Tag Archives: picture books

Butler Bookshelf

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In the urban fantasy novel The Whispering Dark, Delaney Meyers-Petrov is a Deaf college student with a peculiar connection to the afterlife. When she’s offered a spot at an elite university program that trains students to slip between parallel worlds, she’s excited for an opportunity to prove herself and show others that she isn’t as fragile as they think.

Check it out, along with the other titles we are featuring below!

Haven: A Small Cat’s Big Adventure
Written by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Published by Candlewick Press
Available August 16th!

I Was Born for This
Written by Alice Oseman
Published by Scholastic Press
Available October 18th!

Something About Grandma
Written and Illustrated by Tania de Regil
Published by Candlewick Press
Available August 9th!

A Synagogue Just Like Home
Written by Alice Blumenthal McGinty and Illustrated by Laurel Molk
Published by Candlewick Press
Available August 9th!

The Whispering Dark
Written by Kelly Andrew
Published by Scholastic Press
Available October 18th!

Butler Bookshelf

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In The Tower of Life by Chana Stiefel and illustrated by Susan Gal, after Yaffa Eliach has to escape the Nazis during WW2, her hometown is destroyed. President Jimmy Carter reaches out to Yaffa and asks her to help build a holocaust memorial. She decides to make the memorial out of found photographs instead of bricks; it becomes what will be called the Tower of Life.

Check it out, along with the other titles we are featuring below!

Catalina Incognito: Off-Key
Written by Jennifer Torres and Illustrated by Gladys Jose
Published by Aladdin
Available Today!

Freestyle
Written by Illustrated by Gale Galligan
Published by Graphix
Available October 18th!

I am Ruby Bridges
Written by Ruby Bridges and Illustrated by Nikkolas Smith
Published by Orchard books
Available September 6th!

Monsters Play… Counting!
Written and Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Orchard books
Available Now!

This is Our Place
Written by Vitor Martins
Published by Push
Available November 1st!

The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs
Written by Chana Stiefel and Illustrated by Susan Gal
Published by Scholastic Press
Available October 4th!

Butler Bookshelf

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Written by Kristen Bell & Benjamin Hart and illustrated by Daniel Wiseman, The World Needs More Purple Schools is the sequel to The World Needs More Purple People, teaching kids how to celebrate their individuality while also being part of a group! Follow Penny and her friends as they take the lessons they learned in the original and move them to the classroom!

Check it out along with the other titles we are featuring below!

The Clackity
Written by Lora Senf
Published by Athenium
Available Now!

Crimson Twill: Witch in the City
Written by Kallie George and Illustrated by Birgitta Sif
Published by Candlewick Press
Available July 12th!

The Little Bear
Written and Illustrated by Nicola Killen
Published by Simon and Schuster Books For Young Readers
Available Now!

Mum, Me, and the Mulberry Tree
Written by Tanya Rosie and Illustrated by Chuck Groenink
Published by Candlewick Press
Available July 19th!

One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World
Written by Micheal Frank and Illustrated by Maira Kalman
Published by Avid Reader Press
Available September 6th!

The World Needs More Purple Schools
Written by Kristen Bell & Benjamin Hart and Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman
Published by Random House Children’s Books 
Available Now!

Butler Bookshelf

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My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. Our Story. Our Way. by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin is the shared memoir of two great creators and best friends who happen to have the same name. Follow their story of meeting in New York and becoming the artists they are today.

Check it out along with the other titles we are featuring below!

Bad Things Happen Here
Written by Rebecca Barrow
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Brooks
Available Today!

Jigsaw: Mystery in the Mail
Written and Illustrated by Bob Graham
Published by Candlewick Press
Available July 12th!

Leila: The Perfect Witch
Written and Illustrated by Flavia Z. Drago
Published by Candlewick Press
Available July 12th!

McTavish on the Move
Written by Meg Rosoff
Published by Candlewick Press
Available July 12th!

My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. Our Story. Our Way.
Written by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin
Published by Atheneum Books For Young Readers
Available Today!

The Other Side of the River
Written by Alda P. Dobbs
Published by Sourcebooks Young Readers
Available September 6th!

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In Whose Bones Are Those? by Chihiro Takeuchi readers are invited to guess what animal is made up by the scattered stylized bones spread across bright pages. Showing how skeletons of animals from hippos, to snakes, to lions, fit together and all their little parts.

Check it out along with the other picture book titles we are featuring below!

Bee
Written and Illustrated by Charlotte Voake
Published by Candlewick Press
Available June 7th!

Happy Owl-oween!
Written by Laura Gehl and Illustrated by Lydia Nichols
Published by Abrams Appleseed
Available July 12th!

I Believe in Me
Written and Illustrated by Emma Dodd
Published by Templar Books
Available June 7th!

Miguel’s Community Garden
Written by JaNay Brown-Wood and Illustrated by Samara Hardy
Published by Peachtree
Available Now!

Poppy’s House
Written by Karla Courtney and Illustrated by Madeline Kloepper
Published by Walker Books
Available June 7th!

Whose Bones Are Those?
Written and Illustrated by Chihiro Takeuchi
Published by Candlewick Studio
Available June 7th!

