Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Big Cat  By Ethan Long Holiday House, 2016. In this edition of the “I Like to Read” series there is a big cat. This slightly plump cat tried unsuccessfully to sneak away for a little girl. The little girl wakes the cat from a nap in order to play. Some things that the girl does with the cat are sweet and acceptable to a lazy feline. Other things the girl wants to do cause some humorous expressions on the cat. However, it is obvious that this cat is loved by the girl. Told in simple and short sentences (one sentence per two pages with “dance” being the most complicated word in the sentences) youngsters who are just learning to read (and who really love cats) will completely adore this book.

The Wrong Side of the Bed  Written by Lisa M. Bakos Illustrated by Anna Raff P. G. Putnam’s Sons, 2016. Picture Book. Lucy woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She could only find one bunny slipper. That was the beginning of a series of negative occurrences on her “one bunny slipper” kind of day. All of her animal friends-- from a porcupine who wants to cuddle to penguins who want to make their own bubbles in the bath—just add to her problems. Luckily, when Lucy wakes up on the wrong side of the bed the next day, the day takes a different course. Sentence adverbs such as unfortunately and obviously introduce each new entry into an ever-increasing list of mishaps that define Lucy’s bad day in this wacky cumulative tale that will delight young children—especially when they hear adults try to complete the full list of mishaps in one breath!

The Door by the Staircase by Katherine Marsh Disney Hyperion, 2016. Fiction. 273 p. Mary is an orphan who is adopted by a kindly old lady, Madam Z. For the first time since her family's death Mary has someone who seems to care about her. Her new guardian lives in a village full of fake practitioners of magic, but as time goes by Mary begins to wonder if some of the magic might be real. She also wonders if Madam Z is as harmless as she seems. Luckily Mary has a new friend in town, the son of a two-bit magician, and together they make plans to find out what is really going on. This new fantasy is full of references to Slavic folktales, including Baba Yaga, Koschei, the Firebird, a Domovoi and others. Mary is a likable character, intelligent, brave and kind. Madam Z is also a complicated character and, as in the traditional stories, the reader doesn't know if she is good or evil. This is a great choice for middle grade readers who are looking for something th...

Rules for Stealing Stars By Corey Ann Haydu Katherine Tegen Books, 2015. Fiction. 336p. Eleven-year-old Priscilla, known as “Silly,” is the youngest of four sisters and resents always being treated like the baby. After moving to a new town, their mother’s alcohol problem only gets worse, and their father continues to hide himself in his work. But Silly’s sisters have found a wonderful secret to help them cope, and eventually Silly convinces them that she is old enough to share it: the girls’ bedroom closets are magic portals that allow them to create any world they can imagine. They catch stars with their hands, play on beaches made of glitter, and climb giant flowers. The closets seem to give them exactly the escape they need. But as the summer wears on, the closets become more and more sinister, and Silly worries that she is losing her sisters. This middle-grade book has some mature themes and dark images. The writing is poetic and the descriptions of the magic closets are b...

Hooray for Kids! by Suzanne Lang Random House, 2016. Picture Book. Everyone is special--that is the message of this book. Each brightly colored page shows different kinds of kids and tells you what makes them unique. (Been there done that, right?) Only this book has a clever little twist to it. The kids in the pictures are all animals and the qualities that they have are those that a particular animal would actually have in real life--with hilarious results. On the page that shows kids that need a lot of sleep--a panda and a sloth are pictured front and center. The kids that can run real fast are a cheetah and gazelle racing one another. The subject matter addressed in this book is one that has been covered by past picture books a million times. What sets this delightful little book apart from all the rest of the crowd is the fantastic illustrations and the really fun unspoken stories that are being told on each page that. Young readers will want to examine each illustration wit...

Art & Max Max wants to be an artist like Arthur, but his first attempt at using a paintbrush sends the two friends on a whirlwind trip through various media, with unexpected consequences. Flotsom The story of what happens when a camera becomes a piece of flotsam. June 29, 1999 While her third-grade classmates are sprouting seeds in paper cups, Holly has a more ambitious, innovative science project in mind. Mr. Wuffles! Mr. Wuffles ignores all his cat toys but one, which turns out to be a spaceship piloted by small green aliens. When Mr. Wuffles plays rough with the little ship, the aliens must venture into the cat's territory to make emergency repairs. Sector 7 While on a school trip to the Empire State Building, a boy is taken by a friendly cloud to visit Sector 7, where he discovers how clouds are shaped and channeled throughout the country. The Three Pigs The three pigs escape the wolf by going into another world where they meet the cat and the fiddle, the cow that jump...

