Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Dear Beast Written by Dori Hillestad Butler Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry Holiday House, 2020. Intermediate, pp. 77 Cats and dogs not getting along is a tale as old as time. Simon, the cat in this book, and Baxter, the dog, are no exception to the rule. Simon has been Andy's cat for a long time now, and he's perfectly happy with things staying that way, thank you very much. Andy's parents are divorced, and Simon lives with Andy's mom. So when Andy's dad decides to adopt a dog, Simon is not pleased at the idea of sharing Andy with another pet. Through a series of letters, Simon tries to convince Baxter, who he has not-so-lovingly nicknamed "Beast", to leave for Andy's sake. Dori Hillestad Butler's characterizations of Simon the cat and Baxter the dog are funny and heartwarming. Despite being such a grouch, Simon isn't so obnoxious that he won't make you laugh. Baxter learning to spell as he writes letters, his optimism, and Simon...

The Quiet Boat Ride and Other Stories By Sergio Ruzzier  San Francisco, California: Chronicle Books LLC, 2019. THE QUIET BOAT RIDE follows peaceful Fox who enjoys quiet boat rides and tranquil sunrises and his best friend Chick (who is rather hyperactive and would prefer be loud and boisterous). This book has six different stories that explore how Fox and Chick balance each other to be both more introspective and adventurous. Fans of Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie characters are sure to find new friends in Fox and Chick. And with six stories in one book, you can be reading for days.

The Elephant's Girl By Celesta Rimington New York: Crown Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. Lexington Willow has lived in the Lexington Zoo since she was found there as a little girl after a tornado tore through the town. With the help of a "misplaced spirit" (ghost), a zoo employee named Roger found Lex safely in the protection of an African elephant named Nyah but with no clues about her identity. Now, seven years later, Lex lives with Roger inside the Lexington Zoo where she fills her day visiting Nyah and the other elephants, exploring the zoo with her best friend and fellow zoo resident Fisher, and communicating with the wind - which has spoken to her since she was found as a child. As she begins to wonder more about where she came from, she seeks help from the wind, her communications with Nyah, and the cryptic advice of the misplaced spirit Miss Amanda; and in the process, she uncovers a secret much bigger than she could have imagined. This novel is a...

Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom Written by: Carole Boston Weatherfore Illustrated by: Michele Wood Candlewick Press, 2020. Biography. This is the story of how Henry Brown escaped slavery by mailing himself, in a box, to freedom. Henry was born into slavery and was passed down to different owners throughout his life as property. He watched as everything he valued in life was taken away from him and when he finally decided he had nothing else to loose he took a chance and laid the plans for his escape.  This retelling of the story of Henry Brown is creative and powerful. Wood has created paintings that have a folk art feel with rich colors from the 1800's era. The characters  are full of emotion and they seem to look directly at you as if they are asking to be seen and remembered. With beautiful illustrations and short effective poetry we are told the story of Henry Browns life from a child to an adult and what drove Henry to break the bonds of slave...

Brave Like That By Lindsey Stoddard Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. 261 p. Cyrus is an eleven-year-old with a firefighter dad. In fact, Cyrus was left at the firehouse when he was a baby and his dad decided he wanted to keep him. All of the firefighters and Cy’s two friends all want Cyrus to be a star middle school football player like his dad. But Cy doesn’t really think he is “brave like that”—brave enough to be hit in rough tackles or to say what he really wants. In fact, Cy cares more about the stray dog that is at the humane society or listening to jazz music with his grandma or being kind to a new kid at his middle school than he does about football or looking like the “right” type of kid in front of others. This is a brilliant look at what makes a person (or a kid) brave. Readers will cheer as Cy learns to figure out who he is, how he can explain that to those around him, and how he can deal with the underline struggles and problems that he is facin...

