Welcome to the online presence of the Butler Children's Literature Center, housed in Dominican's SOIS (Crown Library room 214). Here, we celebrate the best in books for youth and those who delight in sharing them. For Summer 2026, BCLC will offer collection access to the Dominican community and general public during posted open hours: Monday 9am-noon, Tuesday through Friday 9am-4pm, and by appointment with the Curator. Contact Jen Clemons at jclemons@dom.edu to make arrangements or you can still reach us at butler@dom.edu.
Our nonfiction collection in the Butler Center runs the gamut from biographies to cookbooks, but one thing we can never get enough of us encyclopedias and fact books! This week for our Butler Bookshelf we’re travelling from under the sea, all over planet Earth, and then to outer space in this collection of collections of facts. Our feature pick is America is Wild!: A State-By-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson-Abadie. This encyclopedia offers a glimpse into the variety of animals and plants that can be found in all 50 states, with full-color illustrations of each entry.
Check out more encyclopedias and fact books below!
America is Wild!: A State-By-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife Brad Timm Illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson-Abadie The Quarto Group/Wide Eyed Editions Available now!
America Celebrates: The Most Incredible and Influential People, Places & Events of the Last 250 Years Aubre Andrus The Quarto Group/becker&mayer! kids Available now!
Sportopedia: An Illustrated Introduction to The World of Sport Adam Skinner Illustrated by Mark Long The Quarto Group/Wide Eyed Editions Available now!
Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories About the Ocean Mary Boone Illustrated by Max Temescu Random House Children’s Books/Bright Matter Books Available now!
Why Space Will Freak You Out: The Scariest, Strangest Parts of the Universe Dr. Kimberly K. Arcand and Megan Watzke Illustrated by Robert Ball With Images Taken by NASA Sourcebooks Kids/Sourcebooks eXplore Available now!
In early April, an intrepid group of SOIS students set off on a trek across the globe in search of the newest and best literature for young people. Sounds exciting, right? Well, it is! New books and gelato around every corner. Getting to meet world famous authors and stuff yourself with tortellini. Learning from and with a group of passionate book-people and exploring a new country with your colleagues.
Maybe you’ll join us in 2027? Here’s what you can expect…
Exploring Bologna: Gorgeous Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and home to the oldest university in the world (University of Bologna was founded in 1088!). Known as the Fat City (for mouthwatering food), the Red City (for the red-tiled roofs and leftist politics), and the Learned City (for the university), Bologna has something for everyone’s tastes. Explore the endless list of restaurants and markets, but be sure to try the tortellini or Bolognese that the region is known for. Wander the very-walkable city for amazing architectural sites spanning from the Etruscans to modern times. The stunning Biblioteca Salborsa (main library) and associated city government buildings are some of my favorite spots to explore. Or spend your first day in one (or many) of the free museums dotting the city—occupying your mind and belly is a great way to fight the first day jet lag!
Vegan pistachio gelato–yum!Libreria Per Raggazi, Bologna (my favorite children’s book store in the city.)This excavation is hiding right under the main library, with ruins going back to the the 1st century BC.
Excursion to Florence: Bologna is a great jumping off point to explore the region. In past years, DU students have ventured to Modena, Verona, Florence, Ravenna, and more. This year, the group decided on a day in Florence to explore museums, gardens, churches, and more. The ItaliaRail express train gets you there in just 37 minutes and gives plenty of time to get your 20,000 steps in before heading back to Bologna.
A visit to the Pitti PalaceFamous sandwiches of Italy 🙂View of Florence from the Boboli Gardens
BCBF Day 1: Then to the main event—book fair day. The class joined thousands of book industry professionals in a celebration and exploration of kid lit from around the world for the 63rd year of the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Did you know nearly 40% of all international kid’s book rights are bought and sold right here? The scope and scale of the event are massive, spanning five halls of the sprawling Bologna Fiere conference complex. Day one highlights include: the lovely opening ceremonies, early childhood reading experiences through play and fairytales, and a fantastic program focusing on children’s reading habits from around the world (and what we can learn from each other’s data).
