Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  Queso Just in Time By Ernesto Cisneros New York: Quil Tree Books, 2026. Fiction. 257 pages. Quetzalcóatl Castillo, Queso for short , is mourning the loss of his father . Even with his friends trying their best to cheer him up, Queso can’t help but feel the ache in his heart in the shape of his dad . He just wants to see his dad one more time . Queso whispers his wish to a bunny he saved during a night -t ime rainstorm while taking shelter in the tree house his dad built with his own father, the man Queso is named after but never got the chance to meet , only to wake up in 1985 and meets a twelve-year-old Pancho, the boy who will grow up to be his dad. Despite the potential dangers for his current /future time , Queso takes advantage of this strange time-travel to spend time with his father again and getting to know his grandfather , Quetzalcóa tl “Queso” Senior . Queso wonders how much the future would change for his family if he helps  Pancho with the one ...

I never road a school bus to school, and only ever occasionally road one home from school. But it's hard to deny that a school bus is an icon. Seeing a yellow and black school bus evokes nostalgic memories of back to school, and though it's sad to see summer come to an end—we love back to school season. This list has five favorite school bus books to get you ready for back to school. On Our Way with Mr. Jay Written by Chelsea Lin Wallace Illustrated by Thyra Heder New York: Neal Porter Books, 2025. Picture book. Mr. Jay starts his morning early so that he can pick up the 18 kids on School Bus 3 and get them to school on time. Their route takes them over hills, across the freeway, and over cobblestones. The minutes are counting down as we get closer to 8:05 A.M.—the start of the school day—but bouncing, rhyming text reassures the reader that all's okay "we're on our way!" It's Not a School Bus, It's a Pirate Ship Written by Mickey Rapkin Illustrated by ...

Incredibly Penelope By Lauren Myracle Somerville MA: Walker Book, 2025. Fiction. 292 Pages. Nine-year-old Penelope Goodheart has always gotten whatever she needed and has spent her short nine years traveling the world with her mother and celebrity godmother, Queenie Bee. With all the traveling they do Penelope has never gone to a formal school or made any friends her own age. Penelope decides she wants to have the school experience and make some friends so she begs her mother to let her attend an in-person school. Her mother finally agrees and tells her to find a school she likes. Penelope starts looking for schools in the state of Georgia because that is where her mother grew up. She is so excited when she finds the perfect school, Idlewild Academy for Girls, a boarding school in Georgia. At her new school Penelope quickly makes friends with her roommate Tate, but she soon finds that not all  students are as friendly. School may not be as easy as she first thought but Penelope is ...

Recess By Lane Smith New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2025. Picture Book. It's many kids' favorite time of the school day: Recess!!! Well, not quite yet. What do you do when you're so excited for recess—or just need a little break—but recess is so  far away? Why don't you just make a mini recess wherever you are? Guided by your teacher, of course. The author will start by describing a typical school situation, before following it up with a vivid page describing ways to make the situation silly. Like in math class: we start solving a word problem about several people and their bananas, before starting to yell "bananas" as loud as we can! This interactive picture book makes a great read aloud to encourage participation from your audience. The vivid colors and wacky stylization of the children reflect the silliness of the tasks they are being given, and well contrasted with the set up of each scene in blacks and greys. Reading this story out loud to a gr...

With mixed emotions and fresh pencils, summer has ended and school has begun. Here are a few short, illustrated chapter books that take you there - some realistic, some fantastical, but all sensitive to this real transition children make. See Bibsy Cross and Still Sal for a couple more excellent back-to-school Intermediates! Bulldozer Goes to School Written by Elise Broach Illustrated by Kelly Murphy New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Intermediate. 110 pages.  Bulldozer, a gentle construction vehicle living in a world of humans, is nervous about starting school. His story is full of understated conflicts: He wants to be true to himself, but he also wants to fit in, he has doubts and fears, but he also has moments of success and delight. It's sweet, funny, and true. I love the greyscale and soft orange illustrations throughout. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus Written by Barbara Park Illustrated by Denise Brunkus New York: Random House, 1992. Intermediate. 69 pages...

