Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene  By Emma Otheguy  Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 281 p.  Sofía is the middle child in a ballet family. Her parents were ballet dancers that came to the United States to dance, and decided to not return to Cuba. Sofía’s older sister is a ballet protégé. Her younger brother is a great dancer as well. And Sofía…well…she sometimes can happen to dance to the rhythm. (Though she doesn’t really understand what the rhythm is no matter how much she practices with her family.) Sofía would rather be sewing or creating miniature scenes of the Nutcracker in a shoebox than dance. But if she doesn’t dance well, would she still fit into her family? Would there still be a place for her? This book is a fantastic look at what makes a family—and what makes a person within a family special. Throw in some friend drama, examples of Cuban American discrimination, and learning to trust her voice to speak up (about friends, family, and what she believes in), and this is o...

Each month we have two book clubs for kids at the Provo City Library! These book clubs are especially designed for kids ages 9-12 and a caregiver. This month, our Girls Read book club will meet April 26 and our Guys Read book club will meet April 28. You can preregister for these programs on the library calendar online, beginning the first of the month! Girls The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy By Jeanne Birdsall New York: Knopf, 2005. Fiction. The Penderwick sisters, Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty, are set to spend their summer holiday in the Berkshires. Accompanied by their family dog, Hound, and their loving but absent-minded father, the girls embark on a summer adventure at Arundel - the estate of the snobby Mrs. Lifton. After a rocky start, the Penderwick sisters befriend Jeffrey, the son of Mrs. Lifton, and involve him in their antics around the posh mansion -- including lots of trips into Mrs. Lifton's prize garden. Thes...

  Just Right Jillian   By Nicole D. Collier  Illustrations by Kitt Thomas  Versify, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2022. 215 p.  Jillian is learning to be herself—in a world where she would often rather be shy and not stand out. But a promise to her grandmother who had passed away means that Jillian will to try to compete in the mind bender competition at her elementary school. Jillian knows she is smart, but she doesn’t know how she can bring attention to herself by competing and answering the questions—unwanted attention makes her freeze. This is a good book to show kids that they can be themselves, even when it might seem scary. Also, the way that Jillian is a friend to others (both those who she was already friends with and those that seemed to be her enemies) shows that kindness is just as important as being smart. This is a great edition to the realistic fiction books on figuring out who you are.

It is a common habit for a child to be read a story at bedtime. I know that this is one of my favorite memories from being young. Often it is the same book that is desired to be read over and over again. If you're looking for some new books for when it's time to go down to bed, here are a few great options!  Bedtime Ballet Written by Kallie George Illustrated by Shanda McCloskey Little, Brown & Company, 2021. Picture Book. This whimsical ballet is soothing and perfect for winding down for the night. In lyrical verses and French ballet vocabulary is a story of dance and dreams. A glossary is included in the back for ballet terms. Dino Pajama Party: A Bedtime Book Written by Laurie Wallmark Illustrated by Michael Robertson RP Kids, 2021. Picture Book. In rhyming verses, this book follows dinosaurs that play hard until they are exhausted and ready to sleep for the night. Happy Dreams, Little Bunny By Leah Hong Little, Brown & Company, 2021. Picture Book. When Bunny has a h...

In a Garden By: Tim McCanna New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Informational. In a garden, a seed grows to sprout to bud to flower, thriving in harmony with living creatures, especially insects.  Spring is Here By: Will Hillenbrand New York: Holiday House, 2011. Picture Book.  Excited that spring has finally arrived, Mole tries--unsuccessfully--to wake up Bear, but then he comes up with the perfect plan.  A Peaceful Garden By: Lucy London New York, NY: Harper, a division of HarperCollins, 2018. Picture Book.  To grow a peaceful garden, wait for the last frost. Now dig yourself a patch. From choosing seeds and digging holes to watering the plants and giving them sunlight, A Peaceful Garden shows readers just what a garden needs to grow, with two cats as guides.  Becoming a Butterfly By: Grace Hansen Minneapolis, Minnesota: Abdo Kids, a division of ABDO, 2017. Informational.  Describes the various stages in the life cycle of a butt...

