Category Archives: children’s fiction

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re highlighting a variety of youth literature in our collection. This list has something for all ages, fiction, nonfiction, and bilingual! The featured book for this week is Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea written by Andrew Hacket and illustrated by Kaz Windness. Ollie is tired of dealing with Everett’s constant bullying. One day, when Everett steals a sapling from Ollie, he has an idea — he will eat an acorn and grow into a mighty tree so that Everett will never be able to bully him again. But when Ollie becomes tall and strong and stands up to Everett once and for all, he realizes that he went about it all wrong. He burps everything up, and Ollie and Everett reconcile and start growing their gardens together. Windness’s colorful, lively illustrations compliment Hacket’s lively and expressive story about how to stand up for yourself and what it truly means to be mighty.

Check out more books for all ages below!

The Flower Shop/La Florería
Written by Lourdes Heuer
Illustrated by Zara González Hoang
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Love Is Hard Work: The Art and Heart of Corita Kent
Written by Dan Paley
Illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

My Father’s House
Written by Mina Javaherbin
Illustrated by Lindsey Yankey
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea
Written by Andrew Hacket
Illustrated by Kaz Windness
Published by Page Street Kids
Available now!

Paige Proves It!: The Curious Cove
Written and illustrated by Amy Marie Stadelmann
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Zodiac Rising
Written by Katie Zhao
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

“Grow Towards the Light”: A Review of Beyond Mulberry Glen 

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Beyond Mulberry Glen 
Written by Millie Florence 
Illustrated by Astrid Sheckels 
Published by Waxwing Books 
Ages 8-12
Available January 7, 2025 

Lydia loves her life in Mulberry Glen, and she wouldn’t change a thing about it, even though change looms over her as she gets closer to the time when she will need to leave for an apprenticeship. Her inner turmoil only grows when she learns about a mysterious force, called the Darkness. Troubled by the effects she feels from the Darkness, Lydia asks her fairy guardian, Pit, about it. The next morning, she discovers Zale and Zamilla, the mischievous twins that live with her in Mulberry Glen, have left to go defeat the Darkness. Lydia sneaks off to rescue them. Along the way, she learns about the inevitability of change and the importance of using the Light within yourself to fight the Darkness. 

Beyond Mulberry Glen is a delightfully cozy story about a young girl overcoming her fear of change and learning to accept that life is still beautiful, even when it has dark moments. Florence fully develops Lydia’s character arc as she overcomes her fears of change and discovers that, while life can have dark moments, she has the power within herself to overcome them. Florence uses Lydia’s resistance to an apprenticeship to illustrate her anxiety over her life changing, effectively making this fantasy setting relatable to all readers. While the overall tone of the story is light, there is an undercurrent of apprehension as Lydia searches for the twins that brings gravity to the story about the life changes that accompany growing up. Sheckels’s illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add an element of charm to the story by giving readers a glimpse into Lydia’s world. A great Lord of the Rings read-alike, Florence weaves together a story that is both whimsical and suspenseful in its portrayal of the anxieties of growing up. 

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s officially the holiday season, which means it’s time to start thinking about what gifts to give. For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we have compiled a list of books that would make any nature-lover happy! From board books to nonfiction, this list has something for every young reader, including The World in Our Backyard, written and illustrated by Jami Gigot. In this picture book, Gigot encourages young readers to look for the nature in their backyards, whether they live in a rural, suburban, or urban community. Gigot uses a soft, light color palette to bring backyard nature to life, showing realistic scenarios, like playing as animals and bugs “play their gentle country songs” (pp. 9-10) and splashing in water flowing from a fire hydrant. She also adds whimsy to the book by including imaginary adventures, such as bugs hiking through thick forests and children diving through a pool into an coral reef. Throughout it all, Gigot emphasizes the importance of paying attention and delighting in the nature at our fingertips, reminding readers that “the whole world is made up of our backyards, full of wonder just waiting to be explored” (pp. 23-27). With its colorful charm and imaginitive scenes, this book will make a wonderful gift for teachers, parents, or librarians who want to share their love and appreciation for nature with the readers in their lives.

Check out more nature-themed books below!

Creaturepedia: Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth
Written and illustrated by Adrienne Barman
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

I Bug You
Written by Dori Elys
Illustrated by Riley Samels
Published by Little Simon
Available now!

Peppa Pig and the Nature Walk
Part of Peppa Pig
Published by Candlewick Entertainment
Available now!

