Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Eventown  By Corey Ann Haydu Katherine Tegen Books, 2019. Fiction, pp. 328. Everything is just right in Eventown. Nothing is out of the ordinary, nothing is too loud, too exciting or too anything. There are just three ice cream flavors, and the roses never get bigger than is appropriate. Elodee and her twin, Naomi, have just moved to Eventown with their parents, and although the town is pleasant, and always sunny, and there are no conflicts or problems, Elodee is having a hard time not asking questions, making messes, or being a little bit different. In the process of asking questions, she begins to wonder if something isn’t quite right about Eventown. Haydu writes a magical story for older readers, which asks important questions about how we deal with grief, and sadness, and if perfection has anything to do with joy. Haydu’s writing comes to life along with her characters, who have unique likes, hobbies, and personalities. Beautiful descriptions of foods and flavors jump...

Sparkly New Friends (Part of the new Unicorn and Yeti Series) By Heather Ayris Burnell Illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla Acorn, Scholastic, 2019. 58 p. So this book actually comes out tomorrow—but I LOVED this new series so much when I first saw it as an advanced reading copy I had to tell you about it! In this new series Unicorn is flying over a snowy landscape and is amazed at how sparkly everything is. Yeti is looking up at the sky when something sparkly flies by—Unicorn. It turns out that Unicorn and Yeti both love sparkles. They become good friends and have other adventures together. The book is made up of a lot of dialog (complete with color-coordinated dialog bubbles that show which character is saying what similar to the Elephant and Piggie books). Also, the book has panels—almost like a comic book—that fill in a lot of the smaller bits of the story so that when the illustrations take up the whole spread kids will know that is an extra important moment in the story. T...

READ IN MONDAY BOOK BABIES Edgar Gets Ready For Bed Written by Jennifer Adams Illustrated by Ron Stucki Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" Gibbs Smith, 2014.  Picture Book. Once upon a midnight dreary...  Little Edgar the Raven is having a tough time minding his mother.  Dinnertime, cleanup-time, and bedtime are all met with one word--"NEVERMORE!"  From drawing on his bedroom walls with crayons to chasing his sister with a scarecrow, this mischievous and disobedient little bird would much rather do anything than behave.  But as the evening winds to a close, Edgar's mom knows just what to do to get her son into bed. Charmingly simple text paired with captivating gothic-era illustrations give a sly wink to Edgar Allan Poe's popular poem "The Raven."  Edgar Gets Ready For Bed  will have little literature lovers saying, "MORE! MORE!"  --Publisher READ IN MONDAY CUENTOS Dragones y tacos Escrit...

Coding 1, 2, 3 By Janet Slingerland Rourke Educational Media, 2019. Informational. This book is an extremely simple introduction to computer coding. It teaches what computers are, where they can be found, and how we interact with them using kid-friendly language. Then, it shows some examples of code, and follows it up with a paper and pen activity. This would be a great book for children who are too young for our Coding + program to prepare them for our classes later on.

Now You Know How It Works Written by Valorie Fisher Orchard Books, 2018. Informational. Are you asked 1000 questions a day? If some of the questions refer to how household materials work, check this book out! It contains the explanations for 23 different household items or experiences children are familiar with. Fisher has geared the pages to be concise and simple to understand with a lot of pictures and symbols to help even the youngest inquisitive minds.

Lexi's World Pop Pop Pop LLC. Available on the App Store. Lexi's World is an app that has been getting quite a bit of buzz since it was first re-released. In addition to being named a 2019 Honor Recipient of the Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media award, it has a perfect 5.0 out of 5 stars on the App Store which is pretty hard to come by. Lexi's World invites learners to explore a world where correctly spelled words come to life. Children learn to spell words in a wonderfully interactive setting - kids are led through the spelling of words by selecting whatever letter lights up. The graphics in this app might look a little low-grade at first, but the animations are really endearing and do a lot to bring the cause and effects in this world to life. This is a great preschool app for little ones learning to read, spell, and explore their world.