How to Stage a Catastrophe By Rebecca Donnelly Seventh-grader Sidney Camazzola plans to be the director of the Juicebox Theater one day, but for now, he has a great idea--extortion--for keeping the theater open. The Backstagers and the Ghost Light By Andy Mientus When Jory transfers to St. Genesius Prep, he joins the stage crew and discovers the magic that happens backstage but when some cast members play with a Spirit board, the ghost light goes out and strange things begin to happen. A is for Audra: Broadway's Leading Ladies from A to Z Written by John Robert Allman Illustrated by Peter Emmerich An alphabetical celebration of the leading ladies of Broadway! Sabotage Stage Left By Casey Lyall Spring (musical) fever has hit the Grantleyville Middle School Drama Club! Since Ivy Mason is busy with the production, she decides to take a break from sleuthing, while Howard Wallace keeps things running smoothly with their detective agency. Then, just a few weeks befo...

Stepping Stones By Lucy Knisley New York: RH Graphic, 2020.  Graphic Novel. Jen is frustrated.  Her mom has just moved her from the city to a farm out in the country along with her mom’s new boyfriend, Walter.  Moving means leaving everything Jen loves about the city…including her dad.  To make matters worse, Walter expects her to take care of the chickens and to welcome his two daughters to the farm – and to her new bedroom – with open arms each weekend.  Yet somehow, through all of the changes, Jen finds happiness in unexpected people and places as she settles into her new life. Based on events from the author’s childhood, Stepping Stones is a brilliant look at the complexities of family life and the kids who are often at the mercy of their adults’ decisions.  However, don’t be fooled by the weighty theme!  This is a sweet, delightful, and tender graphic novel about a completely relatable tween girl.  Perfect for fans of Raina Tel...

ABC’s of Baseball by Peter Golenbock New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012 As contemporary as today's sports page and as nostalgic as an old baseball card, this is an alphabet book for kids, their parents and grandparents that can be used all through the year. Calling His Shot by Brandon Terrell North Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone Press, 2019 When the legendary Babe Ruth strode to the plate in Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, the game was tied 4-4 in the fifth inning. After taking two strikes, Ruth cemented his place in baseball history. He first pointed toward the outfield, and then slammed a monster home run on the very next pitch. It is a moment that has lived in baseball lore ever since. Readers will get an up-close look at one of baseball's most iconic moments and learn about the controversy surrounding the truth of Babe Ruth's famous called-shot homer. Mama Played Baseball by David Adler San Diego: Harcourt, 2003 Amy's dad is away, fighti...

Big Ideas for Curious Minds Edited by Alain de Botton Illustrated by Anna Doherty Great Britain: The School of Life Press, 2019. Informational, p. 147. While most kids may not know what the word “philosophy” means, every kid knows how to ask questions. Big Ideas for Curious Minds encourages kids to “be wise” by breaking down some of the major questions about personal identity, human reactions, and the meaning of life which middle-grade kids start to wrestle with. Using a conversational tone, kids feel like they are talking to a friend about what’s on their mind as opposed to reading a textbook that talks at them. Big ideas from famous thinkers like Socrates and Immanuel Kant are distilled into catchy titles such as “Know Yourself” and “When Someone Is Angry, Maybe It’s Not You Who Is Responsible.” This book approaches life’s major questions in small stand-alone chapters to allow kids and parents alike to read as much or as little as they want in a single sitting and invites ...

The Next Great Jane By K.L. Going New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. Jane Brannen aspires to be the "next great Jane" -- following in the literary footsteps of Jane Austen. Unfortunately, that's easier said than done. So when famous romance novelist J.E. Fairfax moves to the tiny town of Whickett Harbor, Maine, Jane is keen to learn her secret of literary success. Too bad J.E. Fairfax also brings with her Devon, her annoying and snobbish son, who happens to be Jane's new lab partner. And, if things weren't bad enough, Jane's absentee mother has returned from Hollywood with her new fiance to sue for custody and bring Jane back to California with her. The only solution to all this drama is for Jane to spin a matchmaking plot worthy of the great J. Austen herself and set up her plankton-obsessed oceanographer father with J.E. Fairfax. This well-balanced story features a fiery main character, a supporting cast of interesting characters...

