Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Friendship is such an important part of life! I love to have my friends to celebrate life's victories with. When I am having a rough time, I also rely on the strength of my friends. Picture books are a great way to talk to kids about friendships. With a new school year just around the corner, I think talking with kids about friendship and how to be a good friend is so important. These five books have friendships in them that might help facilitate discussions with your people! Love Grows Here By Amy Adele New York : Magic Cat Publishing, 2025. Picture Book. In this sweet story, there is a lovely garden that an elderly couple tends to with joy in their heart. When the woman is sent to the hospital for an extended stay, the animals that love the garden worry it won't be the same. But through grit and determination and teamwork, they work together and do what friends do best: take care of each other! The illustrations are absolutely amazing and will have kids enthralled with all of...

  There have been many picture books that have come out in recent years that are not only fantastic but have also been written by Native American authors. Here are some of my favorites. Happy Reading!  The Animals Speak: The Lakota Way   By S. D. Nelson (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe)  Lakota Translation by Dakota W. Goodhouse  New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2026. Picture Book.  Various animals teach different life lessons. For example, bear “teaches us toe walk with strength and protect those who are smaller and weaker” while hummingbird “reminds us that no matter our size, we can act with great energy and strength.” Each page has the Lakota translation for the animal along with a guide as to how to pronounce the Lakota word. This beautiful book celebrates animals, people, and the Lakota way.  For a Girl Becoming   By Joy Harjo (Mvskoke Nation)  Illustrated by Adriana Garcia  New York: Norton Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book....

When you hear someone mention sports, you probably think of basketball, baseball, or soccer. But there is a whole world of sports and athletics that are not your typical "something-ball" sports. If you or your child likes sports stories and wants stories about sports we don't always talk about, here's a list of sports stories that stray from the conventional. Team Park By Angela Ahn Toronto: Tundra, 2024. Fiction. 233 pages. Evan doesn’t do well at team sports, much to his dad’s chagrin. But while healing from a broken wrist, his physical therapist suggests training for the Dominator Ninja competition. Evan seems to have found his thing when he sprains his wrist. Suggested by his sister, he gets his family to join the team “Soiled Pants” obstacle course to compete together. Learning to Fall By Sally Engelfried New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2022. Fiction. 268 pages. Daphne is stuck with her dad for the summer while her mom films a movie in Prague. She and her da...

If you like slightly spooky stories about fangs, friendship and fitting in, here are some illustrated chapter books you can sink your teeth into!  Maud and the Very Eventful Week Written and Illustrated by Lisa Anchin Candlewick Press, 2026. J Intermediate. 64 pages. Join Maud the vampire for a week's worth of amusing vignettes, from a possessed teapot to a catastrophic cooking project with her best friend. I love the art in this book: charming illustrations with great compositions and lots of details. The world Lisa Anchin has created is warm, soft, funny, and a little creepy. Recommended for newly independent readers who are looking forward to tackling  Princess in Black on their own. Kevin the Vampire: A Most Mysterious Monster Written by Matt Brown Illustrated by Lincoln, MA : Nosy Crow, 2026. J Intermediate. 196 pages. Kevin is a young vampire who has grown up in a traveling circus full of monsters. When Carnival Monstromo gets stuck in a strange, quiet town called Lower ...

Poetry has found such a special place in my heart as I have gotten older. As a child I didn't really understand the people who were drawn to poetry books. Nothing about them ever pulled me in when I was younger. But then at some point as a grown-up, I discovered how healing and hopeful poetry made me feel. I wish I could remember the first poetry book that stirred these emotions within me. Even though I don't remember the title, I will always remember how it impacted me, and because of those feelings, now I try to share poetry books as often as I can. Here are five recent favorites that I have read and I hope you enjoy! Pondering: A Story in Cinquains Written by Paul Paolilli and Dan Brewer Illustrated by Dao Linh New York, NY : WorthyKids, 2026. Picture Book. People often (mistakenly) think of poetry as having to rhyme. Cinquain poems are a great way to introduce kids and grownups alike to a form of poetry that doesn't require rhyming. Cinquain poems have 5 lines, and a sp...

