Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Since its invention in the 1970s, the Rubik’s Cube has remained a global phenomenon, capturing the imagination of generation after generation. Originally marketed as a teaching tool, it quickly became a cultural icon during the 1980s puzzle craze, selling millions of copies worldwide. While its popularity dipped in the years that followed, the cube experienced a strong resurgence in the 2000s with the rise of speedcubing, online tutorials, and international competitions. Today, the Rubik’s Cube continues to thrive as both a nostalgic symbol and a modern brain teaser, appealing to children, educators, and competitive solvers alike, and proving that its simple design has truly stood the test of time. Me & the Magic Cube Written by Daniel Fehr Illustrated by Golden Cosmos New York : NorthSouth Books, 2025. Picture book This bright and lively picture book is about a child who becomes fascinated with a colorful puzzle that seems impossible to solve. The text seamlessly alternates betwee...

Vampire Jam Sandwich Written by Casey Lyall Illustrated by Nici Gregory Toronto: Tundra, 2025. Picture book.  We all know what happens when a vampire bites a human...but you might not know that if a vampire takes a careless bite of a jam sandwich, that sandwich might become a vampire too! This sinister predator now prowls the night, stealing away every last dollop of jam, seeking to quench its endless thirst. To keep your jam safe, it's probably a good idea to hide it all outside where the vampire jam sandwich will never think to look... As readers listen to the narrator's dire warnings, the illustrations quickly let them in on the joke as jam continues to go missing. The limited color palette of the illustrations effectively uses red to highlight important details and incriminating evidence. A delightfully silly spooky tale.

With the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics fast approaching, Italy is set to take the world stage! Known for delicious food, high fashion, breathtaking sights, and a rich history, Italy is a wonderful setting for any story. These books will help both emerging and middle grade readers learn more about the beautiful country and provide an atmospheric read for anyone looking to learn more about the country sometimes known as "Bel Paese".  Piccolo By Dan Yaccarino New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2025. Picture book.  Piccolo is a shrew who lives in Italy. He loves making lists to help him plan visits to all his favorite places around the city! As he sets out on his adventure, his plans are quickly derailed as he helps one friend after another with various tasks. This sweet picture book will teach the importance of both friendship and hazelnut gelato.  Roman Holiday: The Illustrated Storybook Written by Micol Ostow Illustated by Diobelle Cerna San Rafael, California: Insight ...

  The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli By Karina Yan Glaser New York: Allida, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2025. Fiction. 420 pgs. In this sweeping middle-grade historical novel, two parallel stories of bravery and family love intersect across 1,200 years. In 731 C.E. China, young Han Yu leads a simple life helping his father sell steamed buns—but he carries the weight of the early events that happened to earn him the name "Tiger Boy." Meanwhile, in 1931 New York City, Luli works odd jobs to help her immigrant parents save their Chinatown restaurant during the Great Depression. Though separated by centuries, both children face drastic changes that force them to summon incredible strength to protect their families. Connected by Chinese culture and shared family threads, their journeys reveal that courage is timeless. It is a masterful tale of resilience that proves how the bonds of the past can help us navigate the challenges of the present. 

We love our quirky animal friends, whether they be our pets, the birds who sing us "good morning," or the beautiful deer that too often cross our roads at inconvenient times. Encountering animals in the city is a fun clash of the natural and the urban. If you enjoy your animal friends, check out these books where they take on the town! Night Lunch Written by Eric Fan Illustrated by Dena Seiferling Toronto: Tundra Books, 2022. Picture Book. A nocturnal lunch cart drives through the city. Manned by an owl-chef, each night-prowling animal gets a meal whether it be mince pie, a sandwich, or an egg. Owl continues dispensing meals until the sun comes up and he hasn’t forgotten the little street-sweeping mouse. Picture Purrfect Written by Hilda Eunice Burgos Illustrated by Siara Faison New York: Henry Holt & Company, 2024. Intermediate. 133 pages. Miguel rescues a cat, Lolo, outside his parents’ bodega in Washington Heights. Told through their alternating perspectives, we see Mi...

  Dead Ends: Flukes, Flops, and Failures That Sparked Medical Marvels By Lindsey Fitzharris and Adrian Teal  New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2025. Informational. 150 pages.  This informational book is all about the interesting, strange, and sometimes downright gross things that doctors throughout the ages did in an effort to heal their patients. The book is presented in several chapters, each focusing on a different part of the body (i.e. Racking Your Brain, Bleeding Hearts, etc.). Each section provides plenty of anecdotes about different medical trial and errors, many of which led to groundbreaking treatments still used today.  Fitzharris and Teal did a wonderful job making a vast history feel digestible and engaging for middle grade and adult readers alike. With detailed (and sometimes slightly gruesome) illustrations, any reader interested in the subject will find this an engaging read. 

  The Last Resort By Erin Entrada Kelly New York, NY : Scholastic Press, 2025. Fiction. 228 pages. This spooky story from two-time Newbery Award winner Erin Entrada Kelly follows Lila and her family as they move to a new house for the summer only to find out that it's haunted. Lila is known for being dramatic, so when she has a "near-death experience" on the drive from Arizona to Ohio where her family must take care of the house her recently-deceased grandfather willed to her father, her friends dismiss her as being overdramatic. But when they finally arrive at the old mansion they inherited, Lila finds that her near-death experience has given her the uncanny ability to see ghosts. Lila must discover how to help the ghosts pass on to the next life, and why there seem to be some evil spirits that seem intent on hurting everyone in town. This is Erin Entrada Kelly's first foray into horror, and fans of the genre will be enthralled by this story. She does an excellent jo...