An ABC of Flowers   by Jutta Hilpuesch New York, NY : Philomel Books, [2019] It turns out there really is a flower for every letter. This sweet book has a photograph of every flower and  a sweet cartoon illustration to go along with it. All your favorite flowers are here (forget-me-nots, mums, and sunflowers), along with some you probably haven't heard of before (billy ball, kalanchoe, xeranthemum?).  This is a perfect book for reading together, and readers of any age will enjoy every page. Don't miss this great springtime alphabet book. 

Underwear! By Jenn Harney Disney Hyperion, 2019. Picture Book. In this latest brief story about underclothing a young bear is getting out of the bathtub (and should be getting ready for bed). Big Bear keeps telling the cub to put on the pair of underwear yet the wily cub keeps asking silly questions (“Under where?”) in order to postpone the sleepy inevitable. With fun illustrations (I especially enjoy the page where the pair of underwear is used as various hair styles) and clever wordplay (about one of the silliest words a toddler knows) this is sure to be a laughable story time winner—only it might not be quite as calming of a bedtime read. Seriously pure fun!

READ IN MONDAY BOOK BABIES Sam and 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 finding it in a manner you’d never expect.  --Publisher READ IN MONDAY CUENTOS El día que los crayones renunciaron Escrito por Drew Daywalt Ilustrado por Oliver Jeffers Traducción de Susana Figueroa León Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2014.  Spanish Picture Book. Un día, en la escuela, Duncan encontró un montón de cartas para él. Eran sus crayones que, molestos por el trato que recibían, decidieron escribir cartas como ultimátum para Duncan. Crayón Beige está cansado de ser el segundón de ...

Hedy Lamarr's Double Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor Written by Laurie Wallmark Illustrated Katy Wu Sterling Children's Books. 2019. Informational Hedy Lamarr was famous for many things. In her time, she was known as the stunning actress who made everyone swoon on the big screen. But in her free time, Hedy studied science and developed inventions, many of which never left her apartment. Her most influential invention is her frequency-hopping design. She built it in hopes to help the United States win WWII. However, the government could not afford to fund her project and held on to it for decades. Today, we all enjoy sending secure messages from our phones because of her innovation. This remarkable woman wanted to be know for something other than her looks. She fought to change the world and leave her mark. This book shows her courage, resilience, and unapologetic wit. Read this one with older children who are ready to be inspired and look for quotes fr...

Ernestine's Milky Way Written by Kerry Madden-Lunsford Illustrated by Emily Sutton Schwartz & Wade Books, 2019. Picture Book. Ernestine lives in the Smoky Mountains with her Mama while her Daddy is at war. She and her Mama milk their cow Ole Peg every morning. One day Ernestine's Mama gives her a special job: she has to take two jars of milk down yonder to their neighbors, all by herself. It's a little daunting to the plucky five-year-old, but she begins her journey as the morning star lights her way. The path takes Ernestine through terrain marked only by plants and wildlife, from thickets of crabapple to a valley of doghobble. Along the way she hears animal sounds that make her nervous. Could that scratcha-scratcha-scratchin  be a bear? Her mantra reassures her throughout it all: "I'm five years old and a big girl!"  Ernestine's Milky Way  reads like a bighearted folktale about neighborliness, courage, and dairy. The rich, colorful...

Coral Reef By Tinybop Inc. Available on the App Store. Coral reefs are said to contain the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and play an essential ecological role, but because they are located underwater they are hard for young oceanographers to explore. This educational app from Tinybop introduces the vivid world of a coral reef in an interactive world. Kids can act like a parrotfish and eat harmful algae from off the coral, or plant stinging plants and rocks to protect fish from invading sharks. With vocabulary in more than 20 languages and an accompanying caregiver handbook about these underwater worlds, this app is a pretty solid bet. It is also full of beautiful, crisp, graphics that bring the reef to life and are worth celebrating on their own. This app, best intended for ages 4-8, is perfect for budding marine biologists.

Spencer and Vincent, The Jellyfish Brothers  Written by Tony Johnston Illustrated by Emily Dove Simon and Schuster, 2019. Picture Book. Spencer and Vincent are best friends, who just happen to be brothers. They like to swim around, drifting on the current, singing a fun song with each other. Unfortunately, one day they get separated, and in an effort to find each other again, they must enlist the help of all the other creatures in the sea. Peril and danger ensue, but the brothers use their love for each other to solve the problem. The undersea pictures in this book are bright, fun, and swirly like the waves they’re inspired by, and the different animals are unique and exciting to look at. The turquoise of the water and the coral and pink of the brothers makes for a sweet color contrast that elevates the mood of the story into something that is carefree, like a tropical island or a bright coral reef, without distracting from its heartfelt message. The journey the brothers ...