Read in Toddler Time Vampenguin By Lucy Ruth Cummins New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2021. Picture Book. On a Saturday morning, baby Dracula visits the zoo with his family, where baby Penguin lives with hers. But these intrepid young adventurers are not content with staying in their proper places. Instead, baby Dracula slips into the Penguin House to spend the day eating, swimming, and hanging around, while baby Penguin waddles into the stroller to explore the rest of the zoo. Dracula's family doesn't even notice the switch--will they bring the right baby home? Observant and adventurous young readers will love this tale of the shenanigans that happen when parents' backs are turned.--Publisher Read in Preschool Time The Littlest Viking Written by Alexandra Penford Illustrated by Isabel Roxas New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. Picture Book. A hilarious story about what happens to the littlest and loudest Viking when an even littler and louder Viking arrives, perfe...

Sydney & Taylor and the Great Friend Expedition Written by Jacqueline Davies Illustrated by Deborah Hocking Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2022. Intermediate Taylor has come up with another big idea that makes Sydney want to stay home and eat lunch. He wants to make friends! After Sydney sees how much Taylor wants more friends, he hops up and leads the expedition. Although making new friends can be scary, these two adventurers are not ones to give up easily. These two are always up to something and this third book in the series is just as fun and exciting as the first installments. This book is an easier read but with a few bigger words the help Intermediate readers learn something new. This book would also be a great tool to help kids learn how to make friends. Although the pair of friendly animals are eager to meet people, it takes a little  work and proves to be a bit discouraging, but in the end, friends are easy to find when you care about others.

Everyone loves a good laugh. And what better way to laugh than to read a silly, funny story? Here are five of my very favorite books for ages 8-11 that can always produce a smile and laugh from me. Fortunately, the Milk By Neil Gaiman Illustrated by Skottie Young New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2013. Fiction. This book is nonsensical fun the whole way through! I absolutely loved how it was about everything and yet nothing. Everything in the sense that you get volcano gods, pirates, aliens, and dinosaur inventors all in the same story, and nothing in the sense that it is simply about a father getting the milk for his children's breakfast cereal. This is a funny, fast-paced book that will make a terrific read-aloud for anyone just wanting a nonsensical ride in a Floaty-Ball-Person-Carrier.   Wayside School: Beneath the Cloud of Doom By Louis Sachar Illustrated by Tim Heitz  New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2020. Fic...

One of my best friends is going to France this month.  I'm not bitter.  Honestly, I'm not.  I AM, however, very jealous.  I was first introduced to France when I chose French as my foreign language credit in junior high and into high school and where, with the best of intentions, I butchered that beautiful language on the daily.  When asked for the yearbook why I chose French, I was quoted as saying, "Because it's the language of love and I'm ready for love!"  Clearly I am destined to go there--for the love, to finally get good at French, and oh, did I mention the food?  For that, too!   Sadly, destiny won't find me there anytime soon.  For those of us who are staying home, here are a few fabulous books with French flair.   The Last Musketeer By Stuart Gibbs Harper Collins, 2018. Fiction. In Paris with his parents to sell family heirlooms, fourteen-year-old Greg Rich suddenly finds himself four hundred years in the past, and is...

  The Secret Code Inside You: All About Your DNA Written by Rajani LaRocca Illustrated by Steven Salerno New York, NY : Little Bee Books, 2021. Informational. DNA is inside all living things and is the code that determines what type of creatures we become. Because of our special code, we become human beings instead of plants or animals. This code comes from our biological parents is inside of every cell. We get to choose how to use our bodies and what we will learn and do.  By award-winning author, Rajani LaRocca, this informational, rhyming picture book about DNA, is perfect for elementary-aged readers interested in science. Colorful, detailed, illustrations make this an entertaining, engaging, read with information presented in a fun way. There is a positive message throughout the book that, even though your DNA tells your cells what to do each day, each of us still has the ability to make choices to determine who we will become.

  Eloise: The Absolutely Essential 60th Anniversary Edition By: Kay Thompson Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. Picture Book. "Including the original Eloise and the full-color Eloise scrapbook with rare photos & drawings from the files of Hilary Knight; scrapbook written by Marie Brenner and colorful comments by me, Eloise." "1955-2015, 60th anniversary"--Dust jacket. Grayling's Song By: Karen Cushman Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. Fiction. In a medieval kingdom, Grayling finds self-confidence when her mother is turned into a tree by evil forces and Grayling must venture into the wilds to reverse the spell. The Giving Tree By: Shel Silverstein Harper & Row, 1964. Picture Book. A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return. The Wolf Wilder By: Katherine Rundell Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. Fiction. In the days bef...

