Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Real Pirates: The Untold Story of the Whydah From Slave Ship to Pirate Ship By: Barry Clifford The story of the slave ship, Whydah, captured by pirates and later sunk in a fierce storm off the coast of Massachusetts.  Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao By: Helaine Becker  Illustrated by: Liz Wong The most powerful pirate in history was a woman who was born into poverty in Guangzhou, China, in the late 1700's. When pirates attacked her town and the captain took a liking to her, she saw a way out. Zheng Yi Sao agreed to marry him only if she got an equal share of his business. When her husband died six years later, she took command of the fleet. Over the next decade, the pirate queen built a fleet of over 1,800 ships and 70,000 men. On land and sea, Zheng Yi Sao's power rivaled the emperor himself.  Are Pirates Polite? By: Corinne Demas Illustrated by: David Catrow In rhyming text, this story demonstrates that even pirates can be polite, and say "please" and "...

Pea, Bee, & Jay: Stuck Together By Brian Smith New York: Harper Alley, 2020. Graphic novel. Pea considers himself to be the best roller of all the produce on the farm. So when the other fruits and vegetables goad him into rolling further than anyone has gone before -- beyond the fence at the end of the farm -- he accepts their challenge. Before long, a rainstorm rolls Pea off course and strands him in the middle of nowhere far away from his home. Luckily, Pea finds a lost bumblebee named Bee and an orphaned bluejay named Jay -- two new, unlikely friends who will help him find his way home. Pea, Bee, and Jay are three hilarious new friends for readers who like humorous graphic novels. Kid-friendly humor abounds in this colorful and cartoonish graphic novel, especially all the cheesy-peasy puns. This book and its sequel,  Pea, Bee, & Jay: Wannabees , is a good graphic novel for intermediate readers ready for a next step after Noodleheads or Baloney and Friends .

  The Farm That Mac Built Written by: Tammi Sauer Illustrated by: Jackie Urbanovic Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. Picture Book. The barnyard residents have decided to put on a play, a farm version of "The House That Jack Built" but the play keeps getting interrupted. First the monkeys start playing on the stage and then some break-dancing kangaroos come in and last of all some singing elephants enter the stage. What can the farm animals do? Sometimes you just have to learn to roll with the unexpected and have some fun. This is a great interactive read aloud with lots of word repetition that children will enjoy as they shout out the sounds the farm animals make. The illustrations are cheery and bright and really add to the humor of the story. This story time book will be one that's requested over and over again. So settle back and get ready to enjoy the show as the animals present, The Farm That Mac built.

Fussy Flamingo Words by Shelly Vaughan James Pictures by Matthew Rivera Sourcebooks, Jabberwocky, 2020. Picture Book. Lola is a young flamingo that doesn’t actually want to eat what every other flamingo tends to eat—shrimp. Lola thinks that shrimp are yucky. So when everyone else is busy eating, Lola sneaks off and eats other things. Only when her feathers turn different colors based on what she is eating Mami and Papi realize that she hasn’t eaten what she should be eating. This is a story about a couple of classic toddler topics: colors and not wanting to try new foods. The bright, bold illustrations are vibrant and full of movement while showcasing Lola and her big personality. Young readers will enjoy guessing what color(s) Lola’s feathers will change to based on what she eats. Children with diversity in their families will enjoy the phrases such as “¡Ay de mí!” that are included in the text. All-in-all this is a great edition to the story time circuit for toddlers.

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 October 22 (guys) and October 27 (girls). Preregister under the  Kids Corner/Program Registration  tab on the library website. We have two great books to discuss this month: Guys Small Spaces By Katherine Arden New York: G.P. Putnam & Sons, 2018. Horror. Ollie has a feeling that something weird is happening in her small Vermont town when she encounters a woman weeping at the edge of the river, preparing to throw an old book away. This is even before Ollie's school bus breaks down in a field filled with frightening scarecrows -- stranding Ollie and all her classmates. As things get more and more paranormal, Ollie follows the advice of the mysterious book she stole from the woman at the water's edge -- stick to small spaces. This fast-paced adventure propels readers ...

