Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Woodpecker Girl Written by Chingyen Lin and I-Tsun Chiang Illustrated by Heidi Doll New York: Reycraft, 2020. Picture Book. This story is about a little girl with cerebral palsy. She calls herself a woodpecker girl, even though she cannot fly around like a real woodpecker. The girl wants to bring happiness to the world. She wants to express her thoughts and feelings, though finds it hard to do so when she can't talk or even hold a pencil. Her art teacher came up with a plan--he attached a paint brush to her head with a headband. She nodded her head up and down to paint dots on the page. It's exhausting to paint this way at first, but then she discovers that through her art, she can fly! This book beautifully illustrates the emotions of this girl who cannot speak or control her body. The colors and images clearly depict the good and the sad feelings she has while experiencing life from her wheelchair. It can be hard for children (and adults too!) to relate to people with disabil...

Maya and the Rising Dark By Rena Barron Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2020. Fantasy. Twelve-year-old Maya is certain she is seeing things. It started with the dreams of a man with creamy pale skin and pale violet eyes, then one day she was in math class when all of the color drained out of the classroom for a moment, and then one day Maya's best friends Frankie and Eli are attacked by werehyenas and Maya knows for certain that something is up. What Maya discovers is crazier than even her favorite comic books -- it turns out that the West African folktales and stories that her papa has always told her are more than just stories. Maya's dad is really an orisha named Eleggua -- the most powerful deity and the guardian of the veil between our world and the dark. When he goes missing, the elders in Maya's South Side Chicago neighborhood finally come clean and reveal a big secret -- Maya, Frankie, and Eli are all godlings descended from orisha and it is up to them to restore...

  The Great Bunk Bed Battle Written and Illustrated by: Tina Kugler Acorn/Scholastic Inc., 2020. Easy Reader. Brother and sister Fritz and Frannie have some bedtime adventures in this humorous book about getting ready for bed. As bedtime approaches a battle begins between the siblings, as they try to convince each other which bed is the best, the top or the bottom bunk. Their wild adventures include imagining the top bunk as a castle on a hill while the bottom bunk becomes a cave and a submarine moving through the ocean.  If you have ever had a bunk bed you will be able to relate to the argument of which is better, the top or the bottom bunk. I love this new series that is part of Scholastics beginning reader line. It is written for children who are beginning to read with simple text, short story format, humor, and full-color artwork. This playful story is delightful and has a surprise ending that you won't expect. Check out one of our Acorn books and help new readers gain the...

  Keep It Together, Keiko Carter  By Debbi Michiko Florence  Scholastic Inc., 2020. 293 p.  Keiko Carter has two best friends who tend to want different things. Keiko wants to please both of her friends, but when it comes to who likes what boys…then things get messy. Keiko also has to deal with the fact that her mom just got a new job and isn’t around as much anymore. Throw on top of that the fact that Keiko and her friends are all starting middle school and life is just complicated.  This is a great book for readers who are wondering about growing up—especially when it comes to how things might change when heading to middle school for the first time. Keiko deals with friendships, boys, navigating changes at home, starting her period, and figuring out if some people at school are being racist when they say things to her based on the fact that she is Asian-American. Readers will cheer Keiko on and will wish that her loyalty and friendship will win-out against all...

  Dear Baby: A Love Letter to Little Ones By Paris Rosenthal, Illustrated by Holly Hatam New York: Harper, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2020. Every parent wishes the world for their little ones and hopes that they will explore and dream big. More than anything, parent's want their little ones to know how much they are loved as they grow. Rosenthal and Hatam pair sweet advice and encouragement with tender simple illustrations to create a beautiful love letter for all little ones. This would make a beautiful baby shower gift for new parents, but is also a must have for seasoned parents/grandparents as well.

Pilu of the Woods By Mai K. Nguyen Oni Press, Inc., 2019. Graphic Novel. Willow's family recently suffered a terrible loss. Willow is sad, angry, and confused and sometimes her emotions bubble out of control. On one such occasion, Willow yells at her sister and then runs into the woods until she can calm down. While Willow is in the woods she comes across a small tree spirit named Pilu, who also recently had a disagreement with a family member and ran away. Now Pilu is lost and it's up to Willow to help her get home. This graphic novel is a master piece. It teaches young readers about loss through words and imagery that is unparalleled. While Nguyen doesn't use any shading in her illustrations, her fine attention to detail and color make the images pop in a way I haven't seen in a graphic novel before. This book was beautifully illustrated and the writing tone used by Nguyen ties it all together. I recommend this graphic novel to anyone and everyone.

