Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  The Wishkeeper’s Apprentice   Written by Rachel Chivers Khoo  Illustrated by Rachel Sanson  Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2024. Fiction. 219 pages.  Felix wishes that his 16-year-old sister wouldn’t be so standoffish to him. They used to be really close, and now she always has other things to do and couldn’t be bothered by her 10-year-old brother. So, when Felix wishes on a penny and throws it into a wishing fountain, he doesn’t really expect much. But, he especially doesn’t expect to be met by an old man who is a stranger and happens to be a wishkeeper. And Felix  doesn’t expect to have to become his apprentice in order to save his town and himself from what happens when wishes start to disappear.  This is an engaging fantasy novel where fantasy and wishes and right and wrong all get mixed together and Felix has to sort them all out. Kids who enjoy thinking through reality and wishful thinking with a dash of fantasy will gravitate to Felix’s sto...

  A First Time for Everything By Dan Santat New York: First Second, 2023. Comics. 308 pages. A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life. Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe. At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him--first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers ... and first love. ...

Preschool Time Little Fox and the Wild Imagination Written by Jorma Taccone Illustrated by Dan Santat  New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2020. Picture Book. Debut author Jorma Taccone, member of the hit comedy trio The Lonely Island, has paired up with New York Times bestselling, Caldecott Medal winning illustrator Dan Santat to create Little Fox and the Wild Imagination, a picture book about time, space, and even giant-robot-squids. This is the story of Little Fox and one VERY BIG imagination. --Editor Preschool Time Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie on the Road By Joel Stewart New York: Holiday House, 2010. Picture Book. Dexter Bexley and the Big Blue Beastie, who have been thrown out of town because of their loud hooting, encounter a princess and a dragon in the deep dark forest. --Editor Toddler Time My Neighbor Is a Dog Written by Isabel Minhós Martins Illustrated by Madalena Matoso Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2013. Picture Book.  When a saxophone-playing dog moves in ...

  Cuentos La yak más pequeña Escrito por Lu Fraser Ilustrado por Kate Hindley Zaragoza: Edelvives, 2021. Libro Ilustrado. "Ser pequeña entre una manada tan grande y fuerte puede ser un verdadero quebradero de cabeza. ¡Aunque te repitan que has de tener paciencia para crecer! Sin embargo, las situaciones más complicadas a veces te guardan una tremenda sorpresa. ¿Quién ha dicho que una yak pequeña no puede convertirse en una gran heroína?" --Editor Cuentitos La Primavera Por Julie Murray Minneapolis, Minnesota : ABDO Kids, 2016. Informativo. "Hay cambios muy grandes en la primavera--desde el clima hasta las actividades que hacemos. Texto sencillo y fotos vibrantes enseñan a lectores jóvenes acerca de la estación y lo divertido que es." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "Y" Brillantes nuevos amigos El yoga de las pequeñas estrellas ¡Día de playa! ¡El Cucuy también tiene miedo! Yetis son lo peor

 To celebrate Major League Baseball's opening day, here are some books to read about the American pastime.  Lucy Tries Baseball Written by Lisa Bowes Illustrated by James Hearne British Columbia: Orca Book Publishers, 2023. Picture Book. Lucy is learning to play catch with her dad when Coach Al invites her to play with his team instead. She learns the basics of baseball, like hitting and fielding, then joins in on the first practice. At first, Lucy is scared that she is going to get hit by a pitch and is afraid to be up to bat. But, eventually Lucy learns to love the game. This book would be a great resource to prepare kids for their first practice and will be relatable to anyone who's tried a new sport. Hoggy at Bat By Ethan Long New York: Holiday House, 2023. Easy Reader. Hoggy knows he will be good at baseball. He doesn't have any basis for that knowledge, but he firmly believes it anyway. So when he gets two strikes during his first at bat, he doesn't know how to re...

  Nat the Cat Has a Hat By Jarrett Lerner New York: Simon Spotlight, 2025. Easy Reader.  Nat and Pat are back... this time with hats! Nat the Cat has a hat, but so does Pat the Rat --a different, and perhaps nicer hat? Nat wants what Pat has! Through an increasing series of comical hat changes, we see Nat struggle with some feelings of jealous over Pat's hats, which culminates in a fit of frustration on Nat's part. Will Nat and Pat come to an agreement, and how can they solve this problem?  In this fourth installment of the Nat the Cat series, young readers will empathize with the common frustration of wanting what somebody else has, but not always being able to resolve those feelings in the best way. While ultimately Nat and Pat come to an agreeable solution, readers will thoroughly enjoy the journey to get there.  Lerner's expressive illustrations perfectly complement the sparse text making it easy for beginners to parse out context, while eliciting fits of giggles...