 D week is coming!  Here are three fun books to check out as we learn about the letter D. Roy Digs Dirt By David Shannon The Blue Sky Press, 2020.  Picture Book. Although it's a smelly task for those who have to constantly bathe him, Roy's happiness centers on his very favorite thing--dirt--and from sunrise to sunset, he burrows in it, rolls in it, and digs up buried treasures. There's terror in every terrier, and when Roy runs into the house after being sprayed by a skunk, he faces the dreaded bathtub. Readers will see themselves in Roy's childlike delight each time he makes the biggest mess ever.  --Publisher Ducks! Written by Deborah Underwood Illustrated by T.L. McBeth Godwin Books, 2020.  Picture Book. Ducks. Ducks? NO DUCKS! Duck wanders away from the pond for a moment and returns to find the other ducks gone! Searching high and low, Duck discovers many clues around the city―footprints, feathers, eggs―but no ducks. Will Duck’s feathered friends finally b...

  The Magical Land of Birthdays   by Amirah Kassem After receiving a magical cookbook and baking her special birthday cake, a young Mexican girl is transported to the Magical Land of Birthdays, where she meets three children from different corners of the world who are also about to turn eleven. The Hidden Rainbow by Christie Matheson All the colors of the rainbow are hidden in the garden, but can the little bee find them--with help from the reader? Christie Matheson brings a garden to life in this bright, interactive picture book about the natural world--and our place within it. Every Color   by Erin Eitter Kono Bear longs to see color, but everything around his home at the North Pole is white, white, white. When a seagull brings a gift from a little girl, Bear falls in love with the colors in her painting, but it's not enough. So the girl sets off in her boat to take the Bear on an adventure and help him see the colors up close. And by the time they return to Bear's pola...

Jack at Bat Written by Mac Barnett Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli Viking, 2020. Easy Reader. Jack is back, and as mischievous as ever. In a tense ball game between the Lady Town Ladies and the Big City Brats, Jack is causing a lot of trouble, as usual. Home plate goes missing, a nap is taken, snacks are chased, and Jack is behind it all. But who will win? Will Jack steer the Ladies to victory, or will his antics cause too many problems? Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli combine their talents to create the wonderfully offbeat Jack. Barnett's humor shines through in this funny story about Jack, who just can't behave. And Pizzoli's depictions of the characters are expressive and simple. This unconventional main character will keep kids laughing, and as a bonus, won't bore the parents!

                                                                 Stand Up, Yumi Chung! By Jessica Kim New York: Kokila, 2020. J Fiction, 306 pages. At school Yumi Chung is a shy loner. At home she's constantly compared to her genius older sister Yuri. And between her after-school study class and working in her parents' Korean barbecue restaurant, she feels a lot of pressure to succeed. But alone in her room, Yumi writes down her problems and turns them into jokes. She dreams of becoming a standup comedian, a goal that feels impractical while her family struggles to keep their business afloat. When Yumi stumbles into the Haha Club one day and meets her idol, YouTube comedian Jasmine Jasper, Yumi Chung sort of kind of accidentally becomes...Kay Nakamura, who is a lot more confident tha...

Gustavo, The Shy Ghost By Flavia Z. Drago Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2020. Picture book. Gustavo is a ghost who longs to make friends, but he's too shy to befriend the monsters in his neighborhood. He tries to join in with the kids as they play games, appearing as a soccer ball, lampshade, or canvas, but everyone just sees right through him. In a last-ditch effort and a burst of heroic courage, Gustavo invites all the monsters to come to the cemetery on the Day of the Dead to hear him perform his violin. Though at first no one is there, Gustavo's confidence grows and attracts all the friendly ghouls who were longing to be his friend all along Flavia Z. Drago's Mexican-inspired illustrations make this a perfect Day of the Dead read-aloud, and Gustavo's struggle to gain his confidence and make friends makes this story just right for any time of the year. This is a sweet and gentle story about making friends, highlighted by illustrations featuring ghosts and ...

  Ty's Travels: All Aboard! Written by Kelly Starling Lyons Illustrated by: Nina Mata Harper Collins Publishers, 2020. Easy Reader. It's almost dinner time and Ty wants to play but everyone in the family is busy doing something, Dad is making dinner, Mom is folding clothes, and his brother is doing homework. When Ty discovers a discarded box he decides to make the box into a train and takes a trip around the house pretending its the countryside and having all kinds of exciting adventures.  This is an excellent book for beginning readers who are starting to read on their own. Short simple sentences with familiar words help readers who are just starting out to gain confidence in their abilities. The imaginative illustrations makes this book fun to read and look at. So climb aboard and travel with Ty on his clickety-clack train for some fun family time.

