Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Once for Yes By Allie Millington New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2025. Fiction. 264 pages. Nearly a year after the death of her older sister Lina, Prue Laroe is dreading turning 12. Turning 12 means that she will be the same age as Lina when she died, and Prue doesn't want that to happen. But even more changes are coming for Prue -- her family's apartment building, the Odenburgh, has been sold and is set for demolition -- meaning Prue will have to leave the places she feels closest to Lina. When the Odenburgh flashes its lights at her, Prue takes it as a sign from Lina that she needs to rally the other residents to save the Odenburgh. In her quest to save her home, Prue befriends Lewis, the lanky boy from the building across the street, not quite understanding why Lewis is drawn to the same goal as her. Demolition day nears and Prue's whole family needs to come to terms with their grief before it is too late. There have been a string of middle grade novels dealing with gentri...

We’re All Gonna Die-nosaur! By Kon Tan  New York: Disney Hyperion, 2025. Intermediate. 157 pages.  Pterry (the “p” is silent) pterodactyl is a worry wart. Pterry is worried about flying (he doesn’t how to fly yet), dinosaurs going extinct (he had a scary dream), and how to protect his family (he has a little brother who hasn’t fully hatched from an egg yet). Even though there is a lot of feels for Pterry, this is actually quite a funny book. Pterry tries to learn how to fly with kites as his “training wheels” and his brother who is inside an egg is quite the adventurer.  This is a funny, heart-felt comic-like intermediate fiction book that will be great for many readers. If kids love dinosaurs, this book is for them. If kids like funny graphic novels, this book is for them. If kids want to read something about facing fears and doing things even though they don’t always want to, this book is for them. Plus, even though Pterry does a lot of things on his own, he still has s...

 There are so many books that have been published this past year about rocks. Here are five great picture books to read if you (like my family) like rocks. Happy reading!  All the Rocks We Love  Written by Lisa Varchol Perron and Taylor Perron  Illustrated by David Scheirer  New York: Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Any rock-hounders will love reading this book. It is all about the various types of rocks that can be found (and what you can do with them: stack them, gather them, etc.) Each spread shows a different kind of rock, and then shows where you might find that type of rock out in nature. Young rock collectors will enjoy seeing the various type of rocks and how they are important to so many people.  Rock  Written by Laurel Croza  Illustrated by Matt James  Toronto: Berkeley: Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, 2025. Picture Book.  In this story a somewhat mean seagull keeps ...

  Almost Sunset By Wahab Algarmi New York: HarperAlley, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2025. Comics. 215 pages. Hassan is trying to juggle school, after school soccer, a social life, and family obligations...all while fasting. This isn't Hassan's first time fasting for Ramadan, he's participated for the last three years, but this year Ramadan falls during the middle of soccer playoffs and he's struggling to keep up. When his midfielder position is in jeopardy of being challenged by his friend, Rosie, and Rosie replaces Hassan in his after school gaming group while he's at masjid, he gets jealous and lashes out. As Ramadan proceeds, Hassan learns how to own up to his mistakes and persevere to gain more control over his life—and his hunger. Algarmi has written a moving story about Hassan, who is trying his best to be a good person. Hassan cares a lot about his friends, his family, and his religion. Algarmi's often wordless illustrations emotively show ho...

  Cuentos La mariquita malhumorada Por Eric Carle New York, NY : Harper Arco Iris, 1996. Libro ilustrado. "Una mariquita malhumorada busca peleas con cualquiera que encuentra en su camino, no importándole el tamaño o la fuerza de su oponente." --Editor Cuentitos Alma de pies a cabeza Por Juana Martinez-Neal Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2023. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "La adorada estrella de Alma y cómo obtuvo su nombre ahora aprece en una divertida serie de libros de cartón bilingües, con palabras sencillas y frases simples en inglés y español -- ideal para compartir con niños que están aprendiendo ambos idiomas." --Editor

  Stories in the Park Oh, Olive! By Lian Cho New York: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Picture Book. Presenting Olive Chen! The most magnificent and brilliant artist in the whole wide world! Her parents are also artists--serious artists--who paint prim, proper, perfect shapes. They know Olive has the talent to follow in their footsteps. But Olive likes to smear, splatter, splash, and even lick. With a brush in each hand, Olive cascades through town with her friends in tow, painting what she wants to, what she feels--until she reaches her parents' pristine art museum... --Publisher Stories in the Park I Feel Teal Written by Lauren Rille Illustrated by Aimee Sicuro New York: Beach Lane Books, 2018. Picture Book. Encourages the reader to enjoy all of the colors, representing feelings, that may be experienced in the course of a day. --Editor Canopy Capers Have You Ever Seen a Flower? By Shawn Harris San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2021. Picture Book....