Dorothea's Eyes By Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by Gerard DuBois Calkins Creek an Imprint of Highlights, 2016. Biography. This picture book biography shares a brief background of how Dorothea Lange became one of the most influential American photographers in history. It tells about her childhood battle with polio, which left her with a limp for the rest of her life, and how she tried to blend in the background because she felt like she was different but also became observant of the world around her. When she was eighteen years old, she ignored the conventions of what was proper for women and became a photographer, putting to use her talent for seeing the world with both her eyes and her heart. Hired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to document the Great Depression, her photograph “Migrant Mother” has become one of the most reproduce photographs of all time, and she developed the style “documentary photography,” using realistic scenes, rather than staged ones, to depict soc...

When Spring Comes Written by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Laura Dronzek Greenwillow Books, 2016.  Picture book. Kevin Henkes writes a beautifully simple narrative about waiting for Spring.  Sprinkled with bits of rhyme and alliteration ("there will be buds and bees and boots and bubbles"), this is a fantastic read-aloud for the youngest listeners.  Droznek's gorgeous acrylic illustrations are a captivating view of the world's transformation to Spring.  It's no surprise that this delightful, best-selling picture book has received numerous starred reviews from the likes of  School Library Journal ,  Horn Book , and  Booklist.   Little ones will love When Spring Comes !

Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book!)  By Julie Falatko Pictures by Tim Miller Viking, Penguin Random House, 2016. Snappsy the alligator is just minding his own business when the voice of a narrator decides to interpret his every move. Snappsy doesn’t like this. In fact, Snappsy believes that the book’s narrator is just being rude and not really explaining what is really happening. Eventually Snappsy comes up with an idea that just might get the narrator off his back. Only, the clever idea just might have worked too well. This is a fun read for kiddos who will understand the humor of a narrator interacting with the characters in a book. It also will be enjoyable for youngsters who just like animals and a bit of mischief. This book is a lot of fun.

Feathers By Jorge Corona Color by Jen Hickman Archaia, 2015. Comics. Unpaged.   Abandoned on the streets of the Maze and raised by an adoptive father, Poe is unlike any one else he has ever seen. He has dark feathers all over his body and his eyes cannot stand the daylight. Poe spends his days on rooftops helping the Mice, the orphaned children who live on the streets. Mice have been disappearing in greater numbers and many believe Poe, who they refer to as the Ghost, is to blame. However, when the daughter of some powerful city-dwellers gets lost in the Maze, Poe discovers the truth about the disappearing Mice and realizes that he may not be one of a kind after all. The graphic novel Feathers began as a retelling of Beauty and the Beast but turned into an original story full of suspense and action that is part Beauty and the Beast , part Oliver Twist , and part steam-punk. The art and colors are Gothic, beautiful and complement a story that is exciting and, at times, e...

Kenneth Oppel is the award winning author of more than 20 books for children and teens.  He will be visiting the library on May 4, 2016 as part of the library's AuthorLink series. Here are just a few of his most popular works. The King's Taster By Kenneth Oppel Illustrated by Steve Johnson HarperCollins Publishers, 2006. Picture Book The royal chef takes Max the dog, the royal taster, on several international journeys to find a dish for the land's pickiest king. Airborn (Airborn Series #1) By Kenneth Oppel Eos Publisher, 2004. Fiction. 355 p. Matt, a young cabin boy aboard an airship, and Kate, a wealthy young girl traveling with her chaperone, team up to search for the existence of mysterious winged creatures reportedly living hundreds of feet above the Earth's surface. The Boundless By Kenneth Oppel Simon &Schuster, 2014. Fiction. 332 p Aboard "The Boundless," the greatest train ever built, on its maiden voyage acros...

