Author Archives: bclyp

Butler Bookshelf

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Graphic novels are a favorite of readers and librarians everywhere — and one of the best things about them is that they can cover almost any subject, all while packed with fun and engaging pictures. This week, we’re looking at a selection of the graphic novels in the Butler Center’s collection. Our feature pick is Camp Frenemies by Liz Montague. After her sixth grade teachers declare her unsociable, Bea is sent packing for a week at summer camp, At Camp Chordata, everyone seems to think she’s weird for carrying around her stuffed rabbit, Roger, and her new “nestmate,” Virginia, seems set on ruining her life. But as the week wears on, Bea begins to discover that being sent to summer camp isn’t the prison sentence she thought it would be.

Check out more graphic novels below!

Camp Frenemies
Liz Montague
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog
Joan Holub
Illustrated by Rafael Rosado
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Free Piano (Not Haunted)
Whitney Gardner
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Halfway to Somewhere
Jose Pimienta
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

On Guard!
Cassidy Wasserman
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

Celebrating Our Differences: A Review of We’re Different and it’s Totally Cool!

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We’re Different and it’s Totally Cool!
Camey Yeh
Random House Children’s Books/Crown Books for Young Readers
Ages 3-6
Available July 22nd, 2025

We’re Different and it’s Totally Cool! is a celebration of all of the things that make us different and unique from one another. Yeh points out the ways that everyone is special, on the outside and within, and the things we have in common with each other. In the end, being different is what makes each person interesting!

Yeh’s book is packed full of color and visual interest. The striking illustrations are bold and bright, and made to draw attention. There’s lots to hunt for on each page, including a variety of human and animal characters who reoccur throughout the book. Simple phrases and repetition build a story that’s easy to follow along with, leaving the pictures as the star of the show.

Yeh’s message of diversity and individuality will be a good introduction to the concept of differences for young readers as they begin to enter daycare or school and begin to meet and interact with a wide variety of people. Exciting visuals mean the potential for re-reads is high, and the book may be enjoyed over and over again.

Butler Bookshelf

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July is Disability Pride Month, and we’re celebrating by highlighting a selection of the Butler Center’s picture books about disability. Our feature pick is Marcel With a Splash by Julia Sorensen, translated by Shelley Tanaka. When Marcel is born, he seems just like any other baby, except for his webbed toes. Soon, though, his doctors notice signs that he has Down syndrome. Too young to know or care what these words mean, Marcel grows and learns at his own pace in his pre-school days. Filled with evocative colored pencil illustrations, Sorensen’s book follows Marcel through his early life, his struggles, and his triumphs.

Check out more picture books on disability below!

Ady and Me
Rich Pink and Roxy Pink
Illustrated by Sara Rhys
The Quarto Group/words & pictures
Available now!

All About Brains: A Book About People
Lake Bell
Illustrated by Rachel Katstaller
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Marcel With a Splash
Julia Sorensen
Translated by Shelley Tanaka
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon
Sandra Nickel
Illustrated by Aimee Sicuro
Available now!

Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe
Amy S. Hanson with Wanda Diaz Merced
Illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza
Available August 19, 2025

Butler Bookshelf

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Today marks the start of National Anti-Boredom Month during the month of July. To celebrate, we are sharing a list of books for all ages that may just hold the perfect cure for boredom. Whether it’s a book to teach a little one how rocks change or a thrilling young adult novel full of twisty secrets to uncover, there are books on this list to educate, entertain, and encourage creativity this month and beyond. An especially adventurous title on this list is The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish by Shawn Harris. In this charming picture book, readers meet the teeny-weeny unicorn again on his newest quest. This time, he’s trying his hardest to become big like he’s always wished he could be. When a fairy princess hears about his wish, she tells him that it will come true he finds something “teeny-weeny-er” (11). The teeny-weeny unicorn searches and searches until his finds a tiny bud. By the time he gets back to the princess, the bud has blossomed–and his little sibling wobbles out! Paired with Harris’s bright and colorful chalk pastel illustrations, this sweet picture book is just right for any soon-to-be big siblings.

Check out more boredom-busting books below (and follow our blog and social media pages to discover more new reads everyday)!

