Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Little Puppy and the Big Green Monster By Mike Wohnoutka Holiday House, 2014. Picture Book. Little Puppy goes looking for a friend to play with and comes across grumpy Monster. Little Puppy mistakes Monster’s actions: when Monster ignores him, Little Puppy thinks they are playing hide and seek, when Monster throws Little Puppy’s ball away, Little Puppy thinks they are playing catch, and when Monster walks away from Little Puppy, Little Puppy thinks they are playing tag. At the end of the day though, Little Puppy and Monster become true friends. Few words and cheerful illustrations make this a staff pick.

Families, Families, Families! By Suzanne Lang and Max Lang Random House Children’s Books, 2015. Picture Book. Families come in all shapes and sizes, and this funny rhyming picture book portrays them all, with the underlying message being that when there is love, there is family. The clever use of mixed media to create animals’ family portraits adds to the humor. A great picture book about explaining what makes up a family.

If You’re Reading This By Trent Reedy Scholastic, 2014. 296 pgs. Fiction. Mike’s father was killed in Afghanistan when he was eight years old; as Mike’s sixteenth birthday approaches, someone sends him letters that his father wrote to him in the eventuality of his death. In the letters his father explains to him what it means to be a man. The letters come at the crucial point in Mikes life when he is making decisions about school, friends, sports, and, of course, girls, which is why his father wanted to wait for him to receive the letters until now. The encouragement and wisdom in his father’s letters help Mike along the path of discovering what kind of man he wants to be. The realistic voice of Mike makes this an easy read, though I frequently got frustrated with his mother when Mike seemed more like the grownup in the family. But overlooking that, the “missions” his father challenges Mike to accomplish in each letter—do something courageous, forgive someone, remember to have...

Lizzie and the Last Day of School by Trinka Hakes Noble Illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod Sleeping Bear Press, 2015. Picture Book Some kids can't wait for the school year to be over, but Lizzie is dreading the last day of school.  She will miss her teacher and all the fun things they have done in Kindergarten. Lizzie is afraid she is the only one who feels sad about the end of the school year until she sees her teacher moping in the empty class room.  Lizzie is happy to find that her beloved teacher feels the same way that she does. Together teacher and student plan the best summer school program ever.  McLeod's watercolor illustrations are child friendly, but capture the sensitive and tender mood of the subject matter.  This is a comforting story for younger children who might have anxiety transitioning at the end of the school year. 

  Ambassador by William Alexander Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2014. 222 p. Fiction Gabe Fuentes has a special talent as a peacemaker.  He handles his little twin brothers with amazing skill and manages to keep a lid on the silent war between his older sister and their mother. His diplomatic talent comes to the attention of "the Envoy" and he is recruited to be Earth's ambassador to the galaxy.  Soon after his first virtual trip to the embassy he discovers three important facts: there is a genocidal alien race approaching the earth, an alien force is trying to assassinate him, and, back on earth, his undocumented parents are being deported. That is a lot for any twelve year old to handle, but handle them Gabe does, not with super powers, but with super people skills. This is a face paced and imaginative science fiction well suited to upper grade school age kids.  Alexander ( Goblin Secrets ) has created a really likeable main character, an original ...

Space Garbage (Objects in Space) by Ruth Owen Power Kids Press, 2015. Nonfiction. 32 p. What happens when a satellite wears out and stops working? It becomes space garbage.  NASA estimates that there are 500,000 pieces of space debris orbiting the earth.  This new nonfiction reader talks about the different kinds of space garbage, how it got there, and what threat it poses to working satellites. Owen also discusses the efforts that are being made to reduce the production of space garbage, and even recapture some that is in orbit already.  The straightforward text is illustrated with colorful photographs and diagrams, and Owen includes interesting factoids in side text boxes on every page.  This is an inviting new STEM title that combines two popular topics, space exploration and environmentalism.

  Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands by Katherine Roy Roaring Book Press, 2014.  Unpaged.      The end-piece graphics show San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge with one of the great white shark hunting areas on earth in the middle distance, only thirty miles off shore. California's coastal Farallon Islands are very near the large population of the San Francisco Bay area and Katherine Roy deftly compares land life with the wild beneath the waves in this beautifully well-written, beautifully illustrated book. Great whites circle the Farallon's hoping to dine on the seals and sea lions native to the islands. Roy describes in exquisite detail, and with truly helpful illustrations, why sharks love sea lions, and why they are so well-designed to hunt them. Kids interested in science, nature, and the ever-fascinating subject of sharks will find a treasure in this exemplary informational title.

Hunt for the Hydra by Jason Fry Harper, 2014.  241 pgs. Science Fiction      First in The Jupiter Pirates series, Hunt for the Hydra  is a goodish sci-fi-thriller with an unusual array of heroes and villains.  For once, the earthlings are the bad guys. Tycho Hashoone, his twin sister Yana, and his older brother Carlo are vying for positions of importance in the family business, which is privateering.  They hold a Letter of Marque from the Jovian Union giving them the right to move against Earth's merchant space fleet. The Jovian Union consists of a confederation of people living on Jupiter's moons, and their relationship with earth seems to be something similar to the American colonies and Great Britain, back in the day. In any case, the kids are full participants in the family business, including the dangers of that business, so they not only fly the ship, but take on enemy vessels as member of the boarding party. On one such mission, the capta...

