Provo Library Children's Book Blog

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 March 23 (girls) and March 25 (guys). Pre-register under the  Kids Corner/Program Registration  tab on the library website and then pick up a copy of the book and a packet with a take home craft at the Children's Desk. We have two great books to discuss this month: Girls Summerlost By Ally Condie New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2016. Fiction. After her father and her autistic brother Ben are killed in an accident, twelve-year-old Cedar Lee moves to a small Utah town called Iron Creek for the summer as she, her mother, and her younger brother Miles regroup and cope with their grief. Not long after arriving, Cedar meets Leo, a boy obsessed with theater, the town's summertime Shakespeare festival, and the mysterious disappearance of a famous local actress named Lisette Chamberlain. Toget...

Time for "T" week! Here are a few stories to enjoy as you learn about the letter T: Turtle Walk By Matt Phelan Greenwillow Books, 2020.  Picture Book. Turtle walk. Nice and slow. Here we go! Explore all four seasons with this charming—and patient!—turtle family. Award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan guides the youngest readers from the first blooms of spring and the scorching sun of summer to the crisp leaves of fall and fat snowflakes of winter. Fans of Anna Dewdney and Tad Hills will want to go on this journey again and again. Spring blooms, and a turtle family is on the move. Slow and steady, they travel up, up, up, the gentle hill through all four seasons. Where are they going? To the top of the sledding hill, of course! But how will they get back down the hill to a well-deserved winter’s rest? Matt Phelan’s simple, rhythmic text is filled with repetition that shines in read-alouds, and his soft, colorful watercolor artwork bring the seasons to vivid life. The joyful ...

  The Office: a Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary By Robb Pearlman, Illustrated by Melanie Demmer New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2020. Miss Levinson has chosen Michael Scott to be the line leader! Michael is determined to be the world’s best line leader and even has his mom make him a sticker for his water bottle declaring it. As he struggles to get everyone to listen and have a perfectly organized line, he begins to doubt himself. His friends, Dwight, Jim, Pam, and Kelly help him realize that it is okay to ask for help and that even the best leaders in the world need help sometimes. As an avid Office fan myself, this book was the greatest! The storyline is beautifully simple and a great lesson for all kiddos to learn. The easter eggs along the way by Melanie Demmer make it an enjoyable read for the whole family. If you are an Office fan at all, do yourself a favor and take a trip to Dunder Mifflin Elementary!

The Big Race Lace Case By Paul Dubois Jacobs & Jennifer Swender New York : Aladdin Quix, 2020. Mack is a Rhino detective and a pretty great one at that. With his handy note taking skills he's able to figure out any mystery. When the shoe laces of runners across the city start to go missing on the day of a big race, Mack knows it's not a coincidence. Will Mack find out who stole everyone's laces in time for the race? THE BIG RACE LACE CASE is the first book in the Mack Rhino Private Eye series. This book is ideal for early readers interested in animal characters and who like solving puzzles or mysteries. The simple writing style will be easily followed by most young readers and the repeated writing down of clues reflects a Blue's Clues style of delivery.

Girl Stuff By Lisi Harrison New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021. Fiction. Fonda, Drew, and Ruthie have been best friends and neighbors since they were little but they have never gone to the same school -- until this year. The first year of middle school brings big changes for the friends -- Fonda is excited to have a group of friends as close as The Avas, the popular girl clique who ran the school in elementary school; Drew is excited to transfer from a private school so she doesn't have to wear a uniform everyday and maybe to get closer to the cute boy she met over the summer; and Ruthie is excited to spend time with her friends and go to a normal school after years spent at an alternative school. But on the very first day, things don't go as planned. Ruthie is placed in the talented and gifted period where the students are kept totally separate, Drew's crush, Will, pretends not to remember her from summer camp, and Fonda's plans are derailed. This is a cute tween n...

  Freedom Bird Written by: Jerdine Nolen Illustrated by: James E. Ransome Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. Millicent and John are slaves on a plantation where they have suffered one heartbreak after another. Growing up they have been told stories of their ancestors flying away to freedom and they have kept those stories close to their hearts. One day a large majestic black bird flies over them in the fields and is struck down by the cruel overseer with a whip. The overseer won't let anyone touch the bird but later that night the two siblings go back to the field and take the bird home. Millicent nurses the bird back to health until she and the bird are discovered. Just when all seems lost a storm suddenly blows in and the bird and the children make their escape, while their story becomes legend. This is a pretty text dense picture book but it provides opportunities to talk with younger and older children about slavery and freedom. The illustrations ...