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda By Tom Angleberger Sixth-grader Tommy and his friends describe their interactions with a paper finger puppet of Yoda, worn by their weird classmate Dwight, as they try to figure out whether or not the puppet can really predict the future. Includes instructions for making Origami Yoda. Romeo and Juliet Together (and Alive) at Last By Avi The eighth grade's plan to get two reluctant "lovers" together by means of a classroom production of Shakespeare's play has some very unexpected results. Terrible Two By Mac Barnett When master prankster Miles Murphy moves to sleepy Yawnee Valley, he challenges the local mystery prankster in an epic battle of tricks, but soon the two join forces to pull off the biggest prank ever seen. Merits of Mischief: The Bad Apple By T. R. Burns After accidentally killing a substitute teacher with an apple, twelve-year-old Seamus Hinkle is sent to Kilter Academy where, in order to excel as he alway...

Weird or What by various authors DK Publishing, 2014. Nonfiction. 303 p. Feeling bored? You might want to check out this book full of fun facts to keep yourself occupied. Ever wondered who gets to name the stars and galaxies? How about why do storms happen? If that isn't exciting enough this book can also teach you which dinosaurs were super predators, how fast a crocodile swims, how  science catches criminals, when ice cream was invented, and much, much more. Recommended for ages nine and up.

Mother/Daughter Book Club El Deafo By Cece Bell The author recounts in graphic novel format her experiences with hearing loss at a young age, including using a bulky hearing aid, learning how to lip read, and determining her "superpower." Mother/Son Book Club The Mysterious Benedict Society By Trenton Lee Stewart After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

Face-Off! Top 10 Lists of Everything in Hockey By Sarah Kwak Time Inc. Books, 2015. Informational. 78 p. Arriving just in time for the playoffs, this is a must read for any hockey fan, young or old. The lists include the obvious, like greatest players, coaches, goalies, and rivalries, but there are some very entertaining ones as well, such Stanley Cup day stories (you won’t believe some of the tales—how could you leave the Cup on the side of the road?!), terrible sweaters (I sadly admit my Ducks deserved the number one spot on that list), and hockey traditions (playoff beards, hat tricks and more). Perfect for those who just want to know a brief history of hockey so they can comment on the greatest players and games the next time they are out with friends or for those who love the game and just want to reminiscence and share their opinion to what should have made the lists.

Freckleface Strawberry: Loose Tooth! By Julianne Moore Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Doubleday Books, 2016. Easy Reader. Seven-year-old Freckleface Strawberry has a loose tooth, her very first loose tooth. She is eager to loose the tooth, so long as it happens at school so that she can get a special tooth necklace from the school nurse. Many of her classmates, and even her sister, have a tooth necklace. Read along to see how Freckleface Strawberry takes matters into her own hands to ensure that her tooth comes out before the bell rings. This book is the third in its series brought to us by Academy-Award winning actress and New York Times bestselling author, Julianne Moore. This book is broken down into four short chapters with easy to follow sentence patterns, simple words, and playful illustrations. A great choice for early readers who may also have a few wiggly teeth themselves!

The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle  By Janet Fox Viking, Penguin Random House, 2016. 388 p. Kat, her two brothers, and son of a family friend are all sent to Rookskill Castle while WWII bombings are prevalent in London. However, it is actually a bit more dangerous at Rookskill Castle than in London with all the Nazi bombs. One by one the children of Rookskill Castle Children’s Academy are disappearing and it seems as if by some dark magic. Kat is the oldest of her crew (and quite clever and logical to boot) so she feels it is her responsibility to figure out just exactly what is happening. The only trouble is…she has a hard time believing in magic (even though her Great-Aunt Margaret gave her a chatelaine that she claims has magical powers). This is a spooky tale where clues as to what is happening are strewn throughout the text via flashbacks or Kat slowly figuring out bits at a time. Yet, through text highlighting other characters, readers will end up guessing the...