Magic Tree House: Windy Night with Wild Horses
Written by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated by AG Ford
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

The World in Our Backyard
Written and illustrated by Jami Gigot
Published by Paula Wiseman Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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November is National Native American Heritage Month, and a great way to celebrate is by reading some books that center Native American characters and history! This week’s Butler Bookshelf will highlight books by and about Native Americans, including Boozhoo!/Hello! written and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley and translated by Mary Ann Corbiere. Boozhoo!/Hello! is a bilingual English and Anishinaabemowin picture book about forest animals found in Anishinaabe territories. Deers are eating, bees are buzzing, and otters are playing in this fun, whimsical story. The simple, rhythmic text engages with young readers, allowing them to learn both English and Anishinaabemowin simultaneously. The bold art in the Woodland style and bright colors will delight readers, drawing their attention to each animal and what they’re doing. Complete with author’s and translator’s notes about the inspiration and work behind the story and Anishinaabemowin language, Boozhoo!/Hello! is a wonderful addition to collections and storytime programs this month and throughout the year.

Check out more books about Native American history and characters below!

Boozhoo!/Hello!
Written and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere
Published by House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Gold Rush: The Untold Story of the First Nations Woman Who Started the Klondike Gold Rush
Written by Flora Delargy
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

On a Wing and a Tear
Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Published by Heartdrum Imprint
Available now!

The Ribbon Skirt
Written and illustrated by Cameron Mukwa
Published by Graphix
Available now!

This Land: The History of the Land We’re On (Race to the Truth)
Written by Ashley Fairbanks
Illustrated by Bridget George
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Joy of Trying New Things: A Review of The Creature of Habit Tries His Best 

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The Creature of Habit Tries His Best 
Written by Jennifer E. Smith 
Illustrated by Leo Espinosa 
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio 
Ages 4-8
Available November 19, 2024 

The Creature of Habit Island returns in this charming story about what it means to be the best at something. New things still make the Creature nervous, but with the encouragement of the very small creature, they travel off Habit Island to a new place that has snow and pine trees. The Creature attempts every challenge, but he struggles to climb the trees and balance on the logs like his friend. He gives up in frustration. When he sees the very small creature riding a bike, he’s mesmerized and decides to give it a go. It’s hard at first, but he is determined to at least be the best at trying. The Creature is eventually successful and they ride their bikes together as they think about all the new things they can try in the future. 

In this heartwarming picture book, Jennifer E. Smith brings back the Creature of Habit to expand on the importance of trying new things. In the sequel, Smith explores themes of determination and what it means to be the best. By showing him try many different activities before discovering his love for bike riding, Smith shows readers that sometimes, it takes trial and error to discover your passion. She also emphasizes the importance of persevering instead of giving up when the Creature decides that, rather than wanting to be the best at riding the bike, he wants to “be the best at trying to ride” (p. 18) the bike. Smith’s text is paired with Leo Espinosa’s comic-like digital illustrations to bring the Creature to life. The bright colors contrast and grab readers’ attention, and his animated illustration style further engages readers in the story as he shows the activities the creatures do together, like climbing trees and riding bikes. The Creature of Habit Tries His Best is an entertaining story that can be used in a lesson or storytime to help young readers understand the importance and joy of breaking out of your comfort zone with something new, and persisting, even when it’s hard.  

Once Upon a Time: A Review of King Alfred and the Ice Coffin

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King Alfred and the Ice Coffin
Kevin Crossley-Holland
Illustrated by Chris Riddell
Candlewick
November 12, 2024
Age 10-14

In a time when news and entertainment were shared by tellers welcomed to a fireside, King Alfred the Great sought to both bring in the views of outsiders and share the legends of his people. A soldier and scholar, known collector of stories, he invited travelers to share their adventures and tales with the West Saxons. From the trader, Wulfstan, they learned of the land of Maarahvas, its generous people, their curious funerary custom—ice coffins. Wulfstan regales the King and crowd with a harrowing story of his survival at sea and his return with a beautiful wife, a bag of gold, and a tale to tell. As a gesture of thanks, King Alfred would continue sharing Wulfstan’s “wonder-story” with his translation of other Latin stories to broaden the knowledge of his people.

Kevin Crossley-Holland, renowned for his work with folktale and myth, brings life to this blend of history and myth with lyrical language and humanizing perspective. Giving Alfred a thoughtful and curious demeanor, that strictly informational historic texts might not cover, offers a more intimate portrait of the man he may have been. Set in times after his battles against the Vikings, when he would have been able to expand on his goals of literacy and learning for the Saxon people. Uncomplicated vocabulary (other than character names) helps mellow the dramatic concept and complex sentence structure for middle grader readers. Poetic prose blends seamlessly with Chris Riddell’s delicate, yet detailed pencil illustrations. Watercolor and pastel give a soft-focus feel that enhances the fairytale-like qualities of the story. Sepia tones in the main story lend another level to the depth to the medieval setting, while he uses dramatic blues to set off Wulfstan’s story within a story. A fast-paced and lovely addition to folktale collections and a wonderful history-based recommendation for Arthurian legend seekers.

