Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Those Kids from Fawn Creek  By Erin Entrada Kelly  Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Books, 2022. Fiction. 319 p.  There are twelve kids in seventh grade at Fawn Creek K-12—one down from the 13 that there used to be until one of the popular kids (and class bully) Renni moved to the slightly larger town next door the year before. These kids all know each other very well—from their strengths to their faults and habits. However, life changes for all 13 kids when Orchid Mason moves in and takes over Renni’s seat. Orchid is kind, pretty, and doesn’t seem to care about following the status quo. Kids like Greyson and Dorothy are excited to get to know Orchid and befriend her. Others like Janie (who was Renni’s best friend) are a little warier—especially since Renni still has an influence on the town since she only lives one town over. This is a great book all about friendship, finding yourself, kindness, and what to do about longing for change. Once again Eri...

 One of my favorite things to do in the summer is eat good food at parties with people I like. But then I got to thinking about all the fun food-related picture books that have come out recently…and I thought I would share them with you all. Bon Appétit!  Counting to Bananas: A Mostly Rhyming Fruit Book  By Carrie Tillotson  Illustrated by Estrela Lourenço  Flamingo Books, 2022. Picture Book.  This is the best kind of food book—it is a book with humor that also makes you want to grab a good piece of fruit to eat. Banana wants to be the star of a counting book…only what does that mean when the counting book also has various types of primates. Seriously comical and good fun.  A Mouthful of Minnows  By John Hare  HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Picture Book. In this tale a snapping turtle named Alphonso is trying to lure in some minnows for a breakfast treat. When only one or two minnows come tempted by his worm-shaped tongue they decide to go g...

  Kingston and the Magician's Lost and Found Written by Rucker Moses and Theo Gangi G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2021. Fiction. Twelve year-old Kingston and his mother have just moved back to Echo City, Brooklyn. Four years ago they were living in Brooklyn when Kingston's father, a well-known magician, disappeared.  One evening during a magic show, Kingston's dad walked into a magic mirror on stage and never came back again. After returning to Echo City,  Kingston quickly reconnects with old friends and it doesn't take him long before he finds himself drawn into the mystery of his dad's disappearance. As Kingston begins looking for his father and solving clues about his disappearance, he accidentally opens a rift into a magical realm, and along the way discovers portals, meets false realm characters, and finds hidden clues that are all related to the  disappearance of his father.  A fast paced mystery novel that takes place in a magical world full of adventure, fantasy a...

As much as I'm sure Bilbo Baggins loved his adventure outside of Hobbiton, you can't convince me that he would ever do it again. For the Bilbo in all of us, here are some books full of adventure and perfect for sitting alone at home with no visitors allowed, except the ones on the page. Read these books and you, like Bilbo, can "go on an adventure" from your own home! The Ship of Stolen Words By Fran Wilde Amulet Books, 2021. Fiction.  In this adventure, Sam gets his words stolen by a group of goblins. Teaming up with a goblin named Tolver, they must work together to accomplish their goals and defeat their enemies. The Plentiful Darkness By Heather Kassner Henry Holt & Company, 2021. Fiction. Rooney is an orphan and follows a boy thief into a magician's realm of darkness where she must discover why other children have gone missing from this place. Lola Benko, Treasure Hunter By Beth McMullen Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing...

  Sonia Sotomayor Written by Meg Medina New York: Philomel, 2021. Biography. Sonia Sotomayor is the first Latina Supreme Court Justice in the history of the United States, but her road there wasn't easy. She overcame many challenges along the way, including a diagnosis of diabetes at age seven. But she didn't let that stop her from achieving her dream and inspiring children all over the world to work hard and believe in themselves. Merci Suárez Changes Gears Written by Meg Medina Candlewick Press, 2018. Fiction. Thoughtful, strong-willed sixth-grader Merci  Suárez navigates difficult changes with friends, family, and everyone in between. A coming-of-age novel that is full of humor and wisdom by award-winning author Meg Medina. Merci Suárez Can't Dance Written by Meg Medina Candlewick Press, 2021. Fiction. A follow-up to the Newbery Medal-winning Merci Suárez Changes Gears finds Merci embarking on a seventh grade year shaped by high teacher expectations, a crush on a ...