Eat Your Science Homework : Recipes for Inquiring Minds by Ann McCallum Watertown, MA : Charlesbridge, [2014] Introduces recipes and fun science facts, including black hole swallow-ups, munch on molecules with atomic popcorn balls, and invisible ink snack pockets. Cool Structures : Creative Activities That Make Math & Science Fun For Kids! by Anders Hanson Minneapolis, Minnesota : ABDO Publishing Company, c2014. Discover secret math and science tricks to creating art! This title introduces young readers to the sciences, with a creative twist. Math and science educational pages are interspersed with cool structure activities that offer practical applications of the information students learn in class. All activities include how-to photos, easy instructions, and clear explanations. Reinforce Common Core Standards in reading, math, and science, while making cool art projects, from a wooden bridge to a spaghetti tower. Simple Science Projects by  Kelly Milner...

A Little Chicken By Tammi Sauer Illustrated by Dan Taylor Sterling Children’s Books, 2019. Picture Book. Dot is a little chicken who “was a little chicken”. She is scared of all of the things (especially wolves, bears, and questionable lawn ornaments). One day while she is putting up “safety features” in the chicken coop she accidentally knocks out an egg—one of her soon to be siblings. Dot must become brave to save the day, and her sibling. This is a cute story about an adorable heroine who isn’t perfectly brave—but is perfect in every other way. This story will help shy and somewhat scared readers realize that it is okay to be scared as long as you are brave when it counts. Cute and hilarious all at the same time!

READ IN MONDAY BOOK BABIES DUDE! Written by Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Dan Santat Roaring Brook Press, 2018.  Picture Book. Dude! You have to read this book. It's totally about this platypus and this beaver who are friends. They want to go surfing but dude, there's this shark who's in the ocean, too. But don't worry. This shark approaches and you'll never guess what happens. Kirkus Reviews named this one of their "BEST PICTURE BOOKS OF 2018" for a good laugh!  --Publisher READ IN TODDLER TIME Drawn Together Written by Minh Lê Illustrated by Dan Santat Disney Hyperion, 2018.  Picture Book. When a young boy visits his grandfather, their lack of a common language leads to confusion, frustration, and silence. But as they sit down to draw together, something magical happens--with a shared love of art and storytelling, the two form a bond that goes beyond words. With spare, direct text by Minh Lê and luminous illustra...

The Secret World of Arrietty: Picture Book By Hayao Miyazaki A family of miniature people who live beneath the floor of a country house, borrowing things they need from the humans, are forced to leave their home when their teen-aged daughter, Arietty, is seen by a human. Charlotte's Web By E.B. White Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory By Roald Dahl Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland By Louis Carroll A little girl falls down a rabbit hole and discovers a world of nonsensical and amusing characters. 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 orde...

The boy, the boat, and the beast By: Samantha M Clark New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2018. Fiction. 245 p. This is an unforgettable, heartfelt book about a boy who washes up on a strange beach where monsters live. He can't remember anything about who he is not even his name. As he journeys around the isolated island trying to remember what he has forgotten he sees a light in the trees and he starts to follow it. Getting to the light is not easy and he must overcome many obstacles and face some of his greatest fears as he struggles to just survive. This is a fast paced adventure story of determination and resolve to discover ones own monsters and face them.  This is a great book for those readers who enjoyed Hatchet or The graveyard book. This book does look into some difficult subjects such as abandonment, abuse, fear, and death but it does so in a way that is entertaining and approachable. The book is a perfect balance of suspense and char...

Hey, Water! Written by Antoinette Portis Neal Porter Books, 2019. Informational Picture Book. Beginning readers and young listeners will enjoy this informative book all about the different forms water can take. Each page contains a different way water can present itself with one word and a very simple statement. It finishes with an illustrated description of the water cycle, a more detailed page about the water forms and some ideas for water conservation. Science is interesting at any age. Portis has created a perfect age-appropriate way to draw-in children interested in the water that surrounds them in so many different ways.

