Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The Mouse Who Reached the Sky By Petr Horáček Candlewick Press, 2015. Picture Book. When Little Mouse sees something red and shiny hanging from a tree he thinks he has found a marble to play with. After unsuccessfully trying to get it down by himself, he realizes that he needs help from his friend Mole. Mole is unsuccessful in helping Little Mouse get it down but clarifies that the object is in fact a balloon. The two friends decide to enlist the help of the taller Rabbit. Rabbit informs them that it is not a marble or a balloon but a ball that they can play with. When the three stand on one another to reach the object they all take a tumble and quickly learn what the object really is. The Mouse Who Reached the Sky is a cute picture book with a fun story and simple illustrations. A few peek-through holes and a fold out page add some variety to the picture book. Younger children will enjoy this story read to them.

One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree By Daniel Bernstrom Illustrated by Brendan Wenzel Katherine Tegen Books, 2016. One day a happy little boy wanders through the jungle into the shade of a eucalyptus tree.  He is quickly swallowed whole by a giant snake, but swiftly uses his wits to hatch an escape plan in the belly of the snake.  What follows is a hilarious series of fellow belly-dwellers and an ending that will have little ones laughing. The story is amusing and the illustrations skillfully charming, but it's the language that seals the deal in this book.  Described by the publisher as a folktale that "combines the delightful feel of Kipling, the  musicality of Peter and the Wolf , and the fun and delight of Simms Taback," Bernstrom utilizes rhyme, repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to create a rollicking read-aloud sure to captivate children and adults alike!

The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones by Will Mabbitt Viking, 2015. Book on CD. 3 discs. Do you need a recorded book to listen to on a road trip this summer?  This is a great choice.  Mabel Jones unwittingly does "the deed" that makes her eligible to be kidnapped by a crew of talking animal pirates.  The captain, an evil wolf, convinces Mabel that she must help him find the pieces of a broken X to earn the right to return to her home.  Mabel's resourcefulness wins her the respect of her fellow pirates, but can the captain be trusted to follow through with his promise? Mabbitt's plucky main character and tongue-in-cheek humor are perfectly realized by Toby Jones' masterful narration. Children and adults will be chuckling all through this one. Parents should be aware that there is a little potty humor.  The print version includes illustrations that add to the fun.

The Birthday Fish By Dan Yaccarino Henry Holt and Co., 2005. Picture book. Cynthia loves ponies more than anything else. Every year she wishes for a pony for her birthday, but every year she has gotten something else. This year, however, she is absolutely sure her parents have finally gotten her a pony. When her gift turns out to be a goldfish instead, she is so upset she starts to pour the fish down the drain. The quick-thinking goldfish speaks up and declares that he is a magical fish and if Cynthia will set him free in the lake, he will grant her a wish. Cynthia wishes for two ponies and sets off. Is one simple walk to the lake enough to change the mind of a pony-loving girl?  Both Cynthia and her goldfish have fun, quirky personalities, and there is plenty of humor in both the text and the illustrations of this picture book. Yaccarino’s bright and stylized artwork will be familiar to those who know his animated TV character, Oswald the Octopus. This is a fun take on t...

  Cake Pop Crush by Suzanne Nelson Scholastic Paperbacks, 2016. Fiction. 247 p. This book is like a fluffy version of Romeo and Juliet--with sprinkles on top. After a new coffee chain opens up across the street, Alicia Ramirez finds her family's bakery in danger of going out of business. Even worse, the cute new boy that just moved into her school--he's the son of the new coffee store's CEO. Dane is doing everything he can at school to promote his family's business. But Ali is not about to give up! She's got some delicious ideas that just might help the bakery drum up some new business--and perhaps a little romance as well. This sweetly light, tale will delight readers who enjoy authors like Wendy Mass, Ann M. Martin, and Maya Gold.

