Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels  Written by Beth Lincoln  Illustrated by Claire Powell  New York: Dutton Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2023. Fiction. 338 pages. In the Swift family when a child is born, the family goes to the dictionary to pick a name. That is how Shenanigan got her name. And because of her name, her family is sure that she will be trouble. Besides a fascination with naming kids based on dictionary entries, the family has treasure hiding somewhere on their estate. When the family all comes home for a reunion, trouble brews as Arch-Aunt Schadenfreud is pushed down the stairs. Shenanigan realizes that someone is trying to cause mayhem and potentially steal their treasure. Can Shenanigan and her sisters figure out who is up to no good? Can they save all their relatives and find the treasure? This is a great mystery for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events or for readers who love spunky characters and quirky setting...

 You may remember that back in May I posted about my favorite audio books for early elementary school kids . It got me thinking, I love SO MANY audio books, and some of my favorites are also for that sweet spot of elementary school kids who can enjoy a bit more of a complex story and more intricate characters and emotions. So, here I am again to give you a list of my five favorite audio books— this time for elementary school listeners. All of these books can be found on our digital library app Libby by Overdrive. Happy listening!  Falling Short  By Ernesto Cisneros  Narrated by Timothy Andrés Pabon and Gary Tiedemann  HarperCollins Publishers Inc., Quill Tree Books, 2022.  Duration: 05:11:11  In this realistic novel, Isaac and Marco are best friends—though also opposites. Isaac is a star basketball player that has a goal of getting better grades, while Marco is an A+ student who isn’t athletic but dreams of making the basketball team (in hopes that his...

  Violet and Jobie in the Wild By Lynne Rae Perkins New York, NY: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Fiction. Violet and Jobie are brother and sister, they also happen to be mice. One day, while perusing the kitchen for food in the house where they live, Violet and Jobie fall asleep and are carried off to be released into a state park. Being house mice, they soon realize that the wild is not at all like their former cushy life indoors, and they must rely on each other (along with the help of some new friends) to survive in the dangerous outside world. Accompanied by charming illustrations, you'll be captivated by this heroic tale of two exceptionally brave and curious mice who learn to thrive in adverse circumstances. Violet and Jobie in the Wild is perfect for fans of classic animal adventures like Stuart Little, and anyone who just loves a good story!

These five funny fiction books will tickle your funny bone and hopefully make you laugh out loud or at least chuckle. If you enjoy a good book full of entertaining humor you will want to check out one of these five funny fiction books. They will put a smile on your face.  Link & Hud: Heroes by a Hair By Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey New York: Norton Young Readers, 2023. Fiction. 231 pages.  Lincoln and Hudson are brothers who have very active imaginations. They like to spend their time hunting for yetis and going on epic quests. But sometimes their imaginary adventures cause havoc in the real world, especially for their babysitters. When Ms. Joyce comes to babysit the boys they find she isn't one to give in and bend the rules, so Lincoln and Hudson decide that she has to go. They plan the perfect battle which involves water balloons and wet tissue paper and Ms. Joyce is finally dismissed by their parents. But, the boys soon realize their mistake and now it is their ...

Answers in the Pages By David Levithan New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. 170 pages. Fiction. When Donovan leaves his school book out, his mom and community quickly freak out about whether the main characters are gay or not. As Donovan's mom seeks to ban the book, Donovan begins to question why a book should be banned, if at all. As readers follow Donovan's story, we also get an opportunity to read sections of the actual book itself that Donovan is reading, as well as another perspective of Gideon and Roberto, two boys working on an English project. These three stories blend, diverge, and offer readers varying points of view to relate with.  I loved how Donovan's mom wasn't portrayed as ignorant, but as caring and wanting what's best for her son. The censorship discussions in this book were very informative, and the three storylines all came together in a satisfying conclusion. The writing is beautiful, and there are several quotes that eloquently explained the relati...

  Out to Get You: 13 Tales of Weirdness and Woe Written by Josh Allen Illustrated by Sarah J. Coleman A collection of thirteen short stories that reveals frightening secrets lurking in everyday objects. Only If You Dare: 13 Tales of Darkness and Doom Written by Josh Allen Illustrated by Sarah J. Coleman A collection of thirteen short stories showing how horribly wrong food, dating, jobs, and even a bed pillow can be.

