Category Archives: Uncategorized

Remembering 2020

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Hello Friends—

It’s been… a (add your own descriptor) year! With all that’s happened in the last 12 months, a recap could be overwhelming. Instead, I was inspired by Robert Gray’s Shelf Awareness column (12/18/20) to remember the moments of light in a year that was undeniably dark.

I’m choosing to remember 2020 by…

Our lovely and inspiring Butler Lecture with the talented Bryan Collier.

Spontaneous encounters with colleagues (and their smiling eyes) on a nearly empty campus.

Surprise donations to the Ellin Greene Folk and Fairytale collection, which we’ll debut when we can gather for another tea party.

The chance to support a memorial book drive in honor of a book-lover and literacy champion.

Any for the many small moments of escape, enlightenment, and enjoyment I’ve found on my bookshelf.

Wishing you and yours a joyous, safe, and well-read holiday season. And more moments of light in 2021.

Cheers!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we want to immerse ourselves in a new picture book by Sili Recio and illustrated by Brianna McCarthy, If Dominican Were A Color. With a gorgeous palette and lyrical rhyme scene, If Dominican Were A Color invites readers to celebrate the beauty that is the Dominican Republic. For more great reads, check out the list below!

B Is for Ballet: A Dance Alphabet (American Ballet Theatre)
Written by John Robert Allman and illustrated by Rachael Dean
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Stay Curious!: A Brief History of Stephen Hawking
Written by Kathleen Krull and Paul Brewer, illustrated by Boris Kulikov
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Rescatando palabras: José Alberto Gutiérrez y la biblioteca que creó
Written by Angela Burke Kunkel and illustrated by Paola Escobar
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

Grumpy Monkey Up All Night
Written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

If Dominican Were A Color
Written by Sili Recio and illustrated by Brianna McCarthy
Published by Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Welcome to Bobville: City of Bobs
Written by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Bob Staake
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

Adventure Awaits: A review of Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World

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Sydney & Taylor Explore the Whole Wide World
Jacqueline Davies
Illustrated by Deborah Hocking
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Kids
Available February 2, 2021
Ages 6-9

Sydney the skunk and Taylor the hedgehog are roommates in a cozy burrow under an enchanting backyard garden. When Taylor yearns for excitement and adventure, Sydney grudgingly agrees to explore the Whole Wide World, despite the fact that “exciting is… exhausting.”  And exciting it is as they make their first foray out of the yard and into the unknown to explore, hunt for food, and battle foes both wild and motorized. Anxiety often overwhelms Taylor, but Sydney’s gentle encouragement and stalwart friendship see the pair through their frightening encounters and safely home to the burrow and their comfy armchairs. In this first installment of the early chapter book series, Jacqueline Davies (Lemonade Wars series) brings these lovable characters to life with sweet humor and honest emotions. Their explorations gently illustrate that fear and bravery go hand-in-hand, with both characters exhibiting courage and trepidation in turn. Deborah Hocking’s gouache illustrations add delightful detail, perfectly enhancing the text and portraying the excitement and anxiety adventure can hold. A delightful escapade that proves true friendship is worth its weight in tuna fish sandwiches!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf we’re jumping into action with Nathan Bryon’s and Dapo Adeola’s new picture book, Rocket Says Clean Up! When Rocket goes to visit her grammy and grampy at their island home, she encounters a baby sea turtle tangled in plastic on the beach. When she brings the turtle to Grampy, who runs an animal sanctuary, he shows Rocket all of the ways plastics are harming the islands–Rocket is sad and is moved to take action. For more great reads, check out the list below!

My Bed: Enchanting Ways to Fall Asleep Around the World
Written by Rebecca Bond and illustrated by Salley Mavor
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Rocket Says Clean Up!
Written by Nathan Bryon and illustrated by Dapo Adeola
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Elbow Grease: Fast Friends
Written by John Cena and illustrated by  Howard McWilliam
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Fern and Otto: A Story About Two Best Friends
Written and illustrated by Stephanie Graegin
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

Tiny Monsters: The Strange Creatures That Live On Us, In Us, and Around Us
Written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Helga Makes A Name For Herself
Written by Megan Maynor and illustrated by Eda Kaban
Published by Clarion Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re reimagining the Tooth Fairy myth in Tyler Clark Burke’s The Last Loose Tooth. In Burke’s new picture book, Lou is the last baby tooth in the mouth, crowded out by the adult teeth. When it’s his time to leave and join his fellow baby teeth friends, he connects with the Tooth Fairy so he can make his way to the Land of Teeth. For more great reads, check out the list below!

The Last Loose Tooth
Written and illustrated by Tyler Clark Burke
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Starcrossed
Written and illustrated by Julia Denos
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Quiet Down, Loud Town!
Written by Alastair Heim and illustrated by Matt Hunt
Published by Clarion Books 
Available now!

Space Matters
Written by Jacque Lynn and illustrated by Lydia Nichols
Published by Clarion Books
Available now!

