Category Archives: children’s fiction

Snow Many Books, Snow Little Time: A (Nice) List of Holiday Reads

by

With the holiday season officially in full swing, there’s no better way to spend the day than with a good book—cozy clothes & hot cocoa optional, but encouraged. From snowy stories to Yuletide tales, whether you’re counting down the days ‘til Santa or just enjoy the cold, our early gift to you is a list full of wonderful wintertime books for all ages. As a wise, jolly old man once said, be sure to check it twice.

PICTURE BOOKS:

The Muttcracker
Written by Anna Kemp and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Ages 4-8
September 9th, 2025

Biff is not like other dogs; he’d rather be in ballet than barking—pliéing than playing! When their ballet teacher assigns The Nutcracker’s roles, aspiring Sugar Plum Fairy Biff is devastated to learn he and his human have been cast as measly bonbons. But the show must go on, and the two are determined to dazzle with their fine dancing. With charming illustrations and warm-and-fuzzy words, this picture book is perfect for ballerinas, dogs, and humans alike.

Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue
Written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt
Random House Children’s Books / Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Ages 4-8
October 28th, 2025

When Santa Claus comes down with a cold the week before Christmas, Elmore the trusty moose volunteers to take over. But he’s got a big to-do list, and he’d better check it twice. Exercise the reindeer! Don’t give the elves too much sugar! Easy-peasy, right? But things go south (no, not the pole) fast, and it’s up to Elmore to save the big day. With jokes that both kids and adults can appreciate, this holiday story is sure to be a Christmas crowd-pleaser.

NON-FICTION:

Joy to the Whole World!: A Round the World Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book
Written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Sang Miao
The Quarto Group / Wide Eyed Editions
Ages 3-6
September 2nd, 2025

Whether it’s an Ethiopian feast, snowballs & sledding in Finland, or a dip in the pool for Australians, Christmas looks different all around the world. Intricate, lively illustrations are paired with liftable flaps hiding all sorts of Yuletide treasures, making this the perfect way to travel internationally this holiday season, all from the comfort of your own home.

Our Frozen Planet
Written by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and illustrated by Kim Smith
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Beach Lane Books
Ages 4-8
September 2nd, 2025

Bundle up for a trek through the tundra, and beyond, as tales are told of grandfatherly Greenland sharks, cuddly Japanese macaques, blubbery seals, and all of the other flora & fauna brave enough to (polar) bear the cold. With colorful pictures and a knowledgeable narrative that’s far from information-heavy, this book is apropos for aspiring Antarctic explorers. Or anyone looking to escape the snow… with more snow.

MIDDLE GRADE:

Twelve Classics of Christmas
Louisa May Alcott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Brothers Grimm, et al.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Aladdin
Ages 8+
September 9th, 2025

Forget partridges in pear trees! With short stories from the Brothers Grimm, L. Frank Baum, Charles Dickens, and many more beloved authors, this collection of twelve Christmas classics might just be the best way to count down the days ‘til December 25th.

Snow
Written by Meera Trehan
Candlewick Press / Walker Books US
Ages 8-12
January 21st, 2025

The Snow Princess spends her days in the snow, digging for something, anything, to save her kingdom. When twelve-year-old Ela’s boring family vacation prompts her to take a walk through the snow, the two girls and their worlds can’t help but collide. With wishes and twists and magic galore, this snowy story is the perfect wintertime tale for valiant princesses and family vacationers alike.

YOUNG ADULT:

Joy to the Girls: A She Gets The Girl Novella
Written by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Ages 14+
September 30th, 2025

It’s the holiday season, and Alex and Molly are madly in love, so what better way to spend their last winter break together than with a romantic getaway to a small storybook town? And how about getting their friends to fall in love, too? With Christmas and a bit of matchmaking on their minds, the two girls scheme to make this the most memorable holiday yet. This short and sweet novella nicely pairs with a warm mug of cocoa.

Fake Skating
Written by Lynn Painter
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Ages 16+
September 30th, 2025

It’s been five years since they last talked, and childhood best friends Dani and Alec are now, pun intended, polar opposites. The once goofy Dani now keeps her nose quietly buried in books, and the once gangly Alec is now… a perfectly chiseled high school hockey star?! The ice rink and Minnesota snow might be frigidly cold, but when Alec and Dani begin “fake dating” to save face after a locker room mishap, things heat up. Fast. A perfectly formulaic rom-com story to satisfy all of your saccharine holiday Hallmark movie needs.

Sounds like the perfect time to bundle up with a book (or two).

