Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Some Dinosaurs are Small By Charlotte Voake Candlewick Press, 2020. Picture Book. In this charming story there is a very small dinosaur that spends time looking for fruit and leaves to munch. However, there are also three other big dinosaurs who have “huge pointy teeth and sharp claws.” These dinosaurs don’t want to spend time finding their own food—they want to take the food from the small dinosaur. Voake has created a dinosaur picture book that explores the classic theme about big kid vs little kid. (And of course the small kids will be pleased that things turn out better for the underdog!) There is a small amount of text on each page and large, colorful illustrations that will not only play to the attention spans of toddlers at a story time but also to those young beginning readers who might want to read one clever story with a few bigger words in a picture book. Also, the humor of the ending (and who saves the little dino) will also get a few chuckles when lap reading wit...

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 virtually on Zoom on September 22 (girls) and September 24 (guys). Preregister under the Kids Corner/Program Registration tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss this month: Girls The One and Only Ivan By Katherine Applegate New York: Harper, 2012. Fiction. Ivan the gorilla has lived in a small enclosure at a circus themed mall for 27 years. When Ivan's friend Stella the elephant dies, her last wish is that Ivan will help the young elephant Ruby escape to somewhere happier, safer, and better for animals. With the help of Bob, a stray dog, and Julia, the janitor's daughter, Ivan hatches a plan to help all of the animals escape. Ivan narrates his own story in this book that is heartbreaking, adventurous and ultimately hopeful. Read THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN before you read the br...

96 Miles By J.L. Esplin New York: Starscape, 2020.  Fiction. 13-year-old John Lockwood and his younger brother Stew are on their own.  The boys live out in the middle of nowhere Nevada with their dad, a known "prepper" and survivalist.  But when Dad goes on a business trip to North Carolina, leaving the boys under the supervision of the nearest (not very near) neighbor, the unthinkable happens when a widespread, long-term power outage occurs and the brothers are suddenly left to their own devices.  After being plunged into a desperate race for survival, they come across a girl John's age, Cleverly, and her little brother Will, and the four kids strike out across the desert in search of Brighton Ranch...96 miles away. Be sure to set aside some time for this one because once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down -- it's a page-turning, suspenseful ride!  Esplin sucks you into the action from the very first line, and the pace just doesn't slow down....

  Pugtato Finds a Thing By Sophie Corrigan Grand Rapids, Michigan : Zonderkidz, 2020. Picture Book. One day while Pugtato is digging in the mud, he finds a Thing. He cleans it up and decides to take it around to show all of his best spuddies to see if they can help him figure out what it is. As he goes around, we are introduced to all of Pugtatoes friends but none of them have any idea what the strange object is. Pugtato eventually tries something new and finally discovers what the Thing is! This cute picture book is filled with all kinds of unique characters that are a mixture of animal and vegetable, such as, a Collieflower, and my personal favorite, a Cowbbage. This is a heartwarming story of friendship and helping your friends learn to follow their heart. 

 From a Small Seed: The Story of Eliza Hamilton Written by Camille Andros Illustrated by Tessa Blackham New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2019. Informational. Eliza grew up during the birth of America. She had a happy childhood where she could play outside and have parents to tuck her in at night. She was strong and talented and had the world at her feet. But when she saw a young orphaned boy sitting on a stoop, a passion for helping others ignited in her and she became driven to help when she realized that she was lucky to have a warm home and food on her table. When she grew up she married Alexander Hamilton and helped build the new nation. She was deeply rooted in kindness, even when tragedy struck her family. She took that kindness and shared it with the world by starting the Orphan Asylum Society and the Hamilton Free School. Her whole life of service was all because of one small seed of compassion. This book is beautifully written with lines that flow like lyrics. The illustr...

Dress Coded By Carrie Firestone New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2020. Fiction. Molly Frost is fed up with the unfair and unevenly enforced dress code at Fisher Middle School. Since the first day of seventh grade, Molly has seen her friends and female classmates be targeted, harassed, and embarrassed by the school administration and their unflinching adherence to rules -- even over the comfort of students. When Molly's friend Olivia is dress-coded and the school administration cancels the eighth-grade field trip -- blaming Olivia -- Molly decides enough is enough. She starts Dress Coded: A Podcast where she publishes her classmates' horror stories. And, little by little, Molly's quiet insurrection ignites into a movement. After letters to the school district are ignored, Molly and her growing group of supporters take their case to the school board and a full-on protest is born. This book should be read by any and all tweens with a passion for social justice or a ...

