Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The Warriors Books, commonly called The Warrior Cats books, have been a beloved series for many readers. Filled action and adventure, love and heartbreak, battles and prophecies, it's no wonder that readers for generations have come to love these books about wild and gone-wild cats. The following books are for those wanting to get into the Warrior Cat series but feel daunted by the great number of books and series. Most of these adaptations of the original series books made into graphic novels created by dedicated teams of artists and writers to bring The Warriors books to a new generation. All are books that new and old fans of the series will love. This list also includes a new series by Erin Hunter, a book about magical cats. By the way, did you know that Erin Hunter is a pen name? Erin Hunter is actually a group of writers and editors, namely Kate Cary, Cerith Balry, Tui T. Sutherland, and Victoria Holmes, and more! May StarClan guide you to your next favorite read!    The...

Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match that Changed the World Written by Steve Sheinkin and Maurice Ashley Illustrated by Thien Pham Roaring Brook Press, 2026. Comic. 240 pgs. It's May 1997, and the hopes of humanity are resting on the shoulders of one man; the world chess champion named Garry Kasparov. In an epic 6-match showdown, Garry takes on IBM's new chess supercomputer called Deep Blue. By 1997, computers had been playing chess for nearly 50 years. In 1988 a computer had even beat a grandmaster under tournament conditions. But this wasn't any ordinary chess computer, and Garry Kasparov wasn't just any chess player. In this true battle of human intelligence against artificial intelligence - who would come out on top? And could anyone blame people for hopig the humans would win? Sheinkin partners with chess grandmaster Maurice Ashley to recount the story of an ultimate battle of man against creation. Sheinkin is predictably fantastic, telling this high-interest story wi...

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 Girls Read book club will meet September 22 and our Guys Read book club will meet September 24. You can register now, using the library's online calendar! Girls Read is reading: Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel Written by Natalie Babbitt Adapted and Illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2025. Comics. 256 pages. This graphic novel adaptation will encourage readers to consider the classic story of Tuck Everlasting  in a new and deeper light. 10-year-old Winnie Foster lives in a large house on the edge of a forest with her parents and her grandmother, and she is already bored of her life. For Winnie, growing up comes with a lot of expectations of what she should do and how. One day, Winnie runs into a young man named Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring in the woods and soon discovers his secret. ...

Graphic novels are well suited to explain scientific topics to readers, as the text and illustrations can work together to get the information across. These graphic novels teach readers interesting scientific principles, whether in the format of a story or in a more informational presentation. If you like science and graphic novels, these will be sure to please!   Ant Story By Jay Hosler New York: Harper Alley, 2024. Comic. 156 pages.  Rubi is a cartoon ant living in the real world, helping her ant sisters with the daily tasks of the ant colony. It isn't until she meets Miranda, who is (seemingly) another ant in her colony, that she has another friend to talk to. Rubi and Miranda get into all sorts of misadventures, imparting interesting insect facts all the way. Bridges: Engineering Masterpieces By Dan Zettwoch New Tork: First Second, 2022. Comic. 121 pages.  The BATS (Bea, Archie, Trudy, and Spencer) are a group of excited learners racing around the globe to learn all t...

Both Sides Now: A Story About Young Joni Mitchell By Lydia Corry New York: Godwin Books, 2026. Comics. 144 pgs. Joni Mitchell is undeniably one of the most important musicians of the 20th century, and this graphic novel biography - chronicling her early childhood - introduces her to a new generation of fans. Growing up on the prairie in Saskatchewan, Joni identified as an artist at a young age and found a sense of wonder in her surroundings. She begged her parents for piano lessons, but was penalized by her teacher for creating her own compositions. She contracted polio and painfully relearned to walk. Finally, an encouraging teacher introduced her to poetry and ignited her artistic spirit. This is a truly captivating, highly illustrated biography of Joni Mitchell. Filled with colorful, swirling illustrations (that feel incredibly reminiscent of 1970s designs) this book is a treat for Joni Mitchell fans. Focusing mostly on her young childhood and early adulthood, this book explains how...

