Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  All are Welcome Written by Alexandra Penfold Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. Picture book. Illustrations and simple, rhyming text introduce a school where diversity is celebrated and songs, stories, and talents are shared. Includes fold-out pages.—Publisher Love the World By Todd Parr New York, NY ; Boston, MA : Little, Brown and Company, 2017. Picture book. Whether looking at one's own nose and toes, helping others, or exploring the world, there is always something to love.—Publisher Peace Train By Cat Stevens New York, NY : Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2021. Picture book. Readers are invited to hop on the Peace train and join its growing group of passengers who are all ready to unite the world in peace and harmony. Featuring the timeless lyrics of Cat Stevens's legendary song and illustrations by New York Times bestselling artist Peter H. Reynolds, this hopeful picture book inspires tolerance and love for people of all cult...

  Cuentos ¡Deslízate, serpiente! Por Shelby Alinsky Washington, D.C. : National Geographic, 2019. Fácil. "¡Conoce a distintos tipos de serpientes! Descubre dónde viven y qué hacen. Usando herramientas interactivas, como el árbol de vocabulario y la actividad final, los niños aprenden vocabulario en grupos conceptuales - lo cual les ayuda a encontrar conexiones entre palabras y ampliar su comprensión del mundo." --Editor Cuentitos Bebé Beluga Por Ashley Wolff   New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2025. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Acompaña a esta adorable ballenita en uno de sus divertidos días en el mar, que culmina cuando madre y bebé se unen en un cálido arrullo a la hora de dormir. Bellamente ilustrada, ésta es la canción ideal para toda una generación de nuevos lectores. El canto refuerza las destrezas del habla y la audición aún en los niños más pequeños, lo que hace de Bebé beluga un instrumento perfecto para un temprano aprendizaje. Esta nueva edición bilingüe da vida a una ...

Preschool Time Sleepy Sheepy Written by Lucy Ruth Cummins Illustrated by Pete Oswald New York: Flamingo Books, 2023. Picture Book. Illustrations and simple, rhyming text follow Sleepy Sheepy, who despite his name is not sleepy. --Editor Preschool Time The Silver Shadow Written by Mariesa Dulak Illustrated by Alea Marley Somerville, MA: Walker Books, 2025. Picture Book. While searching for wonders in the tide pools, a little girl discovers a silver shark, stranded in the shallows--sleek and quick, but still just a baby. The sun is high and the tide is out. How will the shark find its way home? --Editor Toddler Time Silly Sally By Audrey Wood San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992. Picture Book. A rhyming story of Silly Sally, who makes many friends as she travels to town--backwards and upside down. --Editor Book Babies Birds By Jill McDonald New York: Doubleday, an imprint of Random House Children's Books, 2017. Board Book Explores the types of birds that can be found in everyda...

Books that highlight characters with disabilities help young readers see the world through many different perspectives. They affirm that there is no single “right” way to move, think, communicate, or experience life. These stories center the disabled characters as full, complex people—friends, family members, and problem-solvers—rather than focusing only on challenges. By sharing everyday moments, emotions, and relationships, these books build empathy and understanding for all readers. Most importantly, they offer representation that allows disabled children to see themselves reflected with respect, joy, and possibility. Signs of Friendship By Annie Silvestro New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025 Signs of Friendship explores how friendships change when new people are introduced. Two close friends who communicate using sign language must work through feelings of jealousy and misunderstanding when a new neighbor joins their world. With patience and honest communi...

The Lions' Run By Sara Pennypacker New York: Balzer + Bray, 2026. Fiction. 288 pgs. 13-year-old Lucas Dubois grew up in the abbey orphanage in the French village of Lamorlaye. Even as a young boy, Lucas never had a lot of friends. Called petit éclair by the other abbey boys for his soft disposition, Lucas rescues a litter of kittens from being drowned at the beginning of the novel. It's World War II, Lamorlaye is under Nazi occupation and food is scarce. But still, Lucas can't bear to see the kittens killed so he sneaks them away to a deserted stable where he meets Alice, a wealthy British girl who is hiding her racehorse from the Nazis. Meeting Alice, who is defiant of the Nazi orders, and Lucas' own small act of resistance, saving the kittens, emboldens him to take another risk -- Lucas becomes a messenger for the French resistance. His job as a greengrocer delivery boy enables him to move through the village freely, including accessing the Lebensborn clinic where tee...

