Category Archives: Uncategorized

Butler Bookshelf

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Rosh Hashanah begins next Monday, September 6th at sundown! The Jewish New Year is a celebration of humanity. It is the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve, and a day of judgment and coronation. This holiday is a time to contemplate our imperfection, but also a reminder to never lose hope that we can achieve great things. Let us celebrate Rosh Hashanah with amazing titles focused on learning about the tradition and it’s themes of forgiveness, relationship building and repairing, and bettering one’s self! Shanah tovah um’tukah!

What we’re Scared of
Written by Keren David
Published by Scholastic
Available now!

Rosh Hashanah with Uncle Max
Written and Illustrated by Varda Livney
Published by Kar-Ben Publishing
Available now!

Not So Fast, Max: A Rosh Hashanah Visit With Grandma
Written by Annette Schottenfeld and Illustrated by Jennifer Kirkham
Published by Kalaniot Books
Available now!

Boy from Buchenwald
Written by Robbie Waisman and Susan McClelland
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Available now!

I Spy Rosh Hashanah
Written and Illustrated by Yellow Sun Publishing
Published independently
Available now!

Something new for Rosh Hashanah
Written by Jane Yolen and Illustrated by Christine Battuz
Published by Kar-Ben Publishing
Available now!

Fact versus fiction: The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb

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The Curse of the Mummy: Uncovering Tutankhamun’s Tomb
Candace Fleming
Scholastic
Available September 7, 2021
Ages 8-12

A pharaoh’s tomb—blessed or cursed, ransacked, then lost to sand and time. Until Lord Carnarvon, with money, enthusiasm and a gambling spirit, met Howard Carter with his meticulous methods and love of the hunt. Together they would make one of the most glorious and scientifically significant finds in Egyptian archeology—the tomb of Tutankhamun.

Chronicling the years leading up to the discovery and through Howard Carter’s death, Fleming digs into the shaky allegiances and scheming politics of archeology in Egypt, the colonialist role of the British, and the tragedies that plagued those associated with the venture. She subtly calls out the dichotomy between Carter’s painstaking scientific methodology for excavation and conservation, and his near total disregard for Tut’s human remains. The attention to photographing and labeling all the items and events, and only recording the names of the Europeans in the photos. Heavily based on source materials from those associated with the dig, including Carter’s notes, diaries, and books, the text moves from sympathy for his point of view to questioning his attention to anything other than his work, including the growing agitation for Egyptian self-rule. Interspersed through the chapters, “It was said” tales string together sensational stories attributed to the curse; including car accidents, dead pets, and fatal illnesses. And in something of an anti-climax, Fleming devotes just a few brief paragraphs to her conclusion: “There were no curses inscribed anywhere in Tutankhamun’s tomb.” (244) This recounting of the Carnarvon and Carter’s discovery, full of detailed photography, maps, and illustrations, ties a thorough timeline of actual events to a more melodramatic story of the curse.

*review based on printed ARC page numbering

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find educational board books for the little ones headed back to school! Dive into ABC Let’s Celebrate You & Me by Sugar Snap Studio and learn how all people are unique, special, and worthy of love and happiness. The book presents a whole alphabet of positive attributes–from the outside in–kids can celebrate, encouraging them to love themselves and others just as they are. For more amazing titles, check out the list below!

ABC Let’s Celebrate You & Me: A Celebration of All the Things that Make Us Unique and Special, From A To Z!
Written and Illustrated by Jessie Ford
Published by The Quarto Group/Walter Foster Jr.
Available now!

Reuse This Book!
Written and Illustrated by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available now!

Animal ABC
Written and Illustrated by Nikolas Ilic
Published by The Quarto Group/Happy Yak
Available now!

100 Animals
Written and Illustrated by Steve Jenkins
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available now!

Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Written by Nosy Crow and Illustrated by Yu-hsuan Huang
Published by Candlewick Press/Nosy Crow
Available now!

Curious About Insects
Written by Cathryn Sill and Illustrated by John Sill
Published by Peachtree Publishing/Peachtree Petite
Available now!

A Reflection on Our Right to Vote: A Review of Good Girls Don’t Make History

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Good Girls Don’t Make History 
Created by Elizabeth Kiehner and Keith Olwell 
Written by Elizabeth Kiehner and Kara Coyle 
Illustration/design by Micaela Dawn and Mary Sanche 
Wide Eyed Editions 
August 31, 2021 
Ages 12-18 
 
This nonfiction graphic novel delves into the path towards women’s suffrage in the United States. The timeline begins with the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Conference and stretches into today, with interspersed scenes taking place in the present day. Modern voters are shown reflecting on the hardships that others endured in order to secure the right to vote that many take for granted. Per its foreword, the book aims to shed a light on events that are not generally taught in the American school system. Kiehner and Coyle succeed in expanding the picture, focusing on figures who pre-date the most well-known members of the women’s suffrage movement. They open the story with Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, who were key to starting the women’s suffrage movement before the Civil War era. 