I Loathe You Written and Illustrated by David Slonim Aladdin, 2012. Picture Book. With great rhyming text like “I loathe you more than chicken pox, more than stinky, sweaty socks.” Little Monster finds out how much his mother “loathes” him. In the end Little Monster is comforted when he asks his monster mom “Suppose someday I lose my stink, what would you say? What would you think?” He learns that no matter what, his mom will always “loathe” him. Fans of My Monster Mama Loves Me So will love sharing this funny book with someone they “loathe” as they giggle at all the silly comparisons of how much they loathe each other.

Peek-a ZOO! By Nina Laden Chronicle Books, 2014. Board book. A turn of the page will reveal the secret animal in this fun rhyming board book. The last pages feature a mirror, so I bet you can guess what creature gets the final spotlight in this fabulous finish.

Thunder Boy Jr.  By Sherman Alexie Illustrated by Yuyi Morales Little, Brown and Company, 2016. Thunder Boy Jr. is named after his dad. But he doesn’t like his name. They call his dad Big Thunder. And they call him Little Thunder and according to him “that nickname makes me sound like a burp or a fart.” Really, he wants his own name that is unique to him. The book then goes on to explain all the different things about Thunder Boy Jr. that are special about him and that he wouldn’t mind being named about. For example, because he can climb mountains he could be “Touch the Clouds”. Or because he likes playing with his dog he could be named “Can’t Run Fast While Laughing.” There are so many things that make Thunder Boy Jr. exceptional that he would rather be named because of those things.  Of course this book has a Fabulous Finish where Thunder Boy and his father come to an understanding…but it is fun to see what happens (and then to read the book again to see how the e...

Grandad’s Island  By Benji Davies Candlewick Press, 2015. Picture Book.  Syd loved going to see Grandad who lived nearby. Syd knew where the key was kept and could let himself in whenever he wanted. One day when Syd went to visit, he found Grandad in the attic. Grandad wanted to show him something special: a large metal door behind a hanging sheet. When they opened the door and went through it, they found themselves on the deck of a huge ship making its way through the town out to the ocean. Grandad steered the ship a long distance out to sea until, finally, Syd saw an island. They disembarked and began to explore the island. After finding a shack and having lots of fun in the jungle, Grandad told Syd to head back home alone and that Grandad would be staying on the island from now on.  This is a sweet story that teaches about the loss of a loved one without ever coming out and saying it. The illustrations are colorful and lively while the interactions between Sy...

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown Little, Brown and Co, 2016. Fiction. 279 p. In a future world a robot in a shipping crate washes overboard in a storm and lands on a deserted island. The robot, whose name is Roz, is equipped with artificial intelligence.  At first Roz is not well suited to the natural environment and rough terrain of the island, but by careful observation and trial and error, it eventually adapts to life in the wild, and even learns the language of the wild animals.  As Roz "makes friends" with the animals, and comes to be the foster parent of an orphaned goose, it becomes more like a living creature, and less like a robot. This charming modern fairy tale is a cross between Bambi and Wall-E . The relationship between Roz and the gosling is heartwarming, and Brown's message about kindness overcoming prejudice is timeless. This book is available from the Library in print, on CD, as an ebook and as an e-audio download.

What a Treasure! By Jane and Will Hillenbrand Holiday House, 2007. Picture book. Little Mole gets a new shovel and starts to dig for treasure. He finds a stick, which turns out to be a treasure to Bird who wants to use it for his nest. So Mole gives it to him. Mole also finds treasures for Snail and Squirrel, but will he ever find a treasure for himself? This is a sweet, simple story about friendship and generosity with minimal text and gentle illustrations. A warm, happy read for young children about the simple joys in life and how treasure means different things to different people. This title is available in book and big book format.

