Horse Whisperer Elisabeth Zöller and Birgitte Kolloch  Illustrations by Betina Gotzen-Beek Sky Pony Press, 93 pages, Juvenile Fiction Eleven-year-old Antonia Rosenburg helps care for the horses on her family-owned riding stables. She has big dreams of winning riding competitions, but those dreams are put on hold when her favorite horse is injured. When her family takes on a new client with a wild-mannered horse, Antonia discovers that she has a natural gift for reaching out to this horse. The problem: their client doesn't want an eleven-year-old near his precious horse. The other problem: the horse, Elfin Dance, won't go willingly to anyone else. This book is a cute beginning to a promising series. Instead of being about winning a big horse competition or accomplishing amazing feats, Zöller and Kolloch focus on human-to-human and human-to-horse interactions. The problems Antonia faces are realistic and not overly dramatic. Antonia never doubts her natural...

I Got the Rhythm Connie Schofield-Morrison, Illustrated by Frank Morrison Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Picture Book If you have a cute girl that loves to dance, this is a great book for her and other members of the family.  This little girl thinks and sees rhythm everywhere she goes.  She can even  think rhythm, and she starts humming, tapping, or dancing. Her whole body feels the rhythm of life. Love it!

Giraffes Can't Dance Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees Purple Enterprices Ltd. 30 pg. Board Book When the dance in the jungle starts, Gerald the giraffe knows he can not dance. Gerald feels lonely, all of his friends in the jungle are at the party. Cricket shows Gerald how to feel the music, and success, he can dance! This cute board book is great to teach little children that, sometimes we just have to figure out a new way to do things.

  Mogie: The Heart of the House By Kathi Appelt Illutrated by Marc Rosenthal Antheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Mogie's brothers and sisters are chosen to do important work as guide dogs or rescue dogs, but Mogie is too free spirited for those kinds of jobs.  One day he wanders into a Ronald McDonald house for sick children. Dogs are not usually permitted in the house, but Mogie doesn't know that.  He goes right up to sad and lonely Gage, and helps to cheer him up.  With Mogie's help, Gage finds the will to fight to get well. Rosenthal's characteristic watercolor and ink cartoon illustrations catch the lively spirit of the little boy and the irrepressible pet.  Dog aficionados of all ages with enjoy this heart warming true story about the power of "puppy" love.

Galápagos George Written by Jean Craighead George Illustrated by Wendell Minor Harper, 2014. Unpaged Nonfiction This nonfiction picture book traces the history of the Galapagos Tortoise from the prehistoric time when its ancestors arrived in the Galapagos islands to the sad day when the last remaining tortoise died in 2012. Beautifully written by Newbery author, Jean Craighead George, the lucid prose shimmers and flows like water. There is a melancholy to it that is reflected in Minor's detailed, painterly  illustrations. The book includes a short glossary and sources for further study.  An end note mentions that the author passed away just weeks after the the last tortoise.  This is a touching introduction to the basic principles of the evolution and extinction of species and a great common core title.

  Bear and Bee: Too Busy by Sergio Ruzzier Hyperion Books, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book In this second Bear and Bee book, Bear wants to play, but each time he asks his friend, Bee, to join him, Bee is too busy.  Bear has a good time playing alone, but he wishes he had someone to share the fun.  Night comes, and Bee is ready to play, but Bear has gone to bed.  Will they ever find something they can enjoy together?  This book is in the picture book section, but it is written like an early reader.  There are only a few words on each page, and the text is printed in large clear type.  The simple, uncluttered cartoon illustrations are accessible and child friendly. The story is simple but the message is important.  Sometimes it takes a special effort to spend time with those we love, but it is worth it.

  May the Stars Drip Down  by Jeremy Chatelain Illustrated by Nikki McClure Abrams, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Here is a book that will certainly be on some Caldecott watch lists this year. The text is a lyric free verse poem that is in the form of a bedtime blessing. "May the stars drip down light upon you,/And you close your eyes to see the moon./And sleep will pull you through." The text is lovely, but the stylized, blue, white and yellow illustrations are what really make the book.  The cut paper illustrations suggest a dream world both restful and enticing. As with many of the finest picture books, the end papers add insight and completion to the story.  This is one that is worth checking out.

