Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Pinky Got Out! By Michael Portis Illustrated by Lori Richmond When Pinky the flamingo slips out to join a zoo tour, the children all notice but the zookeeper fails to see Pinky trying to blend in with seals, meerkats, and pandas. Flora and the Flamingo By Molly Idle In this wordless book, a friendship develops between a girl named Flora and a graceful flamingo, as they learn to dance together. Mud City: A Flamingo Story By Brenda Z Guiberson Follow a flamingo from egg through adulthood in this fascinating tale. On a muddy mound in a salty lake, a mother and father flamingo take turns protecting their egg from the hot sun. Soon a fluffy white chick hatches in the nest near the mangrove roots. Just four days later the chick learns to swim. By the time he is five weeks old, he can find food for himself. When pink feathers replace his white baby down, he is ready to learn to fly. For years the young bird flocks with other flamingos in quiet lagoons and sal...

Midsummer's Mayhem By: Rajani LaRocca New York, NY : Yellow Jacket, 2019. Fiction. This book was a scrumptious tale of baking mixed with a dash of Shakespeare! Mimi is the youngest in a family of talented siblings but she often gets overlooked. This summer, however, she finds out about a baking contest at the new "While Away Cafe" in town. This baking contest is just for children and now Mimi has a chance to shine and demonstrate her talent for baking. Along the way she sifts though some obstacles, like her father, a food writer who seems to have lost his honed sense of taste and a love triangle catastrophe with her older sister. Where the ingredients in her baking the reason for the strange things happening in her family?  She must uncover the truth, with the help of her new friend Vic, and find a way to win the contest as she unravels the mayhem happening in her family. If you like Shakespeare you will really enjoy this delicious spin on his classic tale A...

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus  By Dusti Bowling Sterling Children’s Books, 2017. 262 p. Aven is thirteen when she moves from Kansas to Arizona. Her parents got a new job as the managers of Stagecoach Pass, a western theme park that is dying. She is happy that her parents have a new job, but she is sad to leave all her friends—especially since many of the kids at her new school watch her a lot due to the fact she doesn’t have any arms and does most things with her feet or the help of various tools. When she meets Connor, a boy with turrets, she learns that friendship is achievable in multiple states—especially when the two come together to help solve a mystery associated with Stagecoach Pass. This is a stellar story that explores Aven’s life and dreams and friendship (while also talking about how she copes with her disability).

Read at Stories in the Park Are you Scared, Darth Vader? By Adam Rex Disney Lucasfilm Press, 2018.  Picture Book. Although he professes to fear nothing, it turns out that the most-feared villain in the Star Wars universe may not be so fearless after all.  --Publisher Read at Canopy Capers Field Trip to the Moon By John Hare Margaret Ferguson Books, 2019.  Picture Book. It is field-trip day, and students are excited to travel from their space station to the moon.  They jump over trenches and see craters and mountains and Earth in the faraway distance.  One takes a break to draw some pictures, falls asleep, and wakes up to discover that the rest of the class and the spaceship are gone.  How the student passes the time waiting to be rescued makes for a funny and unexpected adventure that will enchant children all over the galaxy.  --Publisher Read at Canopy Capers Your Alien Written by Tammi Sauer ...

Sisters of Glass Sisters of Glass Series #1 By Naomi Cyprus Harper Collins Publishing, 2017, Fiction, 377 pages. Have you ever wondered if your reflection in the mirror is really you or some alternate world version of you? If you have, this book might be just perfect for you! Many years ago there was a war that ended the use of all magic in New Hadar, but Nalah longs to use the power that she feels ever present inside of her. When she is given the opportunity to practice her magic and create a special mirror for a family friend, Nalah is unable to resist. After the mirror is complete however, Nalah begins to notice that her reflection doesn't look quite right. When her father is taken into the mirror by a powerful enemy, Nalah comes to realize that the reflection she was seeing was not her at all, but her tawam (mirror twin), Halan. Inside the mirror is a whole society living in a land where magic is both used and revered. This mirror land is in danger however w...

