Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Book of Turtles  By Sy Montgomery and Matt Patterson  Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. Informational.  My family loves turtles—and this is a great book about turtles—which means we all love this book! This book tells you all kinds of interesting facts about turtles. From how turtles got their shells, to what is the stinkiest turtle, to how one particular turtle can pee through its mouth. Really, if you like turtles and want to know interesting facts, this is the book for you. Not only is this a fun book full of great turtle facts, but it also has some pretty awesome illustrations. In fact, I totally thought the illustrations were photographs at first. If you know of any kid who likes turtles, animals, or fun animal facts, this is their next favorite book. Check it out!

Lei and the Fire Goddess By Malia Maunakea New York: Penguin Workshop, 2023. Fiction. 298 pages. Anna Leilani Kama'ehu is stuck in something of an identity crisis. Ever since she moved from Hawaii to Colorado with her parents, she struggles to fit in. At home in Colorado, she only wants to be called Anna and gets picked on for believing in the native Hawaiian lore she was raised with and now her best friend has left her for the popular group. She used to always look forward to spending the summers in Hawaii with her Tūtū, but this year she doesn't want to hear any more stories about her culture -- she wants to visit Hawaii like a tourist. This year, Anna refuses to believe in the Hawaiian gods and goddesses and goes so far as to insult Pele, the volcano goddess, out of spite. In retaliation, Pele sends a giant hawk to snatch Anna's Hawaiian best friend Kaipo and sends a lava flow right for Tūtū's house. If she wants to fix things before they're too late, Anna must g...

  Big Tree By Brian Selznick Scholastic Press, 2023. Fiction. 525 pages. This book started with an idea from Steven Spielberg.  The idea was to make a movie about nature from nature's point-of-view. Originally it was going to take place during the Devonian era before the dinosaurs, but the idea morphed and changed over time. Eventually, when it became clear that it wouldn't be made into a movie, Selznick got permission to make it into a book instead. That book became Big Tree . Big Tree follows two sycamore seeds, Merwin and Louise, living during the Cretaceous era, as they leave their mother tree and look for a place to live. It is a story about survival, where you plant your roots, and children finding a home. It also tells the story of plants throughout history; the past, present, and future, and the circle of life. If you've read Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabaret, you know that although 525 pages sounds scary, Selznik has a unique style with ample illustratio...

 Looking to celebrate Christmas in July? Here are five books to get you in the holiday spirit:  The Christmas Owl  Written by Ellen Kalish and Gideo Sterer  Illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki  New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2021. Picture Book. Little Owl ends up on an adventure when her home, a tree in the country, is cut down to be the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center. She learns what Christmas is all about on her journey to find her home!   ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas  Poem by Clement Clark Moore  Illustrated by Mr. Boddington’s Studio  New York : Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. Picture Book.  After everyone is asleep on Christmas Eve, St. Nicholas travels from home-to-home delivering toys and filling stockings. Mr. Boddington’s Studio does a wonderful job pairing bright illustrations with the well-known poem by Clement Clarke Moore.    Dasher   By Matt Tavares  ...

Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, but sometimes it can be hard for kids to find characters that look like themselves. That's why I've compiled a list of my five favorite books with body positive messages for every kid. Big By Vashti Harrison New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2023. Picture Book. This is a little picture book about a big girl. Although she has a "a big laugh and a big heart and very big dreams" as time goes on people treat her poorly because of her size. The criticisms begin to stick to her and change how she perceives herself as she learns how to overcome other's opinions of her. This book is for everyone who has ever been told that they are too big, but be sure to have a tissue handy, it's a real tear-jerker. Francis Discovers Possible Written by Ashlee Latimer Illustrated by Shahrzad Maydani New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. Francis loves words, which means that her favorite day at school is Tuesday because ...