There were a lot of great people who helped found the United States of America. There were a lot of people who were instrumental in working to make sure that our country started 250 years ago. There are way too many biographies about these great people to name all of them. But I can give you five picture book biographies that can introduce kids to some of these great heroes. Happy reading!  George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses that Saved America   Written by Selene Castroville  Illustrated by Jenn Harney  New York: Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture book.  One of the things you never see in portraits is George Washington wearing glasses. Yet he did. And this book goes over how George Washington wearing glasses actually helped save America from some very frustrated continental soldiers. Fascinating, right?  Revolutionary Mary: The True Story of One Woman, the Declaration of Independence, and America’s...

One of my very favorite folktales is the story of stone soup. When a stranger comes to town with nothing but a pot of water and a stone, they begin to make stone soup. Slowly they convinced the selfish villagers to add what little food they have to the soup to make it even more delicious. By the time the soup is finished, the village enjoys a communal feast–made better by everyone's contributions. As is often the case with folktales, this story has been retold lots of different ways with many different twists. These are some of my favorite versions, to compare and contrast. Stone Soup: An Old Tale By Marcia Brown New York: Aladdin Books, 1947. Picture book. Probably the best known picture book version of Stone Soup, this Marcia Brown classic is a Caldecott honoree. Telling a pretty authentic version of the European folktale, three soldiers stop in a village that is reluctant to share their food. Bit by bit, the soldiers trick the villagers into adding delicious and flavorful ingred...

Story time is a wonderful time for families to come together. This collection of picture books centers on family: families playing together, learning together, and celebrating their histories and differences. All families will be able to relate to the stories found in these pages, regardless of their own backgrounds.  Mama Car Written by Lucy Catchpole  Illustrated by Karen George New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture book.  A child notices the similarities between her tricycle, her dad's big car, and her mom's Mama Car. The Mama Car can take them on expeditions, leading way to exciting adventures before heading back home. The Mama Car is special in many ways, but the most important thing is who it contains: Mama.  Let's Rumble Written by Rachel G. Payne Illustrated by Jose Pimienta  New York: Rise x Penguin Workshop, 2025. Picture book.  This "rough-and-tumble book of play" depicts a mom and her two children rough housing together. The illustr...

When I was in elementary school, our internet safety training was pretty simple: don't go to online chatrooms and don't give out your personal information. That was before the big social media platforms took off and became a huge part of communicating. Now there's a lot more complexity towards being safe online. If you want to find a story to start a conversation about the effects of social media and online safety, check out one of these new books! So Over Sharing By Elissa Brent Weissman New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2025. Fiction. 326 pages. Hadley and Willow are different, but have one major thing in common: both of their moms are influencers who post their daughters on social media for content. Tired of the over-sharing and double lives, they create a private Instagram account @WeAreNOT_Content, where they share the realities of being children of content creators. A great story to talk about the effects of internet fame and children. Confessions of a Mango By ...

Fashion is more than just clothes—it’s a way for kids to express creativity, identity, and imagination. Books about fashion can introduce young readers to design, history, and the joy of personal style. Whether they dream of becoming designers or simply love getting dressed up, these stories open the door to a colorful world of ideas. From playful picture books to informative guides, fashion-themed reads can spark confidence and innovation at any age. How To Be a Fashion Designer Written by Lesley Ware Illustrated by Tiki Papier New York : Dorling Kindersley, 2024. Informational. 96 pages. This inspiring guide introduces young readers to the creative world of fashion design. It explains the basics of developing ideas, sketching clothing, and understanding fabrics in a fun and accessible way. The book encourages readers to express their individuality and shows how imagination and practice can help turn fashion ideas into real designs. Andre Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and Rob S...