Tag Archives: children’s fiction

Butler Bookshelf

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For this week’s Butler Bookshelf, we’re taking a trip outside to explore the outdoors and observe the world around us. Whether you’re listening for bird calls, searching for a giant sea creature, or watching a murmuration of starlings, there is always something amazing to discover in nature. In this week’s feature, A Forest Song by Kisten Hall and illustrated by Evan Turk, readers take a journey through the forest, noticing and appreciating the world around them. Hall utilizes the words of other famous poets in this cento poem to inspire young kids to think deeply about their natural world and observe the beauty that surrounds them. Featuring lines from writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Oliver, and Lucy Maud Montgomery, Hall’s poem beautifully illustrates the vast wonders of the forest. Turk’s stunning gouache illustrations pair perfectly with Hall’s poetry, using bright colors to bring the forest to life. With whimiscal poetry and immersive illustrations, A Forest Song will inspire readers to step outside and soak in the world around them.

Check out more books that showcase the outdoors below!

A Forest Song
Written by Kirsten Hall
Illustrated by Evan Turk
Published by Random House Children’s Books/Random House Studio
Available now

The Pony and the Starling
Written by Jennifer McGrath
Illustrated by Kristina Jones
Published by Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press
Available now

The Search for Carmella: What Mystery Lurks in the Deep?
Written and illustrated by Chloe Savage
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

A Sky That Sings
Written by Anita Sanchez & George Steele
Illustrated by Emily Mendoza
Published by Lee & Low Books
Available now

Wave Warrior and the Reef Rescue
Written by James Sellick
Illustrated by Patrick Corrigan
Published by The Quarto Group/Ivy Kids
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about being transported to new worlds with fantastical characters and creatures. In Lily the Pond Mermaid by Lucy Fleming, young readers have a look inside Lily’s world as she takes care of her pond and all the creatures who live in it. Lily spends her days helping damselflies and dragonflies strengthen their wings, finding yummy algae for snails, taking care of the butterflies’ plants, and protecting tadpoles from the hot sun. Occaisionally, Lily has to protect her pond from strange metal objects and save her friends from harmful traps. Even though Lily loves her job, her worries keep her up at night. After a big storm, Lily knows it’s time to speak up and ask her friends for help caring for the pond. Once she and her friends work together, Lily understands the importance of asking for help when you most need it. Told in simple text and whimsical, full-color digital illustrations, Lucy Fleming brings attention to pollution and seeking help when you need it. Lily’s determination to care for her pond will inspire young readers to work in their own ways to protect their environments from threats like pollution. Readers will also see the importance of leaning on others and asking for help when life gets too overwhelming as Lily learns that she doesn’t have to work alone. This sweet story about community and care will be a perfect fantastical addition to any picture book collection.

Check out more fantasy books for all ages below!

The Dragon’s Apprentice
Written by James Riley
Published by Labyrinth Road
Available now!

Fateless
Written by Julie Kagawa
Published by Harper
Available July 15, 2025

Lily the Pond Mermaid
Written and illustrated by Lucy Fleming
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now!T

Tidemagic: Isla Flit and the Impossible Key
Written by Clare Harlow
Published by Alfred A. Knopf
Available now!

Wee Unicorn
Written and illustrated by Meg McLaren
Published by Charlesbridge
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. 

Butler Bookshelf

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Graphic novels are a great way to escape into a different world and go on an adventure. You can go on an adventure in outer space, revisit a classic Dr. Seuss story, or explore a cozy new world with flying horses like in this week’s feature, A Song for You & I by K. O’Neill. In this fantasy graphic novel, O’Neill explores themes of self-discovery and bravery. Rose is a ranger-in-training who is disappointed by their final assignment before the graduation-like Name Carving ceremony that will allow them to be a ranger to protect all people. They are tasked with protecting Lamb’s Ear Meadow, an idyllic, sleepy region that is nothing like the danger and excitement they were hoping for. Soon, they develop a friendship with the shepherd Leone, who helps Rose to discover who they really are and be brave enough to show it to the world. O’Neill’s writing, though sparse, is touching and offers readers a connection to the characters, but their illustrations are the star of the show. The digital sketch-style drawings, made in Procreate, are crafted with a pleasing, full-color palette that beautifully builds the world and expertly shows the emotions that Rose and Leone feel over the course of the story. The vibrancy allows readers to smell the sea-salty air, hear Leone’s fiddle playing, and see the inner turmoil Rose is going through, as well as the triumph when they comes out as Rowan in the Name Carving ceremony. A sweet, delightful book for readers of all ages, A Song for You & I is a wonderful addition to a library looking for stories with themes of identity and acceptance. 

