Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  The Day You Begin Written by Jacqueline Woodson Illustrated by Rafael López  New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2018. Picture Book. Other students laugh when Rigoberto, an immigrant from Venezuela, introduces himself but later, he meets Angelina and discovers that he is not the only one who feels like an outsider. --Editor Book Fiesta Written by Pat Mora Illustrated by Rafael López  New York: Rayo, 2009. Picture Book. Children read aloud in various settings to celebrate of El Día de los niños, or Children's Day, in this bilingual story. Includes facts about Mexico's annual celebration of children (April 30) and the book fiestas that are often included. --Editor Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music Written by Margarita Engle Illustrated by Rafael López Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015. Biography. Follows a girl in the 1920s as she strives to become a drummer, despite being continually reminded that only boys play the drums, and that there ha...

  Cuentos La increíblemente alucinante historia de Marcial, el niño normal Escrito por José Fragoso Madrid : Narval, enero de 2017. Libro ilustrado. "¿Piensas que eres normal? Piénsalo otra vez" --Tapa Cuentitos Colores Ilustrado por J.T. Morrow New York : Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. "Guisantes verdes, zanahorias anaranjadas, uvas moradas, la comida de Llama Llama está llena de color, ¡y mucho amor!" --Editor

Stories in the Park Paint With Ploof By Ben Clanton and Andy Chou Musser Toronto: Tundra Books, 2024. Picture Book. Have you met Ploof? The friendly cloud full of feelings returns in an all new interactive picture book for fans of Herv̌ Tullet's Mix It Up! Ploof is a puffy cloud who's ready for their big moment -- their first rainbow! But how? With your help, of course! Can you help Ploof gather enough colors to make their rainbow? How about keeping them steady while they paint? Cheer Ploof on through the ups and downs of trying something new, follow along with some calming breathing exercises and find a new perspective! --Publisher Stories in the Park Jeffrey Loves Blue Written by Loretta Garbutt Illustrated by Lily Snowden-Fine Berkeley, CA; Toronto: Owlkids Books, 2023. Picture Book. Jeffrey is very attached to the colour blue. He wears blue socks, blue underwear, a blue hat, and -- of course! -- blue jeans. At painting class, he paints only in blue. But when his classmate, ...

In 1872, Congress established Yellowstone as the first national park in the United States. A little while later, in 1917, the National Park Service was created to maintain public lands and protect them for future generations. Now, there are 63 national parks in 30 states! Do you know how many of them are in Utah? Five! Their names are Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and Zion. Here are five books to inspire you to get out into nature this summer and maybe find your way to a national park this year for a truly spectacular time. The National Parks Scavenger Hunt  By Stacey Tornio Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2023. Informational. 235 pages. Who doesn't love a good scavenger hunt? Well, Stacey Tornio has made the national park trip even more engaging by creating a scavenger hunt for each of the 63 parks! On my trip to Bryce Canyon last week, I got 2 points for spotting a Uinta chipmunk, 2 points for visiting Bryce Amphitheater, and 1 point for getting up close to a Hoodo...

Who Knew: The Wonders of Biomimicry By Kathleen E. Madden Ann Arbor, MI: Tilbury House Publishers, 2024. Informational.  If you've ever driven in a car at night, used a cell phone, or worn velcro shoes, you've benefited from biomimicry! Biomimicry is innovation based on observing nature. This short but informative book includes a host of products that were designed by scientists and inventors who studied plants and animals with unique properties and used those discoveries to help solve human problems.  I really enjoyed this book! My bread and butter in informational text is short, informative, and entertaining. Bonus points if it makes me want to learn more about the topic. This book checked all my boxes! This would be great to introduce biomimicry to a classroom or a nice choice to hand to kids this summer to keep the brain juices flowing without requiring too much of their time or brain power. Sure to inspire the next generation of scientists to examine the world around them...

I am very excited about the summer reading theme here at the library: Color Our World. From the first moment I heard what the theme was going to be, it has been on my mind, and I noticed I was seeing bright and vibrant colors in so many picture books. Here are a few colorful books that inspired me! I hope you enjoy reading all summer long. How Do You Eat Color? Written by Mabi David Illustrated by Yas Doctor Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. If you want a book full of vibrant colors, this one will definitely meet your expectations. Bold and eye-catching, the illustrations are a reminder that color is all around us, including in delicious foods that we eat. Even the endpapers are a deep and stunning shade that made me think of summer! I appreciated the tips the author included for why eating a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables is important for all of us. Inventions to Count On Written by Dana Marie Miroballi Illustrated by Sawyer Cloud New Y...

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion & The Fall of Imperial Russia By Candace Fleming New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2014. Young Adult Nonfiction. 292 pages.  Traces the story of the Russian Revolution, the lives of the Romanov family, and the story of their tragic deaths, in an account that draws on primary source materials and includes period photography. -- Editor The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh By Candace Fleming New York: Schwartz & Wade Books, 2020. Young Adult Biography. 372 pages.  A riveting biography of one of America's most celebrated heroes, and most complicated, troubled men, Charles Lindbergh. -- Publisher. Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown By Candace Fleming New York: Anne Schwartz Books, 2025. Young Adult Nonfiction. 356 pages. A chronicle of one of American history’s most notorious cults, a book including first-person accounts follows Jim Jones from humble origins to “Jonestown” in Guyana, South Americ...