Mermaid Dreams Written and Illustrated by Kate Pugsley Tundra Books, 2019. Picture Book. Maya goes to the beach with her parents. When she wishes for someone to play with she is transported to a magical underwater world of sea creatures. The animals down there are colorful, but not very well suited to having fun and talking with. But when Maya meets another mermaid, she learns that making real friends might not be as hard as she thought. Kate Pugsley's chunky gouache illustrations are very sweet; in particular, Maya makes the cutest blue-tailed mermaid you ever did see. This picture book will appeal to any aspiring mermaids in your life.

The Door at the End of the World By Caroline Carlson Harper, 2019. Fiction. Miss Lucy Eberslee, age 13, is proud of her job as Gatekeeper's deputy at the door at the end of the world - even if she's a little convinced her well-connected parents got her the gig. As organized as she is ordinary, she takes her work very seriously and is careful not to break any rules. But when the Gatekeeper doesn't return from a routine maintenance trip Lucy is compelled to break one of the most important rules and open the gate between worlds herself - letting in an unassuming boy named Arthur in the process. Unable to re-open the door, and with the Gatekeeper still missing, Lucy and Arthur travel across the world on a quest to restore order. They soon discover, though, that they are part of a plot bigger than they can imagine. Filled with magical spelling bees, portals between worlds, and characters who feel like friends this is a stellar story for fans of peculiar fantasy.

Dad's Camera Written by Ross Watkins Illustrated by Liz Anelli Candlewick Press, 2018. Picture book. Grief can be difficult to explain to children. “Dad’s Camera” by Ross Watkins is a realistic portrayal of how painful it can be to watch a loved one slip away slowly. The narrator deals with watching their father become less and less like himself, and the uncharted territory of loss. All this is told through the father’s purchase of an old film camera which he uses to take pictures of everyday objects, much to the confusion of his family. The subject matter is heavy in this book, but the beautifully done illustrations feel nostalgic and warm, which helps remind the reader that through the confusion and grief, this is a family filled with a lot of love. The writing might be a little too abstract for very young readers, but for older readers, or kids who are reading with an adult, the story should make sense. This book would be an excellent jumping of point for questions abou...

Bunny in the Middle By Anika A. Denise Illustrated by Christopher Denise Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Picture Book. Bunny is the middle bunny—not the oldest sibling nor the youngest sibling. That means a lot of things. It means that some things are too big for Bunny and somethings are too small for Bunny. It means hand-me-downs and leading and following (and sometimes trying to be on your own). This is a sweet story about three bunny siblings and how the middle one is just as important as the older and younger bunnies. This is a stellar story to show the middle bunnies just how important they all are.

Read at Monday Cuentos Norton y Alfa Por Kristyna Litten Blume, 2017.  Spanish Picture Book. Ruedas maltrechas, engranajes oxidados, muelles rotos…  Norton y Alfa encuentran de todo y siempre les sirve para algo.  Y entones, un martes cualquiera, encuentran algo completamente distinto a todo lo que habín visto.  ¿Qué es?  ¿Y para qué sirve?  --Publisher Read at Stories in the Park Super Bugs Written by Michelle Meadows Illustrated by Bill Mayer Orchard Books, 2016.  Picture Book. Super Bugs, Super Bugs, mighty, mighty, Super Bugs!  Fast and fit, super strong.  Helping insects all day long.   When bugs need help, who come to the rescue?  Why, Super Bugs of course!  Follow a trio of heroic Super Bugs from morning till night as they save their fellow insects from hungry frogs, falling tomatoes, and even human feet.  When danger is near, Super Bugs are here!  --Publisher Read at Stor...

Island Book by Evan Dahm First Second, 2019. Comic. Evan Dahm's comic "Island Book" is a great book for both children and their parents to enjoy. Not only are the illustrations gorgeous, but the story has real substance and several unexpected twists. The reader follows Sola, a young girl who has been made into an outcast by her island society, on a journey to discover life beyond the island. Out in the world, she finds not just the monster who "cursed" her, but several other island societies - both friendly and not. Be sure to check this out whether you are looking for a fun bedtime story for the family or a new adventure series to dive into yourself.

