Provo Library Children's Book Blog

  The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene By Corey Ann Haydu Harpercollins Childrens Books, 2026. Fiction. 336 pages. Denny is not ready to turn twelve. Her best friend Runa has assured her that everything will change when they turn twelve but Denny doesn't like how much everything in her life has changed already. Her mother, who quit drinking when Denny was born, is battling alcoholism while her dad assures her that she is the only thing that her mother needs to quit. Runa is ingratiating herself in with a new group of friends and seems to be embarrassed by Denny and their "childish" habit of writing about the magical world of Sorrowfeld. On the day of her twelfth birthday, Denny is suddenly whisked into the world of Sorrowfeld and confused for Princess Auden, who is supposed to slay the dragons that have been terrorizing the kingdom. Suddenly Denny realizes that everything she and Runa have written about in their notebook, the half-baked rules of the world they were...

 The 2026 Winter Olympics are here! Taking place in Milan and Cortina, Italy, this amazing sports spectacle features athletes from all over the world competing in various winter sports, such as skating, skiing, and snowboarding. It is an exciting time to cheer on your favorite athletes as they represent our country.  Here is a list of books to read to learn more about the Olympics, famous Olympians, and the sports that athletes are competing in right now!  What are the Winter Olympics? By Gail Herman New York: Penguin Workshop, 2021. Informational. 108 pages.  In this Who HQ book, readers can learn all about the Winter Olympics- how they began, various controversies and interesting happenings, and new sporting events that have been added through the years. This overview of the hallmark of winter sports competitions woud appeal to all middle grade readers!  Fearless Heart: An Illustrated Biography of Surya Bonaly Written by Frank Murphy with Surya Bonaly Illustra...

  Busted  By Dan Gemeinhart New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2025. Fiction. 344 Pages. Twelve-year old Oscar Aberdeen has spent his entire life living in the Sunny Days retirement home with his grandfather. He was raised among the residents of Sunny Days and as a result Oscar is a "miniature old man" - he loves Frank Sinatra, plays a mean game of bridge, and has attended dozens of funerals. When a new owner takes over Sunny Days and raises the rent, Oscar and his grandfather are faced with eviction. Desperate for cash, Oscar accepts an offer he can't refuse from Jimmy DeLuca, a 104-year-old rumored ex-mobster. In exchange for helping Jimmy "bust out" of the home to complete a wild bucket list, Jimmy promises to share a hidden stash of riches. During the break out, Natasha, the daughter of the retirement home manager, joins Oscar and Jimmy on their madcap road trip. Their adventure involves stolen cars, illegal poker games, and even a visit to a federal prison. ...

There is something comical yet endearing about chickens. It's not much debate that they are some of the silliest birds, and children's book writers agree! There are so many memorable picture books about the little birds. Here are a few books to check out!   Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) Written by Linda Bailey Illustrated by K-Fai Steele New York: Tundra Books of Northern New York, 2025. Picture Book. Lena is a chicken, but if you ask her, she is a dinosaur! And she can’t understand why the (other) chickens in the coop act the way they do. When a sneaky weasel causes problems for the hens, Lena the dinosaur may be their only hope. This hilarious picture book will have to laughing out loud as you cheer on the chickens.   Mavis the Bravest Written by Lu Fraser Illustrated by Sarah Warburton New York : Godwin Books, Henry Holt and Company, 2024. Picture Book. Mavis is content to keep to her knitting because she’s convinced that she doesn’t have...

A Tale of Plagues and Perfumes By Jake Halpern and Peter Kujawinski New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2026. Fantasy. 352 pgs. In the city of Yerat, 12-year-old Nia has a special gift and a big secret. She has a supernatural sense of smell, and she's worried if anyone finds out they'll mark her as a Sinsory. The Sinsories are a group of people born with magical senses that they periodically use to fight plagues and protect others, but superstitious people still view them as evil. Though she tries to hide her gift, Nia is recruited to the Cloister - a school where Sinsories learn to fight plagues. Her start at the Cloister is rocky, but her unique sense of smell makes Nia a vital part of crafting a curefume for a new, very strong, scent-based plague. As the plague claims victims; and Nia fears for the safety of her loved ones outside the Cloister; she and two new Sinsory friends decide to risk everything to save those they love. This high-stakes fantasy novel is set in a remarkably...

  Cuentos La casita del ratón Escrito por Jonathan Stutzman Ilustrado por Isabelle Arsenault Barcelona : Editorial Ekaré, 2023. Libro ilustrado. "Vicente es un ratón que, allá donde vaya, lleva una casita sobre su espalda. En ella todos aquellos que necesitan cobijo pueden entrar: una rana cansada, una familia de erizos, un gato hambriento ... incluso algunos animales de aspecto temible. Y es que la casita del ratón es más grande de lo que parece. En este libro con vocación de clásico, los talentos de Stutzman y Arsenault se emplean en narrar una encantadora historia sobre la verdadera generosidad." --Editor Cuentitos Te quiero, Spot Por Eric Hill New York, New York : Frederick Warne, 2024. Pequeño libro ilustrado. "Es el día de San Valentín y Spot está planeando una sorpresa especial ... Este conmovedor cuento es ideal para compartir con tu pequeño amor." --Editor Otros libros sobre la letra "Q" El muñequito de queso apestoso y otros cuentos con demasiada...

Preschool Time It's So Quiet: a Not-Quite-Going-to-Bed Book Written by Sherri Duskey Rinker Illustrated by Tony Fucile San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2021. Picture Book. Little mouse cannot sleep because it is too quiet--but when he really listens he finds to night is full of all sorts of sounds, so many if fact that it is too noisy to sleep. --Editor Preschool Time I Quit Written by Kristen Tracy Illustrated by Federico Fabiani New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2024. Picture Book. When kitty first got adopted, everything was purr-fect. Then came the rules. NO eating the bread! NO chasing the baby! BAD KITTY! Excuse me? She's not a bad kitty. Left with no choice, she says goodbye to everything she loves (even her favorite crinkled-up receipt) and quits! But kitty's adventure in the great outdoors doesn't go as planned, and she realizes that she may have made a few mistakes. She knows she can do better, but how can she get home? Would her family even want her back...