Category Archives: Butler Bookshelf

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s the first Butler Bookshelf of October! We’re celebrating the beginning of the most haunted season of all by taking a look at some of the Halloween picture and board books in the Butler Center collection. Our feature pick is The Big Monster Bake by Fiona Barker and illustrated by Eve O’Brien. It’s Halloween on Monster Street, and the monsters are headed out to share their Halloween cake with their neighbors. Each house on the street celebrates in their own way, with their own sweet treats to boot! The book provides back matter explaining the real-world holidays and traditions the monstrous households’ celebrations are based on, and provides recipes for those who want to try out the celebrations on their own.

Check out more Halloween books below!

The Big Monster Bake
Fiona Barker
Illustrated by Eve O’Brien
The Quarto Group/Happy Yak
Available now!

Getting Ready for Halloween
Vera Ahiyya
Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia
Random House Children’s Books/PICTUREBACK
Available now!

Halloween at the Zoo
Illustrated by Lala Watkins
Candlewick Press/Candlewick Entertainment
Available now!

Hap-Pea Halloween
Keith Baker
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-Tacular Storybook
Steve Patschke
Illustrated by Roland Garrigue
Candlewick Press/Templar Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Fall has officially begun, and with October just around the corner, this week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about middle grade horror stories! From fantastical mysteries to nail-biting thrillers, these books are the perfect way to kick off spooky season early. (Scaredy-cats beware!) Our feature pick this week is Cry Out Loud, a graphic novel written and illustrated by Tara O’Connor. After Irish teen Nell’s been suspended from school, her mother decides she’s going to spend her school term off on the coastal countryside, with a mysterious aunt and uncle she’s never met. There’s no cell service; it’s rainy, dreary, and the townspeople are far from friendly, but things quickly take a terrifying turn as Nell discovers her family belongs to an ancient, murderous cult. And to make matters worse, their magical ritual requires the sacrifice of a first-born daughter… one who just so happens to be Nell! Can she escape before it’s too late? Pick up Cry Out Loud to find out!

Check out some more middle grade spooky stories below!

Open Wide
I.M. Eerie
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Aladdin 
Available now!

Stitch: Reimagining Frankenstein
Padraig Kenny
Candlewick Press / Walker Books US
Available now!

Cry Out Loud
Tara O’Connor
Random House Children’s Books / RH Graphic
Available now!

Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave
Ally Russell
Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Press
Available now!

Phantom Academy
Christine Virnig
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Aladdin
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Books can be the perfect escape, so for this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re exploring the natural world through nonfiction! Whether it’s a trek through the rainforest, swimming down to the deep, dark sea, venturing back to dinosaur times, or investigating animal antics—did you know wombats poop cubes?!—there’s a little bit of science for everyone in each of these week’s picks. Our featured book is Welcome to Whalebone Mansion: Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall by Laken Slate and illustrated by Bindy James. Take a dive down below to see what’s lurking in the dark depths of the ocean! Sunken skeletons, “whale falls,” make the perfect nutritious hang-out spot for a slew of spooky sea creatures. From vampire squids to goblin sharks—zombie worms too!—maybe it’s time to start your Halloween celebrations a tad bit early this year! (No scuba gear necessary.)

Check out some more nature nonfiction below! 

The Forest That Grows Around Me
Charlotte Guillain
Illustrated by Vuon Illustration
The Quarto Group / words & pictures
Available now!

Farting Fish: and 49 Other Weird and Wonderful Scientific Discoveries
Alice Harman
Illustrated by Sam Wedelich
The Quarto Group / Happy Yak
Available now!

Welcome to Whalebone Mansion: Creatures That Lurk at a Whale Fall
Laken Slate
Illustrated by Bindy James
Charlesbridge
Available October 7th!

From Bam! to Burp! A Carbon Atom’s Never-Ending Journey Through Space and Time and You
Melissa Stewart
Illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns
Charlesbridge
Available October 28th!

3 Weeks in the Rainforest: A Rapid Inventory in the Amazon
Jennifer Swanson
Charlesbridge
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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With the beginning of fall comes many big changes in a child’s life, and with those big changes can come big emotions! For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at some of our picture books about feelings. Whether you’re feeling sad, shy, angry, or excited, these books have something for you. Our feature pick is I Hate Everything by Sophy Henn. This little ghost knows one thing for certain — they hate everything. But their friend’s not so sure. Do they hate sweets? Flowers? Dressing up? As the rainbow of lovable objects goes on, the ghost realizes they may not hate everything, after all.

Check out more picture books about emotions below!

Bear Feels Sad
Karma Wilson
Illustrated by Jane Chapman
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now!

I Hate Everything!
Sophy Henn
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

Shy Me
Sandra V. Feder
Illustrated by Ashley Baron
Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Teacher Jitters
Julie Danneberg
Illustrated by Judy Love
Charlesbridge
Available now!

You Are a Burst of Color
Choi Sook-Hee
Translated by Jiun Kaier and Sarah Kiaer
Charlesbridge
Available September 9th!