Whether your reader is going to school for the first time or returning for another busy year, these new picture books are a great way to get in the school year mindset! Scarecited on the First Day of School Written by Alliah L. Agostini Illustrated by Lala Watkins  New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025. Picture Book.  Have you ever felt more than one way about something? Of course you have! This delightful picture book perfectly encapsulates that phenomenon --because it's Afua's first day of school, and she's feeling so many things!  The Tour at School! Written by Katie Clapham Illustrated by Nadia Shireen Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2025. Picture Book. Get ready to smile until your face hurts at the antics of this young new tour guide! Our tour guide is very self-assured, and reminds readers that when you're assigned to show a new student around there are some things you absolutely must remember to do, like: Sound very excited, locate the echo-ey bathroom fi...

Although I'm always sad for summer to end, I am one of those people who really loves back to school season. What is not to love? I love school, I love learning, and I love welcoming so many families back to the library for regular programs after a busy summer full of activities. But I would be remiss to not mention one of my favorite parts of back to school, which is back to school supplies. I, like Joe Fox from You've Got Mail,  "Would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils," if I only knew your name and address. In pursuit of that love, here are some great picture books about stationary, pens, pencils, and all the other supplies you'll need for back to school! Pencil By Hye-Eun Kim New York: TOON Books, 2025. Picture Book. This wordless picture book follows a particular pencil throughout its life from tree to drawing tool. This book has a strong conservation message, with evocative images showing the impact of deforestation and the possibility of readers ...

I'm always filled with gratitude for the teachers of the world. They have such an important, difficult, and underpaid job. I couldn't be more impressed with the women and men who devote their lives to teaching and loving our children.  My gratitude amps up to a thousand at the end of the school year, though-- everyone is chomping at the bit for summer and it is pure chaos in those classrooms.  At the close of this school year, I have to salute the wonderful teachers in my life with a list of picture books devoted to educators everywhere.  You Be Teacher Written by Karla Clark Illustrated by Gabby Zapata New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2025. Picture Book. Ms. C is an energetic, creative teacher that loves her students, but one extra busy morning she tells her students she needs a rest and invites them to be the teacher. The students know just what to do, and take up the challenge with confidence galore! A loving ode to a caring teacher and community of learners. Thank You,...

  The Cookie Vote  Written by Daniel Bernstrom and Margaret McNamara  Illustrated by G. Brian Karas  New York: Random House, 2025. Picture Book.  There is no sweeter way to learn about the legislative process than with cookies! Daniel Bernstrom and Margaret McNamara capture our attention with sugar and spice, all while exploring themes of democracy, leadership, and decision-making. The story follows a group of elementary school students who are tasked with presenting a bill to their state representative on their visit to the state capital.  They choose to present a bill for a state cookie. But which one? As the children work to figure it out, their experience cleverly mirrors real-world political processes. Another engaging aspect of this book is the illustrations by G. Brian Karas. He uses a soft hand-drawn technique that radiates a feeling of safety and support. In fact, the children remind me quite a bit of the Peanuts gang. I was also excited to see a r...

Still Sal By Kevin Henkes New York: Greenwillow Books, 2024. 248 pages. Creative, thoughtful Sal is excited to start first grade. She hopes she will be in Ms. Flowers' class. Ms. Flowers is the new teacher at school. She wears interesting clothing and smells like strawberry jam. But Sal gets Ms. McCormick instead. Ms. McCormick is very practical all around, from her appearance to her classroom assignments and in her way of getting things done. Navigating this deep disappointment, a new haircut, and evolving friendships, Sal wonders which parts of us stay the same and which parts will change as we get older.  Still Sal looks at the little things that feel very big and explores how good and bad are always mixed up together.  Kevin Henkes returns to some ideas from his classic picture book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse here - what it's like to yearn for a teacher's attention; the ways children can use their external selves to express their inner selves; the pitfalls of snaz...