Catherine's War Written by: Julia Billet Illustrated by: Claire Fauvel Harper Alley, 2020. Graphic Novel. This is the story of a young Jewish girl who was living in France during WW II. As she experienced dark times in her life she used her camera to find her way by looking at the world from a different angle through the lens of her camera. Rachel Cohen had been attending the progressive Sevres Children's Home for months but as the Nazi's tightened their stronghold on France she was forced to change her name to Catherine and eventually leave. She spent the next few years of her life hiding and moving from place to place in order to avoid being caught by the Nazi's. As she moved around during the war she continued to take photographs and experiment with different techniques. This story does a wonderful job of showing how people survived and moved on during the war. Beautiful illustrations and art showcase the depth and emotion of the story in vivid det...

We Dream of Space   By Erin Entrada Kelly Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. 391 p. Cash, Fitch, and Bird are siblings that are all in seventh grade. Cash was held back one year and Fitch and Bird are twins. They all have the same science teacher who is excited to teach them about the upcoming 1986 Challenger Mission Launch. Each sibling has their own struggles. Cash isn’t sure what he is good at, and he is afraid to fail 7th grade for a second time. Fitch is only interested in playing games at the arcade after school and often let’s his temper get the best of him. Bird wants to become the first female shuttle commander and is enthralled with learning about Challenger but is frustrated when others keep telling her she isn’t pretty. To top everything off, their home life isn’t stellar seeing how their parents tend to only argue with each other. With all that is going on, the siblings must learn what is important to them and to each other. Kelly has creat...

Memoirs of a Hamster By Devin Scillian Ann Arbor, MI : Sleeping Bear Press, 2013. When a pet hamster is enticed by a cat to leave his cage, he soon realizes life is difficult outside the comforts of his cage. Mrs. Mole, I'm Home! By Jarvis Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2018. Morris loses his glasses and decides to go home without them. But getting home when you can't see can be a little tricky. No More Hitting for Little Hamster By Bernette G. Ford London : Boxer Books, 2011 Little Hamster has a bad habit of hitting his friends. Will he learn to use his hands for nice things? Mole's Babies By David Bedford Great Britain : Egmont UK Limited, 2011 Mr. Mole tries all sorts of things to make his babies happy. He follows the lead of birds, ducks and bunnies before he realizes that he already gives his babies what they need. Mole Had Everything By Jamieson Odone Maplewood, NJ : Blue Apple Books, 2012. When Mole's friend tells him...

Pie in the Sky By Remy Lai New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Fiction. All growing up, Jingwen has listened to his father talk about his dream to open his very own bakery called, Pie in the Sky. When his father unexpectedly passes away, Jingwen moves to a new country with his mom and brother. Jingwen struggles in school with both his education, and making new friends because he doesn't speak English. It doesn't make it any easier when he is put in charge of looking after his little brother, who seems to get into all sorts of trouble. To cope with his feelings of discouragement and sadness, he begins to bake cakes, the same cakes that his father was planning to include in the menu at his bakery. This beautiful story includes many pages of illustrations which makes it a perfect choice for both those who love comics and those who love chapter books. Remy Lai writes about Jingwen's experience of moving to a different country in such a captivating and fun ...

Ways to Make Sunshine Renee Watson New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. Fiction. Ryan Hart's name means king and her parents are always encouraging her to live up to it. Ryan knows she is supposed to be a leader, but sometimes it can feel hard to lead. Still, she tries to make the best of bad situations - like her father losing his job and the family having to move to a new, smaller house - by making sunshine for her family. Like Ramona Quimby for a contemporary audience, this episodic novel introduces us to a new, sure to be beloved character. The stories that make up this quick read are funny, touching, heartwarming, and frustrating. The "slice of life" type tales offer a refreshing and long overdue look at a close-knit Black family living in Portland, Oregon. The love and support that Ryan receives from her dad, mom, and even her bossy older brother Ray are palpable. For someone who grew up loving Ramona Quimby, I'm excited to share Ryan Hart a...