Butler Bookshelf

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Happy National Dog Day, readers! The Butler Center is joining this celebration of our furry friends with some hilarious and heartwarming books about dogs. We know that many young readers love playing with and reading to dogs, so what’s better than a book that can make you laugh about your pet and appreciate their companionship? One delightful picture book that portrays the special connection we can have with our pets is Hazel the Handful by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Matt Myers. Hazel is a sassy pooch who loves her toys, walks, and most of all, her girl, Bea! Every day they spend together is perfect in Hazel’s eyes—lots of playing, naps, and even two dinners! But when Bea’s new baby sibling comes into the picture, everything changes. Now, Bea is preoccupied with playing with the baby, and Hazel doesn’t know where she belongs in the family anymore. After a classic Hazel accident, she finds out where she fits—right in the middle, with everybody else, including the baby! Michalak’s text is funny and Hazel’s sass is sure to make young readers and their caregivers laugh out loud. She also takes care to portray the adjustment that comes along with a new family member and how that change affects the whole family, making this picture book a great resource for young kids who are about to gain a new sibling. Myers’s watercolor and ink illustrations are a cool-toned full color palette, and the classic newspaper-cartoon style pairs well with the humorous text. A fun story about a sweet and cheeky pup dealing with a major change, Hazel the Handful will entertain audiences of all ages and prompt them to give their pets some extra love.

Check out more books about dogs below!

The Dog Who Made It Better
Written by Katherin Nolte
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now

Hazel the Handful
Written by Jamie Michalak
Illustrated by Matt Myers
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Smelly Peggy
Written and illustrated by Helen Stephens
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

What Coco Can Do
Written by Maribeth Boelts
Illustrated by Stephanie Laberis
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Where Are You, Brontë?
Written by Tomie DePaola
Illustrated by Barbara McClintock
Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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Biographies are a great way to learn about the world and all its diversity. The experiences of other people can be informative, intriguing, and inspiring. This week, the Butler Center is sharing some of these fascinating stories, like William Kamkwamba (Little People, BIG DREAMS) by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara and illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman. William Kamkwamba grew up in Malawi, Africa, on a corn farm. He loved school, but for a while he had to stop when his family couldn’t afford the fees because droughts had affected their farm. After visiting the library, William thought of a way to help his family’s farm: build a windmill to pump water to the corn fields! William’s windmill was a great success, and after a few years, he started telling his story to the world. After college, he started Moving Windmills, a foundation that supports problem-solvers and encourages them to use their education and creativity to improve their communities and the world. Vegara’s text is simple and informative, aptly portraying William and his compassion and care for his community and the environment. She includes a two-page detailed biography about William at the end of the book, as well as recommended further reading. Beautyman’s quaint, full-color illustrations pair well with the text, bringing William’s world to life and showcasing his creativity. William’s story is both heartwarming and interesting, and will be sure to inspire young readers to think outside the box for their communities.

Check out more biographies below!

Bob Marley (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
Written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrated by Subi Bosa
Published by The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now

Messi Mania: The Ultimate Story of the World’s Greatest Soccer Star
Written by Luis Miguel Echegaray
Published by The Quarto Group/Holler
Available now

The Totally Awesome World of Steph Curry: Learn All There Is To Know About Your Favorite MVP
Written by Neal E. Fischer
Published by The Quarto Group/becker & meyer
Available now

William Kamkwamba (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
Written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrated by Kirsti Beautyman
Published by The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now

Yves Saint Laurent (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
Written by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Illustrated by Klas Fahlén
Published by The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s hard to believe it, but school is just around the corner! This change can be uncomfortable for kids of any age, whether they’re starting school for the first time, going to a new school, or starting a new grade. Books are a great way to help kids learn what to expect when it’s time to hit the books again, so we have put together a list of books for young readers about starting school. These books are great for kiddos that while it’s okay to be nervous about school, there are all kinds of fun things to learn and do there. In No School for Me! (Change Is Hard) by Natasha Yim and illustrated by Cory Reid, Little Turtle is upset about starting preschool. The change is scary, and Little Turtle just wants to stay home. But when Mama Turtle drops Little Turtle off at school, Little Turtle soon learns that change can be fun, too! Little Turtle makes friends and can’t wait to go back to school to eat snacks, make art, and play outside. Yim validates the nervous feelings young readers may have about school by showing Little Turtle’s reluctance, but she slowly shows how fun school can actually be. Reid’s full-color, pastel illustrations pair well with Yim’s text to create a comforting story about all the different ways that change can feel.

Check out more back to school books below!

Getting Ready For First Grade
Written by Vera Ahiyya, The Tutu Teacher
Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia
Published by Random House PICTUREBACK
Available now!

Gus & Sully: Ready for School
Written and illustrated by Steve Light
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

No School for Me! (Change Is Hard) (Chicken Soup for the Soul Babies)
Written by Natasha Yim
Illustrated by Cory Reid
Published by Charlesbridge
Available now!

Today at School: With Yesterday and Tomorrow
Written by Jessica Young
Illustrated by Renee Kurilla
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

Trusty Bus
Written by Elizabeth Weiss Verdick
Illustrated by Jeff Harter
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re celebrating books about identity, individuality, and being your authentic self. Our feature pick is So Devin Wore a Skirt by Shireen Lalji, illustrated by Lucy Fleming. Nanabapa’s birthday party is today, and the rest of Devin’s family have picked out their outfits for the party. Devin is going through all of his clothes, but he just can’t find something to wear. When he spots his sister’s skirt lying out, he thinks he’s finally found his perfect outfit. But what will everyone say? At first he tries to hide the skirt, but once his family sees it, he discovers that his family are happy to see him wearing whatever makes him happy.

Check out more picture books about being yourself below!

Alfred Blooms
Carrie Kruck
Illustrated by Carmen Mok
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Kente for Jojo
Bernard Mensah
Illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

The Littlest Drop
Sascha Alper
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney and Brian Pinkney
Random House Children’s Books/Anne Schwartz Books
Available now!

Many Things at Once
Veera Hiranandani
Illustrated by Nadia Alam
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

So Devin Wore a Skirt
Shireen Lalji
Illustrated by Lucy Fleming
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

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