 Spring is in the air and with it comes the start of baseball season. As the weather warms up I'm ready to get out and watch a baseball game. If you also enjoy watching or playing baseball but can't get to a game a book from this list of baseball stories can be a home run hit. So break out the peanuts and crackerjacks and slide into one of these baseball reads! Inside the Park By Andrea Williams New York: Harper, 2025. Fiction. 214 pgs. Timonthy (Pumpsie) is twelve years-old and a huge baseball fan. His baseball team is doing great this year but he seems to be in a batting slump. His inability to hit may cause him to be benched for the rest of the season and he is desperate to find a way to break his no-hit batting streak. He feels like his luck may be changing when he gets the chance to go to a game and see his favorite player, Carter Langston, play in the playoffs with the Nashville Wildcats! The next day a chain of events are set in motion and Pumpsie finds himself back at t...

  Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo By Philippa Leathley New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025. Fiction. 343 pages. Life hasn't been the same for Metty (short for Meticulous) since she was fated a year ago. Like all other kids, she got a tattoo on her 10th birthday that will tell her destiny, but unlike most kids, Metty's black skull held by a purple glove seems to have destined her to murder someone with magic. She's content in her boring life, hid away from others who would judge her--or whom she could possibly murder--until her father mysteriously goes missing. She has to travel to New London, a flying city run by magic to figure out who took her father and to confront her fate. Metty's world of magical ink is immersive and engaging. Paired with a well-paced plot and a character-driven story, this is not a book that is easy to put down once you've started. I loved how the magic and fantasy set up the world, but the plot came to fruiti...

The Language of Flowers Written by Shyala Smith Illustrated by Aaron Paul Asis United Kingdom: Lantana Publishing Ltd., 2024. Picture Book. Juhi loves helping her Appa sell flowers to the local community. In Appa's flower shop, Juhi knows the language of love--lilies for affection, irises for hugs and kisses. She knows the language of faith--frangipani for full moon days, red hibiscus for the temple. She knows the language of celebration--daffodils for the newborn, peonies for a birthday cake. But when her Appa tells her that her favorite customer has passed away, she does not know the language of grief. While Appa makes a bouquet of lilies and orchids to bring to Mr. Potter's funeral, Juhi decides to make him one final bouquet of her own. Which flowers will she choose to remember a man who was always so full of life? --Publisher The Weedflower Written by Elizabeth Davaze Illustrated by Marianne Ferrer Toronto; Berkeley, CA: Owlkids Books, 2024. Picture Book.  A modern schoolya...

Preschool Time Dragons Are the Worst! By Alex Willan New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. Picture Book. Disgruntled Gilbert the goblin argues that dragons are terrible and not nearly as frightening as he is, but perspectives change when knights arrive to capture a dragon. --Editor Preschool Time My Name Is Wakawakaloch! Written by Chana Stiefel Illustrated by Mary Sullivan Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. Picture Book.  Angry that everyone bungles her name, Neanderthal Wakawakaloch speaks with her parents and Elder Mooch, who remind her that she was named for a brave, heroic ancestor. --Editor Toddler Time Don't Wash Winston By Ashley Belote New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2024. Picture Book. When Liam's favorite teddy bear, Winston, gets muddy and needs to be washed, he plots to save his friend from the terrible fate of the big, loud, scary washing machine. --Editor Book Babies Gossie: A Gosling on the Go! By Olivier Dunrea Boston, MA :...

  Cuentos Mi amigo extraterrestre Por Rocio Bonilla Barcelona, Spain: Beascoa, 2017. Libro ilustrado. "Esta es la historia de un niño normal. No es un niño maleducado ni gamberro, aunque a veces hace cosas que no están bien ... Pero ¿por qué su nuevo amigo se empeña en preguntarle todo? Aquí en la Tierra, las cosas se hacen así ¡y se acabó! Una divertida historia de amistad que nos invita a reflexionar sobre la responsabilidad de nuestros actos y a no permitir que los demás piensen por nosotros. ¡Solo hacen falta empezar por la primera!" --Editor Cuentitos Escrito por Mary Margaret Pérez-Mercado Ilustrado por Richard L. Torrey New York: Children's Press, 2012. Fácil. "Cuando un padre y una hija intentan glasear un pastel juntos, termina habiendo más glaseado en la habitación que en el pastel." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "W" y "X" Wepa Frankenstein se hace un sándwich La tímida Willow Tu extraterrestre

Are you ready for a True or False question? Here it is! True or false: The word information refers to data, facts, knowledge, or messages that are communicated and understood in many ways .   It’s TRUE ! The concept of information is very broad and covers nearly every aspect of our life! It plays many roles in our society too. Information helps us make decisions and solve problems. It enables the sharing of communication and knowledge. It also drives innovation in many fields. T hink ing critically about information is im portant because it impact s how we think and interact with one another . Here are six books that can help readers learn more about the topic of information.   The History of Informatio n   By Chris Haughton   New York: DK Publishing, 2024. Informational. 143 pages.   This is an amazing resource on the evolution of information systems , from early humans to modern digital networks .   H aughton looks at the early methods,...