Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Ruby Finds a Worry  By Tom Percival Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2019. Picture Book. In this picture book a little girl named Ruby finds a worry. She doesn’t know what to do about it so she stays silent. The worry starts to grow the longer it is with Ruby. It grows and grows to the point where Ruby can’t think of anything else and can hardly do anything she likes to do. When Ruby finally sees another child with a worry of his own she realizes what needs to happen to keep those worries under control. This is a good book for opening discussion with children as to why it is important to talk about worries and feelings. Though it doesn’t talk about how some worries are about problems that don’t just go away when you talk about them—this is a good start to help kids realize that it is a good idea to talk to grownups about their feelings.

Read in Monday Book Babies The Weather Girls By Aki Henry Holt and Company, 2018.  Picture Book. Summer, fall, winter, or spring—the Weather Girls are ready for whatever the seasons might bring!  Explore the seasons with this intrepid and irresistible troupe of girls as they play in fall leaves, climb snowy mountains, and more.  Charming rhyming verse and adorable art make this picture book irresistible―and perfect for sharing!  --Publisher Read in Monday Cuentos Erizo y Conejo descubren la lluvia Escrito por Pablo Albo Ilustrado por Gómez NubeOcho, 2018.  Spanish Picture Book. Erizo y Conejo estaban en el huerto.  Conejo comía coles y Erizo buscaba caracoles.  Esta vez, Erizo y Conejo descubren la lluvia.  --Publisher Read in Toddler Time He Came with the Couch By David Slonim Chronicle Books, 2005.  Picture Book. Sophie's family has found the perfect couch, but it comes with something t...

Bruce's Big Fun Day By: Ryan T. Higgins Los Angeles; New York : Disney/Hyperion, 2019. Easy Reader. Nibbs the mouse wants Bruce to have a big fun day but it's just not working out that way. Breakfast was messy, the picnic was a feast for the ants, the walk was exhausting and the boat ride was wet! Bruce, the grumpy bear, just isn't having a fun day but Bruce enjoys being grumpy so was the day really that bad? Read the book and then decide for yourself if it really was a big fun day after all. If you have read the Mother Bruce picture books you will love this new book about Bruce. A perfect book for someone who likes humorous books and is just beginning to read on their own.  A just right book for a beginning reader.

Waking Beauty By Brittlyn Gallacher Doyle Sweetwater Books, 2017. Fiction. 216 pages. All her life, Princess Aurora (or Claire as she prefers to be called), has known that she would prick her finger and fall into a deep sleep on her sixteenth birthday. She also knew that someday her true love would kiss her awake again and she would live happily ever after. But knowing that didn't make falling asleep and saying goodbye to her family any less scary. When the magical day finally arrives that Claire's prince wakes her up, she is excited to discover that the rest of her family fell asleep with her and will be a part of her happily ever after. Together they excitedly begin planning Claire's wedding and the start of their happily ever after, until it becomes clear that something is wrong. One by one, people in Claire's kingdom are beginning to fall back asleep. The curse is starting over and it's up to Claire to figure out why and fix things before she ends up a...

Hey There, Earth Dweller! Simon & Schuster, New York, 2014. 175 pg. See that thing under your feet? That thing that's stuck to your feet? That's the Earth and we're all hanging on to it because of gravity. There is so much to know about the Earth and this books is the ultimate kids' geology guide. Learn about bigger concepts like Earth's place in the universe and smaller features like the mountains in your own backyard. This book touches on every subject related to our planet in a fun and friendly way. The entertaining graphics range from pictures to quirky drawings and are sure to keep your interest. Difficult theories and ideas are made easy with everyday analogies and language. If your child is interested in the big old place we live on, this book should be your go-to reference.

