Author Archives: bclyp

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find a dark thriller that is a retelling of Jekyll & Hyde called The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven. One decade ago, four students were murdered at the exclusive Carvell Academy of the Arts and the case has run cold. Steven tells the story of courageous freshman Lottie Fitzwilliam who is intent on investigating the unsolved serial murders that forced the campus to shut down. Now that the Academy has reopened, Lottie’s snobby roommate, Alice Wolfe, bumbles upon another victim when she discovers a clandestine ritual within a Carvell library book. Is the killer still lurking somewhere in the North Tower shadows?

For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

Good Books for Bad Children: The Genius of Ursula Nordstrom
Written by Beth Kephart and Illustrated by Chloe Bristol
Published by Penguin Random House
Available Now!

Harlem at Four
Written by Michael Datcher and Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Published by Random House Studio
Available Now!

The Haunting
Written by Natasha Preston
Published by Delacorte Press
Available September 26, 2023!

See You on the Other Side
Written by Rachel Montez Minor and Illustrated by Mariyah Rahman
Published by Penguin Random House
Available September 26, 2023!

The Society for Soulless Girls
Written by Laura Steven
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Wrecker
Written by Carl Hiaasen
Published by Penguin Random House
Available September 26, 2023!

Enchanted by Ella Enchanted? Follow it to more great reads.

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Did you know that Gail Carson Levine’s inspiration for the Newbery Honor book Ella Enchanted was part love for the Cinderella story and part annoyance—“She’s so disgustingly good! And why does she take orders from her horrible stepmother and stepsisters?” (Levine). Well, we might not all be able to create award-winning alternatives to our favorite books, but we sure can find some amazing options for taking our own favorite stories in new directions.

Butler Youth Services Scholar Andreya Costello took inspiration from Julia Smith’s reader’s advisory book map from Booklist Online centering Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston. Starting the map with Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, a beloved book from her childhood, Costello attempted to connect it with more recent and diverse works written for a teen audience to take the story in new directions. Readers can follow the paths connecting each book by genre, theme, mood and more.

Link to the full project with path rationales.

About the Scholarship

The Butler Youth Services Scholarship for Underrepresented Groups in the Field of Library and Information Science is awarded each year to a student seeking to earn an MLIS with a focus in children’s services for public or school libraries with the goal of increasing diversity in the profession. Preference will be given to graduates of a Dominican University undergraduate program who are from a background underrepresented in the field of library science. This competitive award considers merit, academic excellence, leadership qualities, and the desire and disposition to work with young people as part of the applicant selection process. The project above was created in association with the scholarship award. More information on the award and application process can be found HERE.

*Gail Carson Levine. “Gail Said: Ella Enchanted.” Gail Carson Levine, https://www.gailcarsonlevine.com/ella.html. September 12, 2023.

Butler Bookshelf

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September is Hispanic Heritage month! We are featuring Hispanic authors and illustrators this month. This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find Plátanos are Love by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris. Reynoso-Morris recounts the story of Esme, her younger sister, and Abuela cooking mangu, maduros, and tostones for their friends and family. The love poured into cooking each meal can be seen in all of the beautiful words and illustrations. In fact, this story would be a wonderful read aloud with Spanish words and other fun cooking words like “Chop, Chop!” and “Pop, Pop!” For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

Mapmakers and the Enchanted Mountain
Written by Cameron Chittock and Illustrated by Amanda Castillo
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available Now!

My Dog Just Speaks Spanish
Written and Illustrated by Andrea Cáceres
Published by Candlewick Press
Available Now!

No Is All I Know
Written by Chris Grabenstein and Illustrated by Leo Espinosa
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available Now!

Plátanos Are Love
Written by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Illustrated by Mariyah Rahman
Published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Available Now!

Stuntboy: In-Between Time
Written by Jason Reynolds and Illustrated by Raúl the Third
Published by Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Available Now!

Our Owl Explorer: A Review of Night Owl Night

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Night Owl Night
Susan Edwards Richmond
Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Charlesbridge Publishing
Age 4-8
Available Now!

After years of anticipation, young Sova is finally allowed to skip bedtime and accompany her mother, an owl researcher, on a night outing searching for saw-whet owls. Full of curiosity, Sova follows her mom’s lead into the forest to learn about the tools and techniques used to study owl-migration. After some failed attempts with no owls yet in sight, Sova quickly learns that, like her years of waiting for this very night, “a scientist must learn to wait” (p. 3). Sova comes to accept her disappointment, and just when even readers may feel unsure if Sova’s patience will pay off, Sova and her mom find a saw-whet owl cuddled into the mist net, invisible nets used by owl researchers. Sova soothes the young owl while learning how to study and band it, releasing it back onto its journey with the reverence and care exemplified by her mother.