Read in Stories in the Park Pearl By Moly Idle New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2018. Picture book. When young Pearl, a mermaid, becomes caretaker of a single grain of sand, she discovers that performing even the smallest task well can transform the world. Read in Stories in the Park Is It a Mermaid? By Candy Gourlay Illustrated by Francesca Chessa Hereford, England: Otter-Barry Books, 2018. Picture book. Set in the Philippines, this picture book is about a very magical dugong who thinks she's a mermaid. Read in Canopy Capers Sharky McShark By Alison Murray New York: Little, Brown and Co, 2021. Picture book. Sharky is the meanest, most fearsome creature in the deep until an accidental encounter with a tiny crab shows her a better way in this tale reminiscent of "The Lion and the Mouse." Read in Canopy Capers Land Shark By Beth Ferry Illustrated by Ben Mantle San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2015. Picture book. Bobby wants a shark for his birthday, so he is disappointed whe...

Children are incredibly resilient for such small humans. We've seen them fall down and get back up countless times. But we've also seen then in the midst of profound struggles and want to help them grow their courage. Here are a few books about resilience that I love. The Year We Learned to Fly Written by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by Rafael Lopez New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2022. Picture Book. A brother and sister learn how to use their imagination when their family is having a hard day. Their grandmother teaches them that their ancestors before them did the same thing when they faced years of oppression. The children learn to set themselves free by the way they think. Gib-ber-ish By Young Vo Montclair: Levine Querido, 2022. Picture Book. It's Dat's first day of school in a new country and everyone sounds like they're speaking gibberish. It makes him nervous and uncomfortable. But a girl in his class makes an effort to try and communicate with him in a diffe...

  Atlas of Amazing Architecture: The Most Incredible Architecture You've (Probably) Never Heard Of By Peter Allen Cicada Books, 2021. Informational. Take an architectural tour around the world with this fun book. Unique structures throughout the world are featured on each page with their location and fun facts about the styles and processes used to build them. For all the travel junkies, this is one that will get your heart racing with exciting new possibilities for the bucket list. The illustrations are a warm, calming and smooth pastel that really captures the beauty these locations. And like the title suggests, you have probably never heard of these cool places before, but feel free to prove us wrong!

Amelia Bedelia is the famously over-literal housemaid who is always getting herself into hilarious mishaps - like the time she thought a wedding shower meant the guests got an actual shower...with a hose! Here are some books to make Amelia smile and help her through her often confusing days: When Amelia wants to read about someone else who gets mixed up on the job-  Vinny Gets a Job By Terry Brodner New York, NY: Aladdin, 2020. Picture Book.  Vinny is a pup who takes everything literally, so when he decides to try and get a job - chaos ensues! A charming illustrated map of Vinny's neighborhood allows the reader to follow along with Vinny as he comically attempts a multitude of professions.  A guidebook for Amelia when she gets confused about things that happen around the house- In Every House, on Every Street Written by Jess Hitchman Illustrated by Lili La Baleine Wilton, Connecticut: Tiger Tales, 2019. Picture Book.  Viewed through the lens of powerful familial love...

  Isla to Island By Alexis Castellanos Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2022. Graphic Novel. In this mostly wordless picture book based on true events, a young girl named Marisol lives with her parents in Cuba during the early 60s.  Marisol's life is colorful, happy, and filled with the books she so loves.  Sadly, Marisol's family's happiness is threatened when Fidel Castro comes into power and Cuba is in unrest.  Marisol's parents, fearing for Marisol's safety, send her to New York to live and hopefully be safe until they can be reunited.  New York is so different from Cuba--here everything seems lonely, drab, and grey, and although the older couple who take Marisol in are kind, Marisol can't understand them.  School is even worse.  There she's bullied, lonely, and confused.  Only when she discovered the library at school does color start to come back into her life.   This book proves that you don't need dialogue and lots of verbal ima...

Yesterday, June 19th, was Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the end of enslavement in the United States. It is also called, “Juneteenth Independence Day," “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day.” To help you learn more about this important holiday, we have compiled a list of some great books to read. Free at Last : A Juneteenth Poem Written by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle Illustrated by Alex Bostic New York : Sterling Children's Books, 2022. Informational. This beautifully illustrated picture book tells the story of Juneteenth in free verse in 1865 in Galveston, Texas. It conveys powerfully the emotions felt by Black Americans when they were finally free at last.   Juneteenth : Our Day of Freedom Written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth Illustrated by Kim Holt Random House Childrens Books, 2022. Easy Reader.  This Easy Reader follows a Black family as they make preparations to celebrate Juneteenth. The story then moves back into time, telling the history behind Juneteenth in...

