We’ll See You Next Year: Holiday Closure
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Butler Bookshelf
If you’ve scrolled on social media these past couple of weeks, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about Heated Rivalry, the hockey romance book series, for adults, that’s selling out shelves and now amassing millions of viewers with a television adaptation. Looking for something just as page-turning but within the right age range? We’ve got plenty of Young Adult hockey romances here at the Butler Center! (Okay, maybe one of them is about field hockey… but it’s still great, we promise!) And one for middle-grade readers as well. December’s weather has proven to be icy and cold, just like the rink, but make no mistake—these puck-slinging romance books heat up fast, with humor and lots of heart. Our feature pick this week is Heart Check, by Emily Charlotte. Although they share classes and shifts at the local diner, high-schoolers Luke and Harper couldn’t be more different. Luke’s a hockey star, and in Harper’s eyes, a total jock. Harper’s quiet and artsy, and in Luke’s eyes, stuck-up. But when their lives begin to entangle, the unlikely duo manages to break the ice and… find love.
Check out more hockey-themed romance below!
Heart Check
Emily Charlotte
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now!
Fake Skating
Lynn Painter
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!
All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey
Kit Rosewater
Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Romance
Available now!
And for younger, middle-grade readers…
Bea Mullins Takes A Shot
Emily Deibert
Random House Children’s Books / Yearling
Available now!
Everyone Makes Mistakes: A Review of The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect
The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect
Jack Kurland
The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Ages 2-5
Available June 2, 2026
Doris the dog does everything perfectly. Her days are filled with perfect walks and perfect tricks, all following an absolutely perfect schedule. When she wakes up one day and discovers a hole chewed in one of her owner Bill’s slippers, she runs away to hide the evidence that she could ever do something less-than-perfect. But when a pack of neighborhood dogs find her, they show her that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
With only a few words per page and simple, easy-to-understand sentences, Kurland tells a story in a way that will be accessible to even the youngest readers, with a message that anyone can take to heart. Bright, bold colors dominate the illustrations with eye-catching appeal.
An especially great fit for dog lovers, The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect engages and delights while delivering an underlying message children and adults can appreciate.
Save the Date(s): It’s book sale time!
Mark your calendars for December 4-6th for the Annual Butler Book Sale. Once you’ve finished the Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time to start holiday shopping in earnest. And there is NO better gift than a book! Whether it’s for the kids in your home, the kids in your library, or your own TBR pile, BCLC has a story for you.
We love that the books go to good homes and you can love that all proceeds from the book sale go to support Butler Center programming and activities. Any questions before the sale? Please send a note to butler@dom.edu.
The Butler Children’s Literature Center is located in the Rebecca Crown Library at Dominican University — 7900 W. Division St., River Forest, IL 60305
Need help finding us? DIRECTIONS AND CAMPUS MAP
Butler Bookshelf
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!
The Complications of Intimacy: A Review of How Girls Are Made
How Girls Are Made
Mindy McGinnis
HarperCollins
Ages 16-18
Available November 18, 2025
High school seniors Fallon, Shelby, and Jobie couldn’t be more different. Fallon is determined to graduate with straight A’s and escape Presnick, their small, conservative Ohio town. Shelby is focused on her budding career as a semiprofessional MMA fighter. And Jobie is chasing online stardom… and a rhinoplasty. When Fallon finds out her thirteen-year-old sister Farrah’s sex education class is teaching girls virtually nothing, she decides someone must enlighten these young girls about safe sex. After coercing Shelby and Jobie to join in, the trio begins hosting secret meetings to talk about sex at the local rec center, under the guise of a “self-help” class called “SHAFT.” After an Instagram post about “SHAFT” goes viral, Presnick’s parents are up in arms. DMs begin flooding in; fingers start pointing, and their antidote to an incompetent health class quickly spirals into a dangerous web of lies. Weaved in between their own simultaneous struggles, a fatal ending for one of the three solidifies the long-lasting effects of trauma.
Although the first three hundred pages, even with a point of view shift each chapter, maintain a consistent tone that accurately captures the acerbic humor and raw tumult of teenage girlhood, the final fifty pages quickly veer into tragedy reminiscent of a Lifetime movie—fitting for a story steeped in teenage drama. Despite its soapy ending, How Girls Are Made serves as an important cautionary tale about the complications (and potential dangers) of sex and relationships. The characters are complex; the dialogue rings true, and as devastating as the story becomes, McGinnis confronts a myriad of incredibly relevant issues to teenagers nowadays. Given its heavy subject matter, which McGinnis tackles with heart-wrenching accuracy, including references to rape, suicide, and domestic abuse, the book is best suited for more mature young adult readers.