  Efren Divided By: Ernesto Cisneros HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Fiction. Seventh-grader Efren Nava doesn't have much in the way of a fancy house or lots of money but he does have a loving family. His mom is a superwoman or soperwoman! She is a working mom who makes the best Mexican sopes and keeps Efren and his younger brother and sister fed and pressed. His dad is a hard worker who works two jobs to provide for his family. Efren and his siblings feel safe and loved until one day when Efren's worst nightmare comes true. His mom is picked up by I.C.E. and sent across the border to Tijuana Mexico This book will give you a glimpse into the life of a family who is struggling to make a living while worrying about deportation. It's a compelling story about hope, heart ache, resilience, and courage. You will find yourself pulled into Efren's world and as you look at the world through his eyes you will gain an understanding of the difficulties undocumented families face. T...

Twilight Hauntings (Enchanter’s Child #1) Angie Sage Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. 347 p. Sage has created yet another complex world with a power-house of characters. Alex is a young orphan who has a set of cards that helps her see the future. The only problem is that magic in any form is outlawed and potentially punishable by death. Danny is a boy who just landed a job hunting for enchanters (or children of enchanters); however, he isn’t sure he likes trying to kill people. When Danny chooses to not kill Alex, they begin a journey together to try to figure out who Alex is and how she can survive in a place that wants all magical people dead. This story is packed with magic, adventure, and building friendships. Readers who like a good adventure story in a magical world (think Percy Jackson) will likely enjoy this new series. Also, Alex is devoted to those who she loves—and sometimes to those who she doesn’t love but feels an obligation to. Readers wh...

Flubby is Not a Good Pet! By J. E. Morris Penguin Workshop, 2019. Easy Reader. Flubby is not a very impressive pet. Unlike some other pets Flubby doesn't seem to enjoy jumping, or playing fetch, or any other sort of trick. Flubby only seems to want to yawn, stretch, and lay down. Not exactly the most exciting of things for a pet to do. But, sometimes, being impressive isn't the best way to be a pet. During a scary situation, Flubby proves that tricks don't mean everything, and sometimes all you need is someone to love and comfort you. J. E. Morris's funny and sweet book about a seemingly useless pet will appeal to cat and animal lovers, especially those who don't have the most impressive pets of their own and know the true value of a friend.

Sadiq and the Pet Problem By Siman Nuurali North Mankato, Minnesota: Picture Window Books, 2020 Sadiq is in third grade and his class wants a pet. Should they get a cat? Or maybe a lizard? What if they got a bunny? There are so many options! Sadiq and his classmates have to do a lot of research to find the perfect pet for their class. They even visit animal shelters. Will Sadiq and his friends find the perfect pet? Or will they be dissapointed? This book is a great intermediate read for kids who like animals and are just starting to read chapter books. This read sprinkles in some fun animal facts and cultural information from Somalia. The simplistic writing and intermittent pictures make this a great first chapter book for young readers.

The Night Flower By Lara Hawthorne As the summer sets over the desert, creatures gather for a very special event. The saguaro cactus is about to bloom. Join pollinating fruit bats, howling mice, and other animals on their journey to visit the flower in this beautiful nature-inspired story. Hoot and Howl Across the Desert: Life in the World's Driest Deserts By Vassiliki Tzomaka Discover the remarkable plants and animals that live in the world's driest climates -- both hot and cold! With beautifully illustrated landscapes, this book proves just how much life exists in the world's deserts. Travel around the globe and encounter hundreds of rare and little-known plants and animals that thrive in dry environments. Who Needs a Desert?: A Desert Ecosystem By Karen Patkau Describes creatures as well as ecological features and includes fact-filled notes, a useful glossary, and comprehensive mappages. Joshua Tree National Park By Jodie Shepherd Young readers will...