  How to Get Away with Myrtle  By Elizabeth C. Bunce  Algonquin Young Readers, 2020. 346 p.  This is the second book in the Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery Series (the first book was Premeditated Myrtle and is quite good as well, so if you haven’t read that one check it out first). Anyway, in this particular adventure Myrtle has gone away on holiday with her Aunt Helena and her governess Miss Judson. They hope to keep her away from anything untoward—only someone is murdered on the train as they are headed to their destination. Needless to say Myrtle is quite in the thick of it even though the local constable seems unable to do much and the train’s inspector is dismissive of the young detective and her observations. This mystery set in a historical background where new scientific discoveries are happening all around (like the fact that a new invention of photographs might provide evidence of the crime scene) and this spunky young girl won’t stay away just because she is yo...

It's "S" Week!  Here are a few super stories to read for this week's sensational letter! Summer Song Written by Kevin Henkes Illustrated by Laura Dronzek Greenwillow Books, 2020.  Picture Book. From Caldecott Medalist and Newbery Honor author Kevin Henkes and acclaimed painter Laura Dronzek, the bestselling and award-winning creators of Winter Is Here , When Spring Comes , and In the Middle of Fall , this book about summer celebrates the sights, sounds, and smells of the season. Bees buzz, birds sing, and children roll in the grass and feel the heat of the summer sun. With striking verbal imagery, repetition, and alliteration, Kevin Henkes introduces basic concepts of language and the summer season. Laura Dronzek's glowing paintings beautifully illustrate the wonders of summer.  --Publisher Saturday By Oge Mora Little, Brown, and Company, 2019.  Picture Book. Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It was Saturday! But sometimes, the best plans don't ...

The Canyon's Edge By Dusti Bowling New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2020. After a year of coping with the lose of her mother, Nora and her father set out on a hiking trip through a slot canyon. They are enjoying a day of solitude in the outdoors when, a flash flood tears through the canyon unexpectedly. Nora is separated from her father and is forced to find a way to survive on her own in the desert while she searches for him. While she is alone, she must find hope in order to survive while dealing with the memories that keep coming back to her of that terrible night a year ago. This novel, written in verse, is an adventure, survival story that also deals with the tough topic of processing the death of a loved one. There are beautiful examples of mindfulness, grounding, and discovering the courage to move forward even when hope seems to be lost. 

  New Kid Written and Illustrated by Jerry Craft Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky Written by Kwame Mbalia Haunted by the bus accident that ended his best friend's life, seventh grader Tristan Strong dreads a visit to his grandparents' Alabama farm before a bizarre living doll snatches away his friend's notebook and draws him into a world of burning seas, iron monsters and exhausted black folk heroes. Brown Girl Dreaming Written by Jaqueline Woodson Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares wh...

Brightly Woven By Leigh Dragoon Illustrated by Kit Seaton Adapted from the novel written by Alexandra Bracken New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2021. Graphic novel. At 14-years-old, Sydelle Mirabil has hardly seen the world beyond her tiny, desert village in the magical kingdom of Palmarta. One day, a mysterious and angsty young wizard named Wayland North blows into her town and invites Sydelle on a dangerous quest to deliver a message and prevent war between two kingdoms, all while pursued by a dark wizard. Sydelle is a talented weaver and navigator and her practical knowledge proves helpful support to Wayland, especially as his magical powers physical exhaust him. As Wayland grows weaker and the time to deliver their message runs out, Sydelle discovers a secret about herself. Sydelle and Wayland's friendship is at the center of this fun and light-hearted fairy tale romance. This is an adaptation of the 2010 YA novel by the same name, with the two protagonists aged-down to better suit a ...

  Me & Mama Written and Illustrated by: Cozbi A. Cabrera Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. Cozbi Cabrera has written a sweet poetic story about a young girl and her special day with mama.  It's a delightful look at the world through a child's eyes. The little girl wakes up to the smell of cinnamon, her mama's voice and soft rain falling outside. They go about their morning routine together and then prepare for a fun day splashing in puddles and enjoying nature. I loved the comparisons of mama's bigger things to her daughters smaller ones. The daughters cup was smaller and wouldn't break like mama's, mama's boots are bigger and a different color, and mama's toothbrush gets more toothpaste.  This celebration of the bond between a mother and her daughter really pulled at my heartstrings and reminded me of days spent with my own daughter. The illustrations are so heartfelt and full of details that bring a warm cozy feeling...

  Two Roads  By Joseph Bruchac  Dial Books for Young Readers, 2018. 320 p.  Cal and his dad have been riding the rails for about a year—ever since Cal’s mother passed away. Times are tough and the Great Depression is well, depressing. Cal’s father served in the Great War (WWI) and has a bond that will give them money—eventually. But it doesn’t help now. Soon his dad takes Cal to a Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school in Oklahoma so that he can in turn go to Washington D.C. and petition President Hoover (with all the other war veterans) to get their owed veteran’s bonus money. While at school Cal learns about his Creek Indian heritage (that his dad had hidden from him up until right before taking him to school). Cal is strong and honorable, like how his father taught him. This is a story that shows that it is good to be kind and honorable even in hard circumstances. It is good to stand up for truth and what is owed to you. But most important of all it is good to k...