  Dread Detention By Jennifer Killick New York: Delacorte Press, 2024. Fiction. 198 pages. Hallie, Naira, Angelo, and Gus are all given detention because of their participation in a food fight at school. They all meet Saturday morning at the school gate where the grounds keeper, Mr. Larrick, let's them inside the school grounds. He instructs them to find their teacher, Mr. Canton.  They can't wait for this horrible day to be over with, but the day slowly goes from bad to worse. First, Mr. Canton takes their cell phones, leaves them to take care of the school pigs, and then disappears. They find themselves locked in the school with no way to call for help and running for their lives from man-eating spiders that want to destroy them. I really enjoyed this book, it was both funny, suspenseful, action-based and it had a heartfelt message. I would recommend giving this book to any middle grade reader who likes horror books full of fast-paced action and creepy spiders.

  Frindle Files  By Andrew Clements  New York: Random House, 2024. Fiction. 198 pages.  In 1996 Andrew Clements wrote a story about a kid who invented the word “frindle” (another word for “pen.”)  The Frindle Files is the sequel that takes place many years later.  Josh is a student in Mr. N’s class. He and his friends can’t stand the fact that Mr. N makes them all write their homework down on paper with a “blue or black pen” and “neatness counts.” Josh is a computer geek and loves to do all his homework on the computer. In the midst of trying to find a way to make Mr. N accept the students' desire to do homework online, Josh comes across some information about Mr. N that links him to the word “frindle.” Now Josh and his best friend must decide what to do with the information and if they are willing to stand up to Mr. N’s antiquated way of doing homework.  Kids who love the original book will highly enjoy this new edition. It is a continuation to the ...

Bibsy Cross and the Bad Apple Written by Liz Garton Scanlon Illustrated by Dung Ho New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2024. Intermediate. 117 pages. Eight-year-old Bibsy is a "regular-pegular" third grader with an excitement for life and a lot to say. Her ebullience lands her in trouble with her strict teacher Mrs. Stumper, who labels Bibsy's talkativeness as "a stone too far" before she moves Bibsy's apple to the bottom of the behavioral chart. The apple chart looms over Bibsy each day, as she worries about being herself while still succeeding in class. Then, a science fair project with her best friend Natia gives Bibsy the ultimate inspiration to turn her sours into sweets -- and change Mrs. Stumper's opinion of her. This new intermediate series opener is delightful. Bibsy is a happy, empathetic kid that a lot of other kids will like to read stories about. Told in very simple verse with simple illustrations, this is sure to be a new favorite series.

  Tethered to Other Stars By Elisa Stone Leahy New York: Quill Tree Books, 2023. Fiction. 313 pages. Wendy, the main character in this realistic fiction, is a relatable and lovable young woman dealing with many things typical for her age: trying to navigate friendships, desiring to excel at school, and handling family relationships. To add to the difficulty, her family has recently relocated to a new town!  This book has so many ways to connect with an audience. Friendships are tested, racism is confronted, bullying is an issue, family relationships are strained, and school becomes a hard place when Wendy is paired up with another student who does some very unethical things while they are working on a group project together.  As I read this book, I felt such a wide range of emotions. I was cheering for Wendy and her friends, I was aghast at some of the situations they were confronted with, and I was angry that the hardships she faced are common for so many people. I appre...

Whether you love it or dread it, it's just about here--back to school! Whether you're looking for a book to help anxious littles worried about school starting or just trying to get kids excited about the prospect, check out the books below for some new ideas! Back to School, Backpack! Written by Simon Rich Illustrated by Tom Toro New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book.  Backpack has back-to-school on its mind.  They love summertime, just hanging in the closet with their best friends, winter coat, and laundry hamper.  But going back to school is so scary!  Backpack feels out of place and stressed until a chance encounter helps them find a new friend.   How to Get Your Octopus to School Written by Becky Scharnhorst Illustrated by Jaclyn Sinquett New York: Flamingo Books, 2023. Picture Book. Your octopus may not want to go to school, but you just know he's going to love it!  Unfortunately, you'll have to try to find him to tell him that a...