Spring is here! The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, and…the creatures are stirring! Whether you find yourself waking up to the chirping of birds in the morning, discover a colony of ants has found your fruit bowl, or notice a bee pollinating a flower outside your house, these small but mighty animals help bring new life to this colorful season. From silly picture books to informative guidebooks, our collection features a wide variety of works that educate us about and connect us to the lives of birds, bugs, and bees. Check out some of these titles below!

Nonfiction

Birds: Little Kids First Nature Guide
Written by Moira Rose Donahue
National Geographic Kids
Ages 4-8
Available now

In this nature guide, children can learn about and identify a wide variety of bird species, from parakeets to penguins. Each page includes close-up pictures of a type of bird, paired with brief but informative facts. This photograph-heavy book will engage young bird-watchers and further inspire those who notice the rare cardinal in the backyard. Its compact size makes it a great addition to a walk through the woods or a picnic at the park.

Ranger Hamza’s Eco Quest
Written by Ranger Hamza
Illustrated by Kate Kronreif
Ivy Kids
Ages 4-7
Available May 7th, 2024

Take a walk through nature with Ranger Hamza, as he guides you through finding a bird’s nest in a tree or spying worms digging through the soil. Based on ranger role on the British television channel, CBeebies, Ranger Hamza welcomes readers to identify nature’s wonders in their own surroundings with easy activity suggestions and fun facts about common sightings. Although it is nonfiction, Ranger Hamza’s inviting narration style reads as an adventure, and the colorful illustrations will engage young readers. This book would be great for curious young minds that often find themselves wandering off on walks.

Ultimate Bugopedia: The Most Complete Bug Reference Ever (2nd Edition)
Written by Darlyne Murawski and Nancy Honovich
National Geographic Kids
Ages 4-8
Available now

In this 2nd edition, authors Murawski and Honovich combine their expertise with entomologist Bill Lamp to provide an in-depth guide to over 100 bugs. Each two-page spread focuses on one type of bug—such as the bombardier beetle or the dead leaf butterfly. One page contains a close-up photograph of the bug, and the other page includes a short paragraph of information as well as some other fun, informative fact. With a thorough introduction that covers topics such as bug migration and communication, this book is best used as a reference book for young bug-lovers or those searching for a fun—or disgusting—fact or two.

The Wonderful Wisdom of Ants
Written and illustrated by Philip Bunting
Crown Books for Young Readers
Ages 4-8
Available now

With witty, informational text and simple, endearing illustrations, Bunting draws children in to the world of ants. Readers learn about ants’ odorous communication system, their group mentality, and their role in consuming plants and recycling them as nutrients for soil. This playful nonfiction picture book may spark an interest in ants and inspire the next generation of entomologists, biologists, and inquiring minds.

Fiction

Luigi, the Spider Who Wanted to Be a Kitten
Written by Michelle Knudsen
Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Candlewick Press
Ages 4-8
Available now

Perfectly titled, this goofy yet heartwarming picture book follows a spider who enters a house of a woman, who quickly begins to care for this spider…as a kitten. She names the spider Luigi, feeds him breakfast, plays with him, and encourages him to nap. After a while, Luigi admits to himself that he very much likes being a kitten, and the woman admits that she knows he is a spider. The soft illustrations and funny storyline pair well with themes of self-acceptance and joy.

Maisy Loves Bees
Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press
Ages 1-3
Available now

Lovable Maisy returns with a fascination for bees! This board book combines informational text about bees on the left pages with a Maisy storyline on the right pages, bringing readers through Maisy’s day caring for and appreciating bees. Cousins’ signature colorful, thick-lined style and simple, engaging text will appeal to babies and young toddlers who love to explore.

The Secret Language of Birds
Written by Lynne Kelly
Delacorte Press
Ages 8-12
Available now!

While trying to fit in at summer camp, Nina spots two endangered birds that she knows haven’t nested in the area in over a century. Puzzled and intrigued, Nina plots a plan to help protect these rare birds and finds friends of her own in the process. Kelly’s poignant and powerful new children’s fiction novel speaks to young middle graders who love asking questions and searching for answers.