Exploring the World of Wolves By Tracy C. Read Presents information about the life cycle, physical characteristics, habitat, and predatory behavior of wolves. The Wolf Who Fell Out of a Book Written by Thierry Robberecht Illustrated by Gregoire Mabire In this illustrated fractured fairy tale for kids, a book falls to the floor and a wolf tumbles out. The wolf needs to get back to his story, but a hungry cat has other ideas. Jumping from book to book, this wolf is on a journey to find a new home (and to avoid becoming dinner). His sharp, pointy teeth don't help him fit in with the dinosaurs, and his shiny black fur doesn't get him into the ball. But a little girl in a red hood is waiting for someone just like him to arrive. Living With Wolves : True Stories of Adventures With Animals By Jim Dutcher Imagine living with a pack of wolves! For National Geographic wildlife documentarians Jim and Jamie Dutcher, that dream came true. Join the Dutchers as they discover...

Just Because By Mac Barnett Illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault Candlewick Press, 2019. Picture book. A restless young girl asks her father a series of pre-bedtime questions which prompt her patient father to think of fantasical responses - never resorting to the titular "just because." This book captures a tender, familiar moment between a child and father - but it's real magic is in the illustrations. Greyscale illustrations of the little girl's cozy, darkened bedroom are contrasted by the full-spread illustrations of her dad's creative answers - filled with highlighting colors. Matte, flat colors give this book a decidedly retro vibe - a satisfying take on a familiar concept.

Briar and Rose and Jack By Katherine Coville Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. 360 p. In this classic fairytale mashup a king and a queen give birth to twin daughters which the queen names Briar and Rose. Since the first born daughter has a heavy brow and a sagging eye the king and his counselors aren’t sure that she would make a good ruler someday. So they hide her identity and name the second born daughter as their heir. They throw a huge celebration and invite all the fairies in the land (except the Gray Fairy who is mean and always ruins things). Briar’s godmother (who was at the birth of the twins and knows the truth) is sad that Rose will get all of the fairies gifts. So she magically switches the babies during the fairy gifts. Of course the Gray fairy crashes the party and gives a “prick her finger and die” gift that is turned into a “prick your finger and sleep” gift; however, because of the magical swapping the godmother has no idea which girl is slated t...

Read in Monday Book Babies Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb Written by Al Perkins Illustrated by Eric Gurney Random House, 1969.  Small Picture Book. A madcap band of dancing, prancing monkeys explain hands, fingers, and thumbs to beginning readers.  --Publisher Read in Monday Cuentos El pez pucheros Escrito por Deborah Diesen Ilustrado por Dan Hanna Traducción de Teresa Mlawer Farrar Straus Giroux, 2016.  Spanish Picture Book. Nada junto al Sr. Pez según el descubre que ser sombrío y triste realmente no es su destino. Un océano de colores brillantes y rima juguetona hacen pareja en este cuento marino divertido que garantiza convertir los pequeños pucheros en grandes sonrisas.  --Publisher Read in Toddler Time Bear & Hare:  Where's Bear? By Emily Gravett Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2014.  Picture Book. Friends Bear and Hare are playing hide-and-seek.  Hare counts to ten.  Bear h...

Aztec Empire By: Valerie Bodden A historical overview of the Aztec civilization from the perspectives of the social classes, from the nobles to the commoners, including the Mexican empire's growth and decline. The Aztec Empire By:  Sunita Apte Provides information about the Aztec empire, discussing Tenochtitlan, daily life, ruins, and other related topics. The Inca Empire By: Sandra Newman Provides information about the Inca empire, discussing how the Incas survived in the mountains, how the empire was built and why it disappeared, and looking at the city of Machu Piccu and the emperor Sapa Inca. The Incas By: Anita Ganeri Discusses the Incas including how they lived, played, and their daily routines. Mayan Civilization By: Elizabeth J Scholl Discusses where the Mayan civilization started, how it developed, and how advanced the civilization was and how it mysteriously disappeared. Maya By: Sarah Tieck A look at the amazing people,...