  The Land of Roar By Jenny McLachlan Illustrated by Ben Mantle Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2020. 284 p. Arthur and Rose are twins who used to be close—but now they tend to fight and Rose doesn’t have much time for her brother. When one day Grandad gets lost in the imaginary world that Arthur and Rose created when they were younger but aren’t sure they believe in anymore—Arthur decides he must believe enough to go on to save him even if Rose thinks he is just making things up. This is a fantastical story about the power of imagination, friendship, siblings, and what is most important in life. Arthur Trout is one of those fumbling but lovable characters that readers will cheer on until he starts to believe in himself. (Rose on the other hand is one that I struggled liking until she started opening up to Arthur about why she made the choices she did; however, I did eventually like her though Arthur will always be the main character I love in this story.) Oh, and Grandad!...

This week our DIY Story Time Kits will focus on the letter C.  Here are three great books to check out for C Week! That's My Carrot! By Il Sung Na Alfred A. Knopf, 2020.  Picture Book. When two rabbits find a giant carrot growing between their yards, they do the only thing that makes sense: they argue over whose carrot it is! One rabbit brings a shovel to dig it out, and the other rabbit brings a spade. Next comes the bulldozers and backhoes and cranes . . . and when the dust settles, the carrot is gone! Now, it will be up to the rabbits to join forces and find the giant carrot, and build a friendship along the way. From beloved creator Il Sung Na comes a story of mischief and one very giant carrot.  --Publisher Are You a Cat? By Coll Muir Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2020.  Picture Book. Dogs chase cats. Everyone knows this, especially cats. When Dog wants to chase Cat, he politely asks, “are you a cat?” To outrun and outsmart Dog, Cat pretends...

Maybe Written by Kobi Yamada Illustrated by Gabriella Barouch Seattle, WA: Compendium Inc., 2019. Picture Book Sometimes it is hard to see your own worth. Whether you are young or old, life is full of challenges, disappointments and uncertainty that can cause you to feel discouraged and incapable. Maybe gives new perspectives to these views and helps you to see the importance of yourself as an individual. The book starts by asking the question, “Have you ever wondered why you are here?”, and unfolds to demonstrate the limitless potential that you have in the world. Whimsical illustrations beautifully depict a young girl and a pig as they imagine reaching their full potential and explore new ideas and opportunities. This book inspires readers to reflect on their own capabilities and to explore the possibilities around them. It really shows that no matter who you are, YOU ARE IMPORTANT and are capable of GREAT THINGS.

Before the Ever After By Jacqueline Woodson New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2020. Verse fiction. ZJ's father, Zachariah Johnson #44 -- also ZJ, is his ultimate hero. He's a tight-end in the NFL, a Super Bowl winner, and he still manages to be there for ZJ, helping him write songs on the guitar. That was all before. Now, he suffers from painful headaches and frequent memory lapses. Sometimes he can't remember where he is and forgets ZJ's name and yells at ZJ and his friends as if he's never seen them before. He can't play football anymore, and no doctor seems to have any explanation beyond saying he took too many hard hits and had too many concussions. ZJ is left watching his father and hero slip away before his eyes. This is a heartbreaking novel in verse about a young boy experiencing the gradual deterioration of his beloved father. Set in the early 2000s, when research about concussions in football players was still in early stages, we see Zachariah st...

  Pool Party! Written by: Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin Simon Spotlight, 2020. Easy Reader. It's a hot summer day and farmer brown and the animals need to cool off. So Farmer Brown and his animals all head to his brother Bob's house to swim in the pool. One by one the animals jump into the pool, splash, splash, everyone is having fun except the cows. The cows don't like to be splashed and they think the pool is to noisy and crowded. How will everyone cool off?  This early reader is a great choice for readers who are beginning to read on their own. The text is simple and repetitive with a little bit of math for you to practice your counting skills as the animals get in and out of the pool. Jump in and splash with Farmer Brown and his animals as you read Pool Party!

