Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Redwoods, Hemlocks and Other Cone-Bearing Plants by Steve Parker Compass Point, 2010. 48 pgs. Non-fiction. Cumbersome title, fabulous book. Parker's well-written, beautifully illustrated volume is a smorgasbord--in format and content--of fascinating information on conifers. From prehistoric cycads (whose leaves were eaten by the dinosaurs) to modern pine, fir, and hundreds of variants, the history of conifers is laid bare along with any number of arcane facts. Did you know that juniper and other conifer woods are burned as incense in Buddhist temples? that conifers that grow in swamps have node-like roots that protrude above the ground/water because the tree can't get enough oxygen otherwise? Did you know that the longbows of medieval warfare were made from yew wood because of its perfect combination of strength and elasticity? Redwoods, Hemlock, and other Cone-Bearing Plants is one volume in the Kingdom Classification series. I can hardly wait to read the rest.

Year of the Tiger by Alison Lloyd Holiday House, 2010. 195 pgs. Fiction Two boys become unlikely friends in this exciting story from second century China. Li Hu helps his parents run their noodle shop next to the Great Wall, but likes it better when he and his family perform as acrobats. But when Commander Zheng and the Tiger Battalion show up at the Emperor's command to repair the Great Wall before the Barbarians swarm through, Hu's life changes dramatically. He and the commander's son meet by accident and secretly practice together to enter an archery contest, but greater things are afoot as the boys are driven apart and then join forces again as they try to outsmart and then outrun the Barbarians to save their families and their country. With appealing protagonists, a nicely atmospheric sense of Chinese culture and society, and an exciting story, Year of the Tiger is a fine story for young people who like stories from far away and long ago.

Super Stars: The Biggest, Hottest, Brightest, Most Explosive Stars in the Milky Way . . . By David A. Aguilar National Geographic, 2009. 48 pgs. Nonfiction. A judicious mix of photographs and out-of-this world (you'll excuse the expression) astronomical art will draw young science types quickly and thoroughly into Aguilar's new book about all things STAR. The genesis of stars, their differing properties, and astral recycling form the scaffolding upon which Aguilar hangs his breathtaking artwork, fascinating facts, and a cool little feature that gives the names of the star, the constellation in which it may be found, its distance from earth, visibility (naked eye, binoculars, telescope), and where to find it in the seasonal sky. There is so much material here that it occasionally takes snake-eyed concentration to follow all the texts, charts, and illustrations to the point being made, but there's nothing wrong with that for kids who want to grow up to be rocket scienti...

The Meeting Mr. Badger and Mrs. Fox #1 by Brigitte Luciani & Eve Tharlet Children's graphic novel Minneapolis, MN : Graphic Universe, 2010 Mrs. Fox and her young daughter flee from their burrow just before the hunting dogs destroy it. They are seeking shelter and a place to rest when they accept the hospitality of Mr. Badger. The badger children aren't too sure of these strangers staying in their home and putting them out of their beds. The little fox thinks she is too good to play badger games and doesn't settle in well with them either. When the parents decide this might be a bit of a more permanent solution and begin expanding the badgers burrow to make more room, the youngsters' emotions explode with surprising results. This cutely illustrated graphic novel is obviously trying to show the struggles some people face when blending families. The author specifically demonstrates some parallels to a family of multiple ethnicity. If a child is soon to be a part of thi...

Anna Maria's Gift by Janice Shefelman ill. by Robert Papp intermediate historical fiction 100 pages New York : Random House, c2010 Anna Maria Lombardini is only eight-years-old when her beloved father passes away. Already having lost her mother years ago, she is sent to an orphanage in Venice. Her father had given her one last gift from his death-bed, a new violin made just for her. The master Antonio Vivaldi becomes her music instructor at the Pieta, and is quite pleased with her mastery of the violin. A fellow orphan is jealous of Anna Maria's talents and throws her precious instrument into the canal. Anna Maria is distraught from losing this last link to her father. She enlists the aid of some friends to scour the city for her violin with surprising results. An intriguing historical fiction story for beginning chapter book readers. Who doesn't love books about orphans and their exciting adventures?

The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli ill. by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff juvenile realistic fiction - in verse 248 pages New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2010 Bindi is struggling with life. Her parents are separated for reasons she doesn't understand. She is good friends with a couple girls and a boy, but the dynamics of the friendships seem to be undergoing a change. Her mother join her aunt and uncle in opening a cafe called The Dancing Pancake. All of these things together require her to move out of the house she has always known into an apartment over the restaurant. As she comes to terms with all the changes surrounding her, Bindi grows up and realizes changes aren't always a bad thing. As I read this, I was frequently reminded of another book I read recently - It's Raining Cupcakes . The similarities include family and friendship issues and mother opening a themed restaurant. That being said, they are quite different as well. The Dancing Cupcake is told in verse and ...

Michael Townsend's Amazing Greek Myths of Wonder and Blunders Graphic Novel/Mythology 160 pages New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, c2010 Nine classic tales from Greek Mythology are presented here in a bright and bizarre graphic novel format. I can honestly say I have never read more ridiculous versions or seen such wacky illustrations for these myths. While not my favorite thing, they will probably be popular with the younger crowd (particularly boys) who tend to prefer comics and the graphic novel genre.