Provo Library Children's Book Blog

It is that time of year where I like to snuggle up with a holiday book or two. Here are some of my favorite new Christmas picture books that you can check out from our library this holiday season. Happy reading!  The Christmassy Cactus  Written by Beth Ferry  Illustrated by A. N. King  New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. Picture Book. In this holiday story, Tiny Cactus loves being the center of attention in a girl’s life. However, suddenly there is a big tree that has lights and ornaments and gifts. The cactus soon feels that she is not as loved or as appreciated and she wants to figure out a way to get decorated like the Christmas tree. This is a fun story (with a fun little ending) that shows how wishes can come true and that everyone is important at Christmastime.  Dasher Can’t Wait for Christmas  By Matt Tavares  Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book. If you all haven’t read Dasher (that came out in 2019), then you need to go a

  Max Fernsby and the Infinite Toys  By Gerry Swallow and Peter Gaulke  Illustrations by Marta Kissi  New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Fiction. 201 pages.  Max Fernsby is a 10-year-old kid that has a hard life. One day a bag falls on his head and Max decides that he will keep it. It turns out that it is Santa’s bag that transports toys from the North Pole for Santa when he uses it on Christmas Eve. Now Max has the power to produce any toy that he wants… just by thinking about it. Max and his two friends decide to make kids’ lives happier --all for the sweet cost of less than what they would have to buy the toys for online. Of course, this upsets the greedy businessman who has bought up all the toy stores in the city so that everyone has to buy Christmas gifts from him. And the two elves who lost the bag while on a joyride in Santa’s sleigh are worried about getting the bag back and how much trouble they will get into once they get back to the North Pole. 

 I love Native American Heritage Month because it gives me a chance to read and immerse myself in the history and culture of the Native American people. Native American stories can teach us much about the land with all its strength and beauty and the culture of these remarkable people. Here are a few of my favorite books from this year that have educated and enlightened me. Read and celebrate these many stories and what they have to offer.  When the Stars Came Home Written by Brittany Luby Illustrated by Natasha Donovan New York: Little Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. Ojiig has to leave his home and move to the city when his father gets a new job. He is missing his grandparents and his old way of life but what he misses most are the stars in the night sky. His parents try different things to help him bring the stars to his new life in the city but nothing seems to work. His mother has an idea and begins making him a special quilt woven with the stories of his ancestors. With the

I Want to Be Spaghetti! Written by Kiera Wright-Ruiz Illustrated by Claudia Lam New York: Kokila, 2023. Picture Book. Ramen sits on a supermarket shelf and watches spaghetti noodles being chosen each and every day. They desperately wish they could be like spaghetti, but their attitude starts to shift once they're cooked. As a human prepares Ramen, they add chashu, an egg, narutomaki, and more! Ramen learns that they don't need to be spaghetti to be delicious or loved. Ramen learns to be proud of what makes them different, and that they are perfect just as they are. This story is so cute, and the message behind the entire book is heartwarming and uplifting. Everyone is unique, just like the many variations of noodles, but that's what makes us special. The other ramen packages are a great addition to the story, even telling Ramen that "beauty can be found in diversity." This is a perfect picture book for anyone learning how to love themselves, and to remember how im

  Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest By Phoebe Wahl Toronto: Tundra Books, 2021. Picture Book. An earthy and beautiful collection of four stories that celebrate the seasons, nature, and life, from award-winning author-illustrator Phoebe Wahl. Little Witch Hazel is a tiny witch who lives in the forest, helping creatures big and small. She's a midwife, an intrepid explorer, a hard worker and a kind friend. In this four-season volume, Little Witch Hazel rescues an orphaned egg, goes sailing on a raft, solves the mystery of a haunted stump and makes house calls to fellow forest dwellers. But when Little Witch Hazel needs help herself, will she get it in time? Little Witch Hazel is a beautiful ode to nature, friendship, wild things and the seasons, that only Phoebe Wahl could create: an instant classic and a book that readers will pore over time and time again. --Publisher Little Fox In the Forest By Stephanie Graegin New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2017. Picture Book. A word

Toddler Time Little Penguin and the Lollipop By Tadgh Bentley New York: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2017. Picture Book. Little Penguin has a problem ... his friend Kenneth is upset! And it's all because Little Penguin ate Kenneth's deliciously yummy razzle dazzle seaweed lollipop! Little Penguin's tried everything he can think of to make it up to Kenneth but nothing seems to help--not even a hug! Can YOU help him save the day? --Editor Preschool Time Agent Llama Written by Angela Woolfe Illustrated by Duncan Beedie Wilton, CT: Tiger Tales, 2021. Picture Book. Charlie Palmer, super spy has been summoned for a top-secret mission: to find the president's underpants! She gets herself geared up. Gadgets ready? Check! Sunglasses on? Check! But who could have taken the underpants? Could it be Greta Grimm and her goons? Watch out, bad guys! Villains are no match for this AWESOME llama! --Editor Preschool Time  Llama Destroys the World Written by Jonath

In Provo we get to see every season and winter is finally here! The leaves are falling, the air is chilly, and snow is right around the corner. This is a fun list of books that talk about the changes in winter-time and the magic of snow. I’m Going to Build a Snowman By Awan Jashar New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. A little boy wakes up to a fresh coat of snow and he knows exactly what he needs to do. He is going to build a snowman. But not just any snowman- it has to be the best snowman ever built. He soon realizes that his goal is harder than he thought, but he can still build the best snowman that he has ever built. Is This…Winter? By Helen Yoon Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book. In Is this..winter? a cute little puppy enjoys the joy of winter time. He loves running around in the snow and chasing birds. But even with the fun, he notices that winter brings a lot of other strange things like Christmas lights and inf

