Provo Library Children's Book Blog

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 November 19 and our Girls Read book club will meet November 24. You can register now, using the library's online calendar! Guys Read is reading: Ghost By Jason Reynolds New York: Atheneum, 2016. Fiction. 181 pgs. Castle Crenshaw, called Ghost, is a track and field phenom. He's been running as fast as he can since his father tried to shoot a gun at Ghost and his mother three years before. Now, Ghost's ability as a sprinter has a new purpose, he's been invited to join a championship track team, with one condition -- he has to stop getting in fights at school. That's easier said than done, since it seems like everyone at school has something to say about his ratty clothes, his at home haircut, or where he's from. Ghost is a boy on the cusp of something great - will he allow himself ...

The White Ballets By Rajka Kupesic Toronto, CA: Tundra Books, 2011. Informational. The white ballets, particularly 'Swan Lake', are amongst the most popular ballets in the world. This title features three magical loves stories which are brought alive with stunning artwork. - Publisher Brave New Ballet: The Story of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Written by Robyn McGrath Illustrated by Alexander Mostov New York: Penguin Workshop, 2026. Informational. In the 1970s, an all-male ballet company called Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was formed in New York City-but the dancers did not play only traditional male roles on stage. Instead, "The Trocks" dressed in tutus and wigs. They danced in both male and female roles. Their practices and performances were precise and serious, but the dancers brought joy, comedy, and whimsy to the stage! With determination, hard work, and a desire to create an all-inclusive and empowering LGBTQ+ community, Les Ballets Trockadero ...

  Cuentos Bye Land, Bye Sea Escrito por René Spencer Ilustrado por Rodolfo Montalvo New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2024. Picture Book. "Two children lost at sea must overcome a language barrier if they want to find a way home." --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 Otros libros sobre la letra "I" Imagina una foto, sonr̕e, clic, ¡eso! La intérprete Imposible Isabel y Pedro en su país nuevo No me importa

Preschool Time I Want Ice Cream! Written by Elisabetta Pica Illustrated by Silvia Borando New York: Rise x Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. Picture Book. Illustrations and simple text follow a young child's colorful journey from disappointment and resistance to acceptance. --Editor Preschool Time Just Itzy Written by Lana Krumwiede Illustrated by Greg Pizzoli Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2015. Picture Book. Tired of being called "Itzy Bitzy," Itzy tries to catch his own lunch on the first day of spindergarten to prove he is a big spider, but a girl sitting on a tuffet, a dangerous waterspout, and other nursery rhyme characters get in his way. --Editor Toddler Time Our Islands By Phoebe Roze Berlin: Post Wave Berlin Studio, 2026. Picture Book. A wild storm carries Bear far from his island home. On a new shore, he meets Isla, and together they set off across a patchwork of sparkling islands. Will their journey lead Bear back home--or keep...

  I love a good toddler picture book. There is something special when a book has developmentally appropriate text and illustrations—with the bonus of being well-written so that a parent won’t mind reading it over and over again (since that is the way with any toddler’s favorite books to read). Here are some of my favorite toddler picture books that have come out in the past couple of years. Enjoy!  Cat Nap   By Steve Antony  New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2025. Picture Book.  This is a fun picture book for toddlers! (Though be warned that there is another picture book titled “Cat Nap” that is about art and is better for older kids.) Anyway, this book by Antony is about a little cat that needs to take a nap—which is really hard to do when there is so much playing to be done! With bold illustrations and just the right amount of text for toddlers, this will be a fun book to read aloud.  Don’t Do It, Doug!   Written by Maudie Powell-Tuck  Illustrat...

  Same Time, Next Week?   By Marlene Droop  Translated by Alisha Niehaus Berger  New York: NorthSouth Books Inc., 2026. Picture Book.  This is a tale of friendship, plans, and disappointment. Four animal friends (Giraffe, Turtle, Crocodile, and Sheep) go on a drive in Turtle’s van. Their goal is to head outside the city so that they can all see the stars—since there is too much light in the city to be able to see them. Although the friends make a valiant effort, the rain and sleepiness and timing make it so they don’t see the stars before the sun starts to rise. And the best part of the book—in my opinion—is how the group responds to their disappointment. Young readers who love animals, delightful illustrations (I love the wordless spread of Giraffe driving in the rain with an umbrella over their head), and a healthy reaction to disappointment will enjoy reading this book.

