Butler Bookshelf

by

We’re eager to read Nelly Buchet’s picture book Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family, with charming illustrations by Andrea Zuill. It’s about what happens when families come together–all the messiness and the joys. For more great reads, check out this week’s Butler Bookshelf below!

The Water Bears
Written by Kim Baker
Published by Wendy Lamb Books
Available now!

Cat Dog Dog: The Story of a Blended Family
Written by Nelly Buchet and illustrated by Andrea Zuill
Published by Schwartz & Wade
Available now!

A Girl in Three Parts
Written by Suzanne Daniel
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Dirt Cheap
Written and illustrated by Mark Hoffman
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The Lucky Ones
Written by Liz Lawson
Published by Delacorte Press
Available now!

Bedtime Bonnet
Written by Nancy Redd and illustrated by Nneka Myers
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

The More The Merrier? A Review of Alya and the Three Cats

by

51YQcMBalhL._SX388_BO1,204,203,200_Alya and the Three Cats
Written by Amina Hachimi Alaoui, illustrated by Maya Fidawi, and translation by Mehdi Retnani
Published by CrackBoom! Books
Available June 16, 2020

Minouche, Pasha, and Amir have the perfect, lovely life. They are three cats who live a pet-filled life with Maryam and Sami. But one day, Maryam’s belly begins to grow, and soon there is a new addition to the family. What will the cats do with the arrival of a new baby?

This darling picture book by Amina Hachimi Alauoi is filled with specificity: in the personalities of cat trio and the particularities of their worries and adjustment to life with a newborn. These specifics are matched by Maya Fidawi’s intricate illustrations, which have soft and appealing cats as well as beautiful textiles and architecture. The author and illustrator depict the fear and unknown that can accompany a new sibling: parental time can be focused elsewhere, there are new sounds and people afoot, and unexpected changes can disrupt routines. This delightful read reassures even the most fretful mind, “to love is to share.”

There’s still time to apply…

by

For the Butler Youth Services Scholarship.

Are you interested in becoming part of a diverse and engaged
youth-services-focused library community?

diverse student group 2

Applications are still being accepted for the 2020-2021 Butler Youth Services Scholarship for Underrepresented Groups in the Field of Library Science. This $15,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student seeking to earn an MLIS at Dominican University with a planned focus on service to children and young adults.

For full eligibility and application requirements please visit our website or contact Butler Children’s Literature Center Curator, Jen Clemons, at jclemons@dom.edu.

Applications for Fall 2020 are being accepted until June 15, 2020.

 

Butler Bookshelf

by

It’s the little things, isn’t it? What I Like The Most singles out life’s small pleasures:  apricot jam on toast, the mailman on the street. We’re thrilled with this new picture book, written by Mary Murphy and illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang, which celebrates daily life and all its changes. For more great reads, check out the list below!

Molly’s Moon Mission
Written and illustrated by Duncan Beedie
Published by Templar
Available now!

Not Playing by the Rules: 21 Female Athletes Who Changed Sports
Written by Lesa Cline-Ransome
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Happy: A Children’s Book of Mindfulness
Written by Nicola Edwards and illustrated by Katie Hickey
Published by Caterpillar Books
Available now!

William Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Retold by Georghia Ellinas and illustrated by Jane Ray
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Alphamaniacs: Builders of 26 Wonders of the World
Written by Paul Fleischman and illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Published by Candlewick Studio
Available now!

What I Like The Most
Written by Mary Murphy and illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

 

Exploring Boundaries: A Review of Hug?

by

51Dkz+OwGfL._SY498_BO1,204,203,200_.jpgHug?
Written and illustrated by Charlene Chua
Published by Kids Can Press
Available September 1, 2020
Ages 3-7

Sometimes a hug makes everything feel better. After a girl’s cat suffers from a gnarly hairball and falls ill, the girl offers a hug, and everything improves! But then one by one, more animals come by for a hug. First, a dog asks politely. Next, a pair of flapping ducks arrive. Third in line is a stinky skunk. And that’s just the beginning! This humorous tale asks, “How many hugs are too many?”

This charming picture book is filled with a delightful menagerie of creatures. Each scene sets the stage for the next potential hug confrontation to come. As the demands increase, so does the girl’s weariness. With each new hug, which demands more of the girl, the reader gets an opportunity to laugh – hug a porcupine?! – and see the girl’s reactive emotions. The images take center stage here, and oversized visual cues about emotions and feelings are both silly and educative. Charlene Chua’s expressive illustrations lay the foundation for conversations around boundaries and empathy. In these socially distanced days where hugs can be few and far between, this book is a timely, lovely addition to a collection.

 

Opposites Attract: A Review of 10 Things I Hate About Pinky

by

10 things I hate about Pinky

10 Things I Hate About Pinky
By Sandhya Menon
June 30, 2020
Published by Simon & Schuster
Grades 7 and up

Fans of Menon’s previous works (When Dimple Met Rishi, There’s Something About Sweetie, and From Twinkle, With Love) will be excited to read her latest work, 10 Things I Hate About Pinky. Pinky is proud to be a social justice warrior, but her mother doesn’t feel the same way. After another fight where Pinky’s mother unfairly judges her, Pinky makes up a perfect fake boyfriend that her mom would love; but now Pinky must find this perfect boy. Enter Samir. A friend of a friend, Samir is stuck in D.C. after an internship with a coveted law firm falls through. When Pinky reaches out to him to be her fake boyfriend, Samir sees his chance to get an in with Pinky’s respected, lawyer mom. Although they start fake dating for their own reasons, they soon find that there might actually be something between them. Lines between fake and real begin to blur, and they both have to decide if this is what they want.