Thieves of Weirdwood By Christian McKay Heidicker New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2020. Fiction. For 12-year-olds, Wally Cooper and Arthur Benton are expert thieves. It helps that they are both unusually motivated; Arthur longs to be just like the gentleman thief Garnett Lacroix from his favorite adventure books and free his drunkard father from the crippling debt that has loan sharks in his pursuit; and Wally has his brother's looming mental hospital bills to consider. When Arthur sees a girl in golden robes walk into an otherwise derelict old manor, Arthur is convinced he's found the perfect con -- they'll break in and steal enough treasure to never think about money again. What they find instead, is an entrance to a realm of nightmares and a secret society tasked with preserving the veil between the real world and the Fae world. Suddenly, Arthur and Wally are tangled into a mystery much bigger than either of them could imagine and it's up to them to save the...

  Chirp By: Kate Messner Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. Fiction. This middle grade story is all about family, friendships, and learning to speak up for yourself. It has everything a good story should, mystery, strong characters, friend bonding, and an impactful message. The summer after Mia finishes seventh grade, her family decides to move back to Vermont to help her grandmother sell her cricket farm and retire. Her Grandmother, however, has different plans. She has decided to not sell her farm after all and she is convinced that someone is trying to sabotage her. Mia and her new friend Clover decide to do some detective work and see if they can discover the suspect who it is trying to destroy her grandmothers farm. While doing a little sleuthing on the side, the girls also work alongside Mia's grandmother to help turn the struggling business into a success. As you follow Mia during her summer of new adventures you learn the value of overcoming your fears, speaking up when...

Don’t Wake the Dragon  By Bianca Schulze Illustrated by Samara Hardy Clever Publishing, 2020. Picture Book There is a dragon in this interactive book. The dragon is sleeping. Readers must not wake the dragon. Things like stroking her scales or singing lullabies are required in order to keep the big beast sleeping. Of course there are things like doors that bang or pots that clang or those pesky knights that always party to be weary of…because those noises might wake the dragon! This is another fun inter-active book with loads of personality. It is perfect for reading with those young kiddos who know that characters in books are real and that a dragon could really be rocked back to sleep by rocking the book. Brilliant.

Summer Song Written by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Laura Dronzek New York:  Greenwillow Books, 2020.  Picture Book. What does the song of summer sound like to you?  Enjoy all of summer's sights and sounds in this beautiful ode to the sunniest of all seasons.  See green frogs, blue skies, and blinking fireflies.  Hear the wind in the grass and the buzzing and humming of bees and dragonflies.  And feel the heat of the sun and the cool shade of a tree.  Each page captures the very best that summer has to offer through simple, peaceful, lyrical text and bright, colorful illustrations created in acrylic.  You won't want to miss Henkes' and Dronzek's final installment in their series of seasonal picture books.  This one is an absolute delight.

  A Last Goodbye By Elin Kelsey, Artwork by Soyeon Kim Toronto : Owlkids Books, 2020.  Losing someone you love is one of the hardest things to go through. It can be especially difficult for little ones to understand. Knowing that they are not alone in their sadness and grief is a great tool to help little ones through the process. Seeing how elephants wrap their trunks around their loved ones and orcas lift their loved ones to the surface for one last breath can be a part of healing process. Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim combine their talents again to bring these images to life and help us to feel connected in the world through our shared experience of grief and loss. While grief and loss are hard, there is a sweet thought that flippers, paws, and hearts reach out together to help one another through this heartbreaking process. Soyeon Kim’s intricate paper dioramas are absolutely stunning and Elin Kelsey’s poetic text bring a gentle feeling to a very raw emotional moment as...

Villain School: Good Curses Evil By: Stephanie Sanders Macmillan, 2011. Twelve-year-old Rune Drexler is struggling in his classes at Master Dreadthorn's School for Wayward Villains and will be exiled unless he and his friends, Countess Jezebel Dracula and Big Bad Wolf Junior, can suceed at a nearly impossible plot. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz By: Frank L. Baum HarperCollins Publishers, 2000. After a cyclone transports her to the land of Oz, Dorothy must seek out the great wizard in order to return to Kansas. Are You Scared, Darth Vader? By: Adam Rex Disney/Lucasfilm Press, 2018. 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. The Witches By: Roald Dahl Alfaguara, 1987. A young boy and his Norwegian grandmother, who is an expert on witches, together foil a witches' plot to destroy the world's children by turning them into mice. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe By: C.S. Lewis Coll...

