Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Lone Wolf on Vacation Written by Kiah Thomas Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Holiday House, 2025. Easy Reader.  Wolf has decided to take a much needed vacation to spend some time all alone. He is looking forward to going sightseeing, spending time outside, and not running into anyone he knows. His trip begins on a late night bus journey (to avoid having to talk to people on the bus, of course), but he quickly realizes that his vacation might not provide the welcome respite from human interaction that he was hoping for.  Wolf is a truly fantastic character that is sure to please with the preschool and early elementary crowd. His surly attitude and general aversion to all people provides plenty of opportunity for hilarious situations that kids will love! The illustrations are quirky and colorful, which adds even more humor to the already comical story. This easy reader would make a fantastic read aloud or early reading book for newer readers. 

  Come Catch a Dream Written by Brittany Thurman Illustrated by Islenia Mil New York, NY : Greenwillow Books, 2025 A young Black child passes an ice rink every day walking home with Momma. Last year, the rink was tricky. It looked clear and smooth, but felt rough and rude after a fall. Brrr! Ouch! Even so, the child hasn't been able to stop thinking about that rink. The young skater is determined to do something for the first time: a spin on the ice. Because, as Momma says, nothing is impossible. -- Editor Henry Holton Takes the Ice Written by Sandra Bradley Illustrated by Sara Palacios New York, New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015 Henry Holton comes from an ice hockey-obsessed family, but despite his comfort on the ice, his aspirations lead him to pursue another sport--ice dancing. -- Editor A is for Axel: An Ice Skating Alphabet Written by Kurt Browning Illustrated by Melanie Rose Chelsea, MI : Sleeping Bear Press, 2005 Canadian skating star Browning pairs a pedestrian ...

  Cuentos El ratoncito, la fresa roja y madura, y el gran oso hambriento Por Don y Audrey Wood Ilustrado por Don Wood Auburn, ME : Child's Play (International), 2005, c1984. Libro ilustrado. "El pequeño ratón se preocupa que el oso grande, hambriento tomará su fresa recientemente escogida, madura, y roja." --Editor Cuentitos ¡Hola, manos! Por Aya Khalil London ; Concord, MA : Barefoot Books, 2024. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "De saludos y aplausos a agarrar juguetes y levantar cucharas: ¡descubre lo que las manos pueden hacer!" --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "O" ¡Odio todo! Al mar de cabeeeza Una ofrenda para perro ¡Los osos no comparten! La oveja 19

I Am Not an Octopus Written by Eoin McLaughlin Illustrated by Marc Boutavant Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2023. Picture Book. Terry is definitely not an octopus. He's just a regular guy who happens to have a few extra limbs and a love of tuna. But again, he is NOT an octopus. Look, if he were an octopus, he'd be living in the ocean, right? Not to mention going to Super Octopus Fantasea Adventure World. He definitely wouldn't be on land, unless he was afraid of the water. Which he absolutely isn't! OK, perhaps just a LITTLE. Maybe, just maybe, it's time he learned how to swim. Terry shows what it means to be brave in this very silly story about facing your fears and accepting who you really are. --Editor An Orange in January Written by Dianna Hutts Aston Illustrated by Julie Maren New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2007. Picture Book. An orange begins its life as a blossom where bees feast on the nectar, and reaches the end of its journey, bursting with the...

The Library of Unruly Treasures Written by Jeanne Birdsall New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. J Fiction, 345 pages. Gwen MacKinnon has no reason to believe she is special. Her own parents are terribly negligent and preoccupied. But when she is sent to the Boston area to stay with a relative she's never met before, everything starts to change. First, Gwen finds love and warmth in her great uncle's Matthew's home. Then Gwen makes an astonishing discovery. The local children have a "shared imagination" of tiny, winged creatures who live in the town's beautiful old library. These Lahdukan emigrated from Scotland and have been cared for by generations of MacKinnon girls. Only children under six years old can see them. Except Gwen realizes she can see them too. This reveals her destiny as a Qalba, a caretaker of the Lahdukan. This previously ignored, neglected girl grows in bravery, confidence, and self-assuredness as she leads her clan of fantastic creatures to a ne...

