Category Archives: 1-2

Butler Bookshelf

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When a story is silly and gets readers laughing, it makes reading more enjoyable. Every reader needs some silliness every now and then, and the picture books in this week’s Butler Bookshelf are filled with animals at their silliest. This week’s feature pick is Incredibly Fast and Not at All Fun written and illustrated by Tadgh Bentley. All Bear wants is to get to his honeybees fast without walking through the hustle and bustle of the woods, so he invents the Honey Runner, which is very steep, very fast, and not the most comfortable way to get to his bees. However, his invention soon draws attention from the other woodland creatures, much to Bear’s confusion, and the more Bear tries to keep the critters away, the more chaos that ensues.

Check out this book and more below!

Incredibly Fast and Not At All Fun
Tadgh Bentley
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Atheneum
Available now!

Farm Shark
Bill Canterbury
Illustrated by Maddie Frost
Random House Children’s Books/Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

When Brian Met Terry
Russell Kane
Illustrated by Erica Salcedo
The Quarto Group/words & pictures
Available now!

Cats in Conductor Hats
Sudipta Bardham-Quallen
Illustrated by Leeza Hernandez
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Bearsuit Turtle Plays a Game
Bob Shea
ABRAMS/Abrams Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Here at the Butler Center, our nonfiction collection features books about people who changed the world in their own ways. The women featured in these nonfiction titles made their mark whether it’s through their words, their artwork, or their dancing. This week’s feature pick is Remember Her Name!: Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame written by Tami Charles and illustrated by Meredith Lucius. This picture book highlights the early life of world-renowned dancer, choreographer, and actress Debbie Allen. Charles lyrically tells the story of how Allen found acceptance taking dance classes in Mexico City and bringing her talent back to her old home in Houston, TX, where black girls weren’t allowed in prestigious dance schools because of racism and Jim Crow laws.

Remember Her Name!: Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame
Tami Charles
Illustrated by: Meredith Lucius
Charlesbridge
Available now!

Beatrix and Her Friends: Celebrating the Life of Beatrix Potter
Anne Lambelet
Peachtree Publishing Co/Margaret Quinlin Books
Available now!

Footeprint: Eunice Newton Foote at the Dawn of Climate Science and Women’s Rights
Lindsay H Metcalf
Charlesbridge/Charlesbridge Teen
Available now!

Mary Oliver, Holding on to Wonder
Erin Frankel
Illustrated by Jasu Hu
Astra Books for Young Readers/Calkins Creek
Available now!

Marie’s Magic Eggs: How Marie Procai Kept the Ukrainian Art of Pysanky Alive
Sandra Neil Wallace
Illustrated by Evan Turk
Astra Books for Young Readers/Calkins Creek
Available now!

Searching for Security: A Review of Comet’s Nine Lives

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Comet’s Nine Lives
Jan Brett
G.P. Putnam’s Sons, an Imprint of Penguin Random House
Ages 4-8
Available: October 6, 2026

 

When his first life slips away from him after eating some foxgloves, Comet the cat needs to find a home to keep his other eight lives intact. As his efforts turn into one misadventure after another, losing more lives in the process, Comet’s goal of finding a suitable shelter seemed further than ever. However, the safety he sought may be closer than he first thought. 

Jan Brett’s signature intricate and realistic art style shines once again in her latest picture book. Her trademark serene and cool watercolor illustrations and borders, which include seashells, sea creatures, seaweed, and wooden planks, capture the coastal ambiance of the story’s island setting. The watercolor paint isn’t super vibrant, but it is smooth and calm. Comet’s antics portrayed in the pictures spark exciting action despite the lack of bright colors. Brett’s prose doesn’t talk down to her audience. She uses sophisticated language in some areas, especially when a dog character feels outraged or frightened of Comet’s unwelcome presence. For instance, in one scene where a health inspector comes to an ice cream parlor and sees Comet, he proclaims, “Feline residues! Maximum infractions!” As Comet loses each life, Brett’s wording makes apt descriptions that match the situation presented in the illustrations. Overall, Comet’s Nine Lives is an exquisite read sure to charm both parents and young readers alike. Jan Brett fans would be proud to include this book in their collections. 

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at picture books featuring fathers. These stories showcase how to express love for parents, father figures in this case, in a multitude of ways and how they care for their children in many ways, too. Our feature pick is Baba Palooza by A.D. Ghani and illustrated by Nadia Alam. Whenever Aziah rides her Baba’s taxi, she feels like a movie star. Since Baba works long hours, Aziah and her father make every second count. When Baba has to miss Aziah’s dance recital due to work, Aziah wants to give her father a surprise he’ll never forget.