  The Moth Keeper By K. O'Neill New York: RH Graphic, 2023. Comics. 257 pages.  Beautifully atmospheric, The Moth Keeper , is the story of Anya, a member of a nocturnal desert community which is reliant on lunar moths that cause the fantastical Night-Lily to bloom once a year. Anya is eager to prove herself as an apprentice guardian and shepherd of the moths with Yeolen, who is on the verge of retirement. However once her apprenticeship is complete, Anya soon finds that is a lonely job and combined with her burgeoning interest in a nearby sun-dwelling village, the pressure mounts.  Playing on themes of tradition and communal responsibility, readers will find themselves drawn towards Anya's familiar struggle between loyalty and love for her village, while also yearning towards her personal interests and desires. These feelings are expertly conveyed by the sweeping vistas and heavily blue and purple color scheme. When disaster strikes, how will this conflict be reconciled? ...

Science fiction books have plenty of action and adventure behind a solid science background of possible alien technology, giant robots, worlds in outer space, and even dangerous experiments. If you like a good book with lots of creative stories that take place in the realm of science then check out one of these middle grade science fiction books.  The Rhythm of Time Written by Questlove and S.A. Cosby New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2023. Fiction. 263 pages. Rahim Reynolds loves testing out gadgets that his friend Kasia invents. For his birthday Kasia gave Rahim her best invention yet, a cell phone. It may not look great, but it worked, and Kasia even found a sketchy network so Rahim wouldn't have to pay for services. After Rahim begins to use his new phone, the two friends discover that the phone has some unique abilities. When the phone takes Rahim back in time, he quickly learns that if you change things in the past those changes also affect the future.  This was a very enter...

Lasagna Means I Love You By Kate O’Shaughnessy New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. Fiction. 360 pages.  Mo is an eleven-year-old foster girl who stumbles upon a cookbook filled with homemade family recipes. After making one of the recipes, she begins asking everyone she knows for their family recipes. As she collects the recipes, Mo builds a website to share them, secretly hoping that a relative will find her website and adopt her. But Mo encounters several struggles, both personally and in her quest to find a forever home. Will she ever find the family that she's looking for? This book was so sweet and tender. I loved the idea of food being a message of love, and the story does an incredible job of tying together family recipes with traditions, feelings, and memories. I also thought it did a decent job of using letters from Mo to her Nan as a storytelling tool, although it's usually not my favorite. Overall, this book was amazing. A definite favorite for anyone who loves cooking,...

Leila the Perfect Witch By Flavia Z. Drago Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2022. Picture Book. Leila Wayward is a little witch who excels at everything she does. She's the fastest flier, the most cunning conjuror, and the most superb shape-shifter. She has won trophies for potions, herbology, and alchemy--and now she dreams of winning the Magnificent Witchy Cake-off! As the youngest in a long line of masters of the Dark Arts of Patisserie, Leila wants her entry to be perfect. But even with the most bewitching of recipes, she realizes a terrible truth: she's a disaster in the kitchen. Luckily, Leila has three magical sisters who are happy to share their culinary secrets with her. What's more, Leila discovers that baking with them is fun! Win or lose, she has already tasted the sweetest thing of all: acceptance--with a pinch of nightshade and a bit of mandrake. -Publisher The Witchling's Wish By Lu Fraser Illustrated by Sarah Massini New York: Bloomsbury Children's ...

Stories in the Park Dandylion Summer By Frann Preston-Gannon New York, NY: Godwin Books/Henry Holt and Company, 2020. Picture Book. When two sisters make a wish upon a dandelion, the seeds scatter and bring them Dandylion, a friend to play with all summer long. Together, they go on lots of adventures. As the seasons change, Dandylion must say goodbye--but fall is on the way, with new friends to meet and wonders to explore!--Publisher Stories in the Park If Winter Comes, Tell It I'm Not Here By Simona Ciraolo Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2020. Picture Book. Nothing is better than summer, with its joys of swimming every day and eating ice cream. One little boy's older sister tells him he'd better make the most of it, because summer is going to end soon. When winter comes, she assures him, it will be cold and dark, and the icy rain will turn to snow. They'll be stuck on the sofa for days and won't even dream of eating ice cream. The illustrations belie ...