For some reason the cold weather seems like a cozy time to read books about woods (I blame Robert Frost). So if you, like me, find yourself wanting to read a book about trees as the weather gets colder, give one of these books a try! Forests Written by Nell Cross Beckerman Illustrated by Kalen Chock New York : Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2025. Informational.  This beautifully illustrated is informational title explores how forests around the world function as living ecosystems. Through paintings, informational text, and poetry, it explains the relationships between plants, animals, fungi, and humans, showing how forests grow, change, and support life over time. It also highlights why forests are important to the planet and why protecting them matters. Kids will want to pour over these standout illustrations for hours. Seven Ways Through the Woods Written by Jenn Reese Illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz New York : Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPub...

Alice with a Why By Anna James New York: Penguin, 2026. Fiction. 240 pgs. In 1919, in the aftermath of the first World War, Alyce is living with her grandmother in the English countryside. Her grandmother, also named Alice, tells Alyce (with a y) stories from her childhood adventures in a wonderful land filled with white rabbits and mad hatters. Alyce doesn't really believe the silly stories, she just misses her father who was killed in the war. One day, Alyce receives a mysterious invitation to tea, and subsequently falls into a pond where she is transported to Wonderland. Her grandmother, of course, is that Alice. Alyce is prompted by the Mad Hatter, Dormouse, and March Hare to seek out the Time Being and put an end to the war between the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon. Thus begins Alyce's adventure through Wonderland. I have a certain soft spot for the original story of Alice in Wonderland. It is one of my particular favorites and I often have a hard time reading new int...

The Tufted Puffins of Triangle Island Written by Deborah Hodge Illustrated by Karen Reczuch Toronto; Berkeley : Groundwood Books : House of Anansi Press, 2025. Triangle Island is a wild, treeless island, with fierce storms and wild waves.  This wildness helps keep the island secluded from people and land predators, which is one of the reasons it's an ideal location for many seabirds to nest, including Tufted Puffins.  The protected nature of the island-- it's an ecological reserve and a designated marine wildlife area-- also helps keep this a safe place for the thousands of nesting birds that come yearly to lay their eggs.  This is not a book about climate change, but it's not not a book about climate change, either. The puffins that come to Triangle Island rely on teeming groups of small fish near the shores to feed their young, and the warming waters from climate change have affected the supply of fish. Scientists have tracked lower fledgling rates amongst many of the s...

I love spending time in nature. As I have gotten older, I also appreciate learning more about the intricacies of animals and their habitats, as well as the science behind things I encounter in nature. I am often in the mood for an informational book to encourage me and support my efforts to learn more about the world. I found each of these books appealing, and hope you will check one or more of them out. Are There Rainbows in Space? Written by Sheila Kanani Illustrated by Liz Kay New York, New York : Penguin Workshop, 2025. Informational.  I find that when books combine amazing questions and incorporate vibrant colors, that is a great way to get children to feel fully invested in a book. This book does both of those things in a fabulous way. I love the questions posed in this book! I appreciate that color is described in ways kids may not have considered before. Rather than an artistic standpoint, which kids are likely more familiar with, this informational books presents scientifi...

The Moon Without Stars By Chanel Miller New York: Penguin, 2026. Fiction. 256 pgs. After unexpectedly inheriting a collection of books, seventh grader Luna Noon starts to lend out books to help her classmates with their middle school problems. Books to help kids after the loss of a pet, books to boost self-image, and books to quiet fears. When she doesn't have the right book to help a specific classmate, Luna, aided by her best friend Scott, creates her very own "literary prescription" - a zine with advice to help her classmate. Unexpectedly, the zine becomes a huge success, and is the key to propel Luna into middle school popularity. Soon, she ditches Scott and becomes a part of the mean-girl crowd. Her helpful zines become "fix-its" with harsh, biting critiques of her peers and it is clear Luna has lost sight of herself in her quest to belong. This sensitive and emotional novel is best suited for upper middle grade readers. Luna and her peers have a lot of que...

