Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  What Fell From the Sky By Adrianna Cuevas New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2025. Fiction. 291 pages. Pineda is used to feeling different from everyone around him as the only Cuban-American in his small Texas town in the 1950s. So when he encounters a blue-skinned humanoid alien girl that he names Louisa, he knows that he has to help her find her parents and get back home. The big problem? His town has been overrun by soldiers simulating a Communist take over. The soldiers are pretending to be enemy soldiers who overthrow the city government to test how citizens would respond to a hostile takeover. This book has something for everyone, an interesting blend of science fiction with historical fiction. So whether your child would like to hear about Cold War-era tensions or just wants to know how to hide an alien from everyone around them, this book will be loved by all. If you were a fan of last year's Newbery winner The First State of Being,  this book is a natural read-alike....

  The Green Kingdom By Cornelia Funke and Tammi Hartung Illustrated by Melissa Castrillon New York: DK Publishing, 2025. Fiction. 222 pages. Caspia Turkel does NOT want to move to Brooklyn for the summer and leave her two best friends! It's unthinkable! However, when she arrives at the outdated apartment and finds an old hand-painted dresser in her bedroom, her feelings begin to change. Caspia discovers a treasure inside, 10 letters tied with a ribbon, that help her to grow roots in her new place. She forges new friendships and makes connections in her community as she searches for citizens of the Green Kingdom all around her.  This sweet story is all about curiosity and the joy that can come into our life when we are brave enough to follow it. The characters are kind, and support each other throughout. This is a great book for budding gardeners as there is quite a bit of information on different flowers and plants.  

KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...

Here Is a Book By Elisha Cooper New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. Young readers may wonder how the book they're holding ended up in their hands, and this story will tell them just how it happened. We start with an artist who constructs a manuscript in her home before it goes to the printer. The printer makes the book, which then goes to libraries, to schools, and to the home of one child who begins to create her own book. Elisha Cooper has one Caldecott Honor under his belt, and this lovely picture book about books will certainly receive award buzz at the end of this year. The illustrations, somehow both expansive and tight, give readers the opportunity to study and ruminate on the meaning of the expressive text. Readers will especially like spying the covers of classic children's books --driving home the message that all books begin in a similar place.

Almost every situation we encounter in life, there is a certain amount of teamwork involved to help others thrive. Whether we are at work, playing with friends, attending school, or spending time with family at home, we will be faced with situations where it is beneficial to know how to be a good teammate. The following five books are my favorites for talking about teamwork. The Most Magnificent Team By Ashley Spires Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2025. Picture Book. I love Ashley Spires and was very excited for The Most Magnificent Team. It was one of those times I squealed when I saw the book on the shelf! I appreciate her lovely, engaging artwork, the humor packed into learning situations, and the realistic portrayal of young kids.  As our main character is getting ready to go to work on something magnificent, she discovers someone else is already in her usual spot, waiting to build. This new development totally shocks her. She is used to working with her best friend (her pup) but...

Trick or Treat Crankenstein Written by Samantha Berger Illustrated by Dan Santat New York: Little, Brown, 2021. Picture Book. A boy who looks ordinary transforms into grumbling Crankenstein when he receives more tricks than treats on Halloween. --Publisher The Monsters' Monster By Patrick McDonnell New York: Little, Brown, 2012. Picture Book. Grouch, Grump, and little Gloom 'n' Doom spend much of their time arguing over who is the "biggest and baddest" until they build a monster together that turns out to be very different than what they expect. --Publisher Monster Baker Written by Laura Lavoie Illustrated by Vanessa Morales New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2023. Picture Book. Tomorrow is Grandmonster's 247th birthday, and Tillie has a boo-rilliant idea. She's going to bake a birthday cake! But when Uncle Hairy gobbles up Tillie's near-Pierrefect Squirmin' Chocolate Cake, she rushes to bake another. SPLAT! And another. "MY CAKE!" And anothe...

What Happened to the Naked Mole Rat? (Class Pet Ghost Detective #1) By Akeem S. Roberts New York: Kokila, 2025. Comics. 121 pages. It was Carter's weekend to take home Mr. Pebbles, the class naked mole rat, and he couldn't be less enthused (he never really liked the class pet). On Monday morning, he drops off Mr. Pebbles, heads to breakfast, and returns to class to learn that Mr. Pebbles has died -- and everyone is blaming him. Suddenly, Carter finds himself haunted by the talking ghost of Mr. Pebbles and the two team up to clear his name and help Mr. Pebbles' final wish come true. This quick comic book is a silly, tongue-in-cheek whodunit that opens a new series with a lot of mystery and unanswered questions. Despite the title, this isn't a good guide on death to give readers wondering what happens to their pets when they move on, but it is a fun exercise in mystery writing with a diverse cast and a big cliffhanger.