  The Way of the Hive by Jay Hosler New York: Harper Alley, 2021. Comic. 136 pages.  " Nyuki is a brand-new honey bee, and she has a lot of questions. Follow her on a lifelong journey as she annoys her sisters, avoids predators, and learns to trust her inner voice as she masters the way of the hive." --Publisher  Ant Story by Jay Hosler New York: Harper Alley, 2024. Comic. 156 pages.  "Meet Rubi, a tiny ant with a big personality and an even bigger love for stories. Who knew the small world of her colony could be full of unexpected friendships, epic adventures, and death-defying escapes?" --Publisher Santiago!:  Santiago Ramón y Cajal--Artist, Scientist, Troublemaker by Jay Hosler New York: Holiday House, 2022. Comic. 217 pages.  "A graphic novel biography of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of neuroscience." --Publisher Sandwalk Adventures by Jay Hosler Scotts Valley, CA: CreateSpace Publishing, 2013. Comic. 162 pages.  "The Sandwalk Adventures is ...

  Run Home By Alyssa Bermudez New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2026. Comic. 303 pages. Alyssa is starting her freshmen year at a new all-girls school, and she doesn't quite know where she will fit in. Her parents want her to join the cross country team, and while she agrees to it, she doesn't love the idea. With time, Alyssa starts to realize the empowerment that comes with running, and with all of the other things going on in her life–a difficult school load, new friendships, a crush from summer camp, and most of all, her father's declining health–running becomes a welcome sanctuary to tune out the noise of the world and focus on what is truly important.  This graphic memoir was heartfelt and real. The feelings that are so common in the early teenage years are depicted in such vivid color, and any older child who has experienced grief will find solace in Alyssa's journey. The illustrations were brightly colored and dynamic. The journal format added so much heart and emot...

Last Day Pool Party By Emma Steinkellner New York: Labyrinth Road, 2026. Comic. 176 pages. It's the last day of eighth grade and things already feel like they're changing. Dustin, who has never been popular, is hosting a pool party and has invited the whole class. Popular Maya, who used to be Dustin's friend, is attending only because her mom is making her–after she made a prank video that hurt Dustin's feelings. Paul is Maya's cousin who would rather be at home playing video games, but was given the choice of going to the party or his brother's ball game. Liv and Juhi are lifelong best friends who are about to be torn apart, as Juhi is moving to London and Liv feels frantic to find a new bestie. And then there's Rose. Tired of feeling invisible, she is determined to accomplish everything on her eighth grade bucket list in one night. Taking place over the span of just a few hours, this book captures all the angst and excitement of finishing middle school and...

Lionel Messi's World Cup Triumph Written by Chris Barish Illustrated by Nate Sweitzer New York: Abrams Fanfare, 2026. Comic. 131 pgs. Lionel Messi will almost definitely be remembered as one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Currently on track to score 1000 career goals, Messi has won nearly every soccer championship. But for most of his career, one victory remained elusive–the World Cup. This high-interest graphic novel tells the true story of the 2022 World Cup and Messi's first World Cup Championship. For soccer and sport fans alike, this is an incredibly engaging nonfiction comic and the start to a new series 'History's Greatest Games'. Using a fun, conversational tone and plenty of interruptions to teach readers more about important moments in soccer history–including an ongoing debate about who really is 'The GOAT'–this book is sure to be a hit. My favorite way to read history is to barely notice I'm learning facts, and this book strikes ...

Inbetweens By Faith Erin Hicks New York: First Second, 2026. Comic. 240 pgs. Twin sisters Sloane and Ash have dreamed about becoming animators since they rode the studio backlot tour on a family trip to Disney World. The first step is spending their summer at a prestigious eight week animation course at a nearby university. The tweens are ecstatic to discover that their animation hero Douglas Frye will even be teaching one of their courses. Unfortunately, Sloane and Ash lose their rose colored glasses pretty quickly. Ash loves animation, but her enthusiasm doesn't immediately translate to skill. Sloane realizes she loves art but that animation isn't the right fit for her. Even Douglas Frye isn't what they expected–he openly prefers the work of white male students and is dismissive of their talented friend Nisha once he realizes she's a girl. It takes courage, friendship, a Studio Ghibli movie night, and advice from a different animation teacher for Sloane and Ash to reb...