The Next President: The Unexpected Beginnings and Unwritten Future of America's Presidents Written by: Kate Messner Illustrated by: Adam Rex Chronicle Books, 2020. Informational. This year many of us are wondering who will be the next president? In this creative nonfiction picture book author Kate Messner doesn't try to answer the question of who will be the next president but instead she gives you a glimpse into the lives of our past presidents. By choosing different years we are shown what  past president of the United States were doing at that time. Some were practicing law, studying medicine, working, going to school or just busy growing up. Today there could be at least 10 future presidents living today and they could be doing very ordinary things like playing basketball or studying math. Where did our leaders come from and what kinds of jobs did they do and what inspired them to take the  possible paths that lead them to the office of  president? T...

Salma the Syrian Chef  By Danny Ramadan Art by Anna Bron Annick Press, 2020. Picture Book. Salma and her mother are in Vancouver where they moved after leaving Syria. Salma is worried about her mother—who hasn’t really smiled since they left their father behind. One day while talking Nancy at the Welcome Center Salma gets an idea of how she might be able to help her mother smile—she can make a Syrian dish that they haven’t had since their family was all together. With a lot of help from new friends at the Welcome Center Salma embarks upon becoming a Syrian Chef. This is a sweet story that helps young readers see that the journey to a new place isn’t the only hard part about being a refugee. With Salma’s cheery attitude and determination this is sure to become a favorite book about overcoming hardships and helping others. This is truly one story not to be missed. Bonus the website listed on the last page will give you a recipe for Salma’s dish.

World of Glass: The Art of Dale Chihuly By Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020.  Informational. In the mood for a high interest informational book chock full of gorgeous photographs?  Look no further than this new biography of Dale Chihuly!  Whether you're familiar with Chihuly's unique exhibitions that explode with color, or are new to his art and his melding of nature and the man made, you're in for a real treat. Greenberg and Jordan present a great balance between biographical facts and the personal experiences that helped shape Chihuly into a renowned artist -- one that has wowed audiences across the world for nearly 50 years.  His tenacity in the face of challenges (including the appearance of his trademark eye patch) and the resulting modifications to how he creates are inspirational.  These stories provide a wonderful opportunity for discussion about determination, perseverance, and the benefits of teamwork....

Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family Written by Nelly Buchet Illustrated by Andrea Zuill Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020. Picture book. Some stories don't need a lot of words to get their message across. This book is one of those stories. Almost all the pages only contain the words cat and dog, in various orders. Despite having a small vocabulary, the book tells a hilarious and rapturous tale of what happens when a family with one dog and a family with a dog and a cat join together. Cat and Dog happily live together with their human. Although they occasionally don't get along, they're mostly content. Dog, on the other hand, is an only child living with his human in an another house. But when their two humans move in together and the animals are forced to become a trio, they learn that three is a lot of animals for one family. Nelly Buchet and Andrea Zuill use minimal words and expressive illustrations effectively to tell the story of a blended pet family, an...

The Promise Basket By Bill Richardson Illustrated by Slavka Kolesar Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, 2019. Picture Book. A poor woman lives in a small room with her baby daughter. As her daughter grows, the woman gives her a present each birthday and Christmas. The present is always a beautiful stone accompanied by a sweet poem with a promise. As the girl grows older, her mothers promises stand the test of time. This is a wonderful picture book that illustrates the love between a mother and daughter. Through thick and thin the mother is there for her girl and wants her to succeed. The tender poems and moving illustrations help send home the message that even when a family is poor in money they can be rich in love.

What Lane? By Torrey Maldonado New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020. Fiction. Sixth-grader Stephen has always thought of himself as “mixed” – but it hasn’t really mattered that much before. But recently, Stephen feels caught between two lanes and then he starts to notice that some people treat him differently than his white friends. Then, Stephen discovers the Black Lives Matter movement at school, and begins to perceive the racism he experiences everyday in his interactions with strangers, shopkeepers, or his best friend Dan’s racist cousin Chad. Stephen does his part to make his classmates aware of injustices Black people face everyday while trying to avoid being cornered into one lane.  This slim novel is at times hopeful and heartbreaking. As a white reader, this book was eye-opening – following along with a biracial boy as he comes to the realization that people will hate him because of the color of his skin was shocking. This book is a great conversation starter abo...