In preparation for Earth Day on April 22nd, we are celebrating the Earth on this week’s Butler Bookshelf. One of our newer picture books follows two children, Kûn and Solveig, who are connecting by the Earth’s wonder despite their distance. Through these children’s eyes, readers learn about the evolution of the Earth and its life from millions of years ago to today. Baker-Smith’s soft, beautiful illustrations serve as a wonderful celebration of the world we call home.

Check out more books in our collection that help celebrate Earth Day below!

The Ever-Changing Earth
Written and illustrated by Grahame Baker-Smith
Published by Templar Books
Available April 23, 2024!

Everyone Starts Small
Written by Liz Garton Scanlon
Illustrated by Dominique Ramsey
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Green Machines and Other Amazing Eco-Inventions
Written by Michelle Meadows
Illustrated by Aristides Ruiz
Published by Random House Children’s Books

Kids Fight Extinction: Act Now to Be a #2minutesuperhero
Written by Martin Dorey
Illustrated by Time Wesson
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Maisy Loves Trees
Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

The World is Ours to Cherish: A Letter to a Child
Written by Mary Annaïse Heglar
Illustrated by Vivian Mineker
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

The Kill Factor
Written by Ben Oliver
Chicken House Books
Ages 12-18
Available April 16th, 2024

Fifty young contestants compete for their chance at freedom in a reality game show fueled by popularity and brand credits, the currency of the day. Emerson Ness, a poverty-stricken teenager living in a stratified society, is arrested for manslaughter after setting fire to her school and unintentionally killing a janitor. A mysterious man known only as the Producer offers her a way out: participate on Retribution Island, a revolutionary new game show that, if won, could absolve her of any crime. But, as Emerson observes, “[h]istoric didn’t always mean good; in fact, more often than not, it meant very, very bad” (p 55). If she loses, she’ll spend the rest of her life in solitary confinement. Out of options and unable to pay for her legal defense, Emerson agrees to the game so her younger brother Kester, a deaf tech prodigy with a promising future, can have the brand credits to survive and go to college. The game begins as Emerson and forty-nine other contestants board a cruise ship, taking them to Retribution Island. Once they arrive, a shocking twist changes the stakes of the game and forces them to fight for survival.

The book is infused with social commentary on how we value life and popularity in the age of social media. Just like Emerson, each secondary character has their own motivations for joining the show: some are fueled by the desire for fame, while others compete to better their circumstances in poverty. Despite the violence of the show, the character dynamics are realistic to the teenage experience, complete with cliques, crushes and best friends. With a new and potentially deadly game every night, the pace accelerates, and the tone gets darker and more dismal. Emerson’s emotional journey through the twists and turns of the game keeps the reader engaged and interested. Her grim desperation to win against all odds is fascinating and contributes to the story’s dark atmosphere. The trauma incurred by viewing and participating in acts of senseless violence is realistically portrayed. The Kill Factor is a fast-paced and timely addition to the young adult dystopian genre that will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

Guest reviewer, Katie Steffensen, is a Dominican University MLIS candidate and works in youth services at a library in the North Chicago suburbs. She loves working with tweens and teens.

The New Girl
Written by Cassandra Calin
Scholastic Graphix
Available June 4, 2024

Goodbye Romania, hello new life! Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight to Montreal–leaving behind Romania, her friends, her family, and the one home she has ever known. However, Lia’s heartbreak is dwarfed by the cramps of her first menstrual period. Quickly, Lia is propelled into a world of changes: her new language—French, her new home, and her changing body. “It feels strange being so far from Romania. . . from my friends, my family, my life. It feels like I’m living someone else’s life now. In a completely different world” (p. 24). All of these changes at once cause Lia to struggle with her classwork, communicating with her friends, and managing her painful periods. Lia hopes that one day she will feel like herself again and be comfortable in her new surroundings.

In this delightful graphic novel, middle grade children will enjoy the imperfect, yet, endearing main character, Lia and her evolution throughout the story. Lia is so proud when she earns a B on her French report, which is a huge improvement from her first French assignment in the Welcome Immersion Program. Although, Lia is forming a tight group of six girlfriends, she still has trouble communicating with one friend Wan Yin about her crush. Subdued and lovely pinks, purples, and teals perfectly complement the novel’s subject of being a middle school girl. Calin perfectly executes Lia’s vicissitude of emotions through her expressive eyes, blushed cheeks, and furrowed brows. A semi-autobiographical novel based on the author’s immigration experience, the theme of the book is all about embracing change. Front and back matter includes a table of contents and a glossary with French, Romanian, and simplified Chinese words and phrases translated into English.