Princess Academy: The Graphic Novel Written by Shannon Hale Illustrated by Victoria Ying New York:  Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2026. Comic. 288 pages.   In this new graphic novel edition of the beloved Shannon Hale novel, Princess Academy , Miri's story of courage and hope is brought to life in full color.  Miri Larendaughter is a girl living in Mt. Eskel, a village high in the mountains where the residents make their living mining in the quarry. When a royal messenger arrives to let the villagers know that the royal priests have declared Mt. Eskel the home of the future princess, Miri and all the other eligible village girls must travel to attend a princess academy. At the academy, they learn important lessons about friendship, loyalty, and trusting their instincts.  This is a beloved story for a reason–the pacing is quick, the characters are vibrant, and the lessons are plentiful. The graphic novel did a great job at holding true to the original while bringi...

  A Kid Like Me By Norm Feuti New York : HarperAlley, an imprint of HarperColins Publishers, 2026. Comic. 261 pages. Ethan is worried about standing out at his new middle school for all the wrong reasons: namely that he doesn't have as much money as the affluent kids who will also be attending. Ethan's single mother is working as hard as she can at big box store to provide for their family, but they still can’t afford cool clothes and shoes he sees his classmates wearing. In fact, with no child support money coming in from his father, Ethan's mom can only provide him with her old flip phone–which he's so embarrassed by that he lies and tells kids he doesn't have a phone at all. To make matters worse, as Ethan and his best friend drift apart, he also has to work to find new friends–many of which come from the Battle Bots Club that he joins after school. Feuti does an excellent job of bringing up issues of class without the book feeling too heavy. In fact, if your kid...

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  Girls Read book club  will meet February 24 and our  Guys Read book club  will meet February 26. You can register now, using the library's online calendar! Girls Read is reading: Brown Girl Dreaming By Jacqueline Woodson New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014. Memoir/poetry. 336 pgs. As a child, Jacqueline Woodson never felt settled at home. In the 1960s and 1970s, she lived in South Carolina and in New York City, in the midst of the Civil Rights movement and with the shadow of Jim Crow laws looming overhead. As she searches to find herself, Jacqueline finds her voice as a writer and she begins to tell stories that will shape her future. Told entirely in verse, this memoir is a touching and thoughtful story about growing up and finding your way. A National Book Award Winner, Newbery Honoree, and Coretta Scott King Awa...

Cabin Head and Tree Head By Scott Campbell New York: McClelland & Stewart Ltd., 2025. Comic. 88 pgs. Cabin Head and Tree Head are the very best of friends, in a wacky, silly world filled with other creatures who have things on their head. This graphic novel follows the friends through six short stories where readers get to explore their world and see how deep their friendship bonds go. In the first story, "Hellos" Cabin Head and Tree Head decide to run around sharing "HELLOS" with everyone they encounter - readers will be delighted to meet Pool Head (who is having a party), Mail Truck Head, and Outhouse Head (the only one near construction who can hear them). Like other friendship pairs in the early reader cannon, Cabin Head and Tree Head will win you over with their friendship and charm. Don't let the zany conceit here distract from this charming comic about two best buds. The overall silliness is sure to intrigue readers, who will be rewarded with engaging...

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban By Daniel Miyares New York: Random House, 2025. Comic. 240 pgs. In 1956, twelve-year-old Carlos likes his life in Ceiba Mocha, in the Cuban countryside. He spends lots of time with his family and his abuelo is his best friend. Carlos doesn't understand why his papi is always trying to win the lottery to move their family away from Abuelo and Abuela's farm. Almost unbelievably, one day Papi wins the lottery and Carlos' family moves to the city. Everyone keeps telling him this is a good thing, but he doesn't see how. But Carlos' life is due for even more big changes: Fidel Castro and his revolutionaries overthrow the Cuban government and after men with guns seize his business, Papi disappears to set up a life for the family in America.  This fictionalized account of the author's father's experiences as a child in Cuba is a window into a world of political upheaval. The story has a good balance of following Carlos and his perspective...