Check out more picture books featuring fathers (and grandfathers) below!

Baba Palooza
A.D. Ghani
Illustrated by Nadia Alam
ABRAMS/Abrams Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Ways Papi Says I Love You
Delia Ruiz
Illustrated by: Carlos Vélez Aguilera
Charlesbridge
Available now!

Grumpy Monkey Father’s Day Fuss
Suzanne Lang
Illustrated by: Max Lang
Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now!

Sunrise Sail
Charles Trevino
Illustrated by: Maribel Lechuga
Charlesbridge
Available now!

One Two Daddy Loves You
Shelly Becker
Illustrated by: Dan Yaccarino
ABRAMS/Abrams Appleseed
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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Happy Tuesday! Today is all about the silly, so from hand puppet shark attacks, farm animal shenanigans, to pepperoni prehistoric creatures, there’s a little bit of goofiness for everyone here; giggle-enducing storytime guaranteed. Our feature pick this week is Loops, written and illustrated by Jashar Awan. Tying shoes can be a big deal! But with a little help & encouragement from one very determined friend, you too can learn to bunny-ear and loop and pull like a pro.

Check out some more silly picture books below!

Loops
Jashar Awan
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

No, I’m a… Shark!
Mike Henson
Illustrated by Ana Gomez
The Quarto Group / Happy Yak
Available now!

Sorry, Sammy
Scott Rothman
Illustrated by Tom Tinn-Disbury
The Quarto Group / Happy Yak
Available now!

Pizzasaurus
Tammi Sauer
Illustrated by Kyle Beckett
Random House Children’s Books / Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Case of Old MacDonald and His Farm
Mark Teague
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Beach Lane Books
Available now!

Estrellas: A Review of Wanda Hears the Stars

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Wanda Hears the Stars: A Blind Astronomer Listens to the Universe
By Amy S. Hansen with Wanda Daíz Merced
Illustrated by Rocío Arreola Mendoza
Charlesbridge
August 19, 2025
Ages 6-9

Once Wanda found the stars, they’re all she ever wanted. Despite childhood diabetes and antipathy toward school, curious and strong-willed Wanda set her sights on college to study astronomy. But when diabetes took her sight, she needed coping mechanisms and creative thinking to continue pursuing her goals. With the aid of recorded radio waves—sonification—Wanda was able to “hear a path to the sky” and continue to explore the stars in new and exciting ways.

In this picture book biography, Amy Hansen follows the story of her friend, colleague, and co-author Wanda Daíz Merced from a childhood in Puerto Rico to a career researching and teaching around the world. The thoughtful text focuses on Daíz Merced’s determination and her doubts, allowing readers to see her vulnerability and witness her triumph in overcoming obstacles like wayfinding in a new place or proving her methods to the scientific community. Spanish quotations, vocabulary, and translations are cleverly woven through the text, especially during scenes set in Puerto Rico, bringing her heritage to vivid life. The lush digital illustrations, in a saturated, blue-dominated color scheme, feature a fluid combination of diverse people and sound-images with cosmic flourishes to complement the astral theme and role of sound in her life. A combination of small vignettes and double-page spreads lets the reader into both intimate moments and large-scale events in her life. Robust backmatter includes a glossary and Spanish translations, author and scientific notes, and extensive lists of sources and resources. As an advocate for STEM education and disability inclusion, Wanda Daíz Merced serves as a champion for diversity in the sciences, while her adaptability and perseverance make her a powerful role model for everyone.

Journey From Africa to the Amazon: A Review of A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 

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A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet 
Written by Martha Brockenbrough 
Illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal 
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf 
Ages 4-8 
Available May 27, 2025 

What do the Sahara Desert, Atlantic Ocean, and Amazon Rainforest have in common? Vital, life-sustaining dust! Thousands of years ago, there was a huge lake in the African country Chad. As it dried up, the animals that died in it and became fossils have now turned into dust that moves in a giant cloud across the world. As the dust cloud moves west over the Atlantic Ocean, it helps the ocean make oxygen and softens the impact of hurricanes. Over the Amazon Rainforest, it restores the phosphorus that is washed away by the rain, allowing the forest’s plants to grow and support the ecosystem. At its peak in the spring and summer, the dust cloud can be as heavy as “almost 262 billion basketballs” (23). This dust cloud is incredibly important to the global ecosystem. 

