Category Archives: Butler Bookshelf

Butler Bookshelf

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Here at the Butler Center, we love books – and what’s a book without a writer to write it? This week we’re getting meta with books about writing. Covering everything from poetry to plays, these books are sure to inspire any budding creative. Our feature pick is Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford. Angus Gettlefinger loves a lot of things – werewolves, old Hollywood, Shakespeare, and his older brother, Liam. But lately, Liam has changed, and is acting more like a creature of the night than the big brother Angus loves. Angus hatches a plan to put on a play with his 5th grade class: Hamlet, but with werewolves. Werewolf Hamlet. Maybe, when he sees it, Liam will realize he’s changing, just like the Werewolf Hamlet in Angus’ play. Maybe everything will go back to normal. An emotional look at addiction and the toll it takes on a family through the eyes of an over-imaginative 10 year old, Werewolf Hamlet will serve as a mirror for readers who have faced struggles similar to Angus’, and a window into new experiences for those who have not.

Check out more books to inspire your inner writer below!

Dear Bookstore
Emily Arrow
Illustrated by Genevieve Godbout
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen’s First Great Story
Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
Charlesbirdge
Available now!

Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea
John Schu
Illustrated by Holly Hatam
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Werewolf Hamlet
Kerry Madden-Lunsford
Charlesbridge/Charlesbridge Moves
Available now!

You’re a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems
Sean Taylor
Illustrated by Sam Usher
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Tomorrow is International Read To Me Day, and here at the Butler Center, we wanted to celebrate by sharing some new board and picture books that came out this year! Reading to young children has proven to be an important part of fostering literacy. Take a look through these delightful books and find the right one for your little one, like Your Island by Jon Klassen! In this charming board book, young readers build their own island that they can visit “whenever [they] want to go there” (25). Klassen introduces readers to their very own sun, palm tree, plants, and more items that bring their island to life. With whimsical ink and graphite illustrations, readers can learn about the basics of an island campsite and Klassen helps to build an imaginary oasis that young readers can enjoy while playing or reading the book again.

Check out more board and picture books below!

Maisy’s Planet: Maisy Loves Birds
Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Our Gorgeous Baby
Written by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Illustrated by Eve Coy
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

A Pocket Full of Rocks
Written by Kristin Mahoney
Illustrated by E.B. Goodale
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

Seven Little Ducklings
Written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Your Island
Written and illustrated by Jon Klassen
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Fairies and dragons and unicorns – oh my! This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about magical creatures, from friendly unicorns to dangerously deadly mermaids. Our feature pick is Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies by Megan McDonald and illustrated by Lenny Wen. Eliza loves reading about fairies, but after traveling through a fairy door, they become more than just words on a page – they’re real! The flower fairies are nervous to see someone so big, but after an introduction from the brave fairy Poppy, they’re excited to meet “Eliza of the Elves.” However, when a plot to steal their flower scents is put into motion, Eliza finds that she’s the only one who can save Poppy and her new flower fairy friends. This story full of magic, accompanied by Wen’s colorful illustrations, is sure to be a hit with lovers of everything flowery and fairy-filled.

Check out more books about magical beings below!

Fairy Door Diaries: Eliza and the Flower Fairies
Megan McDonald
Illustrated by Lenny Wen
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Hocus and Pocus and the Dragon Next Door
A.R. Capetta
Illustrated by Charlene Chua
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Momo Arashima Duels the Queen of Death
Misa Sugiura
Random House Children’s Books/Labyrinth Road
Available now!

The Fifth Mage
Megan Reyes
Random House Children’s Books/Labyrinth Road
Available now!

Unicornia: A Magical Birthday
Ana Punset
Illustrated by Diana Vicedo
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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March is Women’s History Month, and what better way to kick it off than by reading about amazing women throughout history. This week we’re taking a look at nonfiction about inspiring women – from scientists to mathematicians to politicians. Our feature pick is The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape by Amy Alznauer, illustrated by Anna Bron. Throughout history, artists and mathematicians have grappled with the Problem of Five – the seeming impossibility of a five-sided shape that tiles perfectly with itself. Marjorie Rice was neither an artist nor a trained mathematician, but she was determined to solve the issue. Through a lot of hard work and dedication, she discovered four new shapes, never before seen by humans! This biography, with illustrations filled with gorgeous five-sided tessellations, tells the Story of Five and Marjorie’s dedication to solving the age-old mystery. This inspiring story is sure to be a hit with budding mathematicians or those interested in women’s history.

Check out more books about women who changed the world below!

