Tag Archives: Butler Bookshelf

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re highlighting a variety of youth literature in our collection. This list has something for all ages, fiction, nonfiction, and bilingual! The featured book for this week is Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea written by Andrew Hacket and illustrated by Kaz Windness. Ollie is tired of dealing with Everett’s constant bullying. One day, when Everett steals a sapling from Ollie, he has an idea — he will eat an acorn and grow into a mighty tree so that Everett will never be able to bully him again. But when Ollie becomes tall and strong and stands up to Everett once and for all, he realizes that he went about it all wrong. He burps everything up, and Ollie and Everett reconcile and start growing their gardens together. Windness’s colorful, lively illustrations compliment Hacket’s lively and expressive story about how to stand up for yourself and what it truly means to be mighty.

Check out more books for all ages below!

The Flower Shop/La Florería
Written by Lourdes Heuer
Illustrated by Zara González Hoang
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Love Is Hard Work: The Art and Heart of Corita Kent
Written by Dan Paley
Illustrated by Victoria Tentler-Krylov
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

My Father’s House
Written by Mina Javaherbin
Illustrated by Lindsey Yankey
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Ollie, the Acorn, and the Mighty Idea
Written by Andrew Hacket
Illustrated by Kaz Windness
Published by Page Street Kids
Available now!

Paige Proves It!: The Curious Cove
Written and illustrated by Amy Marie Stadelmann
Published by Aladdin
Available now!

Zodiac Rising
Written by Katie Zhao
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we are sharing some dinosaur books in our collection that could make wonderful gifts for any dinosaur-loving reader! From nonfiction to a reverse heist at the Natural History Museum, these books will take readers on all kinds of adventures with dinosaurs. In this week’s feature, Dinosaurs in Space by Todd Sturgell, travel to space with dinosaurs to learn how pieces of dinosaur fossils could have made it to outer space. Sturgell introduces a few quirky dinosaur characters to tell readers the tale of the asteroid that made all dinosaurs (except birds!) go extinct. Mixing humour and fact, Sturgell talks about different dinosaurs that existed, how birds are dinosaurs, and the impact of the deadly asteroid that hit Planet Earth. The force of the impact caused huge earthquakes, devastating tsunamis, and even sent pieces of dinosaurs into space. Sturgell’s lively pen and ink illustrations animate the story, and he includes extensive backmatter, instances when humans took dinosaur fossils to space and a glossary of terms used in the book. Simultaneously informative and entertaining, Dinosaurs in Space is perfect for those who love dinosaurs, space, or both!

Check out more dinosaur books below!

A Dinosaur a Day: 365 Incredible Dinosaurs to Take You Through the Year
Written by Miranda Smith
Illustrated by Jenny Wren, Juan Calle, Xuan Le, Max Rambaldi, and Olga Baumert
Published by Bright Matter Books
Available now!

Dinosaurs: A Pop-Up Book
Written and illustrated by Ingela P. Arrhenius
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Dinosaurs In Space
Written and illustrated by Todd Sturgell
Published by Sourcebooks eXplore
Available now!

Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones
Written by Sophie Dahl
Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara
Published by Walker Books
Available now!

Stomp, Soar, Dino Roar
Written and illustrated by Max Amato and McAuliffe
Published by Sourcebooks eXplore
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s officially the holiday season, which means it’s time to start thinking about what gifts to give. For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we have compiled a list of books that would make any nature-lover happy! From board books to nonfiction, this list has something for every young reader, including The World in Our Backyard, written and illustrated by Jami Gigot. In this picture book, Gigot encourages young readers to look for the nature in their backyards, whether they live in a rural, suburban, or urban community. Gigot uses a soft, light color palette to bring backyard nature to life, showing realistic scenarios, like playing as animals and bugs “play their gentle country songs” (pp. 9-10) and splashing in water flowing from a fire hydrant. She also adds whimsy to the book by including imaginary adventures, such as bugs hiking through thick forests and children diving through a pool into an coral reef. Throughout it all, Gigot emphasizes the importance of paying attention and delighting in the nature at our fingertips, reminding readers that “the whole world is made up of our backyards, full of wonder just waiting to be explored” (pp. 23-27). With its colorful charm and imaginitive scenes, this book will make a wonderful gift for teachers, parents, or librarians who want to share their love and appreciation for nature with the readers in their lives.

