Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf will highlight some graphic novels and memoirs in our collection, featuring Taxi Ghost written and illustrated by Sophie Escabasse. Adèle’s plan for winter break is to spend as much time as possible reading her favorite books at the library. But her plans change when she gets her first period and along with it, the ability to see ghosts! As Adèle meets more ghosts and learns more about the family secret she is now a part of, she becomes aware of some of the problems the ghosts are fighting against. When one ghost enlists her help to prevent luxury condominiums from being built, she realizes that this mission is her key to having an exciting winter break. But how can Adèle help the ghosts, and what exactly stands in their way? Accompanied by colorful, charming illustrations, Escabasse crafts a delightfully fun and entertaining story about a girl coming into her own and making new friends along the way.

Check out more graphic novels and memoirs below!

Dear Dad: Growing Up With a Parent in Prison – and How We Stayed Connected
Written by Jay Jay Patton, Antoine Patton, and Kiara Valdez
Illustrated by Markia Jenai
Published by Graphix and Kaepernick Publishing
Available now!

My Extremely Tiny Forest Adventure (Nell of Gumbling 2)
Written and illustrated by Emma Steinkellner
Published by Labyrinth Road
Avalailable now!

Taxi Ghost
Written and illustrated by Sophie Escabasse
Published by RH Graphic
Available now!

We Are Big Time
Written by Hena Khan
Illustrated by Safiya Zerrougui
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

The Worst Ronin
Written by Maggie Tokuda-Hall
Illustrated by Faith Schaffer
Published by HarperAlley
Available now!

Finding the Words: A Review of A Voice in the Storm 

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A Voice in the Storm 
Written and illustrated by Karl James Mountford 
Candlewick Press/Candlewick Studio 
Ages 3-7 
Available November 5, 2024 

Sometimes, it’s hard not to feel like there is a storm raging inside. In Karl James Mountford’s A Voice in the Storm, Rat struggles with her own emotional storm and how to open up to her friends about her feelings. When a storm starts outside, she runs away from her friends, Jackdaw and Hedgehog. As lightning flashes and thunder cracks, Rat has a frightening experience with Snake, almost stepping into his mouth when he offers to shelter her. Afterwards, she runs into Bear, who teaches her that the storm outside “‘needs time to free its voice’” (p. 22). With Bear’s advice and support, Rat learns how to open up to her friends and give a voice to the storm happening inside her. 

Mountford’s stunning artwork and poignant prose come together to create a touching story that discusses depression and helps guide readers in figuring out how to express themselves. Mountford uses digitally created, geometric illustrations with a color palette of purples, greens, blacks, and grays to draw the eye of the reader and show the intensity of Rat’s emotions. His animals are expressive, showing Rat’s sadness, Jackdaw’s worry, and Bear’s kindness. Mountford’s use of storms as a metaphor aptly describes mental health struggles in a way that’s easy for young readers to understand and relate to. Additionally, the dialogue between characters, especially Rat and Bear, introduces readers to ways they can articulate their own feelings: Bear tells Rat that “‘all voices [are] just noise until someone listens’” (p. 22). When Rat opens up to Bear, she tells him that she “‘[cares] about everything all at once, and yet, [she doesn’t] feel anything at the same time’” (p. 25). This conversation gives readers an opportunity to learn how they can ask for support when they need it. While the publisher recommends this book for preschool-early elementary school readers, this emotionally moving story can serve as a thoughtful conversation starter for all ages participating in discussions about mental health. 

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf will highlight some new children’s fiction in the collection! We receive all kinds of books for kids, from chapter books to novels in verse to graphic novels, like this week’s feature, An Unlikely Pair, the first book in the Molly and the Bear series written and illustrated by Bob and Vicki Scott. When Molly is home alone for the first time, a bear sneaks into her house to eat the cookies her mom left on the table. Soon, Molly discovers that Bear is scared of everything in the woods, so she offers to let him live at her house. Even though it’s tough to keep Bear hidden from her parents, Molly has a summer full of adventures with Bear and her best friend, Harper. When school starts up again at the end of the summer, Molly decides to take Bear to school to be their class pet. How will her classmates, teachers, and parents react to her new friend when she reveals her secret? Bob and Vicki Scott use their extensive backgrounds in comics and animation to bring this story of friendship and overcoming your fears to life in a way that is sure to entertain middle grade readers.

Check out more children’s fiction below!

Basil and Dahlia: A Tragical Tale of Sinister Sweetness
Written by Joy McCullough
Illustrated by Shane Cluskey
Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Carter Avery’s Tricky Fourth-Grade Year
Written by Rob Buyea
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

The Fairy Tale Fan Club: Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily
Written by Richard Ayoade
Illustrated by David Roberts
Published by Walker Books
Available now!

Gracie Under the Waves
Written by Linda Sue Park
Published by Allida
Available now!

An Unlikely Pair (Molly and the Bear #1)
Written and illustrated by Bob Scott and Vicki Scott
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Wings to Soar
Written by Tina Athaide
Published by Charlesbridge Moves
Available now!