The Unicorn in the Barn By Jacqueline Ogburn Houghton Mifflin Hardcourt Publishing, 2017. Fiction Eric Harper's family has lived in Chinaberry for generations, so he knows that nothing unusual happens in the town. Until one night when he spies on his new neighbors, a bossy girl named Allegra Brancusi and her veterinarian mother. As he spies, he sees an injured unicorn walk right up to their house. Eric watches in awe as Dr. Brancusi leads the unicorn into the barn. Allegra and Eric are then tasked to work together to conceal and care for the unicorn they have named Moonpearl. In this realistic fantasy novel, Eric faces hardships that are affecting his life at home. The magic that walks into his life with the unicorn in the barn seems to bring hope for a better, happier life. But will that be enough?

Matthew Cordell lives with his wife and their two children in the suburbs of Chicago, where he works on writing and illustrating children's books. Wish Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell When an elephant couple decides it is time to have a child, unexpected challenges arise but, at last, the pair's deepest wish comes true. Dream Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell Follows a gorilla family as they imagine their baby's future. Hope Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell Two lions celebrate their grandchild and express all the ways this new life has expanded their world, and the hope they hold for his future. If the S in moose comes loose Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell When moose loses the last two letters of his name and disappears, cow begs, borrows, and steals to find the necessary letters so that she can be reunited with her best friend. Wolf in the snow Written and Illustrated by Matthew Cordell ...

Rocket to the Moon By Don Brown Amulet Books, 2019. Graphic nonfiction. In 1969 Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin became the first humans to man a mission to the moon. This historic moment was the culmination of years of research, test launches, and scientific exploration. Rather than focusing only on Armstrong, Aldrin, and Michael Collins, this graphic novel nonfiction turns to the all the events leading up to the first moonwalk and how centuries of preparation were necessary to make history. There are dozens of books about the moon landing - especially as we are celebrating the 50th anniversary this week - but this book stands out by not regurgitating the same well-known bullet points of the mission. Impeccably researched and beautifully illustrated this is an excellent volume for any budding astronauts - even those already familiar with the moon landing. 

Zeus By Russell Roberts The ancient Greeks worshiped a complex group of deities, weaving their characters into timeless tales of love, heroism, and intrigue. Plays, poems, paintings, and sculptures commemorating these tales have survived for centuries. Even as world religions and scientific knowledge have evolved, bringing with them new beliefs and understanding of the world, the ancient Greek tales continue to provide a basic foundation for Western thought and sharp insight to the human psyche. Although these stories took place thousands of years ago, they still impact us today. The personality and characteristics of Zeus can often be seen in tales that modern writers and filmmakers weave. The name Zeus still stands for the ultimate in power and authority, which is why it graces modern companies and their products. A study of the starry night sky reveals constellations named after the twin sons of Zeus. Indeed, if mighty Zeus were to look down at the earth today from his lofty O...

The language of spells By: Garret Weyr San Francisco : Chronicle Books, 2018. 299 pg. Fiction Grisha, a dragon born in 1803 in the black forest of Vienna, was just a young dragon of only a decade when her life changed forever. After following a beautiful sound she heard in the forest one day she approached a young boy ringing a bell. Only this boy wasn't really a boy but an evil sorcerer. He cast a spell on her and changed her into a teapot. As a teapot she sat and observed the world for many, many years until the spell was broken at last and she was set free. The world she finds herself in now is very different.  People can't see dragons anymore because they have forgotten how. As she begins her quest in this new world she meets a young girl who can see her named Maggie and together they begin an adventure. This is a stellar middle grade novel about friendship, history, remembering old stories and making new ones. If you like books about magic you will be enchante...

Duel at Araluen  By John Flanagan Philomel Books, 2019. 314 pages. This is the third book in the Royal Ranger’s series (the sequel series to the Ranger’s Apprentice that starts with The Ruins of Gorlan ). In this book readers will learn what happens after the cliff-hanger of book two (where Maddie’s Mom and Dad are both sieged and under attack in two different places). Maddie has to take all that she has learned from Will Treaty and figure out how to save the day (and her parents and her country). This is a great story (albeit one that must be read after the others in the series) to show just how resourceful these rangers—and Maddie—are. Well told.

