Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Preschool Time Somebody Needs to Do Something About That Monster! By Doug Cenko Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishing Company Inc., 2024. Picture Book. Merv, a kind-hearted monster, is labeled a nuisance by the villagers, leading him on a comical journey to seek help from various magical beings who all have unexpected demands that Merv may not be able to meet. --Editor Preschool Time The Best Mother Written by C.M. Surrisi Illustrated by Diane Goode New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2018. Picture Book. After interviewing mothers at the park, the toy store, and the zoo, Maxine decides that her own mother is worth keeping. --Editor Toddler Time Morris and the Magic of Stories Written by Didier Lévy Illustrated by Lorenzo Sangió London: Thames and Hudson, 2023. Picture Book. Morris the cat knows that no one can resist a good story, not even a mouse. Tired of chasing mice all day long, he comes up with a clever planto make the mice come to him. All he needs is the perfe...

  A City Full of Santas  By Joanna Ho  New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2025. Picture Book.  In this holiday picture book, a little girl is trying desperately to meet Santa Claus. She often will stay up late on Christmas Eve, only to fall asleep. This year, her Mama takes her on a journey to the city to see Santa and make her dreams come true. But there are so many Santas around! The girl knows that the real Santa “smells like peppermint and laughs like the sun clapping its hands.” When they don’t find Santa in the city, the girl goes home and is even more determined to stay awake.  This is a charming story about one girl’s determination. Also, in the illustrations there is a fun clue for grown ups, that showcases just how special the girl’s Mama is. A charming tale to read this upcoming holiday season.

Hello world! I know you have been anticipating the release of this list all year... my favorite easy readers! Whether they're funny or sweet, these titles are all great for kids taking their first steps for reading. So without further ado...here are my five favorite easy readers of 2024. Lone Wolf Goes to School Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2024. Easy Reader.  Lone wolf would spend all of his time alone if he could. Unfortunately, he has to go to school with the "snotty" kids, and even when he leaves school there's people at the beach, on the mountains, and at the movie theater. What's a wolf to do? Invite them all to a party at his house and then leave so that all the places he wants to be are empty, of course! If you're looking for a moralistic read-aloud that will teach the virtues of making friends so that you aren't lonely, you should definitely look elsewhere. However, if you're loo...

  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

 National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated in November. During the month I like to read and learn more about the history, culture, achievements, and stories of Indigenous people who live in the United States. Here is a list of new Native Voices fiction from this year and last year that I really enjoyed. I Am Osage: How Clarence Tinker Became the First Native American Major General Written by Kim Rogers Illustrated by Bobby Von Martin New York: Heartdrum, 2024. Informational.  This biography, about Clarence Tinker first Native American Major General from World War II, is a history of an extraordinary warrior. Since 1942 he has been celebrated by the Osage people in song and in stories, where he is remembered for being a great warrior. Despite his upbringing and the injustices that Clarence suffered during his lifetime he never forgot his Osage heritage. In the book the repeated phrase "I am Osage" is like a drum beat reminding readers that his Osage heritage was a ...

  A Place Called America By Jennifer Thermes New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2023. Informational. Focusing on the history of the United States of America, Jennifer Thermes tells the story of how humans have always moved to find food, water, and shelter—just like all living creatures do. The make up of the people of the United States only came to be because of different migrations to a land that was already inhabited. Thermes shows how conflict and tragedy allowed different people to change the landscape and boarders of the United States to become the land it is now. I think the maps in this book are beautiful. They're so intricate and I love to look for every detail. Thermes does an excellent job showing how the boarders of the country changed through several wars, annexations, and treaties. I also love how she handles the parts of the United States' history that can be hard to talk about. She acknowledges the hardships people have gone through without focusing on who...