Funny Bones: Posada and His Day of the Dead Calaveras Written and Illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh Funny Bones tells the story of how the amusing calaveras--skeletons performing various everyday or festive activities--came to be. They are the creation of Mexican artist José Guadalupe (Lupe) Posada (1852-1913). In a country that was not known for freedom of speech, he first drew political cartoons, much to the amusement of the local population but not the politicians. He continued to draw cartoons throughout much of his life, but he is best known today for his calavera drawings. They have become synonymous with Mexico's Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival. Juxtaposing his own art with that of Lupe's, author Duncan Tonatiuh brings to light the remarkable life and work of a man whose art is beloved by many but whose name has remained in obscurity. Bone Dog Written and Illustrated by Eric Rohmann Although devastated when his pet dog dies, a young boy goes trick-...

Alphabreaths: The ABCs of Mindful Breathing Written by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen Illustrated by Holly Clifton-Brown Sounds True, 2019. Picture Book. This picture book combines the elements of an alphabet book and a bedtime book. With mindfulness and breathing techniques becoming ever popular for mental health, this is a great one to introduce to your child young. Not only are the letters present and the breathing techniques useful, but the pictures are beautiful. Whether you are hoping to calm a hyperactive child or soothe an anxious little one, you should definitely pick this book up. While it can be read at any time of the day, it is a perfect one for bedtime as it leads up to "Zzzz breath."

Guts By Raina Telgemeier Graphix, 2019. Graphic novel. Raina Telgemeier is back with her latest graphic novel memoir for kids. After a bout of stomach flu in fourth grade, Raina develops a recurring stomachache and a coinciding fear of being sick again. Even a year later, Raina obsessively worries whether certain foods or germs might make her sick and even starts to feel sick to her stomach when she starts to worry about things. When it gets to the point where her schoolwork is affected by her anxiety and she starts avoiding all kinds of food, Raina's parents help her find a therapist to help manage her panic attacks. In true Telgemeier style, GUTS manages to bring a big issue to light, while grounding it in real elementary school experiences and emotions. Brightly colored panels are interesting and appealing, and showing cartoon Raina in clouds of electric-green effectively conveys feelings of malaise. A good amount of humor - bodily and otherwise - balances the realnes...

Honeybees and Frenemies By Kristi Wientge Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2019. Fiction, pp. 246. Flor is having an awful summer. Because of the local honey pageant, she has to spend most of her free time doing volunteer yardwork for a grumpy old beekeeper. Even worse, she has to volunteer with her former best friend. On top of all that, her parents seem to be fighting constantly, and she’s doing whatever she can to solve their problems so that they have nothing else to fight about. Flor’s summer is shaping up to be the opposite of relaxing. “Honeybees and Frenemies” is a fun but thoughtful exploration on friendship and family dynamics, with a whole lot of exciting bee facts thrown in. Wientge balances the humor of Flor’s ridiculous summer with the lessons she learns from doing service, trying to mend her family’s problems, and patching up long-damaged friendships. This book is a fun and sweet-as-honey read!

I Am a Tiger  By Karl Newson Illustrated by Ross Collins A mouse goes and announces to the world that it is a tiger. When a raccoon questions the declaration, the mouse continues in the assurances that it is a tiger. Other animals—including a tiger—come and refute the claim, yet the mouse convinces them all of who he is. Then the mouse tells everyone else just what they “really” are as well. This is a clever story that will get kids snickering when thinking about what is really a tiger (or other animals). Such fun!

Read in Monday Book Babies Is Everyone Ready for Fun? By Jan Thomas Beach Lane Books, 2011.  Picture Book. Chicken has some unexpected and exuberant cow visitors who have exciting plans for jumping, dancing, and wiggling on his teeny-tiny couch, and Chicken is none too happy about it. That is until the fun concludes with a quiet, cozy and delicious nap for all!  --Publisher Read in Monday Cuentos La nevera de Maddi Escrito por Lois Brandt Ilustrado por Vin Vogel Flash Light Press, 2018.  Spanish Picture Book. Sofía y Maddi viven en el mismo barrio, juegan en el mismo parque y van a la misma escuela. Pero mientras que la nevera de la casa de Sofía está siempre llena, la de Maddi siempre está vacía, completamente vacía, con solo un cartón de leche. Sofía le promete a Maddi que no dirá nada, pero se propone ayudar a su mejor amiga. Esconde comida para llevarle a Maddi en su mochila, y pronto descubre que, aunque el pescado y los huevo...

