Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Read in Book Babies Bertie Was a Watchdog By Rick Walton Candlewick Press, 2002.  Picture Book. Bertie is a rather unusual watchdog.  That's because Bertie is, well, about the size of a watch.  So when a horrible robber breaks in, tiny Bertie is put to the test!  Bertie nips the robber on the leg, chases him around the sofa, and challenges him to a barking contest.  But will Bertie succeed in scaring the robber away?  --Publisher Read in Toddler Time Sam & Dave Dig a Hole Written by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Jon Klassen Candlewick Press, 2014.  Picture Book. Sam and Dave are on a mission.  A mission to find something spectacular.  So they dig a hole.  And they keep digging.  And they find...nothing.  Yet the day turns out to be pretty spectacular after all.  Attentive readers will be rewarded with a rare treasure in this witty story of looking for the extraordinary -- and f...

Find alphabet books in our Hot Topics "ABC" section! There is definitely something for everyone. WORK AN OCCUPATIONAL ABC By Kellen Hatanak Introduces the alphabet with artwork that depicts a range of careers, from aviator to zookeeper. FOOTBALL ABC By Mark Weakland Each letter in this football-themed alphabet book presents a fun look at a different football term. A CHILD’S DAY: AN ALPHABET OF PLAY By Ida Pearle 9780152065522 Demonstrates the diverse activities playful children can do, with words that begin from A to Z. LMNO PEA-QUEL By Keith Baker Busy little peas introduce more of their favorite occupations and activities, from actor to zipper on a zip line. ALL ABOARD!: A TRAVELING ALPHABET By Chris L. Demarest With an O for a looped overpass and a B to denote the arches of a bridge, this easy-to-read alphabet book provides a creative presentation of the common structures one sees and uses while getting from place to place. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A SM...

Penguin Problems By Jory John Illustrated by Lane Smith Random House Children's, 2016. Picture book This penguin has too many problems. Its beak is cold, there's too much snow, the ocean smells, it waddles funny and looks just like everybody else. Everything is wrong until it meets a walrus that gives Penguin a different way to look at the world. At least for a little while. This grumpy penguin stole my heart, the illustrations are great and its fun to read out loud.

A Day with Parkinson's By A. Hultquist Illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff Albert Whitman & Company, 2016. Picture Book. Noah and his mom are visiting his grandpa for the weekend, and Noah is excited that they are going to the beach. Throughout their day, Noah notices things that are different about his grandpa now that he has Parkinson’s, like how he has to take medicine, his hand shakes, and he moves more slowly. But one thing has not changed: Noah loves hanging out with Grandpa. Parkinson’s has become more common in the last few decades so this is a much needed book to explain Parkinson’s to children. As the book explains, Parkinson’s affects everyone differently, but the book covers the most common symptoms. Having a father with Parkinson’s I am grateful for a book like this so I can read it to my nephews to explain why their grandpa is not as active as he used to be. One thing this book excels at is making sure the child knows that the disease is not their fault...

Frogkisser!  By Garth Nix Scholastic Press, 2017. Fiction. 372 p. Princess Anya prefers to spend her time in the castle library studying books on sorcery while her older sister, the crown princess, entertains suitors. When an evil wizard turns her sister's latest prince into a frog, Anya volunteers to find a way to change him back into a human. She sets out on a quest to find the ingredients for a magic lip balm that will allow her to kiss the green fellow and turn him back into a human even if she is not in love with him. On the way she is joined by friends and allies, and begins to understand that her real quest is much bigger than a well placed smackaroo. Nix can always be counted on to come out with a winner. The story is fun and frothy, but with a serious undercurrent. Nix delights in twisting familiar fantasy tropes, and readers will enjoy watching clever but reluctant Anya slowly come to accept her role as a true leader. Will there be a sequel? We can only hope. This...

Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter By Kenard Pak Godwin Books, 2017. Picture Books This atmospheric picture book is Kenard Pak's follow up to Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn . Like its predecessor, this book artfully shows the transition from one season to another with beautiful watercolor and pencil drawings. The illustrations strike a mood perfectly and somehow feel like the month of November - subtle changes in the background really drive this home. If you are on the lookout for beautiful fall illustrations, look no further than the sunsets in this book.

