All in a Days Work: A Review of Stillwater and Koo Save the World

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Stillwater and Koo Save the World (A Stillwater and Friends Book)
Jon J. Muth
Scholastic Press
Ages 4 to 8
February 7, 2023

Koo, a young giant panda, wakes up inspired to change the world and enlists his thoughtful Uncle Stillwater to help fix it all—today. As they go about their day, Koo proceeds to have giant expectations of what he would like to do, but Stillwater teaches him that making small changes in the environment, and helping the community, can be their own meaningful way to change the world.

Told using a variety of animals, humans, and anthropomorphic pandas, the diverse characters reflect the diversity of the world and all the characters that might need kindness. Pandas as symbols of peace and friendship in Asian countries, are the main character in this story as they try to bring small improvements to the world around them. The pace of the story changes from rapid excitement as Koo suddenly wakes up one day and instantly ropes his uncle into the expectations of wanting to save the whole world, then slows only when Stillwater speaks to Koo about making small differences in the world around him. As the pace changes, the tone of the story changes to one of acceptance and encouragement of his personal efforts Encouraged by his uncle, Koo begins to bring joy to those around him through small but meaningful actions, such as cleaning his room and making a cake for the neighbors. These realistic everyday chores and acts of thoughtfulness offer young readers clear examples of how their actions impact the world around them. Drawn with pencil and granulated watercolors, the airy but vivid illustrations exemplify the beauty in the world around Stillwater and Koo and why they want to help save it. Stillwater and Koo Save the World is an uplifting story about wanting to make giant differences in the world by doing something small, inspiring readers to make meaningful changes in the world regardless of age.  

 

Butler Bookshelf

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With the unique collaboration of audio and vibrant illustrations, Lift Every Voice and Change: A Celebration of Black Leaders and the Words that Inspire Generations takes young readers on an exploration of each speaker and the significance of quotes. By listening to impactful quotes spoken by inspiring Black Americans, readers gain an age-appropriate understanding of the strides made in the ongoing journey for equality.

Check it out along with the other nonfiction titles featured below!

100 Things to Know About Architecture
Written by Louise O’Brien & Illustrated by Dàlia Adillon and Louise O’Brien
Published by Happy Yak
Available January 31st!

Cash is Queen: A Girl’s Guide To Securing, Spending, and Stashing Cash
Written by Davinia Tomlinson & Illustrated by Andrea Oerter
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available Today!

Courage in Her Cleats: The Story Of Soccer Star Abby Wambach
Written by Kim Chaffee & Illustrated by Alexandria Badiu
Published by Page Street Kids
Available Now!

Darwin’s Super-Pooping Worm Spectacular
Written by Polly Owen & Gwen Millward
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available Now!

Lift Every Voice And Change: A Celebration Of Black Leaders And The Words That Inspire Generations
Written by Charnaie Gordon & Illustrated by Aeron Cargill
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available Today!

We Are Your Children Too: Black Students, White Supremacists, and the Battle for America’s Schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia
Written and Illustrated by P. O’Connell Pearson
Published by Simon & Schuster For Young Readers
Available Today!

Who Wants to Be Normal?: A Review of Good Different

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Good Different
Meg Eden Kuyatt
Scholastic Press
March 7, 2023
Age 8-12

Always follow the rules for “normal” people: no crying in public, smile and nod, tell people you’re “fine.” But Selah doesn’t always want to be normal. In fact, she wants to be a dragon—escaping to fly free above the chaotic world below. She is pretty good at hiding her feelings in order to fit in, until an outburst at school pits Selah against her classmates, the school administration, and her mom. This leaves poetry (and her grandfather) as her only avenues to explore her feelings when speech fails her. A chance encounter with an understanding vendor at FantasyCon opens her eyes to a new definition for her experience—autism.

Kuyatt’s novel in verse follows Selah’s journey as a burgeoning poet and her exploration of neurodivergence as an explanation for the feeling and reactions she has always thought of as weird. Selah’s perspective shifts through the novel from a longing to hide, to self-discovery, to a desire to advocate for her needs, her loved ones, and her place in the world. Harsh treatment by teachers and school administrators, and her mother’s denial of any differences, paint a lonely picture of Selah’s experience. Other caring adults in her life help lighten the tone of this story, which focuses primarily on her struggles. As narrator, Selah’s typical seventh-grade self-centeredness leaves secondary characters like her mother, grandfather, and best friend less well-defined than they could be and add to the sense of isolation. Through her own determination, Selah finds her voice and a way to work with her world instead of against it. A thoughtful endnote, detailing the author’s own autism diagnosis as an adult, places the text as both a mirror for undiagnosed kids and a potential tool for adult readers, and provides an uplifting interpretation of neurodivergence as a strength rather than problem.