Check out more graphic novel titles below! 

A Copycat Conundrum (The Misfits 2) 
Written by Lisa Yee 
Illustrated by Dan Santat
Published by Random House Children’s Books
Available now!

Great Space Iguana (Hilo 11) 
Written and illustrated by Judd Winick 
Published by RH Graphic
Available now!

Green Eggs and Ham Take a Hike 
Written and illustrated by James Kochalka
Published by RH Graphic
Available now!  

Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister (Steve L. McEvil 3) 
Written and illustrated by Lucas Turnbloom 
Colors by Marc La Pierre and Lucas Turnbloom 
Published by Crown Books for Young Readers 
Available now! 

A Song for You & I 
Written and illustrated by K. O’Neill 
Published by RH Graphic 
Available now! 

Dare To Follow Your Joy: A Review of The Queen Bees of Tybee County 

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The Queen Bees of Tybee County 
Written by Kyle Casey Chu 
Published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins Publishers 
Ages 8-13 
Available April 15, 2025 

Talented middle school point guard Derrick Chan has the perfect summer plan: go to basketball camp and practice every day so he and his best friend, JJ, can make the varsity team next year. His plan is upended when his dad can’t afford the tuition, so instead, Derrick is sent to his grandma Claudia’s in boring Heritage, GA. There, Derrick befriends roller skater Ro and queer photographer Giles. When he has an opportunity to help out with the town pageant, Derrick volunteers out of curiosity and is soon faced with an opportunity to be daring and authentically express himself to the world.  

The Queen Bees of Tybee County is an emotional and heartwarming story of one middle school boy’s journey to self-discovery. Every reader will be able to understand Derrick’s confusion and anxiety, and they’ll find comfort in the safe space that his loved ones give him to be himself. Simultaneously, Chu expertly makes Derrick’s experience specific to his queer Chinese American identity. He demonstrates the diversity of expression in the LGBTQ+ community by showing the different ways Derrick and Giles express their queerness, as well as the ways that racism has affected Derrick’s family members chasing their own dreams. All told from Derrick’s perspective, his sweet and genuine personality makes the story compelling. Community is the heart of this novel, and Chu creates a comfortable safe space in Giles, Ro, and Claudia for Derrick to explore his feelings before feeling safe to come out to JJ and his dad. Although the resolution is fairytale-esque, Chu doesn’t shy away from the reality of being queer and Chinese American by showing resistance from some townspeople when Derrick competes in the pageant. This touching story of self-love and acceptance is sure to inspire upper-elementary and middle schoolers everywhere to be proud of who they are. 

Butler Bookshelf

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Books are a great way to learn about new things. Whether it’s fiction that shows us a new culture, a chapter book that helps us understand new emotions, or nonfiction that shares interesting facts about nature, there’s always something new to learn in every book we pick up! This week’s Butler Bookshelf is a list of new books we’ve received that all have something to teach us about, like What’s the Actually Factually Difference?: How to Tell the Difference Between Over 150 Things That Are Similar But Different! by Jane Wilsher and illustrated by Liz Kay. This fun book is rich with knowldge and full of facts about all kinds of things that seem the same, but are actually different. Wilsher divides the book into many different chapters. including “Transportation,” “Jobs and hobbies,” and “History,” so readers have a wide range of topics to learn about. Kay’s illustrations accompany the text well and engage readers by helping to visualize every topic. A useful resource that can be read alone, What’s the Actually Factually Difference? can also be used to play fun trivia and quiz games with friends by taking turns reading and guessing the differences between things like a crocodile and an alligator or a black hole and a wormhole.