Butler Bookshelf

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Halloween is only a couple of weeks away, and we are in the height of spooky season! The Butler Center still has lots of magical, scary, and supernatual books to share, so this week’s Butler Bookshelf will be another list of new books featuring spooky characters, like ghosts and vampires. This week’s Butler Bookshelf feature is The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell, which tells the story of twelve-year-old Charlie as she and her father settle into their new home in Florida. Soon, Charlie discovers that their house is haunted by three ghosts who are trapped as punishment for stealing a dead man’s diamond. Charlie decides that if she can find the diamond and sell it, she and her dad will be able to move back to New York City. She asks her new friend, Sarah, to help, as well as the medium Madame Rayna. While Charlie works hard to find a way back to New York, she learns a lot about friendship, grief, and compassion. With its valuable lessons and ghostly adventures, The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond is perfect for middle-grade readers who love a supernatural twist.

Check out more scary books below!

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond
Written by Christyne Morrell
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now

A Family of Killers
Written by Bryce Moore
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available now

Hemlock House
Written by Katie Cotugno
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now

It Watches in the Dark
Written by Jeff Strand
Published by Sourcebooks
Available now

This Ravenous Fate
Written by Hayley Dennings
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available now

Winter Teamwork: A Review of In the Winter Woods by Daniela Kulot 

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In the Winter Woods 
Written and illustrated by Daniela Kulot 
Translated by Elisabeth Lauffer 
Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-7 
Available October 15, 2024 

It’s the middle of a cold winter, and Fox, Mouse, and Crow are all hungry, but they can’t find even a morsel to eat. Squirrel is hungry, too, but he has a secret stash of snacks hidden away that he can’t wait to enjoy. When Fox, Mouse, and Crow ask Squirrel to share, he says no. After hours of searching, he realizes that he forgot where his stash was hidden. He asks Fox, Mouse, and Crow for help in exchange for sharing his food. Soon, they find Squirrel’s food and feast together! 

With these woodland creatures, Kulot tells a story of friendship and community, showing the importance of working together and sharing with others. Although the message has been repeated before, Kulot brings charm to the basic “sharing is caring” theme with her woodland creatures and winter landscape. The illustrations are done in digital media, and the animals have a cute, slightly cartoonish look with beautiful backdrops of winter in the countryside. Kulot uses muted blues, browns, oranges, and greens to create the cold, barren atmosphere. These delightful illustrations complement the text, where Kulot uses devices like alliteration and rhyming to add a sing-song-like quality, bringing levity to what could otherwise be a dire situation. With its beautiful art and thoughtful message, In the Winter Woods would be a great addition to libraries and classrooms looking to do a program or lesson on winter or social-emotional learning.  

Follow the Clues: A Review of A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall

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A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall
Jasmine Warga
HarperCollins Childrens
Age 8-12
September 10, 2024

Stolen art, a floating girl, and a mystery-solving turtle make for a quirky and suspenseful whodunit. Introverted and outcast, Rami spends more time than he’d like at the Penelope L. Brooks Museum where his mom oversees the cleaning crew. When a painting is stolen from the Cherry Hall gallery, and he and his mom become suspects, Rami begins seeing a ghost girl hovering in that same gallery. And she looks an awful lot like the girl in the missing painting. With the help of a Veda, a clever classmate and aspiring detective, and an observant turtle named Agatha, he will unravel the story of the girl, the painting, and the theft at the Penelope.

In a story about the importance of being seen, Jasmine Warga explores the connection between art, understanding, and truth. As a child of Lebanese immigrants, Rami is an outcast at school, and too timid to make trouble. Veda, however, is a bold and quirky personality, willing to challenge him to be daring in an attempt to solve the mystery. Their tentative new friendship is drawn with thoughtful attentions to the changeable emotions and growing pains of middle school. Themes of friendship and the desire to be seen (by Rami and Veda, by the girl, and by Agatha) provide subtlety to balance the heavier aspects of loneliness and the immigrant experience. This gentle, yet thrilling early elementary school mystery combines brief chapters, a fast pace, and multiple narrators to appeal to a young audience without being entirely childish. Warga breaks the fourth wall in chapters narrated by Agatha to add context, and a touch of magical realism, for young readers. The best combination of a warm-hearted friendship and clue-laced mystery.