Butler Bookshelf

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It’s May, and that means the weather is finally starting to warm up! For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a look at books about nature and the outdoors. Our feature pick is Wonderfully Wild: Rewilding a School and Community by Jessica Streamer and illustrated by Josee Masse. When the willow tree in their schoolyard is blown over in a storm, a group of students decides to gather branches and regrow the tree. Along the way, they learn about the many ways in which they can make their school and community a good home for wildlife and pollinators. With help from the community, they turn the place where the willow once stood into a green space and a haven for all kinds of animals, complete with a new willow sapling. They choose to give their other saplings out to people in their community, and soon there are willow trees everywhere. The back of the book gives ideas for how readers can rewild their own communities.

Check out more books about the Great Outdoors below!

The Best Garden in the World
Alice Courtley
The Quarto Group/Ivy Kids
Available now!

Far, Far, Away
Molly Beth Griffin
Illustrated by Bao Luu
Charlesbirdge
Available now!

Forest School: The Big Fort
Illustrated by Sebastien Braun
Candlewick Press/Templar Books
Available now!

Maisy Loves Butterflies
Lucy Cousins
Candlewick Press
Available May 20, 2025

Wonderfully Wild: Rewilding a School and Community
Jessica Stremer
Illustrated by Josee Masse
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

A Puzzling Adventure: A Review of The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found

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The Treasure Hunt: True Stories of Treasures Lost, Stolen, and Found
Leisa Stewart-Sharpe
Illustrated by Gordy Wright
Charlesbridge
Ages 7-12
Available June 10th, 2025

Part puzzle, part informational book, The Treasure Hunt leads readers on a globe-trotting adventure in search of a mysterious ghostly pirate captain. After finding a message in a bottle, the reader and their friends set off to find the ghost of Captain Kidd, who is attempting to steal famous treasures from around the world. At each stop on their journey, they find a clue which points them to the location where Kidd plans to strike next. After solving the puzzles and chasing the ghost through several countries and encounters with priceless artifacts, they finally catch up with Kidd once and for all. Will hunting down the captain lead to his fabled lost pirate’s treasure?

Nonfiction information on treasures, heists, and artifacts is seamlessly integrated with The Treasure Hunt‘s puzzle game. At each stop on their quest, readers are given information about the location (including The Louvre, The Kremlin, and Mexico City’s Mammoth Graveyard) and the famous treasures therein. There are also spreads dedicated to stories of treasure being lost, including heists both solved and unsolved, and of treasures and artifacts being uncovered. Each stop contains a clue in the form of a puzzle – readers can solve this on their own, flip to the back of the book for a hint, or skip straight to the next page to see the answer. Each puzzle is unique, and readers will come away with knowledge of many types of puzzles and cryptograms, from pigpen and Caesar ciphers to rhyming riddles to crosswords. The book also provides suggestions for ways readers can take their new puzzle solving skills on a treasure hunt of their own, such as orienteering and geocaching.

Budding cryptologists and puzzle-solvers will find themselves right at home with The Treasure Hunt, and will especially enjoy the many puzzles and codes the book introduces to them. Pirate lovers and those interested in the world of thefts and heists will find plenty of information on treasures and the people who steal them. Regardless of whether readers are seasoned treasure hunters or not, they will come away from this book having gone on an exciting adventure, and hopefully having learned a thing or two along the way.

Butler Bookshelf

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This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and to celebrate, this week’s Butler Bookshelf is highlighting picture books about moms and motherhood. Our feature pick is Our Mothers’ Names: Love in Many Languages by Uma Menon and illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. This charming picture book explores the many ways children refer to their mother. The main character calls her mom Amma, the word for mother in Malayalam, but after a conversation with her friend, she begins to wonder what other people call their mothers. She discovers that her friends have names for their mothers in Spanish, Greek, Arabic, and even Japanese. Bell’s mixed-media illustrations show many kinds of mothers and families, showcasing the diverse nature of families and the languages they use. Full of heart, this book is an excellent reminder of multiculturalism and the many ways families can look, sound, and function.