  Public School Superhero By James Patterson Illustrated by Cory Thomas Little Brown and Company, 2015. Fiction, 273 p Kenny is smart and a good student, but he seems to have a "pick on me" sign on his back.  He is a walking target and the brunt of every middle school bully's prank.  Then one day he snaps and gets into a fight with one of the tough kids, Ray-Ray. As a punishment the new principal assigns Kenny to teach Ray-Ray chess. As they meet to practice every day after school, Ray-Ray volunteers to teach Kenny how to be a tough guy, too.  But what will Kenny have to give up to end the constant bullying and become part of the rough crowd? Patterson intermingles the familiar middle school story with comic book type illustrations of Kenny's imaginary alter-ego, the superhero Stainless Steel. Stainless Steel's battle with his evil clone mirrors Kenny's internal battle as he decides between right and wrong.  This is a great new, highly illustrated, nove...

    Could an Octopus Climb a Skyscraper?  By Camilla de la Bedoyere Illustrated by Aleksei Bitskoff QED Publishing, 2015. Nonfiction Picture Book, 24 pages. A series of humorous questions about an octopus’ abilities out of water allows the reader to learn about the unique nature of octopuses. Questions such as “Could an octopus climb a skyscraper” and “What if an octopus went to the doctor” teach the reader fun facts about octopuses. Children will love this fun nonfiction picture book full of odd scenarios and funny, vibrant illustrations. Includes a facts page to help solidify the information presented in the book.     

From Leather to Football (Start to Finish) By Robin Nelson Learner Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. 24 p. Have you ever wondered how a football is made?  This simple nonfiction describes the process, step by step. A football starts as a piece of leather (no mention of where the leather came from), that is cut, sewed, laced, and filled with air.  Each spread has a short paragraph in large type, and a clear photograph.  The text is simple enough for younger grade school children.  Nelson includes a brief glossary and suggestions for further reading at the end of the book. Other books in this fun STEM series include From Iron to Car , From Oil to Gas , From Sheep to Sweater , and From Tree to Paper .

Stella by Starlight by Sharon M. Draper Antheneum Books, 2015. Fiction, 320 p. Stella lives in a small segregated town in North Carolina in 1932.  It has been a long time since the Klan has been active in that area, but one night, not long before the presidential election, Stella sees the white-clad Klan members burning a cross in a nearby white town.  Stella and her neighbors are afraid, but they rally around Stella's father and two other men who decide to register to vote despite Klan threats.  When hatred leads to tragedy, Stella learns that kindness and courage comes in all colors. Draper's well told tale, inspired by her own ancestor's experience, shows how individuals and communities bravely worked for racial equality long before the Civil Rights Movement. Readers will cheer for Stella who has the courage to confront the Klan, and her own insecurities.

Tangled in the Rainforest By Gerry Bailey Alone in the rainforest, Joe is suddenly caught in a tropical storm. He uses his science skills to observe the habitat around him to build shelter, find food, and search for help. Other titles in the series Can Science Save Your Life by Gerry Bailey: Dry in the Desert Stranded on an Island Swept Away by the Storm Lost in the Antarctic By Kevin Blake Would-be explorers and adventurers will relish these survival stories set in some of the world's most dangerous and isolated environments. Survive Alive: Finding Your Way By Neil Champion Gives essential survival tips for navigation in the wild, including using natural means such as the sun and stars and using technology such as compasses and GPS receivers. Can You Survive the Jungle? By Matt Doeden Describes the fight for survival in the jungle. The Ultimate Survival Guide By Mike Flynn Top tips for surviving the wilderness (or your back garden). Switch off your computer game, step out...

Close to Famous By Joan Bauer Twelve-year-old Foster McFee and her mother escape from her mother's abusive boyfriend and end up in the small town of Culpepper, West Virginia, where they use their strengths and challenge themselves to build a new life, with the help of the friends they make there. Granny Torrellis Makes Soup By Sharon Creech With the help of her wise old grandmother, twelve-year-old Rosie manages to work out some problems in her relationship with her best friend, Bailey, the boy next door. Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies By Erin Dionne Overweight thirteen-year-old Celeste begins a campaign to lose weight in order to make sure she does not win the Miss HuskeyPeach modeling challenge, in which her mother and aunt have entered her--against her wishes. At the Sign of the Sugared Plum By Mary Hooper In June 1665, excited at the prospect of coming to London to work at her sister Sarah's candy shop, teenaged Hannah is unconcerned about rumors of Plague until, as ...