This week, we are showcasing some of our collection’s new children’s fiction. In the hilariously titled The Underdogs of Upson Downs, main character Annie lives in the countryside with her best friend, an adopted dog named Runt. Runt is everything a sheepherder desires—he is fast, agile, and energetic, and he will listen to anything Annie says, unless there are other people around. One day, Annie and her family are caught in a battle with a landowner threatening to take their farm, and the only way Annie can think to save her home is to win the prize money at the Krumpets Dog Show in London. In this heartwarming story of friendship and hardship, Annie and Runt compete as real underdogs with real stakes to try to win the Agility Course Grand Championship. Will they beat out the fastest dog in the world?

Check out more of our new children’s fiction below!

Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem
Written by Kekla Magoon and Cynthia Leitich
Illustrated by Molly Murakami
Published by Candlewick Press
Available today!

Charlie Hernandez & the Phantom of Time
Written by Ryan Calejo
Published by Aladdin Books
Available today!

Ferris
Written by Kate DiCamillo
Published by Candlewick Press
Available today!

Friend or UFO
Written by Julie Buxbaum
Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu
Published by Delacorte Press
Available April, 16th, 2024!

Mapmakers and the Flickering Fortress
Written by Cameron Chittock
Illustrated by Amanda Castillo
Published by RH Graphic
Available April 23rd, 2024!

The Underdogs of Upson Downs
Written by Craig Silvey
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available today!

Welcome to April’s National Poetry Month! To celebrate, the Butler Center is featuring books written in verse, rhymes, or other type of poetic form, featuring the highly anticipated novel in verse, Louder Than Hunger, by John Schu. In this fictionalized version of Schu’s experience, main character Jake struggles with the complexities of young teenage life as well as with anorexia. Working in a nursing home to avoid other people his age, he slowly has to address the realities of living with an eating disorder. This powerful depiction of adolescence and body image feels like a personal journey of learning acceptance and self-love that will speak to many middle grade readers.

Check out more of our poetry month features below!

The Boy Lost in the Maze
Written by Joseph Coelho
Illustrated by Kate Milner
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Bros
Written by Carole Boston Weatherford
Illustrated by Reggie Brown
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

I Believe in Me
Written and illustrated by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar Books
Available now!

Louder Than Hunger
Written by John Schu
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

The Mighty Pollinators
Written by Helen Frost
Illustrated by Rick Lieder
Available now!

Sometimes I Feel Like an Oak
Written by Danielle Daniel
Illustrated by Jackie Traverse
Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press
Ages 4-8
Available April 2nd, 2024

Oak trees are strong, and redwoods enduring. Maples can be generous, and pines peaceful. In these twelve short poems that compare different species of trees to feelings, Daniel paints trees as an access point for the wide array of emotions that people may feel. The twelve poems each describe a type of tree, starting with the repeating refrain, “Sometimes I feel like” and then identifying the tree. Three apt adjectives comprise the second line, and the third and fourth lines illustrate a fact about the tree emblematic of the tree’s description. For instance, a maple tree is generous, as it “share[s] my flowing sap / as winter turns toward spring” (p 5). Backmatter includes an author’s note that discusses Daniel’s Algonquin ancestry, where she learned of the wisdom and sentient nature of trees.

Daniel balances the educational with the emotive in her free verse poems; trees capture the feelings of a child, with willows feeling “shivery, sensitive and sad” (p 17) or aspens “stretch[ing] to conquer fears” amidst “trembling leaves” (p 13). The illustrator, Jackie Traverse, is Ojibway, and her art is often inspired by her indigenous culture, most noticeable in her colorful cover art. With acrylic and gouache paintings, Traverse gives a vivid, lively, earthy feel to the two-page spreads. Her calm journey through the seasons pairs well with the digestible, grounding text. She uses colder blues for winter, bright pinks of spring, warm greens for summer, and soft browns and yellow of fall, and she depicts children on each page in temperaments that coincide with the feeling of the trees, like solitude or joy. With Daniel’s concluding question, “What do you see in a tree?,” she connects readers to their natural world and encourages them to live harmoniously with each other, just like trees.

