Category Archives: children’s fiction

Computerized Companionship: A Review of Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend

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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 

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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 

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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

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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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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

Forces of Nature: A Review of Severe and Unusual Weather

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Severe and Unusual Weather
Jessie Ann Foley
HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Ages 8-12
Available May 13, 2025

Nadine’s residence in Centralia is strictly temporary. Stuck living in the sleepy Illinois town with her grandmother after her mom was sent away to rehab, all she wants is to survive the last few months of 6th grade at her new school without attracting any attention. But almost as soon as she arrives, she finds herself paired up with Francis, the black sheep of Centralia Middle School, for their history fair project. When the two of them decide to do their project on the Great Tornado of the New Millennium, which killed Francis’ mother, the questions start to pile up. How does a tornado form out of nowhere? Why did it only hit the trailer park where Francis and his family lived? And why will the mayor stop at nothing to get them to change their topic? As they dig deeper into the city’s history, the unlikely friends uncover the secrets that lay behind Centralia’s severe and unusual weather.

As the characters deal with problems both mundane and magical, Foley shines a spotlight on their emotional realities. The magical mystery is set against the backdrop of Nadine and Francis’ personal lives as they deal with loss, neglect, addiction, and bullying. The characters face down challenges both practical and fantastical as their friendship deepens and they learn more about each other’s challenges and family histories. Severe and Unusual Weather grapples with the unfairness of life through the dual lens of Nadine’s tumultuous life and the tornado that touches every part of the narrative. Ultimately, Francis and Nadine’s oft-repeated motto rings true about more than just weather: “… tornadoes aren’t bad things. Tornadoes just are” (Chapter 11). Nadine and Francis’ story remind us that nothing in life is inherently good or bad. Forces of nature are inevitable. It’s the way we choose to deal with them that defines them, and us.

Coupling a solid emotional core with an elusive magical mystery, this story will hook readers of magical realism new and seasoned alike. Whether the characters are standing up to bullies or facing down a tornado, the action is sure to keep you on your toes from start to finish.

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!

Determine Your Own Destiny: A review of Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

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Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo
Philippa Leathley
Illustrated by Brie Schmida
Clarion Books/HarperCollinsChildrens
January 28, 2025
Age 8-12

Born to a family of magical bent and eccentric names, Meticulous “Metty” Jones yearns for her tenth birthday and the receipt of a hand tattoo that will tell her fate—as a magical murderer. Hidden away for a year because of it, 11-year-old Metty finds her stoic father (Captain Moral Jones) missing and her unconventional Aunt Mag (Magnificent Jones) whisking her off to the magical, ink-fueled city of New London just ahead of the mysterious Black Moths that are searching for her. Along with a motley crew of friends, brave and curious Metty is determined to find her father, evade the dreaded Moths that pursue her, and change the fate she does not accept. Learning she is meant to bring life, instead of death, sets her on a path in opposition to the Black Moths, who would use her gifts for their own questionable purposes.

Leathley skillfully blends dark humor and mystery, with prose reminiscent of classic children’s literature in this first in a new series. Metty’s will to fight her fate is a journey of self-determination within a larger story of ethics—of our choices, of government power, and of how citizens choose to respond. Each in the diverse cast of characters is well-developed, sympathetic, and realistically flawed, so while Metty is clearly the protagonist, strong secondary characters ground these big questions in thoughtful dialog. When Aunt Mag tells her, “You are whatever you decide to be. Nobody controls your actions. Nobody but you.” (p 161), she is both encouraging Metty’s choices and attempting to protect her from her self-doubt.

Full of complex and creative world-building, a propulsive plot, and fierce friendships, it promises to draw readers looking for a Harry Potter-like combination of magic, adventure, danger, and community.

*Review based on ARC with no art included.

Survival of the Bravest: Wolf Girl: Into the Wild

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Wolf Girl: Into the Wild
Anh Do
Illustration by Jeremy Ley and Annie Ji
HarperCollins
March 18, 2025
Age 8-12

Pulled from bed and forced to escape home in a war zone, Gwen and her family flee to the mountains where they’re separated during an attack. When she finds herself alone in the forest, she sets off to find her parents and discovers that everyone—all humans—seem to be gone. A fall into a raging river, and rescue by a ragtag pack of dogs, sets her on a path to discover her survival skills and inner strength as she learns to live in the wilderness with a found family. Sighting an aircraft, a first indicator that she’s not alone, sparks harrowing a journey to find her family and other survivors.

Inspired by the author’s own traumatic family flight from post-war Vietnam, this tale of perseverance reads as an adventure with some powerful undercurrents of fear and loneliness, in a departure from his usual comedic work. Flashbacks to earlier childhood act as reminders of Gwen’s emotional strength and intelligence—connection to family, hunting lessons, and her father’s advice to “follow [her] instincts” (p. 8). Time jumps in the narrative have this quick read covering three years and the dual maturation of both Gwen and her “puppy” into a brave and resilient girl and a full-grown wolf. Do’s simple yet descriptive language, comfort derived from her animal family, and the inclusion of slightly anime-like illustrations position the text for a younger MG audience. Themes of war, survival, and isolation skew older, and might require caution for more sensitive young readers. The dramatic cliffhanger of an ending sets the stage for more adventures to come. Do’s new-to-the-US series for middle grade readers already has 12 installments published in Australia. A thrilling, yet warm tale of survival and the importance of family, both the one you’re born to and the companions we find when we need them most.