The artwork places great emphasis on the faces and expressions of the historical figures it depicts, with their features instantly recognizable. Simple backgrounds draw attention to said historical figures, with each panel highlighting the gravity of the depicted historical events. The panels are arranged in a variety of ways, with two-page spreads emulating newspapers scattered throughout the book. A wide array of colors is used, though the colors of the scenes set in the past are noticeably more muted. While there are not traditional chapters, a full-page illustration of an important figure, accompanied by a quote, divide the book into sections. Each shift to a new time period includes the date, along with the names of the figures central to the events being depicted. Beyond the text indicating settings, the text is exclusively dialogue, which serves to drive the story forward. Good Girls Don’t Make History depicts the long journey to women’s suffrage in a way that is easy to follow, meeting its goal of highlighting lesser-known advocates of women’s rights. 

Butler Bookshelf

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Women’s Equality Day is August 26th! Celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of the 19th amendment and the trailblazers that made it a reality by diving into the books below. Read about Brenda Berkman, the first official female firefighter of the New York Fire Department (Send a Girl!), and Katherine Johnson, a NASA mathematician whose work was critical to the first U.S. crewed spaceflight (One Step Further). Take a look at Standing on her Shoulders by Monica Clark-Robinson and Laura Freeman, an ode to the women who came before us that paved the way for justice and equality. Immerse in all things women and some of their extraordinary contributions! 

Standing on her Shoulders
Written by Monica Clark-Robinson and Illustrated by Laura Freeman
Published by Orchard Books
Available now!

Ambitious Girl
Written by Meena Harris and Illustrated by Marissa Valdez
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Lifelong Mission
Written by Katherine Johnson, Joylette Hylick, & Katherine Moore
Illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
Published by National Geographic Kids
Available now!

Michelle’s Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change
Written and Illustrated by Sharee Miller
Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Send a Girl!: The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY
Written by Jessica M. Rinker and Illustrated by Meg Hunt
Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Available now!

June Almeida, Virus Detective!: The Woman Who Discovered the First Human Coronavirus
Written by Suzanne Slade and Illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Published by Sleeping Bear Press
Available now!

Bravery and Understanding: A Review of Set Me Free

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Set Me Free
Ann Clare LeZotte
Scholastic Press
September 21, 2021
Ages 8-12

In 1805, 11-year-old Mary Lambert was kidnapped by scientist Andrew Noble and used as a live specimen in an experiment to determine the cause of deafness in the people of Martha’s Vineyard. Now, 14 years old and safely back at home, Mary is weary of life on the Vineyard. Although routine life is comforting, Mary yearns for adventure. So, when she receives a letter from Nora O’Neal—a woman who helped rescue her from Noble’s experiment—asking her to tutor an 8-year-old girl believed to be deaf-mute, Mary jumps at the chance. However, teaching the young girl, whom Mary affectionately calls Ladybird, will not be easy. Upon arrival at the Vale, the manor in which the young girl lives, Mary discovers that the butler has locked her away. The Vale staff say that Ladybird is violent and have very little faith that she can learn to communicate. Mary must prove them wrong, teach Ladybird sign language, and free the young girl from her mental and physical cage.

LeZotte’s Set Me Free shines a light on how fear of what we don’t understand influences our actions. The butler locks away Ladybird because she is different. He’s not able to grasp the idea that even though a person cannot hear or speak, they are still intelligent and able to converse with others. Set in the early 1800s, prejudice against the Wampanoag tribes and freed Africans is common on the Vineyard and beyond. Mary witnesses slaves chained and shackled boarding a boat in the Boston Harbor. She endures the rant of her best friend’s uncle claiming that the Wampanoag tribes are violent, and Europeans must live separate from them. This racism is just another act of fear against those that are different. There is also a strong religious aspect to this story as Mary, her family, and the surrounding community seek God’s guidance and strength in everything they do. During Mary’s stint tutoring Ladybird and dealing with the cruel butler, she prays frequently and looks for light in the darkness. LeZotte does an excellent job illustrating how the deaf communicate, showing the subtle differences between spoken and sign language. When Mary signs with her family and friends, she doesn’t always use full sentences. Sometimes all it takes is the sign for one word and a facial expression to convey what one means in sign language. The author’s note includes the history of hereditary deafness on Martha’s Vineyard, the Wampanoag Nation, the Vale, and other issues that influenced the story.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf you will find The Life I’m In by Sharon G. Flake, a sister novel to Flake’s The Skin I’m In. Over two decades ago, The Skin I’m In told the story of Maleeka Madison and the nightmare she lived through being bullied because of her dark skin color. Now in Flake’s newest novel, The Life I’m In, we follow the story of Charlese Jones, the bully that made Maleeka’s life miserable. After being kicked out of her home, Charlese boards a bus to nowhere and is lured into the dangerous life of human trafficking. Charlese must swallow her fear, remain strong, and bring herself and her fellow victims to justice. For more fantastic titles, check out the list below!

