Author Archives: bclyp

Use Your Voice: A Review of Your Vote Matters: How We Elect the US President

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Your Vote Matters: How We Elect the US President
Rebecca Katzman
Illustrated by Ellen Duda
Scholastic Inc
May 7, 2024
Age: 7-10

Selecting a new US President is no easy task, and neither is understanding how it all happens. With this fun and informative explanation of the process, journalist Rebecca Katzman introduces upper elementary schoolers to this aspect of the political process and just how important their voice is to the outcome. Combining civics, history, and governmental fun-facts (do you know how astronauts vote from space?), kids will cover basic facts about the presidency and government, campaigns, voting, the post-election-day process, and what it means to be president. This title is more than just a high-level overview and provides everything from a simple visual explanation of the three branches of government to a more complex, but age appropriate, discussion of the Electoral College. Katzman includes plenty of suggestions for how kids can get involved in the process—from watching debates to writing to politicians—even if they can’t vote for another 10 years. In largely unbiased language, with some swings to the left in discussions of voter suppression and the peaceful transition of power, past and present elections are explored and vocabulary explained with on-page definitions and a thorough glossary. Illustrator Ellen Duda creates a bright and visually engaging combination of drawings, photos, maps, and charts. The full-color, matte pages and dynamic organization help to make the information more accessible to this young audience. Knowing how elections work and our role in them is one of our civic duties. This primer on the election process will introduce political concepts and the importance of our vote as our voice in what matters.

Butler Bookshelf

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Welcome to April’s National Poetry Month! To celebrate, the Butler Center is featuring books written in verse, rhymes, or other type of poetic form, featuring the highly anticipated novel in verse, Louder Than Hunger, by John Schu. In this fictionalized version of Schu’s experience, main character Jake struggles with the complexities of young teenage life as well as with anorexia. Working in a nursing home to avoid other people his age, he slowly has to address the realities of living with an eating disorder. This powerful depiction of adolescence and body image feels like a personal journey of learning acceptance and self-love that will speak to many middle grade readers.

Check out more of our poetry month features below!

The Boy Lost in the Maze
Written by Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by Kate Milner
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Bros
Written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Reggie Brown
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

I Believe in Me
Written and illustrated by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar Books
Available now!

Louder Than Hunger
Written by John Schu
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

The Mighty Pollinators
Written by Helen Frost
Illustrated by Rick Lieder
Available now!

The Trees are Alive: A Review of Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak

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Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak
Written by Danielle Daniel
Illustrated by Jackie Traverse
Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press
Ages 4-8
Available April 2nd, 2024

Oak trees are strong, and redwoods enduring. Maples can be generous, and pines peaceful. In these twelve short poems that compare different species of trees to feelings, Daniel paints trees as an access point for the wide array of emotions that people may feel. The twelve poems each describe a type of tree, starting with the repeating refrain, “Sometimes I feel like” and then identifying the tree. Three apt adjectives comprise the second line, and the third and fourth lines illustrate a fact about the tree emblematic of the tree’s description. For instance, a maple tree is generous, as it “share[s] my flowing sap / as winter turns toward spring” (p 5). Backmatter includes an author’s note that discusses Daniel’s Algonquin ancestry, where she learned of the wisdom and sentient nature of trees.

Daniel balances the educational with the emotive in her free verse poems; trees capture the feelings of a child, with willows feeling “shivery, sensitive and sad” (p 17) or aspens “stretch[ing] to conquer fears” amidst “trembling leaves” (p 13). The illustrator, Jackie Traverse, is Ojibway, and her art is often inspired by her indigenous culture, most noticeable in her colorful cover art. With acrylic and gouache paintings, Traverse gives a vivid, lively, earthy feel to the two-page spreads. Her calm journey through the seasons pairs well with the digestible, grounding text. She uses colder blues for winter, bright pinks of spring, warm greens for summer, and soft browns and yellow of fall, and she depicts children on each page in temperaments that coincide with the feeling of the trees, like solitude or joy. With Daniel’s concluding question, “What do you see in a tree?,” she connects readers to their natural world and encourages them to live harmoniously with each other, just like trees.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week, we are showcasing some new graphic novels in our collection. One powerful graphic is Pearl, a historical fiction work that follows a young teen, Amy, from Hawaii who traveled to Hiroshima, Japan in 1941 to visit her ill grandmother. Soon after, the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, and Amy can no longer return home and has to settle into life in Japan. Eventually working for the Japanese army as a translator but still stuck between two countries at war with each other, she is forced to face questions of loyalty while she fears for her family’s safety. Immerse yourself in Amy’s world with Christine Norrie’s soft, emotive illustrations in Sherri L. Smith’s new children’s fiction novel.

Check out more of our graphic novels below!