  Cuentos ¡Esta pecera es mía! Por Jonathan Fenske New York, NY : Scholastic Inc., 2024. Libro ilustrado. "Ángelo, el pez ángel, vive en una pecera impresionante. Tiene una acogedora cueva (suya), un fantástico cofre del tesoro (también suyo) y un burbujeante hombre burbuja (suyo también). Pero entonces aparece un pez nuevo en la pecera y, de repente, ¡¿Ángelo tiene que compartirlo todo? Este adorable y divertido libro ilustrado del dos veces ganador del Geisel Honor, Jonathan Fenske, les enseña a los niños que compartir puede ser divertido cuando tienes un amigo a tu lado." --Editor Cuentitos ¡El libro del ombligo! Por Sandra Boynton New York : Boynton Bookworks, 2019. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Este libro de cartón de la querida y popular escritora Sandra Boynton tiene colores vivos, es duradero y exhibe en la portada un troquelado en forma de ombligo. Su lectura en voz alta está destinada a ser fuente de risas y diversión." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra ...

Preschool Time Little Narwhal, Not Alone Written by Tiffany Stone Illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee Vancouver; Berkley: Greystone Kids, 2021. Picture Book. Little Narwhal, Not Alone is based on the true story of an unlikely friendship. A young narwhal, venturing too far from home, becomes lost and is adopted by a pod of beluga whales. Poetic language and playful illustrations take readers along on Narwhal's unexpected and amazing journey. At the back, helpful facts about narwhals and belugas are included from a marine biologist. --Publisher Preschool Time Nelly: The Very Different Bird By Alex Macdonald Beverly, MA : Frances Lincoln First Editions, 2025. Picture Book. Nelly has a problem. She cannot fly. So when all the other birds fly off for the winter, Nelly can't. So, she learns to do things differently ... and discovers that life is a lot more enjoyable when friends stick together. --Publisher Toddler Time Nevin Knows Written by Mireille Messier Illustrated by Elena Comte Victo...

Since its invention in the 1970s, the Rubik’s Cube has remained a global phenomenon, capturing the imagination of generation after generation. Originally marketed as a teaching tool, it quickly became a cultural icon during the 1980s puzzle craze, selling millions of copies worldwide. While its popularity dipped in the years that followed, the cube experienced a strong resurgence in the 2000s with the rise of speedcubing, online tutorials, and international competitions. Today, the Rubik’s Cube continues to thrive as both a nostalgic symbol and a modern brain teaser, appealing to children, educators, and competitive solvers alike, and proving that its simple design has truly stood the test of time. Me & the Magic Cube Written by Daniel Fehr Illustrated by Golden Cosmos New York : NorthSouth Books, 2025. Picture book This bright and lively picture book is about a child who becomes fascinated with a colorful puzzle that seems impossible to solve. The text seamlessly alternates betwee...

Vampire Jam Sandwich Written by Casey Lyall Illustrated by Nici Gregory Toronto: Tundra, 2025. Picture book.  We all know what happens when a vampire bites a human...but you might not know that if a vampire takes a careless bite of a jam sandwich, that sandwich might become a vampire too! This sinister predator now prowls the night, stealing away every last dollop of jam, seeking to quench its endless thirst. To keep your jam safe, it's probably a good idea to hide it all outside where the vampire jam sandwich will never think to look... As readers listen to the narrator's dire warnings, the illustrations quickly let them in on the joke as jam continues to go missing. The limited color palette of the illustrations effectively uses red to highlight important details and incriminating evidence. A delightfully silly spooky tale.

With the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics fast approaching, Italy is set to take the world stage! Known for delicious food, high fashion, breathtaking sights, and a rich history, Italy is a wonderful setting for any story. These books will help both emerging and middle grade readers learn more about the beautiful country and provide an atmospheric read for anyone looking to learn more about the country sometimes known as "Bel Paese".  Piccolo By Dan Yaccarino New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture book.  Piccolo is a shrew who lives in Italy. He loves making lists to help him plan visits to all his favorite places around the city! As he sets out on his adventure, his plans are quickly derailed as he helps one friend after another with various tasks. This sweet picture book will teach the importance of both friendship and hazelnut gelato.  Roman Holiday: The Illustrated Storybook Written by Micol Ostow Illustated by Diobelle Cerna San Rafael, California: Insight ...

