Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The Invincible List of Lani Li Written by Veeda Bybee  Illustrated by Hoan Phan  Salt Lake City, UT: Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. Fiction. 216 pgs. The Li family love the Chinese legend about the Eight Invincible Brothers. Lani is about to head to England to participate in a music competition. Her younger brother, Gavin, was scheduled to go but after a problem with his heart valve arises, he is forced to stay home to have surgery. Gavin begs Lani to promise to be like all the Eight Invincible Brothers while on her trip (each brother has a special super power) so that Lani will stretch herself and Gavin can feel like he is part of her trip even though he is stuck behind.  Lani is one of those characters who feels real and relatable. Readers will sympathize with her frustrations (both from her family, friends, and those self-imposed) that force her to struggle and choose what kind of a person she will be. The bits of the Chinese legend woven throughout the story helps ...

It is spring (well, at least according to the calendar). And when it is spring I often think of cute little animals—including bunnies. Here are some of my favorite bunny books that were published recently. Enjoy!   Bouncing Bunnies!   By Fiz Osborne  Illustrated by Tim Budgen  New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book.  I love reading this bunny book out loud! It is all about cute little bunnies that wiggle—and readers can wiggle and bounce along with the bunnies (which just may be my favorite part!). The rhymes are fun for littles learning about rhythm and rhymes and the illustrations are simply adorable.  I Am Not the Easter Bunny!   By T.L. McBeth  New York: Flamingo Books, 2024. Picture Book.  I couldn’t not include an Easter Bunny book in this bunny list. And this is a pretty silly one. Readers are introduced to a bunny that the narrator suspects is the Easter Bunny. The bunny emphatically denies bei...

The Man Who Didn't Like Animals Written by Deborah Underwood Illustrated by LeUyen Pham New York: Clarion Books, 2024. Picture book. "There once was a man who loved his tidy home and who didn't like animals. Then one day, a cat appeared. The man and the cat both liked napping and watching the rain and eating dinner precisely at six. Well, maybe this one animal could stay. Next came a dog ..." - Publisher Farm Lullaby Written by Karen Jameson Illustrated by Wednesday Kirwan San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2021. Picture book. "Every animal on the farm, from the horses to the mice, has its own bedtime ritual for a good night's sleep." - Editor Miss MacDonald Has a Farm Written by Kate Gwarjanski Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 2024. Picture book. "In this female-forward spin on the traditional children's song, readers meet Miss MacDonald on her vegetable farm and learn about gardening, seasons, plant...

  Cuentos ¡Los yetis son lo peor! Por Alex Willan Barcelona, España : Picarona, 2024. Libro ilustrado. "El duende Gilbert es el primero en admitir que estaba, ejem, equivocado. En realidad, los uni-cornios organizan las mejores meriendas y los dragones hacen una sopa de helado buenísima. Pero esta vez, puede confirmar que ¡LOS YETIS SON LO, ABSOLUTAMENTE, PEOR! Pueden parecer geniales y misteriosos, pero Gilbert sabe con seguridad que una vez que conoces a uno, descubres que ¡no son todo lo que parecen! Y eso es lo que Gilbert planea hacer: encontrar a un yeti. Eso es, si puede encontrar uno... ¿Pero cómo de difícil puede ser?" --Pagina 4 de la tapa  Cuentitos Elena monta en bici Por Juana Medina Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2023. Fácil. "Elena quiere montar en bici. Empieza a monter, empieza a rodar. Ella se mece y se bambolea ¡Cataplam! Elena, aprender a montar en bici es difícil. Pero tú puedes lograrlo. ¡Inténtalo, inténtalo de nuevo!" --Editor ...

Preschool Time Axolotl and Axolittle Written by Jess Hitchman Illustrated by Sarah Rebar Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2025. Picture Book. Axolotl and Axolittle are total opposites through and through, but after a squabble, they learn to make up and get along, as siblings often do. --Editor Preschool Time The Fire Fox Written by Alexandra Page Illustrated by Stef Murphy London: Two Hoots, 2024. Picture Book. Freya and her mum have gone to a little cabin to get away for a while. The light has gone out of their lives since Freya's dad passed away. Freya isn't sure about going sledging, but when she meets a magical fox in the snow, she can't help but follow him into the forest--and on to a thrilling adventure. --Publisher Toddler Time The Box Full of Wonders Written by Karl Newson Illustrated by Emily Hamilton London: Andersen Press USA, 2025. Picture Book. When two families merge and move in together, a little boy finds an escape in his imagination. On the day two ...