Both the soft prose and wispy illustrations weave together Sova and saw-whet owls, building a sense of love and respect between these animals and characters. In one illustration, the saw-whet owl’s eyes mirror Sova’s reflection; in another, Lechuga illustrates Sova majestically transforming into an owl herself as she releases the owl, explicitly merging the two and mesmerizing the reader. The, soothing, natural blues and browns of the forest and owls are smoothly contrasted with the yellows and oranges of Sova and her mom, as if the two characters’ colors mimic the moonlight in a dark forest. Balancing storytelling and education, the text often reads like a lullaby, with phrases such as “over roots and rocks as we walk” (p. 8) and “in the hallway, a head taller, and hooted softly” (p. 5). While the narrative may seem text-heavy at times, the engaging illustrations and rhythmic prose draw readers in to the loving relationships between mother, daughter, and nature. As a nature-lover herself, Richmond includes an appendix with further reading about owls, their habitat, and bird-banding efforts. This soothing story, great for curious animal-lovers, will lull young night owls like Sova, who want to fend off sleep and spend their nights exploring.

Butler Bookshelf

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The madrone tree, a strong centerpiece of the Pacific Northwest ecosystem, receives admiration and inspires wonder in Barbara Herkert’s This Old Madrone Tree. As readers follow a lone madrone tree through the various seasons and storms of the Northwest, they also learn about how its bark, berries, and flowers provide food, shelter, and life to other animals and plants in the region. The colorful, fluid, and brightly painted illustrations pair well with the elegant and poetic text, providing readers with a sense of awe, love, and enchantment of this powerful Pacific madrone. Further information on the madrone, including a map of its distribution in the region and an animal identification guide, are also provided as reference material.

Check it out along with other environmental and STEM-related books in our collection below!

Glaciers are Alive
Written by Debbie S. Miller and Illustrated by Jon Van Zyle
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available Now!

Hands-On Science: Geology
Written by Lola M. Schaefer and Illustrated by Druscilla Santiago
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available October 3, 2023!

Night Owl Night
Written by Susan Edwards Richmond and Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available Now!

This Old Madrone Tree
Written by Barbara Herkert and Illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy
Published by Web of Life Children’s Books
Available September 21, 2023!

Totally Random Facts Volume 2: 3,219 Surprising, Strange, and Striking Things About the World
Written by Melina Gerosa Bellows
Published by Bright Books Matter
Available Now!

Who Jumps More?
Written and Illustrated by Grace Lin
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available September 19, 2023!

Beware of the Blood Moon: A Review of The Cursed Moon

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The Cursed Moon
Angela Cervantes
Scholastic Press
Available September 5, 2023
Ages 8-12

One, two, the Caretaker is coming for you. Three, four, you’ll breathe no more. Five, six, you’ll float like sticks. Seven, eight, you’ll meet your fate. Nine, ten, the Caretaker comes again.

In The Cursed Moon by Angela Cervantes, Rafa Fuentes is a fearless adolescent who is his little sister Brianna’s biggest protector. He enjoys writing ghost stories and recounting these scary stories to his friends on-the-spot. Rafa has experienced frightening situations in real-life, especially with his mom, Nikki, who is an addict. Nikki will be released from prison very soon, and she will be living with Rafa, his sister Brianna, and his abuela and abuelo. Rafa is extremely nervous about his mom returning home. In order to calm his nerves, Rafa narrates a story for his friends under a creepy blood moon about the Caretaker, a ghost who entices children to the nearby pond…and they never return home. After telling his creepy tale, mysterious happenings occur and Rafa recognizes that the Caretaker is real and must be defeated.

Angela Cervantes creates likeable characters in the brother and sister duo, Rafa and Brianna Fuentes, to weave this spooky tale. As a devoted big brother, Rafa takes responsibility for her by cooking her lunches, scooping her up from school every day, and making sure she has the best childhood experiences like summer camp. The language used by Cervantes creates a spooky tone as Rafa recounts one of his eerie tales: “Long ago, on a night just like this, a blood moon hovered over Gainsville Park…” (p. 32). The creepy mood and tone of this novel would be perfect for Halloween read-aloud for teachers or an independent read for upper elementary age children. Cervantes does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the plot until the heart-pounding climax. “There was a more rustling and growling behind the tree as the boys lifted their sticks. Every second waiting, not knowing if the Furry Toe was about to jump out…” (p. 186). Twists and turns and scary moments like these are sure to engage the audience from the very start. The themes of the importance of family and confronting your fears will have a wide appeal for young readers and ghost story lovers alike.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars by Hakeem Oluseyi in addition to many more incredible teen books. Oluseyi details his dubious journey from an impoverished childhood and life of drug addiction and crime to becoming a NASA astrophysicist in this coming of age memoir. Born with a genius IQ and a love of science, Oluseyi was easy prey in his neighborhood and suffered abuse and violence. Despite the abuse he suffered and the challenges he faced, Oluseyi was admitted to the PhD Physics program at Stanford University. With the support of his mentor Art Walker, the only black faculty member in the department, Oluseyi conquers his dreams of being a brilliant scientist and becoming his true self. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

Actually Super
Written by Adi Alsaid
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available August 22, 2023!

Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas
Written by Alexi Pappas
Published by Delacorte Press
Available September 22, 2023!