  Cuentos Hilo sin fin Escrito por Mac Barnett Ilustrado por Jon Klassen Barcelona : Editorial Juventud, 2013. Libro ilustrado. "Anabel encuentra una caja mágica con un hilo de lana sin fin, y con sus colores transformará su pueblo gris y triste." --Tapa Cuentitos El verano Por Carme Solé Vendrell y Josep MoParramón Woodbury, N.Y. : Barron's, 1986. Fácil. "Text and illustrations present such signs of summer as people traveling, going to the beach, heat, and thirst." --Editor

  Stories in the Park  Colors for Zena By Monica Wellington New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2013. Pcture Book.  A young girl learns how a rainbow of colors can be made from just three primary colors. --Editor Stories in the Park Mouse Paint By Ellen Stoll Walsh San Diego: Harcourt Brace, 1989. Picture Book. Three white mice discover jars of red, blue, and yellow paint and explore the world of color. --Editor Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time Grandma in Blue With Red Hat Written by Scott Menchin Illustrated by Harry Bliss New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2015. Picture Book. After his teacher says that anything can be in an art exhibition, and his fellow students give myriad reasons why something might belong in a museum, a child offers his special grandmother as an exhibit but when the curator cites a rule against accepting grandmas, the child has a better idea. --Editor Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time Rudy and Claude Splash Into Art By Adam McHeffey...

  Fireworks Written by Matthew Burgess Illustrated by Cátia Chien New York: Clarion Books, 2025. Picture Book. In this beautiful picture book, kids spend the perfect summer day in the city. They dance in the water of a fire hydrant, walk through the park to the bodega, eat watermelon, listen to music, and finally, watch a fireworks show. Onomatopoeia words throughout make this a great choice for younger kids, while older kids will still love the holiday spirit. The illustrations are really what set this book apart from other summer stories. Bright colors bring the joy of summer and the titular fireworks display is STUNNING! Be prepared to hear about this book in the lead up to the Caldecott Awards this year, or check it out now to read with your kids to celebrate the Independence Day holiday coming up.

 Summer is the perfect time to spend hot days near a cool body of water! This often brings to mind all the magnificent creatures that inhabit the world's oceans --especially whales. Readers have been lucky enough to experience some truly excellent books that have been published recently on the topic of these beloved animals. So, please check out these books for your budding marine biologist or any lover of whales! In the World of Whales Written by Michelle Cusolito Illustrated by Jessica Lanan Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Informational. This is the true story of the only known encounter of humans present at the birth of a sperm whale. A touching first look at the tender moments experienced between the freediver, Fred Buyle, his diving partner, Kurt Amsler, and pod of whales. See the back matter for more information on freediving and sperm whales.  We Leap Together By Christopher Silas Neal New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. Picture Book. Follow the remarkably similar ...

  Benny on the Case By Wesley King New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 278 pages. Eleven-year-old Benny is not like other kids his age. He lives in Newfoundland in a retirement home with his mother, his best friend is a resident there named Mr. Tom, and he was born with Mosaic Down syndrome. Because Benny has Down syndrome he was placed in a special education classroom when he started school. But even though Benny looks different his Down syndrome is entirely asymptomatic, which means he has no health, speech or cognitive disabilities. Once the teachers recognized his good grades they decided to move him to a regular classroom. Benny is both excited and scared his first day of school in a regular classroom.  As he walks up to the school the first day he meets a girl named Salma who is new to the school and to Newfoundland. The two hit it off and become friends right away. Benny is excited to have a new friend at school, but things aren't look...

  The One and Only Ivan  tells the story of a silverback gorilla, who lives in the Big Top Mall, a circus themed mall that hosts live animals as attractions. Ivan, the titular gorilla, is overall content with his life until a new resident arrives, a baby elephant named Ruby. Ivan must use his voice —well, his art—to protest how he and his friends are being treated. This book has won the hearts of countless kids and even been made into a movie. If you or your child loves animal stories like The One and Only Ivan , they'll surely like these other animal reads. The Eyes & the Impossible By Dave Eggers New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. Fiction. 249 pages. Johannes takes his responsibility as "The Eyes" seriously. It was a responsibility given to him by "The Keepers of the Equilibrium," three captive bison elders, to report anything that happens in their vast park that might disrupt the balance between the animals and visiting humans. After discovering humans erec...

  Cuentos La nube Por Hannah Cumming Barcelona : Thule Ediciones, S.L., 2013. Libro ilustrado. "A todo el mundo le encanta la clase de dibujo. A todo el mundo excepto a una tímida niña que se sienta sola y no dibuja nada. Siempre hay una nube sobre su cabeza. Sin embargo, una compañera de clase está decidida a provocarle una sonrisa y así descubren una nueva e imaginativa manera de dibujar con la que todos se lo pasan muy bien. Un álbum de extraordinaria inventiva visual, de llamativos colores y emocionalmente sutil e inteligente que estimula el juego cooperativo entre los niños." --Editor Cuentitos Buenas noches, luna Por Margaret Wise Brown Ilustrado por Clement Hurd New York, NY : Rayo, HarperFestival/HarperCollinsPublishers, 2002. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Este cuento clásico para la hora de acostarse, que ha arrullado a generaciones de niños, es el libro perfecto para compartir con los pequeños."--Provided by publisher.

  Stories in the Park Randy, the Beautiful Horse By T.L. McBeth New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2020. Picture Book.  Randy knows he's a beautiful horse--everyone says so. But is he? --Editor  Stories in the Park Nola's Scribbles Save the Day By Cristina Lalli Salem, MA: Page Street Kids, 2020. Picture Book. Nola loves to draw wherever she goes. No one understands her magical markings, so she tries to "fix" her art. When she draws a blank and falls right into the black page, she finds other creators who are stuck too. Can they create a way out together? --Editor Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time The Magical Yet Written by Angela DiTerlizzi Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez  New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2020. Picture Book. New things can be tricky, but never you fret--it's time to make friends with the Magical Yet! --Publisher Canopy Capers and Summer Story Time Nerdycorn Written by Andrew Root Illustrated by Erin Kraan New York: Beach Lane Books, 2021. Picture ...