  The Mona Lisa Vanishes Written by Nicholas Day Illustrated by Brett Helquist New York: Random House Studio, 2023. Informational. 276 pages. Did you know that in 1911 the Mona Lisa was stolen from off the wall of the Lourve Museum in Paris? This book tells the story of not only the theft and subsequent recovery of the Mona Lisa, but also gives background on Da Vinci himself and how the Mona Lisa came to be. Along the way you'll learn more background information about the theft including the rise of forensic science in solving crimes and how the media response turned the Mona Lisa from a relatively obscure painting to the most famous smile in the world. In addition, you'll hear about how well known figures like J.P. Morgan and Pablo Picasso were almost implicated in the investigation of the theft. The length of this book makes it most appropriate for older elementary readers. Those who are familiar with the Series of Unfortunate Events books will love the illustrations, which a

A soothing bedtime routine is key to sending any young child off to dreamland. A soft snuggle with a caregiver and a book before bed is a comforting way to add to this essential process. Here are five books to help make bedtime just a little easier: When Stars Arise Written by E.G. Alaraj Illustrated by Martyna Czub Victoria, British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2023. Board Book. Soft watercolor illustrations gently emphasize the routine of a child's day drawing to a close. You Are Getting Sleepy Written by Lori Alexander Illustrated by Monica Mikai New York: Scholastic Inc., 2022. Board Book. Loving parents hypnotically repeat that, "YOU are getting sleepy" in this gently humorous story that will soon have your own little one yawning along as well.  Sleep, My Baby Written by Dr. Lena Allen-Shore with Jacques J. M. Shore Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle New York: Little Simon, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2021. Board Book

Lo & Behold Written by Wendy Mass Illustrated by Gabi Mendez New York: Random House Children's Books, 2023. Comics. 205 pages. When Addie's dad takes a summer job on a college campus helping a team of students developing virtual reality, Addie isn't happy. While she doesn't want to live on a strange campus, she's even less interested in her dad's work with augmented reality.  Will the whole summer be a waste, or will Addie find the things she didn't even know she was looking for? I was surprised by how much I loved this book.  On paper, the premise didn't seem overly interesting to an almost 40 year old lady with basically zero interest in virtual reality and an extreme dislike of video games. So I was pretty blown away by how heartfelt the story was, how relatable the characters were, and how real their struggles and interpersonal relationships felt.  At it's heart, this story is about empathy, forgiveness, and familial and friend relationships.

November is great month to remind us to make sure we are saying thank you! Saying thank you to those who help us, saying thank you to our beautiful world, and saying thank you to our loved ones. There are lots of ways to say thank you. We can say thank you by writing letters, saying it out loud, or passing the kindness forward. Here are a few books for you if you like to say thank you! Thank You for the Little Things Written by Caryl Hart Illustrated by Emily Hamilton London: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2022. Picture Book. This picture book focuses on how saying thank you can help when you are having a bad day. When you are feeling sad or life feels hard, taking a minute to practice mindfulness and gratitude and really turn your day around.   Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note Written by Courtney Sheinmel & Susan Verde Illustrated by Heather Ross New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. After Sallie writes a thank you letter to her Grandma, she realizes th

  Snow By Uri Shulevitz New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1998. Picture Book.  As snowflakes slowly come down, one by one, people in the city ignore them, and only a boy and his dog think that the snowfall will amount to anything. The Snowy Day By Ezra Jack Keats Harmondsworth, New York: Puffin Books, 1978. Picture Book. 32 pages. The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day. Snow Day Written by Dawn Quigley Illustrated by Tara Audibert New York: Heartdrum, and imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2023. Intermediate. 71 pages. Jo Jo Makoons has noticed that the family members she loves most--Mama, Kokum, and even her cat, Mimi--all have their own ways of being healthy. So when Teacher says that their class will be learning about healthy habits, Jo Jo is ready to be neighborly by helping everyone around her be healthy too. After a snowstorm shuts down her Ojibwe reservation, Jo Jo uses her big imagination and big personality to help both Elders and classmates alike. Bec

Corpse Talk. Ground-breaking Rebels Written by Adam Murphy Illustrated by Lisa Murphy Dk Pub, 2021. Informational. 119 pages. Interviews with remarkable rebels from history! How did Gandhi use love to end an empire? How did an accident help Frida Kahlo create great art? What dangerous idea inspired Toussaint Louverture's fight for freedom? Uncover all this and more in Corpse Talk, the chat show that brings the dead famous to life! --Publisher Fashion Rebels: Style Icons Who Changed the World Through Fashion By Carlyn Beccia Beyond Words, 2016. Informational. 176 pages.  Throughout history, daring women have wielded power and brought about change through their bold fashion choices. Fashion Rebels is a collection of lively, illustrated biographies of twenty-five of these influential fashion icones from the distant past to today. Discover how these rebels' fashion choices both mirrored and redefined what it meant to be a woman in their era. From Cleopatra and Coco Chanel, whose fo

 Toddler Time This Little Kitty By Karen Obuhanych New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. Picture Book.  This picture book catches rascally kittens being their adorable (and mischievous!) selves from morning to nap to night. --Publisher Preschool Time  Sealed With a Kiss Written by Beth Ferry Illustrated by Olivier Tallec New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2019. Picture Book.  What's a seal to do when she's new to the zoo Make new friends, of course! But when the other animals aren't so friendly, a wise sparrow inspires them to surprise Seal with a special treat. Full of heart and humor from bestselling author Beth Ferry and illustrator Olivier Tallec, this story of friendship and forgiveness will have little ones giggling along. --Editor Preschool Time Theo's Princess Written by Ellen DeLange Illustrated by Monty Lee New York: Clavis Publishing Inc., 2021. Monty the frog wants to turn into a prince. He searches for a beautiful princess whose kiss will