Second grade can be a hard time to find books on your reading level, let alone ones that you are excited about! Here are some of our favorite beginner chapter books that would be great to read as a second grader: Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue Written by Paula Harrison Illustrated by Jenny Lovile New York: Greenwillow Books, 2019. Intermediate. 118 pages. Kitty wants to be a superhero, just like her mom. But, maybe when it's not so dark and scary outside. When one of her cat friends needs help, Kitty overcomes her fears to be a hero! This book is a great transitional chapter book with a couple of pictures on the action-packed pages. The School is Alive! Written by Jack Chabert Illustrated by Sam Ricks New York: Branches/Scholastic Inc, 2014. Intermediate. 90 pages. Sam Graves takes his job as the school's hall monitor very seriously. So when he discovers that the school is alive and is plotting against the students, he must do everything he can to protect them. With the fast-pa...

Today is National Lollipop Day! Get a taste, with these lollipop-themed reads: Not Enough Lollipops Written by Megan Maynor Illustrated by Micah Player New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Picture Book. When Alice wins a wagon full of lollipops from a school raffle, no one is sure if there will be enough for everyone. Chaos ensues as her classmates all try to convince her to give them a lollipop first. Oliver's Lollipop Written by Allison Wortche Illustrated by Andres Landazabal New York: Philomel Books, 2021. Picture Book. It's Oliver's birthday, and when he and his family are entering the zoo, he sees the perfect birthday treat—a beautiful, colorful lollipop. As they go through the zoo his brother is enchanted by the animals, but Oliver can only focus on how delicious his lollipop will taste when they get home. After a surprise encounter with a giraffe, however, Oliver starts noticing all the wonderful animals the zoo has to offer. The Great Lollipop Caper By Dan Krall New Yo...

There are so many reasons that a reader might gravitate to a shorter novel, like if you're feeling pressed for time, are a little more reluctant about reading a big-fat-book, are trying to ease into reading longer books with harder vocabulary, or if you just want something quick to work through -- these shorter middle grade novels are for you! Check out our recommendations below: The Guardian Test By Christina Soontornvat Illustrated by Kevin Hong New York: Scholastic, 2023. Fiction. 147 pages. Plum is surprised and a little apprehensive to find out that she'll be attending the elite Guardian Academy on Lotus Island, a school where kids learn to transform into magical creatures sworn to protect the earth. While all of her classmates are thriving in classes, Plum can tell that she's falling behind -- this is bad news because she can't continue her guardian training unless she proves she can become a guardian! This immersive fantasy novel is the start of a well-paced and ...

Scurry By Mac Smith Portland, OR: Image Comics, Inc. 2023. Comic. 329 pages. In a post-apocalyptic world where a strange winter lingers and the humans have all disappeared, a colony of house mice struggle to survive.  Predators lurk around every corner, food is nowhere to be found, and traitors are in their midst.  The mice must defy all odds to keep hope, and themselves, alive.  Wow, I loved this graphic novel!  The illustrations were top notch and really enhanced the story.  You can't help but to root for the tiny intrepid heroes, Pict and Wix, along with a stellar cast of helpful sidekicks.  The bad guys are equally outstanding, albeit in a bad guy way.  Legitimately scary, sometimes complicated, and devious to boot makes for some compelling storytelling and awesome character development.  If you have readers that are a bit squeamish or easily scared, I'd skip this one for now since death is definitely part of this book and stakes are high...

Everyday life can get a little tedious and repetitive, so why not add a bit of glitter! When you are in the mood for a little extra pizzazz, check out one of these sparkly books about glitter and characters who love to sparkle and shine.   Glitter Everywhere!: Where It Came From, Where It's Found & Where It's Going Written by Chris Barton Illustrated by Chaaya Prabhat Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2023. Informational.  Have you ever wondered where glitter comes from? This informational picture book tells all about the history of glitter and how glitter is used today. When Glitter Met Glue Written by Karen Kilpatrick Illustrated by Germán Blanco New York: Henry Holt, 2022. Picture Book. Glue feels like no one notices her or her art work. Glitter decides to step up and help her friend Glue to be noticed by adding a little bit of sparkle to stand out! Unicorns Are the Worst! By Alex Willan New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. G...