Sharks Unhooked: The Adventures of Cristina Zenato, Underwater Ranger Written by Patricia Newman Illustrated by Becca Hall Minneapolis : Millbrook Press, 2025. Informational.  From childhood into adulthood, Cristina Zenato loved the ocean and wanted to befriend sharks. When she moved to the Bahamas, her dream finally became a reality as she begins diving with, studying, and ultimating helping sharks by removing fishing hooks from their bodies.  Cristina began saving the hooks she removed to serve as a visual aid for the people she spoke to about shark conservation.  Cristina Zenato's bravery and passion for shark conservation inspired me—not to jump in the ocean, swim with sharks, and pull hooks from their live bodies—but to search for ways I can help the world.  What little changes can I make?  What causes can I donate to?  How can I help champion important issues and help educate others?  A short but impactful tale of shark awesomeness, the power peo...

  Bunny Slopes By Claudia Rueda San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2016. Picture Book.  " In this interactive picture book, the reader must help Bunny stay on course as he skies down the slope. " -- Publisher Amazing Hockey Records By Thom Storden North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2015. Informational.  " Provides information on the most stunning records in the sport of professional hockey" -- Publisher Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword By Henry Lien New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2018. Fiction. 330 pages.  "Peasprout Chen dreams of becoming a legend of wu liu, the deadly and beautiful art of martial arts figure skating. As the first students from the rural country of Shin to attend Pearl Famous Academy of Skate and Sword, Peasprout and her little brother, Cricket, have some pretty big skates to fill. They soon find themselves in a heated competition for top ranking." -- Publisher Great Moments in Olympic Snowboarding By Brian Howell Minneap...

  Cuentos ¡Vamos a surfear! Escrito por Kwame Alexander Ilustrado por Daniel Miyares Nueva York : Ediciones NorteSur, 2025. Libro ilustrado. "¡Vamos a surfear, compa! Todavía no, Cuate. Los libros son aburridos. ¡Este no! Compa y Cuate tienen ideas muy diferentes sobre lo que se debe hacer en un día de playa. Sin embargo, mientras Compa se sumerge en la lectura de su libro (Moby Dick) dando gritos de asombro y entusiasmo, Cuate no puede evitar ser atrapado por las historia. En menos de lo que te tomaría gritar "¡Vamos a surfear!", las dos ranas están disfrutando lla misma aventura (bueno, hasta que llegan a la playa)" --Editor Cuentitos Colores Por J.T. Morrow New York : Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Guisantes verdes, zanahorias anaranjadas, uvas moradas, la comida de Llama Llama está llena de color, ¡y mucho amor!" --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "R " Te recuerdo Una ranita arbórea Cuando seamos ranas ¿Este regal...

Preschool Time Robinson's New Thing By Julia Mills    New York: Clarion Books, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, 2025. Picture Book. Calling all collectors! Julia Mills, the acclaimed creator of I Am Stuck, spins a funny new adventure about Robinson the raccoon, who loves to collect things. But when he meets a new friend, he discovers that memories and experiences make for the best collection of all. Perfect for fans of Memory Jars and In a Jar. Robinson the raccoon loves to collect things-big and small. His collection is amazing. One day he collects a shell that turns out to be . . . Rosie the snail! Rosie is not impressed by Robinson's stuff, and she takes him to see what she collects: breezes on the hilltop, bubbles in the stream, and the magnificent northern lights. Robinson soon realizes that the best things to hold on to aren't always things-instead, experiences with friends will last a lifetime. --Editor Preschool Time Make More S'mores Written by Cathy Ba...

When it comes to early illustrated chapter books, the  Dragon Masters  series by Tracey West checks a lot of boxes. These stories are fast-paced and action-oriented but accessible to newly independent readers. The world-building is magical and the quests are exciting. If your J Intermediate-level reader has already devoured the thirty books in this super popular series, here are a few recommendations to broaden their horizons (at least until #31 comes out!). Llama Quest: Danger in the Dragons' Den Written by Megan Reyes  Illustrated by Kay Davault New York : Random House, 2025. Intermediate. 106 pages. Dak lives on his family's llama farm, which means his life is full of llama poop and empty of adventure. Then Dak meets the mysterious girl who lives with the monks next door and a talking llama named Lucy who is the keeper of the Ravenwood stones. These magical, protective stones have been scattered across the kingdom by a sneaky thief. Together Team Llama Quest has t...