Are you ready for "R" Week?  Read a few rousing books as you learn about this letter! Rita and Ralph's Rotten Day Written by Carmen Agra Deedy Illustrated by Pete Oswald Scholastic Press, 2020.  Picture Book. In two little houses, on two little hills, lived two best friends... So begins the story of Rita and Ralph. Every day they meet to play beneath the apple tree. It's always fun and games -- until one roundly rotten day when a new game means someone ends up crying. Who knew it could be so hard to say "I'm sorry"? Just when it seems nothing will ever be right again, a surprising thing happens. The old friends try something new, that isn't new at all. Something they've done a hundred times... Carmen Agra Deedy's brilliant storytelling combined with Pete Oswald's spirited illustrations make for a comforting tale of healing and true friendship.  --Publisher Red Light, Green Lion Written by Candace Ryan Illustrated by Jennifer Yerkes Kids C...

  A Year of Everyday Wonders Written by: Cheryl B. Klein Illustrated by: Qin Leng New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020.  After recently ending a difficult year, perspectives on life have seemed to shift from what they used to be. It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of our lives and miss what is truly important. If 2020 taught us anything, I think it is to slow down and enjoy the every day moments that are more meaningful than we might have realized. That is what this book is all about! A Year of Everyday Wonders takes you through one year in the life of a little girl. With very simple and short phrases of firsts, it brings attention to simple every day occurrences that piece together a story of memories, experiences, growth and an overall contentment with the most meaningful details of life. This beautifully illustrated picture book brings to life our own experiences with a range of emotion. Even in its simplicity, it tells an expansive story that everyone c...

  The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver By Gene Barretta Illustrated by Frank Morrison When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own. Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George's love of nature sprouted into something so much more -- his future. The Undefeated By Kwame Alexander Illustrated by Kadir Nelson The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. The People Could Fly By Virginia Hamilton Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon In this retelling of a folktale, a group of slaves, unable to bear their sadness and starvation any longer, calls upon the African magic that allows them to fly away. Don't Touch My H...

Oh My Gods! By Stephanie Cooke and Insha Fitzpatrick Illustrated by Juliana Moon New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021. Graphic novel.  Middle schooler Karen is happy when she hears that her mom has been offered the job of a lifetime, but she becomes a little apprehensive once her mom tells her she'll be going to live with her dad, Zed, in the meantime. Katie doesn't feel like she knows her dad very well, which becomes very apparent when she's treated like royalty on her flight to Mount Olympus and sees her father's palatial home. Readers will catch on to the joke -- Katie's dad is really Zeus, king of the gods -- before Katie does, which adds to the humor of this engaging mythology update. Before Katie can adjust to her new school and new friends, all gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon, she comes under suspicion when students are turned to stone, motivating her to clear her name. Readers who know their Greek mythology, from Riordan or elsewhere, will love...

Althea Gibson: The Story Of Tennis' Fleet-Of-Foot Girl Written by:  Megan Reid Illustrated by: Laura Freeman HarperCollins Publishers, 2020. Biography Althea Gibson was the quickest, fastest, tallest girl in Harlem in the 1940's and she was fearless. She could never sit still and would play any sport with anyone. She was good at everything she tried but the sport she liked best was paddle tennis. She loved the sound the ball made when it hit the tight strings of her  racket. She worked hard and spent years improving her skills and finally in 1950 she became the first black American to compete at the US national championship. However, she never gave up on her dream to eventually play internationally and compete in the championship game at Wimbledon. Finally in 1957 she was allowed to compete and became the first ever black person to win a championship at Wimbledon.   This picture book biography tells Altheas journey with vivid illustrations that capture her personalit...

  Porcupine Cupid  By Jason June  Illustrated by Lori Richmond  Margaret K. McElderry Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 2020. Picture Book.  Porcupine decides he wants to take inspiration from Cupid. He likes how with just a prick of Cupid’s arrow people will fall in love. So, in order to spread the love around the forest, Porcupine decides to go around and start poking all of the animals with one of his quills. Needless to say the rest of the animals in the forest are not that impressed with the sharp jabs and are not inspired to go and fall in love—or are they? When all of the animals come together to have a discussion as to what to do about Porcupine, they realize that there are some other animals that they just might want to get to know better. This is a hilarious look at how love might be a touch “painful” to begin with. And the ending where Porcupine way just get a taste of his own medicine is pure icing on the cake. This should be a standard for ...

