Welcome to the online presence of the Butler Children's Literature Center, housed in Dominican's SOIS (Crown Library room 214). Here, we celebrate the best in books for youth and those who delight in sharing them. For Summer 2025, BCLC will offer collection access to the Dominican community and general public during posted open hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 4pm, Wednesday noon-4pm, Friday 9am-5pm and by appointment with the Curator. Contact Jen Clemons at jclemons@dom.edu to make arrangements or you can still reach us at butler@dom.edu.
If you’ve scrolled on social media these past couple of weeks, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about Heated Rivalry, the hockey romance book series, for adults, that’s selling out shelves and now amassing millions of viewers with a television adaptation. Looking for something just as page-turning but within the right age range? We’ve got plenty of Young Adult hockey romances here at the Butler Center! (Okay, maybe one of them is about field hockey… but it’s still great, we promise!) And one for middle-grade readers as well. December’s weather has proven to be icy and cold, just like the rink, but make no mistake—these puck-slinging romance books heat up fast, with humor and lots of heart. Our feature pick this week is Heart Check, by Emily Charlotte. Although they share classes and shifts at the local diner, high-schoolers Luke and Harper couldn’t be more different. Luke’s a hockey star, and in Harper’s eyes, a total jock. Harper’s quiet and artsy, and in Luke’s eyes, stuck-up. But when their lives begin to entangle, the unlikely duo manages to break the ice and… find love.
Check out more hockey-themed romance below!
Heart Check Emily Charlotte Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Margaret K. McElderry Books Available now!
Fake Skating Lynn Painter Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
All’s Fair in Love and Field Hockey Kit Rosewater Random House Children’s Books / Delacorte Romance Available now!
And for younger, middle-grade readers…
Bea Mullins Takes A Shot Emily Deibert Random House Children’s Books / Yearling Available now!
The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect Jack Kurland The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Ages 2-5 Available June 2, 2026
Doris the dog does everything perfectly. Her days are filled with perfect walks and perfect tricks, all following an absolutely perfect schedule. When she wakes up one day and discovers a hole chewed in one of her owner Bill’s slippers, she runs away to hide the evidence that she could ever do something less-than-perfect. But when a pack of neighborhood dogs find her, they show her that everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
With only a few words per page and simple, easy-to-understand sentences, Kurland tells a story in a way that will be accessible to even the youngest readers, with a message that anyone can take to heart. Bright, bold colors dominate the illustrations with eye-catching appeal.
An especially great fit for dog lovers, The Dog Who Was (Almost) Perfect engages and delights while delivering an underlying message children and adults can appreciate.
As we move through December and the holidays begin to hit in full swing, it can feel like everything is happening all at once. When things get overwhelming, this week’s collection of social emotional learning books can help us slow down and breathe. From the human to the ursine, these books feature characters who learn to manage themselves, their emotions, and their impact on the world. Our feature pick is The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jade Orlando. Wolf takes big, complex topics like persistence and integrity and distills them into bite-sized pieces of poetry to help young readers internalize them. Many poems focus on specific skills that practice as they work on practicing these traits in their lives. Orlando’s illustrations provide a soothing backdrop for the messages each poem imparts along a child’s journey of mindfulness and meditation.
Check out more books for social emotional learning below!
A Cure for the Hiccups Jennifer E. Smith Illustrated by Brandon James Scott Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio Available now!
Bear Natalia Shaloshvili The Quarto Group/Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Available now!
How to Say Thank You Jean Reagan Illustrated by Lee Wildish Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
Love Can Be Yuli Yav Illustrated by Antonia Woodward Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Little Simon Available now!
The Gift of the Broken Teacup: Poems of Mindfulness, Meditation, and Me Allan Wolf Illustrated by Jade Orlando Candlewick Press Available now!
