Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Bear in the Air Written by Allison Wortche Illustrated by Cat Min Bear is in the air, and he likes it up there! Beautifully colored illustrations tell the story of Bear as he floats his way through the forest, passing friends and family. At first, he happily declines their invitations to join them in activities on the ground, but as time passes, he starts to feel a little tired of being in his hot air balloon. It takes a lot of courage to admit that he doesn't know how to get down!  Brightly colored and sunny characters will make any child excited to read or listen to this charming picture book! The story itself is simple, yet tells a wonderful narrative that children will be able to relate to. It can be scary to admit we don't know things, but as Bear finds out, helpful friends will always be there to step in. 

  The Yellow Bus By Loren Long New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2024. Picture Book. This picture book chronicles the life of a yellow bus as it's used for a multitude of purposes. The bus starts as a school bus for children, then becomes a shuttle for the elderly. Eventually, it is left under a city bridge where it becomes a shelter and gathering place for unhoused individuals. You may think the story ends there, but the bus is towed to another location where it becomes a playground for goats, and finally for fish. The gorgeous grayscale landscapes in this book contrast from the bus, and the individuals that use it, creating the feeling of life within the bus. Sweeping bird's eye views were drawn after the artist created a model town that he could use for perspective. If you like last year's The Tree in the River and want another book about how things change over time, check out The Yellow Bus. 

The weather might be turning too cold to spend much time on your bicycle outside, but you can still read these great books about bicycles! Birth of the Bicycle Written by Sarah Nelson Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2024. Informational. This beautifully illustrated nonfiction narrative of the history of the bicycle in the United States will enchant readers as they learn about the innovations that made bikes popular and practical--like brakes, rubber tires, and specially designed clothing for women. Further information about the various iterations of the bicycle concludes the book. The Running Machine By Keith Negley New York: Balzar + Bray, 2024. Picture Book. After a huge volcanic eruption altered the global climate, the summer of 1816 is too cold for a good harvest, and farmers in Germany are unable to keep their horses. Karl Drais, a young boy who loves riding, misses the freedom and speed that horses normally give him. He decides to create a human-prop...

Our Hot Topic "Go" section has plenty of picture books for anyone who is loco for locomotives. We also have nonfiction train books chock-full of facts, diagrams, and photographs (check in and around the 625.2s!) But this list is for train books that really make the reader a passenger. With rhythmic, repetitive text and hypnotic imagery of passing landscapes, these make great bedtime reads, too. All Aboard the Alaska Train  Written by Brooke Hartman Illustrated by John Joseph  Brooklyn, NY: Red Comet Press, 2024. Picture Book.  "Chugga-chugga, clickety clack!" This rhyming picture book takes you on a cheerful tour of Alaska's unique environments and wildlife by way of the Alaska Railroad. The brightly colored and enticingly detailed illustrations are by John Joseph (illustrator of Little Blue Truck and many others.)  I Like Trains  By Daisy Hirst Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2021. Picture Book. A train-loving little dog reads about trains, plays train...

Hot air balloons have always seemed like a fascinating and fun way to travel. Amazing aerial views, like those from an airplane window, mix with the slower pace of a train ride to let you take in the rolling hills and wispy clouds. If you're also interested in reading stories about floating among the clouds, try these books! Halfway to Harmony By Barbara O'Connor New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2021. Fiction. 234 pages. Walter, a boy grieving the loss of his older brother, makes friends with his talkative new neighbor Posey. While the two of them are out catching minnows together in the creek, they meet an injured balloonist who enlists their help in recovering his damaged hot air balloon so that he can win an upcoming hot air balloon race.  Flight for Freedom Written by Kristen Fulton Illustrated by Torben Kuhlmann San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2020. Informational. This informational book tells the true story of one family's escape from East Germany over the Berl...

 There are many little ones who love to read about transportation books. The wheels that go round and round, the big trailers, the extra parts that dig or smash or compact just are fun to see out on the road and in a good book. Here are five of my favorite newer transportation books that are fun to read for both kids and the adults who might read to them. Enjoy!  Big Truck Day  Written by Rosanne Parry  Illustrated by Niki Stage  New York: Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2022. Picture Book.  In this story, the neighborhood is excited and heading to the library for a very special day. A day featuring all kinds of big trucks. However, their favorite is the library’s book mobile—all full of books ready to be checked out.  Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep!  Written by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson  Illustrated by Nathalie Beauvois  Dallas; New York: Brown Books Kids, 2023. Picture Book.  With a plethora of onoma...