Fighting Words By Kimberly Brubaker Bradley New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. Della has always known she could count on her older sister Suki. Suki kept her safe when their mother was incarcerated and the two girls were left with her long haul truck driver boyfriend Clifton. Five years later, when Suki walks in on Clifton abusing Della, she acts fast to get the two of them out of the house and to safety. Now, the two sisters are in a foster home awaiting Clifton's trial and learning to live with their foster mother Francine. As Della starts to settle into their new life -- making friends, enjoying the safety of life with Francine, and standing up to a physical bully -- Suki starts unravel, being increasingly plagued by nightmares and a mental health decline that results in her attempted suicide. Now Della and Suki are left to learn to speak up and trust that others will help them, even if they aren't sure anyone wants to hear what they have to say....

My Best Friend Written By: Julie Fogliano Illustrated By: Jillian Tamaki Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. At the park on a playground two little girls meet and start spending the day together. They laugh together, make skeleton hands out of leaves, pretend to be pickles, have adventures and enjoy the day. When its time to go home they sadly go their separate ways but they both know they have made a best friend that day. If you have ever watched children interacting on a playground you see the instantaneous friendships that blossom as they engage with each other. The author Julie Fogliano has created a story that tells this experience in a way that captures the feelings and excitement of a child who just made a new friend. The text and illustrations work harmoniously together. The art with its soft two tone color pallet feels timeless and is visually appealing. Children and adults alike will both enjoy reading this book over and over again.  ...

Willa and the Whale  By Chad Morris and Shelly Brown Shadow Mountain, 2020. 252 p. Willa had been living with her mom, who was a world-renowned marine biologist, in Japan. Only, after a tragic accident Willa is all alone and must move back to Washington State where her father and step-mom live. Willa’s dad tries to cheer Willa up so takes her on a whale watching trip. It is there that Willa discovers that she can talk to whales—or rather one humpback whale that she nicknames Meg. Meg tries to help Willa figure out how to muddle through her grief and emotions and her trying to find a place in a town that she hasn’t lived in since her parents got divorced three years ago. This is a sweet story with a character or two (including a whale) that will steal your heart and help you realize that everyone has hard times and what you do with those times is what makes or breaks you.

The Space We're In By Katya Balen New York : Margaret Ferguson Books, Holiday House, 2019. Fiction. Frank's whole life, everything has always been about his autistic brother, Max. Being a big brother is nothing like what he imagined and Frank has a difficult time understanding Max's behavior. Despite his struggles with his relationship with Max, life seems to be going great for Frank, until tragedy strikes. While Frank and his family are working to heal after a difficult year, Frank learns to love Max for who he is and they become closer than ever.  This story shows the struggles and the joys of having a family member with autism. Watching the relationship between Frank and Max evolve as they come to understand each other is truly beautiful. This book is very raw and tackles some tricky topics such as death & grief, autism, and bullies. While there are some heavy moments, the author brings a wonderful contrast by adding many moments of hope and joy. 

Steam Jobs in Game Development By: Kenneth Rosenberg Science, technology, engineering, art, and math each play an important part in the gaming industry. This volume takes a look at various gaming industry jobs, discussing what it takes to obtain these jobs and what types of tasks each job entails. Includes before and after reading activities. The Zoom, Fly, Bolt, Blast STEAM Handbook: Build 18 Innovative Projects With Brain Power By: Lance Akiyama 18 STEAM approved projects to get kids doing, thinking, and building! Marvelous Makeable Monsters By: Sam Haynor Make silly beasts that jump, fly, spin, shake, light up, and even spit. Some monsters are made with circuits and wires while others are built with more common craft materials. Fun for kids and adults with step by step photos for each project. STEAM jobs in forensics By: Shirley Smith Duke Discover how science, technology, engineering, art and math are used to discover clues, analyze evidence, identi...