  Smoke & Mirrors By Rosalyn Ransaw New York: Amulet Books, 2025. Fiction. 274 pages. Andy is not happy to be forced to live with his aunt while his father is in prison. But he's even more unhappy that he has to spend his summer repairing his neighbor (Mr. Gilbert's) house after he is blamed for setting fire to the roof of Mr. Gilbert's barn. The good news is while listening to Mr. Gilbert's stories about the magician who used to own the house, Andy arranges an alternative deal. If he can figure out who really killed the man who the magician was accused of murdering, he doesn't have to help at the house anymore. The who-done-it story leads him through town, questioning what really happened in 1954. While the cover may scream horror novel, this book is actually only slightly spooky. Give this one to kids who want contemporary realistic fiction that talks in deep ways about prejudice and grief, or for fans of a solid mystery. 

In the modern classic, The Day the Crayons Quit , we are introduced to Duncan's Crayons. Each Crayon has a grievance to bring to Duncan's attention in the form of a written letter. From being used too much,  to having exclusive rights over the color of the sun, these are grave complaints! Serious to the Crayons, but humorous to the reader, this book has become beloved by many.  So... Crayons (and Duncan,) listen up! Here are a few books that might give you some new ideas on conflict resolution, as well as some other creative outlets to bring to Duncan's attention. Still Life Written by Alex London Illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky New York: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2024. Picture Book.  Crayons, you'll recognize that these illustrated characters are also having a rough time of it. There is a poor dragon who needs rescuing, but this is supposed to be a still life painting... where nothing moves...  ever!  They aren't even supposed t...

I love picture books and short informational books so much! I always appreciate when a beautiful story can be told in a very succinct manner. I enjoy recommending picture books and shorter informational books to anyone and everyone. Even if it's a topic a person doesn't think they are interested in, it's easy to say, "Oh, here, read this. It's just a quick read!" Sometimes people learn they are more interested in a topic than they realized. A topic almost everyone loves is animals. Recently, I have read an abundance of animal stories. Here are five of  my favorites, and I hope you enjoy them as well. Springtime Storks Written by Carol Joy Munro Illustrated by Chelsea O'Byrne Westminster, MD: Minerva, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture Book. This story is one of my favorite picture books I have read this year, and it completely drew me in. It is told from the perspective of a female stork, Katerina, who is shot down while flying. A k...

What You Never Knew About BTS By Martha E. H. Rustad North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2023. Informational. "South Korean boyband BTS has taken the music world by storm with their catchy lyrics, smooth style, and killer dance moves. But what happens when they're not singing and dancing? High-interest details and bold photos of this musical supergroup will enthrall reluctant and struggling readers, while carefully leveled text will leave them feeling confident."--Publisher Make a Move, Sunny Park! By Jessica Kim New York: Kokila, 2023. Fiction. 338 pgs. "This is the story of Sunny Park, a seventh-grade student at Ranchito Mesa Middle who loves the K-pop band Supreme Beat, hanging out with her cool grandma, dancing when no one is watching, snacking on shrimp chips, and being there for Bailey, her best friend since third grade. When Bailey decides that she and Sunny should audition for the school dance team in a ploy to parent-trap Bailey's divorced mom and dad, Su...

  Cuentos Quizás algo hermoso Escrito por F. Isabel Campoy y Theresa Howell Ilustrado por Rafael López Boston ; New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2018. Libro ilustrado. "Viendo lo que Mira y sus vecinos descubren, ¡más de lo que nunca pudo imaginarse! Basado en una historia real, "Quizás algo hermoso" nos revela cómo el arte puede inspirar la transformación -- y cómo incluso la más pequeña artista puede llegar a conseguir algo grande. ¡Toma un pincel y únete a la celebración!" --Editor Cuentitos ¿Dónde estás, Cerdito? Por Margarita Del Mazo y Laure du Fay Madrid, Spain: NubeOcho, 2021. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "¿Alguien ve un cerdito por aquí? ¡Shhh! Creo que está en el árbol ..." --Editor