Read at Monday Cuentos El león que no sabía escribir Escrito por Martin Baltscheit Traduccion por Felipe Martín Lóguez, 2006.  Spanish Picture Book. El león no sabe escribir, pero eso no le importa ya que él puede rugir y enseñar sus colmillos y no necesita más. Pero un día conoce a una leona muy guapa leyendo un libro. A una dama así no se le puede besar sin más. Hay que escribirle una carta de amor. Así, pues, el león va pidiendo que escriban por él al mono, al hipopótamo, al escarabajo pelotero, al buitre… Pero el resultado no es lo que espera. Pierde la paciencia y ruge en la selva cómo escribiría él si supiera hacerlo. Una historia tierna, llena de humor, para lectores  jóvenes.  --Publisher Read at Stories in the Park Stardust Written by Jeanne Willis Illustrated by Briony May Smith Nosy Crow, 2019.  Picture Book. One little girl dreams of being a star. But whether it's finding Mom's lost wedding ring or winning the costume...

When Sadness is at Your Door By Eva Eland Random House, 2019. Picture Book. Have you ever felt sad? Sometimes sadness shows up unannounced and we don't know what to do. One child learns how to accept the heavy emotion and care for it. This beautifully illustrated story promotes emotional intelligence and reminds us that feeling sad is OK.

Other Words for Home By Jasmine Warga Balzer + Bray, 2019. Fiction. Jude first begins to realize that things in her home nation of Syria are really changing when her older brother leaves home and begins to protest for a democratic Syria free from the rules of President Assad. Meanwhile, her father wants stability even if that means swearing allegiance to an oppressive leader. When the violence comes close to Jude's hometown, she and her mother know it is time to leave and they flee to America where Jude's uncle lives with his wife and daughter. Jude's life in America isn't immediately easy -- her English (the best in her school back home) is rusty, her cousin thinks she's weird, and her brother is now missing in a war zone. But through her strength and the support of her family, Jude begins to feel comfortable having two homes. Jude's experience, told in verse, is a thoughtful and realistic view of the experience many immigrants (Syrian or otherwise) fa...

How to Be on the Moon Written and Illustrated by Viviane Schwarz Candlewick Press, 2019. Picture Book.        "Let's go to the moon!" said Anna.        "But that's out in space," said Crocodile. "Space is dark, and there's nobody there, and the moon is really very far away. It will be almost impossible."        "I like that," said Anna. "Let's go!" In anticipation of the fiftieth anniversary of Apollo 11's moon landing, here's a dynamic little picture book about two friends embarking on their own outer space journey. What special skills do they need? (Math and patience.) How should they prepare? (Make sandwiches, build a rocket, and pack the travel games.) And what will the moon be like when they get there? I enjoyed the text of this picture book as much as any I've read this year. The charming banter between bold Anna and cautious Crocodile reminds me of A. A. Milne's dialogue between C...

The Night Flower By Lara Hawthorne Big Picture Press, 2019. Informational, pp. 32 The flower of the saguaro cactus is a little more interesting than other flowers. It blooms only once a year, and when it does, the animals take notice. The event is so exciting and unique that even the more unusual pollinators come out to celebrate the feast—bats and mice, for example. Because the cactus only blooms once, the animals are careful not to miss it. Hawthorne’s beautifully rendered illustrations of the saguaro cactus and the desert night life accompany enjoyable rhyming text, all of which is there to inform young readers about the unique ecosystems of deserts. The rhyming couplets add a level of fun to the basic info given about the saguaro cactus flowers that makes the information easy to digest and remember. And the pictures breathe life into the dark world of the desert at night, which might surprise people who aren’t familiar with that climate. The story of the saguaro cactus flow...

LeUyen Pham was born in Vietnam. When she was two years old, her family fled the country in the final days of the Vietnam War and came to the United States. She grew up in Southern California and always loved to draw, but studied political science at UCLA for two years in order to follow her mother's wishes that she become a lawyer. When the head of the art department recognized LeUyen's artistic abilities she was able to change her course. After earning her degree in illustration at the Art Center College of Design, LeUyen worked for DreamWorks Feature Animation as a layout artist until she was able to leave that job and become involved in children's books, which was her true passion. Today LeUyen Pham has illustrated over fifty children's books and written several. She lives in California with her family. The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare Written by Shannon Hale Illustrated by LeUyen Pham When a goo monster crashes the science fair, the Princess...

