Author Archives: bclyp

It’s a podcast for your eyeballs: A Review of Wow in the World: Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals

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Wow in the Wild cover art

Wow in the World: Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals
Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz
Illustrated by Jack Teagle
Harper Collins/Clarion Books
April 12, 2022

All the fascinating, absurd, and disgusting facts of the award-winning podcast combined with vibrant illustration and photography make for a “wow-worthy” fourth installment of the series. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, hosts of the NPR podcast, pack this animal themed edition full of all the quizzes, interviews, listicles, job postings, and graphic novel spreads you could ask for with the goal of inspiring discovery. Broken into six sections, including birds, reptiles, mammals, sea creatures, bugs, and amphibians, the pair explores the extreme diversity and weirdness of the animal kingdom. But hilarity the series in known for doesn’t diminish the complex ideas they share, like the aerodynamics of bird flight and sophisticated animal communication methods. Easily digestible language and abundant illustrations, combined with plenty of poop facts, strike just the right note for the enjoyment and education of 8-12 year old audience. Jack Teagle’s full-color illustrations (including a cartoon Mindy and Guy) run the gamut from graphic novel-like spreads to illustrated diagrams and complement the hilarity of the text. The title includes extensive back matter like thorough source notes, photo credits, an exhaustive glossary and index, a suggested reading list, and QR code links to related podcast episodes. A final section on conservation, that could have been more robust, wraps things up with a brief list of action items for the inspired reader. An engaging and quick read, or fun-fact reference, for animal lovers and comedy fans alike.

*Reviewed from uncorrected black and white proof.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf includes Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt and Jasmin Ainslie, which shows the importance of celebrating even the little things. Best friends Audrey and Lion celebrate everything ranging from birthdays to days of the week to colors. Yet one day, Audrey sees Lion looking down and must remind him that even ordinary days can be a cause for celebration.

Freddie vs. The Family Curse
Written by Tracy Badua
Published by Clarion Books
Available May 3, 2022

The Burning Swift
Written by Joseph Elliott
Published by Walker Books US
Available now!

Every Line of You
Written by Naomi Gibson
Published by Chicken House
Available March 1, 2022

Wutaryoo
Written and Illustrated by Nilah Magruder
Published by Versify
Available January 25, 2022

Sloth Sleuth
Written and Illustrated by Cyndi Marko
Published by Etch
Available June 7, 2022

Sometimes Cake
Written by Edwina Wyatt and Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Happy New Year! Welcome back to Butler’s Pantry! A new year brings all new books! This week on the Butler Bookshelf is just a sampling of the fresh titles to come in 2022. We are particularly excited to dive into K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee. Follow Candace on her journey of making a record-breaking debut album while also trying to effect change in the K-Pop industry. Check out the list below for more amazing titles debuting this year!

Caprice
Written by Coe Booth
Published by Scholastic Press
Available March 1, 2022

A Duet for Home
Written by Karina Yan Glaser
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books
Available April 5, 2022

K-Pop Revolution
Written by Stephan Lee
Published by Scholastic/Point Paperbacks
Available April 5, 2022

Bright Brown Baby: Peek-a-You
Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Published by Scholastic/Cartwheel Books
Available February 1, 2022

The Ivory Key
Written by Akshaya Raman
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available now!

Mother Goose Goes to India
Written by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal
Illustrated by Wazza Pink
Published by Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

Commemorate the Ordinary: A Review of Sometimes Cake

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Sometimes Cake
Edwina Wyatt
Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie
Candlewick
January 4, 2022
Ages 2-5

Audrey always finds Lion celebrating something. Whether it be Tuesdays or the color orange, Lion commemorates the little things with a big production. And Audrey joins of course! They don their heads with colorful hats and eat delicious cake. But one day, Audrey finds Lion in a sad slumber. Now Audrey must show Lion that even ordinary days are a cause for celebration.

Sometimes Cake is a simple and fun picture book that illustrates how the small things in life can bring us great joy. Having coconut cake just because it’s Tuesday can brighten our darkest days. Ainslie’s pencil and watercolor illustrations have a hand-drawn feel with pictures placed on an off-white background. The gentle and warm colors, with noticeable pencil shading on the outlines of each drawing, add a soft-focus look to an already warm, fuzzy story. Ainslie also cleverly shows the passage of each day by changing Audrey’s clothes. Through Audrey and Lion, Wyatt proves that there is something special about every day. All we have to do is find it.

 

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk. Set over the course of one reckless day, this book of poetry that tells the story of two girls and their love for one another. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

Loyalty
Written by Avi
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books
Available February 1, 2022

Drew Leclair Gets a Clue
Written by Katryn Bury
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books
Available March 1, 2022

Just Right Jillian
Written by Nicole D. Collier
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify
Available February 1, 2022

The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism
Written by Tiffany Jewell and Illustrated by Nicole Miles
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify
Available September 20, 2022

At the End of Everything
Written by Marieke Nijkamp
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available January 25, 2022

Nothing Burns as Bright as you
Written by Ashley Woodfolk
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify
Available April 5, 2022

In Memory of Lynne Butler Adams

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With great sadness, we share the news of Lynne Butler Adams’ passing.

Librarian. Philanthropist. Friend. Generous in words and deeds, Lynne was kind and gracious, with a keen sense of humor. Her tremendous curiosity made her both an outstanding librarian and a delightful lunch date. She was an ardent believer in the importance of literacy and an enthusiastic advocate for the Butler Children’s Literature Center and its goals.