  The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene By Corey Ann Haydu Harpercollins Childrens Books, 2026. Fiction. 336 pages. Denny is not ready to turn twelve. Her best friend Runa has assured her that everything will change when they turn twelve but Denny doesn't like how much everything in her life has changed already. Her mother, who quit drinking when Denny was born, is battling alcoholism while her dad assures her that she is the only thing that her mother needs to quit. Runa is ingratiating herself in with a new group of friends and seems to be embarrassed by Denny and their "childish" habit of writing about the magical world of Sorrowfeld. On the day of her twelfth birthday, Denny is suddenly whisked into the world of Sorrowfeld and confused for Princess Auden, who is supposed to slay the dragons that have been terrorizing the kingdom. Suddenly Denny realizes that everything she and Runa have written about in their notebook, the half-baked rules of the world they were...

 The 2026 Winter Olympics are here! Taking place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, this amazing sports spectacle features athletes from all over the world competing in various winter sports, such as skating, skiing, and snowboarding. It is an exciting time to cheer on your favorite athletes as they represent our country.  Here is a list of books to read to learn more about the Olympics, famous Olympians, and the sports that athletes are competing in right now!  What are the Winter Olympics? By Gail Herman New York: Penguin Workshop, 2021. Informational. 108 pages.  In this Who HQ book, readers can learn all about the Winter Olympics- how they began, various controversies and interesting happenings, and new sporting events that have been added through the years. This overview of the hallmark of winter sports competitions woud appeal to all middle grade readers!  Fearless Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Surya Bonaly Written by Frank Murphy with Surya Bonaly Illustra...

There is something comical yet endearing about chickens. It's not much debate that they are some of the silliest birds, and children's book writers agree! There are so many memorable picture books about the little birds. Here are a few books to check out!   Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) Written by Linda Bailey Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Tundra Books of Northern New York, 2025. Picture Book. Lena is a chicken, but if you ask her, she is a dinosaur! And she can’t understand why the (other) chickens in the coop act the way they do. When a sneaky weasel causes problems for the hens, Lena the dinosaur may be their only hope. This hilarious picture book will have to laughing out loud as you cheer on the chickens.   Mavis the Bravest Written by Lu Fraser Illustrated by Sarah Warburton New York : Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2024. Picture Book. Mavis is content to keep to her knitting because she’s convinced that she doesn’t have...

A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes By Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2026. Fantasy. 352 pgs. In the city of Yerat, 12-year-old Nia has a special gift and a big secret. She has a supernatural sense of smell, and she's worried if anyone finds out they'll mark her as a Sinsory. The Sinsories are a group of people born with magical senses that they periodically use to fight plagues and protect others, but superstitious people still view them as evil. Though she tries to hide her gift, Nia is recruited to the Cloister - a school where Sinsories learn to fight plagues. Her start at the Cloister is rocky, but her unique sense of smell makes Nia a vital part of crafting a curefume for a new, very strong, scent-based plague. As the plague claims victims; and Nia fears for the safety of her loved ones outside the Cloister; she and two new Sinsory friends decide to risk everything to save those they love. This high-stakes fantasy novel is set in a remarkably...

  Cuentos La casita del ratón Escrito por Jonathan Stutzman Ilustrado por Isabelle Arsenault Barcelona : Editorial Ekaré, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Vicente es un ratón que, allá donde vaya, lleva una casita sobre su espalda. En ella todos aquellos que necesitan cobijo pueden entrar: una rana cansada, una familia de erizos, un gato hambriento ... incluso algunos animales de aspecto temible. Y es que la casita del ratón es más grande de lo que parece. En este libro con vocación de clásico, los talentos de Stutzman y Arsenault se emplean en narrar una encantadora historia sobre la verdadera generosidad." --Editor Cuentitos Te quiero, Spot Por Eric Hill New York, New York : Frederick Warne, 2024. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Es el día de San Valentín y Spot está planeando una sorpresa especial ... Este conmovedor cuento es ideal para compartir con tu pequeño amor." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "Q" El muñequito de queso apestoso y otros cuentos con demasiada...

Preschool Time It's So Quiet: a Not-Quite-Going-to-Bed Book Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrated by Tony Fucile San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2021. Picture Book. Little mouse cannot sleep because it is too quiet--but when he really listens he finds to night is full of all sorts of sounds, so many if fact that it is too noisy to sleep. --Editor Preschool Time I Quit Written by Kristen Tracy Illustrated by Federico Fabiani New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2024. Picture Book. When kitty first got adopted, everything was purr-fect. Then came the rules. NO eating the bread! NO chasing the baby! BAD KITTY! Excuse me? She's not a bad kitty. Left with no choice, she says goodbye to everything she loves (even her favorite crinkled-up receipt) and quits! But kitty's adventure in the great outdoors doesn't go as planned, and she realizes that she may have made a few mistakes. She knows she can do better, but how can she get home? Would her family even want her back...