Jack and Santa By Mac Barnett Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli New York: Viking, 2020. Easy reader. You might know Jack from reading his other books, and if you do, you know one thing for sure -- Jack is BAD. So, is it any surprise that as Santa is making his list and checking it twice Jack is firmly in the naughty category? Jack thinks it's surprising -- especially since the Lady and Rex the dog are both on the nice list! Just when readers think that Jack has changed his ways and turned good in time for Christmas, he returns with a classic Jack-prank. If your emerging readers have already fallen in love with Jack and his hilarious antics from reading any of the other books in this series, be sure not to miss this new, festive offering. Even if you haven't read any of the Jack books, this newest one is a great place to start -- even after Christmas. Greg Pizzoli and Mac Barnett are two of the funniest people writing books for children and they make a perfect match in this book that ...

Fox Versus Winter Written and Illustrated by: Corey R Tabor Harper Collins Publishers, 2020. Easy Reader. All of Foxes friends have left and gone south for the winter or are settled in for a long winters nap. Fox has nothing to do and nobody to play with. He tries building some snow friends but his new friends are just not as fun as his old friends. He tries taking a nap but he is bored, bored! Finally he throws up his hands and decides to fight winter. Fox is surprised, however, when his plan fails and winter fights back  This is a new edition to the Fox books from author Corey Tabor and I loved it. Fox is clever and resourceful making this an entertaining read. With humorous illustrations and short simple sentences this makes a perfect shared reading book. Fox reminded me of a child who is tired of being stuck inside the house because it is to cold to play outside. Everyone misses their friends when they are gone and fox is no exception. This is the perfect read for anyone who is...

  Happy Narwhalidays  By Ben Clanton  Tundra Books, 2020. 68 pages.  There are a couple of reasons that this is one of my favorite new holiday books this year. First of all, it is another Narwhal and Jelly book full of wonderful stories and illustrations about two fantastic characters that my family and I have just fallen in love with over the past few years. Second, there is one particular story that just melts my heart. In the book Jelly wants to get Narwhal a gift…but is not sure what to give. Jelly puts together a gift box with “Narwhal” on it…and tries to figure out just what to put in the box. Narwhal sees the box and is so excited but decides to not open it since really the best gift is the one that isn’t opened since you can imagine that it is anything. Also, it is all about how Narwhal is just grateful for Jelly being such a good friend.  If you know readers who love graphic novels, good characters who are amazing, and best friends who like doing things...

  The Sugary Secrets Behind Candy By Ellie O'Ryan Learn some fun science facts about candy and have some fun! Sweet!: The Delicious Story of Candy By Ann Love Explore the history of candy 4,000 years in the making! See how syrups and honey evolved into more modern candies and how chocolates came to be. How Sweet It Is (and Was) By Ruth Swain Tells the history of candies and gum. Includes recipes for fudge, taffy, and sugar paste. Yuvi's Candy Tree By Lesley Simpson Yuvi's has to leave her home of Ethiopia because of famine. She dreams of a place where there is enough food to fill her belly and water to quench her thirst. Most of all, she dreams of candy that grows on trees. Maybe, just maybe Yuvi will get her wish. Bad Kitty Does Not Like Candy By Nick Bruel It's time for Kitty to eat, but Kitty doesn't want to eat anything but candy. Will Kitty eat dessert first? Or will Kitty get a nutritious meal? Cotton Candy Wishes by Kristina Springer When Elle moves to a new ...

  Red Fox Road By Frances Greenslade Toronto: Puffin Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, 2020. Fiction. Francie and her parents are traveling to the Grand Canyon from British Columbia, Canada, when they decide to take a shortcut given to them by their GPS. An old logging road that looks like no one ever travels down it. When they are deep in the forest, their truck hits a giant rock that causes it to stop working. Francie and her mom wait by the truck while her dad continues down the road on foot to find help. He promises that he will be back in a few hours. At first Francie is excited to put her survival skills to use, but as time goes by, Francie and her mom get more and more worried. Then after a couple of days, Francie wakes up and her mom is gone too, and has left her a note on the truck telling her to stay put. She is completely alone, in the middle of the woods.  For those who love survival, adventure stories, this is the perfect book. I was...