Every Little Letter By Deborah Underwood Illustrated by Joy Hwang Ruiz Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. There is a land where there are a lot of walls. These walls create 26 different communities. In each community there is a particular letter; for example, all the “B”s live together and all the “Q”s live together. This means that things are very set in the way they are. And all the conversations are the same. (Imagine a world when all you can say is “O o o o oooo.”) One day a curious little letter “h” decides to look through a crack in the wall and sees the letter “i”. The two become friends and a whole lot of happy chaos (and interference from frustrated adult letter parents who don’t want change) happens. This is a great story to not only explore alphabet letters and upper and lower cases but also to explore learning, differences, and getting out of your comfort zone. Readers will be able to tell what the multi-colored letters are based on their shapes (w...

Don't forget to pick up your DIY Story Time kit each week at the Children's Desk (or call to schedule a curbside pickup).  Here are three great books to check out for "B" week! The Button Book Written by Sally Nicholls Illustrated by Bethan Woollvin Tundra Books, 2019.  Picture Book. Here's a button. I wonder what happens when you press it?   Follow a group of animal friends as they discover a collection of mysterious buttons, all of which do different things! From a blue singing button to a purple tickle button, from a rude sound button to a mysterious white button, there's only one way to find out what they do: press them all! And thankfully, there's even a sleeping button to lull the animals to sleep after a busy day. A lively introduction to colors and shapes, The Button Book is the perfect interactive book for story time (and bedtime!).  --Publisher Bear Came Along Written by Richard Morris Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Little, Brown and Company, 2019. ...

  Lasting Love By Caroline Wright, Illustrated by Willow Heath New York : Rodale Kids, 2019. As his mom comes home from the hospital after her cancer treatments, a young boy notices that she brought a magical friend home with her. This friend is all the strong parts of his mom and all the parts that love him. As the young boy spends time drawing, cooking, and reading with his mom, the magical friend is there too. As the mom grows more and more sick, the magical creature gets stronger. When his mom dies, the little boy feels so alone. In those moments of sadness, he learns that the magical creature never left and is part of his family now and helps him feel his mother’s love as he grows. Death and cancer are two of the trickiest subjects to write about, but probably the most needed. As kids try to cope with the unpredictable nature, children’s books can be a source of understanding and healing. This book approaches the subject with tenderness and beautiful illustrations that...

Monster and Boy By Hannah Barnaby New York, New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2020. MONSTER AND BOY features a monster that sleeps under a little boy's bed. Monster loves Boy but the Boy doesn't believe in monsters! So Monster decides to show the boy that he is real. After Boy's bedtime story Monster slides out from under Boy's bed. Boy stares at Monster and Monster stares at boy. Hilarity ensues. This intermediate chapter book is a masterpiece of its kind. The magnificent word choice, well paced plot, and funny circumstances will keep readers entertained and invested in the fate of Boy. As a plus, the combination of a common childhood fear with friendship and adventure is a great tool to use when teaching children to overcome their fears. Kids interested in monsters, comedy, and unlikely friendships are sure to enjoy Monster and Boy.

Skunk and Badger (Skunk and Badger #1) By Amy Timberlake Illustrated by Jon Klassen Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. Badger is perfectly happy with his life just the way it is, thank you very much. He lives alone in his Aunt Lula's brownstone where he has ample space to spread out and work on his Important Rock Work. He hardly has time for friendships, barely has time to actually cook meals, and definitely does not have time to read letters sent by his Aunt Lula. That's why he's caught by surprise one day when a Skunk appears on his doorstep -- his new roommate. Of course, the brownstone belongs to Aunt Lula, and Badger feels compassion towards Skunk because it is true that not everyone wants to live with a Skunk (their proclivity for spraying and whatnot), but Badger is also certain that he does not need a roommate. Add this charming early middle grade story to your pile of odd-couple animals stories from Children's Literature. For re...

  A Magic Spark Written by: Jessica Young Illustrated by: Marie Vanderbemden Scholastic Inc., 2020. Easy Reader. Ruby, Pip, and Iris begin the first day of fairy school together and soon become friends as they practice their fairy skills which include tip toeing and flying.  They each have a skill they love, for example;  Ruby enjoys baking, Pip enjoys growing things, and Iris loves flying really fast. As they work on their skills they discover their own special fairy power and together they have magical adventures as they bake a cake, zoom across the sky, and plan a party. This new Acorn book series, Fairylight Friends, is sure to be a favorite among young readers. These short stories with bright, colorful illustrations and easy to read text will be requested by beginning readers again and again as they practice word recognition.

