Welcome to the online presence of the Butler Children's Literature Center, housed within Dominican's School of Information Studies, Crown Library room 214. Here, we celebrate the best in books for youth and those who delight in sharing them. For Fall 2026, BCLC will offer collection access to the Dominican community and general public during posted open hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 9am-4pm, and by appointment with the Curator. Contact Jen Clemons at butler@dom.edu or jclemons@dom.edu to make arrangements.
Today is the start of Lunar New Year! This year we ring in the year of the tiger! Check out featured titles by authors of Chinese heritage below including Friends Are Friends, Forever which tells the story of a young child who moves from China to America. In China, she spent every Lunar New Year making ornaments with her best friend and is initially unsure if she will have anyone to continue this tradition with in America. Inspired by the author’s immigrant experience, this picture book highlights the importance of friendship. Check it out along with other great titles below!
I Am Golden Written by Eva Chen and Illustrated by Sophie Diao Published by Feiwel & Friends Available now!
Eyes That Speak to the Stars Written by Joanna Ho and Illustrated by Dung Ho Published by HarperCollins Available February 15, 2022
Friends Are Friends, Forever Written by Dane Liu and Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield Published by Henry Holt and Co. Books for Young Readers Available now!
The Not-So-Uniform Life of Holly Mei Written by Christina Matula Published by Inkyard Press Available April 5, 2022
New from Here Written by Kelly Yang Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available March 1, 2022
Maizy Chen’s Last Chance Written by Lisa Yee Published by Random House Books for Young Readers Available now!
“For me, a huge part of Black history is celebrating who we are as a people. Celebrating us. Not that we are all alike – far from it. But there is a history we share – as powerful or as painful or as beautiful as it may be – that should be also be a part of our focus. When we talk about Black history, we should also talk about our folklore and mythology, and our culture as a whole. And how we can all contribute to history.” — Eden Royce
As I started pondering ideas for a Black History month book-list, I came across this Harper Stacks blog post from Eden Royce, author of Root Magic (a 2022 Walter Award Honor title). She thoughtfully encourages a broader celebration, not just a look at extraordinary figures, but a recognition of Black people and the rich folklore of their culture. Royce reminds us that these stories are for sharing–whether it’s on a back porch or in a library. Inspired by her shift in focus, I moved from the fabulous titles in our review collection to the treasures in Ellin Greene Folk and Fairytale collection. Below is a list of favorites (with links to the Dominican University catalog) that celebrate the stories and myths Royce lifts up, from some truly celebration-worthy Black creators, that would be make a wonderful addition to Black History Month lessons and programming.
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recently released and coming soon titles! These include The View from the Very Best House in Town by Meera Trehan. This debut middle grade novel explores the troubled friendship of Sam and Asha, both autistic middle schoolers. As Sam is accepted into a prestigious school and Asha is not, their friendship is put at risk. In addition to being told from the perspectives of both Sam and Asha, the very best house in town also has its own perspective in this story.
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life Written by Cheryl Blackford Published by Clarion Books Available now!
Ready for the Spotlight! Written and Illustrated by Jaime Kim Published by Candlewick Available now!
Wayward Creatures Written by Dayna Lorentz Published by Clarion Books Available now!
The Monarchs Written by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige Published by Clarion Books Available now!
On the Move: Home Is Where You Find It Written by Michael Rosen and Illustrated by Quentin Blake Published by Candlewick Available February 8, 2022
The View from the Very Best House in Town Written by Meera Trehan Published by Walker Books US Available February 8, 2022
Only a Monster Vanessa Len February 22, 2022 HarperTeen Ages 13-17
In this first installment of a planned trilogy, debut author Vanessa Len lays down the foundations of a world where monsters live among humans, appearing no different from their human counterparts. Monsters’ primary ability involves travelling through time, though in order to do so they must “steal time” from humans, shortening the lifespans of their victims. Beyond this ability that is shared by all monsters, each also has an additional ability shared by their family line. The story’s protagonist, Joan, is half-monster, half-human, and the monster half of her family has intentionally hidden the full extent of their abilities from her. Shortly after accidentally using her powers for the first time and learning the truth about them, Joan also learns that her crush, Nick, has sworn to destroy all monsters. Joan escapes a massacre, where the victims include most of her own family. As Joan teams up with another survivor of the massacre, she must quickly learn how to navigate not only her powers, but the entire society and hierarchy of monsters living hidden throughout London.
Despite being the first in a series, Only a Monster can stand on its own as the primary conflict is solved by the end of the book, with greater unresolved questions looming for those who will wait for its sequels. Its primary theme relates to morality, and the ambiguity of good versus evil, with the ever-present question being whether monsters are always evil, and heroes are always good. Another central theme is that of adapting to a new society. In the monster world, Joan feels out of place as she is half-human. Since her family hid the truth about monsters from her, Joan is not aware of monster society which has its own rules about what can and cannot be done regarding time travel, as well as urban legends which end up having truth to them as Joan learns more. She also alludes to feeling out of place in the human world as well due to being of mixed race. The supporting cast is also diverse, featuring characters of various ethnicities and sexualities. While the story gets dark, and features depictions of death, it is not overly graphic. Fantasy readers who enjoy time travel and related themes, such as alternate timelines, are sure to enjoy this fast-paced read.
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features some recent arrivals to the BCLC! These include Lawless Spaces, a novel in verse by Corey Ann Haydu that tells of Mimi’s coming of age through her own journaling and the discoveries she makes looking through the journals of the women in her family line. Check out more new and coming soon titles below!