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
Written by Erin Entrada Kelly
Published by HarperCollins Publishers/Greenwillow Books
Available now

Rocks’ Journey
Written by Sally M. Walker
Illustrated by Kim Smith
Published by Candlewick Press/mit Kids Press
Available now

Snowglobe 2
Written by Soyoung Park
Translated by Joungmin Lee Comfort
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press

Squeak Seeks!
Written by Peter Curtis and Patty Michaels
Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/SIMON SPOTLIGHT
Available now

Survive This Safari
Written by Natalie D. Richards
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press
Available now

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn’s Great Big Wish
Written and illustrated by Shawn Harris
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now

Portrait of a Portraitist: A Review of Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun

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Daring: The Life and Art of Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun 
Written by Jordana Pomeroy 
Published by Getty Publications 
Ages 12-14 
Available July 29, 2025 

Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun was destined to become an artist. Born in France on April 16, 1755, her father saw her artistic potential and encouraged her to create art. Before she turned 20, she gained admittance to a prestigious union of painters called the Academy of Saint-Luc, building her reputation as a talented portraitist. She was forced to flee France during the revolution because of her loyalty to the monarchy. Elisabeth traveled through Europe with her daughter and her daughter’s governess, supporting them with her portraits of prominent figures, like Catherine the Great. After 12 years, Elisabeth was able to safely return to France, though she continued to love travelling throughout Europe and painting portraits. Elisabeth died at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy as a trailblazing woman in Europe’s aristocratic art world. 

Pomeroy’s extensive knowledge of art and history, gained from her years of experience as a curator of many art museums, shines through in this biography. Pomeroy creates a detailed portrait of the artist and her work by drawing heavily on Elisabeth’s own memoir. She includes personal details about Elisabeth and her relationships while carefully reminding readers that Elisabeth’s perspective is just one side of the story. Pomeroy also masterfully incorporates other important historical people, events, and practices, such as information on wet nursing. This helps develop Elisabeth’s world and allows readers to better understand the society that she lived in. Images of Elisabeth’s famous paintings are included, as well as other work from other artists, showing readers both Elisabeth’s beautiful work and the work of her contemporaries and influences. Pomeroy includes notes, an index, and selected sources for further reading, as well as a brief “cast of characters” for quick reference at the beginning of the book. Overflowing with fascinating art history, this inspirational biography is great for highlighting the impact of women in the arts.  

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re celebrating cultures from all around the world! These books feature a wide variety of cultural traditions that bring people and families together, from Brazil to Korea to Iran. Our feature pick is A Festa for Luana, by Joana Pastro and illustrated Duda Oliva. Luana is excited to spend the summer visiting her grandparents in Brazil, and she arrives just in time for the Festa Junina — a monthlong festival of celebration. As she reckons with what it means to be Brazilian and American, Luana comes up with her own special ways to combine and celebrate the two cultures. Paired with Oliva’s vibrant soft pastel illustrations, A Festa for Luana captures the warm feeling of being at home within a family and a culture.

Check out more books about world cultures below!

Down on the Bayou
Glenda Armand
Illustrated by Alleanna Harris
Random House Children’s Books/Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

A Festa for Luana
Joana Pastro
Illustrated by Duda Oliva
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Picking Tea With Baba
Xu Bin
Translated by Shan Chen
Illustrated by Yu Yin
Charlesbridge
Available now!

Rose Weaves a Garden
Rashin Kheiriyeh
Random House Children’s Books/Anne Schwartz Books
Available now!

Shoes Off, Please
Helena Ku Rhee
Illustrated by Myo Yim
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Working Harder and Smarter: A Review of Tenacious Won’t Give Up

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Tenacious Won’t Give Up
Pam Vaughan
Illustrated by Leanne Hatch
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Ages 3-7
Available June 24th, 2025

All of the kids in Tenacious’ neighborhood are having a Wheel Parade, and Tenacious wants to lead the charge on her bicycle. Once she sets her mind on something, she never backs down, and this is no different. But riding her bike is different than any challenge she’s ever faced before – even trying her hardest, she can’t seem to stop herself from crashing. When her sister, Sage, encourages her to work her “smartest” instead, Tenacious discovers that hard work and problem solving can go hand in hand.

The tale of Tenacious’ tenacity shows that trying a new approach can be just what we need to get past a hurdle. Vaughan’s story is fast-paced and engaging with a core message about perseverance and flexibility, with plenty of alliteration and onomatopoeia that make the story an exciting read aloud. Hatch’s illustrations are full of movement, capturing Tenacious’ bike rides in heavily textured full-page pictures.

Tenacious Won’t Give Up could be a wonderful motivator for readers facing a tough challenge, especially those who are learning to ride a bike.