Her Radiant Curse
Written by Elizabeth Lim
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available August 29, 2023!


My Father, the Panda Killer
Written by Jamie Jo Hoang
Published by Penguin Random House
Available August 29, 2023!

American Royals IV: Reign
Written by Katharine McGee
Published by Penguin Random House
Available August 29, 2023!

Elementary!: A review of The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall

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The Improbable Tales of Baskerville Hall
Ali Standish
Harper Collins Children’s Books
Age 8-12
Available September 12, 2023

In a middle-grade twist on the Sherlock Holmes stories, a brilliant young Arthur Conan Doyle accepts a full scholarship to a mysterious school for exceptional students. In the hopes of providing a better life for his family, Arthur devotes himself to school, including the friendships, mysteries, and mayhem that one would expect of a 19th century English boarding school—eccentric students and professors, secret societies, magical clocks, and even a baby dinosaur. But when it comes time to submit to the questionable ethics of the secret society, and their promises of wealth and power, or do the right thing at the possible expense of his future, Arthur shows integrity to the end.

Standish borrows liberally from the Holmes novels with characters, like Dr. Watson, Jamie Moriarty, and Sherlock Holmes himself, named for many of the original Doyle’s most famous characters. Arthur himself is drawn as one would imagine a young Sherlock. These details, however, may be lost on young readers. The swiftly plotted and intricately detailed mystery can stand alone though, using its quirky characters and darkly atmospheric setting to draw the reader into its world and to rooting for the cast of diverse and well-crafted characters. Themes of friendship, integrity, and problem-solving run heavily through the novel and help to ground some of the more outlandish plot devices, like time travel and dinosaur hatching. And with a parting “the game is afoot” (p. 310), Standish sets the stage for a series of future adventures that junior sleuths will be sure to love.

Butler Bookshelf

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In Mabuhay!: A Graphic Novel, Zachary Sterling introduces us to two first-generation Filipino siblings, JJ and Althea, who struggle to be accepted. JJ is the older brother who just wants to fit in and make friends, while his sister refuses to change who she is. Both JJ and Althea don’t feel comfortable at school—other students make fun of their Filipino-style lunches and struggle to pronounce their last name. It doesn’t help that they also have to work at their family’s food truck, the Beautiful Pig, dressed up in a pig costume in front of their peers. Their parents try to use Filipino folklore to help them feel better, but JJ and Althea are tired of hearing these same stories. One day, JJ and Althea realize that their family is in danger, from the very characters in the folktales their parents have told them over the years. JJ and Althea soon understand that they must accept themselves, each other, and their Filipino culture to save their family. This humorous, fantastical graphic novel tells a heartwarming tale of acceptance and self-discovery.

Check it out along with other children’s fiction books, including two other graphic novels, in our collection below!

Charlie Numbers and the UFO Bash
Written by Ben Mezrich and Tonya Mezrich
Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available Now!

Confessions of a Candy Snatcher
Written by Phoebe Sinclair and Illustrated by Theodore Taylor III
Published by Candlewick Press
Available Now!

Dear Brother
Written by Alison McGhee and Illustrated by Tuan Nini
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available Now!

Ellie’s Deli: Wishing on a Matzo Ball Soup!
Written by Lisa Greenwald and Illustrated by Galia Bernstein
Published by Andrew McMeel Publishing
Available September 5, 2023!

Mabuhay!: A Graphic Novel
Written and Illustrated by Zachary Sterling
Published by Graphix
Available October 17, 2023!

More Tall Tales: A Graphic Novel (BONE Companion)
Written by Jeff Smith and Tom Sniegoski
Published by Graphix
Available September 5, 2023!

Step out of my way, or be my next dish: A Review of Carina Felina

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Carina Felina
Carmen Agra Deedy
Illustrated by Henry Cole
Scholastic Press
August 15, 2023
Ages 4-8

This hilarious and clever story is a retelling of a classic folktale set in Havana, Cuba. Pepe is a handsome parrot that falls helplessly in love with Carina Felina, a hungry, blue cat. Pepe invites her over for a home-cooked dinner of crackers and fresh coffee. But Pepe doesn’t know he is Carina’s dinner. Pepe is only the beginning of Carina’s meal. She gobbles up a florist, an oxcart man, and a wedding party. She eyes a pair of crabs and snatches them up, too. Can the pair of crabs outsmart Carina to save their friends? 

Cole’s sketches come to life with multi-colored soft brush finishes. They present visual humor, revealing Carina’s full belly of all the characters trapped inside. The artwork is also a great representation of the setting. Deedy and Cole continue to expose readers to Cuban culture by using bilingual words and their translations. Readers can point out the characters and name them both in Spanish and English by the end of the book. Children will find this book intriguing with the repetition of Carina’s phrase “I’m Carina Felina! I do what I like, I eat what I wish. Step out of my way, or be my next dish!” and more use of verse. The cumulative story’s predictability is great for growing early readers. Carina’s persistent, outrageous behavior of swallowing characters whole is amusing but compelling, which will delight in a storytelling setting.