Check out more books about moms below!

My Mom
Susan Quinn
Illustrated by Sarah Matthew
The Quarto Group/Words & Pictures
Available now!

My Mom is a Mermaid!
Bill Canterbury
Illustrated by Jeff Harter
Random House Children’s Books/Doubleday
Available now!

Our Mothers’ Names: Love in Many Languages
Uma Menon
Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell
Candlewick Press
Available now!

To the End of the World, Far Far Away
Ronda Armitage
Illustrated by Victoria Turnbull
Candlewick Press
Available now!

We Leap Together
Christopher Silas Neal
Random House Children’s Books/Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

Road Trip to Love: A Review of Amelia, If Only 

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Amelia, If Only 
Written by Becky Albertalli 
Published by HarperCollins Publishers/Harper 
Ages 14-18 
Available June 10, 2025 

Amelia can’t believe her luck when she finds out that her favorite YouTuber, Walter Holland, is hosting a meet and greet just a few hours away from her hometown. Eager to spend one last weekend with her best friends, Zora, Natalie, and Mark, before graduation, Amelia plans a road trip to meet Walter and distract Natalie from her toxic ex-girlfriend, who dumped her at prom. When they get to the meet and greet and become friends with Walter, Amelia is beyond excited. Her parasocial crush on Walter often leaves butterflies in her stomach, but after developing a genuine friendship with him, Amelia begins to wonder if she’s misjudging her feelings for Walter…and for Natalie.    

Becky Albertalli combines her hallmark wit and humor with tender emotion to create a fast-paced story with an endearing cast of characters. Amelia’s adventurous spirit mixes well with her more grounded friends, resulting in a fun road trip comedy. Albertalli deepens the story by thoughtfully discussing the journey of self-discovery when it comes to queer identity by showing different coming out stories; for example, Amelia questioned her sexuality for years before coming out, whereas Zora and Natalie knew early on in life that they were lesbians. This nuanced conversation brings realistic and well-developed queer representation to Amelia’s story. Albertalli also uses Walter’s character and his own queer identity to introduce young readers to the concept of parasocial relationships and the role that queer celebrities play as a space of comfort and representation online. By incorporating Internet posts from Walter and his fans, she develops his character enough to allow readers to instantly connect with him when he becomes friends with Amelia. At once funny and heartwarming, Amelia, If Only will provide valuable queer representation to teen collections across public and classroom libraries. 

Butler Bookshelf

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Even though it’s only April, we here at the Butler Center have received countless fantastic books for teens! From fantasy to romance, we want to share some great new teen fiction, like Love on Paper by Danielle Parker. When Macy Descanso is accepted to attend Penovation, a high-profile writing workshop program, she knows she has some big shoes to fill from her writer parents. However, when the workshop’s theme is romance and Macy’s critique partner is the (irresistably cute) son of her parents’ writing rivals, Caleb, she feels the pressure rachet up. Soon, when a classmate reveals a mystery left behind by a romantic literary giant, she knows it will be the perfect thing to distract her from her imposter syndrome. Plus, would it really be so bad to bond with Caleb, who is growing more charming by the second, over solving this mystery? Parker presents a fun summer romance, building Macy and Caleb’s relationship incrementally until they finally admit their feelings for each other. The mystery element adds an entertaining touch, propelling the story forward as the characters explore Berkeley and the surrounding area to find the prolific writer Betty Quinn’s last unfinished manuscript. Parker doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, discussing grief, complicated parental relationships, and imposter syndrome. Using thoughtful and humorous prose, Parker explores what it means to make a name for yourself, even when escaping your parents’ shadow feels impossible. Joyful, funny, and intriguing, Love on Paper is a wonderful young adult rom-com to add to any personal or public library collection!

Check out more teen fiction below!

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
Written by Mahogany L. Browne
Published by Crowne Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Camila Nunez’s Year of Disasters
Written by Miriam Zoila Perez
Published by Page Street Publishing
Available now!