Play and Learn Science By PBS Kids Available as a free download from the App Store, Amazon, and Google Play. This free app was the first ever winner of the award for Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media which recognizes distinguished apps for an early learning audience. This app teaches basic science concepts to preschool and kindergarten age children with several different games and includes a "parents" side of the app with supplemental material and an explanation of core concepts learned in the games. This might all sound a little boring and school-y, but this app is seriously fun. For kids - it's fun, brightly colored, easy to use, and doesn't rely on text explanations as so many toddler apps confusingly do. One of my favorite games is called "Shadow Scenes" where kids can add things (like animals, plants, houses, etc.) to a landscape and watch how their shadows change over the course of a day. It's simple, it's effective, it's ...

Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace New York : Crowell, c1940. It's the late 1800s, and 5-year-old Betsy wants nothing more than a friend. When a new family moves in across the street, Betsy watches the new family from her window. They seem to have children of all ages, but none just her age. Finally, the horse and buggy pull away, and Betsy sees her. Tacy, the friend she's been hoping for. Betsy goes out to talk to her, but Tacy (short for Anastacia) is shy and runs away. Eventually Tacy warms up to Betsy and the two girls become known around the town of Deep Valley for being inseparable.   The Betsy-Tacy girls do almost everything together.  They play together and make up fun imaginary games. They dress up in their best clothes and go "calling" on their neighbors. They also support each other through rough times, like when Tacy doesn't want to go to school because she's too shy, or Betsy doesn't like her new baby sister.  This is a swee...

Arrr, Mustache Baby! By Bridget Heos Illustrated by Joy Ang Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. Picture Book. Baby Billy (who was born with a mustache) is friends with Baby Javier (who was born with a beard). They are mostly pretty good as far as babies go. When they go to the local pool they play as various things from Antarctic explorers to navy sailors; however, one day things get a little more complicated with their playtime when two other babies—Captain Kid and Short John Silver—come on the scene. Captain Kid and Short John Silver are baby pirates. At first Billy and Javier help save the day…until they realize that all the pool treasure could be theirs. This is another fun romp in the Baby Mustache universe where babies are babies (facial hair or not) and are cute one minute and dastardly pirates the next. Young kiddos who enjoy seeing babies get their comeuppance will heartily approve of this new tale.

Did you know that we have two parent/child book clubs every month at the Provo City Library? They are for children ages 9-12 and a caregiver. This month, they will meet April 23 (girls) and April 25 (guys). These will be the last book club events until fall, so be sure to preregister under the Kids Corner/Program Registration tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss this month: Girls Read Beauty by Robin McKinley Harper & Row, 1978. Fiction. 247 p. Beauty is a retelling of the classic story of Beauty and the beast. In this version, kind Beauty (who does not think she is actually beautiful compared to her sisters) leaves her family behind when her father returns home with a stolen rose and a threat from the Beast who he stole from - his life in exchange for the rose. Beauty, determined to be brave and save her father's life, chooses to live in the enchanted castle and hopefully tame the Beast. This is a fairy tale retelling so beloved and so...

READ IN MONDAY BOOK BABIES Nothing Rhymes With Orange By Adam Rex Chronicle Books,  2017. We all know nothing rhymes with orange, but how does that make Orange feel? Well, left out, obviously! When a fruit parade gets together to sing a song about how wonderful they are—and the song happens to rhyme—Orange can't help but feel like it's impossible to ever fit in. But when one particularly intuitive Apple notices how Orange is feeling, the entire English language begins to become a bit more inclusive. Beloved author-illustrator Adam Rex has created a hilarious yet poignant parable about feeling left out, celebrating difference, and the irrefutable fact that nothing rhymes with orange.  --Publisher READ IN MONDAY CUENTOS ¡Este OSO, no! Por Bernice Myers Traducción por Ana Galán Corimbo, 2017. Spanish Picture Book. Germán se pone su abrigo de piel para ir a la casa de su tía Gertrudis. Por el camino, un oso que pasaba por allí ve a Germán y p...