Stories in the Park Pick Me! By Max Amato New York : Scholastic Press, 2022. Picture Book. Five ice cream cones are eager to get picked -- until they realize what it means! Fudge, Mint, Berry, Bean, and Candy each think they are the MOST delicious ice cream cone around. But when Rocky Road arrives to deliver the scoop that "getting picked" means getting eaten, these silly cones earn their just desserts!--Publisher Stories in the Park Ice Cream Face By Heidi Woodward Sheffield New York : Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, 2022. Picture Book. As far as this ice-cream-loving kid is concerned, every meal should include ice cream. In any form, in every flavor, he loves it all. But what he doesn't love is seeing other people with ice cream . . . while he's still waiting in line for his. That's when he can get his mad, "no-ice-cream-yet, waiting-in-a-long-line face"--until he finally gets his cone, and his mad face melts into something swe...

  100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli Written by David Larochelle Illustrated by Lian Cho Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. This book is, not surprisingly, about 100 dragons who are all named Broccoli. It's written by David Larochelle, who you might recognize as the author of See the Cat and Moo! The story begins with 100 dragons and by the end of the tale there is only dragon named Broccoli left. It's the getting there that's fun. This works as a math book (if 10 dragons sail away on a cruise ship and become professional surfers in Hawaii, how many are left?) but also works as just a funny story time book. The illustrations are detailed and kids will want to flip back and forth between the pages counting up dragons. At the end of the book, the lone Broccoli dragon is joined by 100 baby dragons who he names things like Microwave Oven, Flame Thrower, Frodo, Mario, and Luigi. If you are looking for an easy fantasy book to read to your kids for  The Great Gen...

The month of June is Pride month -- a time when we especially commemorate the the lives and accomplishments of LGBTQIA+ folks and the struggle by LGBTQIA+ people to earn equal rights. This is a time of year where we can empower all types of people and celebrate them for being who they are. It's also a great time to have conversations with your children about empathy, kindness, and inclusion. Here are some great LGBTQ+ middle grade books to read with older elementary kids this Pride. Alice Austen Lived Here By Alex Gino New York: Scholastic, 2022. Fiction. 162 pgs. Nonbinary seventh graders Sam and TJ decide to enter a contest to design a statue for a local historical figure in their hometown neighborhood of Staten Island. The two choose to design a statue of queer photographer Alice Austen, a turn-of-the-century Staten Island resident who once lived in Sam's apartment. For Sam and TJ, learning about queer history in their community is an important and affirming experience. This...

Stick and Stone. Explore and More Written by Beth Ferry Illustrated by Kristen Cella Harper Collins Publisher, 2022. Graphic Novel. 93 pgs.  Stick and Stone have two adventures with mixed results.  When their first adventure ends on a high note--new friends made and a safe finale--Stone is excited to have another.  Stick isn't convinced, but is determined to stay by his best friend, Stone.  But when their second adventure doesn't seem to be going as hoped and things are looking grim, what will the two best friends do? This graphic novel is great fun for younger readers or even older elementary kids who like an adorable, quick read.  I got a kick out of Stone and Rock's friendship and anthropormorphic personalities--I laughed out loud at Stone's indignation at being called a rock and Stick's similar irritation at being called a twig.  Fans of Narwhal and Jelly or Fitz and Cleo will be all about Stick and Stone.  

Today is 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.” It became a federal holiday in 2021 and many are still learning the importance of this day. To help you learn more, we have compiled a list of some great books to read. The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States  Written by Alliah L. Agostini Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud Bellevue, WA : becker&mayer! kids, 2022. Informational. This informational picture book is a great resource to teach children all about Juneteenth and the history behind this holiday. It talks about the events that lead up to Juneteenth and how the first celebration of Juneteenth was called "Jubilee Day". The illustrations are colorful and bright and the author shares lots of information in a way that is easy to understand. A Flag for Juneteenth By Kim Taylor New York : Holiday House, 2023. In...