Out of Her Depth: A review of The Unfinished

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The Unfinished
Cheryl Isaacs
HarperCollins/Heartdrum
September 2024
Age: 13+

Everyone in Crook’s Falls knows to stay on the forest trails, but no one will explain why. For Kanyen’kéha (Mohawk) teen Avery, those running trails are home until she’s drawn from their safety to the deep forest and a sinister black-water pond. Soon she is plagued by nightmares and feeling watched, while townspeople begin to disappear—again. Something dangerous resides in the water, and Avery has woken it. When it’s Key, Avery’s loyal best friend and crush that vanishes, the stoic and self-contained teen turns to her estranged tribal elders for stories and answers. It will take all her runner’s determination to outwit the black water and pull Key from its depths.

Cheryl Isaacs’ (Kanyen’kéha) YA novel weaves elements of indigenous lore with dark supernatural creations in this chilling horror debut. Fast pacing and moody forest settings complement the suspenseful plot. With well-developed young characters—thoughtful, selfish, and reckless in turn—and a typically indistinct cast of secondary adult characters, themes of communication and community become more pronounced as Avery opens up emotionally to her friends and family. Avery’s personal growth drives a deepening of her friendships, her ability to ask for help, and an acknowledgement of her feelings for Key. It also drives the action toward a terrifying yet satisfying conclusion. Isaacs does not lean heavily on indigenous culture, but uses the juxtaposition of the family’s intentional disconnect and Avery’s need for help to build both tension and a genuine bridge back to her heritage.

Butler Bookshelf

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In addition to all the holidays being celebrated this month, October marks National Book Month. Whether you’re looking for books for new readers or seasoned bookworms, the Butler Center has lots of new releases to share! For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we have a list of books, fiction and nonfiction, for readers young and old to enjoy. The Butler Bookshelf feature this week is Dazzling Zelda: The Story of Fashion Designer Zelda Wynn Valdes written and illustrated by Aura Lewis in collaboration with Farai Simoyi. In this nonfiction picture book, Lewis tells the story of the life and accomplishments of Black fashion designer Zelda Wynn Valdes. Zelda loved hearing the sound of her grandmother’s sewing machine when she was growing up. The first time she designed and made a dress on her own, she knew she wanted to be a fashion designer when she grew up! Unfortunately, Zelda faced some obstacles because of her race. At the time, Black women were excluded from designing fashion and were only considered seamstresses. However, Zelda perservered and opened her own boutique in New York City. Her dresses were popular with the women in the city, and soon she was catching the attention of celebrities like Ella Fitzgerald and Marlene Dietrich. Zelda also made costumes for actors and ballet dancers, and she dyed ballerina tights so all the dancers could wear tights that matched their skin tone. Read about Zelda’s inspiring accomplishments and important contributions to the fashion industry in Dazzling Zelda!

Check out more books from the Butler Center’s collection below!

Blackberry Fox
Written by Kathrin Tordasi
Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now

Dazzling Zelda: The Story of Fashion Designer Zelda Wynn Valdes
Written and illustrated by Aura Lewis in collaboration with Farai Simoyi
Published by Beach Lane Books
Available now

The Dividing Sky
Written by Jill Tew
Published by Joy Revolution
Available now

Maisy’s Rocket
Written and illustrated by Lucy Cousins
Published by Candlewick Press
Available October 29, 2024

Somewhere In Between
Written and illustrated by Laan Cham
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now

In His Fins: A Review of Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic 

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Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic 
Written by Candace Fleming 
Illustrated by Deena So’oteh 
Anne Schwartz Books 
Ages 4-8 
Available October 22, 2024 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a narwhal? Candace Fleming’s Narwhal: Unicorn of the Arctic, illustrated by Deena So’oteh, answers that question by taking readers through a year in the life of a male narwhal. The narrative starts in December, showing how male narwhals joust with their tusks. Important moments include finding cracks in the ice, called leads, to breathe through, and hunting for food deep in the ocean using echolocation. As summer arrives and the ice melts, the narwhal migrates with his pod.  When they reach their destination, the hunting grounds are scarce, but with their blubber from the winter, they can survive. They must also protect themselves from dangerous orcas and polar bears. As summer ends and the ice grows back, the narwhal migrates back to his winter home, ready to start the cycle all over again. 

Candace Fleming expertly puts readers in the perspective of a narwhal to show the routines he follows, including his eating habits, the predators he keeps watch for, and the migration path he follows with his pod. Fleming uses poetic language and onomatopoeias, like “tik-tik-tik-tik” (15-16) to imitate echolocation, to describe the sights and sounds of a narwhal’s world. Deena So’oteh’s realistic, digital illustrations bring the beautiful world of narwhals to life. The main color palette consists of blues, greens, and blacks, but So’oteh carefully changes the color scheme to emphasize the tone of the story during different events; for example, when the narwhals are threatened by predators, the colors become darker and muted to emphasize the danger and fear the narwhals feel. Fleming includes back matter detailing conservation efforts that support narwhals and a list of fun facts, as well as a bibliography. Although Fleming herself is not a narwhal scientist, it is clear she put care and effort into researching narwhals. Both educational and beautifully illustrated, this nonfiction picture book is sure to captivate young readers curious about the unicorns living in the Arctic.  