American Revolution By Mary Pope Osborne In this companion to Revolutionary War on Wednesday , presents a picture of life in colonial America and reviews the causes and major events of the American Revolution. Dinosaurs By Mary Pope Osborne In this companion to Dinosaurs Before Dark , Jack and Annie explain about all the different types of dinosaurs. Dolphins and Sharks By Mary Pope Osborne In this companion to Dolphins at Daybreak , explores dolphins and sharks, their ocean habitats, and general information about oceans and oceanography. Horse Heroes By Mary Pope Osborne Presents a nonfiction companion book to Stallion by Starlight , discussing the history of domesticating horses and explaining why Alexander the Great's horse was so famous. Knights and Castles By Mary Pope Osborne This companion to The Knight at Dawn , Jack and Annie look at knights, armor, and life in a castle. Magic Tricks from the Tree House By Mary Pope Osborne A chapter-book companion...

You Nest Here with Me You Nest Here with Me By Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple Illustrated by Melissa Sweet Boyds Mill Press, 2015. Picture Book. A mother reassures her daughter that home is where they can be together as she tells her of many types of birds and the nests they build. This fun little book for preschoolers is presented in rhyme and will expose children to different types of birds while teaching them the importance and comfort of home. Includes a two page index of information on the birds mentioned in the book.

The New Baby By Stephen Cartwright The Bunn family gets a new baby and learns how to take care of it. I’m a Big Sister By Joanna Cole There is a new baby in the house, but big sister learns how to help, and can do many things baby can't do, like eating pizza and ice cream. Soy Una Hermana Mayor By Joanna Cole A sister enumerates the joys of welcoming a new baby to the family and the advantages of already being "big." Soy Un Hermano Mayor By Joanna Cole A child observes all the things that his new baby brother does and gives all the reasons why he loves being a big brother. My New Baby By Rachel Fuller A new addition to the family is exciting, but the experience can also be worrying and confusing for siblings. Coping with the new situations and emotions that arise can be very challenging. This series of four board books deals with the anticipation of waiting for the new baby, the excitement of the arrival itself, and the beginnings of the special relat...

  You Wouldn't Want to Be Sick in the 16th Century! by Kathryn Senior Illustrated by David Antram Franklyn Watts, 2014. Nonfiction. 32 p. This is one of the newest additions to the "You Wouldn't Want To..." series.  This one discusses sicknesses and medical practices in Tudor England.  The conversational text follows a boy who becomes a physicians apprentice in 1545.  It discusses blood letting, humors, amputations, and the plague.  The book is illustrated with exaggerated cartoons, word bubbles and factoid boxes.  Senior includes a simple timeline and glossary.  This is a great book that teaches both history and science in a format that will appeal to reluctant readers, especially boys, who delight in the "gross out" factor.

Life in the Wild West By Arthur K. Britton Describes what it was like to live in the West during the last half of the nineteenth century, covering outlaws, cowboys and ranch life, Native Americans, and more. Bad Guys: True Stories of Legendary Gunslingers, Sidewinders, Fourflushers, Drygulchers, Bushwhackers, Freebooters, and Downright Bad Guys and Gals of the Wild West By Andrew Glass Relates the exploits of several famous outlaws in frontier America such as Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Doc Holliday. You Wouldn't Want to Live in a Wild West Town!: Dust You'd Rather Not Settle By Peter Hicks Looks through the eyes of the fictional marshal of an imaginary town called Dustville to show what life was like on the Great Plains just after the Civil War. The Wild West: An Interactive History Adventure By Allison Lassieur Describes the people and events of the age of the Wild West in the year 1876. The reader's choices reveal the historical details from the...

Shackleton's Journey  Written and illustrated by William Grill Flying Eye Books, 2014. Nonfiction In 1914 Ernest Shackleton lead an expedition to cross the content of Antarctica.  The story of his amazing journey has been told many times but never quite like this.  Grill tells the story with precise, succinct text, and amazing pastel and pencil illustrations.  The illustrations contribute as much to the storytelling as the text, and a young reader could look just at the headings and the illustrations and get a pretty good sense of the story.  What is more important, the illustrations capture the different moods of each of the major events of the tale.  The pages that discuss assembling supplies for the journey are busy and cluttered, while the one talking about the isolation the expedition felt on the Antarctic snow-scape is stark and panoramic. This is a great new nonfiction for young people who love real life adventure.

Spell Robbers (Quantum League #1) by Matthew Kirby Scholastic, 2014. Fiction. 264 p. Ben's mother has started yet another graduate degree at another university, and, worried about leaving Ben alone in the afternoons, enrolls him in a "science camp." It turns out that this particular science camp teaches kids to alter their environment using their minds to control quantum entanglement.  Ben seems to be a prodigy, and soon surpasses his new friends. Then one day the lab is attacked and their teacher is taken as a hostage.  Ben, and his friend, Peter, are recruited by an organization that trains young adepts to defend the world from evil quantum villains.  Ben is horrified to discover that when he joins this organization, his family's and friend's memory of him is completely erased.  Ben is not at all happy with this arrangement, but agrees to help the League in exchange for a promise that when he is done with the mission they will restore his mo...