Category Archives: Butler Bookshelf

Butler Bookshelf

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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

Butler Bookshelf

by

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!

Butler Bookshelf

by

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

Butler Bookshelf

by

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!

Butler Bookshelf

by

One of the best ways to learn about the experiences of other people is to read biographies. Whether they’re an athlete, scientist, musician, or poet, a person’s biography is sure to expose readers to different ways of life and help them build empathy for others. This week, the Butler Center has created a list of some of our favorite biographies for young readers published so far this year, like Edie for Equality: Edie Windsor Stands Up for Love written by Michael Genhart and illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday. This biography tells the story of Edie Windsor, a lesbian woman who helped pave the path for marriage equality for same-sex couples. Edie was born in 1929, and in 1963, Edie met the love of her life, Thea Spyer. Edie and Thea spent many decades together, eventually marrying in Canada in 2007, two years before Thea passed away from health complications. After Thea passed, the government tried to stop Edie from inheriting her property and money because it didn’t recognize their marriage as legal. With the help of her lawyer, Roberta “Robbie” Kaplan, Edie successfully sued the United States government. Her lawsuit was the first step in overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, a law that was eventually completely voided in 2022 with the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act. Through Edie’s hard work, activism, and her love for Thea, important steps were made towards marriage equality for all people in the United States. Genhart expertly intertwines Edie’s personal story with LGTBQ+ history, which helps readers understand the world Edie was living in and how she eventually came to become an important LGBTQ+ activist. Paired with Thuesday’s vibrant and colorful mixed-media illustrations, Edie’s world comes to life to inspire readers to stand up for themselves and those they love. Genhart also includes extensive backmatter detailing the history of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, the DOMA, and the United States Supreme Court. Both inspiring and informative, Edie for Equality is a great addition to any library collection.

Check out more inspiring biographies below!

Birdlore: The Iridescent Life of Florence Merriam Bailey
Written by Jess Keating
Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

Edie for Equality: Edie Windsor Stands Up for Love
Written by Michael Genhart
Illustrated by Cheryl Thuesday
Published by Lee & Low Books
Available now!

Harry Styles (Little People, Big Dreams)
Written by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Lizzie Knott
Published by The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

The Totally Awesome World of Caitlin Clark: Learn All There Is To Know About Your Favorite All-Star
Written by Sara Weiss
Published by The Quarto Group/becker&meyer!kids
Available now!

Woods & Words: The Story of Poet Mary Oliver
Written by Sara Holly Ackerman
Illustrated by Naoko Stoop
Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!