Category Archives: Butler Bookshelf

Butler Bookshelf

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Graphic novels are a favorite among students, teachers, and librarians alike. Spanning a variety of genres, stories, and art styles, anyone can find their perfect graphic novel match. We have no shortage of them here in the Butler Center, so this week we’re taking a look at some of our middle grade graphic novels. Our feature pick is The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang by Stan Yan. Eugenia Wang has never been allowed to celebrate her birthday on the day itself, because her mother believes the date, April 4th, is unlucky due to Chinese superstition around the number 4. Genie plots to throw a party on her actual 13th birthday and to apply to an art summer camp behind her disapproving mother’s back. But while she plans, she begins having visions of death and disaster striking on her birthday, which bleed through into the comic she draws for her art camp application. As the visions continue and her birthday draws closer, Genie begins to suspect the visions are a supernatural warning — and she needs to figure out how to stop their events from coming true.

Check out more middle grade graphic novels below!

Grumpy Monkey School Stinks!: A Graphic Novel
Suzanne Lang
Illustrated by Max Lang
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

The Many Misfortunes of Eugenia Wang
Stan Yan
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics: The Graphic Novel
Chris Grabenstein
Illustrated by Douglas Holgate
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

My Life as an Internet Novel
A Hyeon and Yu Han-Ryeo
Random House Children’s Books/RH Graphic
Available now!

Someone’s Gonna End Up Crying
Jo Knowles
Illustrated by Glynnis Fawkes
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re exploring all things mythological. From the fire-breathing dragons who can’t quite seem to keep their underpants burn-free to the little girl who’s unsure what to do with a seemingly-stranded unicorn… (The carnival? A pet store maybe?), each of these picture book picks feature some fantastical creatures and the chaos (or magic!) that ensues. Our feature pick this week is The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake, written and illustrated by Devin Elle Kurtz, the second book in her best-selling (and authorial debut!) series. Ember the dragon is an excellent baker, so it’s no surprise when Princess Turnip arrives with the daunting request that he shall be the one to bake for the Fairy Queen’s birthday party. Only one small problem: The Queen wants a “birthday cake” and Ember’s never heard of “birthday cake” before! Apparently, it’s supposed to be: sweet, tall, and… full of candles?! Despite some failed attempts and a few tears (and thanks to a handy-dandy gaggle of fellow dragons who are more than willing to sample the burnt extras…), Ember is determined to let them eat cake. The fairies, that is.

Check out some more mythical creature tales (tails) below!

The Angel and the Mermaid
Becky Cameron
The Quarto Group / Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

Dragons Love Underpants
Claire Freedman
Illustrated by Ben Cort
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Aladdin
Available now!

The Bakery Dragon and the Fairy Cake
Devin Elle Kurtz
Random House Children’s Books / Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Sometimes You Find a Dragon
Viviane Schwarz
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Unicorn Post
Emma Yarlett
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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October marches forward, a chill fills the air, and Halloween creeps ever closer. In the past few weeks, we’ve looked at middle grade horror and Halloween picture books, and this week we’re topping it off with a look at some of the young adult horror novels in our collection. Our feature pick is The Transition by Logan-Ashley Kisner. After Hunter gets top surgery, he’s prepared to deal with the healing process. What he’s not prepared for, though, is being attacked by a huge and mysterious animal just after getting his drains out. Without warning, Hunter’s body is revolting against him, turning into something else without his permission. After they find out, his friends Gabe and Mars are in a race against the clock to find a cure before his transformation is complete. But the siren song of the wolf inside him calls out to Hunter, offering him a life where he doesn’t have to worry about his trans body or the transphobic bullies who are constantly escalating their attacks.

Check out more young adult horror novels below!

The Dead of Summer
Ryan La Sala
Scholastic/PUSH
Available now!

Let’s Split Up
Bill Wood
Scholastic/Scholastic Press
Available now!

The Protegee
Erica Ridley
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press
Available now!

The Transition
Logan-Ashley Kisner
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press
Available now!

Who’s All Going (to Die)?
Lisa Springer
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re celebrating all things super! No matter what your taste in superheroes is, these middle grade novels have you covered with everything from donut-throwing drag queens to anthropomorphic pancakes. Our feature pick is Donutella Hamachi and the Library Avengers by Kim Chi and Stephan Lee, with illustrations by Utomaru. Jae Han loves his local library, where he can hang out with his friends, read all of his favorite writer Park Seon Woo’s graphic novels, and write his own comics about his stunning donut-themed drag queen superhero, Donutella Hamachi. When the mayor announces that the library will be shut down to make way for a new mall, it seems like Jae Han and his friends have lost the only place they can truly be themselves. But Jae Han has an idea that might just let them save the library after all — an arts showcase that can attract attention to the library and let all the creative people in town show off their talents. It’s time to channel Donutella’s bravery and fierce attitude to save the library before it’s too late!

Check out more middle grade fiction about superheroes below!

Donutella Hamachi and the Library Avengers
Kim Chi and Stephan Lee
Illustrated by Utomaru
Candlewick Press/Walker Books US
Available now!

Superworld 2: Destructo World
Yarrow Cheney and Carrie Cheney
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Max Meow: When Pancakes Go Bad (Really Bad!)
John Gallagher
Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Shadow Warrior
Shogo Aoki
Scholastic/Graphix
Available now!

The (Not So) Superheroes
Swapna Haddow
Illustrated by Minky Stapleton
Scholastic
Available now!

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