Read in Toddler Time Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great By Bob Shea New York : Disney/Hyperion Books, 2013. Picture Book.  Ever since Unicorn moved into the neighborhood, Goat has been feeling out of sorts. Goat thought his bike was cool--until he saw that Unicorn could fly to school! Goat made marshmallow squares that almost came out right, but Unicorn made it rain cupcakes! Unicorn is such a show-off, how can Goat compete? When Goat and Unicorn share a piece of pizza, Goat learns that being a unicorn might not be all it's cracked up to be. And when Unicorn shows his admiration for Goat, it looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.--Publisher Read in Preschool Time Attack of the Underwear Dragon Written by Scott Rothman Illustrated by Pete Oswald New York : Random House Children's Books, 2020. Picture Book. Sir Percival is a great knight in every way, except for one thing- He is terrified that an Underwear Dragon will come and destroy the kingdom. But when the unth...

When Winter Robeson Came By Brenda Woods Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Fiction.  Eden is excited for her cousin, Winter, to visit to her home in California. She and her mom have planned out a full itinerary for his two week visit. Plans change when Winter arrives and he discloses that the real reason for his visit is to find his father, J.T. Robeson, who went missing 10 years prior and no one has heard of him since. Winter and Eden follow clues that lead them through L.A. in hope that they will find J.T. This is all happening in the summer of 1965 while the Watts Riots are going on between the Black residents of Watts and the police. They navigate their journey to find Winter's dad through the dangers of the riots.  When Winter Robeson Came is written by Brenda Woods, a Coretta Scott King Honor Winner. It is written in verse and the narrator, Eden, is a piano player, so a lot of the emotions and events are described using piano terms. It i...

Ireland is famous for its grassy green fields, cliffs, countryside views, and one particular annual tradition that is celebrated throughout the world. In honor of St. Patrick's Day today, I've created a list of books about Ireland. Learn more about Irish myths, legends, and culture with these titles. Too Many Leprechauns: Or How That Pot O' Gold Got to the End of the Rainbow Written by Stephen Krensky Illustrated by Dan Andreasen Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007. Picture Book. No list about Ireland would be complete without a book about leprechauns. Have you ever wondered why leprechauns hide their gold at the end of the rainbow? This book tells the story of Finn O'Finnegan, who returns to his village after a year away to find that it's been overtaken by leprechauns. He has to find a way to trick them into leaving without making them mad. This is a silly story that will work great as a read-aloud. Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato: An Irish Fol...

  Wingbearer By Marjorie Liu and Teny Issakhanian New York: Quill Tree Books, 2022. Graphic fantasy. Zuli doesn't know who she is or where she's from. She was raised by bird spirits in a sacred tree that holds the souls of birds waiting to be reborn and she knows nothing of the world outside her tree. Suddenly, the souls stop arriving and the leaves on the tree begin to die. Zuli, with her guardian owl Frowly, ventures from the tree into the living world hoping to find answers to the mystery of the missing souls. What she encounters are the ruins of a mystical world, now filled with goblins, wraiths, and magical creatures all fighting for survival. Zuli is still not sure who she is, but she knows it is her responsibility to save this world. This is the beginning of a fantastic fantasy-adventure series that graphic novel fans will devour. Liu creates a world filled with mystery and magical that is perfectly illustrated to match the ethereal, luminous world. Everything about this...

 Some of my favorite books are fairy tales. I requested them as a child and they are still my book of choice. I also really enjoy a good fairy tale retelling. I love reading a classic fairy tale story that gets turned on its head and  takes me on a journey I wasn't expecting. So, if you like your fairy tales to be full of twists and turns and some unexpected danger, you may enjoy one of these stories. Beasts And Beauty: Dangerous Tales By Soman Chainani Harper Collins Publishers, 2021. Fiction. Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life, and death. A prince has a surprising awakening. A beauty fights like a beast. Old stories spun into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other.--Publisher Sisters of the Neversea By Cynthia Leitich Smith Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2...