The Nameless City  (The Nameless City #1) By Faith Erin Hicks Color by Jordie Bellaire First Second, 2016. Comics. 232 p. The City has been overtaken and ruled by so many different empires and is called so many different names by different people that it no longer has one name. When Kaidu arrives in the City to train to become a Dao warrior and meet his father, the City is experiencing some social and political upheaval. His father and the other generals are trying to assist the General of All Blades in maintaining order and balance in the City. Kaidu, not adhering to class and social structure of the City, befriends a city dweller named Rat. She teaches him how to move about the city using the rooftops. As the two become closer and break more rules, they learn of a sinister plot and their lives will never be the same again. This is an outstanding graphic novel with adventure, humor, and heart that introduces a strong setting and memorable characters. The artwork of the...

Ella Bella Ballerina and A Midsummer Night's Dream by James Mayhew Barron's Educational Series, 2015. Picture Book Ella Bella's ballet class is learning about Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream . Reluctant to change out of her pretty fairy costume, Ella stays behind when class is over to dance one more time on the stage. As she dances, Puck shows up and takes her on a magical journey into Shakespeare's famous story. Mayhew ends with a brief historical note about Shakespeare's play and Mendelssohn's ballet. Mayhew's simple text and whimsical ink and watercolor illustrations will appeal to those who like Fancy Nancy stories. This and other Ella Bella stories are a perfect introduction to famous ballets for the youngest ballerinas.

Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess By Janet Hill Tundra Books, 2016. Picture book. Many years ago, Miss Moon was employed as a governess to sixty-seven dogs on an island off the coast of France. She now shares her 20 most important lessons for raising happy, well-mannered dogs – and humans. Her sage bits of advice, such as, “Friends can come in many shapes and sizes,” and, “A good book will chase away the dark,” are each paired with an illustration of Miss Moon and her charges demonstrating the lesson. Many of the illustrations are humorous; all are beautiful. The lush oil paintings are full of whimsical details and sixty-seven distinct dogs in hats, in costumes, and sometimes in trouble. Children and adult dog lovers alike will be charmed.

I Can Make That!: Fantastic Crafts for Kids by Mary Wallace Owlkids Books Inc., 2014. Non-fiction. As Summer approaches ever closer, the problem of dealing with bored kids who are out of school looms large. This fantastic little book is the answer to all your problems. It is filled to the brim with fun and easy craft projects that kids will want to try. Superhero costumes, a dragon puppet, race cars that work, a toy train, and much, much more. This book also includes games kids can play, craft patterns, and step-by-step instructions for how to make each project.

Mumbet's Declaration of Independence By Gretchen Woelfle Illustrated by Alex Delinois Carolrhoda Books, 2014. Biography. Mumbet was owned by Colonel John Ashley, the richest man in the county, and his wife, who was unkind to Mumbet and her daughter. Mumbet dreamed of one day to free. One night, community leaders gathered at the Ashley home to discuss the taxes and laws the British were forcing on the American people. The men discussed how they were taking away their rights and making them slaves. While at the meeting, a young lawyer, Mr. Sedgwick, wrote down Colonel Ashley’s words asserting that mankind were born to be free and independent—words that later became the new Massachusetts Constitution. Mumbet was inspired by this new law and approached Mr. Sedgwick to help her take her case to court to declare her freedom. This is a great biography to listen/read to with children to introduce the subject of slavery. It doesn’t shy away from the treatment of slaves but it f...

Hour of the Bees  By Lindsay Eagar Candlewick Press, 2016. 360 p. Carol and her family are going to spend the summer at her grandfather’s ranch in the middle of nowhere New Mexico. In part to take care of Grandpa Serge who has dementia and in part to prepare the ranch to sell since Carol’s father wants to move Serge into an assisted living center. Carol and the rest of her family do not want to be on the ranch. And Serge doesn’t want to be anywhere else. To pass the time Serge starts telling “Carolina” (what he insists on calling Carol) stories of the past. This is an amazing story that juxtaposes Carol’s past ancestors and their stories (which could be real or could be part fantasy) with who she is becoming. There is a smattering of Spanish words throughout the book—which makes this a nicely diverse book without drawing attention to the fact there are wonderful elements that highlight diverse cultures and experiences. Eagar crafts an intricate story where Carol must deci...