Ramen for Everyone Written by Patricia Tanumihardja Illustrated by Shiho Pate New York: Antheum Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. A young boy aspires to make a bowl of ramen as delicious as his dad's, and runs into some surprises -- both delightful and disastrous -- on his first attempt. --Publisher Thukpa for All Written by Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt Illustrated by Shilpa Ranade Chennai, India: Karadi Tales Company, 2018. Picture Book. Tsering can't wait to taste his grandmother's delicious noodle soup. He invites a string of friends and neighbors home. But as preparations get underway, there is a power cut and the house is plunged into darkness. Will Abi be able to put together the much-anticipated thukpa? Told from a blind child's perspective, this tale by Praba Ram and Sheela Preuitt is accompanied by Shilpa Ranade's stunning illustrations. --Publisher Noodle Magic Written by Roseanne Thong Illustrated by Meilo So New York: Orchard Books, 2014. Pict...

  Preschool Time When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree Written by Jamie L. B. Deenihan Illustrated by Lorraine Rocha New York: Sterling Children's Books, 2019. Picture Book. When Grandma gives you a lemon tree, definitely don't make a face! Care for the tree, and you might be surprised at how new things, and new ideas, bloom. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. In this imaginative take on that popular saying, a child is surprised (and disappointed) to receive a lemon tree from Grandma for her birthday. After all, she DID ask for a new gadget! But when she follows the narrator's careful--and funny--instructions, she discovers that the tree might be exactly what she wanted after all. This clever story, complete with a recipe for lemonade, celebrates the pleasures of patience, hard work, nature, community... and putting down the electronic devices just for a while. --Editor Preschool Time Little Leo Written by Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz Illustrated by Hedvig Häggman-Sun...

The Fabulous Fannie Farmer Written by Emma Bland Smith Illustrated by Susan Reagan New York: Calkins Creek, 2024. Biography As a young woman, Fannie loved to cook, but she had no plans of making it her career. However, after a debilitating bout of polio left her with a limp and prevented her from attending college, Fannie enrolled in the Boston Cooking School where her serious, scientific approach to cooking helped her excel. After assuming the mantle of school principle, Fannie further spread her studies on chemistry in the kitchen by publishing her cookbook that helped popularize the use of the standardized measures and detailed instructions we rely on today. This biography introduces a little-known individual and her industry-changing efforts that have shaped all of our lives. Fannie's work in developing her famous cookbook and promoting standard units of measure changed the industry and made home cooking more accessible to everyone. Delightful watercolor illustrations bring her...

The First State of Being By Erin Entrada Kelly New York: Greenwillow Books, 2024. Fiction. 253 pages. In 1999, 12-year-old Michael Rosario is preparing for Y2K. No, like, he's really preparing for Y2K. His single mother works hard, but their family struggles financially and Michael has been secretly, less-than-legally, collecting a stockpile of supplies in case the world ends when the clock turns to January 1, 2000. Then one day, Michael comes across a strange new kid named Ridge. Ridge dresses oddly and speaks in weird expressions, because he is from the future. At first, Michael is excited to ask Ridge the answer to all of the questions that make him anxious -- but Ridge refuses. It quickly becomes apparent that the longer Ridge spends in 1999 the more urgent it is to help him find a way home. It is up to Michael and his 15-year-old babysitter (and crush) Gibby to get Ridge back. Time travel novels are always a lot of fun for young readers, and this one offers an especially appea...

This Is Not My Lunch Box! Written by Jennifer Dupuis Illustrated by Carol Schwartz Ann Arbor, MI: Tilbury House Publishers, 2024. Informational. A child opens a lunch box in search of their lunch, but instead discovers lunch after lunch that belongs to a different animal!  Insects and spiders, wiggly worms and tangy truffles, meaty moths and fuzzy flies--these aren't foods for a child!  Will the child ever find their tasty lunch?   I had a great time reading this quick informational picture book.  The child's dismay at each new wrong lunch was fun and the lunches, although sometimes pretty gross, were informative. Dupuis doesn't shy away from the fact that some of the animals eat other animals (some of them really cute animals!,) so be prepared for extreme animal lovers to potentially have a hard time with the reality of their favorite animals' diets.  Bright, colorful illustrations round out this delightful book.  

