Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The Hypnotists By Gordon Korman Scholastic, 2013. Fiction. 232 p. Jackson Opus has unusual eyes.  They change color when his emotions change, which allows Jackson to sometimes hypnotize people.  Jackson is recruited by a foundation of hypnotists and begins intensive training to learn to control his power. The foundation claims to have the betterment of mankind as its goal, but Jackson begins to wonder about their real motives when the director asks him to do something unethical. It is only when he begins to express his hesitations that he realizes how much he is under the director's power. Suddenly Jackson is in a race to save himself, his family and the fate of the whole country. Gordon Korman has created likeable characters with interesting ethical questions in a fast paced, nail-biting thriller that will leave you eager for book 2.

Super Red Riding Hood by Claudia D ávila Kids Can Press, 2014. Picture Book Ruby loves the color red.  She loves red food, red boots, but most of all she loves her red cloak.  When she puts it on she become Super Red Riding Hood.  When her mother sends Ruby out to play in the yard, she meets an unexpected visitor, the Wolf.  The Wolf blocks Ruby's way home, but Ruby uses her super powers of running and dodging to get away.  Finally She uses her greatest super power, kindness, to befriend the wolf.  In the guise of a fractured fairytale, D ávila effectively demonstrates a variety of strategies for dealing with a bully.  The illustrations are stylized and colorful and reflect D ávila's graphic novel background.

Science: A Visual Encyclopedia by Chris Woodford and Steve Parker Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2014. 304 pages. Do you have a child 8 or older who struggles with science? Check out this visual science encyclopedia. It is abounding with engaging photographs and interesting text. It covers the key principles of chemistry, physics, and biology, though you certainly don't have to go through the whole book. Great for visual learners reluctant to pick up a science book and science enthusiasts alike.

Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi illustrated by Ralph McQuarrie It has been 37 years since the world first met Luke Skywalker, the hero of Star Wars. This book introduces Luke to a new generation.  Written by best selling author, DiTerlizzi (Spiderwick Chronicles) this book follows Luke's adventures from his boyhood on Tatooine to his final triumph over the Sith Emperor Palpatine. The writing is engaging and does a good job of distilling the story into a manageable length.  The most exciting thing about this book, however, are the illustrations.  They are by the man who developed the concept art for George Lucas, and show an early vision of the Star Wars world. It is interesting how faithfully the costume and set artists for the film recreated McQuarrie's vision, and it is interesting to see little variations that didn't end up in the final production. Star Wars fans of all ages will love exploring this retelling of an A...

  Skippyjon Jones: Snow What by Judy Schachner Dial Books for Young Readers, 2014. Picture Book Skippyjon Jones is back with another adventure just in time for winter.  Skippyjon likes to play with his sisters in the snow, but he doesn't like to listen to their kissy princess bedtime stories.  When their mother starts to read Snow White to them, Skippyjon goes into his bedroom and makes up his own story about saving the princess. As usual, Skippyjon teams up with his chihuahua friends and together they brave the winter night to find the frozen princess Snow What.  This book has all that fans have come to expect from Skippyjon Jones; snappy bilingual word play, high and hilarious adventure, and plenty of kitty bravado. As an added bonus the publisher has included an audio CD of the story read by the author.

  Bear Hug by Katharine McEwen Templar Books, 2014. Picture Book A young adult bear forages in the forest just as his Mama and Papa bear taught him. One day he meets another bear and they begin spending time together gathering food and building a den in a cave.  When winter comes they stay together and in spring they emerge with a little bear cub in tow. The bear parents begin to teach their cub the same skills their parents taught them.  This is a lovely simple book about the wonder of the life cycle.  McEwen tells the story with minimal text--only a sentence per page-- and with colorful collage illustrations.  McEwen makes good use of translucent papers in the collage, so that the bears' forest home looks like it has depth and dimension. This book could be enjoyed by preschoolers at home, or used as a read aloud STEM book for kindergarten or first grade classes.