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess Written by Shannon and Dean Hale and Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Published by Candlewick Available February 1, 2022
Lawless Spaces Written by Corey Ann Haydu Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
Ear Worm! Written by Jo Knowles and Illustrated by Galia Bernstein Published by Candlewick Available January 25, 2022
Not That Pet! Written by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw Published by Candlewick Available February 1, 2022
Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution Written by Diane Stanley and Illustrated by Jessie Hartland Published by Paula Wiseman Books Available now!
Even Robots Aren’t Perfect! Written and Illustrated by Jan Thomas Published by Beach Lane Books Available now!
Wow in the World: Wow in the Wild: The Amazing World of Animals Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz Illustrated by Jack Teagle Harper Collins/Clarion Books April 12, 2022
All the fascinating, absurd, and disgusting facts of the award-winning podcast combined with vibrant illustration and photography make for a “wow-worthy” fourth installment of the series. Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz, hosts of the NPR podcast, pack this animal themed edition full of all the quizzes, interviews, listicles, job postings, and graphic novel spreads you could ask for with the goal of inspiring discovery. Broken into six sections, including birds, reptiles, mammals, sea creatures, bugs, and amphibians, the pair explores the extreme diversity and weirdness of the animal kingdom. But hilarity the series in known for doesn’t diminish the complex ideas they share, like the aerodynamics of bird flight and sophisticated animal communication methods. Easily digestible language and abundant illustrations, combined with plenty of poop facts, strike just the right note for the enjoyment and education of 8-12 year old audience. Jack Teagle’s full-color illustrations (including a cartoon Mindy and Guy) run the gamut from graphic novel-like spreads to illustrated diagrams and complement the hilarity of the text. The title includes extensive back matter like thorough source notes, photo credits, an exhaustive glossary and index, a suggested reading list, and QR code links to related podcast episodes. A final section on conservation, that could have been more robust, wraps things up with a brief list of action items for the inspired reader. An engaging and quick read, or fun-fact reference, for animal lovers and comedy fans alike.
This week’s Butler Bookshelf includes Sometimes Cake by Edwina Wyatt and Jasmin Ainslie, which shows the importance of celebrating even the little things. Best friends Audrey and Lion celebrate everything ranging from birthdays to days of the week to colors. Yet one day, Audrey sees Lion looking down and must remind him that even ordinary days can be a cause for celebration.
Freddie vs. The Family Curse Written by Tracy Badua Published by Clarion Books Available May 3, 2022
The Burning Swift Written by Joseph Elliott Published by Walker Books US Available now!
Every Line of You Written by Naomi Gibson Published by Chicken House Available March 1, 2022
Wutaryoo Written and Illustrated by Nilah Magruder Published by Versify Available January 25, 2022
Sloth Sleuth Written and Illustrated by Cyndi Marko Published by Etch Available June 7, 2022
Sometimes Cake Written by Edwina Wyatt and Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie Published by Candlewick Available now!
Happy New Year! Welcome back to Butler’s Pantry! A new year brings all new books! This week on the Butler Bookshelf is just a sampling of the fresh titles to come in 2022. We are particularly excited to dive into K-Pop Revolution by Stephan Lee. Follow Candace on her journey of making a record-breaking debut album while also trying to effect change in the K-Pop industry. Check out the list below for more amazing titles debuting this year!
Caprice Written by Coe Booth Published by Scholastic Press Available March 1, 2022
A Duet for Home Written by Karina Yan Glaser Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books Available April 5, 2022
K-Pop Revolution Written by Stephan Lee Published by Scholastic/Point Paperbacks Available April 5, 2022
Bright Brown Baby: Peek-a-You Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrated by Brian Pinkney Published by Scholastic/Cartwheel Books Available February 1, 2022
The Ivory Key Written by Akshaya Raman Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Available now!
Mother Goose Goes to India Written by Kabir Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal Illustrated by Wazza Pink Published by Simon & Schuster/Beach Lane Books Available now!
Sometimes Cake Edwina Wyatt Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie Candlewick January 4, 2022 Ages 2-5
Audrey always finds Lion celebrating something. Whether it be Tuesdays or the color orange, Lion commemorates the little things with a big production. And Audrey joins of course! They don their heads with colorful hats and eat delicious cake. But one day, Audrey finds Lion in a sad slumber. Now Audrey must show Lion that even ordinary days are a cause for celebration.
Sometimes Cake is a simple and fun picture book that illustrates how the small things in life can bring us great joy. Having coconut cake just because it’s Tuesday can brighten our darkest days. Ainslie’s pencil and watercolor illustrations have a hand-drawn feel with pictures placed on an off-white background. The gentle and warm colors, with noticeable pencil shading on the outlines of each drawing, add a soft-focus look to an already warm, fuzzy story. Ainslie also cleverly shows the passage of each day by changing Audrey’s clothes. Through Audrey and Lion, Wyatt proves that there is something special about every day. All we have to do is find it.
This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find Nothing Burns as Bright as You by Ashley Woodfolk. Set over the course of one reckless day, this book of poetry that tells the story of two girls and their love for one another. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!
Loyalty Written by Avi Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books Available February 1, 2022
Drew Leclair Gets a Clue Written by Katryn Bury Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books Available March 1, 2022
Just Right Jillian Written by Nicole D. Collier Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify Available February 1, 2022
The Antiracist Kid: A Book About Identity, Justice, and Activism Written by Tiffany Jewell and Illustrated by Nicole Miles Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify Available September 20, 2022
At the End of Everything Written by Marieke Nijkamp Published by Sourcebooks Fire Available January 25, 2022
Nothing Burns as Bright as you Written by Ashley Woodfolk Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Versify Available April 5, 2022