Spring is in the air, and with the start of the new season comes new life. Trees and flowers are in bloom and baby animals are ready to hatch from their shells. So it feels like the appropriate time to share a few great resources about hatching for you to read with your kids. How to Hatch Written by Sara Holly Ackerman Illustrated by Galia Bernstein New York, NY : Alfred A. Knopf, 2026. Informational. This humorous tale tells the story of a determined gosling trying to hatch from its egg. As the gosling is hatching, a series of side panels explains the process in more detail. The format makes it perfect both as an easy read for preschoolers or a more detailed read for elementary students depending on how much information they are ready to handle. If you would like a cute and funny how-to guide about the hatching process, this book is the perfect fit. The Egg Book By Robert Burton New York, NY : DK, 2023. Informational. 79 pages. Do your kids want basic details about how lots of differe...

  The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan By Jasmine Warga New York: Balzer + Bray, 2026. Fiction. 229 pages. In The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan , Chase, a cheetah born in captivity at the zoo, and Finnegan, a rescue dog, have been paired together as playmates and training partners. They help each other through different struggles and learn the importance of trust and love. According to the author's note at the end of the book, this story was based on the real practice of pairing young cheetahs in captivity with dogs, as they work and play together well, encouraging each other in many different ways.  This was a cute and heartwarming book!  Animal lovers will enjoy the interesting information provided about cheetahs and dogs, including facts about real life cheetah conservation efforts.  On top of interesting facts, the dynamic between Chase and Finnegan is relatable and real, exploring themes of friendship and learning to open up and trust those closest to u...

Hail Mariam By Huda Al-Marashi New York: Kokila, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2026. Fiction. 188 pages. Fitting in is hard enough when you're a sixth-grader, let alone if you're also the only Muslim kid at a Catholic School. Mariam's parents have always stressed that she's supposed to be the best, especially because her making a good impression will help people see all Muslims in a good light. But being the best is hard when you're in a new school and someone's already filled the role of "teacher's sunshine." Mariam finally gets a chance to shine when she's offered the role of Mary in her school's nativity play, but will she be able to reconcile the line "behold the son of God" with her own religious tenets? I loved how Al-Marashi made a very unique situation feel universal. While not everyone has been the religious minority at a religious school, most kids have felt the need to fit in, to impress their teachers, and to...

Fly : A Family Guide to Birds and How to Spot Them Written By David Lindo Illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows New York, NY : Magic Cat Publishing, 2024. Informational. 61 pgs. This is an engaging introduction to birdwatching designed especially for families and young readers. The book combines accessible information about different bird species with practical tips on how to observe and identify them in everyday environments. It invites readers to slow down, look closely, and develop a lasting appreciation for the birds around them. Robins! How They Grow Up   By Eileen Christelow Boston : Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2017. Informational. 48 pgs. In this book, Eileen Christelow beautifully illustrates the story of a pair of robins as they build a nest, lay eggs, and raise their chicks. The book shows each stage of a robin’s early life, from hatching to learning to fly. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for nature as they watch the baby robins grow and become ind...

  Cuentos Los niños no se comen Por Ryan T. Higgins Barcelona: RBA Libros: RBA Molino, 2019. Libro ilustrado. "Penélope empieza el colegio. ¡Por fin va a conocer a sus compañeros! Pero le va a costar hacer amigos humanos si son tan deliciosos ..." --Editor  Cuentitos ¡Hora del fútbol! Escrito por Terry Pierce Ilustrado por Bob McMahon New York : Random House, 2021. Fácil. "Pateamos. Pasamos. Corremos sobre el césped. Sin manos, sólo pies. El juego comienza. ¡Piii!" Otros libros sobre las letras "W" y "X" La tímida Willow Popo el xolo ¡No explotes! Pequeña Excavadora Wilma y wómbat

Preschool Time Victor, the Wolf with Worries By Catherine Rayner New York: Boxer Books, 2024. Picture Book. Victor, the Wolf with Worries is a comforting and reassuring tale that is especially helpful for little ones who have trouble talking about their feelings. --Publisher Preschool Time While We Wait Written by Judy Ann Sadler Illustrated by Élodie Duhameau Berkeley, CA: Owlkids Books, 2022. Picture Book. A boy and his grandmother wait and wait and wait. While they wait, they sit and knit, they stretch, they rock, they dance, they pace, they snack, they talk. But still, time passes s-l-o-w-l-y. And all the while, they "sit and knit and wait." What are they waiting for? Spoiler alert! The family's new baby! When mom and dad finally get home from the hospital there is joy and awe--and a special gift for baby, knitted with love. A gentle lesson about patience that is well worth the wait. --Publisher Toddler Time My Words By Grant Snider New York: Harper, an imprint of Har...