Butler Bookshelf

by

This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about the silly! We’re taking a look at some new picture books that are pretty much guaranteed to… well, at least give you a giggle! There’s a little bit of everything for everyone here: an acorn-less gray squirrel who’s going nuts (literally!), a wise bug broadcasting insect advice on air, an overzealous little penguin pursuing polar bear for dinner, and one little girl’s grocery store banana bonanza. Our feature pick this week is Little Red and Big, Bad Fred, a creatively silly & heartfelt take on the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale, written and illustrated by Ashley Belote. Little Red loves going to his Great-Grandpa’s house, especially since it means he gets to see his furry friend Fred along the way! But the one thing Little Red doesn’t know is… Fred’s a hungry, hungry wolf and thinks Little Red would make a scrumptious midday snack! One winter day, Fred hits his head, and Little Red brings him to Great-Grandpa’s for help. With sharp, shiny fangs and big, big claws, the two realize he must be a dog! They buy him kibble, play fetch, and after lots of belly rubs, Fred realizes that maybe Little Red wouldn’t be the perfect meal, but rather the perfect best friend.

Check out some more silly, laugh-out-loud picture books below!

Little Red and Big, Bad Fred
Ashley Belote
Random House Children’s Books / Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Gray Squirrel Loses It!
Cassandra Federman
Random House Children’s Books / Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug
Susan E. Goodman
Illustrated by Merrill Rainey
Astra Books for Young Readers / Hippo Park
Available now!

I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear
Karl Newson
Illustrated by Nicola Kinnear
The Quarto Group / Happy Yak
Available now!

A Quick Trip to the Store
Sam Wedelich
Random House Children’s Books / Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

by

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!

An Ear-Resistible Tail: A Review of Bunns Rabbit

by

Bunns Rabbit
Written and illustrated by Alan Barillaro
Candlewick Press
Ages 8-12
Available October 7th, 2025

Although the superstitious elders of the warren fear newborn Bunns’ peculiarly small ears, thanks to the loving heart song of her mother—thump, thump, thump—Bunns feels no different than the rest of her long-eared family. But when a flutter of Monarchs lures Bunns into the deep, dark forest, she comes face to face with the fiery Spirit Fox, feared by all. Legend says the Spirit Fox has the power to grant wishes, but after seeing Bunns in its presence, the other rabbits decide that she is the “Bad Omen,” and banish her from the meadow. Determined to save her place in the burrow and stay with her family, young Bunns sets out to find the fox again, longing for the wish of, well, long ears. As she wanders beyond the meadow, Bunns befriends Bee, a gentle hummingbird, and Loon, whose cold heart she’s determined to warm. Together, the trio set off on a journey full of myth, mystery, and riddles. Filled with bravery (and a belly of clover!), Bunns is willing to do whatever it takes to keep her family and home safe.

​Academy Award-winning writer & director Alan Barillaro is no stranger to the allure of a story rooted in the courage and curiosity of young animal creatures. With the adorable Pixar short Piper under his belt, it comes as no surprise that Barillaro’s new book Bunns Rabbit is just as moving; this time combining that heartstrings-will-be-tugged narrative with an action-packed fantastical journey. There are moments of despair for the trio, plenty of obstacles, and times when Bunn loses hope, but nevertheless, she persists. Complete with rich, hand-painted illustrations and some truly wonderful poetic moments, Bunns Rabbit is the perfect blend of graphic novel and parable for both children and adults; it’s a timeless exploration of family, friendship, and, most importantly, self-love. Big ears or small.

Below the Surface: A Review of Dive 

by

Dive 
Written by John David Anderson 
Published by Walden Pond Press/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 9-13 
Available August 19, 2025 

Thirteen-year-old Kass feels frustrated with her life. She and her best friend are drifting apart, and her parents’ marriage is strained by money problems. Even Kass’s safe space in the pool as a competitive diver causes her stress as she struggles to master a dive that her teammate, Amber, could perform in her sleep. Disheartened, Kass’s life changes when she finds Miles, a seventeen-year-old high school dropout, dumpster diving near her bus stop. Intrigued, Kass starts taking “lessons” from him on how to scavenge, looking for the value in discarded objects. Along the way, Kass learns the importance of looking past her assumptions to find the deeper story. 

John David Anderson delivers a heartwarming story about looking past appearances to find deeper connections with the people and places around you. Through Kass’s character arc, Anderson explores what it means to test boundaries and make mistakes as a way toward self-discovery. Miles and Amber further propel Kass’s development as they teach her that her assumptions of others aren’t always true. Anderson utilizes cheeky teenage humor to bring levity to the emotional, serious situations that Kass finds herself in, like the effects of her parents’ struggling marriage. The novel is fast-paced, covering only a couple of weeks of Kass’s life, but its impression is long-lasting. Both moving and thought-provoking, Dive by John David Anderson is a mirror for many tweens and young teens trying to figure out where they land in the world. 

