Provo Library Children's Book Blog

June is the time of year when we celebrate Pride Month by commemorating the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement and celebrating the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQ+ folks. It has been such a happy month -- seeing Pride celebrations across the state and all over the country! June is a great time of year to read and talk about books by and about LGBTQ+ people with your family, but just because the month is coming to an end doesn't mean you can't still read great LGBTQ+ books with your kids, or celebrate Pride, throughout the year. Here are some Pride books your family can enjoy all year long! PICTURE BOOKS Papa, Daddy, and Riley By Seamus Kirst Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth Washington, D.C.: Magination Press, 2020. After a classmate tells her that families must include a mother and a father, Riley is worried she'll have to choose between her two dads. Her parents help her understand that there are all kinds of families, and the most important thing that a family needs is love. Ju...

  Memory Jars Written and Illustrated by: Vera Brosgol Roaring Brook Press, 2021. Picture Book. Freda is visiting her grandmother and helping her pick blueberries. Freda tries to eat as many blueberries as she can because she doesn't want to loose any but sadly, she discovers she can't eat them all. When her Grandmother tells her they can save the blueberries they don't eat by putting them in a jar, Freda is relieved.  This idea  sparks something in Freda and she decides she is going to save all of her favorite things in jars. But what Freda finds out is that you can't enjoy everything that is saved in a jar because some things are better saved as memories.  This quirky story adds humor and charm as it touches on the idea of keeping memories, people, or favorite items bottled up in a jar. The story is told from a child's perspective and hints at the idea that everything you love can be kept forever in a safe place. Gouache illustrations bring Freda's world alive...

  It is the middle of Summer Reading! At the library we are always so happy to see kids read so many of their favorite books over the summer. And yet, we often are sad when the exact book a child wants is the book that is checked out. For example, one book series that many kids love is Wings of Fire (which is also a graphic novel ). And I get it. I have read all of the Wings of Fire books myself. But what should you do if your child is wanting to read book 14 and has to wait on hold to find out if the dragons from Pantala have safely made it to Pyrrhia? Well, if you are in this predicament, here are a few other great dragon series to hold them over. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! Happy reading! Wizards of Once   B y Cressida Cowell  Little, Brown and Company, 2017. 373 pages. Granted, this isn’t a series specifically devoted to dragons; however, there is a lot of magical creatures, fantastical abilities, and a healthy amount of comedy. Readers who love the over...

Attack of the 50 Foot Wallflower By Christian McKay Heidicker New York: Simon and Schuster, 2018. 298 pgs. Phoebe, fifteen, the daughter of a famous mother and unearthly father, suddenly begins experiencing radical changes as she enters one scene after another from 1950s and 60s science fiction movies. Cure for the Common Universe By Christian McKay Heidicker New York: Simon and Schuster, 2016. 314 pgs. Sixteen-year-old Jaxon is being committed to video game rehab ten minutes after meeting a girl. A living, breathing girl named Serena, who not only laughed at his jokes but actually kinda sorta seemed excited when she agreed to go out with him. Jason's first date. Ever. In rehab, Jaxon can't blast his way through galaxies to reach her. He can't slash through armies to kiss her sweet lips. Instead, he has four days to earn one million points by learning real-life skills. And he'll do whatever it takes; lie, cheat, steal, even learn how to cross-stitch; in order to make it...

Read at Stories in the Park Dogfish Written by Gillian Shields Illustrated by Dan Taylor Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2008.  Picture Book. When his mother asks him why he wants to have a dog when he already has a goldfish, a little boy responds with clever answers and a creative solution in the form of an imaginative creature called a dogfish.  --Publisher Read at Stories in the Park I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean By Kevin Sherry Dial Books for Young Readers, 2007.  Picture Book. When a giant squid takes inventory of all of the creatures in the ocean, he realizes that he's way bigger than most of them! Of course, there are bigger things lurking around . . . but maybe this giant squid with a giant touch of hubris doesn't really care? First-time author-illustrator Kevin Sherry is sure to garner fans of all sizes for his perfect-for-preschool read-aloud with simple text, bold and delightful collage art, and a lovable squid whose spirit just cannot be crushed. ...