Kitchen Science Experiments: How Does your Mold Garden Grow? By Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen Introduces basic chemistry concepts that can be learned in everyday kitchens, with easy-to-follow instructions and scientific explanations for each experiment. Magic Up Your Sleeve By Helaine Becker Learn to perform fun, step-by-step tricks with common household items. Learn intriguing facts about magicians of the past and their awe-inspiring tricks. Get the inside scoop on how to stage a magic show that'll leave audiences amazed and astounded. Xtreme Illusions By Anna Bowles Seeing is believing. But what if you simply can't believe your eyes? Dive into another dimension and experience the eye-boggling and brain-twisting extremes of these awesome optical illusions. This mind-bending collection of visual puzzles will amaze your friends, mystify your family and even blow your own mind! Easy Origami Toys By Christopher L. Harbo Provides instructions and diagrams for ma...

Beautiful Yetta's Hanukkah Kitten by Daniel Pinkwater illustrated Jill Pinkwater Feiwel and Friends, 2014. Picture Book Yetta the chicken lives in the trees of Brooklyn and mothers a whole group of escaped parrots.  One winter she finds a kitten shivering in the cold.  She wants to help it, but doesn't know how.  She and the parrots decide to take the kitten to a kindly Jewish woman they know.  She welcomes the kitten, and treats the assembled birds to Hanukkah latkas. This is the second Beautiful Yetta story.  In the first she falls off a farm cart, finds herself in the city, and meets the parrots.  Yetta is a Yiddish and everything she says is printed in English and Yiddish, with a pronunciation provided below. The parrots' dialog is printed in English and Spanish with pronunciation beneath. The illustrations, done with marker and ink pen, are very child friendly. This is a cute holiday story about extending kindness to those in need.

Stubby the Ward Dog: The True Story of World War I's Bravest Dog by Ann Bausum National Geographic Kids, 2014. Nonfiction, 72 p. At the outset of WWI a mixed breed dog started hanging out around the field at Yale University where new military recruits were drilling.  He was befriended by J. Robert Conroy of the Yankee Division.  When it was time to ship out to Europe, Conroy smuggled the dog, whom he named Stubby because of his short tail, aboard the transport ship.  Very soon Stubby had endeared himself to the whole regiment and even learned to do a salute to commanding officers.  On the front, Stubby became an important addition to the war effort.  He cheered the troops in the trenches, carried messages, and helped to find wounded soldiers after battle.  He was even wounded twice, and was eventually awarded special medals for his faithful service. Bausum's writing is interesting and age appropriate, but she is also meticulous about sorting out lege...

Nighty Night ZooBorns By Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland Employing text designed for emerging readers, a skill-building bedtime tale features endearing ZooBorns photography that depicts adorable animal babies settling down to sleep. Night Science for Kids By Terry Krautwurst Provides ideas and activities for discovering what changes in the world after dark, including the arrival of moths and owls, fog, and the stars. The Sunset Switch By Kathleen V. Kudlinski Simple text and warm illustrations give readers a glimpse into the night when daytime animals go to sleep and nighttime animals take over. The Moonflower By Peter Loewer A brief look at some of nature's nocturnal behavior including the blooming of the moonflower, how moths drink, how bats "see," and how vines climb. Goodnight Book for Latter-day Saints By Jenna Mitchell Stories, poems, and other bedtime activities for you and your little one. Buddha at Bedtime By Dharmachari Nagaraja A retel...

This Book Just Ate My Dog! By Richard Byrne When her dog disappears into the gutter of the book, Bella calls for help. But when the helpers disappear too, Bella realizes it will take more than a tug on the leash to put things right. Don’t Push the Button! By Bill Cotter The only rule in Larry's book is that the reader not push the button, but when no one is looking, it may be irresistible. The Black Book of Colors By Menena Cottin This title invites readers to imagine living without sight through remarkable illustrations done with raised lines and descriptions of colors based on imagery. Braille letters accompany the illustrations and a full Braille alphabet offers sighted readers help reading along with their fingers. The Day the Crayons Quit By Drew Daywalt When Duncan arrives at school one morning, he finds a stack of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them. Moo! By David LaRochelle When Cow gets her hooves on the farmer...

Truth About Santa Claus By James Cross Giblin Explains how historical facts, religious mythology, folklore, tradition, and commercial promotion have combined to give us the modern figure of Santa Claus. Dear Santa: The Letters of James B. Dobbins By Bill Harley James Dobbins writes letters to Santa Claus, detailing what he and some family members want for Christmas and explaining his behavior of the past year. Santas of the World By George Ouwendijk Explains that people of various cultures from around the world have different ideas about Santa Claus or a comparable mythical figure who is often seen as a gift-giver. Letters from Father Christmas By J.R.R. Tolkien A collection of illustrated letters from Father Christmas recapping the activities of the preceding year at the North Pole. The letters were written by the author to his children.