Duck Moves In!
Written and illustrated by Kirk Reedstrom
Published by Disney – Hyperion
Available now!

Evil Spy School
Written by Stuart Gibbs
Illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Written and illustrated by Megan Brennan
Published by RH Graphic
Available now!

Pearl
Written by Sherri L. Smith
Illustrated by Christine Norrie
Published by Graphix
Available August 6th, 2024!

The New Girl
Written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin
Published by Graphix
Available June 4th, 2024!

A Warm Hug: With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei

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With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei
Justina Chen
HarperCollins Publishers
Available May 7, 2024
Ages 8-12


Dessie Mei Breedlove always wanted a sister-twin. She spots Donna on the first day at her new school in the middle of sixth grade. “I do a double take. And another. Because the black-haired girl in the front row looks exactly like me” (p. 6). They have identical brown eyes, identical shiny black hair, and identical sassy smiles. The girls dive headfirst into their new maybe-sisterhood, enjoying every similarity they share like their favorite band, A2Z. Dessie and Donna must find out if they truly are sister-twins. They secretly take a DNA test without their parents’ permission. Astonishingly, Dessie and Donna are identical twins adopted from the same orphanage in China, and they were adopted by two separate families: a white family named the Breedloves and a Taiwanese family named the Lees. Despite the girls’ similarities, their differences soon create conflict, but Dessie does everything in her power to remain in good graces with Donna and the Lee family.

Early middle-grade readers will eat up the theme of this story: “Make Some Noise and Get into Good Trouble” (p. 302), which comes from one of Grammy’s protest posters and the famous activist John Lewis. When Amah, Donna’s grandma, suffers a brutal attack at the market because of her skin color, strong-willed and vexatious Dessie decides something must be done. She and her friends “get into good trouble” by standing up for Amah and the entire Asian community by organizing a rally at their school. Dessie’s character develops from being a regular uncertain tween into a girl who is passionate about family, community, and standing up for what is right. She is motivated by her strong friendships, tight bond with her multigenerational family, and keen sense of justice. Dessie says, “I have so much love to give. And so, so much love to receive” (p. 315). In fact, supplementary themes of the importance of friend love and family love give this book the tone of a warm hug.

 

Butler Bookshelf

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We are welcoming spring this week with some of our new picture books that celebrate nature, the outdoors, gardening, and farming. In Miss MacDonald Has a Farm, Gwarjanski retells the familiar “Old MacDonald” children’s tune with a woman farmer at the center. Rewriting the lyrics to the beloved tune, readers can sing or read along as Miss MacDonald seeds, waters, picks, blooms, and harvests her vegetables, ultimately cooking a meal to be shared with a group of friends. In vibrant, earthy tones, Vukovic brings farming to life with her illustrations of pruning zucchinis and canning pumpkins. It’s hard not to smile while reading this exciting, joyful ode to farming that makes readers want to plant their own vegetables to harvest.

Check out more of our spring-inspired books below!

Lola Meets the Bees
Written by Anna McQuinn
Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available April 9th, 2024!

Miss MacDonald Has a Farm
Written by Kalee Gwarjanski
Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Planting Hope: A Portrait of Photographer Sebastião Salgado
Written by Philip Hoelzel
Illustrated by Renato Alarcão
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Sunshine Garden: Being a Team Player
Written by Jamie Michalak
Illustrated by Jenna Nahyun
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available today!

What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest?: And Other Questions About Nature & Life Cycles
Written by Rachel Ignotofsky
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

It Takes a Village: A Review of Squirrel Needs a Break

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Squirrel Needs a Break
Kristen Remenar
Illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Charlesbridge
Available May 7, 2024
Age 4-7

After a long winter in the nest, Squirrel is an exhausted single dad, just doing his best with three rambunctious kits. Seeing his need, his forest friends hatch a plan to give Squirrel the break he so desperately deserves. How hard could it be to take care of little squirrels? While Owl takes Squirrel to dinner, Hare teaches the kits to make pancakes. While Groundhog takes him to yoga, Owl teaches the kits to meditate—almost. Each friend takes a turn helping Squirrel to relax and watching the kits. As the community rallies to help, they realize how hard and rewarding it can be to parent. In the end, they all appreciate what a wonderful father Squirrel is and what a strong family they make together.

In this companion to Groundhog’s Dilemma, Remenar uses gentle humor to explore the work and love required to raise young of any species with a story as much for parents as children. And the forest community demonstrates just how important a support system, whether an extended or found family, can be to the effort. Faulkner’s digital illustrations use a pencil-like technique and vintage color palette reminiscent of Disney’s The Rescuers (1977). The combination of full-bleed and multi-panel pages with text bubbles provides enough visual interest to keep the story from veering too retro. Emotionally expressive faces showcase the joys and trials of parenthood so thoroughly that adult readers will feel seen. Perfect for a snuggled up read, this title will illustrate to kids the ways caregivers show their love through both actions and words.