Martha Brockenbrough uses poetic, expressive text that easily gives readers an idea of how the dust cloud works; the trout that eventually becomes dust is “gulping plankton” (5), the dust “soars across West Africa” and “paints the sky” (10). Even though there is little text on each page—nine lines at most—Brockenbrough accurately and clearly describes where and how the dust plume travels and why it is so important to the world’s many ecosystems. By doing this, she emphasizes how the natural world is connected across oceans and continents. Brockenbrough also includes detailed backmatter that explains more about how the dust is created and its impact. Juana Martinez-Neal’s stunning mixed-media drawings bring the Saharan dust plume to life. She uses a combination of realistic illustrations and specks of color that demonstrates the harmony between the dust and the life it supports. The bright, vibrant colors of her illustrations beautifully show the world’s natural diversity. A fascinating book about the importance of dust, A Gift of Dust will make a wonderful addition to lessons and programs about ecology and environmental science. 

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. 

Come Find Me: A Review of Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth

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Frankie and Friends: The Lost Tooth
Christine Platt
Illustrated by Alea Marley
Walker Books/Candlewick
March 18, 2025
Age 5-8

If Frankie loses a tooth while she’s away from home, how will the tooth fairy ever find her? Excitement over the very first loose tooth, and anxiety over its timing, inspire imaginative problem-solving by thoughtful and determined Frankie and her friends—a group of sentient toys—to ensure a visit from the tooth fairy. The group brainstorms solutions as they prepare for a long-awaited trip to accompany Mama to a journalism conference. When Frankie loses her tooth at the conference, she is joined by other aspiring young journalists to find her tooth and guarantee it makes it to her pillow.

With gentle prose and the excitement of her young protagonist, Platt centers the joys and concerns of a young elementary schooler and the importance of friendship in this third installment of the Frankie and Friends series. Introducing potentially new vocabulary in all caps, calls out the opportunity to decode the word based on clear context clues in the text. Though there is a definition list included in the backmatter. Themes of teamwork and communicating worries are spot on for the social-emotional learning of the target age group. Digital illustrations in a hand-drawn, colored-pencil style are vibrantly hued and full of pattern. Full page, full bleed images sit alongside smaller inset drawing to break up the text into manageable chunks, and closely mirror the text to aid in decoding. Depicting sweetly expressive faces and a loving bond in the African American family, Marley’s illustrations help place the series as one to depict an ordinary, happy childhood versus struggle and strife.

The latest Frankie and Friends offers newly independent readers a spunky heroine growing into her own with the loving support of her family and friends.

Where She Started: A Review of Janie Writes a Play 

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Janie Writes a Play: Jane Yolen’s First Great Story 
Written by Heidi E. Y. Stemple 
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 5-8 
Available February 11, 2025 

Janie loves great stories of all forms. Constantly creating stories in her head, she loves writing down her ideas. With rehearsals about to start for her class play, Janie can’t wait to learn the story and get her part. Unfortunately, when she reads the script, she’s disappointed by its lack of a “rising plot or big moment” (p. 21), and she finds the ending unsatisfying. Later, in ballet class, Janie is disheartened by the lackluster story, but the satisfying ending of her class’s dance routine inspires her to write her own script. After a long night of writing and rewriting, Janie turns in her story to her teacher, Mrs. Jiler. She agrees to use the new play and hands out new roles. In the end, the success of her play inspires Janie to keep writing and ultimately become the beloved children’s author, Jane Yolen. 

In this imaginative picture book, Heidi E. Y. Stemple, Jane Yolen’s daughter, pays loving tribute to the story of her mother’s first story. Writing about young Janie’s constantly soaring imagination, Stemple shows an appreciation for Yolen’s artistry in a manner that encourages readers to foster their own creativity. Stemple shares some insight into Yolen’s creative process, like how she would learn new words by reading books that were above her reading level. At the end, Stemple includes a brief passage about her mother’s life and work, as well as photographs of Yolen and her family growing up. Madelyn Goodnight’s bright, full-color illustrations bring whimsy to Janie’s world by showcasing her strong imagination. One side of a spread shows a regular scene at the park, with people picnicking and flying kites. On the opposite side, Goodnight illustrates what Janie sees: swashbuckling pirates and tutu-clad dinosaurs throwing tantrums. Many of the illustrations are touching references to Yolen’s large body of work. Janie Writes a Play is a delightfully fun story that encourages creativity and curiosity and serves as an amusing resource for information on a beloved children’s author that can aid in a lesson about storytelling or a program featuring Yolen’s books.