Butler Bookshelf

by

0

It’s the first full week of September, which means students are either already in school or about to start! This is a time of transition that brings up lots of big feelings, especially for those attending school for the first time. This week, we’re looking at picture books to ease the transition into the start of the school year. Our feature pick is A Not So Perfect Start by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Maribel Luchuga. Thea is excited for school, but she’s also nervous, and her first few days are filled with ups and downs. As she puts pressure on herself to be the perfect student and have a perfect start to the school year, her teacher reminds her that it’s ok to let go of expectations of perfection.

Check out more books for the beginning of school below!

A Not So Perfect Start
Trudy Ludwig
Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy
Mychal Threets
Illustrated by Lorraine Nam
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

It Won’t Be Forever
John Dougherty
Illustrated by Thomas Docherty
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

School Spirits
Charlotte Gunnufson
Illustrated by Rebecca Crane
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum
Available now!

Welcome to Our Classroom
Alexandra Penfold
Illustrated by Suzanne Kaufman
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

You, Me, and the Ghost Makes Three: A Review of Haunted Comic Club

by

0

Haunted Comic Club
Josh Tierney
Illustrated by Caitlin Soliman
Oni Press
Ages 8-12
Available October 6, 2026

Will is an aspiring writer struggling to fit in at school after his closest and only friend moved away. Anita is a passionate artist grieving her Ama, who was always her biggest supporter. After a chance meeting at the Tween Zone after school club, the two outcasts decide to team up to create the best comic ever. Their subject? The ghost of a former staff member who still haunts the Tween Zone.

Will and Anita’s story is firmly rooted in creativity and friendship. With a core message about finding your “people” and chasing your passions, the graphic novel is simple to digest while still having exciting twists and turns. Drawings of Will and Anita’s own characters interplay with the illustrations, giving extra dimension to the world and the two tweens’ inner lives. The ghost of Sarah, the Tween Zone staff member, lurks throughout the story, both in the fictional comic and in the Tween Zone itself, adding a supernatural element that leaves the main characters and the readers alike questioning whether the ghost story is merely a legend.

A heartfelt, relatable story with protagonists who are easy to root for, Haunted Comic Club has the potential to resonate with a wide variety of readers. Those who are curious about scary books but not yet reading to jump into the deep end will enjoy the spooky atmosphere that radiates throughout the graphic novel without being overly frightening.

Butler Bookshelf

by

0

The first day of school is just around the corner, but the adventurous summer fun never ends here at the Butler Center. This week we’re featuring middle-grade adventure novels from our Children’s Fiction collection! Our feature pick of the week is Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen. Twelve-year-old Sadie Hahn didn’t picture herself on a raft with world famous YouTube star Radley “Rad” Shaw after winning a contest, but she’ll do anything to cheer her younger brother and Rad Shaw superfan, Silas, who was too young to compete. Rad, on the other hand, has millions of online followers but no real-life friends, and to make matters worse, he doesn’t give Sadie a good first impression. Things quickly devolve into disaster when their scripted rafting adventure goes off script, leaving both tweens to need to put aside their differences to survive in the wild.

Check out this and other adventurous titles here!

Wilderness Hacks
Joslin Brorsen
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

The Misfits: A Sea Monster Conundrum (The Misfits Book: 3)
Lisa Yee
Illustrated by Dan Santat
Random House Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer
Paige Classey
Random House Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

RV There Yet?
Suzanne Nelson
Alfred A. Knopf/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Alex Wise Vs. The Gods of the Apocalypse (Alex Wise Book: 3)
Terry J. Benton-Walker
Labyrinth Road/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Finding Perseverance Through Friendship: A Review of Dasia (Forever)

by

0

Dasia (Forever) 
Nic Stone 
Illustrated by Simone Douglas 
Crown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books
Ages: 10+ 
Available: October 6, 2026  

13-year-old Dasia Monae Riley is not supposed to have visitors while undergoing bone cancer treatment. This doesn’t stop 14-year-old fellow cancer patient Jameson “Jimmy” Jeffs from entering her room, unnoticed by the doctors and nurses, and having a conversation with her on a lonely July night. As the two girls talk, Dasia realizes she has more in common with Jimmy than she first thought. Little does she know that one night in spectral Jimmy’s company will change her life forever.