BCBF Day 2: More to see and do with the global community of book lovers! The fair includes awards, programming, author and illustrator presentations, visual showcases, and publisher booths (for showing off and the buying/selling of international book rights). Day two highlights include: the new BBPLUS AI Summit, programming focused on reading promotion, and Jacqueline Woodson’s in conversation with Maria Russo on “The Global Majority and the Future of International Children’s Publishing.”
Some familiar DU faces at an early literacy event.
Individual travel: SOIS students branched out on their own this year too, exploring Rome and Venice on their free day or before/after the official class travel. If you’re already headed to Italy, you should check some extra things off the bucket list while you’re traveling, right?
Sneak Peek at 2027: Keep an eye out for an official Information Session in Fall 2026 to discuss the Spring 2027 course, including coursework, itinerary, associated costs, and more. And save the date for travel—BCBF 2027 will take place April 5-8, 2027, with Poland as the guest of honor country. Are you an SOIS alum or interested in participating as a student at large? Reach out to butler@dom.edu with questions. Arrivederci, friends!
Picture books are some of our favorites here at the Butler Center. Through their unique blend of words and images, the picture books in our collection tell all kinds of insightful, impactful, and sometimes downright hilarious stories. This week, we’re looking at some of the picture books that we’ve added to our collection recently, with our feature pick being Bing’s Cherries by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Julia Kuo. Ah Bing was a Chinese immigrant who bred Bing cherries. But what was he like? One little girl imagines his life as she shares his cherries with her father.
Check out more picture books below!
Bing’s Cherries Livia Blackburne Illustrated by Julia Kuo Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
Judgy Bunny and the Terrible Beach Scott Rothman Illustrated by Linzie Hunter Sourcebooks Kids/Sourcebooks Jabberwocky Available now!
Sheep & Goat Climb the World A.C. Paolini Illustrated by Monica Arnaldo Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
Van Gogh’s Dog Georgia Larson Illustrated by Grace Helmer Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio Available now!
When the Sun Goes Down Greg Pizzoli Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
Adam, Mine K. Ancrum HarperCollins Children’s Books Ages 13+ Available September 8, 2026
Victor Frankenstein is seventeen years old and ready to prove his genius to the world. But no one is willing to let a brash young student experiment with his ideas about reanimation and the extension of life. Desperate to prove himself and his ideas, he stumbles into the world of dark alchemy, taking Elias, a young man from a nearby village as his unwitting test subject. Bound together by alchemical magic neither truly understands, Victor and Elias must reckon with what Frankenstein has done. Which of them is man, and which is monster?
In Ancrum’s self-professed “love letter to Frankenstein,” gothic prose and subtle, smoldering horror take underlie a narrative about grief, love, and loneliness. As the characters travel throughout Europe, looking for answers, their feelings and very senses of self are molded and changed by the situation and by each other.
Older readers interested in exploring gothic fiction with a YA twist might find themselves reaching for this title. Some knowledge of the original text will help eagle-eyed readers pick out references, but isn’t required for a thorough read through.
For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at some of the many YA fantasy novels in our collection. Our feature pick is Call of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen. When the dragon gods that protect the Kingdom of Kwa begin calling to her, Moremi must take on a quest to restore their power.
Check out more young adult fantasy below!
Call of the Dragon Natasha Bowen Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers Available now!
The Dragon and the Sun Lotus Amelie Wen Zhao Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press Available now!
The Faraway Inn Sarah Beth Durst Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press Available now!
Tidespeaker Sadie Turner Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press Available now!
Ungodly Chaos Selma Soren Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderberry Books Available now!
Still Friends Troy Wilson Illustrated by Mike Deas Orca Book Publishers Ages 3-5 Available May 19th, 2026
On a routine trip to the neighborhood park with his owner, one friendly (and inquisitive!) pup notices a lone girl sitting on the bench. He wants to play, but she doesn’t move (or talk!). Nothing but stone-cold silence. But as the seasons pass and the months go by, he learns to appreciate her stability. She doesn’t make him go to the vet, or scold him when he eats a dropped hot dog, and maybe, after all, he can learn to love her for exactly what she is… rock solid.
