Provo Library Children's Book Blog

How They Choked: Failures, Flops, and Flaws of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg Illustrated by Kevin O'Malley Walker Books for Young Readers, 2014. 208 pages. From the same author-illustrator team that brought us How They Croaked comes this book that focuses on the mistakes and mishaps of "awfully famous" people. The introduction warns "Nobody's perfect; get used to it". That warning is relevant as some of our favorite famous people, including Amelia Earhart and Charles Dickens, are portrayed in a more negative light than we are used to. While the negativity is somewhat depressing, I think it's valuable to realize that everyone makes mistakes and has flaws or shortcomings, sometimes within their control and sometimes not. The writing is absolutely captivating and the illustrations are delightfully macabre. There are gross details of death and sickness akin to How They Croaked , so this is not the book for the squeamish. Overall a fascinating ...

Go: A Kidd's guide to graphic design by Chip Kidd Workman Publishing, 2013. 160 pages. For kids 10 and up who have an interest in art and/or graphic design, this is the perfect book. Chip Kidd (a brilliant graphic designer) explains the power and why behind graphic design, then shows how to use good form, typography, content, and concept as a designer. The last chapter gives 10 design projects that are doable, fun, and useful. The book itself has great design elements and the pages are filled with visual examples. Even though it is 160 pages, the writing is engaging and doesn't feel long or textbookish at all. I love books that empowers kids to start developing skills that can help them with future careers, and Go does that without a doubt. 

The Prince and the Potty by Wendy Cheyette illustrated by Keiko Motoyama Simon and Schuster, 2006, picture book The young prince is lacking motivation to use his royal potty, so his parents, the King and Queen, consult the Royal Wise Man.  He advises that they get the prince a puppy.  As the prince patiently works with the queen to paper train the puppy, he finds his own resolve.  This is a cute companion book to the very popular The Princess and the Potty by the same author. Although this is not a new publication, it is new to the library and a great addition to our "Hot Topics: Potty Training" section.

Fly Away by Patricia MacLachlan Margaret K McElderry Books, 2014. Fiction 108p Lucy and her family are visiting North Dakota to help their Aunt whose house is threatened by the rising flood waters of a nearby river. Lucy is very close to her little brother, Teddy.  He doesn't mind that she cannot carry a tune, even though the rest of the family is very musical, even Teddy.  No one knows that he comes into her room every night and sings a nursery song to her. It is their little secret until the little boy disappears at the peak of a storm and Lucy has to use her embarrassing singing voice to try to find him. Ms MacLachlan is a lyric writer. This isn't a long book, but, with a economy of words, the author paints very real a vivid characters and settings.  The relationships between Lucy and Teddy, and between Lucy's parents and Aunt Frankie are warm and sweet. This is a lovely new offering from a Newbery winning author.

  Green is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors by Roseanne Greenfield Thong Illustrated by John Parra Chronicle Books, 2014, Picture Book Here is a new book in our "Colors" picture book section that teaches the names of colors in English and Spanish. The text is all in rhyme and features objects that one might find in a Hispanic community. Beside the names of the colors, there are other words in Spanish like "platos" on the orange page, and "faroles" on the yellow page. There is a glossary in the back of the book, but the meaning of most of the Spanish words is clear from context and from the illustrations. Parra's illustrations are painted with rich contrasting colors on a textured canvas, and capture the feel of Hispanic folk art. This title is available as physical book or as a downloadable ebook .

Lizzy Bennet's Diary: Inspired by Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Maria Williams Candlewick Press, 2014. Fiction 112 p. Readers have loved the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darci for more than a century.  This is a way to share this tale with a younger audience.  Ms Williams has recounted Lizzy's story in a diary form complete with colored illustrations and attached mementos.  Readers can see what Lizzy thought when first meeting Mr. Darci, or finding out about Lydia's elopement. Readers can see the invitation to the ball and the note to Jane from Ms Bingley telling her the Mr. Bingley is going to London. There are also sketches of the arrival of the regiment and other events from the story. Some of the passages contain snippets of original book's language, but the book is mostly new fictionalization. The illustrations are light hearted as are Lizzy's ruminations. This is a fun selection for Austen fans, young and old.

Ribbit! by Rodrigo Folgueira Illustrated by Poly Bernatene Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2013. 32 pages. As a group of frogs are minding their own business, a pig joins them. The pig says "Ribbit!" The frogs are aghast. Is this pig trying to mock them? Other woodland creatures come by to observe as the pig continues to say "Ribbit!" They talk amongst themselves about the pig who isn't doing what he ought to. Finally, they seek out the wise old beetle to tell them how they should deal with this pig. The beetle helps them realize that maybe the pig is just looking for new friends. At this point, the pig has disappeared. Is it too late for a new friendship to begin? Folgueira's sweet and lightly humorous book deals with judgement and gossiping in a way young children can understand without being too emotional or heavy. The pig who goes out of his way to make new friends is a great role model. I love that despite the rejection he receives, ...