Butler Bookshelf

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Halloween is only a couple of weeks away, and we are in the height of spooky season! The Butler Center still has lots of magical, scary, and supernatual books to share, so this week’s Butler Bookshelf will be another list of new books featuring spooky characters, like ghosts and vampires. This week’s Butler Bookshelf feature is The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond by Christyne Morrell, which tells the story of twelve-year-old Charlie as she and her father settle into their new home in Florida. Soon, Charlie discovers that their house is haunted by three ghosts who are trapped as punishment for stealing a dead man’s diamond. Charlie decides that if she can find the diamond and sell it, she and her dad will be able to move back to New York City. She asks her new friend, Sarah, to help, as well as the medium Madame Rayna. While Charlie works hard to find a way back to New York, she learns a lot about friendship, grief, and compassion. With its valuable lessons and ghostly adventures, The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond is perfect for middle-grade readers who love a supernatural twist.

Check out more scary books below!

The Curse of the Dead Man’s Diamond
Written by Christyne Morrell
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now

A Family of Killers
Written by Bryce Moore
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available now

Hemlock House
Written by Katie Cotugno
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now

It Watches in the Dark
Written by Jeff Strand
Published by Sourcebooks
Available now

This Ravenous Fate
Written by Hayley Dennings
Published by Sourcebooks Fire
Available now

Winter Teamwork: A Review of In the Winter Woods by Daniela Kulot 

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In the Winter Woods 
Written and illustrated by Daniela Kulot 
Translated by Elisabeth Lauffer 
Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-7 
Available October 15, 2024 

It’s the middle of a cold winter, and Fox, Mouse, and Crow are all hungry, but they can’t find even a morsel to eat. Squirrel is hungry, too, but he has a secret stash of snacks hidden away that he can’t wait to enjoy. When Fox, Mouse, and Crow ask Squirrel to share, he says no. After hours of searching, he realizes that he forgot where his stash was hidden. He asks Fox, Mouse, and Crow for help in exchange for sharing his food. Soon, they find Squirrel’s food and feast together! 

With these woodland creatures, Kulot tells a story of friendship and community, showing the importance of working together and sharing with others. Although the message has been repeated before, Kulot brings charm to the basic “sharing is caring” theme with her woodland creatures and winter landscape. The illustrations are done in digital media, and the animals have a cute, slightly cartoonish look with beautiful backdrops of winter in the countryside. Kulot uses muted blues, browns, oranges, and greens to create the cold, barren atmosphere. These delightful illustrations complement the text, where Kulot uses devices like alliteration and rhyming to add a sing-song-like quality, bringing levity to what could otherwise be a dire situation. With its beautiful art and thoughtful message, In the Winter Woods would be a great addition to libraries and classrooms looking to do a program or lesson on winter or social-emotional learning.  

Butler Bookshelf

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Halloween is just around the corner, and here at the Butler Center, we’ve been getting ready to celebrate with lots of fun, Halloween-themed books! We have lots of new books about Halloween and other spooky stories to share, including Five Little Ghosts, written by Lily Murray and illustrated by holly Surplice. In this story, five little ghosts go out one day and wander off. As they journey, readers can lift flaps in the pages to find little ghostlings in pumpkin patches, playgrounds, and the forest. As the ghostlings leave one by one, Mama Ghost becomes sad. She searches far and wide for her ghostlings and out they jump from a pile of leaves, ready to surprise Mama Ghost with a spooky tea party! Murray’s rhymes draw the reader in for a fun counting game, and Surplice’s illustrations add charm and whimsy to the ghostlings’ adventures. The interactive elements of the books creates an engaging and delightful storytime experience!

Check out more spooky books below!

A Bite Above the Rest
Written by Christine Virnig
Published by Aladdin
Available now

Five Little Ghosts
Written by Lily Murray
Illustrated by Holly Surplice
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Hungry Bones
Written by Louise Hung
Published by Scholastic Press
Available now

It’s Not Easy Being a Ghost
Written by Marilyn Sadler
Illustrated by Steph Laberis
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now

Spooky Little Halloween: A Finger Wiggle Book
Written by Sally Symes
Illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

Fall Events: It’s Storytime in BCLC

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Join the Butler Center for three story focused events this fall.

On Sunday, October 20th the Center will host an afternoon tea and storytelling session in honor of Ellin Greene. Please RSVP to let us know if you’ll join us in person or online. An event link will be sent to virtual participants the day of the party.

Kick off NaNoWriMo with the Butler Center on Monday, November 4th from 9:00am-5:00pm. We’ll supply the tea, snacks, and mentor text collection, you bring your laptop and brilliant story ideas. The space will be open for solo writing, research, or quiet group writing discussions. Jump start a new project or get in your daily word goal in a lovely and book-ish space dedicated to bringing stories to young people.

And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Annual Butler Book Sale, kicking off December 4th at 4:00pm.

The annual sale is the perfect place to finish (or START) your holiday shopping or update your school or classroom library collection at an affordable price, all while supporting BCLC programming.

We hope to see you this fall!