This week, we are showcasing some new graphic novels in our collection. One powerful graphic is Pearl, a historical fiction work that follows a young teen, Amy, from Hawaii who traveled to Hiroshima, Japan in 1941 to visit her ill grandmother. Soon after, the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, and Amy can no longer return home and has to settle into life in Japan. Eventually working for the Japanese army as a translator but still stuck between two countries at war with each other, she is forced to face questions of loyalty while she fears for her family’s safety. Immerse yourself in Amy’s world with Christine Norrie’s soft, emotive illustrations in Sherri L. Smith’s new children’s fiction novel.

Check out more of our graphic novels below!

Duck Moves In!
Written and illustrated by Kirk Reedstrom
Published by Disney – Hyperion
Available now!

Evil Spy School
Written by Stuart Gibbs
Illustrated by Anjan Sarkar
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Kira and the (Maybe) Space Princess
Written and illustrated by Megan Brennan
Published by RH Graphic
Available now!

Pearl
Written by Sherri L. Smith
Illustrated by Christine Norrie
Published by Graphix
Available August 6th, 2024!

The New Girl
Written and illustrated by Cassandra Calin
Published by Graphix
Available June 4th, 2024!

With Twice the Love, Dessie Mei
Justina Chen
HarperCollins Publishers
Available May 7, 2024
Ages 8-12

Dessie Mei Breedlove always wanted a sister-twin. She spots Donna on the first day at her new school in the middle of sixth grade. “I do a double take. And another. Because the black-haired girl in the front row looks exactly like me” (p. 6). They have identical brown eyes, identical shiny black hair, and identical sassy smiles. The girls dive headfirst into their new maybe-sisterhood, enjoying every similarity they share like their favorite band, A2Z. Dessie and Donna must find out if they truly are sister-twins. They secretly take a DNA test without their parents’ permission. Astonishingly, Dessie and Donna are identical twins adopted from the same orphanage in China, and they were adopted by two separate families: a white family named the Breedloves and a Taiwanese family named the Lees. Despite the girls’ similarities, their differences soon create conflict, but Dessie does everything in her power to remain in good graces with Donna and the Lee family.

Early middle-grade readers will eat up the theme of this story: “Make Some Noise and Get into Good Trouble” (p. 302), which comes from one of Grammy’s protest posters and the famous activist John Lewis. When Amah, Donna’s grandma, suffers a brutal attack at the market because of her skin color, strong-willed and vexatious Dessie decides something must be done. She and her friends “get into good trouble” by standing up for Amah and the entire Asian community by organizing a rally at their school. Dessie’s character develops from being a regular uncertain tween into a girl who is passionate about family, community, and standing up for what is right. She is motivated by her strong friendships, tight bond with her multigenerational family, and keen sense of justice. Dessie says, “I have so much love to give. And so, so much love to receive” (p. 315). In fact, supplementary themes of the importance of friend love and family love give this book the tone of a warm hug.

We are welcoming spring this week with some of our new picture books that celebrate nature, the outdoors, gardening, and farming. In Miss MacDonald Has a Farm, Gwarjanski retells the familiar “Old MacDonald” children’s tune with a woman farmer at the center. Rewriting the lyrics to the beloved tune, readers can sing or read along as Miss MacDonald seeds, waters, picks, blooms, and harvests her vegetables, ultimately cooking a meal to be shared with a group of friends. In vibrant, earthy tones, Vukovic brings farming to life with her illustrations of pruning zucchinis and canning pumpkins. It’s hard not to smile while reading this exciting, joyful ode to farming that makes readers want to plant their own vegetables to harvest.

Check out more of our spring-inspired books below!

Lola Meets the Bees
Written by Anna McQuinn
Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available April 9th, 2024!

Miss MacDonald Has a Farm
Written by Kalee Gwarjanski
Illustrated by Elizabet Vukovic
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Planting Hope: A Portrait of Photographer Sebastião Salgado
Written by Philip Hoelzel
Illustrated by Renato Alarcão
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Sunshine Garden: Being a Team Player
Written by Jamie Michalak
Illustrated by Jenna Nahyun
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing
Available today!

What’s Inside a Bird’s Nest?: And Other Questions About Nature & Life Cycles
Written by Rachel Ignotofsky
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!