  Arrr, Mustache Baby! Written by Bridget Heos Illustrated by Joy Ang Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. Picture. Mustache Baby and his first mate, Beard Baby, set out to be heroes on the high seas, but soon the lure of pirate treasure takes hold. The Day the Mustache Took Over By Alan Katz Bloomsbury, 2015. Fiction. 195 pgs. David and Nathan are twin brothers who just can't seem to keep a babysitter around for long--they've had 347 after all. Or is it 734? Either way, there's got to be someone who can handle these two. Enter: Martin Healy Discount, or "Murray Poopins" as the boys dub him. Fake Mustache By Tom Angelberger Amulet Books, 2013. Fiction. 196 pgs. Lenny Flem Jr. is the only one standing between his evil-genius best friend, Casper, and world domination as Casper uses a spectacularly convincing fake mustache and the ability to hypnotize to rob banks, amass a vast fortune, and run for president. The Haunted Mustache By Joe McGee Simon & Schuster Childre...

Stories in the Park Vampire Vacation Written by Laura Lavioe Illustrated by Micah Player New York : Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Picture Book. The last thing Fang wants is another vacation in Transylvania. He's toured Dracula's castle and the coffin museum enough for an eternal lifetime. Why can't he spend the summer swimming and surfing like his other friends? When his parents refuse, Fang decides to convince them that fun at the beach is possible, even for a family of vampires.--Publisher Stories in the Park Dude! Written by Aaron Reynolds Illustrated by Dan Santat New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2018. Picture Book.  A platypus and a beaver who love surfing encounter a shark -- with unexpected results.--Publisher Summer Story Time Poe and Lars  Written by Kashelle Gourley Illustrated by Skylar Hogan New York, NY : Little Bee Books, 2021. Picture Book. A resourceful little girl named Poe and a grumpy polar bear named Lars live alone in the Arctic, ...

There are so many strong girl protagonists in the Intermediate section. Some are little entrepreneurs who are building businesses while others are doing their best to help their community. Here are five of my favorite girl power intermediates to spark that confidence in your young reader. Awesome Orange Birthday Written by Mitali Banerjee Ruths Illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel New York: Scholastic Inc., 2023. Intermediate. 71 pgs. This girl boss has her first client for her party planning business. Priya plans every thing about the party to be in the birthday girl's favorite color: orange! But as the big event approaches, Priya is nervous that something might go wrong! Catalina Incognito Written by Jennifer Torres Illustrated by Gladys Jose New York: Aladdin, 2022. Intermediate. 106 pgs. Eight-year-old Catalina wants to help her local library find the rhinestones on display from her Tia Abuela's famous costume. She uses her magic sewing kit to create incredible disguises to get to ...

Ruby Lost and Found By Christina Li New York: Quill Tree Books, 2023. Fiction. 288 pgs. Ruby's whole world is shifting around her: her sister will leave for college at the end of the summer, her friends have moved away or moved on to a different friend group, and she recently lost her beloved grandfather, Ye-Ye. Every summer Ruby and Ye-Ye used maps to complete a scavenger hunt across the city of San Francisco, but since his death Ruby has felt out of place. After she gets in trouble at school, her parents decide to ground her for the summer and send her to spend her weekdays with her grandmother. Ruby slowly warms up to spending time with her Nai-Nai, but when she discovers Ye-Ye's favorite local Chinatown bakery is on the verge closing, she decides to take matters into her own hands. The loss of a beloved grandparent is one of the biggest themes of the book, and Ruby's guilt mixed with grief is artfully discussed throughout. Ruby and Nai-Nai talk together about their grie...

Feeling the urge to see far off places, but having to armchair travel instead?  Wanting to experience the delights to be found in the country of Japan? Well, you're in luck because these books will help you feel like you've traveled there yourself:  Natsumi's Song of Summer Written by Robert Paul Weston Illustrated by Misa Saburi Toronto: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book.   Natsumi celebrates her favorite things about summer in Japan with her cousin who is visiting from America. The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden Written by Heather Smith Illustrated by Rachel Wada Victoria, British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2019. Picture Book.  A young Japanese boy processes his grief over his father's loss during a tsunami through the use of a disconnected phone in his community. The Perfect Sushi Written by Emily Satoko Seo Illustrated by Mique Moriuchi  Concord, MA: Barefoot Books, 2023. Picture Book.  A ...