  Stories in the Park I Worked Hard on That! Written by Robyn Wall Illustrated by A.N. Kang New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture Book. An art-loving spider learns about the joys and challenges of creativity. --Publisher Stories in the Park Beautiful Hands Written by Kathryn Otoshi Illustrated by Bret Baumgarten Novato, CA: Blue Dot Press, 2015. Picture Book. Little hands can do so many wonderful things: plant ideas; lift spirits; stretch imaginations. This colorful concept book rouses children to use their hands for the good and reach for their dreams. --Publisher Canopy Capers A Little Like Magic By Sarah Kurpiel New York: Rocky Pond Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book.  Our young narrator doesn't like itchy hats or cold wind, and she especially doesn't like going places she's never been before. But she reluctantly agrees to join her mom at an ice festival, where they watch sculptors chisel and drill until it...

There are few things in this world that compare to fresh fruits and vegetables from your very own garden. The sweetness of corn and peas are second to none, and apples from the backyard orchard take crisp and juicy to a whole new level. Whether your family has been gardening for years or is just starting out, here are a few books that will help young readers cultivate an interest in where their food comes from and develop a stronger connection with the earth. My First Outdoor Garden By Philippe Asseray New York: Sky Pony Press, 2022. Informational. 63 pages. This is a great resource for first time gardeners. It includes step by step instructions for making a simple box garden with a trellis. There are pages that discuss soil, seeds, watering, cuttings, and other topics necessary to set you up for success. I found the calendar at the end of the book particularly helpful. It shows which month of the year to plant specific vegetables and flowers.  We Garden Together! By Jane Hirschi N...

It's Jeff: Jeff-Verse By Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru New York: Marvel Worldwide, Inc., 2025. Comics. Told through mostly wordless vignettes, this Marvel comic collection follows Jeff the Land Shark—yes, a tiny shark with legs—on his bite-sized adventures in the every day world. From sneaky snack heists to impromptu team-ups with iconic heroes like Spiderman and Captain America, Jeff’s antics are adorably chaotic as he gets into various scrapes and adventures with his friends.  The playful visual storytelling portrays Jeff's escapades in a gentle, humorous way--even when villains do appear to challenge the hero. Readers will be just as enchanted by Jeff as he is by the world around him. Its sweet tone and whimsical pacing make it a standout among superhero titles, offering a quiet celebration of friendship, fun, and the joy of small moments. An absolutely charming entry point for young readers into the world of superhero comics or returning fans.

Maybe it's because I grew up in Utah -- land of summer Rodeos and Pioneer Day -- but July is a time where I always think a lot about pioneers, homesteaders, cowboys, and westward expansion. Growing up, I loved hearing pioneer stories but as I've grown older, I've wondered about how different groups of people experienced this time period. This list of western and frontier stories have a different perspective than most books I grew up with -- and are all super entertaining reads. One Big Open Sky By Lesa Cline-Ransome New York: Holiday House, 2024. Fiction. 296 pages. In 1879, Lettie Grier's father decides that their family will travel by covered wagon from Natchez, Mississippi to Nebraska to homestead and seek opportunities not offered to Black people in their home. Lettie's mother Sylvia is reluctant to leave, but her father is determined. When the Black families are left behind by steamships taking wagons up the Mississippi river, they band together to form a trave...

  Dive!: The Story of Breathing Underwater By Chris Gall New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2024. Informational.  How do you breathe underwater?  Well, it depends on what year you were attempting it! Follow the history of the tools people have created throughout time to delve into the depths of the ocean and discover its secrets.  If you aren't scared of underwater exploration, you might be after this book!  Some of the early methods people used to breathe underwater were terrifyingly dangerous--I truly couldn't believe the bravery/fooldhardiness of some of the creators and testers of these underwater tools.  Sure to be a hit with STEM adventurers!

En Guard! I'm a big fan of fantasy, which means that I tend to admire characters who can wield a sword. However, lunges, parries, and ripostes are not just for medieval combat, they're also terms used in modern fencing. Fencing can be a fun sport to increase your dexterity and precision, and it's pretty fun to watch. If you also think fencing is interesting, here's four books highlighting this cool sport. It's All or Nothing, Vale By Andrea Beatriz Arango New York: Random House Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 252 pages. Vale loves fencing, but after a car accident leaves her injured, she has to heal from her injuries while getting back in shape to fence competatively. However, her determination to return to her former capabilities leaves her in pain and frustrated with her friends. A newcomer to the team who performs better than Vale also adds tension, especially as Vale finds herself with a bit of a crush on this teammate. This novel in verse explores Vale com...