Pipsqueaks, Slowpokes, and Stinkers: Celebrating Animal Underdogs Written By: Melissa Stewart Illustrated By: Stephanie Laberis Peachtree, 2018. "[This book] introduces young readers to a variety of animal underdogs and explains how characteristics that might seem like weaknesses are critical for finding food and staying safe in an eat-or-be-eaten world."--Publisher description. A Place for Bats Written By: Melissa Stewart Illustrated By: Higgins Bond Peachtree, 2012.  Examines the ecosystems that support the survival of bats as well as efforts to save the mammals, introducing readers to ways human action or inaction can affect bat populations. Predator Face-Off Written By: Melissa Stewart National Geographic Partners, 2017. Find out what happens when predator is pitted against predator in this exciting, informative reader. The Level 1 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information about some of the world's most amazing creatures for beginning readers. Fourteen M...

Read in Stories in the Park An Island Grows Written by Lola M. Schaefer Illustrated by  Cathie Felstead New York : Greenwillow Books, 2006. Picture Book. From the first glow of magma at the bottom of the ocean, to the flowing lava that hardens and builds up higher and higher until it breaks through the water's surface, here is the story of the birth of an island. As the island matures, signs of life appear: first, small plants and animals, and later, people. This is a tale as old--and as new--as the ground we walk on, and it has been illustrated with gorgeous collage art. Includes an endnote detailing how volcanic islands form and a list of recommended reading.--Publisher Read in Stories in the Park Normal Norman Written by Tara Lazar Illustrated by S. Britt New York : Sterling Children's Books, 2016. Picture Book. What is "normal?" That's the question an eager young scientist, narrating her very first book, hopes to answer. Unfortunately, her exceedingly "no...

  Lines of Courage By Jennifer A. Nielsen Scholastic Press, 2022. Fiction. 388 pages. This is a historical fiction book set during the time of World War I. It follows the lives of 5 young people from the very beginning of WWI to the end of the war. The characters are from Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, and England, so there are perspectives from many sides of the war. Each character is tested with a chance to show courage and bravery. They learn the importance of working together and doing the right thing. If you like stories that are told from multiple perspectives that weave together to make something extraordinary, then this is a must-read. I was inspired by each of the characters because they had to make hard decisions, but they were so courageous throughout the challenges that they faced. This book reminded me of Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan, which is also a fantastic historical fiction read.

It may be because we have fish hanging up around the Children's Reference Desk and an ocean-themed I Spy display case, or it may just be the summer heat, but I find myself constantly longing to go swimming lately. Because I can't live my life inside a pool, lake, or ocean (unfortunately!), I guess I'll have to resign myself to spending the day poolside with some of my favorite swimming reads.  Sakamoto's Swim Club Written by Julie Abery Illustrated by Chris Sasaki Kids Can Press, 2021. Informational. This informational picture book tells the true story of Soichi Sakamoto, a schoolteacher in Hawaii who noticed a group of children who would swim in the irrigation ditches every day to keep cool. When they were caught by security at the sugar cane plantations, Sakamoto volunteered to coach them in swimming if they were allowed to continue. Even though Sakamoto could barely swim himself, he coached his swimmers daily, helping several of them reach the Olympic Games. This sho...

During June we celebrate Pride month and commemorate the struggle by LGBTQIA+ people to earn equal rights as well as celebrating the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ folks. Pride is a time to empower all types of folks and celebrate them for who they are. It's also a great time to talk with your children about diversity, kindness, and inclusion. Having these conversations with children will help them grow into kind and empathetic adults.  What Are Your Words?: A Book About Pronouns By Katherine Locke Illustrated by Anne Passchier New York: Little, Brown, 2021. Picture book. Whenever Ari's Uncle Lior comes to visit, they make a point of asking Ari "what are your words?" Sometimes Ari knows which pronouns feel right, but on this day it's tricky to pick. As Ari and Lior travel through the neighborhood they meet lots of Ari's neighbors who share their pronouns with the pair. This book is an affirming choice that models how to adapt language to accommodate peo...