Timo the Adventurer By Jonathan Garnier Illustrated by Yohan Sacre Translated from French by Lara Vergnaud Boston: Etch Books, 2020. Graphic novel.  One day, Timo finishes reading all of the books in his village and decides that it is time for him to go on a quest. Turns out, going on an adventure is not as much fun as he expected and his quest is not laid out for him like he wants. As he perseveres with his quest, Timo rescues a creature named Broof from a cursed temple. Broof's mysterious past is filled with secrets that take Timo's quest on a very different path. Though Timo starts his quest as a naive and gung-ho explorer, he quickly learns that adventuring is more complicated than his books make it seem and it isn't always easy to tell the difference between a hero and a villain. Highly stylized, folkart inspired illustrations bring Timo's adventure to life in tidy and easy-to-follow panels. The muted, neutral tones of the illustrations offset the magical elements ...

  The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane Writtey bu: Nikki Shannon Smith Illustrated by: Mari Lobo A Capstone Imprint, 2020. Fiction. Azaleah lane is a good student and a big help at home with her little sister. She has hardworking parents who try to give her an amazing life but sometimes life can get a little crazy even for someone like Azaleah. When it's announced at school that her class is going on a field trip to the National Zoo she is so excited and can't wait to go. Things get even better when her teacher tells everyone they can earn extra credit by doing a project on an animal they see at the zoo. She knows exactly what she wants to make and she can't wait to get home and work on her assignment. When she arrives home she discovers that her little sister, Tiana, is very upset. She can't find her favorite stuffed animal and she just knows someone has stolen it. Her mom and dad are both busy and it seems like Azaleah is the only one who has time to help Tiana find her m...

  I am the Storm  By Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple  Art by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell  Rise, An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2020. Picture Book.  Last week I decided to highlight a picture book that filled me with hope and all the good emotions that I need due to such a crazy time. This week I want to talk about a picture book that is also appropriate for the craziness that is 2020 but for entirely different reasons.  In this book there are four families who are dealing with four types of storms. There is a family facing a tornado, a blizzard, a wildfire, and hurricane. In each of these instances there are kids who have to hunker down or leave their homes to find a safer place to wait out what is happening. But the universal theme is that even though storms are strong, we as kids or humans can be stronger. We can be fierce and “it’s okay to be scared.” But also remember that just like how storms all end, we can be the “calm” after a storm too...

  The Worrysaurus Written by: Rachel Bright Illustrated by: Chris Chatterton New York, NY: Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2020. Picture Book. Worrysaurus does just that...worry. When the little dinosaur wakes up on a beautiful day, he gets ready and plans out his day. Soon after leaving the house though, his anxieties start catching up to him. Worrysaurus, already worrying, meets lizard on the trail who warns him that a storm is coming and before long his worries intensify into strong fears. Mommy knows just what to do to chase his worries away though. Together they create a plan and gather supplies so that they will be ready for whatever happens and Worrysaurus can enjoy his day! This charming picture book is perfect for any child that tends to worry. It demonstrates some ways to calm anxieties and fears to be able to enjoy the wonders of life. The simple, but bright, illustrations bring to life the Dinosaurs emotions and enhance this worth reading tale. 

  One World Many Colors By Ben Lerwill Illustrated by Alette Straathof Mission Viejo, CA: The Quarto Group, 2020. Informational. Beginning with the cover, this informational picture book is vibrant and full of life. This world that we all share has more similarities than you might think. Although we all have different traditions, backgrounds and beliefs, there is one thing that ties us all together: our colors. The yellow of New York City taxicabs is the same yellow as the sunflower fields of Spain. There is so much beauty to see in every corner of the earth. This poetic look at the world is inspiring. It reminds us that we are all connected--all the people, animals, and nature surrounding us. When reading this book aloud, the words flow together nicely, making the book sound like one beautiful free verse poem. The pictures tie right in with the feel of the writing. Listening or reading this book will teach your children about different beauties of the world and encourage them to t...

The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol By Arthur A. Levine Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2020. Picture book. On their first Hanukkah in the United States, the Glaser family has little money to celebrate the Jewish holiday. Luckily, the mythical, larger-than-life figure of Nate Gadol is watching and is eager to share his talent for making things last as long as they need to. After partnering up with his friend from way-back, the well-known Santa Claus, Nate Gadol is able to stretch holiday gifts into enough for the Glasers and their neighbors the O'Malleys.  Arthur A. Levine, a veteran of children's publishing, invents his own supplemental mythology for the holiday season by introducing a Hanukkah figure who is as charming as he is miraculous. Beautifully painted illustrations, with gold detailing on every spread, ensure that this holiday story will become a beloved addition to a long list of holiday picture books.

  Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us Written and Illustrated by: Lauren Castillo Alfred A. Knopf, 2020. Fiction. Hedgehog was living on a small island with his best friend Mutty when a huge storm came and blew Mutty away. After the storm has passed Hedgehog gathers up his courage and begins a journey to find his best friend. While looking for Mutty, Hedgehog meets some new friends. Beaver, who is kind of cranky, Owl, who is wise and a good leader and Annika, the young girl who just moved into the neighborhood and who needs some friends too. Together they search for Mutty and along the way they learn to be kind and brave as they comfort and support each other. I loved this sweet story! It's a classic story of friendship, finding new friends, and sticking together through the hard times and being there for those we care about. This delightful story has a fresh but familiar feel to it. It reminded me of similar stories like Winnie the Pooh or The Wind in the Willows. Along with the ...

  We Believe in You  By Beth Ferry  Illustrated by Molly Idle  Roaring Brook Press, 2020. Picture Book.  This has been one crazy year, eh? This is one of my new favorite books that is full of positive affirmations and encouragement—which I totally need more of right now! Each page has different animals illustrated with various lines of text full of things that “we believe in”. With the powerhouse of Beth Ferry writing the text and the amazing Molly Idle illustrating, this is one of those books that is well crafted and beautiful and worth two or three (or more) reads with a favorite reading buddy! If there are youngsters who need to know of good things in the world that others (and perhaps themselves) should believe in—even when life is different and hard—this is the book to read next. If there are kiddos who love all the feels from books like Oh the Places You’ll Go then go and check out this book. Seriously, it is happiness in book format!

  Chance: Escape from the Holocaust By Uri Shulevitz, New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2020. Caldecott Award winner, Uri Shulevitz does not consider himself a Holocaust survivor but an escapee. Uri and his family began an eight-year journey that took them from the terror of Warsaw as the Nazis invaded to the freezing, desolate forests of the Soviet Union, and back again through many twists and turns. During this odyssey, he experienced the intense pain of prolonged hunger, the confusion of a missing a parent, and the heartache of friends turned enemies overnight. Amidst all the trials, Uri also experienced the beginning of his artistic career as he would find charcoal to draw on whatever surface he could. Art became a saving outlet for Uri through the nightmares. In this middle-grade memoir, Shulevitz invites you to join him as he discovers his passion for art while he fights to survive one of the darkest times of history. HIs dreamlike illustrations soften one of the many tr...

Joan Procter, Dragon Doctor By Patricia Valdez New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018 Joan Procter was not your average girl. She would rather have tea parties with lizards than dolls. She loved reptiles so much that she even brought a crocodile to school. Joan worked hard to become respected in her career field and eventually became the Curator of Reptiles at the British Museum. Joan even designed the Reptile House at the London Zoo. Joan Procter did amazing work to help people understand reptiles and their needs.  Joan Procter's story is an inspiration for those who walk to the beat of their own drum. Valdez's informative tone presents Joan's life in a historically accurate context without being preachy or overbearing. Additionally, Sala's illustrations relates Joan's connection to lizards through shape and color to build off the written word. This book is exceptionally well done and I applaud Valdez and Sala for creating such a beautiful biography in picture book format...

Class Act By Jerry Craft New York, NY: Quill Tree Books, 2020. Graphic novel. Drew Ellis is not quite sure how he fits in at the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day school. One of a handful of Black students at the school, he is already bound to stand out and he is always aware that he needs to work "twice as hard to go half as far" as his classmates -- including one of his closest friends the white, wealthy Liam. As the school year goes on, Drew, Liam and their friend Jordan, a light-skinned Black boy, make sense of their changing worlds as they face very different struggles at school and at home -- with each boy's challenges treated with humanity and empathy. Readers who enjoyed Jerry Craft's landmark New Kid (the first graphic novel to win a Newbery award) will be pleased to return to the kids of the Riverdale Academy Day school in this companion novel. As he did with New Kid, Craft is able to give us and honest and realistic look at the world of three very different...

  Dragons vs Unicorns Written by: Date Biberdorf Illustrated by: Hillary Homzie Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2020. Fiction.  Do you know any science problem solvers? Kate is a problem solver in fact there isn't a problem she can't solve with a little science and chemistry. So when Kate and her two best friends decide to join the school's drama club musical Dragons Vs Unicorns, Kate isn't sure she is going to fit in. She is smart and organized but she doesn't sing and dance well. When the roles are announced she is excited to be given the role of assistant director where she can put her organizational skills to work. As rehearsals begin Kate jumps right in and is ready to help run a spectacular show but problems keep popping up and Kate wonders if someone is trying to sabotage the show. With some science in her back pocket and some excellent problem solving skills, Kate figures out a solution for the costume malfunction, adds some science based...