Food and Family: Scrumptious books for the season to come
If you too are ready to move from spooky tales to warm and cozy stories, do I have some suggestions for you. Brand new (2025) books of family, friends, and food just in time for the season of abundance. Enjoy these reads with your best book buddy, an extra cozy blanket, and your favorite stretchy pants.
PICTURE BOOKS:
Family Feast!
Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Frank Morrison
Random House Children’s Books
Age 4-8
September 23, 2025
When this multi-generational family gathers for a party, no one will leave without a full belly and a full heart. “Tastes like home when family meets; bond so warm, so strong, so sweet.” This hug of a refrain anchors a poetic picture of a joyful day of food, family, connection and home. Vibrant colors and bold strokes of oil paint perfectly capture the action and emotion of a large and loving (and loud if they’re like mine!) extended family.
Owl’s Fall Feast Fiasco
Written by Kristen Rememar and illustrated by Matt Faulkner
Charlesbridge
Age 3-7
September 5, 2025
Menu planning for a party is stressful! Especially as Owl attempts to impress his favorite didgeridoo musician and learns that he doesn’t really even understand the tastes of his closest friends. By asking questions and accepting their different palates, Owl learns that gathering with friends is the most important part of a feast. The combination of speech bubbles, graphic-like panels, and full-page spreads allow unique animal personalities to eclipse stereotypes in this ode to a forest Friendsgiving.
MIDDLE GRADE:
Witchycakes: Sweet Magic
Written by Kara LaRue and Illustrated by Ariane Moreira
Random House Children’s Books
Age 6-9
August 19, 2025
“In a magical bakery by the sea, live a witch and a witch-to-be…” Blue and their mama bake up tasty treats with a little magic and a lot of love. While making the deliveries, Blue gets to practice different bits of magic as they try to help their friends and neighbors. This delightful early chapter book blends themes of independence and community spirit with the gentle lesson of learning from our mistakes. Whimsical, candy-colored illustrations complement the story and showcase a diverse and vibrant community full of heart.
The Secret of Honeycake
Written by Kimberly Newton Fusco
Knopf
Age 8-12
January 21, 2025
In the midst of the Great Depression, a young girl named Hurricane is forced by family tragedy to move in with an intimidating great aunt and her kind-hearted servant. Through her insecurity and grief, she learns about the ways of caregiving, the importance of using her voice, and the magic that can come from sharing food cooked with love.
NONFICTION:
Sweet and Salty! King Arthur Company’s Cookbook for Young Bakers
Written by King Arthur Baking with Jessica Battilana and Yekaterina Boytsova
Photography by Rick Holbrook and illustrated by Jordan Sondler
Simon & Schuster
Age 8-12
September 30, 2025
For anyone new to baking—no matter the age—King Arthur’s new title is just the guide for those looking to share love through food this holiday season. Full of tips for getting started, skills tutorials like how to “just fold it in!” (a photo guide titled “What is folding and how do you do it?”), equipment lists, and plenty of recipes for sweet and savory treats. Mouthwatering photography, fun and funny graphics, and easy to follow instructions are blended into the most delicious book for all aspiring bakers.
When Alexander Graced the Table
Written by Alexander Smalls and Denene Millner and illustrated by Frank Morrison
Simon and Schuster
Age 4-8
January 7, 2025
Inspired by family and food, this is the origin story of a young boy who would grow to be a James Beard Award-winning chef. Always enamored of Sunday dinners with his family, Alexander Smalls used his new kitchen skills to make a sweet surprise for his father and family to enjoy. Morrison’s oils capture both the thoughtful and ambitious boy and the emotions that inspired him. This would make a lovely non-fiction companion to Family Feast.
YOUNG ADULT:
Legendary Frybread Drive-In: Intertribal Stories
Edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith
HarperCollins Publishers/Heartdrum
August 26, 2025
12+
Sandy June’s Legendary Frybread Drive-In is everywhere and nowhere all at once. Each piece of this anthology takes place against the backdrop of the drive-in, as teenagers from Alaska to Hawai’i enjoy traditional foods, comfort snacks, and a little bit of magic to provide just what they need when they need it. As they deal with hallmark challenges of young adulthood—grief, love, jealousy, friendship, and family—they make connections within, beyond, and between Indigenous cultures.