Told in alternating voices, Menon transitions seamlessly between the two. Menon leaves no loose ends, resolving all major and minor conflicts neatly. Clearly inspired by the movie 10 Things I Hate About You—which in turn was inspired by Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew—Menon makes the choice to keep the romance in the forefront but also explore issues of identity, environmentalism, familial discord, and more. All of this make for a refreshing take on a well-known and beloved story. A funny and charming book that will pluck at the heartstrings of many a rom-com lover.

Butler Bookshelf

by

This week, we’re taken with the bold colors and charming illustrations in the sweet board book Creature Features by Natasha Durley. Check out the rest of the Butler Bookshelf for some more delightful reads!

All Aboard the Moonlight Train 
Written by Kristyn Crow and illustrated by Annie Won
Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers
Available now!

I Found A Kitty!
Written and illustrated by Troy Cummings
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Creature Features
Illustrated by Natasha Durley
Published by Big Picture Press
Available now!

What’s That Noise?
Written and illustrated by Naomi Howarth
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Lost Cities
Written by Giles Laroche
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

¡Vamos! Let’s Go Eat
Written by Raúl the Third and colors by Elaine Bay
Published by Versify
Available now!

Bologna Children’s Book Fair 2020—Online Special Edition

by

 

BCBF 2019 Jen entry

Butler Center Curator (that’s me!) at BCBF 2019

Since the decisions were made to first postpone, then cancel, the in-person BCBF event this spring, organizers have been hard at work transitioning all possible events and content to online activities. And from the opening session to awards presentations, digital exhibits to discussion panels they have made quite a pivot in the last few weeks. So if you have always wanted to attend the Fair, but haven’t gotten the opportunity, well here’s your chance to get a taste of Bologna (then head to Italy next year to taste the tortellini and gelato as well!).

 

The Details:

When: May 4-7, 2020

Where: Bologna Children’s Book Fair (this should take you to the English language site, but if not there is an option for English at the top right of the page)

Who: While BCBF is essentially a rights fair, there is a wide variety of content for books lovers of all sorts.

Why: Books—of course!

Get a sneak peek of what to expect on the Live Events preview page.

BCBF Opening Session 2019
DU Students (and Thom!) at BCBF 2019

Some of what I’m most excited about:

OPENING SESSION: NEW NORMAL: HOW CHILDREN’S PUBLISHERS ARE ADAPTING TO A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD—Monday, May 4th at 11 am (*Central European Summer Time or 7 hours ahead of Chicago’s Central Daylight Time)—Focusing on children’s publishing during the worldwide lockdown and the perspectives of the industry in a world redesigned by this global experience.

IBBY VIRTUAL PRESS CONFERENCE 2020—Monday, May 4th at 2:30pm (Central European Summer Time)—Announcements and awards presentations.

BCBF GALLERIES—Artwork and Book Exhibitions 

*Unless you’re a very early riser, you‘ll be checking these out after the fact, like me.

Check out the Digital Kit for hashtags, fun filters, and social channels for finding BCBF events.

After you’ve seen just some of the wonderful fair content and amazing new books, and dreamed about attending, save the date for next year’s fair April 12-15, 2021. And stay tuned for how you might join the Dominican SOIS course next spring!

 

 

How will you celebrate Día?

by

Día, or El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), is an annual celebration of children, families, and reading with a focus on the importance of literacy for children of all backgrounds.

200406-alsc-dia-social-1-facebook-cover

This national day of celebration is a wonderful acknowledgment of the importance of literacy and the role it plays in vibrant, diverse communities. It’s an official chance to use books to honor the cultures, traditions, and languages that surround us. You can learn more about Día (history, resources, activities, promotional tools, etc.) on the ALSC website.

Interested in more tools for celebrating diverse voices in youth literature? Check out the resources available through:

  • We Need Diverse Books
  • Diverse Book Finder
  • And last, but definitely not least, the exceptional digital resources available through local libraries: Hoopla, Libby, book lists, streaming storytimes, and online book clubs.

Since all programming has recently taken a turn for the virtual, have your library’s plans been canceled? Changed? What are you doing to celebrate Día online this year? Please share in the comments!

Happy reading and take care, friends!

 

Butler Bookshelf

by

This week on the Butler Bookshelf, we’re fascinated by We Are All His Creatures. Deborah Noyes’ set of interwoven stories is all about the women in P.T. Barnum’s life. We’re excited to read about those in the shadow of this larger-than-life character. For more reads, check out the list below!

Gold Rush Girl
Written by Avi
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Emily Windsnap and the Tides of Time
Written by Liz Kessler
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

We Are All His Creatures: Tales of P. T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman
Written by Deborah Noyes
Published by Candlewick
Available now!

Thank You for Coming to My TED Talk: A Teen Guide to Great Public Speaking
Written by Chris Anderson and Lorin Oberweger
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Child of the Universe
Written by Ray Jayawardhana and illustrated by Raul Colón
Published by Make Me A World
Available now!

Elmore and Pinky
Written and illustrated by Holly Hobbie
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers
Available now!