It's "Q" Week!  Here are a few books to read as you learn about this fun letter: The All Together Quilt By Lizzy Rockwell Alfred A. Knopf, 2020.  Picture Book. Jennifer and her friends at the community center are making a quilt. They begin with lots of colorful fabrics and an idea. Then they measure, cut, stitch, layer, and quilt. It's the work of many hands, many hours, and many stories. And the result is something warm and wonderful they can all share. Lizzy Rockwell tells the heartwarming story of a diverse group of people coming together to make things both lasting and beautiful-- a quilt and friendship.  --Publisher Queenie Quail Can't Keep Up Written by Jane Whittingham Illustrated by Emma Pedersen Pajama Press, 2019.  Picture Book. No matter how hard she tries, little Queenie Quail can’t keep up with her Mama and her Papa and her nine bobbing, tapping siblings. “Hurry, hurry, hurry!” they exclaim as Queenie lags behind. But how can Queenie hurry when there ...

  A Journey Toward Hope Written by Victor Hinojosa and Coert Voorhees,  Illustrated by Susan Guevara Houston : Six Foot Press, 2020. Informational. 10-year old Alessandra is on her way to the United States from Guatemala in hopes of finding her mother, who migrated 4 years earlier. Laura, 13, and her little brother Nando, 7, are being sent from El Salvador to live with their aunt and uncle in the United States. Fleeing gang life, 14-year old Rodrigo leaves behind his little sister as he heads to the United States to join his parents in Nebraska. The four young kids find each other along the way and face terrifying obstacles and impossible trials as they become a unique family of sorts searching for hope in America. Although it provides a limited glimpse into the lives, dreams, and hopes of thousands of refugees that come to the Mexico-US border, it is a great entry point for real discussion. Back matter illuminates the ongoing efforts of Baylor University to help with the cris...

Danny Constantino's First (And Maybe Last) Date by Paul Acampora New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2020. Fiction Danny has a huge crush on his best friend he's known since kindergarten, Natalie Flores Griffin. The biggest problem? She probably forgot he exists. After all, she's a movie star now. Then to his surprise, Natalie agrees over email to go on a date with him! Will they be able to go to the school's Halloween dance without his mom, raging fans, and social media agendas getting in the way? This is an ideal read for ages 10+. Danny's likable character will have readers rooting for him when things are hard and cringing for him when things get awkward. This book promotes friendship, telling the truth, and spending time with family. This is a wonderful comedic romance for kids wanting a taste of first crushes and blushes without any kissing. As a plus, the audiobook version of this book is delightful and is just the thing to keep everyone entertained on a ...

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul By Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by Frank Morrison New York City: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2020. Biography. The life of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is chronicled in this picture book biography. The incredible life story of one of history's most famous recording artist is told through rhyming couplets that make this an engaging read-aloud book for a family or classroom Black History Month celebration. This book shows how despite her fame and success, Aretha Franklin remained grounded in her church background and her commitment to civil rights.  Carole Boston Weatherford and Frank Morrison are an award winning duo who have struck gold once again with this Coretta Scott King Award winner. Each page of this beautiful picture book is illustrated with Morrison's stunning oil on canvas paintings. The pages are rich with color and texture and, combined with the vinyl record size and shape of the book, make for a...

  Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball Written by: Jen Bryant Illustrated by: Frank Morrison Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. Informational. Elgin Baylor was one of basketballs all time greatest player. The way he played was unique and so different that people would stop and watch. Elgin Baylor broke traditions and created his own unique moves  and shooting style. He started his professional basketball career in 1958 but the NBA back then wasn't what it is today. In 1958  it was a lot of long bus rides and back to back nights of playing hard, playing when you were sick or injured and washing uniforms in hotel bathrooms. One night in West Virginia the Lakers needed a place to stay but every hotel said "whites only". Elgin and his team finally found a place where anyone was welcome. The next day Elgin refused to play basketball and sat on the bench in quiet protest. The fans and the NBA noticed and two weeks later things began to change for the ...

  Quintessence  By Jess Redman  Farrar Straus Giroux, 2020. 361 p.  Alma has moved to a new town with her parents. Her brother has gone off to university. Alma feels less and less like herself. She feels like she is losing her “Almaness” and is constantly having panic attacks, though she lied to her parents and told them that they had stopped. When Alma meets the mysterious owner of what looks like a junk shop and discovers what is kind of like a telescope, Alma starts to feel like herself again. The shop owner tells Alma to “Find the elements. Grow the light. Save the starling.” Alma doesn’t know what that all means, but she is determined to figure it out—and hopefully discover herself again along the way. This is a fun little fantasy book that doesn’t shy away from strong emotions (like panic attacks) and how helping others (like a fantastical being like a starling) can in turn help yourself. Readers who like light fantasy with a good-hearted character (and some go...