The Restless Girls By Jessie Burton Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. Fiction. When Queen Laurelia dies in a motorcar accident, she leaves behind a grieving kingdom, husband, and twelve daughters. King Alberto is so upset by his beloved wife's death that he decides to protect his girls from anything and everything. He covers all the windows, forbids them to sing, paint, read, or do anything that might bring them joy. When he finds holes in their shoes he is furious, but his girls won't tell him what happened to their shoes. He decides to offer a great reward to the person who can solve the mystery of the shoes. This feminist twist on The Twelve Dancing Princesses is cleverly done. The voice and imagery reflect that of a classic fairy tale, while also addressing the modern importance of choice and education for everyone. Those interested in a good fairy tale where the princesses learn to save themselves will enjoy this read.

The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray by E. Latimer New York, Tundra Books, 2018. 322 p. Bryony Gray has a gift. She can paint the most beautiful, realistic portraits in London. The wealthy line up to have the fourteen-year-old girl paint their families. However, something strange begins to happen to these well-established British families. Sometime after their new portraits arrive, the people go missing. Bryony, who has been forced to live in her uncle's attic and paint tirelessly to grant him higher social status, breaks out of the only home she knows. She teams up with the odd brother and sister duo who live next door in hopes of finding out why her paintings are cursed. Could it run in the family? This chilling and eerie retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The vivid imagery and solid, classically British themes are sure to captivate your eager middle grade readers.

Dead Voices By Katherine Arden G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2019. Fiction Ollie, Coco, and Brian are back in this spooky sequel to SMALL SPACES . After the events of a few months before, involving a "smiling man" and a whole bunch of scarecrows, the three best friends are excited to for a peaceful skiing trip to a brand-new resort on Mount Hemlock. As soon as they arrive, an unprecedented blizzard leaves the group snowed-in at the remote ski lodge, Ollie and Coco begin to have dreams of a ghostly girl searching for her bones, and a mysterious last-minute arrival - a ghost-hunter - joins the group. With the help of this surprise addition, the friends probe into the paranormal happenings at the haunted hotel - but do they actually want to uncover the secrets of Hemlock Lodge? Katherine Arden proves once again her mastery of middle grade horror with ghostly hotel full of truly spooky haunts. As always, Arden creates an incredible atmosphere so spot on that by page five you...

The House with Chicken Legs By: Sophie Anderson New York: Scholastic Press, 2018. Fiction. 262 p. 12 year old Marinka just wants a friend, someone she can just talk to and share secrets with. She has never had a best friend because she never stays in a place long enough to meet anyone. Her house will grow legs and leave in the middle of the night and take her anywhere in the world. She plays hide and seek with her house and tag but its just not the same as playing with a real human. When she finally meets someone she decides to break all the rules, however, there are consequences for her actions, and her grandmother, Baba Yaga goes missing.  Marinka must figure out how to find her grandmother Yaga before things go from bad to worse. This is a fun whimsical read that will take you on an adventure into Russian folklore and steal your heart in the process. A perfect read for anyone who enjoys a fairy tale adventure about friendship and accepting who you are while tak...

Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse By Jane Godwin Illustrated by Blanca Gómez This is my new favorite picture book about colors! I love it! (Yeah, totally gushing here…) Basically there is a street that has a red house, a blue house, a green house, and a tree house (where a cute little mouse lives). The mouse then goes on a journey and readers discover other colors through the travels. The rhyming is fun, the element of searching for the mouse on each page is adorable, and it isn’t a boring color book that just lists objects in various colors—instead it is an actual cute story that happens to teach about colors. Really, this is a delightful way to talk about colors!