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a trip outside to explore the outdoors and observe the world around us. Whether you’re listening for bird calls, searching for a giant sea creature, or watching a murmuration of starlings, there is always something amazing to discover in nature. In this week’s feature, A Forest Song by Kisten Hall and illustrated by Evan Turk, readers take a journey through the forest, noticing and appreciating the world around them. Hall utilizes the words of other famous poets in this cento poem to inspire young kids to think deeply about their natural world and observe the beauty that surrounds them. Featuring lines from writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Oliver, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, Hall’s poem beautifully illustrates the vast wonders of the forest. Turk’s stunning gouache illustrations pair perfectly with Hall’s poetry, using bright colors to bring the forest to life. With whimiscal poetry and immersive illustrations, A Forest Song will inspire readers to step outside and soak in the world around them.

Check out more books that showcase the outdoors below!

A Forest Song
Written by Kirsten Hall
Illustrated by Evan Turk
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now

The Pony and the Starling
Written by Jennifer McGrath
Illustrated by Kristina Jones
Published by Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Available now

The Search for Carmella: What Mystery Lurks in the Deep?
Written and illustrated by Chloe Savage
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

A Sky That Sings
Written by Anita Sanchez & George Steele
Illustrated by Emily Mendoza
Published by Lee & Low Books
Available now

Wave Warrior and the Reef Rescue
Written by James Sellick
Illustrated by Patrick Corrigan
Published by The Quarto Group/Ivy Kids
Available now

Story of Survival: A Review of The Rebel Girls of Rome

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The Rebel Girls of Rome 
Written by Jordyn Taylor 
Published by HarperCollins Publishers/Harper 
Ages 14-18 
Available July 8, 2025  

Nineteen-year-old Lilah just finished her first year of college and is still trying to figure out how to survive after her mother’s death. When she receives a mysterious message about a lost family heirloom, she feels excited about the idea of learning more about her family’s history. Lilah grew up thinking that her grandfather, Ralph, was the only member of his family who survived when the Nazis invaded Rome. Now, Lilah has an opportunity to discover if his sister, Bruna, might have survived, too. Despite Ralph’s refusal to speak about his family and childhood, Lilah convinces him to travel to Italy with the hope of discovering what happened to Bruna. Alternating chapters between Lilah’s perspective in the present day and Bruna’s in the 1940s, this story of rebellion and resistance highlights the strength necessary for survival and the importance of telling your story. 

Jordyn Taylor seamlessly weaves together two perspectives separated by 80 years and two generations to create an emotional and touching story of survival and forgiveness. She explores themes of grief, guilt, and generational trauma through Lilah’s grief for her mother and the survivor’s guilt that Ralph and Bruna struggle with for their whole lives. Bruna’s story is compelling and heartbreaking, detailing the reality of living in occupied Rome. Taylor adds an uplifting layer through Ralph and Bruna’s heartfelt reunion and Lilah’s relationship with her grandfather deepening as she learns more about him. She also incorporates aspects of LGBTQ+ history and women’s history in Italy, both showcasing the multi-layered oppression Bruna faced and commenting on the progress that still needs to be made today. In the author’s note, Taylor explains how much of the novel is based on facts, like the missions carried out by resistance groups, and how much is fiction. Both captivating and touching, The Rebel Girls of Rome showcases the power that love has to help people survive and bring people back together, even after 80 years. 

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, love is in the air! Whether on the streets of Paris or in the halls of the university, these teen romances are all about the feeling of finally finding that special someone. Our feature pick is Brielle and Bear: Volume 1 by Salomey Doku. At Once Upon a Time University, Brielle Da Rosa spends her days working in the campus bookstore and daydreaming. When she meets rugby team co-captain Bear, it seems like she may finally be living out her very own fairytale romance. As they get closer, Brielle discovers that there’s more to Bear than meets the eye, and that he’s keeping secrets from everyone, including her. With a wide cast of diverse and colorful characters, this graphic Beauty and the Beast retelling invites readers into a world of fantasy and romance, with a heaping helping of university drama sprinkled on top.

Check out more romances for teen readers below!

All Paths Lead to Paris
Sabrina Fedel
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Romance
Available June 17th, 2025

Brielle and Bear: Volume 1
Salomey Doku
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

The Education of Kia Greer
Alanna Bennett
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

A First Time for Everything
K.L Walther
Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire
Available now!

Solving for the Unknown
Loan Le
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!