Gargantua (JR!): Defender of Earth By Kevin Sylvester Groundwood Books, 2019. Picture Books. This is a STELLER STORY about a son of a superhero named Gargantua (though she used to be a bad guy who torn down villages—but now she is good and helps save the world). Gargantua Jr. really wants to help save the world, but his mom thinks he is too little. One night while everyone thinks he is sleeping Gargantua Jr. goes to help tear down a building that needs to be destroyed…only it wasn’t as easy as he thought and he needed a little help—from his mom. This is a sweet story about a wannabe superhero that can’t wait to go and help the world (he just wants to be big right now!). Any little ones that love the idea of being a big helper will enjoy this superhero’s story.

Read at Monday Cuentos Cómo esconder un león a la abuela De Helen Stephens Beascoa, 2018.  Spanish Picture Book. Cuando la abuela viene a quedarse, Iris tiene que esconder su león, debido a que las abuelas se llenan de ansiedad si encuentran un león en casa. Pero la abuela está actuando sospechosamente, asegurándole a Iris que también tiene su propio secreto. Para gran sorpresa de Iris, resulta que la abuela esconde un oso en su dormitorio! Este cálido y divertido relato es la continuación al ilustrado libro premiado por sus superventas, Como esconder un león, que seguro, será otro ganador con los niños en todas partes.  --Publisher Read at Stories in the Park Ready, Set, Sail! Written by Meg Fleming Illustrated by Luke Flowers Little Bee Books, 2018.  Picture Book. Shout your orders loud and fast. "Hoist the mainsail up the mast!"   Grab your life vest, hold on to your compass, and get ready for a day full of sailing fun with...

The Emperor’s Riddle  By Kat Zhang Simon & Schuster, 2017. Fiction. 240 p. Spending the summer away from all her friends in a foreign country seemed like the worst vacation that Mia could imagine. But when her aunt suddenly disappears – leaving clues to a hidden treasure in her wake – Mia finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. Together with her brother, Mia must rush to solve riddles that will lead them to their missing aunt and an ancient emperor’s missing treasure before it’s too late. If you’re looking for a fast-paced adventure this summer then you will love this book. This wonderful story is full of tricky riddles and unique cultural facts about China that help you to feel as if you are solving the riddle right alongside Mia and her brother.

Apocalypse Taco By Nathan Hale Amulet Books, 2019. Graphic novel. While helping their mother prepare for the next day's dress rehearsal of Brigadoon, Axl and Ivan are sent on a middle of the night food run to get fast food for the high school students hard at work. The twins are forced to settle for Taco Bear since it's the only drive-thru open, and from there things begin to get weird. Suddenly, the food they pick up from the suspicious Taco Bear comes to life and morphs into multi-tentacled creatures that seem keen on destruction. With the help of their driver Sid and a grad student named Wendy, Axl and Ivan set out to avoid being turned into gooey taco monsters and *possibly* save the world. This is a graphic novel with so much going on it's hard to not be instantly engaged. The orange and grey illustrations are unsettling, the taco monsters are all slimy arms and goopy claws, and a clock that appears on several pages quickens the pace. This Stellar Story is a ho...

Game Logic: level up and create your own games with science activities for kids By: Angie Smibert Illustrated by: Lena Chandhok White River Junction, Vermont : Nomad Press, 2019. Nonfiction. Did you know that games like board games and card games are actually thousands of years old? Games that we play today were played by the Egyptians centuries ago. What has kept some of these games around for so long? You can find the answer to that question by reading this new stellar book, Game Logic: level up and create your own games with science activities for kids. This entertaining book is packed full of fun facts and the history behind some of your favorite games like Settlers of Catan, Dungeons & Dragons, Monopoly, and Mancala. Here is a fun fact, did you know that Pokemon is a Japanese word that  translates to English as pocketmonster? If you love games and enjoy being creative and designing your own games you will love this middle grade informational book abou...

We Are (Not) Friends  By Anna Kang Illustrated by Christopher Weyant Two Lions, 2019. Picture Book. In this stellar story two young animals (that look like colorful bears) are best friends—at least until a new animal shows up. The two bear-like fuzzy animals are content playing together. They have fun and are excited to play; however, when a new bunny-like creature comes to play one bear is excited and ready for new adventures while the other bear feels left out and unwanted. The two bears (and the new friend) have to figure out just what it means to be friends (and playmates) all the while discovering how many friends is too many friends. This clever story from the creatures of You Are (Not) Small shows readers that there is a way to navigate friendships (both old and new).