Category Archives: nonfiction

A Puzzling Adventure: A Review of The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found

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The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found
Leisa Stewart-Sharpe
Illustrated by Gordy Wright
Charlesbridge
Ages 7-12
Available June 10th, 2025

Part puzzle, part informational book, The Treasure Hunt leads readers on a globe-trotting adventure in search of a mysterious ghostly pirate captain. After finding a message in a bottle, the reader and their friends set off to find the ghost of Captain Kidd, who is attempting to steal famous treasures from around the world. At each stop on their journey, they find a clue which points them to the location where Kidd plans to strike next. After solving the puzzles and chasing the ghost through several countries and encounters with priceless artifacts, they finally catch up with Kidd once and for all. Will hunting down the captain lead to his fabled lost pirate’s treasure?

Nonfiction information on treasures, heists, and artifacts is seamlessly integrated with The Treasure Hunt‘s puzzle game. At each stop on their quest, readers are given information about the location (including The Louvre, The Kremlin, and Mexico City’s Mammoth Graveyard) and the famous treasures therein. There are also spreads dedicated to stories of treasure being lost, including heists both solved and unsolved, and of treasures and artifacts being uncovered. Each stop contains a clue in the form of a puzzle – readers can solve this on their own, flip to the back of the book for a hint, or skip straight to the next page to see the answer. Each puzzle is unique, and readers will come away with knowledge of many types of puzzles and cryptograms, from pigpen and Caesar ciphers to rhyming riddles to crosswords. The book also provides suggestions for ways readers can take their new puzzle solving skills on a treasure hunt of their own, such as orienteering and geocaching.

Budding cryptologists and puzzle-solvers will find themselves right at home with The Treasure Hunt, and will especially enjoy the many puzzles and codes the book introduces to them. Pirate lovers and those interested in the world of thefts and heists will find plenty of information on treasures and the people who steal them. Regardless of whether readers are seasoned treasure hunters or not, they will come away from this book having gone on an exciting adventure, and hopefully having learned a thing or two along the way.

What Makes Me Special?: A Review of I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 

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I’m a Dumbo Octopus!: A Graphic Guide to Cephalopods 
Written and illustrated by Anne Lambelet 
Published by Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe 
Ages 8-12 
Available March 4, 2025 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have nine brains or be able to shoot ink to escape dire situations? In this graphic guide, Grimpy, short for Grimpoteuthis, the scientific name for dumbo octopuses, teaches readers about his cephalopod friends and shows all the things that make them different. He introduces individual species within the cephalopod class, such as cuttlefish and coconut octopuses, showing off their fascinating characteristics and abilities, like using color to communicate and making tools out of the environment. Meanwhile, Grimpy becomes increasingly disheartened when he can’t figure out what makes dumbo octopuses special. In the end, his friends come together to share cool facts about dumbo octopuses that make them unique. Grimpy realizes that he is just as unique as his other cephalopod friends.  

By creating an amusing “tour guide” with Grimpy the dumbo octopus, Anne Lambelet successfully creates a fun and personable way to learn about cephalopods in this graphic nonfiction book. Jam-packed with interesting facts, readers will gain a thorough understanding of this class of animals without feeling overwhelmed with information. Lambelet also adds a touching storyline of celebrating each other’s differences through Grimpy and the other cephalopods sharing their unique skills. At the end, Lambelet includes a glossary with illustrations reviewing each important term introduced in the book, as well as a photograph of a dumbo octopus. Although Lambelet doesn’t have a background in marine biology or ocean science, she includes a selected bibliography of her research and a reading list for readers who want to learn more about cephalopods. Lambelet’s cartoon-style illustrations balance her informative text by bringing more humorous personality to the facts she shares. However, the red, pink, and blue color palette limits her depiction of some of the more colorful capabilities of cephalopods, like camouflage and communication. A charming adventure through the fascinating animal class of cephalopods, I’m a Dumbo Octopus! is an entertaining addition to ocean-themed lessons or programs.  

Not So Scary: A Review of Don’t Squish a Slug

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Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvellous Minibeasts!
Yussef Rafik
Illustrated by Riley Samels
The Quarto Group/words & pictures
Ages 7-10
Available February 18, 2025

Have you ever wondered what the world’s biggest insect is? Do you want to know why slugs produce slime? Are you ready to learn how to decode a honeybee’s “waggle dance?” If you’re curious about bugs, then this is the book for you! Don’t Squish a Slug: A Wonderful Celebration of Marvelous Minibeasts is a look into the big world of the smallest creatures on Earth. From camouflage champions to poisonous pros, Rafik explores some of the most amazing and interesting bugs out there, and explains what makes each one of them special and important.

More than just a book of bug facts, Don’t Squish a Slug is about caring for even the smallest of creatures. “It’s really important that we have empathy for bugs,” the introduction to the book says, “We should appreciate what they do for our planet an learn to love living alongside them” (5). To that end, each entry includes mentions of how each bug is useful to humans and our environment. Particularly scary or off-putting entries, such as the horrifyingly named tongue-eating louse, are partnered with reassurances that they pose no threat to the average human. Samels’ colorful full-page illustrations are accurate while remaining stylized and not overly-detailed, and even classic creepy-crawlies like spiders and millipedes manage to be represented without looking unsettling or upsetting to the most squeamish of readers. By combining fascinating facts with reminders of the helpfulness and importance of these “minibeasts,” Rafik’s book is sure to foster a love (or at least a tolerant understanding) of insects in readers.

With enjoyable illustrations and exciting information, this book is sure to please bug-lovers, while also inspiring curiosity in those less fond of them. Regardless of their opinion going in, any child is sure to finish Don’t Squish a Slug with newfound knowledge and appreciation for these teeny-tiny creatures.

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. 

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!

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!

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!

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s time for another round up of new nonfiction books in the Butler collection! From books about environmental activism to facts about animals all over the world, our collection has an array of nonfiction books to satisfy knowledge-seekers of any age. This week’s Butler Bookshelf feature is Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale: An Etymological Exploration of Over 100 Extraordinary Words written by Tom Read Wilson and illustrated by Ian Morris. Inspired by his experience of traveling around the UK and sharing his first book, Every Word Tells a Story with young readers, Wilson collected over 100 words he heard from children and shares them in this book, along with their fascinating histories. Readers can learn about where words like “barbecue,” “chortle,” “orange,” and many more, as well as where those words originated from and other words they might be related to. Wilson switches between short paragraphs sharing fun facts and lyrical poems to keep readers engaged with the information. Morris’s colorful, whimsical illustrations accompany Wilson’s text to depict the objects, actions, and concepts listed in the book. Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale is an exceptional follow-up to Wilson’s first book and will delight word nerds of all ages!

Check out more nonfiction books in our collection below!

An Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals to Take You Through the Year
Written by Miranda Smith
Illustrated by Kaja Kajfež, Santiago Calle, Mateo Markov, and Max Rambaldi
Published by Bright Matter Books
Available now!

Brown Bears
Written by Dr. Nick Crumpton
Illustrated by Colleen Larmour
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Ice Journey of the Polar Bear
Written by Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by Lou Baker-Smith
Published by Candlewick Press
Available November 26, 2024!

Loop de Loop: Circular Solutions for a Waste-Free World
Written by Andrea Curtis
Illustrated by Roozeboos
Published by House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale: An Etymological Exploration of Over 100 Extraordinary Words
Written by Tom Read Wilson
Illustrated by Ian Morris
Published by words & pictures
Available now!