With the holiday season officially in full swing, there’s no better way to spend the day than with a good book—cozy clothes & hot cocoa optional, but encouraged. From snowy stories to Yuletide tales, whether you’re counting down the days ‘til Santa or just enjoy the cold, our early gift to you is a list full of wonderful wintertime books for all ages. As a wise, jolly old man once said, be sure to check it twice.
PICTURE BOOKS:
The Muttcracker Written by Anna Kemp and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Ages 4-8 September 9th, 2025
Biff is not like other dogs; he’d rather be in ballet than barking—pliéing than playing! When their ballet teacher assigns The Nutcracker’s roles, aspiring Sugar Plum Fairy Biff is devastated to learn he and his human have been cast as measly bonbons. But the show must go on, and the two are determined to dazzle with their fine dancing. With charming illustrations and warm-and-fuzzy words, this picture book is perfect for ballerinas, dogs, and humans alike.
Elmore and the Big Christmas Rescue Written by Dev Petty and illustrated by Mike Boldt Random House Children’s Books / Doubleday Books for Young Readers Ages 4-8 October 28th, 2025
When Santa Claus comes down with a cold the week before Christmas, Elmore the trusty moose volunteers to take over. But he’s got a big to-do list, and he’d better check it twice. Exercise the reindeer! Don’t give the elves too much sugar! Easy-peasy, right? But things go south (no, not the pole) fast, and it’s up to Elmore to save the big day. With jokes that both kids and adults can appreciate, this holiday story is sure to be a Christmas crowd-pleaser.
NON-FICTION:
Joy to the Whole World!: A Round the World Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book Written by Lucy Brownridge and illustrated by Sang Miao The Quarto Group / Wide Eyed Editions Ages 3-6 September 2nd, 2025
Whether it’s an Ethiopian feast, snowballs & sledding in Finland, or a dip in the pool for Australians, Christmas looks different all around the world. Intricate, lively illustrations are paired with liftable flaps hiding all sorts of Yuletide treasures, making this the perfect way to travel internationally this holiday season, all from the comfort of your own home.
Our Frozen Planet Written by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe and illustrated by Kim Smith Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Beach Lane Books Ages 4-8 September 2nd, 2025
Bundle up for a trek through the tundra, and beyond, as tales are told of grandfatherly Greenland sharks, cuddly Japanese macaques, blubbery seals, and all of the other flora & fauna brave enough to (polar) bear the cold. With colorful pictures and a knowledgeable narrative that’s far from information-heavy, this book is apropos for aspiring Antarctic explorers. Or anyone looking to escape the snow… with more snow.
MIDDLE GRADE:
Twelve Classics of Christmas Louisa May Alcott, F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Brothers Grimm, et al. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Aladdin Ages 8+ September 9th, 2025
Forget partridges in pear trees! With short stories from the Brothers Grimm, L. Frank Baum, Charles Dickens, and many more beloved authors, this collection of twelve Christmas classics might just be the best way to count down the days ‘til December 25th.
Snow Written by Meera Trehan Candlewick Press / Walker Books US Ages 8-12 January 21st, 2025
The Snow Princess spends her days in the snow, digging for something, anything, to save her kingdom. When twelve-year-old Ela’s boring family vacation prompts her to take a walk through the snow, the two girls and their worlds can’t help but collide. With wishes and twists and magic galore, this snowy story is the perfect wintertime tale for valiant princesses and family vacationers alike.
YOUNG ADULT:
Joy to the Girls: A She Gets The Girl Novella Written by Rachael Lippincott and Alyson Derrick Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Ages 14+ September 30th, 2025
It’s the holiday season, and Alex and Molly are madly in love, so what better way to spend their last winter break together than with a romantic getaway to a small storybook town? And how about getting their friends to fall in love, too? With Christmas and a bit of matchmaking on their minds, the two girls scheme to make this the most memorable holiday yet. This short and sweet novella nicely pairs with a warm mug of cocoa.