Wabi: A Hero's Tale by Joseph Bruchac Dial Books, 2006. 198 p. The white great horned owl, Wabi, discovers he is not like other owls. Not only is he larger and more intelligent but he also has magic abilities, one of which, is the ability to understand and speak the language of any animal--including human. Wabi soon finds himself reluctantly caring for an orphaned wolf pup--and after accidentally falling in love with a human girl--he secretly becomes the guardian of her tribe, protecting them against some of the terrifying, magical monsters of American Indian lore. A little cocky, but still goodhearted, Wabi is an extremely likable character whose outside observations of the human world are laugh-out-loud funny at times. Those who like Wolf Brother and the Guardian's of Ga'Hoole series will absolutely adore this action-packed book.

The Bath Monster By Colin Boyd Illustrated by Tony Ross Andersen Press USA, 2016. Picture Book. Jackson loved playing in the dirt and getting muddy. When he got home, his mom would tell him to hurry to take a bath before the Bath Monster got him—since dirty bath water is the monster’s second favorite food. But when he got older, Jackson stopped believing in the Bath Monster and refused to bathe after a very particular dirty day—only to find out that Bath Monster never stopped believing in Jackson. Jackson soon discovered what the Bath Monster’s favorite food was. A fun story illustrated by the famous Tony Ross, the illustrator of the Roald Dahl books. Children and adults will love the surprise ending.

It's hard to imagine H.G. Wells knowing what he'd started in 1895 by writing The Time Machine, but his work inspired countless others to speculate on the consequences of fiddling with space and time. Here are just a few (of many!) books to get young readers into this corner of science fiction, which could qualify as a genre unto itself. The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury A group of children and a "spirit" go back through time to discover the beginnings of Halloween. Timewarp Stories by Dennis Pepper An Oxford collection of stories, scary and otherwise, about travel through time and dimensions, and the unforseen circumstances therein. Charlotte Sometimes by Penelope Farmer When she awakens on her second day at boarding school, a young girl finds she has gone back in time to 1918. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain Nineteenth-century mechanic Hank Morgan suffers a blow to the head and wakes up in King Arth...

The Butt Book By Artie Bennett Illustrated by Mike Lester Bloomsbury, 2010. Picture book. I couldn't think of a more fitting book for our summer theme: Fabulous Finish! The foundation of this book is that butts are maybe more important than we give them credit for, laying bare some of the best reasons we all love our rears. This book is written in good-natured rhymes, and while the finish is fabulous, the entire book is pure fun from beginning to end.

Rise of the Wolf By Jennifer A. Nielsen Scholastic Press, 2016. 340 p. This is the sequel to The Mark of the Thief , and Nic tends to be in as much trouble in this book (if not more) than he was in the first book. Nic is living with his grandfather, Radulf…who Nic doesn’t trust. Radulf wants Nic and his magic so that he can destroy the Roman Empire. But now the Praetor’s want Nic and his magic so they can start a war that would destroy all of the gods. And all Nic wants it to save his friends and his family. The problem is…there are too many people wanting too many things of Nic—all of which will probably kill Nic.  This is a fast-paced sequel full of chariot races and magic. Those young readers who like Roman mythology will enjoy reading about Nic and how he is trying to figure out everything that has to do with Jupiter, Diana, Mars, or the other Roman gods. And of course…there is quite the ending. The end of the book starts with the biggest of all chariot races and ends...

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics (Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Book #2) by Chris Grabenstein Random House, 2016. 276 p. Fiction In this sequel to Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library , Kyle Keeley and his friends from Alexandriaville are up against the biggest library nerds in the whole nation. Mr Lemoncello has created a nationwide Library Olympics, with new puzzles and challenges. Can the hometown team beat the 32 best middle-school-age library lovers from all over the country, including the amazingly smart and nasty Marjory Muldauer? There is more at stake here than the go-to-college-free card Mr. Lemoncello has promised to the winning team and Kyle must figure out who is trying to depose Mr. Lemoncello and ruin the Alexandriaville library before it is too late. Those who liked the first book in the series will like this one as well. There are more puzzles, more mysteries, and more fun references to lots of great works of children's literature. This book is...