A Hole in the Wall By Hans Wilhelm HOLIDAY HOUSE, 2016. Picture Book. When a dog looks into a hole in the wall he sees another dog. However, each of his animal friends, in turn, look into the hole and see something different. They are all so sure of what they see that they are angry with one another for lying. When they finally all look together, they realize that they are all right! A Hole in the Wall is a simple yet thought-provoking story with clear and simple illustrations that children will enjoy. Included at the end of the book is “A Fable” by Mark Twain which inspired the book.

Beware the Power of the Dark Side: an Original Retelling of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi by Tom Angleberger Disney/Lucas Press, 2015. Fiction. 412 p. Imagine sitting with one of the today's funniest children's authors to watch one of the most famous movies of all time.  In this book Angleberger ( The Strange Case of Origami Yoda, 2010) retells the story of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi with vivid play-by-play narrative and plenty of funny and insightful commentary.  Most of the book sticks closely to the action of the movie, but occasionally, Angleberger will sidetrack to illuminate the backstory of a less known character, and in one spot adds a conversation that foreshadows the action in the new movie,  The Force Awakens . Angleberger understands his target audience, and tactfully pulls back from description or detail that would be too much for and upper-grade-school age reader. This is a great choice for Star Wars fans, young and old and is available from the Pr...

My Dog, Bob By Richard Torrey Holiday House, 2015. Picture book. Like all dogs, Bob likes breakfast. He likes making it himself, that is. Pancakes, eggs, and bacon for the whole family! Bob loves to ride in the car - especially when he’s the one driving. Bob’s family is perfectly happy with their unique dog. But then neighbor Mimi comes over with her dog, whom she claims is better than Bob. Her dog can catch a stick, sit, and bark. Bob can’t do any of those things. Will Bob’s family change their mind about him? Both text and illustrations are simple and understated, the humor deadpan. Though simple, this clever story contains great messages about self-acceptance, the value of different individuals having different strengths, and the true relationship between humility and confidence. The simple text also means this book works great as an easy reader.

Mr. Wuffles! by David Wiesner Clarion Books, 2013. Picture Book. Mr. Wuffles is a very pampered and bored cat who refuses to play with any of the many toys that his loving owner has so desperately lavished on him. Then Mr. Wuffles discovers a small UFO hidden among all the masses of rejected objects. This toy is different--it is fascinating--and it has real itty bitty aliens hiding out inside of it. To the aliens, Mr. Wuffles is a BIG problem! How can they sneak around and fix their broken ship without being noticed when a large and curious cat is stalking them at every turn? Read this book to find out.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs By Judi Barrett Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers--until the weather takes a turn for the worse. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By L. Frank Baum After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas. How to Train Your Dragon By Cressida Cowell Chronicles the adventures and misadventures of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third as he tries to pass the important initiation test of his Viking clan, the Tribe of the Hairy Hooligans, by catching and training a dragon. The Tale of Despereaux : Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread By Kate DiCamillo The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin. The Cit...

101 Movies to See Before You Grow Up By Suzette Valle Walter Foster Jr., 2015. Informational. 144 p. Broken down into six categories—Family, Action/Adventure/Drama, Musicals, Sports, School, and Documentary/History—““this book is filled with 101 of the most popular movies for families, children, and movie-lovers of all ages.” The book lists the oldies but goodies like E.T. (1982) and Sound of Music (1965) as well as modern films like Lincoln (2012) and Despicable Me (2010). Each film has a summary and sidebars that have tidbits about each film, such as when it was released, run time, and who stars in it. Having not seen 23 of the films on this list, I now have permission to not be an adult. Overall a fun list to go through to help you and your family to decide what to watch on your next movie night. Since the list includes films with PG-13 adult rating, be advised that some films are for more mature viewers.

Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems By Bob Raczka Roaring Book Press, 2016. 44 p. April is National Poetry Month. And today is April Fool’s Day. Wet Cement is both a book of poems and a book that will elicit some chuckles. Making this the perfect book to talk about today! Raczka cleverly creates concrete poetry—with images that are just as important as the actual text of the poem. Children in elementary school will laugh at the ending of the poem “Clock”. The rhythm of the poem “Dominoes” is clever and feels just like a bunch of dominoes set up to fall over. And the “pop-up” poem made me laugh out loud. This is a good book for those that love poetry, those that love to share poetry, or those who are just discovering poetry. Check it out, and happy National Poetry Month!