  Dead Ends: Flukes, Flops, and Failures That Sparked Medical Marvels By Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal  New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025. Informational. 150 pages.  This informational book is all about the interesting, strange, and sometimes downright gross things that doctors throughout the ages did in an effort to heal their patients. The book is presented in several chapters, each focusing on a different part of the body (i.e. Racking Your Brain, Bleeding Hearts, etc.). Each section provides plenty of anecdotes about different medical trial and errors, many of which led to groundbreaking treatments still used today.  Fitzharris and Teal did a wonderful job making a vast history feel digestible and engaging for middle grade and adult readers alike. With detailed (and sometimes slightly gruesome) illustrations, any reader interested in the subject will find this an engaging read. 

  The Last Resort By Erin Entrada Kelly New York, NY : Scholastic Press, 2025. Fiction. 228 pages. This spooky story from two-time Newbery Award winner Erin Entrada Kelly follows Lila and her family as they move to a new house for the summer only to find out that it's haunted. Lila is known for being dramatic, so when she has a "near-death experience" on the drive from Arizona to Ohio where her family must take care of the house her recently-deceased grandfather willed to her father, her friends dismiss her as being overdramatic. But when they finally arrive at the old mansion they inherited, Lila finds that her near-death experience has given her the uncanny ability to see ghosts. Lila must discover how to help the ghosts pass on to the next life, and why there seem to be some evil spirits that seem intent on hurting everyone in town. This is Erin Entrada Kelly's first foray into horror, and fans of the genre will be enthralled by this story. She does an excellent jo...

  All the Blues in the Sky By Renée Watson New York, NY : Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025. Fiction. 182 pages. In this excellent novel-in-verse, thirteen-year-old Sage struggles with grief and feelings of culpability after her best friend is killed in a hit-and-run. Throughout the book, Sage grapples with her feelings in realistic and devastating ways. She compares her loss to those of others in her afterschool grief group, reasoning that it was worse for her since it was unexpected. She refuses to walk by the place Angel was killed. She withdraws from new friendships, seeing it as a betrayal to her friendship with Angel. As she comes to terms with everything that has happened, she struggles with how to move on, and whether or not it's fair for her to get to move on. Renée Watson is known for her powerful contemporary realistic fiction, and this book is up to her exceptional standard. For those dealing with grief, or wanting to better understand a friend who is, this book is ...

Every month we have two book clubs for kids here at the Provo City Library! These book clubs are just for kids ages 9-12 and a caregiver. This month, our  Guys Read book club  will meet January 22 and our  Girls Read book club  will meet January 27. You can register now, using the library's online calendar! Guys Read is reading: My Side of the Mountain By Jean Craighead George New York: Dutton, 1988. Fiction. 177 pgs. After becoming increasingly unhappy in his family's overcrowded apartment in the city, 12-year-old Sam runs away to live in the Catskill Mountains. Suddenly alone, Sam must fend for himself in his search for independence. Alone, he struggles to survive and provide himself with food, shelter, and clothing. As he becomes increasingly isolated, Sam discovers that ultimately he needs human companionship more than he imagined. This survival tale won the Newbery Honor in 1960 and has remained popular with young readers. Girls Read is reading: The Girl Who Dra...

Rhyming books are fun... and animal books are fun...so combine them and what do you get?  Double the fun!   Do you see the Tiger? Written by Philip Ardagh Illustrated by David Melling Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture book. A young girl named Penny insists she sees a tiger hiding among the passengers during a subway ride with her father. While her dad dismisses it as imagination, the tiger turns out to be real and helps Penny reunite a baby with their lost teddy bear. A celebration of the power of imagination, and magic hidden in everyday places. Goats Afloat Written by Lezlie Evans Illustrated by Julia Patton New York, NY : Two Lions, 2025. Picture book. 32 pgs. In this playful rhyming picture book, five young goats set off down a river in a boat to deliver a birthday cake to their granny because they want to avoid crossing the bridge where a troll lives. Along the way their plan goes hilariously awry, challenging them to adapt and keep going de...