This magical realistic middle grade fiction novel, a spin-off of Stone’s the Dear Martin series, is part prose and part verso libre poetry in the form of Dasia’s unsent letters to her incarcerated older brother, LaQuan. The letters give readers a glimpse of Dasia’s life prior to induction chemo, feelings and experiences that she’s rarely shared with others except for Jimmy. Simone Douglas’s black-and-white illustrations, mainly seen as margin doodles in Dasia’s letters, accurately capture her sometimes-extreme emotional state. Stone gives the intense topic of childhood cancer gravitas and is not shy in including the isolation and pain associated with it, while Jimmy’s encouragement for Dasia to keep going and Dasia’s resolve to still fight her cancer, even at her lowest point, provide the reader hope. Extensive prior knowledge of the Dear Martin series isn’t required to understand Dasia’s narrative. Its powerful message of optimism in the face of illness is strong enough to stand alone. In short, Dasia (Forever) is an emotionally charged tale that will tug a reader’s heartstrings. 

Butler Bookshelf

by

There’s nothing quite like the horror genre. Horrific action in mystery stories can send chills down a reader’s spine, and some readers crave that thrilling sensation that leaves them at the edge of their seats, dreading and anticipating what will come next. This week’s Butler Bookshelf is focused on thrillers in our Teen Fiction collection! Our feature pick is What Lies Beneath the Flowers by Natasha Díaz. Pippa and Bidi are on a mission to find the popular, wealthy, and missing Estella Aubergine, whose reward money could help the two friends achieve their dreams. They infiltrate Estella’s school, the prestigious Beaumont Academy, where the students and teachers have dark secrets of their own. As their investigation leads to more questions than answers, Pippa and Bidi’s friendship starts to crack, and to make matters worse, someone seems to be tracking their every move. Will the two friends solve the mystery behind Estella’s disappearance before it’s too late?

Check out this and other thrilling titles!

What Lies Beneath the Flowers
Natasha Díaz
Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Our Wicked Gifts
Kathryn Foxfield
Random House Books for Young Readers/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Monarchs in the Wild
Israel Moya
Tu Books/Lee & Low Books
Available now!

Mystery Guest
Maren Stoffels
Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls
Cynthia Murphy
Delacorte Press/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Fall Is Almost Here!

by

There are only days to go before the Fall semester officially begins here at Dominican, and I know the vibes and weather are currently screaming “summer” (at least summer storms here in the Midwest), but it’s still time to start adding back-to-school items to your calendar. Big sigh, I feel it too.

Open Hours:

Please join us to browse the collection of the newest and best children’s books from North American publishers, explore the Effie Lee Morris Collection of African American Children’s Books, or do a bit of research in the Ellin Greene Folk and Fairytale Collection. Beginning August 24th, the Butler Center will be open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Need a different time for your research visit? Email butler@dom.edu for an appointment.

Information Session – LIS 796: International Book Fair

Interested in discovering children’s literature from farther afield? Each spring, Dominican’s School of Information Studies offers LIS 796: International Book Fair. The course explores issues and trends in the global kid lit publishing, considers diversity and cultural appropriate in youth literature, and some of the ways librarians and teachers can apply a wider lens to their own collection development work. The course culminates in a trip to Italy to attend the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Connect with course instructor and BCLC director, Jen Clemons, at 7:00 p.m. on September 30, 2026, to learn more about the course, conference, costs, and associated travel. Register here.

Not a current SOIS student? The course is open for you to register as a student-at-large. Reach out to course instructor and BCLC Director Jen Clemons, or the Butler Center for more information.

Book Sale – Save the Date(s)! 

Time to mark your calendar for the Annual Butler Center Book Sale. This year’s sale will include an evening shift for all you librarians and teachers that need to come after school, a full weekday, and weekend mid-day for the Saturday errand-runners.

December 3-5 | Thursday evening 3-8 p.m. | Friday 10 a.m.-4p.m. | Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

If you’re looking for more reasons to come to Dominican’s lovely campus this fall, stay tuned for smaller events and lectures presented by other academic units within the College of Business, Information Studies, and Technology; the Butler Center’s administrative home.

Butler Bookshelf

by

For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at picture books about animals. Our feature pick is Puggle Snuggles by Mo O’Hara, illustrated by Loretta Schauer. In this rhyming picture book about baby animals, Platypus’s puggle just wants to snuggle the day away. But when nighttime comes, the puggle and the other baby nocturnal animals come out to party!