  Over the Moon By Natalie Lloyd Scholastic Press, 2019. 291 p. Mallie and her family live in Cole Top, a town where all the pour people end up sending boys to the mines and girls to become servants to the rich people at age 12. Mallie doesn’t want her younger brother to be forced to work in the mines, so she dresses up as a boy and goes to try to train a flying horse to go and collect gold dust for Mortimer Good—the undisputed leader and richest man in Cole Top. However, Mallie soon finds out that battling monsters on her flying mount is the least dangerous part about what she learns. Lloyd has created yet another great magical realism world with a spunky heroine that only wants what is best for her family. And Mallie isn’t the only character that readers will fall in love with. Denver (Mallie’s little brother) and Adam (Mallie’s good friend that also flies on adventures with her) are also characters that readers will want to get to know some more. Plus, there is the setting—C...

  The Sleepover By Jen Malone Meghan, Paige, and Anna-Marie are super excited about the sleepover, and not even the last-minute addition of Anna-Marie's socially awkward, soon-to-be stepsister Veronica can dampen their spirits. But when they awaken the next morning the basement is a disaster, Meghan's left eyebrow has been shaved off, she is in possession of the Class Bad Boy's signature hoodie, and there are a slew of baby chicks in the bathtub! Worst of all, Anna-Marie is missing! And the worst thing is, none of them can remember anything beyond the hypnotism trick performed by the two-bit magician Veronica arranged! Sleepover Sleuths By Carolyn Keene When eight-year-old Nancy is invited to a sleepover party with a dolls theme, the host's doll goes missing and Nancy tries to solve her first case. The Everything Girls Ultimate Sleepover Book By Laura Mcintyre The Everything Girls Ultimate Sleepover Party Book is packed with ideas for throwing the most amazing sleepover...

 DIY Story Times begin next week, and here are three great books to check out for "A" week! Adorabull Written by Alison Donald Illustrated by Alex Willmore Maverick Arts Publishing Ltd., 2019.  Picture Book. Alfred is a bull, and bulls are reliable and dependable. When his best friend Tom wants to bring home a new, adorable pet, Alfred realizes he may need to up his game if he wants to stay number one in Tom's heart. But can bulls be adorable too?  --Publisher Apples For Little Fox By Ekaterina Trukhan Random House Children's Books, 2017.  Picture Book. Fox loves to read mysteries—he wants to be a detective someday! He goes to the library every morning and collects delicious apples to eat on his way home. But one day, all the apples are missing! What could have happened to them? Fox is so excited to crack his first case. Follow along as he searches for clues and discovers a BIG surprise!  --Publisher Aliens Love Underpants Written by Claire Freedman Illustrated ...

The Witches By Roald Dahl Illustrated by Penelope Bagieu New York: Graphix, 2020. Graphic novel. Witches are real, and they are all around us. They wear ordinary clothes, have ordinary jobs, and look ordinary enough -- because they're in disguise. You can tell if you encounter a witch the following ways: they will wear gloves all year round to hide their long crooked fingers; they will wear wigs to conceal their scaly bald heads; they wear pointy-toed shoes because witches don't have toes; and, most importantly, you can tell if you spot a witch because there is nothing they despise more than children. In this graphic novel adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic, an eight-year-old boy travels to a seaside resort with his grandmama when he encounters all of the witches in England and goes head-to-head with the Grand High Witch. This full-color graphic novel is a fun and lively way to introduce a new generation to this classic spooky story. Eisner-winning artist Penelope...

  We Will Rock Our Classmates By Ryan T. Higgins Disney-Hyperion, 2020. Picture Book. Penelope the T-Rex is back! She is still the only dinosaur in school and sometimes all the other students see is a dinosaur. When Penelope hears about the school talent show she can't wait to show her classmates she is more then just a dinosaur and she has talent for rock-n-roll. She signs her name on the sign up sheet, practices her skills and tells her parents "it's going to be so great!" But when rehearsal time comes Penelope gets stage fright and finds she can't make a sound. Maybe dinosaurs can't rock 'n' roll after all.  This enjoyable follow up to "We Don't Eat Our Classmates" is about having the courage to go after your dreams and not be afraid to be yourself. It's also a reminder that friends will be there for you to help out when you need it most. The colorful illustrations are fun and bright and the simple humor will keep you turning pages...