My Lucky Day By Keiko Kasza G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2003. Picture book. When a piglet accidentally knocks on the door of a fox, the fox declares that this must be his lucky day and rushes the terrified piglet to the roasting pan. But before he can eat him, the piglet points out that he is very dirty and shouldn’t the fox give him a bath first? The fox agrees and prepares a luxurious bath for the piglet. But before he can move on to cooking his dinner, the piglet suggests that the fox fatten him up a bit. “Just a thought, Mr. Fox.” And so the fox prepares an elaborate spaghetti dinner to feed the piglet. Mr. Fox’s lucky day is beginning to get exhausting… This storytime favorite never gets old. The sly piglet, the harried fox, the facial expressions of the characters, and the hilarious surprise ending make this book a classic.

Wait Till Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn Clarion Books, 1986. Fiction. 184 p. This book is a classic. And it's a classic for very good reason. When their mother remarries, Molly and Michael suddenly find themselves with a brand new stepsister. But Heather isn't the kind of sister they'd been hoping for. She doesn't seem to like her new family, and causes trouble between them and their new stepfather whenever she can. But that isn't the worst of it. Heather claims she's made a new friend--a girl whose headstone lies in a secret cemetery the kids discover hidden on their property. Has Heather managed to ally herself with a vengeful ghost? Or is she faking the whole thing in order to bring about some diabolical plan of her own? I remember reading this book as a child and thinking I knew exactly how it was going to end--only to have my theories fall apart. This book is a good old-fashioned ghost story, but it is also an equally good old-fashioned mystery ...

Spot, the Cat By Henry Cole Little Simon, 2016. Picture Book. When Spot the cat follows a bird outside the apartment window, he goes on an adventure exploring the city. When his owner realizes that he is missing, the young boy sets out to find him. The detailed black and white illustrations encourage the reader to spot the cat and the boy who is always just missing him in the city landscape. Though wordless, this book has so many interesting pictures that children can tell their own story of the cat's adventure with the characters he runs into and can point out other things they find along the way.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy Illustrations by Carson Ellis Balzer+Bray. 2011. Middle-Grade Chapter Book. Prue McKeel is a seventh grader who lives in Portland, Oregon. One day, her baby brother is kidnapped by a murder of crows, who carry him into the strange wilderness across the river. Prue sets out with a schoolmate named Curtis, and the pair cross over into a magical wood teetering on the edge of a military coup. This is a story of talking owls, a band of lumberjack revolutionaries, and an army of coyotes. But for all its fantastical flourishes, this is a story of two preteens who struggle to reckon with their changing lives. Like the writings of CS Lewis and Lloyd Alexander, this fantasy world is defined by its characters and less by their actions -- though their escapades are thrilling. Wildwood ends with a great battle that connects every one of this hefty book's disparate threads, and it leaves its heroes and villains in a satisfying, yet uncertain situation that begs f...

Whatever by William Bee Candlewick Press, 2005. Picture Book. Billy can be very difficult to please... No matter what his father tries to entertain him with, Billy will simply say, Whatever.  With just a line per page, this simple book shows the true danger of an uncaring attitude, especially when faced with the hungriest tiger in the world.

Barnacle is Bored  By Jonathan Fenske Scholastic Press, 2016. Barnacle is stuck to the bottom of a pier…and he is bored. The tide comes in. The tide goes out. Fish swim by. But life is just the same old boring life when you are stuck to the bottom of a pier. Only, one day something happens to make Barnacle realize that perhaps life isn’t so bad after all. This is a fun story about how one little barnacle takes a look at what is going on around him and realizes that just maybe his life isn’t quite so bad. And as an added bonus the illustrations and expressions (and ending) are quite humorous. Nice!