  The Tunneler Tunnels in the Tunnel By Michael Rex New York: Simon Spotlight, 2025. Easy Reader. In a world full of penguins, this particular bird is tunneling. Where is he going, you might ask? Why is he handing out star-stamped papers along the way? The gardener who gardens in the garden, the banker who banks at the bank, along with many others all recieve one, leading readers to wonder.. what will happen at the end of this tale? Repeative, simple text paired with engaging illustrations that become more interesting the longer you look, make this easy reader a funny and educational must-read. In particular, pay attention to the tunneler's facial expressions, as well as, the various scattered items surrounding his tunnel which provide a fun oppurtunity to seek-and-find. 

  Diary of a Wimpy Kid By Jeff Kinney New York: Amulet Books, 2007. 217 pages. Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Adventure By Jeff Kinney New York: Amulet Books, 2020. Fiction. 217 pages. The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan By Salma Hussain New York: Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada Young Readers, 2022. Fiction. 282 pages. Eva in the Spotlight By Rebecca Elliott New York: Branches/Scholastic, 2020. Intermediate. 70 pages. Tales from a Not-So-Post Paris Adventure By Rachel Russell New York: Aladdin, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Division, 2023. Fiction. 326 pages. Diary of a Wombat Written by Jackie French Illustrated by Bruce Whatley New York: Clarion Books, 2003. Picture Book. Paws for a Cause By Kyla May New York: Scholastic Inc., 2020. Intermediate. 72 pages. Lava Chase By Ari Avatar New York: Scholastic Inc., 2023. Fiction. 120 pages. Diary of a Fly Written by Doreen Cronin Illustrated by Harry Bliss New York: Joanna Cotler Books, 2007....

Downpour By Yuko Ohnari and Koshiro Hata Translated by Emily Balistrieri Brooklyn, NY: Red Comet Press, 2025. Picture Book. Translated from its original Japanese, Downpour  describes the different sights, sounds, smells, and feels of an impending rainstorm. Our main character hears the rhythms the rain makes on his umbrella, smells the mixture of sky and ground, and feels how the rain cools the hot pavement. After enjoying the rainstorm, he begs for it to come again, but is satiated by taking his umbrella in the shower. This book lights the senses on fire. Though simple in plot, the reader is actively engaged by feeling and experiencing everything our main character does. The simple language makes it a great read for young children who are building their vocabulary and are learning to interact with the world. As well, the plethora of onomatopoeic words are sure to get children laughing as their grown up reads aloud several silly sounds. The sensory experience is complete with stunn...

One Wrong Step By Jennifer A. Nielsen New York: Scholastic, 2025. Fiction. 324 pages. It's 1939 and 14-year-old Atlas Wade is about to accompany his father on their most dangerous expedition yet. In the years since his mother died, Atlas and his father, both British, have climbed many of the most famous peaks in the world, it's what they do to avoid talking about their grief. No one has yet reached the top of Mount Everest, but Atlas is hoping he will be part of the first party, but his hopes are dashed when his father insists he remain at Advanced Base Camp with a Sherpa named Chodak and Maddie, the daughter of another explorer. When an avalanche cuts off communication with the expedition team, Atlas decides to stage a rescue, bringing Maddie and Chodak, who is injured, along with him. Things go from bad to worse as they fight for survival and fear there may be Nazis with them on the mountain. Jennifer A. Nielsen is an expert of blending historical fiction with gripping action...

Free Piano [Not Haunted] By Whitney Gardner New York: Simon & Schuster, 2025. Comics. 245 pages. Margot is an aspiring singer-songwriter living in the quiet town of Cascade Cove, but she dreams of stardom. When she comes across a free keyboard on the street, which bears the promise "not haunted." Margot is sure this new instrument will help her grow her internet following and win the attention of her social media obsessed dad. Despite promising to teach her to play, Margot's dad is preoccupied with his social media followers, and Margot's mom works long hours to support them. Soon, Margot learns she's not as home alone as she expected -- the keyboard is in fact haunted by the ghost of Vision, a teen pop star from the 1980s. Writing music with Vision is the happiest Margot's been, but she can't help but envy the social media following of her friends and long for her dad's attention. Worst of all, Vision isn't the only ghost haunting the keyboard...

