Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Who Invented the Television? Sarnoff vs. Farnsworth By: Karen Latchana Kenney Lerner Publications, 2018, Informational The television is such a indispensable part of our lives but have you ever wondered how it was invented and who invented it?  In the story, "Who Invented the Television" you can learn about the two men who were racing each other to become the first to produce a television broadcast. The two men were Philo T Farnsworth a farm boy turned scientist and  David Sarnoff an influential radio executive. This Rockin' Read tells the facts shows photos and gives you a timeline so you can learn more about the two men who battled more than a decade to invent the first television .  Read the book and decide who was first to send moving pictures through the air to your television at home.

Big Foot and Little Foot By Ellen Potter Illustrated by Felicita Sala Amulet Books, 2018. Intermediate. 136 p. Hugo and his Sasquatch family live in a system of caves deep beneath the forest. The first rule for little Sasquatches, or Squidges, is that they must never be seen by humans. Hugo longs to see the outside world, sail the ocean, and have adventures, but he knows that he will probably live his whole life in the village's cavern. Then one day, during stealth training outside the cave, he happens upon a human boy. This is a gentle story written in accessible language and featuring child-friendly black and white illustrations. Potter's message of overcoming prejudice is timely but not heavy handed.  This Rockin' Read would be a great choice for a child who is planning on spending some time camping this summer and might enjoy imagining friendly Sasquatch families nearby.

Gloria's Voice: The Story of Gloria Steinem -- Feminist, Activist, Leader By Aura Lewis Sterling Children's Books, 2018. Picture book biography. I will always have a soft spot for picture book biographies about important women, and so this book instantly appealed to me. This biography, written with short sentences good for younger readers to understand, is a great introduction to Gloria Steinem - a formidable figure of feminism and women's rights in the 1970s. This book talks about the driving forces behind Steinem's political activism, from her childhood, to her adulthood as a journalist in New York. This book doesn't shy away from the very buzzwordy "feminism" but rather seeks to provide some good context and definition for young readers. The beautiful, effeminate watercolor illustrations are satisfyingly retro and pleasant just to look at. And, honestly, this is one of my favorite book covers of the year. This is a rockin read for fans of biogr...

I Am a Cat  By Galia Bernstein Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2017. Picture Book. Simon is a grey housecat. He goes up to a group of big cats and tells them that “I am a cat. Just like you!” The lion, tiger, cheetah, puma, and panther all laugh outrageously at the idea that the small little grey fur ball is a cat like them. Lion points out cats have manes. Cheetah points out that cats are tall and super-fast. Puma and Panther point out how they can jump and climb trees with ease. Tiger thinks Simon might be a rat because he is small and grey. But then Simon points out all the things that they have in common. This is a good way to demonstrate a little science and classification but also that it is okay to have differences (in a way that isn’t preachy at all). Plus the illustrations are big, bright, and bold. This is one Rockin’ Read to share with any young friend of felines.

Ocean Meets Sky Written and Illustrated by:  Terry Fan and Eric Fan Simon & Schuster, 2018. Picture Book  "It's a good day for sailing", his grandfather would have said.  Finn's grandfather has passed away and to honor his grandfathers ninetieth birthday Finn builds a boat from scraps. As he builds his boat   Finn remembers his grandfathers stories about a place far away where the ocean meets the sky. After building the boat he is tired so he lays down for a nap and as he drifts off to sleep his boat begins to rock and his journey begins. The story is enchanting and the illustrations in this magical Rockin' Read tell the story in such rich and stunning detail. The Fan brothers, creators of The Night Gardner, have produced another amazing book with vivid, beautiful images to help your imagination fly.   You will enjoy this adventure as you share in Finn's magical journey to the place "where ocean meets sky."

Bob By Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead Feiwel and Friends Book, 2018. Fiction, 201 p. Ten year-old Livy lives in the United States, but her grandma lives far away in Australia. She hasn't visited there since she was five. Now she is going back to visit, with her mom, mostly to show off the new baby Beth Ann. As Livy returns to her grandma's house there has been a drought for a few years. It is getting pretty severe and farms might not make it. Livy starts to have odd flashes of memories from the time she visited five years ago. There is something about the chickens. . . . She goes to her mom's old room, the room she stayed in before, and finds something interesting in her closet. Bob. He is a green creature who has been waiting for her to return. Mass and Stead have written this story in two different voices. It alternates chapters from Livy's point of view and Bob's. I grew to love the characters and wondered where Bob came from. How did he get there? What is...

Restart  by Gordon Korman Scholastic, 2017. Fiction, 243 p. Chase wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the first 13 years of his life. People tell him that he fell from the roof of his house and hit his head, but he has no memory of that either. When he heals well enough to return to school, he begins to discover that he was a big-shot on campus, star of the football team with a close knit group of friends. He also discovers that he was not the model citizen and did some things that he now regrets. Now he needs to decide if he wants to reclaim his former status, or keep his new friends who are the very nerds he used to persecute. This is and entertaining and thought provoking look at social hierarchy in middle school.  It raises questions about what makes someone become a bully and how much people's personalities are the product of nature vs. nurture. As always, Korman includes funny moments too, so that even though this would be a rockin' choice for a book club o...