Check out more books about animals below:

Puggle Snuggles
Mo O’Hara
Illustrated by Loretta Schauer
The Quarto Group/Happy Yak
Available now!

Duck Delivers
Tom Tinn-Disbury
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Gigantic: The Small Whale With a Big Heart
Rob Biddulph
Random House Children’s Books/Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Lulu Didn’t Want a Dog
Laurel Molk
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Pretty Close, but Not the Same: A Side-By-Side Look at Confusable Critters
Meg Fleming
Illustrated by Steph Stilwell
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

The New Meets the Old: A Review of a Hanbok for Hana

by

A Hanbok for Hana
Korena Di Roma Howley
Illustrated by Jaime Kim
Candlewick Press
Ages 5+
Available September 1, 2026

After moving to a new town with her Eomma, Hana’s life is changing. Now, with the Korean holiday of Chuseok approaching, she’s had enough of change. Instead of celebrating with her family, she has to celebrate with new neighbors, and her traditional hanbok no longer fits. But in creating a new hanbok, Hana discovers ways that the old and the new can coexist, and how new traditions can be just as beloved as old ones.

This simple, easy to follow story grapples with the idea of change, something familiar to many young readers, while introducing Korean concepts including holidays, clothing, and foods. A short explainer in the back gives more information about these for readers who may not be familiar. Kim’s illustrations emphasize the theme of old and new, especially in the depiction of Hana’s new hanbok, which is made from pieces from an old hanbok belonging to her Eomma as well as new pieces.

Perfect for discussions on cultural traditions and fall holidays, A Hanbok for Hana offers a view of a culture that may be familiar to some readers and brand new to others. Universal themes tie together a story that any young reader can relate to, regardless of their background.

Butler Bookshelf

by

Middle school is rarely easy. From romance to struggling to fit in to puberty, life for preteens is full of challenges and upheavals. That’s why for this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking a fiction about middle school and the many dilemmas that come with it. These books tackle issues that readers will likely recognize from their own lives and the lives of their peers, and gives them a chance to see another young person persevering through them. Our feature pick is Listen to the Girls by Chrystal D. Giles. When it comes out that her favorite teacher has been accused of misconduct with students, Calla doesn’t know what to think. But she knows it’s important to do what’s right, and that’s to listen to and amplify the voices of the girls who have spoken out. As details come to light and the news gains attention, she learns what it truly means to stand up, speak out, and share your story.

Check out more books about middle school below!

Listen to the Girls
Chrystal D. Giles
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Casting April
Wendy Lu
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

My Name is Harriet Mansoor (NOT Hairy Man Suit!)
Dr. Haleh Massey
Lee & Low Books/Tu Books
Available now!

Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away
Ciera Burch
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderberry Books
Available now!

Roxie in Color
Diane Debrovner and Stacy Cervenka
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Living in Agony and Remorse: A Review of Find My Way Down to You

by

Find My Way Down to You
Julian Winters
Viking, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Ages: 13+
Available Now

For the first time since the untimely death of his boyfriend, London, 18-year-old August’s life turns upside down when he meets a mysterious “ferrier of souls” named Cary, whom August follows into a forbidden place: Aides, the Underworld, where mortal souls spend eternity after they die. Seeing an opportunity to find London, August frequently visits the extravagant Aides looking for his lost love, with Cary as his reluctant guide. After five visits to Aides, August is presented with a choice, as per the rules: choose a lonely life without his old boyfriend or pursue his budding feelings for the moody Cary.  

Julian Winters’s contemporary prose emphasizes how grief impacts August’s life. Its omnipresence is evident when August oversleeps, is late to his work shift, mentions blaming himself for his boyfriend’s death in several chapters, and seeing an old photo of him and London leaves him in emotional turmoil. It’s heartbreak at its bleakest. However, this plot doesn’t just have doom and gloom. August’s interactions with Cary and other Aides characters breathe fresh air and excitement into an otherwise depressing story. Same-sex relationships and attractions are included without value-judgement, giving both the characters and readers room to explore their own feelings. Readers don’t need to be extremely fluent in afterlife mythos, especially Greek mythology, to follow the narrative. Even Henri, one of the other soul ferriers, mentions that everything found in Wikipedia about the underworld gets things “wrong.” Emotionally raw and rife with dramatic intrigue, Find My Way Down to You is a weighty rainy-day YA romantasy that is guaranteed to make readers cry.