The Five Sides of Marjorie Rice: How to Discover a Shape
Amy Alznauer
Illustrated by Anna Bron
Candlewick Press
Available now!

The Girl Who Tested the Waters: Ellen Swallow, Environmental Scientist
Patricia Danielle
Illustrated by Junyi Wu
Candlewick Press/MIT Kids Press
Available now!

Jellyfish Scientist: Maude Delap and her Mesmerizing Medusas
Michelle Cusolito
Illustrated by Ellen Rooney
Charlesbridge
Available April 22nd, 2025

The Six — Young Reader’s Edition: The Untold Story of America’s First Women Astronauts
Loren Grush and Rebecca Stefoff
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

True Gretch: Lessons For Anyone Who Wants To Make a Difference (Young Adult Edition)
Gretchen Whitmer
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Books are a great way to learn about new things. Whether it’s fiction that shows us a new culture, a chapter book that helps us understand new emotions, or nonfiction that shares interesting facts about nature, there’s always something new to learn in every book we pick up! This week’s Butler Bookshelf is a list of new books we’ve received that all have something to teach us about, like What’s the Actually Factually Difference?: How to Tell the Difference Between Over 150 Things That Are Similar But Different! by Jane Wilsher and illustrated by Liz Kay. This fun book is rich with knowldge and full of facts about all kinds of things that seem the same, but are actually different. Wilsher divides the book into many different chapters. including “Transportation,” “Jobs and hobbies,” and “History,” so readers have a wide range of topics to learn about. Kay’s illustrations accompany the text well and engage readers by helping to visualize every topic. A useful resource that can be read alone, What’s the Actually Factually Difference? can also be used to play fun trivia and quiz games with friends by taking turns reading and guessing the differences between things like a crocodile and an alligator or a black hole and a wormhole.

Check out more books below!

A Burning in the Bones (Waxways 3)
Written by Scott Reintgen
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now

Charlie Hernandez and the Phantom of Time (Charlie Hernandez 4)
Written by Ryan Calejo
Published by Aladdin
Available now

Nature School: Planet Earth: Lessons and Activities to Inspire Children’s Fascination with Our Planet
Written by Lauren Giordano and Laura Stroup
Illustrated by Staphanie Hathaway
Published by Quarry Books
Available now

Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck (Hardcover Edition)
Written by Chitra Soundar
Illustrated by Jen Khatun
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

What’s the Actually Factually Difference? How to Tell the Difference Between Over 150 Things That Are Similar But Different!
Written by Jane Wilsher
Illustrated by Liz Kay
Published by words & pictures
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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If there’s one things books do best, it’s transport us somewhere new. With the power of fiction, we can travel to new places, full of new people, and experience things we never thought possible. This week, we’re taking a look a teen fiction that takes us someplace new – from a fairytale kingdom to an alien invasion to a virus-ridden dystopia, each of these books takes the reader totally out of this world. Our feature is Why On Earth: An Alien Invasion Anthology, edited by Rosiee Thor and Vania Stoyanova. Iona is on a mission. Her brother, Axariam has been stuck on Earth for five years – all the while pretending to be “Max Spencer,” a boyband superstar turned Hollywood actor. But when Iona’s ship crashes and her crew is shattered, their mission (and the premiere of Max’s new movie) devolves into chaos. An innovative approach to the anthology format, each short story in this collection gives a unique perspective on the “alien invasion” as Iona and her crew attempt to reunite and rescue Max once and for all. Delightfully quirky and filled to the brim with loveable characters, this anthology is a must-read for sci-fi lovers everywhere.

Check out more teen genre fiction below!

All Better Now
Neal Shusterman
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing /Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Capitana
Casandra James
HarperCollins Publishers/Quill Tree Books
Available now!

Liar’s Kingdom
Christine Calella
Page Street Publishing/Page Street YA
Available now!

Orisha, Volume 1
Huzayfa Umar
The Quarto Group/Rockport Publishers
Available February 25th, 2025

Why On Earth: An Alien Invasion Anthology
Edited by Rosiee Thor and Vania Stoyanova
Page Street Publishing
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s February, which means Black History month is being celebrated across the United States. The Butler Center is proud to feature Black voices and Black literature across our collections, including the Effie Lee Morris Collection of African American Books. This week, we’d like to celebrate the month by taking a look at fiction by Black authors in our new book collection. From picture books to middle grade to young adult, these books span ages and genres, giving a peek at all corners of our collection! Our feature pick is Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop by Keenan Jones and illustrated by Ken Daley. Inspired by the author’s frequent trips to barbershops as a child, this colorful picture book follows a young boy as he spends his Saturday morning in a bustling barbershop. Along the way, he celebrates all the things a barbershop can be: a sound booth, a comedy club, a classroom, and more. With gorgeous full-page illustrations that capture the hustle and bustle of the ‘shop, this is a delightful book for readers of all ages.