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry Roaring Book Press, 2014. Fiction 351 p One Sunday afternoon at St. Etheldreda's School for Young Ladies the head mistress and her slimy brother suddenly drop dead.  The seven students of the Victorian girl's boarding school must make a quick decision.  Do they report the deaths to the authorities and face the inevitability of the school being shut down, or do they hide the murders and enjoy, for the first time, some measure of freedom and control of their future? Lead by Smooth Alice, the seven girls begin an elaborate charade to fool all the nosy neighbor, police, doctors and suitors and keep their bid for independence alive. Focusing on strong and quirky girl characters,  Berry has created a fast paced, and darkly funny murder mystery for those who like The Series of Unfortunate Events , and the Enola Holmes mysteries.

  Winter Moon Song by Martha Brooks illustrated by Leticia Ruifern á ndez Groundwood Books, 2014. Picture Book Young Rabbit has been practicing with the rabbit choir as it prepares to sing the Winter Moon Song.  He wonders how the tradition of the Winter Moon Song began so his mother tells him the story of the rabbit in the moon.  As the little rabbit sings the song that has been sung by rabbits for generations, he feels connected to all rabbits, young and old, and sees his place in their grand history. Brooks' sweet, gentle, story bucks the recent trend for short sassy text. It is illustrated with soft watercolors in muted white, blue, and black. This one is a great choice to for parents who want to snuggle up with a little one and savor a longer story on a cold winter evening.

The Shadow Throne The Ascendance Trilogy: book 3  by Jennifer Nielsen, Scholastic, 2014. Fiction, 317 p. Jaron has finally won the respect of his kingdom, but his challenges are not over yet.  Avenia has allied with two other kingdoms and are marching on Carthya.  Carthya is greatly outnumbered, and Imogene has been captured and is being held by Vargan as bate. The odds seem insurmountable,  but Jaron still has a few tricks up his sleeves. Will they be enough to save Carthya, and the people Jaron cares about most?  This is the satisfying ending to a very popular trilogy.  Jaron, with his wit and roguish ways is a particularly endearing character.  If some of the coincidences in the book are perhaps a little too convenient, young readers will be willing to overlook them for the sake of the fast paced and exciting plot. Great of kids ages 10+ who love action, adventure and intrigue.

  Who's Next Door? by Mayuko Kishira illustrated by Jun Takabatake Owl Kids, 2014. Picture Book Chicken lives a quiet, well ordered life in house with a red roof.  One day someone moves into the house with the blue roof next door. Chicken is eager to meet his new neighbor. He waits and watches, but can't see any one moving around in the house. Frustrated, Chicken goes to bed, and as soon as he does, Owl from the blue house wakes up.  Owl wants to meet his new neighbor too, but Chicken is no where to be seen.  Will the two ever meet? This story, translated from Japanese, is written with simple, straight forward text. The illustrations are simple too: lighthearted cartoons done with bright primary colors.  Children will enjoy this tale that confirms that a good friendship is worth a little extra effort.

Mr. Wayne's Masterpiece by Patricia Polacco G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2014. Autobiographical Picture Book Patricia is smart and a good writer, but so shy she can't read her English paper in front of the class.  Her teacher recommends that she join the drama class.  She is grateful that the drama teacher, Mr. Wayne, starts her out painting scenery, but as she paints she listens and watches  Soon she knows the whole play by heart and was able to prompt the other students when they forget their lines.  When the lead of the play moves away suddenly, Mr. Wayne asks if Patricia can take her part. With a lot of encouragement and support from the teacher and the other students Patricia is able to overcome her shyness and give the performance of her life.  This story is based on a real incident in the author's life.  Ms Polacco finishes the story by expressing gratitude for her marvelous teachers because now, as a famous author, she has to give speeches to thousand...