The Better Tree Fort  By Jessica Scott Kerrin Groundwood Books, 2018. Picture book. When Russell and his dad move to a new house with a giant tree in the backyard, Russell begs for a tree fort. Russell’s dad declares he doesn’t know much about building but decides to give it a try. Many trips to the hardware store later, the pair have created a wonderful tree fort, albeit not with the skylight, balcony and slide that Russell had first imagined. Father and son enjoy a sleepover in their new fort and Russell declares it perfect. But the next morning Russell sees a construction crew three houses over assembling a truly magnificent tree fort with turrets, slides, and working lights. Will this better tree fort make Russell unhappy with his own? This is a sweet story about the bond between father and son and about how spending time with those we love is more meaningful than having the latest and greatest possessions.

The Outcasts  By John Flanagan Philomel Books, 2011. 434 p. So I usually just write these reviews about newer books that have been published; however, there is a book that I just read and it was amazing. And we haven’t talked about it on this review blog before. And it is the perfect type of read for summer! So, here I am telling you about The Outcasts—book #1 in the Brotherband series by John Flanagan. This is the same setting for the Ranger’s Apprentice series—only this book takes place in Skandia. Hal is part Skandian and part Araluen, which means he doesn’t totally fit in with the other Skandian teens. He is an outcast. When Hal and the rest of the Skandian boys join in the Brotherband training (the training that turns them into the great Skandian warriors that are known around this world), There are eight boys who do not fit in, so they become their own group (known as the Herons) with Hal elected as their leader. This book is fast-paced, full of the fun dialog and d...

The Walkabout Orchestra: Postcards from Around the World Chloe Perarnau Wide Eyed Editions, 2018. Informational.  The Maestro walks into his rehearsal to find his whole orchestra is missing. With a concert in a week and only postcards from members of his orchestra, the Maestro must go and find his orchestra.  This was a fun Where's Waldo-esque search through different big cities with a postcard clue from the orchestra members to the Maestro about their adventures. I loved the illustrations and it was fun to search out the orchestra and see iconic buildings in these famous cities. 

Max Explains Everything: Grocery Store Expert By Stacy McAnulty Illustrated by Deborah Hocking G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2018. Picture Book. Max is an expert shopper since his mom takes him to the grocery store All. The. Time. He teaches the reader how to possibly get out of the task like substituting water instead milk for cereal, faking toe injuries so there is no possible way to walk the long aisles, but when essentials like toilet paper run out there is no escape. But never fear there is a plan! Make sure to pick your favorite cereal before you mom chooses the healthy ones, always be on the look out for free food samples (everything tastes better on a toothpick) and remind your mom of important holidays so you can get a tasty frosted treat from the bakery. Oh, and don’t forget to grab a bag of pet food even though you do not own one; it’s just one step closer to getting one. This humorous and relatable story might make the next trip to the grocery store a little bit more fu...

Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava #1) by Roshani Chokshi Disney Hyperion, 2018. Fiction, 355 p. Aru Shah's mother is the curator of a museum of Indian antiquities. She has always told Aru that the old lamp in one of the exhibit rooms is cursed, and if someone lit it a demon would appear. Aru doesn't believe her, of course, until one day when "friends" dare her to light the lamp. With her one bad choice, Aru is swept into a world of the Hindu gods, and discovers more about her family than she had ever imagined. This is the first in a new imprint called Rick Riordan Presents. The similarities with this book and Riordan's series is obvious, in a good way. Chokshi keeps up a fast pace of action and excitement, but also explores complicated relationships between friends and family members. This is a great choice for Riordan and Rowling fans who are looking for a new fantasy series.

Bloom: A Story of Fashion Designer Elsa Schiaparelli By Kyo Maclear Illustrated by Julie Morstad Harper, 2018. Picture book biography. This picture book biography, new this year, is about Elsa Schiaparelli - an Italian fashion designer known for creating innovative dresses that transcended fashion and were works of art. This book illustrates Elsa's painful childhood - her parents were openly disappointed they didn't have a son, her mother thought she was ugly - only briefly and to provide a basis for the artistic life Elsa chose to lead. This book is an inspiring read, reminding young readers that they can accomplish great things and "bloom" into something beautiful. The watercolor illustrations in this book are bright and beautiful with good representations of Elsa's avant garde designs and lots and lots of her signature shade of hot pink. This is truly a rockin read for the young fashionista or girl power enthusiast in your life (or anyone who likes l...