Read in Toddler Time Not Just a Book Written by Jeanne Willis Illustrated by Tony Ross Andersen Press USA, 2018.  Picture Book. A book is never just a book.  This book, for instance, could be a hat, a building block, or even a flower press--the only limit is your imagination.  And, of course, there's one magical thing all books can do...  --Publisher Read in Preschool Time I Know a Librarian Who Chewed on a Word Written by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton Illustrated by Herb Leonhard Pelican Publishing Company, 2012.  Picture Book. A most exciting word has the whole library abuzz.  What combination of letters could possibly drive a person to do such absurd things?  Fascinated children look on as Miss Divine dines on a table, chomps down a chair, and savors a shelf-all to chase down a single word.  Written in the style of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," this book reveals the only verb that could make a...

Penny and Penelope By Dan Richards Illustrated by Claire Almon New York : Imprint, A part of Macmillan Publishing Group, LLC, 2019. Picture book. Penelope is a princess with the most beautiful blue gown, a crown and real glass slippers. Penny is a secret agent with a fully functioning motorcycle and super spy skills. Penelope wants to play tea party and make sure that everything is done in a neat and orderly fashion. Penny loves to get dirty and fight bad guys storming the castle. Can these two very different friends learn to play together? This book is filled with bright pictures and fun plot twists that make it not only a great story but also a wonderful way to discuss getting along with someone who is different than you. No matter how you prefer to play, this is a read worth picking up.

Ghost: Thirteen Haunting Tales to Tell By Illustratus Chronicle Books, 2019. J Fiction. 153 p. As a kid I was scared of everything. I couldn't bear to even look at the covers of certain books when I walked past them in my elementary school library.  Goosebumps  were bad enough.  Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark haunted me. As an adult I've learned to embrace the horror genre. Ghost: Thirteen Haunting Tales to Tell is for kids who like to be scared. Thomas and Skeeter sneak away from camp to find an old man who lives in the marsh and is known for telling thirteen true ghost stories. There's a menacing reflection tapping from behind a mirror, an ancient elevator that never stops descending, a boy in a basement, a librarian who is a bit...off. The frame story ends the book with a great twist ending. This is a truly creepy collection of elegantly told and highly illustrated horror shorts. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum By Dr. Seuss Illustrated by Andrew Joyner Random House, 2019. Picture book. Do you have little ones who ask you "Art. What's it all about?" Are you trying to figure out how to explain the entire history of art in terms that even beginners can understand? Do you like horse paintings? Are you excited that we have a new Dr. Seuss book published posthumously and based on a recently discovered manuscript? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this book is for you. Follow your personal horse docent through Dr. Seuss's Horse Museum as you learn about how different artists see horses and how that creates different styles of art. This book is more than another homage to classic art - it's a book that teaches kids (old and young) to look at and think about art. A perfect read before a visit to an art museum, this book will help readers think about what they see.

We Are the Gardeners  Written by Joanna Gaines and children Illustrated by Julianna Swaney Tommy Nelson, 2019. Informational. The Gaines children start out with just one little plant that they’re taking care of, but quickly their love of plant tending grows, and they decide as a family to expand into an entire garden! They have to plan the layout of their garden, learn how much work goes into maintaining it, and fix things after some pesky animals cause them some problems. They deal with a few setbacks, but their love for their garden, and their hard work, is enough to keep them going. Filled with beautiful drawings and wise tidbits about gardening disguised as simply parts of the story, this book is as lovely as it is smart. Part gardening how-to and part family story, “We Are the Gardeners” is a fun and calm book that is enjoyable for both kids and adults.

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 September 24 (girls) and September 26 (guys). Preregister under the Kids Corner/Program Registration tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss this month: Girls Read Smile By Raina Telgemeier Graphix, 2010. Graphic novel. 213 p. All Raina really wants is to be a normal sixth grader, but unfortunately we don't always get what we want. In a random, freak accident Raina loses her front teeth spends the next several years undergoing various forms of orthodontia including braces, surgeries, false teeth, headgear, and implants. As if that weren't enough -- Raina also has to deal with boys, friends, and growing up. This popular graphic novel memoir was an instant classic for kids and librarians alike. We'll be reading SMILE just in time for Raina's visit this fall. Guys ...