Fake Skating Written by Lynn Painter Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing / Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Ages 16+ September 30th, 2025
It’s been five years since they last talked, and childhood best friends Dani and Alec are now, pun intended, polar opposites. The once goofy Dani now keeps her nose quietly buried in books, and the once gangly Alec is now… a perfectly chiseled high school hockey star?! The ice rink and Minnesota snow might be frigidly cold, but when Alec and Dani begin “fake dating” to save face after a locker room mishap, things heat up. Fast. A perfectly formulaic rom-com story to satisfy all of your saccharine holiday Hallmark movie needs.
Sounds like the perfect time to bundle up with a book (or two).
It’s December, and here at the Butler Center we’re ready to let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! We’re celebrating all things cold and snowy this week with a look at some of the winter picture books in our collection. Our feature pick is Snow Kid by Jessie Sima. When a snow kid is built and named Twig by the group of kids who created them, they’re quite happy to be Twig. But after the kids leave and Twig heads out on their own adventure, they begin to grow and change. Are they still Twig after all these changes? This heartwarming story asks what it means to be yourself, and celebrates the joys of growing up and discovering who you want to be.
Check out more winter books below!
Fox and Owl’s Winter Adventure Jackie Lui Illustrated by Moonlie The Quarto Group/words&pictures Available now!
Is This… Winter? Helen Yoon Candlewick Press Available now!
My Little Deer Hannah Eliot Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Little Simon Available now!
Snow Kid Jessie Sima Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers Available now!
Winter is Wonderful Emma Dodd Candlewick Press/Templar Books Available now!
Happy (almost) Thanksgiving, friends! In honor of this holiday’s incredibly iconic fowl, our Butler Bookshelf this week features a feast of bird stories, both non-fiction and picture, to satisfy all of your Turkey Day needs. What better way to celebrate Thanksgiving than with a spread? … Of books, that is! Our feature pick of the week is The Crane and the Keeper, written by Meeg Pincus and illustrated by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara, inspired by the true tale of zookeeper Chris Crowe (talk about nominative determinism!) and Walnut, one persnickety white-naped crane. As a rescued and hand-reared crane, Walnut is incredibly feisty and has no interest in her fellow birds, although keepers are eager for her to mate since white-naped cranes are nearing endangered. But with patience from brand-new birdkeeper Chris Crowe, the two begin an unlikely friendship… and courtship, in Walnut’s eyes! Thanks to Chris, she’s able to successfully lay eggs after years of not trying, and goes on to have eleven babies, along with a loving, caring, and unique bond to Chris. Talk about co-parenting!
Check out some other silly (and sweet!) tales of birds galore below.
Tiny Owl’s Scary Day Petr Horáček Candlewick Press Available now!
The Lonely Goose Lela Nargi Illustrated by Anne Hunter Random House Children’s Books / Random House Studio Available now!
Seven: A Most Remarkable Pigeon Sandra Nickel Illustrated by Aimée Sicuro Candlewick Press Available now!
The Crane and the Keeper: How an Endangered Crane Chose a Human as Her Mate Meeg Pincus Illustrated by Gillian Eilidh O’Mara Candlewick Entertainment / Smithsonian Kids Available now!
Born Inside a Nest So Small: Conversation with a Hummingbird Iza Trapani Charlesbridge Available now!
And from all of us at the Butler Center, have a Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 Wishing you and your family all the best!
Mark your calendars for December 4-6th for the Annual Butler Book Sale. Once you’ve finished the Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time to start holiday shopping in earnest. And there is NO better gift than a book! Whether it’s for the kids in your home, the kids in your library, or your own TBR pile, BCLC has a story for you.
We love that the books go to good homes and you can love that all proceeds from the book sale go to support Butler Center programming and activities. Any questions before the sale? Please send a note to butler@dom.edu.