Love on Paper
Written by Danielle Parker
Published by Joy Revolution
Available now!

On the Wings of la Noche
Written by Vanessa L. Torres
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

True Life in Uncanny Valley
Written by Deb Caletti
Published by Labyrinth Road
Available now!

#shopindie: It’s (Almost) Independent Bookstore Day

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From most any perspective, a community bookstore is an asset without compare. Need a personalized recommendation? Ask a professional bookseller! A local space to hang out and read? A venue to meet other bookish folks? Looking for a book signing/book club/story time? A business committed to hyper local perspectives? A way to keep your hard-earned money in your community? Indies do all that and more!

Saturday, April 26th is Independent Bookstore Day. Why not show your appreciation by supporting your local (I’ll list some of my favorites below)? If you’re to busy to stop in, try checking out Bookshop.org where you can still buy online, but designate a local book shop to receive the profit from your purchase or let your money go to a general profit pool distributed to participating indies nationwide. You get to pick your next great read from the comfort of your living room (or backyard or bedroom, no judgement!), and a local store still benefits–it’s a WIN/WIN situation!

If you are out and about in the Chicago area, why not check out one of these wonderful shops?

Anderson’s Bookshop (Naperville and Downers Grove)
Dandelion Bookshop (Oak Park)
Pilsen Community Books (Chicago/Pilsen)
Passages Wine and Books (Chicago/West Town)
Swallow Stories Bookshop (Lisle)
¡Viva! Los Libros (Chicago/Pilsen located in Plisen Arts and Community House or at Popups around the city)

It just so happens that this year, the online book seller that everyone loves to hate has scheduled their yearly book sale this weekend too (coincidence? probably not!), giving you the perfect opportunity to vote with your dollars for the kind of community you value. Hopefully that’s one with an indie bookstore–happy shopping!

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re looking at picture books about family. Our feature pick is Hilwa’s Gifts by Safa Suleiman, illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan. When Ali visits his family in Palestine, he’s excited to visit Hilwa, his favorite tree in their olive grove, but is concerned to see his family hitting the olive trees with sticks. His grandfather assures him they would never hurt the trees, which provide precious gifts. Together, they harvest the olives from Hilwa’s branches and discover the many gifts the fruits yield. A wonderful celebration of tradition and family, this is a book well-suited to discussing family history and traditions.

Check out more books about family below!

At Night, They Danced
Victoria Scott-Miller
Illustrated by Toni D. Chambers
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

Family: A Peek-Through Picture Book
Patricia Hegarty
Illustrated by Britta Teckentrup
Random House Children’s Books/Doubleday
Available now!

Faruq and the Wiri Wiri: A Celebration of Family and Food
Sophia Payne
Illustrated by Sandhya Prabhat
Candlewick Press/Templar Books
Available now!

Hilwa’s Gifts
Safa Suleiman
Illustrated by Anait Semirdzhyan
Candlewick Press
Available now!

Nearly Exactly Almost Like Me
Jennifer Bradbury
Illustrated by Pearl Auyeung
Candlewick Press/Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Computerized Companionship: A Review of Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend

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Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend
Lance Rubin
HarperCollins Publishers/Clarion Books
Ages 8-12
Available August 26. 2025

Zed Moonstein isn’t very good at making friends. He and his best friend Rishti used to be attached at the hip, but now that the two of them are in sixth grade they don’t have a single class together. While Rishti is busy making new friends and going viral online, Zed is stuck feeling neglected and alone. It looks like he’s found the perfect solution in the top-secret project his mom has been busy developing at work — an app which promises to create the perfect AI friend, someone who knows you better than anyone else and is always there for you. When he manages to download the app for himself, it seems like Zed’s friendship troubles are over. But soon, his digital friend starts to act strangely. Before he knows it, Zed’s new best friend has become his worst enemy. How can he hide from someone who lives inside his phone?