  Panda-monium at Peek Zoo by Kevin Waldron Templar Books, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book There is a new baby panda at the zoo, and Mr. Peek wants to show her off.  He plans a big event that will end in an animal parade, but he is so distracted he keeps making mistakes.  Luckily his son, Harold, is paying attention, and before you can say "hippopotomus" he makes everything right again. This book will delight children as they notice the mistakes Mr. Peek is making before he notices them himself.  Waldron incorporates a variety of perspectives in his mixed media illustrations that add to the sense of fun.  This is a great book to share anytime, but especially before a trip to the zoo.

  Mighty Dads  Written by Joan Holub Illustrated by James Dean Scholastic, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Here is the latest addition to our new "Things the Go" picture book section.  Dad trucks are big and strong.  They can do lots of things like dig, scoop, and pour. But the big daddy trucks are happy to have their little trucks help, and are proud of them when they try hard.   The bold pictures are done in bright primary colors and the simple text is printed in bold clear font. This is a great book for dad's and toddlers to share together, especially at Father's Day.

Drums, Keyboards, and Other Instruments By Scott Witmer Provides information on a variety of instruments including the drums, drum kits, other percussion instruments, and both classical and big band instruments. Silly Circus Tricks By Nick Hunter Read this book to learn how to juggle, walk on stilts, and more circus tricks that will impress your friends! Step-by-step photos, along with clear instructions, break down even the most complicated tricks so anyone can learn them. Safety guidelines and tips from the pros make these books a must have! You've Got Talent By Andrea Mills An all-singing, all-dancing guide to stardom! Wanna dance? Wanna sing? DK is proud to present You've Got Talent , a spectacular guide to show business and how to become the next big thing.   Who Walks the Tightrope? Working at a Circus By Mary Meinking This book presents the variety of fascinating jobs found at a circus, from acrobats to clowns. Things I Like By...

  Firefly July: A Year of Very Short Poems Selected by Paul Janeczko Illustrated by Melissa Sweet Candlewick, 2014. Poetry 47p. Paul Janeczko is one of the leading current children's poets and he is coming to the Provo Library in July as part of the BYU Books for Young Readers event. This is his latest publication, a collection of short poems related to the seasons. The poems are by a variety of well known authors, both modern and traditional, including Patrick Lewis, Emily Dickinson, James Stevenson, Robert Frost and others.  All of the poems are well written, some in free verse and others rhyming, and none are more than eight lines long.  Ms Sweet's mixed media illustrations match the mood of each poem, but also unify the collection a little because they are of similar style and energy.  Because the poems are short and the illustrations are lively, this is a great book to use to introduce even reluctant readers to some of the best known children's poets.

Ava and Pip Carol Weston Cover Illustration by Victoria Jamieson Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 211 pages, Juvenile Fiction I have to begin by giving credit to Victoria Jamieson, the cover illustrator. She successfully created a cover that matches the beauty of the story. I chose this book off the shelf without ever hearing about it before simply because the cover is beautiful and intriguing. We experience the story through Ava's diary. Ava is the younger sister who is naturally more outgoing and confident than her older sister Pip. While Ava expresses that she and Pip don't always get along, we know that she has a deep love for her sister and wants to help her out. With the many stories out there about siblings who are out to hate each other, this is much appreciated. Ava is charming and fun. Her perspective is unique and engaging. While she is confident and outgoing, throughout this story she has realistic insecurities that she has to learn t...

Two Bunny Buddies Written by Kathryn O Galbraith Illustrated by Joe Cepeda Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book Two bunny friends start down a path together, but when the path divides, the bunnies quarrel about which road to take.  They go their separate ways, but soon they begin to miss their friend.  They each find a special treat, and decide that the pathway of life is better when it is shared. This book has very simple text, only a few words per page. Cepeda's bright, bold, child friendly illustration carry most of the story line.  This is a great book to teach the youngest children the value of sharing.

Bears in the Bath Shirley Parenteau, Illustrated by David Walker Candlewick Press, 30 pg., Picture Book Mama bear has the bath ready, but where are the little bears? One by one the come in. They are so messy and stinky, oh boy, they really need a bath! When they refuse to take a bath, mama shows them how fun a bath can be! Great book for kids that are a little bit reluctant to take a bath.