Lynne’s joyfulness and generosity will continue to guide our work supporting scholarship and building community. In her memory, the Butler Center will continue its mission as one of the nation’s premier centers for the study of children’s and young adult literature in the services of literacy, learning and a lifelong love of reading.

Butler Bookshelf

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With 2021 coming to a close, the Butler Center is receiving more and more books that will release next year! This week’s bookshelf highlights some young adult titles we have received that will release throughout 2022 including The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson which focuses on former orphan Hilde’s coming of age in 1930s Berlin as she discovers and embraces her own voice and sexuality through her newfound job at a cabaret. For more upcoming YA in a variety of genres, check out the list below!

A Thousand Steps into Night
Written by Traci Chee
Published by Clarion Books
Available March 3, 2022

Epically Earnest
Written by Molly Horan
Published by Clarion Books
Available June 21, 2022

Survive the Dome
Written by Kosoko Jackson
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available March 29, 2022

The Darkening
Written by Sunya Mara
Published by Clarion Books
Available July 5, 2022

Crumbs
Written and Illustrated by Danie Stirling
Published by Etch
Available June 7, 2022

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin
Written by Kip Wilson
Published by Versify
Available March 29, 2022

Myths & Sci-Fi Come to Life: A Review of Tiger Honor

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Tiger Honor
Yoon Ha Lee
January 4, 2022
Rick Riordan Presents / Disney Publishing Worldwide
Ages 8-12 

In this sequel/companion to Dragon Pearl, Yoon further delves into a world that combines science fiction with Korean mythology. While events from the previous book influence the story, it can also be read as a stand-alone coming from a completely different point of view. This story focuses on Sebin, a nonbinary tiger spirit. They have always dreamed of joining the Thousand Worlds Space Forces to follow in the footsteps of their Uncle Hwan. Unfortunately, their acceptance letter comes at the same time as a message declaring that Hwan has been branded a traitor by the Space Forces. Sebin reports to the Space Forces, hoping to find out what really happened regarding their uncle and to bring honor to a family that has always prioritized discipline and loyalty to the family above all else. Sebin boards the spaceship Haetae, headed towards orientation. Almost immediately, things go wrong. As the situation becomes more dangerous, Sebin can no longer be held back by protocol. Ultimately, they are put into situations that force them to choose between loyalty to the Space Force and loyalty to their family.

The plot is fast-paced, opening with a prologue where Sebin describes their situation before backtracking a bit to characterize their family. After a few chapters of set up, the action begins. The first-person narration highlights the superhuman aspects of being a tiger spirit as Sebin mentions sensing the emotions of others based on scent. Sebin’s uncertainty in their decisions is a point of tension. While they seem to switch loyalties, this ultimately feels realistic for a 13-year-old thrust into a perilous situation. Diversity of gender identities is centered in both primary and secondary characters. Wearing pronoun pins is normalized, with Sebin noting them on others before settling on any pronouns. The Thousand Worlds is based in Korean culture, making most characters presumably ethnically Korean (as they have Korean names). Other nations are represented, with the Japan coded Sun Clan being highlighted most often. Back matter includes a pronunciation guide to assist with the names of characters and places. This book is sure to appeal to those looking for nonstop “unputdownable” action, with the blend of sci-fi and mythology adding a unique touch.

Stand up and Stand out: A Review of You Are Not Alone

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You Are Not Alone
Alphabet Rockers
Illustrated by Ashley Evans
Sourcebooks eXplore
January 11, 2022
Ages 4-8

When you see a friend or a peer struggling, tell them “You are not alone.” That is the message of this timeless picture book. It follows the stories, thoughts, and feelings of kids and how they deal with feeling different. The unnamed characters express how certain situations make them feel—from teachers and classmates not being able to pronounce their name, to wondering how people view their skin color. This leaves the characters feeling unsafe and with no sense of belonging. But with support from friends, they feel confident, and able to face the world. Through solidarity, the kids of the story come to be proud of their uniqueness and believe in helping others feel the same way.

You Are Not Alone is a book of encouragement and empowerment. The Alphabet Rockers encourage the expression of emotion through their poetic writing style. Each character’s story reads as if the character is talking directly to the reader. The cathartic outpouring of raw thoughts sends the message that it’s ok to express these feelings. The title page promotes active participation. After reading each character’s story, readers should say aloud “you are not alone” in a show of camaraderie. Although unnamed, Evans full bleed illustrations bring the characters to life. From skin color to the blue prosthetic arm, its dark, rich hues emphasize the beautiful differences between the kids of the story. Based on the Alphabet Rockers’ 2019 song “Not Alone”, this positive and vibrant picture book shows that when we have others by our side, we can conquer anything.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf features new arrivals to the Butler Center for all ages! Among them is the upcoming Wild by Sam Usher which depicts a boy and his grandad trying to figure out how to appease a cat they are taking care of who eventually leads them into the wild. Check out the following variety of recently arrived titles!

Graceling: The Graphic Novel
Written by Kristin Cashore and Adapted & Illustrated by Gareth Hinds
Published by Etch
Available now!

The Last Chance for Logan County: A Legendary Alston Boys Adventure
Written by Lamar Giles and Illustrated by Derick Brooks
Published by Versify
Available now!

Ace Takes Flight: B.E.S.T. World
Written by Cory McCarthy
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available now!

The Forgotten Memories of Vera Glass
Written by Anna Priemaza
Published by Amulet Books
Available now!

Princess Unlimited
Written by Jacob Sager Weinstein and Illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
Published by Clarion Books
Available now!

Wild
Written and Illustrated by Sam Usher
Published by Templar Books
Available December 14, 2021