The African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child (or, in this case, squirrel) is proven yet again in this sweet and lighthearted tribute to the power of community.

Butler Bookshelf

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On the Butler Bookshelf this week, we have some charming fiction and nonfiction picture books. Our featured book this week is Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale by JaNay Brown-Wood. In the retelling of this fairytale, Mahogany is a spirited girl who likes listening to music, sewing, and wearing high-tops. She runs into the hungry wolf on her way to deliver honey cornbread to Grandma. Mahogany cleverly stands by a willow tree where her curly black hair merges with the branches. Hiding in the forest, her dark skin blends with the black shadows. Tricking the wolf’s nose, she knows her lavender essence will combine with the scent of the flowering plants. In the end, Mahogany’s sewing skills, smarts, and Blackness save her and her G-Ma in this fresh and delightful tale.

The Cat Who Couldn’t Be Bothered 

Written by Jack Kurland

Published by Frances Lincoln First Editions

Available March 26, 2024

 

I Am A Masterpiece 

Written by Mia Armstrong

Illustrated by Alexandra Thompson

Published by Penguin Random House Children’s Books

Available now!

 

Log Life

Written by Amy Hevron 

Published by Simon & Schuster

Available now!

 

Lucky Duck 

Written by Greg Pizzoli 

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Available now!

 

Mahogany: A Little Red Riding Hood Tale

Written by JaNay Brown-Wood

Illustrated by John Joven

Published by Charlesbridge

Available March 19, 2024

 

Ride Beside Me

Written by Lucy Knisley

Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Available now!

When the Past Becomes the Present: A Review of The Lilies

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The Lilies
Written by Quinn Diacon-Furtado
HarperTeen
Ages 13-17
Available April 30th, 2024

Welcome to Archwell Academy, an “all-girls” preparatory school that honors legacy and scrutinizes difference, epitomized by the school’s exclusive secret society—the Lilies. Initially at odds with each other, Drew (a non-binary transfer student), Blythe (striving to be the first Black valedictorian), Veró (Latina daughter of a Senator doubling as a guerilla artist), and Rory (chancellor’s daughter and school founder’s great-granddaughter struggling with addiction) quickly become entangled when one of their classmates—and Lilies recruit—goes missing. Stuck in a time loop that forces each of them to relive their most shameful memories leading up to Charlotte’s disappearance, Drew, Blythe, Veró, and Rory must wrestle with their guilt. The focus remains on saving Charlotte, but a mysterious fifth narrator slowly reveals that the students are also solving an age-old murder of another student: Rory’s great aunt Lillian, the namesake of the Lilies. As they work together through a troubling past and present, these unlikely allies grow into trusting friends that work in solidarity to rewrite history.

Like many academic thrillers, Archwell is insulated in a bubble of boarding school rules, dynamics, and traditions. But Diacon-Furtado also intentionally sets Archwell in a DC suburb against a familiar backdrop of modern threats, like mass shootings and transphobic legislation, where boarding school can’t protect students from the real world. As the story unfolds, so do the larger metaphors of trauma cycles, privilege, truth, and even a new meaning to living in the closet, a.k.a. a time loop. In this debut novel, Diacon-Furtado appeals to the complex and ethical questions of teenage life in their careful crafting of unreliable, imperfect characters that ultimately become redeemable during their time together. Using a candid voice and unexpected plot twists, Diacon-Furtado simultaneously creates anticipation, anxiety, and hope that will keep readers thinking. This fast-paced, queer, genre-bending story of solidarity acts as a mirror, asking readers not only how they are reinforcing harmful cycles but also how they can break them.

Butler Bookshelf

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In honor of Women’s History Month, this week, Butler Bookshelf is featuring some of our books by women writers and who center women or girls as main characters. In Tender Beasts, Sunny Behre—the oldest of four siblings—has been raised by her mom to be the next matriarch of her family. Suddenly, her mom is murdered, and her youngest brother, Dom, is the prime suspect. Sunny is thrust into the family leader role sooner than she expected, with one mysterious, dying wish from her mother: “Take care of Dom.” While Sunny isn’t particularly close with Dom, she trusts her mother enough to try to clear Dom’s name and discovers more secrets in the process. Liselle Sambury delivers a psychological thriller that will keep you hooked.

Check out more of our titles by women featuring women below!

Drawing Deena
Written by Hena Khan
Published by Salaam Reads
Available now!

Ellie Mae Dreams Big!
Written by Kristina McMorris
Illustrated by Amanda Yoshida
Published by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Available now!

Finally Heard
Written by Kelly Yang
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Finding Normal
Written by Stephanie Faris
Published by Aladdin Books
Available now!

Tender Beasts
Written by Liselle Sambury
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now!