In today’s world, where AI chatbots are at our fingertips to write our emails, do our schoolwork, and maybe even be our friends, Zed’s life in tech-filled MonoTown doesn’t seem so far fetched. Rubin grapples with the increasingly dominance of technology in daily life — the way it effects jobs, schooling, and social lives. As Zed faces down his digital friend-turned-foe, he begins to realize just how much of his life is dependent on the tech produced by MonoLyth, the company which owns his town, school, and new companion app. His universal middle school troubles like friendship and fitting in are augmented by 21st-century struggles with tech, particularly the ways it both encourages and thwarts human connection. These struggles (both mundane and technological) are sure to be recognizable to young readers.

Zed Moonstein Makes a Friend is a tech thriller with something for everyone — Zed’s high-tech life will be appealing to readers especially interested in computers or artificial intelligence, while his friendship troubles serve as a story that young readers can relate to themselves and their lives.

Butler Bookshelf

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Some days you just can’t catch a break. This week, the Butler Bookshelf is full of misfortune, misadventure, and plain old mistakes. From body swaps to mixed-up stories to crash landing houses, these middle grade novels are all about the times where everything seems to be going wrong. Our feature pick is The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Alice McKinley. 10-year-old Callie isn’t happy about moving to Northern Ireland. All of her friends, and all of her memories of her late mom, are back in London, the only home she’s ever known. But when a house crashes upside down in her yard, she’s forced to ally with her new next door neighbor Sam to save the Wanderdust which powers the magical house and keeps its eccentric inhabitant alive. Along the way, she discovers that home is more than a place, it’s people, too. Perfect for adventurous fantasy lovers, The Magician Next Door is sure to excite young readers while allowing them to explore what “home” really means.

Check out more goes-wrong fiction below!

Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum
Alasdair Beckett-King
Illustrated by Claire Powell
Candlewick Press
Available now!

The Magician Next Door
Rachel Chivers Khoo
Illustrated by Alice McKinley
Candlewick Press
Available April 22nd, 2025

Skylar and the K-Pop Principal
Luan Goldie
Candlewick Press/Walker Books US
Available now!

Snow White and the Dragon (or, Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarfs)
Kim Bussing
Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

The Unfortunate Wishes of Nelly Young
Beth Garrod
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing/Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available now!

How To Release Your Grumbles: A Review of Grumble Boats 

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Grumble Boats 
Written by Susannah McFarlane 
Illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie 
Published by Charlesbridge 
Ages 3-6 
Available April 15, 2025 

Who helps you release your grumpy feelings? Emma doesn’t know how to release her grumbles when her parents don’t let her go to the pirate party with her brother. After Emma is dropped off at her grandma’s house, Grandma sees how upset Emma is and quickly comes up with a solution. Together, they walk to the beach, draw their grumbly and grumpy feelings, and watch them sail away after folding them into paper boats. After they say goodbye to their grumbles, Emma feels much better and is ready for a fun day of playing and eating grilled cheese with Grandma. 

Susannah McFarlane presents readers with a simple yet well-written story about a young girl coping with her grumpy feelings. With straightforward text, she shows why Emma is upset and the effort that Grandma puts into cheering her up. Through Grandma’s character, McFarlane writes about an easy way to release your feelings: by drawing them out and releasing them to sea. She thoughtfully shows Grandma helping Emma move on from her grumpiness without invalidating her feelings by reassuring her that she would have been an excellent pirate as they watch their grumbles float away. There are also instructions at the end that show readers how to make their own grumble boats so they can participate in this practice in mindfulness. Ainslie’s watercolor and pencil illustrations pair well with the text to bring Emma’s world to life, illustrating Emma’s grumpy facial expressions especially well. The illustrations are detailed, and Ainslie utilizes a muted full-color palette, which has the same calming effect that Grandma’s grumble boats have on Emma’s feelings. Grumble Boats is a lovely addition to any classroom library or program to give young readers a chance to learn about healthy emotional regulation.