The charm of this picture book lies not just in its endearing, offbeat premise—unlikely companionship between a statue and a dog—but also in its world. Quirky characters, like a recurring flock of nosy pigeons, the stern lady manning the hot dog cart, and a family of birds who just won’t stop eating seeds, let the story come alive; perfect small details for eagle-eyed younger readers. The words are simple and sparse, yet still emotionally resonant. Deas’ soft pastel and watercolor illustrations bring a warmth and nostalgia to the story, with thoughtful usage of white space and sketchily drawn lines that feel lived-in and familiar, keeping each page spread from feeling too cluttered with the chaos of this faux-Central Park.
All in all, Still Friends is a tenderly funny read, inviting young audiences to reconsider what friendship can look like—and how sometimes, the most unexpected companions are the ones who stay.
Picture books can serve as a wonderful window for young readers into the worlds and cultures of other people (and themselves!), which is why for this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re focusing on picture books about culture and traditions. Our feature pick is With You in Spirit: A Qing Ming Story by Jenny Liao and illustrated by Lenny Wen. The young protagonist in this story celebrates Qing Ming, or Tomb Sweeping Day, as she remembers and honors her late grandfather.
Check out more picture books on culture and traditions below!
With You in Spirit: A Qing Ming Story Jenny Liao Illustrated by Lenny Wen Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
A Ramadan Night Nadine Presley Illustrated by Asma Enayeh Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Salaam Reads Available now!
Jeong is Jeong Jessica Yoon Illustrated by Michelle Lee Random House Children’s Books/Make Me A World Available now!
Something Sweet: A Sitting Shiva Story Leslea Newman Illustrated by Sarita Rich Charlesbridge Available now!
Sometimes We Pray Mary Wagley Copp Illustrated by Felishia Henditirto Charlesbridge Available now!
For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at some of the board books in our collection. Our feature pick is Like So by Ruth Forman and illustrated by Raissa Figeroa. A board book adaptation of the 2024 picture book, this story focuses on family and nature, accompanied by colorful images of a grandmother and her granddaughter.
Check out more board books below!
Like So Ruth Forman Illustrated by Raissa Figeroa Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Little Simon Available now!
Hello, Sleep! Illustrated by Ania Simeone The Quarto Group/Happy Yak Available now!
Mi Cielo, My Sky Dori Elys Illustrated by Erika Rodriguez Medina Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Little Simon Available now!
My Heart Knows Love Yuli Yav Illustrated by Sydney Hanson Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Little Simon Available now!
Baby Loves Robotics! Ruth Spiro Illustrated by Kat Uno Charlesbridge Available now!
A Coven of Witches: Spellbinding Tales of Magic and Myth Alexis Powell Illustrated by Marina Vidal Gibbs Smith Ages 8-12 Available July 14, 2026
This collection of scary stories form Alexis Powell asks what it means to be a witch, through the lenses of folklore, mythology, and history. Whether they’re climbing on to ghost trains or being dragged into the spotlight of a circus sideshow, the characters in these stories come face to face with the otherworldly and unexplainable. Will they make it out of their encounters unharmed?
Mixing the imagined and the factual, each story is accompanied by a blurb explaining the real folktale, mythological figure, or event its based on. Powell takes inspiration from across time and space, pulling from sources from the Bible to 19th century New Orleans.
A Coven of Witches is well-suited for readers from scared-cats to hardcore horror fans, with each story receiving a “fright level” score out of three to serve as a guide for those who might want to skip the true spine tinglers. A wide variety of cultural perspectives allows anyone who picks up the collection to learn something new, regardless of their previous knowledge of witchcraft and mythology.
Happy Tuesday! Today is all about the silly, so from hand puppet shark attacks, farm animal shenanigans, to pepperoni prehistoric creatures, there’s a little bit of goofiness for everyone here; giggle-enducing storytime guaranteed. Our feature pick this week is Loops, written and illustrated by Jashar Awan. Tying shoes can be a big deal! But with a little help & encouragement from one very determined friend, you too can learn to bunny-ear and loop and pull like a pro.
Check out some more silly picture books below!
Loops Jashar Awan Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
No, I’m a… Shark! Mike Henson Illustrated by Ana Gomez The Quarto Group / Happy Yak Available now!
Sorry, Sammy Scott Rothman Illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury The Quarto Group / Happy Yak Available now!
Pizzasaurus Tammi Sauer Illustrated by Kyle Beckett Random House Children’s Books / Doubleday Books for Young Readers Available now!
The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm Mark Teague Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Beach Lane Books Available now!
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