Monster Chefs Brian and Liam Anderson Roaring Brook Press, 30 pg., Picture Book The king of the monsters is tired of eating the same thing, eyeballs and ketchup. He sends his chefs to find something different to eat. After all going in opposite directions, three come back with nothing, but the third comes with something that would change the whole monster kingdom. This is a fun and enjoyable book, the ending is a yummy one, yum!!   

  Little Roja Riding Hood Written by Susan Middleton Elya Illustrated by Susan Guavera Putnam's Sons, 2014. Unpaged Picture Book This rhyming retelling of a familiar story incorporates Spanish vocabulary into the English text. "There once was a niña who lived in the woods./She liked to wear colorful capas with hoods." The Spanish words are bolded, and there is a glossary at the beginning of the book, but most of the meanings are clear from context.  This is an updated version of the story and in the end Red's mother suggests to the grandmother that she should buy a security system and carry a cellphone. Guevara's bright watercolor and ink drawings reflect the vibrant Latino culture suggested in the text. This is a fun way for kids who are new to Spanish to learn a few vocabulary words, and for Spanish/English bilingual kids to celebrate their skill with both languages.

  Mulan: A Story in Chinese and English Written and illustrated by Li Jian Translated by Yijin Wert Better Link Press, 2014. Unpaged Bilingual Picture Book Many children have seen the Disney cartoon about the Chinese heroine, Mulan.  This book recounts, in simple language, the original story of Mulan based on traditional Chinese texts. Below the English text the story is also printed in Chinese. Jian's lovely watercolor illustrations are reminiscent of Chinese block prints. This book gives parents a great way to introduce fairly young children to the cultural origins of this well known story. For slightly older children Robert San Souci has a handsomely illustrated picture book called Fa Mulan : The Story of a Woman Warrior .

Edgar's Second Word By, Audrey Vernick Illustrated by, Priscilla Burris Clarion Books, NY, NY 2014 When a new baby is born, there are many firsts.  First smile, first bath, and first word.  In this sweet book, Edgar's first word, wasn't all his older sister Hazel hoped it would be.  Now, Hazel's doing all she can to make his second word something amazing!  This is one of those books that comes along once in a while that has it all.  A funny story, great pictures, and a beautiful lesson.  This book would be wonderful to read with children who are about to or have just become older siblings.  Hazel's sweet, loving patience with her younger brother is really something to experience.  When Edgar finally says that 2nd word, I dare you not to cry!   So adorable.  Be sure to check out page 13, which is especially funny!  (Remember this is being written by a librarian)

D-Day:  The Invasion of Normandy, 1944 by Rick Atkinson with Kate Waters Henry Holt, 2014.  202 pgs.  Nonfiction      Rick Atkinson, Pulitzer prize winning author of the World War II Liberation Trilogy books, has, with the assistance of Kate Waters, adapted the final volume in the series to create this fine book about D-Day for young people.  Since this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Allied invasion of France, this is a particularly good time to introduce young people to one of the most significant battles in history, and Atkinson/Waters do a fine job of it.  The book begins with helpful charts and lists of map legends, the nations involved, and their governmental and military leaders, and a timeline of World War II.  As the narrative unfolds,  Atkinson does his usual fine job of mingling overview with specific recollections of soldiers who were there.  Young people should be interested to learn of the Allies' me...

Gaston Written by Kelly DiPucchio Illustrated by Christian Robinson When Mrs. Poodle has a litter of puppies, she is surprised to see there are three poodles (Fi-Fi, Foo-Foo, Ooh-La-La) and one bulldog (Gaston)! The little family is unique but precious. Mrs. Poodle tries to teach her brood to be proper and yip ("Never yap!"), but Gaston slobbers and barks and is entirely different than the others. One day, the family is at the park, and they come across another unique family. This one is the opposite of theirs: three bulldogs named Rocky, Ricky, and Bruno, and one poodle named Antoinette! The puppy families decide to make a trade- Gaston goes home with the bulldogs, and Antoinette goes home with the poodles. What happens when these pups leave their families for one that looks "right"? Read this adorable picture book to find out!