Ah-Choo! Written by Lana Wayne Koehler & Gloria G. Adams Illustrated by Ken Min Sterling Children’s Books, 2016. Picture Book. A young boy would like a new pet. However, every animal he brings home makes his little sister go “AH-CHOO!” He tries a variety of animals, whose names each begin with the next letter of the alphabet, but he encounters the same problem with each animal. Finally, he finds the perfect pet that doesn’t make his sister sneeze. A number of factors make this picture book a good choice. It is an ABC book, but also an animal book. The rhymes are fun and complement the repeated exclamation of “AH-CHOO!” making it a good read-aloud. The illustrations are wild and cartoony, yet detailed and expressive. Young children will enjoy this book, especially if they or their siblings have any animal allergies!

The League of Unexceptional Children By Gitty Daneshvari Little Brown and Co. 2015. Fiction. 234 p. Jonathan and Shelley are so ordinary that people hardly notice them and never remember them. This makes them valuable candidates for the secret spy organization, the League of Unexceptional Children. It would be nice if they seemed ordinary, but really had cool super intelligence or skills, but no. They really are ordinary, so they repeatedly botch their assignments as they pursue their first case. Will their ability to be forgettable outweigh their average intelligence, and help them do something truly extraordinary for the first time in their lives? There are so many spy and superhero stories right now where the kids have superpowers or exceptional skills and intelligence. This new series, instead, celebrates the rest of us who really are about average. The characters in the book are quirky and likable, and the author had a fun time playing with "over achiever" ste...

The Firefly Code By Megan Frazer Blakemore Bloomsbury USA Childrens, 2016. Fiction. 352p. Mori and her friends on Firefly Lane live a predictable and comfortable life in their utopian community of Old Harmonie. They are given the finest education and are sheltered from the sicknesses that ravage the Outside. Their biggest worry is choosing which skill to have surgically enhanced in their brain when they turn 13 years old, and wondering whether their DNA is natural or was “designed” by their parents. When Ilana moves to town, Mori is awed by her near perfection, but can’t understand why she becomes secretive when asked about her past and takes mysterious trips to the doctor. When Mori and her friends find out the truth about Ilana, they will be forced to question everything they’ve ever been told.

The Thief by Magan Whalen Turner Greenwillow Books, 1996. Fiction. 219 p. This book has, quite possibly, the best ending EVER. Bar none. For spoilery reasons--I can't tell you why the end of this book is so fabulous--so you're just going to have to go  check it out and see for yourself why it's so good. Gen is a thief. A good one, actually. Or at least-- he thinks he is. When he accidentally gets caught drunkenly bragging about his supposed exploits in a tavern--the king of Sounis' men have him arrested and thrown into prison for his crimes. Now the king's magnus wants him to prove his skill and steal something for their kingdom. Something extremely dangerous. If you have not read this wonderful book already, then go out and put it on hold immediately!

How to Dress a Dragon By Thelma Lynne Godin Illustrated by Eric Barclay Scholastic Press, 2016. Picture Book. A young boy tries his best to dress a dragon for the day—but there are important things to know, like how dragons love underwear but hate shirts. They prefer to wear shorts because they are easier to put on with their big feet, and they like to wear hats that fit between their horns. This silly story will resonate with readers who enjoy Claire Feedman’s Aliens Love Underpants series and any dragon fan.

The books in this display are all volumes of poetry about bugs. They are a fun way to get kids interested in the world of poetry while learning interesting facts about our smallest six-legged friends. Insectlopedia Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian (1998) Face Bug Poems by J. Patrick Lewis Photographs by Frederic B. Siskind Illustrations by Kelly Murphy (2013) Nasty Bugs Poems selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins Illustrations by Will Terry (2012) Hey There, Stink Bug! Poems by Leslie Bulion Illustrations by Leslie Evans (2006) Bug Off! Creepy, Crawly Poems Poems by Jane Yolen Photographs by Jason Stemple (2012) Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! Poems by Carole Gerber Illustrations by Eugene Yelchin (2013) UnBEElievables Poems and paintings by Douglas Florian (2012) Leap into Poetry Poems and illustrations by Avis Harley (2001) Insect Soup Poems by Barry Louis Polisar Illustrations by D...