Today we are celebrating the lives of trailblazing individuals who overcame adversity to make lasting contributions in their fields. Each book highlights a different form of brilliance—scientific, artistic, athletic, poetic, and activist—while centering themes of perseverance, creativity, and resilience. These five women introduce young readers to diverse role models who challenged societal barriers of the generation. Together, they affirm the power of passion and courage in shaping a more inclusive and inspiring world. Twist, Tumble, Triumph Written by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky Illustrated by Martina Peluso Minneapolis, MN: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2025. Biography. This is a stirring biography that powerfully illustrates the resilience of Hungarian Jewish gymnast Ágnes Keleti during World War II. Despite being banned from training under Nazi rule, Keleti continued practicing in secret. She survived the war by hiding and working under a false identity. Ultimately, she triumphed ...

The Wish Switch By Lynn Painter New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Fiction. 310 pages. Since she was a little girl, Emma's beloved grandmother told tales of a pact fairies made with her town 400 years before, promising to grant the wishes of four villagers every year. After Nana Marie's passing, Emma gets the chance to make her own wishes and she jumps at the opportunity. However, when her friends' wishes all start coming true with no sign of her own being granted, Emma is worried. When her new neighbor, Jackson, starts showing signs that he may have been granted her wishes by some magical mistake, she panics. Determined to resolve this cosmic error, Emma must convince Jackson to join her quest to restore the wishes back to their rightful owner.  Emma's struggles with the shifts in her life and friends when entering middle school are genuinely portrayed, and the sweet resolution is both encouraging and emotionally grounded, offering readers a hopeful look at how...

Although I'm always sad for summer to end, I am one of those people who really loves back to school season. What is not to love? I love school, I love learning, and I love welcoming so many families back to the library for regular programs after a busy summer full of activities. But I would be remiss to not mention one of my favorite parts of back to school, which is back to school supplies. I, like Joe Fox from You've Got Mail,  "Would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils," if I only knew your name and address. In pursuit of that love, here are some great picture books about stationary, pens, pencils, and all the other supplies you'll need for back to school! Pencil By Hye-Eun Kim New York: TOON Books, 2025. Picture Book. This wordless picture book follows a particular pencil throughout its life from tree to drawing tool. This book has a strong conservation message, with evocative images showing the impact of deforestation and the possibility of readers ...

Big Bertha Written by Amanda Abler Illustrated by Katy Wu Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, an imprint of Sasquatch Books, 2024. Informational.  Bertha, the 57.5 foot tall tunnel boring machine that dug a highway under Seattle, was a feat of science and engineering.  While she wasn't without her issues, Bertha's first of her kind abilities made it possible to create a safe highway system underground that could stand up to future earthquakes.   I love anthropomorphized objects, and Bertha is the beast of the ball in this quick informational book. I've also driven in Bertha's tunnels, but before I knew that remarkable story of how those tunnels came to be.  Now that I've got the dirt (tunnel pun intended!) on Bertha and the hundreds of people that worked tirelessly to make their city more safe, I can't wait to go back and appreciate their work in person.  Sure to inspire future engineers!

  50 States of Love By Anna Aronson Beverly, MA: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2025. Picture Book. This picture book is a great tribute to the fabulous land and people of America. Each of the fifty states is represented, in alphabetical order. The layout of each page features beautiful illustrations as well as a short snippet about the state. Kids who are learning about the states, or learning about geography, or learning about the alphabet could all appreciate this book. I love books that help me travel to places I have never been. Obviously, with just a tiny summary of each state, we aren't learn everything there is possible to know, but this book does a great job sparking curiosity! I found the artwork to be very inspiring, and I think it will have a lot of kids flipping to different states just to see how they are represented here. It could also lead to great conversations about what a child would have included instead, if they were the author.

The Strongest Heart By Saadia Faruqi New York: Quill Tree Books, 2025. Fiction. 370 pages.   13-year-old Mohammed Mirza, called Mo, has a lot of practice acting like he doesn't care. It's easier than admitting that he's bothered by the hard things in his life. Like his scientist mother who left her family behind to work in a refugee camp in Greece. Or his father who struggles with untreated paranoid schizophrenia. Or Abba and Mo's recent move from New York City to Houston, Texas to live with Abba's widowed sister and her 13-year-old son Rayyan -- who is still processing his grief and trauma after the murder of his father. Mo finds escape and comfort in South Asian folktales, boxing, and art. As Mo starts to spend more time with caring adults who take an interest in him, he starts to open up and let people in -- everyone except for his monstrous Abbu. This character driven novel is layered and complex and, understandably, emotional. The portrayal of a parent with a s...