Love Craves Cardamom
Written by Aashna Avachat
Random House Children’s Books/Joy Revolution
Age 13+
May 20, 2025
Archi is an American Desi HS student studying abroad in Jaipur and hoping for a “boy-free semester.” Shiv is a mysterious boy who wants to show her the city in all its delicious vibrancy, even when he’s not ready to show his true self. This lighthearted YA rom-com is a story of growth, culture, self-awareness, agency, and the way that food can nurture us—body, heart, and soul.
Here’s to a delicious season of thankfulness for you and yours. May your hearts, bellies, and bookshelves be full!
Let Freedom Read Day-What can you do to defend the freedom to read?
This Banned Books Week, reading advocates around the country are fighting harder than ever against book challenges. And they need your help! You might ask what actions you can take, what can just one person do to make an difference? Well, our friends at Banned Books Week and the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom have put together this helpful advocacy guide for making your voice heard through actions big and small.
- Try joining or donating to an advocacy agency.
- Purchase a Banned Book (and make sure your purchase supports local independent books stores).
- Learn where your local leaders stand on censorship (and other issues you care about).
- Register to vote.
Book banning not only limits our choices, but it limits our worldview by silencing marginalized voices, sanitizing our history, and confining our critical thinking skills and intellectual growth.
Saturday, October 11 is Let Freedom Read Day. What will you to to defend books and readers?
Butler Bookshelf
For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at some of the young adult romances in our collection. From supernatural to sci-fi to contemporary, there’s a love story to fit anyone’s tastes in this list. Our feature pick is Soulmatch by Rebecca Danzenbaker. In post World War 3 America, each 18-year-old goes through a process which identifies their soul, matching them with their past lives and, potentially, their soulmate. Sivon is terrified of the possibility of being identified as a “bad soul,” something that can mean being saddled with prison time for past crimes. The result she ends up with shocks everyone, including her, and catapults her into a life she’s totally unprepared for. On top of it all, her childhood celebrity crush is suddenly looking her way, while Sivon finds herself pining for a man who is completely, 100%, without a doubt, off limits.
Check out more YA romances below!
Love at Full Tilt
Jenny L. Howe
Random House Children’s Books/Delacorte Romance
Available now!
My Return to the Walter Boys
Ali Novak
Sourcebooks/Sourcebooks Fire
Available now!
Soulmatch
Rebecca Danzenbaker
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!
This Could be Forever
Ebony LaDelle
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!
Till Death
Kellan McDaniel
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Entertainment Books
Available now!
Weaving Together the Past and Present: A Review of Braided Roots
Braided Roots: The Interweaving of History, Family, and a Father’s Love
Written by Pasha Westbrook
Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight
Published by Scholastic/Orchard Books
Ages 4-8
Available November 4, 2025
A young girl sits still for her father so he can braid her hair before school. As he braids, he tells her all about their mixed family history and culture. Their ancestors were Freedmen and Native Americans who walked along the Trail of Tears to Oklahoma, and her father impresses upon her that their hair is their history. This prompts the young girl to look at photographs of her relatives, reflecting on how she is connected to past generations through her braided hair. When her father finishes her braid, they celebrate their heritage with a twirl, leaving the young girl feeling like she can change the world.
In this charming picture book, Pasha Westbrook creates a charming tale that celebrates fatherly love and blended cultural traditions. Her poetic prose artfully conveys the deep connection the young narrator and her father have with their family, comparing their braids to DNA that links them to their ancestors. Westbrook also takes care to show how close the father and daughter are; in the afterword, she writes that she modeled their relationship after her relationship with her own father, creating a heartwarming and personal element. Madelyn Goodnight’s digital illustrations are in full color, utilizing a warm-toned palette and her signature realistic style to portray the sweet, thoughtful mood of the story. Goodnight shows the main character’s passion for her history, and her illustrations incorporate Westbrook’s DNA metaphor into many pages. A touching story about familial connection going back generations, this touching scene between a father and daughter is a wonderful way for young readers to learn about Native American history, culture, and connection.
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