Butler Bookshelf: Clearing Our Shelves Week

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Only two more days ’till the Butler Book Sale is over! Make sure to stop in before the holiday to pick up some last minute presents. We still have numerous titles in Children’s’ Fiction, Early Reader, Picture Books, and Young Adult for all types of readers. 

We will be open Tuesday and Wednesday, 10AM to 2PM, so come right in!

Best Friends Forever: A Review of When a Friend Needs a Friend

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When a Friend Needs a Friend
Roozeboos (Anne Roos Kleiss)
Scholastic
February 7, 2023
Age 4-8

Creativity and imagination rule for best friends Aya and Oskar. But when Oskar is feeling sad, Aya isn’t sure how to help him get back to enjoying their adventures. With guidance from some caring adults, she finds a way to understand his big feelings, give him space, and offer support until he is ready for fun again. In this thoughtful exploration of friendship, Roozeboos illustrates both the experience of sadness in oneself and in a loved one, and how working through our own feelings of confusion and rejection can help support a friend. Mixed media collage art, with a naïve sensibility, complements the chaos of both creativity and emotion found in the story. Rich natural tones play well with vibrant oranges and turquoise and add a sophistication to the guileless art. Despite simple faces, she captures the feelings of both central characters as they move from joy to sadness to understanding. Spreads that depict the passage of time let both Aya and Oskar feel their feelings and come through them to a new perspective on their surroundings and each other.

Empathy and compassion shine in a gentle story about accepting a friend and their feelings without trying to fix them.

Butler Bookshelf

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Explore how dinosaurs evolved flight and eventually became the birds we live with today in When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies. Told through exquisite illustrations, discover fascinating facts about the origins of birds starting 150 million years ago!

Check it out along with the other animal-loving titles featured below!

At Home With the Prairie Dog: The Story of a Keystone Species
Written by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent & Photographs provided by William Munoz
Published by Web of Life Children’s Books
Available April 21st!

Grumpy Monkey Valentine Gross-Out
Written by Suzanne Lang & Illustrated by Max Lang
Published by Random House Studio
Available Today!

When Dinosaurs Conquered the Skies
Written by Jingmai O’Connor & Illustrated by Maria Brzozowska
Published by Quarto Group
Available April 21st!

Cat Family Christmas: A Lift the Flap Advent Book
Written by Lucy Brownridge & Eunyoung Seo
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available Now!

Knitting for Dogs
Written and Illustrated by Laurel Molk
Published by Random House Studio
Available Today!

Road Trip Gone Wrong: A Book Review of EXIT 13: The Whispering Pines

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EXIT 13: The Whispering Pines
James Preller
Illustrated by Kevin Keele
Scholastic
February 7, 2023
Ages 8 to 12

Stopping at the EXIT 13 Motel was the worst decision the McGinns could have made. Lost in the fog, the McGinns decide to stop when the shadowy motel appears out of nowhere when they needed it most. Dealing with suspicious hotel staff, the mysterious wolf that appears and disappears just as quickly, and the haunting voice that keeps talking to Ash, the youngest McGinn, was not what they were looking for on a road trip. Ash and his sister, Willow, must solve the mystery of the motel for their family, or else they may never have the chance to check out.

Told in the third-person to gain the perspective of all characters involved, the book mainly focuses on Ash and Willow as they search for answers. Written primarily in prose, black and white comic panels are used to expose new secrets the children find out about EXIT 13 and provide an in-depth view of the emotions on the characters’ faces. Although Willow and Ash don’t get along at the beginning of the book, as they face each secret and obstacle of the motel and its creepy forest, their concern for one another and familial bond grows stronger. Humor, lighthearted moments, and a new friend balance out the sense of doom that the children and readers feel is coming. Left on a giant cliffhanger, young readers who enjoy thrilling mysteries will want to continue to explore the secrets of EXIT 13 with Ash and Willow as they try to leave.

Butler Bookshelf

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National Book Award Finalist Brandon Hobson, brings together the anxiety, friendships, and wonders of a Cherokee boy’s life with Cherokee history and lore in his middle-grade adventure, The Storyteller. Follow Ziggy and his friends as they try to navigate the disappearances of Native women, including Ziggy’s own mother. 

Check it out along with the other middle-grade novels we are featuring below!

Best Wishes: The Sister Switch 
Written by Sarah Mlynowski and Debbie Rigaud
Published by Scholastic Press
Available April 4th!

Big Tree
Written and Illustrated by Brian Selznick
Published by Scholastic Press
Available April 4th!

Parachute Kids
Written and Illustrated by Betty Tang
Published by Graphix
Available April 4th!

Squished
Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd and Illustrated by Michelle Mee Nutter
Published by Graphix
Available Now!

The Storyteller
Written by Brandon Hobson
Published by Scholastic Press
Available April 18th!

Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends
Written by Francine Pascal and Illustrated by Nicole and Claudia Andefinger
Published by RH Graphics
Available Now!