Sometimes You Fly  By Katherine Applegate Illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. Picture Book. Do you find that every now and again you need another good book to give away as an inspirational gift? If so, then this is a good book for you! In the book there are little snippets of text illustrated by a great picture. For example, the very first page reads “Before the cake…” and has an illustration of a frazzled mother mixing a cake for a little kid (who has a bunch of flour falling on his head. Then turn the page and you see the result of the cake. Next comes the line “before the peas…” with a girl in a highchair refusing to eat peas. Turn the page and you see an illustration of the same girl happily grinning while eating some peas (and while most of the rest of the peas are smeared all around her face, mouth, chest, and arms). So basically it is a book telling readers that before these great moments…sometimes there are hard m...

Jabari Jumps Written and Illustrated by Gaia Cornwall Candlewick Press, 2017. Picture Book. Jabari has finished his swimming lessons and has passed his swim test. Today he announces he is ready to jump off the diving board, which is a little high and a little scary. Well...he's almost ready. Maybe the other kids should go first... Readers young and old will relate to Jabari as he works up the courage to take on the diving board. With help from his patient dad, Jabari's hesitation turns into determination. This is a perfect summer picture book! Summer is a great time for taking risks and trying new things, and Jabari's dad gives advice that can help anyone "take the leap": It's okay to feel scared. Take a deep breath and tell yourself you're ready. Sometimes it stops feeling scary and feels a little like a surprise. It's a joy to see Jabari overcome his fears in this sweet picture book. Check it out!

 DAN SANTAT We are excited to have Mr. Dan Santat coming in July for Children's Book Festival! He is an illustrator and author of children's literature and winner of the Caldecott Medal. It is hard to keep up with all the books he has illustrated, new books are coming out at an incredible rate. He adds humor and depth to his books. He has an incredible talent and ability to relate to children and provide materials that engage them.  Here are a few of his books . . . Are We There Yet?  A boy goes on a long car ride to visit his grandmother and discovers time moves faster or slower depending on how bored he is. After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty go back up again) After falling off the wall, Humpty Dumpty is very afraid of climbing up again, but is determined not to let fear stop him from being close to the birds.  The Adventures of Beekle: the Unimaginary Friend An imaginary friend waits a long time to be imagined by a child and given a special name,...

Not So Different: What You Really Want to Ask About Having a Disability Written by Dane Burcaw Photographs by Matt Carr Roaring Brook Press, 2017. Informational. Shane Burcaw has a disease called spinal muscular atrophy. He knows he looks a little different and kids have questions. He wrote a book to answer the top 10 questions most children wonder and want to ask. He truthfully answers each question, all while throwing in his sense of humor. My favorite is when he describes how his wheelchair works and tells of a crazy trick he and his brother tried, with some expensive results! This book is designed for 6-9 year old children, but  it helps anyone understand that just because someone might look a little different doesn't mean there is anything wrong with them. In this rockin' read Burcaw helps children relate to him and it shows what a great life he lives. He describes how things work and kids will be interested in seeing some specific explanations. The funny pictur...

Sunny  (Track #3) by Jason Reynolds Antheneum, 2018. Fiction, 159 p. Sunny is fast. He always wins the mile race. Every. Single. Time. His big secret is that he doesn't like to run. His whole life his father has been pressuring him to run because his mother, who died in childbirth, was a champion runner. What Sunny really likes to do is dance.  Is there any way that he can stay on the team he loves without to racing? This is the third in the Track  series by Jason Reynolds. It is written in diary form, and has a unique main character. This is a rockin' read to listen to on CD because the reader does an amazing job recreating the fairly random speech patterns of the endearing Sunny. The reader adds rap beats and a variety of vocalizations with abandon. The relationship between Sunny and his still-grieving father creates the emotional center of the book, and like the rest in the series, it has a sweet message about family and friendship.

Mommy’s Khimar  Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow Illustrations by Ebony Glenn Salaam Reads, 2018. Picture Book. A little girl is enchanted with the many khimars that her mother wears—but especially the yellow ones. The girl talks about how she feels when she borrows a khimar (also called a hijab by some in the book). This sweet story is about the relationship with a mother and daughter (and other women who wear khimars) and how the khimar excites the imagination of the girl. This rockin’ read shows youngsters a small peek into the life of fun family (that may be a little different than the reader’s family). It is a good book for showing love of families and some cultural differences.

The Sockeye Mother Written by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett David Huson) Illustrated by Natasha Donovan Winnipeg, Manitoba: Highwater Press, 2017. Informational. This nonfiction picture book intertwines the life cycle of the sockeye salmon with cultural beliefs of the Gitxsan Nation, an Indigenous people of British Columbia. Huson's lyrical prose describes salmon in both an ecological and a symbolic sense. Donovan's illustrations are dynamic. Together, word and image show how the animals, water, soil, and seasons all relate to each other in a fascinating process of birth, migration, and death. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The salmon life cycle is part of everyone's fourth grade curriculum there, so it was fun to revisit some of those ideas in this different context. The Sockeye Mother is an interesting, sophisticated nonfiction picture book that is both scientifically and culturally driven, making it a good choice for older children.