Computerized Companionship: A Review of Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend

by

Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend
Lance Rubin
HarperCollins Publishers/Clarion Books
Ages 8-12
Available August 26. 2025

Zed Moonstein isn’t very good at making friends. He and his best friend Rishti used to be attached at the hip, but now that the two of them are in sixth grade they don’t have a single class together. While Rishti is busy making new friends and going viral online, Zed is stuck feeling neglected and alone. It looks like he’s found the perfect solution in the top-secret project his mom has been busy developing at work — an app which promises to create the perfect AI friend, someone who knows you better than anyone else and is always there for you. When he manages to download the app for himself, it seems like Zed’s friendship troubles are over. But soon, his digital friend starts to act strangely. Before he knows it, Zed’s new best friend has become his worst enemy. How can he hide from someone who lives inside his phone?

In today’s world, where AI chatbots are at our fingertips to write our emails, do our schoolwork, and maybe even be our friends, Zed’s life in tech-filled MonoTown doesn’t seem so far fetched. Rubin grapples with the increasingly dominance of technology in daily life — the way it effects jobs, schooling, and social lives. As Zed faces down his digital friend-turned-foe, he begins to realize just how much of his life is dependent on the tech produced by MonoLyth, the company which owns his town, school, and new companion app. His universal middle school troubles like friendship and fitting in are augmented by 21st-century struggles with tech, particularly the ways it both encourages and thwarts human connection. These struggles (both mundane and technological) are sure to be recognizable to young readers.

Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend is a tech thriller with something for everyone — Zed’s high-tech life will be appealing to readers especially interested in computers or artificial intelligence, while his friendship troubles serve as a story that young readers can relate to themselves and their lives.

How To Release Your Grumbles: A Review of Grumble Boats 

by

Grumble Boats 
Written by Susannah McFarlane 
Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-6 
Available April 15, 2025 

Who helps you release your grumpy feelings? Emma doesn’t know how to release her grumbles when her parents don’t let her go to the pirate party with her brother. After Emma is dropped off at her grandma’s house, Grandma sees how upset Emma is and quickly comes up with a solution. Together, they walk to the beach, draw their grumbly and grumpy feelings, and watch them sail away after folding them into paper boats. After they say goodbye to their grumbles, Emma feels much better and is ready for a fun day of playing and eating grilled cheese with Grandma. 

Susannah McFarlane presents readers with a simple yet well-written story about a young girl coping with her grumpy feelings. With straightforward text, she shows why Emma is upset and the effort that Grandma puts into cheering her up. Through Grandma’s character, McFarlane writes about an easy way to release your feelings: by drawing them out and releasing them to sea. She thoughtfully shows Grandma helping Emma move on from her grumpiness without invalidating her feelings by reassuring her that she would have been an excellent pirate as they watch their grumbles float away. There are also instructions at the end that show readers how to make their own grumble boats so they can participate in this practice in mindfulness. Ainslie’s watercolor and pencil illustrations pair well with the text to bring Emma’s world to life, illustrating Emma’s grumpy facial expressions especially well. The illustrations are detailed, and Ainslie utilizes a muted full-color palette, which has the same calming effect that Grandma’s grumble boats have on Emma’s feelings. Grumble Boats is a lovely addition to any classroom library or program to give young readers a chance to learn about healthy emotional regulation. 

Dare To Follow Your Joy: A Review of The Queen Bees of Tybee County 

by

The Queen Bees of Tybee County 
Written by Kyle Casey Chu 
Published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 8-13 
Available April 15, 2025 

Talented middle school point guard Derrick Chan has the perfect summer plan: go to basketball camp and practice every day so he and his best friend, JJ, can make the varsity team next year. His plan is upended when his dad can’t afford the tuition, so instead, Derrick is sent to his grandma Claudia’s in boring Heritage, GA. There, Derrick befriends roller skater Ro and queer photographer Giles. When he has an opportunity to help out with the town pageant, Derrick volunteers out of curiosity and is soon faced with an opportunity to be daring and authentically express himself to the world.  

The Queen Bees of Tybee County is an emotional and heartwarming story of one middle school boy’s journey to self-discovery. Every reader will be able to understand Derrick’s confusion and anxiety, and they’ll find comfort in the safe space that his loved ones give him to be himself. Simultaneously, Chu expertly makes Derrick’s experience specific to his queer Chinese American identity. He demonstrates the diversity of expression in the LGBTQ+ community by showing the different ways Derrick and Giles express their queerness, as well as the ways that racism has affected Derrick’s family members chasing their own dreams. All told from Derrick’s perspective, his sweet and genuine personality makes the story compelling. Community is the heart of this novel, and Chu creates a comfortable safe space in Giles, Ro, and Claudia for Derrick to explore his feelings before feeling safe to come out to JJ and his dad. Although the resolution is fairytale-esque, Chu doesn’t shy away from the reality of being queer and Chinese American by showing resistance from some townspeople when Derrick competes in the pageant. This touching story of self-love and acceptance is sure to inspire upper-elementary and middle schoolers everywhere to be proud of who they are. 

Butler Bookshelf

by

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

by

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!