Did you know that the library checks out much more than books? There are so many cool items to check out from our Library of Things , including board games for all different ages. Here are five of the best board games for preschoolers:  The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game Created by Riley Wilkinson Gardena, CA: Educational Insights, 2010. Board Game.  In this game, players race to be the first to collect all five colors of acorns. But it won't be easy! Players can steal from each other and windstorms can make the acorns fly away! Preschoolers will love this game, and parents will love all the skills it teaches: fine motor, matching, and strategic thinking.  My First Carcassonne Designed by Klaus-Jürgen Wrede Roseville, MN: Z-Man Games, 2020. Board Game.  Carcassonne fans rejoice! This simplified version of the classic board game keeps all of the elements of the original while making it easy enough for children ages four and up to play. Players use street and buildin...

One thing I love about kids is watching them figure out how the world works. A lot of a child's early play is observing and testing cause and effect, a pattern rather similar to the scientific method. As kids grow, science can start feeling like magic as they try to comprehend topics such as the universe or microscopic organisms. If you have a child in your life who loves science and wants to learn more, check out these awesome nonfiction science books! The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey By Jason Chin New York: Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2022. Informational. Microscopic and smaller things are hard for even adults to understand, so how do you explain them to children? Using progressively smaller size comparisons, Jason Chin describes the smallest bird, and then the smallest bee, that is even smaller than the smallest bird, but what's smaller than the smallest bee?... On and on. Complete with captivating illustrations, The Universe in You  makes a surprisingly good ...

  Cuentos Cuando tu niñera es una bruja Escrito por Ana Siqueira Ilustrado por Irena Freitas New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Libro ilustrado. "Si consigues una nueva niñera y ya casi es Halloween, ten cuidado ... ¡porque podría ser una bruja!" --Editor Cuentitos Mi ofrenda Por Mariana Galvez   Los Angeles, California: Little Libros, LLC, 2022. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Finalmente ha llegado el momento y Amelia necesita tu ayuda para recoger art̕culos para la ofrenda de su familia. A través del uso de colores, este libro de buscar y encontrar les enseñará a sus pequeños el significado especial que tienen los artículos cotidianos durante el Día de Muertos." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "H" Hola. ¡Adiós! Hermana pegajosa Hansel y Gretel ¡Hola, Capitán! Nuestras Ancestras: Tejiendo Historias En Mi Huipil

Preschool Time The Ghosts Went Floating Written by Kim Norman Illustrated by Jay Fleck New York: Farrar Sraus Giroux Books for Young Readers, 2020. Picture Book. Witches, werewolves, and other creatures celebrate Halloween in an illustrated rhyme that can be sung to the tune of "The Ants Went Marching." --Editor Preschool Time While We Can't Hug By Eoin McLaughlin and Polly Dunbar London: Faber and Faber Limited, 2020. Picture Book. Hedgehog and tortoise are the best of friends. But they're not allowed to hug. Luckily there are lots of other ways to show someone you love them. --Publisher Toddler Time Hardly Haunted By Jessie Sima New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. Picture Book. When a house believes she is haunted, she tries everything in her power to stop it in order to get people to move in--until she realizes that she is fine just the way she is. --Editor Book Babies Booook! By Jannie Ho Baltimore, MD: Duopress. an imprint of Sourcebooks...

As the days get shorter and the nights feel darker, my dreams become more vivid. I love waking up remembering little pieces of the adventures my mind had while I slept. Here are some fanciful picture books to take you to dreamland. If the Moon Written by Matthew Burgess Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe Naperville, IL : Stonefruit Studio, an imprint of Sourcebooks, 2026. Picture book. This lyrical bedtime picture book explores possibility and imagination through dreams. A little child transports and transforms between inner worlds (and outer space!) while falling asleep. White pages, variegated blacks, and blurry, cozy colors play together as the liminal spaces between waking and dreaming.  Mr. Lepron's Mystery Soup Written by Giovanna Zoboli Illustrated by Mariachiara di Giorgio Translated from Italian by Denise Muir Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Studio, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2024. Picture book. Mr. Lepron's homemade vegetable soup is so extraordinary that he ...

  Un cofre de palabras - A Chest Full of Words By Rebecca Gugger and Simon Röthlisberger New York : Ediciones Nortesur, an imprint of NorthSouth Books Inc., 2026. Libro ilustrado. In this picture book, a child finds a treasure chest. After spending days trying to crack it open, he discovers that the chest is full of all kinds of words. While he is initially disappointed with his discovery, he quickly realizes that he can use the words to change things around him. He turns a hedgehog florescent yellow, makes a tree hairy, and makes a beetle monstrous - before quickly turning him adorable instead. But what will happen when he finally runs out of words in his chest? This is a bilingual picture book and the words are integrated well into the illustrations in both English and Spanish. This tale teaches kids the importance of words - both how they are used and the importance of building your vocabulary. Plus kids will love how the words can create hilarious magical effects in the world o...