Check out more nature-themed books below!

Creaturepedia: Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth
Written and illustrated by Adrienne Barman
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

I Bug You
Written by Dori Elys
Illustrated by Riley Samels
Published by Little Simon
Available now!

Peppa Pig and the Nature Walk
Part of Peppa Pig
Published by Candlewick Entertainment
Available now!

Magic Tree House: Windy Night with Wild Horses
Written by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated by AG Ford
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

The World in Our Backyard
Written and illustrated by Jami Gigot
Published by Paula Wiseman Books
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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November is National Native American Heritage Month, and a great way to celebrate is by reading some books that center Native American characters and history! This week’s Butler Bookshelf will highlight books by and about Native Americans, including Boozhoo!/Hello! written and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley and translated by Mary Ann Corbiere. Boozhoo!/Hello! is a bilingual English and Anishinaabemowin picture book about forest animals found in Anishinaabe territories. Deers are eating, bees are buzzing, and otters are playing in this fun, whimsical story. The simple, rhythmic text engages with young readers, allowing them to learn both English and Anishinaabemowin simultaneously. The bold art in the Woodland style and bright colors will delight readers, drawing their attention to each animal and what they’re doing. Complete with author’s and translator’s notes about the inspiration and work behind the story and Anishinaabemowin language, Boozhoo!/Hello! is a wonderful addition to collections and storytime programs this month and throughout the year.

Check out more books about Native American history and characters below!

Boozhoo!/Hello!
Written and illustrated by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley
Translated by Mary Ann Corbiere
Published by House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Gold Rush: The Untold Story of the First Nations Woman Who Started the Klondike Gold Rush
Written by Flora Delargy
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available now!

On a Wing and a Tear
Written by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Published by Heartdrum Imprint
Available now!

The Ribbon Skirt
Written and illustrated by Cameron Mukwa
Published by Graphix
Available now!

This Land: The History of the Land We’re On (Race to the Truth)
Written by Ashley Fairbanks
Illustrated by Bridget George
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers
Available now!

Butler Bookshelf

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It’s time for another round up of new nonfiction books in the Butler collection! From books about environmental activism to facts about animals all over the world, our collection has an array of nonfiction books to satisfy knowledge-seekers of any age. This week’s Butler Bookshelf feature is Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale: An Etymological Exploration of Over 100 Extraordinary Words written by Tom Read Wilson and illustrated by Ian Morris. Inspired by his experience of traveling around the UK and sharing his first book, Every Word Tells a Story with young readers, Wilson collected over 100 words he heard from children and shares them in this book, along with their fascinating histories. Readers can learn about where words like “barbecue,” “chortle,” “orange,” and many more, as well as where those words originated from and other words they might be related to. Wilson switches between short paragraphs sharing fun facts and lyrical poems to keep readers engaged with the information. Morris’s colorful, whimsical illustrations accompany Wilson’s text to depict the objects, actions, and concepts listed in the book. Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale is an exceptional follow-up to Wilson’s first book and will delight word nerds of all ages!

Check out more nonfiction books in our collection below!

An Animal a Day: 365 Amazing Animals to Take You Through the Year
Written by Miranda Smith
Illustrated by Kaja Kajfež, Santiago Calle, Mateo Markov, and Max Rambaldi
Published by Bright Matter Books
Available now!

Brown Bears
Written by Dr. Nick Crumpton
Illustrated by Colleen Larmour
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!

Ice Journey of the Polar Bear
Written by Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by Lou Baker-Smith
Published by Candlewick Press
Available November 26, 2024!

Loop de Loop: Circular Solutions for a Waste-Free World
Written by Andrea Curtis
Illustrated by Roozeboos
Published by House of Anansi Press
Available now!

Wonderful Words That Tell a Tale: An Etymological Exploration of Over 100 Extraordinary Words
Written by Tom Read Wilson
Illustrated by Ian Morris
Published by words & pictures
Available now!

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!

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