Check out more books below!

A Burning in the Bones (Waxways 3)
Written by Scott Reintgen
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available now

Charlie Hernandez and the Phantom of Time (Charlie Hernandez 4)
Written by Ryan Calejo
Published by Aladdin
Available now

Nature School: Planet Earth: Lessons and Activities to Inspire Children’s Fascination with Our Planet
Written by Lauren Giordano and Laura Stroup
Illustrated by Staphanie Hathaway
Published by Quarry Books
Available now

Sona Sharma, Wish Me Luck (Hardcover Edition)
Written by Chitra Soundar
Illustrated by Jen Khatun
Published by Candlewick Press
Available now

What’s the Actually Factually Difference? How to Tell the Difference Between Over 150 Things That Are Similar But Different!
Written by Jane Wilsher
Illustrated by Liz Kay
Published by words & pictures
Available now

Butler Bookshelf

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This week’s Butler Bookshelf is all about new fiction titles in our collection! These titles feature animal adventures, a school for time travelers, and dragons in London for readers of all ages. The featured title this week is Time Out! (Addy McBean) by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Stacy Curtis. In this chapter book for beginning readers, math-loving Addy McBean learns how to tell time on analog clocks and how to set an alarm. Along the way, she and her best friend, Star, become convinced that their teacher, Mr. Vertex, is getting married. Working tirelessly to look for clues, they accidentally spread the rumor to their class. In addition to learning the fun of telling time, Addy learns the importance of using facts to make a decision instead of assumptions. Curtis uses quirky digital illustrations to accompany Addy’s adventures, and Cuyler includes a character glossary and a word list to help young readers remember characters and learn new terms.

Check out more fiction below!

The Doomsday Vault (Everwhen School of Time Travel (and Other Odd Sciences) 1)
Written by Thomas Wheeler
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Available now

A Language of Dragons
Written by S.F. Williamson
Published by Harper
Available now

Little Head, Little Nose
Written by Yuli Yav
Illustrated by Antonia Woodward
Published by LITTLE SIMON
Available now

Time Out! (Addy McBean)
Written by Margery Cuyler
Illustrated by Stacy Curtis
Published by Aladdin Quix
Available now

A Wolf Called Fire
Written by Rosanne Parry
Published by Greenwillow Books
Available now

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!

“Grow Towards the Light”: A Review of Beyond Mulberry Glen 

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Beyond Mulberry Glen 
Written by Millie Florence 
Illustrated by Astrid Sheckels 
Published by Waxwing Books 
Ages 8-12
Available January 7, 2025 

Lydia loves her life in Mulberry Glen, and she wouldn’t change a thing about it, even though change looms over her as she gets closer to the time when she will need to leave for an apprenticeship. Her inner turmoil only grows when she learns about a mysterious force, called the Darkness. Troubled by the effects she feels from the Darkness, Lydia asks her fairy guardian, Pit, about it. The next morning, she discovers Zale and Zamilla, the mischievous twins that live with her in Mulberry Glen, have left to go defeat the Darkness. Lydia sneaks off to rescue them. Along the way, she learns about the inevitability of change and the importance of using the Light within yourself to fight the Darkness. 

Beyond Mulberry Glen is a delightfully cozy story about a young girl overcoming her fear of change and learning to accept that life is still beautiful, even when it has dark moments. Florence fully develops Lydia’s character arc as she overcomes her fears of change and discovers that, while life can have dark moments, she has the power within herself to overcome them. Florence uses Lydia’s resistance to an apprenticeship to illustrate her anxiety over her life changing, effectively making this fantasy setting relatable to all readers. While the overall tone of the story is light, there is an undercurrent of apprehension as Lydia searches for the twins that brings gravity to the story about the life changes that accompany growing up. Sheckels’s illustrations at the beginning of each chapter add an element of charm to the story by giving readers a glimpse into Lydia’s world. A great Lord of the Rings read-alike, Florence weaves together a story that is both whimsical and suspenseful in its portrayal of the anxieties of growing up. 

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!