Solid, Liquid, Gassy! (A Fairy Science Story)
Written and illustrated by Ashley Spires
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Night Walk to the Sea: A Story About Rachel Carson, Earth’s Protector
Written by Deborah Wiles and illustrated by Daniel Miyares
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

When Are We? A Review of Yesterday Is History

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Yesterday Is History
Kosoko Jackson
Sourcebooks
Available February 2, 2021
Ages 14-18

Angsty teenage romance plus medical drama plus time travel adventure. Uptight, African American, honor student, Andre Cobb is recovering from cancer and a life-saving liver transplant, when he passes out and wakes up standing in front of his own house—but not. It’s 1969, and the house belongs to the family of cute and charismatic Michael. Andre learns that his new liver has made him a time traveler and that his donor’s white, upper class family chose him knowing what would happen. Domineering and calculating Claire, her distant, workaholic husband Greg, and angry, heartbroken son Blake all have their own reactions to Andre and his new ability. Andre jumps through time, pushed by growing feelings for Michael and pulled back by new feelings for Blake, until he’s forced to choose between a past that doesn’t belong to him and a future that could be all he wants and needs. High personal expectations drive Andre to do what he thinks are the right things—fix Michael, support Blake, live his parents’ dream for him, and even save his donor’s life. Jackson’s primary characters are achingly complex and will have readers just as torn between love stories as Andre. The reality-based aspects of the plot and tension-filled relationships balance the intriguingly far-fetched idea of genetically driven time travel. A dramatic exploration of the things we can and can’t do. And if we can, should we?

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking forward to a new, winter picture book by Saumiya Balasubramaniam and illustrated by Eva Campbell. In Two Drops of Brown in a Cloud of White, a little girl and her mother walk home after school. It is snowy, and the little girl misses the colors of other seasons. What follows is a conversation between mother and child, exploring and appreciating all that winter has to offer. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Two Drops of Brown in a Cloud of White
Written by Saumiya Balasubramaniam and illustrated by Eva Campbell
Published by Groundwood Books
Available now!

A Polar Bear in the Snow
Written by Mac Barnett with art by Shawn Harris
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Pretty Funny For A Girl
Written by Rebecca Elliott
Published by Peachtree Publishing Company
Available now!

A Ben of All Trades: The Most Inventive Boyhood of Benjamin Franklin
Written by Michael J. Rosen and illustrated by Matt Tavares
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

My Rainy Day Rocket Ship
Written by Market Sheppard and illustrated by Charly Palmer
Published by Denene Millner Books
Available now!

The Bad Chair
Written and illustrated by Dasha Tolstikova
Published by Groundwood Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re eager to begin Legendborn, a new fantasy novel by Tracy Deonn. In this supernatural tale, following her mother’s death, high schooler Bree joins a residential program at her mother’s alma mater. What Bree finds there–a secret society, mystical attacks–reveal that there is more to her mother’s death than she previously thought. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Rent A Boyfriend
Written by Gloria Chao
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Legendborn
Written by Tracy Deonn
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now!

Shine
Written by Jessica Jung
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Facing the Sun
Written by Janice Lynn Mather
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow
Written by Laura Taylor Namey
Published by Atheneum
Available now!

Love & Olives
Written by Jenna Evans Welch
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Super Star: A Review of Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer

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Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer
Written by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Natasha Donovan
Published by Lerner Publishing Group/Millbrook Press
Available on March 2, 2021
Ages 6-10

Author Traci Sorell and illustrator Natasha Donovan team up to tell the story of Mary Golda Ross, an aerospace engineer who infused her Cherokee values into her work. Sorell and Donovan begin Ross’s journey in the 1920s when she was the lone girl in her math class in northeastern Oklahoma. When boys refused to sit next to her, she was even more determined to do well. As she continued on to college, she majored in mathematics and became a math and science teacher. Ross was later hired to be an adviser at the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ coed boarding school in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Ross infused her teaching with “the Cherokee value of instructing in a gentle, thoughtful way” as she taught Pueblo and Navajo girls at the school. (10) Following the United States entrance into World War II, Ross began work as a mathematician for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, working on design problems affecting fighter planes. Ross found acceptance and career growth at Lockheed, becoming their first female engineer, and she helped other women join her in the field. After World War II ended and the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union began, Ross accepted an invitation to join the Skunk Works division, a top-secret group at Lockheed. Ross designed initiatives for space travel, and her work helped send astronauts to the moon. Despite her tremendous achievement, Ross did not seek the spotlight, and instead focused on recruiting women and American Indians to study math and science. Sorell’s straightforward prose illuminates how Ross’ technical work and Cherokee heritage combined for a powerful force.  Donovan blends Ross’ imaginative and conceptual work through graph paper mockups and designs; these images populate the picture book and reference specific projects Ross worked on.  Ross’ proximity to others within each page gauges how accepted Ross is in her field: near the beginning of the book, she is alone; at the end she is surrounded by colleagues and future leaders. This picture book biography starts with “A Note on Cherokee Values,” contextualizing the values and ideals that shaped Mary Golda Ross’ life. The back matter includes a detailed timeline of Ross’ life, and an author’s note and a section on Cherokee Values, a resource list and bibliography. Traci Sorell’s note explains her connection to Mary Golda Ross as a member of the Cherokee Nation; the “Four Cherokee Values” section offers readers a guide to the direct syllabary, transliteration, pronunciation of each value, as well as an English definition.

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re turning to stories to help build math skills. In Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum, Natasha Yim and Violet Kim give readers a problem to solve: on Luna’s birthday, her family go out for dim sum to celebrate, but they cannot agree on how to share their pork buns. How can they divide them fairly? This sweet exploration of division and fractions is a delicious treat. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Love is Powerful
Written by Heather Dean Brewer and illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

The Clockwork Crow
Written by Catherine Fisher
Published by Walker Books
Available now!

One of a Kind: A Story About Sorting and Classifying
Written and illustrated by Neil Packer
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Rocket Science: A beginners guide to fundamentals of spaceflight
Written by Andrew Rader and illustrated by Galen Frazer
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

What Will You Dream of Tonight?
Written by Frances Stickley and illustrated by Anuska Allepuz
Published by Nosy Crow
Available now!

Luna’s Yum Yum Dim Sum (Storytelling Math)
Written by Natasha Yim and illustrated by Violet Kim
Published by Charlesbridge
Available December 22!