Earlier this year I read a novel that had elephants predominantly featured throughout. It was very interesting to see how elephant communities are very intertwined, and the way the elephants interacted with people, as well as other elephants. The novel sparked an interest in me to learn more about elephants. When I want to learn about a specific topic, I enjoy reading informational books, and adding in some picture books for humor and balance.  Here are five books that I read while trying to broaden my horizons and learn more about elephants.  The Elephants Come Home Written by Kim Tomsic  Illustrated by Hadley Hooper  San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2021. Informational. This book contains beautiful illustrations and an amazing true story. Lawrence and Francoise are animal lovers who live at Thula Thula, in Africa. No hunting is allowed there, and Lawrence does his best to take care of all the creatures who inhabit the space. One day Lawrence learns that there are so...

  Just One Flake By Travis Jonker New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. Determined to catch a perfect snowflake, Liam sticks out his tongue and tries a number of tricks, all to no avail, but after giving it one last shot, he grabs one in an unexpected way. --Editor When Snow Falls Written by Linda Booth Sweeney Illustrated by Jana Christy New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2017. Picture Book. A snowy day includes a journey with Grandma from home in the country to her house in town, sledding, snow angels, and cozy cuddling with Grandpa by the fire. --Publisher The Sea in Winter By Christine Day New York: Heartdrum, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Fiction. 250 pages. After an injury sidelines her dreams of becoming a ballet star, Maisie is not excited for her blended family's midwinter road trip along the coast, near the Makah community where her mother grew up. --Editor First Snow Written by Bernette Ford Illustrated by Sebastien Braun New York: H...

Preschool Time The Scariest Kitten in the World Written by Kate Messner Illustrated by Mackenzie Haley New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. Picture Book. This laugh-out-loud picture book takes readers to a just-PURR-fect haunted house where they'll meet a not-so-scary kitten and a collection of the cutest little critters anyone has ever seen. --Publisher Preschool Time The Koala Who Could Written by Rachel Bright Illustrated by Jim Field New York: Scholastic Press, 2017. Picture Book. Kevin is a koala who clings to his tree, and never comes down to play with the other animals--until one day his tree falls down, and Kevin learns that the ground is not as scary as he believed. --Editor Toddler Time The Cook and the King Written by Julia Donaldson Illustrated by David Roberts New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2019. Picture Book.  A hungry but finicky king wants Wobbly Bob as his new cook, but must pitch in to do everything the cook is afraid to do, from fishing to frying. --E...

For a long time, humans have dreamed about living on planet neighbor, Mars. There are so many books and movies about colonies on the dusty red planet that spark our hope and imagination for a life on another world. Here are some picture books that will make you feel like you know what it's like on Mars. Good Night, Oppy! Written by James McGowan Illustrated by Graham Carter New York: Boyds Mills Press, 2021. Picture Book. This book follows Oppy, who was an active rover on Mars from 2004 to 2018. He had many different tasks and made some famous discoveries including the existence of groundwater on the red planet. This book is a fun yet informative picture book that will teach all readers about life on Mars. Rover Throws a Party Written by Kristin L. Gray Illustrated by Scott Magoon New York: Alfred A Knopf, 2020. Picture Book. The Curiosity rover is a bit lonely after a year on Mars, so it decides to throw a party! The rover works hard to prepare for the party and send invitations a...

  Life After Whale Written by Lynn Brunelle Illustrated by Jason Chin New York: Holiday House, 2024. Informational.  Have you ever wondered what happens after a whale dies? In this beautiful book, you'll discover what happens for years after a whale's death. The book begins by introducing the blue whale and talking a little about its life. It moves quickly on to a whale's death, where his body first falls to the very bottom of the ocean floor. You'll meet the scavengers, first big then smaller as the years progress that eat the whale's decomposing body until finally it is used as a food source for krill which are then eaten by blue whales.  In addition to being an excellent resource to discussing the animal circle of life, this book is a work of art. Jason Chin's watercolor and gauche illustrations will have readers dissecting every detail and flipping through for a further look. Kids who love animal facts will be absolutely enthralled by this tale.