If I Couldn't Be Anne Written by: Kallie George Illustrated by: Genevieve Godbout Tundra Books, 2020.Picture book. Author Kallie George has taken elements from the Anne of Green Gables story and woven them into a beautiful poem in this delightful picture book. Anne imagines what her life would be like if she couldn't be Anne with an e. As she daydreams of what she could be you capture a part of her mischievous spirit in the whimsical words and the soft colorful illustrations. If you are familiar with Anne of Green Gables you will recognize the references from the original story throughout the book. The lovely illustrations add a sweet magical feel to the story as Anne discovers that some things, like friendship, are better than imagination. If you are a fan of Anne of Green Gables or just learning about Anne Shirley you will enjoy reading this sweet picture book. It would be a perfect book to share with younger readers to give them a glimpse of the girl who s...

Nana Akua Goes to School  By Tricia Elam Walker Illustrated by April Harrison Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020. Picture Book. Zura loves going to school. Only, she is a little nervous when all the students are asked to bring their grandparents to school one day. Zura loves her grandmother but isn’t sure what the other children will think of her—because due to an old African tradition her Nana has marks on her face to represent what tribe she belongs to. Zura is scared that people won’t see how wonderful her Nana is because they will only look at her marks. This is a beautiful book. I love how Zura is willing to talk through her fears to her Nana and that Nana isn’t afraid to help Zura work through what could be an awkward situation due to classmates not understanding the African tradition. Zura is a strong and caring character—but the real star is Nana and her powerful beauty and dignity that know just what to do to include everyone and create a beautiful memory. Enchanti...

Sea Rex By Molly Idle New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Group, 2015. What could that be down in the sea? Is it a fish? A snail? A mermaid’s tail? No, it’s bigger than that . . .a LOT bigger . . .it’s Sea Rex! Join Cordelia and her cretacious companions as they spend a memorable day at the beach, as only dinosaurs can do! Paddington at the Beach Written by Michael Bond Illustrated by R.W. Alley New York: HarperCollins, 2009. Nothing goes quite according to plan when Paddington Bear goes to the beach. Especially when, one by one, he is joined by hungry (and sneaky!) seagulls. Will Paddington's lunchtime snack be safe? Join one lovable bear and his ten flying friends for a delightful counting adventure! On Gull Beach Written by Jane Yolen Illustrated by Bob Marshall Apex: The Cornell Lab Publishing Group, 2018. At the Cape Cod shoreline, gulls perform acrobatics in pursuit of a sea star. My Ocean is Blue Written by Darren Lebeuf Illustrated by Ashley Barron Toronto: Kids Can Pr...

Slamdown Town By Maxwell Nicoll and Matthew Smith New York : Amulet Books, 2020. Chapter Book. Ollie and Tamiko are best friends who spend every weekend watching the pro wrestling matches at Slamdown Town. It is Ollie's dream to one day be a pro wrestler. This dream seems out of reach until on his birthday he is gifted a magical piece of gum that has been chewed by his wrestling idol. The gum has the ability to transform him into a pro wrestler. With his newly found power, he sets out to defeat the reigning champion of Slamdown Town and become the new town hero! This is a unique story filled with moments of humor and friendship. One does not need to be a huge fan of pro wrestling in order to enjoy this book. It is a fun story to teach young readers about finding confidence in who you are, being able to say sorry when you need to, and dealing with not getting along with a sibling.

The Only Black Girls in Town By Brandy Colbert New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2020. Fiction. Alberta is used to being the only Black girl her age in her small California beach town. For the most part things are pretty chill - her coach says she's the best surfer at camp, she loves living with her dads, and eating butter pecan ice cream with her best friend Laramie. Then, right before seventh grade, her dads bring home exciting news - another Black family is moving in across the street and they have a daughter, Edie, Alberta's same age. Though Alberta is a California surfer girl and Edie is a goth Brooklynite, the two become fast friends after they discover some mysterious old journals in Edie's attic. The two are dealing with a lot -- shifting family dynamics, microaggressions at school (the principal asks them if they're cousins on the first day and a teacher calls Edie by Alberta's name), and middle school drama (including Laramie starting to spend ti...