Whaam!: The Art and Life of Roy Lichtenstein By Susan Goldman Rubin Explores Roy Lichtenstein's work, life, and his groundbreaking influence on the art world. In Roy's long career as a teacher, artist, and innovator, he changed the way that people thought about art and how artists thought about their subjects. The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art By Barb Rosenstock Illustrated by Mary GrandPre Describes how his creative life was profoundly shaped by a neurological condition called synesthesia which caused him to experience colors as sounds and sounds as colors. Action Jackson By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan Illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker Imagines Jackson Pollock at work during the creation of one of his paint-swirled and splattered canvasses. Viva Frida By Yuyi Morales Via spare text, examines Kahlo's creative process. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines: Designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memor...

The Perfect Siesta  Pato Mena NubeOcho, 2017. Picture Book. Calling all sloth lovers! (And I know there are a lot of us.) This is a book for you! So, in the jungle the jaguar was hot and wanted to enjoy a cool breeze. He decided he wanted to take a nap so he told a coati in a tree to wake him up in ten minutes. Soon the coati wants to take a nap and convinces the cockatiel to be the alarm clock in ten minutes. However, the cockatiel decides that a nap sounds good and thus asks the sloth to alert everyone in ten minutes. You can guess what happens. The sloth is a sleepy creature…and just couldn’t help but fall asleep. (Good thing the sloth happens to make a very loud noise in her sleep.) This is a fun story. I like that it introduces different animals into a child’s vocabulary. (Who knew what a coati was before reading this book?) I also enjoy the clever storyline where little ones can just guess what is about to happen (after seeing it happen the first time). This would b...

Read in Book Babies This is Not a Picture Book! By Sergio Ruzzier Chronicle Books, 2016.  Picture Book. "A book with no pictures?!  What good is a book with no pictures?!  What's that, you say?  Words can make fantastic pictures in your imagination?  Well, okay.  I'll give it a try."  Duck finds a book and is surprised to discover that there are books with words and no pictures--and that even without pictures a book can interest and excite you. Read in Toddler Time Carrot & Pea:  An Unlikely Friendship By Morag Hood Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016.  Picture Book. Colin is tall.  He's orange.  He's nothing like Lee.  He can't do any of the things Lee and his pals can do.  How can they ever be friends? Read in Preschool Time Cows to the Rescue By John Himmelman Henry Holt and Company, 2011.  Picture Book. The Greenstalks are going to the county fair! ...

By the Great Horn Spoon by Sid Fleischman Little, Brown and Company, 2013. Historical fiction. I absolutely loved this book as a kid. Sid Fleischman is a safe bet when it comes to historical fiction. In this book, young Master Jack, a boy who considers himself a gentleman, makes a plan to restore his family's fortune in the California gold rush. With his butler by his side, Jack embarks on the adventure of a lifetime. The two city-folk-turned-miners seem to encounter one hilarious adventure after another. As a side note, it was this book that taught me mules were a cross between horses and donkeys, and that they can't reproduce. I haven't listened to the audio version of this book yet but I'm sure it's hilarious.

The Princess in Black and the Mysterious Playdate By Shannon and Dean Hale Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Candlewick Press, 2017. Intermediate. 90 p. Are you looking to help a child bridge from easy readers to chapter books? The Princess in Black series is perfect! Chapters are filled with fun pictures and an intriguing story. This is the fifth book in the series. Princess Magnolia has to again keep her superhero self a secret at her playdate with Princess Sneezewort. Both girls hear cries of help! They individually sneak out to see if they can help the situation. Princess Sneezewort remembers an article she read in a magazine about "The Princess in Black" and follows the steps on "How to Be a Monster-Battling Hero" herself. Each princess in disguise offers specific skills and talents on their adventure together.

Un expected Life of Oliver Cromwell Pitts : A Novel by Avi Workman Publishing, 2017. Fiction. 308 p . Oliver lives with his older sister Charity and a neglectful father, in 1700's England.  When Charity leaves for London to seek a better life and future, Oliver is left in the dubious care of his father. One day catastrophe strikes and Oliver, Charity and their father are swept away by the forces of fate and the corruption of London to progressively more dire situations.  Here is a book for kids who like A Series of Unfortunate Events .  Oliver is an endearing character with a lot of pluck and an undying love for his sister which drives him forward in the face of insurmountable odds. Avi includes healthy helpings of both adventure and humor and his depiction of 18th century London will help readers appreciate the rights and luxuries they enjoy of modern American society.  

Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos is a lively holiday that is observed in Mexico and some other Central and South American countries each year in November. It honors and celebrates family members past and present. Celebrate Day of the Dead with Paper Crafts By Randel McGee Enslow Elementary, 2015. informational Learn to make a skull mask, a skeleton candy basket, fancy cut-paper window banners, and more as you explore the important symbols of Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead  By Linda Lowery Carolrhoda Books, 2004. Informational This colorful informational book introduces the holiday, Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, and describes how it is celebrated in Mexico and in the United States. Just in Case  By Yuyi Morales Roaring Book Press, 2008. Picture Book As Senor Calavera prepares for Grandma Beetle's birthday he finds an alphabetical assortment of unusual presents, but with the help of Zelmiro the Ghost, he finds the best gift of all. Ghosts...

Littles: And How They Grow By Kelly DiPucchio Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2017. Picture book. Littles have busy days filled with feedings, snuggles, teething, walks, and baths – days that fly by as they grow bigger. Kelly DiPucchio’s rhyming text about all the ways babies and toddlers are loved is paired with AG Ford’s adorable illustrations of multicultural little ones. A lovely celebration of a baby’s first years.

Serafina and the Twisted Staff  By Robert Beatty Disney-Hyperion, 2016. 370 p. In this sequel to Serafina and the Black Cloak ( reviewed previously on our blog here ) Serafina is still working to guard the Biltmore Estate and her family and friends. In this time-around things are a little mysterious in the wood surrounding Biltmore—and eventually within the Biltmore manner. Wolves come and chase Serafina through the woods, animals are either leaving the area or are under some sort of spell that controls them, and even the rats and insects inside Biltmore try to hurt Serafina. To top it all all, Serafina cannot change into her animal self the same way her mother does—which means she is more susceptible to all the dangers going on around her. This is a good edition to this series. (And if you need a good audio book, this happens to be one that is quite enjoyable to listen to.) Readers who like characters being just as important to a story—it takes just as much time for Sera...

Read in Book Babies Sheep on a Ship Written by Nancy Shaw Illustrated by Margot Apple Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989.  Picture Book. Sheep on a deep-sea voyage run into trouble when it storms and are glad to come paddling into port. Read in Toddler Time Bird, Balloon, Bear By Il Sung Na Alfred A. Knopf, 2017.  Picture Book. This is a story about a bird, a balloon, and a bear--and finding the courage to make a friend. Read in Preschool Time Ninja Bunny By Jennifer Gray Olson Alfred A. Knopf, 2015.  Picture Book. Does this little bunny have what it takes to become...a super awesome ninja? Read in Preschool Time Grumpy Bird By Jeremy Tankard Scholastic Press, 2007.  Picture Book. Here's a cure-all for a bad mood.  After all, don't you ever feel grumpy? Read in Monday Cuentos Max Dice Buenas Noches By Ed Vere Editorial Juventud, 2015.  Spanish Picture Book. ...

Coraline (the audiobook) by Neil Gaiman Coraline is a great read. But I find myself recommending the audiobook more than the actual book. Why? First, because the audiobook is narrated by the author. Gaiman's voice can somehow be both childlike and creepy while still sounding like a perfectly normal English adult. I don't know how he does it. The second reason is that this audiobook is a whopping 3 hours long. If you need a road trip book for kids, this one is great. The whole story is contained in a short enough time period that younger ones can actually keep a handle on what's going on. A note about the actual story: Coraline is spooky and fast-paced, but sweet. Gaiman manages to create a child character that is actually childlike while writing an intriguing tale. Too many middle-grade readers feature 11-year-olds that act 25. So way to go Neil!

Boo Who? By Ben Clanton Candlewick Press, 2017. Picture Book Boo is a ghost that doesn't feel like he belongs even though those around him try to be friendly. It doesn't help that he can't join in their fun of playing tag, bouncing ball or pick up sticks. But it all works out in the end when Boo finds the perfect game that they all can play. Clanton is fast becoming one of my favorite picture book author/illustrator with his humor and clean line illustrations.  A light way of discussing the difficulties of new friendships and fitting in. An extra treat about Boo Who? is that it brings back other Clanton characters like Rex from Rex Wrecks It!