Fitz and Cleo By Jonathan Stutzman & Heather Fox New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2021. Graphic Novel. Fitz and Cleo are ghost siblings that do everything together. They find a cat, decide to adopt it, and name it Mister Boo. The three of them go on all kinds of adventures including going to the beach, enjoying stargazing, playing baseball, and eating ice cream.  This graphic novel is cute, simple, funny and perfect for newer readers. Jonathan Stutzman and Heather Fox make up the creative team behind the popular picture books, Llama Destroys the World and  Don't Feed the Coos! .  This is their first graphic novel and it looks like there are more adventures to come for Fitz and Cleo. If you enjoyed  Fox & Rabbit ,  Narwhal & Jelly , or  Pea, Bee, and Jay , this book is for you.

With upcoming road trips, what better time than now to check out an audiobook? Audiobooks are a great way to break up the monotony on a long car ride, and they can be extremely entertaining for both kids and adults. But let’s be honest. Not all audiobooks are created equal, and not all audiobooks are family-friendly. So what are some great audiobooks you can listen to this summer that everyone can enjoy? Here are my top five family-friendly audiobooks. Peter and the Starcatchers By: Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson Narrated by Jim Dale Grand Haven, MI: Brilliance Audio. 2004. Are you in the mood for a high seas adventure? Then this is your audiobook! Peter and the Starcatchers is the first book in a five-part series that tells the story of how Peter Pan and Captain Hook began. It is fabulously narrated by Jim Dale—the incredible voice talent that also brings the Harry Potter series to life on audio! The Wizards of Once By: Cressida Cowell Narrated by David Tennant New York: Hachette Book ...

Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls By Kaela Rivera New York, NY: Harper, 2021. Fiction. 334 pages. When Cece Rios was a little girl, she wandered deep into the desert and encountered Tzizimitl, the Criatura of Stars and Devouring, who observed that Cece has a soul like water. Cece's family and fellow residents of Tierra del Sol, desert people who value their fiery souls and fear the criaturas, hear the pronouncement and decide that Cece has been cursed to be weak. Years later, Cece encounters another criatura, El Sombrerón - the Bride Stealer, who entrances and kidnaps her older sister Juana before she can react. Cece is determined to rescue her sister from El Sombrerón, a feat that has never been accomplished, even if it means becoming a bruja and competing in a series of increasingly dangerous battles that will test her inner strength. This is an engaging and plot-driven novel steeped in Mesoamerican mythology with Spanish and Nahuatl text woven throughout. Cece is an instantly li...

I was saddened a few months ago when a couple of authors that I consider to be some of the "Greats" in children's literature passed away within two days of each other. Eric Carle died on May 23rd 2021 followed by Lois Ehlert on May 25th 2021. These incredible authors and illustrators contributed much over the years to children's literature with their art and storytelling. They leave behind an impressive legacy of beautiful art collage that will continue to influence and inspire many more generations of children. To honor both of these brilliant creators I thought I would highlight a few of their books and include some information about them. Eric Carle was most famous for his book "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" which was published in 1969 and since then has sold over 55 million copies around the world. He didn't stop there, he continued to write and create more than 70 books during his career as a "Picture Writer". He got started as a children...

  Milo is Missing Something  By Vern Kousky  Random House Studio, 2021. Picture Book.  Milo is an adorable octopus that hatches in the sea. He explores the ocean and the surface looking for something—though he doesn’t know what. There are all sorts of adorable pictures of Milo doing various things (such as playing with crabs or hiding from sharks “shhhh”); however, Milo still searches for something. This is a sweet book that not only shows the fun that Milo has while exploring around but the importance of family. Give this book to any youngster that feels a strong connection to their family and enjoys spending time with them or sharing adventures with family members.