Wolf's Belly Written by John August Illustrated by Simon Estrada New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2026. Comics. 312 pages. Just because you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood doesn't mean you really know what happened. For starters, did you know her name was Lu? Or that she didn't stumble on the Wolf by accident? Eager to prove she belonged in a family full of talented brothers, sisters, and parents; Lu traveled into the woods to hunt and slay the wolf—visiting Granny was just a ruse. Unfortunately, Lu was swallowed whole by the wolf before she got the chance. In Wolf's Belly, Lu finds a community of people who had been swallowed by the wolf including her grandmother and famous characters from other folktales. Determined to escape, Lu begins a quest to slay the beast and find her way out. Reading this graphic novel is a cinematic experience with panels full of atmospheric details. So many fractured fairy tales follow similar routes, but this Red Riding Hood story is...

  A Language of Stitches By Constance Moore New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026. Biography. This fabulous biography introduces readers to Effie Mae Martin, a young child with 14 brothers and sisters, whose family are sharecroppers. Like many sharecroppers, her family was quite poor while laboring in intense conditions. Her family was one filled with love, and they sought opportunities amidst hardship to deepen their faith. As Effie grew older, she made a tough decision to leave her family and go to areas in the country she would have more freedom. The distance from her family was always in the back of her mind. One of the ways she was able to stay connected to her family was through her love of color, fabrics, and sewing. Effie truly believed that through her artwork, she could spread love to others, and use her abilities to help support her family.  This moving biography tells a lovely story of one woman's determination, persistence, and ability to find joy. Her q...

  The Paper Bag Princess Written by Robert Munsch Illustrated by Michael Martchenko Toronto, Canada: Annick Press, 1980. Picture Book.  " When the fiercest dragon in the whole world smashes Princess Elizabeth's castle, burns all her clothes, and captures her fiancé Prince Ronald, Elizabeth takes matters into her own hands. With her wits alone and nothing but a paper bag to wear, the princess challenges the dragon to show his strength in the hopes of saving the prince. But is it worth all that trouble?" --Publisher  The Abominable Snowman By R.A. Montgomery Waitsfield, VT: Chooseco, 2005. Fiction. 116 pages.  "Your best friend Carlos goes missing from base camp on Mount Everest while in search of the fabled Yeti. YOU travel to Kathmandu in hopes of finding the mythical creature, but your plans quickly change when you hear news of Carlos's disappearance. Will you help find him amid the dangerous crevasses and icefalls of the Himalaya? A monsoon is moving in and yo...

  Cuentitos Soy el gato de una bruja Por Harriet Muncaster Barcelona : Beascoa, 2021. Libro ilustrado. "Mi madre es una bruja buena y yo soy su inseparable gatita. Al fin y al cabo, toda bruja necesita un gato negro. En este precioso libro, madre e hija son un dúo perfecto ya sea para mezclar pociones, cultivar plantas mágicas o soñar con fantásticos paseos en escoba a la luz de la luna llena. Las singulares ilustraciones de este libro fueron elaboradas por Harriet Muncaster utilizando telas, acuarelas, pluma y tinta, y materiales variados para crear imágenes planas y escenas tridimensionales, que luego fueron fotografiadas y digitalizadas. Cada página contiene infinidad de detalles. Repleta de magia y encanto, esta historia se convertirá en la favorita de todos sus lectores." --Amazon Cuentitos Siempre pasta Por Eleni Tassopoulos Wehner y Danamarie Hosler Concord, MA : Barefoot Books, 2026. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "A Ivy, le gusta todo tipo de pasta. La pasta le hace s...

Preschool Time On Account of the Gum By Adam Rex San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2020. Picture Book. Improbable, ridiculous remedies accumulate when there is gum stuck in your hair. --Editor Preschool Time A Friend for Ghost By Suzanne Kaufman New York: Holiday House, 2022. Picture Book. A lonely ghost finds a friend in a bright red balloon. --Publisher Toddler Time Aggie and the Ghost By Matthew Forsythe New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. Aggie's enthusiasm about living alone wanes when she discovers her house is haunted. --Editor Book Babies Everywhere Babies Written by Susan Meyers Illustrated by Marla Frazee San Diego, CA: Harcourt, 2001. Board Book. Describes babies and the things they do from the time they are born until their first birthday. --Editor Other Letter G Books   Bear's Lost Glasses Everything is Grape! The Giant and the Olive Goats Afloat Growl