Tigers are the biggest cats in the world—even larger than lions! Each tiger has a unique pattern of stripes, much like people have unique fingerprints. They are excellent swimmers and usually live alone, except for mothers raising their cubs. In the stories that follow, tigers appear not only as fascinating animals but also as symbols of self-acceptance, hope, and generosity. Their adventures highlight lessons about consequences, growth, and perseverance—showing that the biggest cats can help teach some of life’s biggest ideas. My Tiger Written by Joy Cowley Illustrated by David Barrow Minneapolis : Gecko Press, 2026. Picture book. This book is about a tiger who only eats cake. And just like anyone who only eats cake, he ends up with a toothache. Will a dentist be able to help? This delightful story gives a whole new meaning to watching what you eat! You Can't Tame a Tiger Written by Stephanie Ellen Sy Illustrated by Julien Chung Toronto, ON : Owlkids Books, 2025. Picture book. Wha...

A Year Without Home By V.T. Bidania New York: Penguin Group, 2026. 432 pgs. Historical fiction.  It's 1975 and 11-year-old Gao Sheng is used to finding bright moments of hope and beauty in the midst of the Laotian civil war. Her father is a high ranking Hmong soldier who has been assisting American troops, and so she is always worried about the war. But she loves her home on top of a beautiful mountain surrounded by peach trees and she loves her family. Suddenly, Laos is taken over by communist troops and Gao Sheng's father receives a warning that their family needs to leave right away or risk being captured. Barely missing the last plane out of Laos, Gao Sheng and her extended family begin a dangerous journey to escape Laos in seek of refuge in Thailand. This first-person novel in verse, based on the true experiences of the author's oldest sister, provides an intimate look at the refugee experience for young readers. Gao Sheng conflicted between her responsibilities as an ...

Like peanut butter and jelly, humor and dinosaurs are a perfect combination.  The books below are sure to be a hit with young readers, be they lovers of dinosuars or just looking for a laugh! Archibald and the Furry Dinosaurs Written by Suzanne Lang Illustrated by Max Lang New York : Random House Studio, 2025. Picture book. Archibald is a bald dinosaur.  Archibald is the only bald dinosaur.  He looks high, he looks low—furry dinosaurs are everywhere!  All the dynamite dos are bumming Archibald out, so he sets off on a quest to find his lost hair.  Will he join the curly coiffed crowd or will he find something else altogether unexpected? Dinos that Drive Written by Suzy Levinson Illustrated by Dustin Harbin Toronto, Ontario : Tundra, 2025. Picture book. In Dinos that Drive , dinosaurs are on the move! From minivans, to garbage trucks, and even things that fly, dinosaurs are showing off their driving skills in this hilarious picture book poetry collection. Oh no! ...

March is Women's History Month, with March 8th being specified as International Women's Day. I decided the way I wanted to celebrate Women's History would be threefold: to read books by women authors I am already familiar with, refresh my memory about major women in history by reading or rereading biographies, and continue to seek out new books primarily featuring women authors and illustrators. Following are five of the books that fit into one of those categories. They are favorites of mine, and I hope you will enjoy them as well. Louisa Learns to Write Written by Kate Hannigan Illustrated by Sofia Moore New York, NY : Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2026. Informational. Louisa May Alcott is a treasured author whose work has inspired generations of readers. This lovely biography presents the reader the background story behind her famous book Little Women. I loved the elements highlighted that contribute to Louisa becoming a great writer, includi...

  Cuentitos Rot: ¡El más valiente del mundo! Por Ben Clanton Barcelona : Juventud, 2022. Libro ilustrado. Rot, la patata mutante, debe encontrar la manera de enfrentarse a su miedo después de que su hermano mayor, Moco, le haya dicho que en el magnífico charco de barro que ha encontrado puede esconderse el peligroso Gusamalo. --Editor Cuentitos ¡Muy verde! Escrito por Sumana Seeboruth Ilustrado por Maribel Castells Concord, MA : Barefoot Books, 2023. Pequeño libro ilustrado. ¡Ayudar a mami y a mamá a cocinar le da a este niño la valentía de probar una nueva comica! --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "V" La gatita y el vigilante nocturno La vuelta a un año Buenas noches, asquerosa cosa viscosa Vida: los ratones, el gato y el alebrije Los viernes comemos churros