The Scourge By: Jennifer Nielsen When the lethal plague known as the scourge returns to Keldan the victims are sent to Attic Island, and Ani Mells of the River People is among them--but Ani does not feel sick, and with the help of her best friend, Weevil, she sets out to uncover the truth of what is happening, and expose the lies the people of Keldan have been told. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone By: Shannon Hale Miri returns to Asland and calls upon all of her knowledge of rhetoric and other useful lessons learned at the Princess Academy when she and the other girls face strong opposition while working for a new, fair charter. The Queen's Secret By: Jessica Day George When a deadly disease breaks out, it is up to Anthea and her friends in the Horse Brigade to transport medicine throughout the kingdom while avoiding Anthea's evil mother and uncovering a powerful secret. Dragonwatch By: Brandon Mull Because Dragonwatch, an ancient group of wizards, enchantresses, and dragon s...

Swashby and the Sea By Beth Ferry Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. Picture book. Captain Swashby likes to be in solitude - which is why he retires to a seaside house to enjoy peace and quiet with his old friend the ocean. This is all completely interrupted when a gregarious girl and her granny move in next door -- prompting Swashby to batten down the hatches and leave decidedly un-neighborly messages of "NO TRESPASSING" and "PLEASE GO AWAY" in the sand. Which the sea fiddles with, transforming it into "SING" and "PLAY" by washing away extra letters. Swashby starts to open up a little bit, but nothing quite brings him out of his shell until the ocean carries the child away from the shore, and Swashby dives in to save her. We love Martinez-Neal's illustrations from the 2019 Caldecott Honor Alma and How She Got Her Name and the 2020 Sibert Medal Fry Bread , and she is back again with a color ...

In a Jar Written by: Deborah Macero G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2020. Picture Book. This is a  magical story about two friends who start collecting moments and experiences and saving them in jars. Their collection is marvelous but when one of the friends has to move away it seems like things will never be the same. Life seems empty when there is no one to share it with. Eventually they discover that even though they live apart they can still send shared experiences and their new found collections to each other. Their friendship doesn't have to end but can continue with new traditions.  This book would be a perfect book to read if you are moving or a close friend is moving. It's a reminder that friendships can still exist even if you live miles apart. It's also a great book to inspire one to think of all the possible collections you can have and then share with others. What would you want to bottle and share with someone? A book about celebrating friendships and the...

After Squidnight By Jonathan Fenske Penguin Workshop, An Imprint of Penguin Random House, 2020. Picture Book. Late at night when children are sleeping squids come out of the ocean to make art. In rhymes with a nod to the horror genre (though it isn’t really all that scary) squids come onto dry land to make art—due to the fact that using their ink to make art in the ocean wouldn’t really work since the water would wash it all away. The black and white illustrations with a teal spotlight color add to the eerie and spooky feel. And having a squid sneak into your house while you are sleeping could be a somewhat frightening thought. (Or the fact that parents when they wake up think the kids have made all the inky drawings and don’t believe squids did it.) Kids who like getting scared by Creepy Carrots or the like will enjoy this addition to the almost-horror picture book genre. And kids who like the comical drawing the squids make will be even more delighted. Such fun.

Mulan: Before the Sword By Grace Lin Disney Press, 2020. 374 p. This is the story of Mulan—before she became the famous Mulan who saved the Emperor in the 1998 Disney animated feature. In this story Mulan has a sister Xiu who is bitten by a nine-legged spider. In order to save Xiu Mulan must go on a magical journey to gather ingredients for a healing potion. All the while, a transforming demon (who can change into anything from a previously seen nine-legged spider to a fox with many tails to a beautiful woman who is slyly trying to tempt our youthful warrior) is trying to prevent Mulan and her companions from succeeding on their quest. Lin has written a story that shows readers a glimpse of Mulan and how she came to start believing in herself—the future warrior that would save all of China. Readers who love the original Mulan story will enjoy reading this. Fans of Grace Lin will be happy with another adventure tale with Chinese folklore woven throughout. And booklovers will del...

You Matter By Christian Robinson New York:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020.  Picture Book. Sometimes it's difficult for children -- and grownups! -- to feel important.  In this heartfelt picture book, award-winning illustrator Christian Robinson sincerely and emphatically declares that you matter .  The text is spare with one simple sentence per two-page spread, yet has the strength to pack an emotional punch and be simultaneously lighthearted.  His characteristic illustrations are colorful, charming, and delightfully inclusive. This engaging book is an outstanding choice to plant the seeds of self-love in little ones, but it's also a wonderful read for anyone that needs a gentle reminder that they matter.  You can expect this one to leave a smile on your face and warm fuzzies in your heart!