"We're going, we're going, we're going on a trip!  Train, plane or taxi cab, all the choices hip!" I'm sure no one will remember this super catchy song from a 30-year-old episode of "Bobby's World", but I sure remember and sing it every time I'm going on a trip (so not as often as I'd like.)  However you get from point A to point B, be it zany or mundane, let's take a second to appreciate a few of the ways we can get to all the cool places we're going.   The Airport: The Inside Story Written by John Walton Illustrated by Hannah Abbo New York: Neon Squid, 2023. Informational. 64 pages. Spend a day at the airport following all the many people that make flying a daily reality.  From pilots to flight attendants to baggage handlers, everyone plays a part in making an airport run. Cruise Ships By Kaitlin Duling Vero Beach, Florida: Rourke Educational Media, 2019. Informational. 48 pages. Cruise ships carry thousands of passengers and c...

All Kinds of Cars By Carl Johanson Provides labeled illustrations of both real and imagined cars, trucks, and other vehicles, including a forklift, scooter, ambulance, sock car, and igloo car. The Cars and Trucks Book By Todd Parr Illustrations and simple text reveal many things that cars and trucks like to do, from just being on the road to helping keep the planet clean. Includes safety tips. Cars Galore By Peter Stein Cars of all shapes, colors, and sizes--including an igloo ice-fueled polar car and an eco-friendly car that runs on air--are presented in illustrations and rhyme. Trucks Line Up By Jon Scieszka   As soon as Jack Truck wakes up he gets the other trucks in line, but somehow he misses Pete. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go By Richard Scarry On their way to the beach for a picnic the Pig family encounters almost every kind of transportation vehicle imaginable--and imaginary. Go, Go, Trucks! By Jennifer Liberts  Two siblings spot a variety of...

Fire Truck Vs. Dragon By Chris Barton Art by Shanda McCloskey Little, Brown and Company, 2020. Picture Book. Have you read and loved Shark Vs. Train the way that I have? Well if you did, then here is a fun kind-of-sequel for you—only it doesn’t involve toys it is about a REAL fire truck and a REAL dragon going head-to-head. In this story three children are excited to see Fire Truck and Dragon face-off (just imagine all that water vs. fire going all over in a fun battle!). However, they are disappointed when Fire Truck and Dragon think they want to see them make shadow puppets, cook-off, or have a staring contest. The three children portrayed in the story are disappointed one “battle” after another—though readers who are patient and wait until the end of the story get some of the “action” they crave. Though this is different than the previously done book it is still satisfying to those who love fire trucks and dragons—fun read!

The Old Truck  By Jarrett Pumphrey and Jerome Pumphrey Norton Young Readers, an Imprint of W. W. Norton and Company, 2020. Picture Book. There is a truck that works hard on a small farm; however, when the truck starts to get old and tired the truck stops working. Instead the truck rests and dreams—dreams of taking the little girl on the farm on adventures into the sea, the sky, and outer space. Eventually the little girl grows up and she fixes the old truck and then new adventures on the small farm begin again. This is a fun book for truck enthusiasts who like the idea of a truck being a part of the farm family. The pictures are full of fun details and the text simple enough that the very earliest readers will sit still to listen. This is a great addition to our “Things that Go” picture book shelves.

Do You Like My Bike? (Part of the new Hello, Hedgehog! series) By Norm Feuti Acorn, Scholastic, 2019. 46 p. Last week I talked about one of the new Acorn books—well, this is another! I am so excited to see this new Scholastic division of books because early readers need lots of good books to practice reading with! This new series (that I got an advanced reading copy of—so thus the sneak peek) comes out at the end of this month. But we are so excited about it that we already have it on order so you can put it on hold! In this series we are introduced to Hedgehog and Harry. Hedgehog has a new bike and he wants to ride it and then he wants to share the experience with his good friend Harry (although Harry isn’t that keen on riding a bike that looks a little too fast). Other than a bit of onomatopoeia, this sweet new series has a lot of dialog in color-coordinated speech bubbles that will easily help kids understand who is talking and what is going on. There are also some comic...

The Wright Brothers' First Flight: A Fly on the Wall History By Thomas Kingsley Troupe Two cartoon flies join readers as they follow Orville and Wilbur Wright on their quest for flight, providing a hearty blend of facts and fun while telling the story of a great moment in American and aviation history Flight 1-2-3 By Maria Van Lieshout A boy counts his way through the airport and onto the plane as it flies towards its destination. Build Your Own Rockets and Planes By Rob Ives Build your very own planes and rockets with easy-to-find items. Find out how to make a glider, helicopter, a parachute, and more with objects like pencils, washers, and a plastic bag. Just put the pieces together to fly away! Flight By Andrew Nahum Traces the history and development of aircraft from hot-air balloons to jetliners, and includes information on the principles of flight and the inner workings of various flying machines. Planes and Helicopters By Jon Richards Have...

Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper Written by Anastasia Suen Illustrated by Ryan O'Rourke Charlesbridge, 2017. Informational, 32 p.  As a little kid, I didn't know a dump truck from an excavator. I was too preoccupied with mermaids and fairies to care very much. But  Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper helped me finally understand the appeal of these huge machines and their functions. The steps of constructing a skyscraper are described clearly and simply in the pages of this book, with illustrations that include labels and cross sections.  There are friendly, action-based rhymes on each page which will appeal to preschool-aged children, as well as descriptions of each moment within the process of constructing a skyscraper that six or seven-year-olds will understand and appreciate.  Up! Up! Up! Skyscraper is a great example of process-oriented nonfiction for younger children, perfect for future engineers and construction fans.

The Bicycle Written by: Lucas Arnoldussen Illustrated by: Mark Janssen New York, Clavis Publishing, 2018. J Informational This is an informational picture book about the history of the bicycle. If you have ever been curious about what the first bicycle looked like or you are wondering how to choose the best bike for you, then read this book to discover a wealth of knowledge about bicycles. This engaging book talks about everything from how to fix a flat tire to the most famous cyclists. Its a fun fact filled book that will turn you into a bicycle expert in just a few short pages. 

Roadwork ,  Demolition , and Construction by Sally Sutton Illustrated by Brian Lovelock Candlewick Press, 2011, 2014 & 2015. Board Book. Have you ever groaned at the appearance of roadwork while your toddler stared fascinated? Well don't expect this series to lower your blood pressure, but your kids will love it. These picture books turned board books are a truck-lovers dream. With entertaining metered prose and hilarious construction sounds, you may find yourself giving a begrudging smile to delighted children during a noisy neighborhood construction project.

Mama Lion Wins the Race  Jon J Muth Scholastic Press, 2017. Picture Book. Have you ever read a book and loved how it spoke to you for many different reasons? Well, this is one of those books for me. First of all, let me tell you what this book is about. Mama Lion and Tigey are about to enter a car race. This race takes place all over Italy (according to the map and some of the illustrations of the Italian countryside. There are other racers as well—racing in a variety of other animals both nice and a little mischievous. All of the animals are based off of stuffed animals. The author had a lot of help (just look at who he dedicates and thanks on the last page) from kids who were willing to share their stuffed friends for him to draw. I love that this is a story where toys come to life. I believe kids will like how stuffed animals can potentially be racing all over the Italian countryside. Also, I love that this is a nod to the Old Italian car races that happened in the ear...

Mighty, Mighty Construction Site By Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld Chronicle Books, 2017 In this sequel to Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site the five construction trucks wake up to a new day. However, their blueprints show that the project is quite massive—so much so that they need to call for reinforcements with five other construction trucks to help. With the addition of the five new crew members the grandest building yet can be constructed. Youngsters who loved the first book will enjoy this new edition as well. And with five new machines there is even more terminology and construction love to go around.

The Airport Book By Lisa Brown Roaring Book Press, 2016. Picture Book. In the days before taking a child on their first flight, put reading this book at the top of your checklist. Going to the airport for the first time brings new sights and the unknown. Brown captures the experience in a fun, entertaining way. A little girl is in the process of going on a trip with her family and trying to keep track of her sock monkey packed away in her bag. Each page perfectly describes, in picture form, the intricate details of traveling. There are also side comments from the crowd, including a couple where one asks the other, "Do you have the tickets?" providing amusement and information at the same time. Did you know we have a Hot Topics shelf in the Children's section of the library? This book is in "Things that Go" section, check it out!

Delivery By Aaron Meshon Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2017 A grandmother “almost forgot” a special day. So she hurries and makes some heart shaped cookies to send to her grandson—then begins the real adventure. The cookies are sent in the mail (which involves a truck, a tractor, a boat, a submarine, a whale, a helicopter, a train, a dog sled, snowshoe, and a rocket before finally being delivered. The red heart on the package (as well as the various forms of transportation) helps readers keep track of where the package is. The bright colors will also capture the attention of young readers. All in all this is a great book for kiddos who love various modes of transportation, grandmothers, or getting packages from loved ones in the mail.

Old MacDonald Had a Truck Written by Steve Goetz Illustrated by Eda Kaban Chronicle Books LLC, 2016. Picture Book. What could be better than taking a favorite children’s song about a farm and mixing in construction vehicles!? In this fun spin on the song Old MacDonald Had a Farm, the old farmers and their animals are busy transforming the farm using construction vehicles like a bulldozer and a steamroller. There are no animal noises on this farm. Instead, kids will love noises like dump, thump, squish and smash! This is a great choice for all of those construction and vehicle lovers.