Check out more fiction from Black authors below!

As You Wish
Nashae Jones
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Aladdin
Available now!

Black Joy
Charnaie Gordon
Illustrated by Lhaiza Morena
The Quarto Group/becker&myer!kids
Available now!

Dear Black Boy
Martellus Bennett
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop
Keenan Jones
Illustrated by Ken Daley
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Beach Lane Books
Available now!

(S)kin
Ibi Zoboi
HarperCollins Publishers/Versify
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about new fiction titles in our collection! These titles feature animal adventures, a school for time travelers, and dragons in London for readers of all ages. The featured title this week is Time Out! (Addy McBean) by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Stacy Curtis. In this chapter book for beginning readers, math-loving Addy McBean learns how to tell time on analog clocks and how to set an alarm. Along the way, she and her best friend, Star, become convinced that their teacher, Mr. Vertex, is getting married. Working tirelessly to look for clues, they accidentally spread the rumor to their class. In addition to learning the fun of telling time, Addy learns the importance of using facts to make a decision instead of assumptions. Curtis uses quirky digital illustrations to accompany Addy’s adventures, and Cuyler includes a character glossary and a word list to help young readers remember characters and learn new terms.

Check out more fiction below!

The Doomsday Vault (Everwhen School of Time Travel (and Other Odd Sciences) 1)
Written by Thomas Wheeler
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now

A Language of Dragons
Written by S.F. Williamson
Published by Harper
Available now

Little Head, Little Nose
Written by Yuli Yav
Illustrated by Antonia Woodward
Published by LITTLE SIMON
Available now

Time Out! (Addy McBean)
Written by Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Published by Aladdin Quix
Available now

A Wolf Called Fire
Written by Rosanne Parry
Published by Greenwillow Books
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about nonfiction – from animals to athletes and artists, these books provide a fascinating glimpse into the world around us. This week we’re featuring Nature: Fascinating Facts You Never Knew About the Natural World by Eric Huang. Think you know everything there is to know about nature? Oh no you don’t! Huang corrects commonly-held misconceptions about the natural world, while providing extra interesting facts along the way. Complete with full-color illustrations from Sam Caldwell, this book is perfect for any budding eco-enthusiast

Check out more selections from the Butler Center’s nonfiction collection below!

David Beckham (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Fernando Martin
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

Maya Angelou Finds Her Voice
Connie and Peter Roop
Illustrated by Noa Denmon
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Aladdin
Available now!

Mud to the Rescue!: How Animals Use Mud to Thrive and Survive
Tanya Konerman
Illustrated by Melanie Cataldo
Web of Life Children’s Books
Available May 20th, 2025

Nature: Fascinating Faces You Never Knew About the Natural World
Eric Huang
Illustrated by Sam Caldwell
The Quarto Group/Words & Pictures
Available now!

Yayoi Kusama (Little People, BIG DREAMS)
Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
Illustrated by Ryoko Ichikawa
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available April 4th, 2025

Butler Bookshelf

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This week, we’re thinking about our friends and family – the people we love and choose to spend our time with. These Butler Bookshelf picks are all about how we show love to the important people in our lives! Our feature pick is Why We Eat Fried Peanuts by Zed Zha, illustrated by Sian James. As they celebrate Lunar New Year, Mèng’s father tells her the story of her tài nâi nai (great-grandmother) and explains the important part that ancestors play in their culture. He recounts the story of Tài Nâi Nai’s kindness towards strangers, and the baby, nicknamed Little Peanut, who she rescued and raised as her own. Complete with definitions and pronunciations for over 20 words in Mandarin and instructions on making your own fried peanuts for Lunar New Year’s celebration, this picture book is a fantastic introduction to Chinese culture, holidays, and celebrations, as well as a heartwarming story about the importance of family.

Check out more books about love, family, and friendship below!

Lily’s Dream: A Fairy Friendship
Bea Jackson
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Aladdin
Available now!

Hand Holds: Love
Fiona Munro
Illustrated by Laura Hambleton
The Quarto Group/Design Eye
Available January 28th, 2025

The Welcome Book
Danna Smith
Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/LITTLE SIMON
Available now!

When Alexander Graced the Table
Alexander Smalls & Denene Miller
Illustrated by Frank Morrison
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Why We Eat Fried Peanuts
Zed Zha
Illustrated by Sian James
The Quarto Group/becker&myer!kids
Available now!