  Read at Stories in the Park Lion Lessons By Jon Agee Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016.  Picture Book. There are seven steps to becoming a proper lion, including Looking Fierce, Roaring, Prowling Around, and Pouncing. Our young hero, a rather meek and scrawny human boy, does his best to learn the necessary skills during his training with a master instructor (who just happens to be a real lion). After a grueling set of lessons, the boy discovers that that the final step—Looking Out for Your Friends—is the most important of all. That’s how any kid can earn his lion diploma (not to mention the affection of every cat in town). With the wit and read-aloud appeal of Peter Brown’s Children Make Terrible Pets and William Steig’s Pete’s a Pizza , this funny, fierce picture book teaches kids just what it takes to be a great lion.  --Publisher Read at Stories in the Park Sun Flower Lion By Kevin Henkes Greenwillow Books, 2020.  Picture Book. On a warm morning, a little lion...

  Donut Feed the Squirrels By Mika Song RH Graphic, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, 2020. Comics. Lovers of donuts, squirrels, and all things silly will eat this book up.  Norma and Belly are two squirrels on a mission: EAT DONUTS! But getting the donuts out of the donut vendor’s truck will take planning and ingenuity. They’ll need a getaway vehicle as well as a master of disguise. AND they’ll need lots of courage to get past the donut vendor man! Can Norma and Belly pull off the greatest donut heist known to squirrels and mankind? Or will they end up with empty bellies?  Donut Feed the Squirrels is a fantastic book for graphic novel lovers and intermediate readers, ages 7-9. The whole book is in large panels with bubble dialogue, so it’s a fast, easy read. And best of all? It features two adorable squirrels you’ll instantly be rooting for! Fans of Dog Man , Binky the Space Cat , and The Bad Guys are sure to love this funny, fast-paced story.

My Little Brave Girl Written by Hilary Duff      Illustrated by Kelsey Garrity-Riley Random House, 2021, Picture Book. Actress Hilary Duff's debut picture book, My Little Brave Girl, is a sweet encouragement to little girls everywhere.  The text is limited but poetical and inspires readers to reach their potential and believe in their abilities.  Little girls are reminded of all the things the world has to offer them and all that they have to offer the world.  It frames challenges they'll face not as things to dread, but learning experiences that will make them stronger.  The illustrations are beautiful; readers will want to take their time perusing each page to enjoy Kelsey Garrity-Riley's colorful artwork.  The wide diversity of ethnicities portrayed throughout the pages makes this an inclusive read for ALL girls.  My Little Brave Girl would be a sweet gift for new mothers of baby girls, for girls embarking on any new adventures (kindergart...

There is nothing better than hitting the open road during the summertime! Packing your bags, grabbing some tunes, and setting out to explore new places. If you like road trips or reading books about travel adventures, here are a few great middle grade books to add to your must-read list for the summer!  The Lonely Heart of Maybelle Lane By Kate O'Shaughnessy New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2020.  Maybelle Lane has never met her dad but she has an old voicemail message of his voice in her collection of sounds. One day she hears his voice on the radio and realizes that he is a DJ. When he announces that he will be judging a singing contest in Nashville, Maybelle is determined to compete. She signs up, finds someone to drive her, and sets out on a road trip to Nashville to finally meet her dad.  The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise By Dan Gemeinhart New York : Henry Holt and Company, 2019.  Coyote and her dad, Rodeo, have been living in an old converted school for ...

In celebration of Father's Day this weekend, we are rounding up our favorite father figures from children's literature. From classics and new favorites, we found so many amazing dads, brothers, uncles, grandpas, and friends worth celebrating that we had a hard time narrowing it down! Let us know if you have a favorite father figure from kidlit that we missed! Mr. Robert Quimby from Ramona and Her Father Ramona Quimby's dad, Robert, is one of the first names to come to mind when thinking about fathers in kidlit. Mr. Quimby is patient, humorous, and affectionate. In Ramona and Her Father, he even takes on the role of homemaker when he unexpectedly loses his job. Mr. Quimby loves his children with an unusual kindness that deserves to be celebrated. Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter  Arthur Weasley is not the flashiest father in the Harry Potter universe, but his loving dependability, for his own seven children and for Harry and Hermione, earns him an easy spot on this list. Th...