Night Chef: An Epic Tale of Friendship with a Side of Deliciousness By Mika Song New York: Random House Graphic, 2025. Comics. 160 pages. At the end of the day, the cooks leave the kitchen of a fine dining restaurant -- and Night Chef, a small raccoon, emerges from the walls to create culinary masterpieces. One night, she spots a small egg outside the window of the French restaurant, and envisions how delicious that egg would be on top of her evening ramen. But when the egg hatches, revealing a baby crow, Night Chef decides to leave the only home she's ever known on a quest to return the crow, who she names Ichi, to her family. Their adventure is not without peril, but it also opens Night Chef's eyes to a world and community of animals beyond her restaurant. She finds a late-night mole cafe, a raccoon-run diner, and a group of coyotes riding in boxcars. All the while, Night Chef and Ichi are fighting time and doing their best to avoid run-ins with a frenzied owl. Mika Song is a...

I love comics and graphic novels! This format has such a cool ability to draw in an audience by being able to show emotion on character's faces, give extra details to non-fiction stories, and add in extra vocabulary while showing what the word means. These qualities of comics are really helpful in telling stories about people from diverse cultures. These five comics all tell stories about people from different indigenous nations and how their culture affects how they live. The Ribbon Skirt By Cameron Mukwa New York: Graphix, an Imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2024. Comic. 175 pages. Anang, an Ojibwe tween wants to make a ribbon skirt—a traditional Anishinaabe clothing piece worn by women—to wear to an upcoming powwow, but Anang is worried about what the kids from school will think of them. Anang's classmates see them as a boy, when they are two-spirit and don't identify as a boy or a girl. They ask their grandparents for advice, who advise them to ask the spirits of animals and...

Tuck Everlasting: The Graphic Novel Written by Natalie Babbitt Adapted and Illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2025. Comics. 256 pages. 10-year-old Winnie Foster feels trapped like a bird in a gilded cage. She lives with her parents and grandmother in a large home on the edge of a sleepy town, and she is already bored with the expectations put on her by her family and society. While dreaming of adventure, Winnie comes across a young man named Jesse Tuck drinking from a spring in the woods near her home. Winnie becomes involved with the entire Tuck family, and learns their secret - after drinking from that spring 87 years before, the Tucks became immortal. Now Winnie must choose whether she wants to live forever or live a normal life with a beginning and end. Tuck Everlasting is a modern classic for good reason. The story balances deep philosophical questions with an enticing plot, and it does it in a way that respects children and never talks down t...

Superheroes and comics go hand in hand, but not every comic hero is a superhuman or a reclusive billionaire. Here are some awesome and unexpected superheroes to love! Aquamanatee Written by Ben Clanton Illustrated by Cassandra Federman Burbank, CA: DC Comics, 2025. Comics. 72 pages. Marlow the manatee is obsessed with Aquaman, but he doesn't exactly live a superhero lifestyle. When Marlow unexpectedly gains superpowers, he must look past his own blunders and work with his idol to help save the day. Super Pancake Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd Illustrated by Abhi Alwar New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. Comics. 169 pages. Peggy the pancake seems to constantly be making mistakes and disappointing her family. When a classmate's prank leads to her gaining superpowers, though, she must use her newfound abilities to protect Breakfast Town and the people she cares about from a supervillain's evil plot. It's Jeff: Jeff-Verse By Kelly Thompson and Gurihiru New York: Marvel Worldwid...

Pumpkin and Beetle: Two Vampire Cats By Jannie Ho New York: Holiday House, 2025. Comics. 70 pages. Pumpkin and Beetle are vampire cats and very best friends, and they desperately want the latest issue of their favorite comic book. But they don't have any money! The intrepid feline friends start out on various money making ventures --with varying degrees of success. Right before despair, an offer to barter comes from an unlikely source! This graphic novel is perfectly for emerging readers. Cartoons in a Halloween-y color palette are big and easy to read with lots of different sized panels to keep readers engaged. The text is printed in an easy-to-read font without too many extra words. And, while Pumpkin and Beetle's village is populated by various ghouls and goblins, their barely scary appearance makes for a fright free adventure. For young readers wanting a Halloween story they won't be scared of --look no further!