Jack  by Tomie DePaola Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014. Picture Book Jack wants to go out and make his way in the world so decides to follow his grandfather's advice to visit the king.  On the way to the palace Jack meets a chick who wants to join him.  Jack welcomes the chick, and continues on his journey.  Jack meets a duck, a dog, a goose and many other animals and he invites all of them to come to the castle with him. As they go along, the animals raise a chorus of peeps, and honks, and woofs.  When they finally arrive, the wise king finds the perfect home for them all. DePaola has won both the Caldecott and Newbery honor awards.  This latest folk tale is written in the simplest language with predictable repeated phrases. It is illustrated with DePaola's classic style and is a great way to introduce very young children to "Jack tales".

  The King and the Magician by Jorge Bucay Abbeville Kids, 2014 Picture book In a distant land, a cruel king seeks only for absolute power. Upon hearing of a magician who not only has the power to tell the future, but is beloved of the people for his wisdom and kindness, the king determines to call this rival to the palace and kill him. However, when asked to predict the day of his own death, the clever magician replies that he will die on the same day as his king. The king, fearing for his own life, keeps the magician safe in his palace, under the pretext of asking the magician’s advice on running the kingdom. Thus begins a transformative journey for king and kingdom. This original fairytale has all the timelessness and enduring nature of the folktales of the ages. Originally published in Spain, this picture book has it all: a satisfying story, an emotionally impactful message, and outstanding artwork. The sumptuous gold lettering of the text nicely sets off Gus...

Bedtime Math By Laura Overdeck Illustrated by Jim Paillot Feiwel and Friends, 2013. 86 pages. For kids who know their multiplication and division to kids who are just learning to count, this book makes a great addition to a family bedtime ritual. Each set of pages includes a funny and informative paragraph under headings such as "Rocket and Roll", "The 10-Second Rule" and "No Cheetah-ing". These are followed by three separate math problems, each with different levels of difficulty. This makes it possible to include the whole family. For kids who are still learning to count, you could help them solve the easiest problem by holding up fingers and counting with them. This book also helps children improve their problem solving skills even if they already know their math facts well. The illustrations are fun and plentiful. Even if you only get through one page a night, it's worth it. If you want to reinforce that math can be fun, this is the book you...

Manners Mash-Up: A Goofy Guide to Good Behavior By Ted Arnold Presents proper and improper acts of etiquette for young readers in a humorous setting. It’s a Spoon, Not a Shovel By Caralyn Buehner An irresistible book for teaching manners, guaranteed to delight and instruct children, but also to make their parents roar with laughter. Dude, That’s Rude! Get Some Manners By Pamela Espeland Kids today need manners more than ever, and Dude, That’s Rude! makes it fun and easy to get some. Full-color cartoons and kid-friendly text teach the basics of polite behavior in all kinds of situations—at home, at school, in the bathroom, on the phone, at the mall, and more. Are You Quite Polite? : Silly Dilly Manners Songs By Alan Katz Presents humorous lyrics to such familiar children's songs as "Pop Goes the Weasel," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and "Hey Diddle Diddle." No Slurping, No Burping! : A Tale of Table Manners By Kara LaReau Evie and ...

Mr. Frank by Irene Luxbacher Groundwood Books, 2014. Picture Book   Mr. Frank is an elderly tailor. In the 1940's he repaired military uniforms. In the 50's, 60's and 70's he sewed a variety of stylish and important clothes. He sewed tutu's for ballerinas, and jeans for cowboys.  But now he gets to sew the most important and exciting project of his long career. This is a sweet story of a grandfather's love. The illustrations are delightfully eclectic and follow the course of fashion through the recent decades. Luxbacher skillfully suggests age progression as Frank goes from being a new young tailor, to an experienced master tailor, to a wizened, kindly grandfather.  If the author/illustrator were an American instead of Canadian, I would have put this on my Caldecott contender list.

Can I Come Too? By Brian Patten Illustrated by Nicola Bayley Peachtree Publishers, 2013, 2014. Picture Book Mouse may be small, but she is looking for a big adventure.  In fact, she is in search of the biggest animal in the world. She first meets a frog and asks him if he is the biggest animal.  The frog answers that he is not, but would like to see it and joins mouse on her quest.  They meet a bird, a cat, an otter, and other animals, each progressively bigger, but none the biggest.  Each animal joins the mouse in her search until they reach the ocean.  There, at last, they find the biggest animal in the world. The realistic illustrations, done with colored pencil, are amazingly rendered.  Each page is a lovely combination of balanced color and careful detail.This is a simple and appealing adventure tale for the youngest readers and listeners.