The Butler Children’s Literature Center is located in the Rebecca Crown Library at Dominican University — 7900 W. Division St., River Forest, IL 60305
This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about the silly! We’re taking a look at some new picture books that are pretty much guaranteed to… well, at least give you a giggle! There’s a little bit of everything for everyone here: an acorn-less gray squirrel who’s going nuts (literally!), a wise bug broadcasting insect advice on air, an overzealous little penguin pursuing polar bear for dinner, and one little girl’s grocery store banana bonanza. Our feature pick this week is Little Red and Big, Bad Fred, a creatively silly & heartfelt take on the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale, written and illustrated by Ashley Belote. Little Red loves going to his Great-Grandpa’s house, especially since it means he gets to see his furry friend Fred along the way! But the one thing Little Red doesn’t know is… Fred’s a hungry, hungry wolf and thinks Little Red would make a scrumptious midday snack! One winter day, Fred hits his head, and Little Red brings him to Great-Grandpa’s for help. With sharp, shiny fangs and big, big claws, the two realize he must be a dog! They buy him kibble, play fetch, and after lots of belly rubs, Fred realizes that maybe Little Red wouldn’t be the perfect meal, but rather the perfect best friend.
Check out some more silly, laugh-out-loud picture books below!
Little Red and Big, Bad Fred Ashley Belote Random House Children’s Books / Random House Books for Young Readers Available now!
Gray Squirrel Loses It! Cassandra Federman Random House Children’s Books / Random House Books for Young Readers Available now!
On the Air with Dr. Doodlebug Susan E. Goodman Illustrated by Merrill Rainey Astra Books for Young Readers / Hippo Park Available now!
I’m Going to Eat a Polar Bear Karl Newson Illustrated by Nicola Kinnear The Quarto Group / Happy Yak Available now!
A Quick Trip to the Store Sam Wedelich Random House Children’s Books / Knopf Books for Young Readers Available now!
Galaxy Mapper: The Luminous Discoveries of Astrophysicist Helene Courtois Allie Summers Illustrated by Sian James Candlewick Press/mit Kids Press Ages 6-10 Available November 18, 2025
From the time she was a young girl in a remote village in the French Alps, Helene Courtois has looked up at the moon, and wondered what could lay beyond it. As she grows older, she finds herself chasing this question all the way into a career as a cosmographer, mapping the vast universe beyond the moon. Her maps of the galaxy eventually uncovers the existence of a supercluster of galaxies named Laniakea — perhaps finally answering her question of what lays past the moon.
Summers follows Courtois from childhood through to her discovery of Laniakea, with the moon as a constant companion in her journey. The sky dominates James’ illustrations on every page, always keeping the story oriented towards the stars. The narrative masterfully weaves together a cohesive story of Helene’s life, bringing her discoveries back to the maps and experiences of her childhood.
Future astronomers and cosmographers-in-training will be drawn to this book’s exploration of space, and humanity (and Helene’s) journey towards mapping it. Courtois’ mission of inspiring girls to pursue science means there is also ample inspiration for girls in STEM in its pages.
Romantasy (a portmanteau of romance and fantasy) is the undisputed ruler of Booktok, and the genre dominating bookshelves everywhere. This week, we’re celebrating all things magical, fantastical, and romantical by highlighting some of the young adult romantasy in our Butler collection. Our feature pick is The Nightblood Prince by Molly X. Chang. The night that Fei was born, a prophecy sealed her fate as the Empress of all Empresses who will one day rule over a united continent. Sealed away in the palace walls and promised in marriage to the Emperor’s son, Fei wants nothing more than to reclaim her own destiny. But as her childhood friend and betrothed wages war against a powerful, supernatural prince from a neighboring kingdom, she is forced to confront the truth of her prophecy — and the truth of her heart’s desire.
Check out more YA romantasy below!
A Forgery of Fate Elizabeth Lim Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
A Match Made in Hell Charlotte Ingham Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
An Embroidery of Souls Ruby Martinez Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
The Nightblood Prince Molly X. Chang Random House Children’s Books/Random House Books for Young Readers Available now!
Witchkiller Ashlee Latimer Scholastic/Scholastic Press Available now!
Butler's Pantry 