Rosie Loves Jack
Written by Mel Darbon
Published by Peachtree Publishing Company
Available now!

The Life I’m In
Written by Sharon G. Flake
Published by Scholastic Press
Available now!

Toot & Puddle: How Does Your Garden Grow
Written and Illustrated by Holly Hobbie
Published by Penguin Random House/Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

100 First Words: City
Written by Nosy Crow Ltd. and Illustrated by Edward Underwood
Published by Candlewick Press/Nosy Crow
Available now!

Pip and Posy: The Friendly Snail
Written by Camilla Reid and Illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Published by Candlewick Press/Nosy Crow
Available now!

The Million Dollar Race
Written by Matthew Rose Smith
Published by Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s August, which means Back to School season is here! This season is all about new beginnings, meeting new people, and learning more about yourself and the world around you. Clash by Kayla Miller is a perfect example of this. When new kid Natasha comes to town and takes the sixth grade by storm, everyone wants to be her friend, including Olive. However, Natasha only seems interested in hanging out with Olive’s friends, not Olive herself. Will Olive’s best buds choose Natasha over her, leaving her behind? Find out this and more by checking out the Back to School themed titles below!

Chill, Chomp, Chill!
Written by Chris Ayala-Kronos and Illustrated by Paco Sordo
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Available August 17, 2021

Henry at Home
Written by Megan Maynor and Illustrated by Alea Marley
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Clarion Books
Available now!

Merci Suárez Can’t Dance
Written by Meg Medina
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Clash
Written and Illustrated by Kayla Miller
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Etch
Available now!

To Tell You The Truth
Written by Beth Vrabel
Published by Simon & Schuster/Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Let’s Go for a Walk
Written by Hamza Yassin and Illustrated by Kate Kronreif
Published by The Quarto Group/Ivy Kids
Available now!

Looking Towards Fall: A Review of The Leaf Thief

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The Leaf Thief 
Alice Hemming 
Illustrated by Nicola Slater 
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky 
August 3, 2021 
Ages 4-8 

Squirrel wakes up one day to find that some of the leaves on his tree are missing. He concludes that there is a Leaf Thief on the loose and accuses other animals of having stolen his leaves. Over time, more leaves disappear, and Squirrel continues to panic, prompting Bird to show him the true Leaf Thief. Bird explains that the wind is taking the leaves, that this happens every year in autumn, and that the leaves will grow back in the spring, finally putting Squirrel at ease. 

Hemming primarily uses dialogue to tell the story, with different fonts used for each character. The text is laid out differently on each page, with large text used to accentuate Squirrel’s rising panic. He reacts dramatically to the situation, turning to his friend Bird for guidance. Despite the humorous nature of the situation, Bird takes Squirrel seriously, aptly explaining why the leaves are disappearing. Slater’s illustrations depict rich and vivid environments through a mixture of two-page spreads, single page spreads, and pages split into panels that make the storyline more dynamic. The colors of the autumn leaves are a focal point, though even the pages that do not depict leaves are full of vibrant colors. Paint and graphite textures scanned over the digital art give it a unique feel. Back matter further explains the changes that autumn brings. The Leaf Thief is a humorous story that will leave young readers amused while also providing information about a change they see around them in a straightforward and fun way. 

Butler Bookshelf

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International Day of Friendship is this Friday, July 30th! Celebrate by getting your hands on Playing a Dangerous Game by Patrick Ochieng. Set in 1970s Kenya, the story follows four friends as they embark on a formidable adventure. While roaming the neighborhood, the boys discover that stolen coffee is being smuggled into an abandoned house they believed to be haunted. This discovery sucks them into a criminal underworld, putting both themselves and their families in danger. Now the boys must lean on each other for survival. For more books featuring strong friendships, check out the list below!

Gerald Needs a Friend
Written and Illustrated by Robin Boyden
Published by The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available now!

The Best Worst Summer
Written by Elizabeth Eulberg
Published by Bloomsbury
Available now!

Rise to the Sun
Written by Leah Johnson
Published by Scholastic Press
Available now!

Peep and Ducky Sleepover
Written by David Martin and Illustrated by David Walker
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Take Me Home Tonight
Written by Morgan Matson
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Playing a Dangerous Game
Written by Patrick Ochieng
Published by W. W. Norton & Company/Norton Young Readers
Available August 17, 2021