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf we are featuring recent and coming soon titles! Enter the magical world of the Salazars, firebreathing chipmunks, grumpy unicorns, and chupacabras need rescuing! This fun and funny family adventure by Zoraida Cordova pits the Salazar family versus terrible monster hunters who will stop at nothing to destroy magic.

Check it out along with the other titles below!

At the Pond
Written by David Elliot and Illustrated by Amy Schimler-Safford
Published by Candlewick Press
Available May 24th!

City of Magic
Written by Avi
Published by Scholastic Press
Available June 28th!

Girls Who Green the World: Thirty-Four Rebel Women Out to Save Our Planet
Written by Diana Kapp and Illustrated by Ana Jaren
Published by Delacorte Press
Available Now!

Mako & Tiger: Two Not-So-Friendly Sharks
Written by Scott Rothman and Illustrated by Mika Song
Published by Random House Studio
Available Now!

Meet Me in Mumbai
Written by Sabina Khan
Published by Push
Available August 2nd!

Valentina Salazar is Not a Monster Hunter
Written by Zoraida Cordova
Published by Scholastic Press
Available June 28th!

Mindfulness in Nature: A Review of Tisha and the Blossoms

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Tisha and the Blossoms
Wendy Meddour
Illustrated by Daniel Egnéus
Candlewick Press
May 17, 2022
Ages 2-5

Tisha spends her day feeling rushed, as she is constantly being told to “hurry up” by those around her. She must hurry to catch the bus in the morning, hurry through her project at school, and is even told to hurry during recess so that she does not miss lunch. When Mommy comes to pick her up from school, Tisha asks if they could slow down, frustrated by the amount of hurrying she has been doing all day. Mommy agrees, and the two walk home rather than taking the bus. On their leisurely walk, Tisha and Mommy talk, connecting to each other and the nature around them, even stopping to spend some time on a bench in the park. Once they arrive home, Mommy suggests to Daddy that they have a picnic as a family rather than a typical dinner at home. This allows the whole family to slow down and genuinely enjoy each other and everything around them. 

In keeping with the story’s theme of celebrating what is around us rather than hurrying through life, the illustrations feature elaborate backgrounds with less focus on the characters themselves. Several full-page spreads highlight details that can only be appreciated through slowing down. The art style is abstract and displays a variety of visual perspectives. The text is presented in an abstract way as well, with the layout changing on each page and certain words emphasized through the use of a larger font. While the central focus is on Tisha and her parents, diversity is apparent in the background characters. The story itself, and the way it is presented alongside abstract mixed media images, truly embodies the importance of mindfulness, and of sharing small moments which become even better when surrounded by loved ones. 

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf we are featuring recent and coming soon titles! We are looking at some non-fiction books on how plants and animals shape the world! Built by Animals written by Christiane Dorion and illustrated by Yeji Yun, teaches kids about how humans are inspired in design, industry, and engineering by animals!

Check it out along with the other titles below!

Billy Loves Birds: A Fact-Filled Nature Adventure Bursting with Birds!
Written by Jess French and Illustrated by Duncan Beedie
Published by Happy Yak
Available Now!

Built by Animals: Meet the Creatures who Inspire Our Homes and Cities
Written by Christiane Dorion and Illustrated by Yeji Yun
Published by Wide Eyed Editions
Available today!

Celia Planted a Garden: The Story of Celia Thaxter and Her Island Garden
Written by Phyllis Root & Gary D. Schmidt and Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
Published by Candlewick Press
Available May 17!

A Rose Named Peace: How Francis Meilland Created a Flower of Hope for a World at War
Written by Barbara Carroll Roberts and Illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
Published by Candlewick Press
Available May 17!

Super Gross: Going Buggy!
Written by Patty Micheals and Illustrated by Alison Hawkins
Published by Simon Spotlight
Available today!

A World Full of Nature Stories: 50 Folk Tales and Legends
Written by Angela McAllister and Illustrated by Hannah Bess Ross
Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Available today!

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf we are featuring recent and coming soon titles! With spring well underway, and Earthday just behind us, we are featuring We Have A Dream written by Dr. Mya-Rose Craig and illustrated by Sabrena Khadija. Profiling 30 young Indigenous people and people of color on how they, as members of groups most affected by climate change, fight for the future of the planet.

Check it out along with the other titles below!

All From a Walnut
Written by Ammi-Joan Paquette and Illustrated by Felicita Sala
Published by Abrams Books For Young Readers
Available Now!

The Flower Garden
Written and Illustrated by Renée Kurilla
Published by Amulet Books
Available Now!

Osmo Unknown and the Eightpenny Woods
Written by Catherynne M. Valente
Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Available Today!

The Rainbow Hunters
Written by Andrea Farotto and Illustrated by Martina Tonello
Published by Milky Way Picture Books
Available Now!

Spring Parade
Written by Camelia Kay and Illustrated by Allyn Howard
Published by Cameron Kids
Available Now!

We Have a Dream: Meet 30 Young Indigenous People and People of Color Protecting the Planet
Written by Dr. Mya-Rose Craig and Illustrated by Sabrena Khadija
Published by Magic Cat Publishing
Available Now!

Butler Bookshelf

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This week on the Butler Bookshelf we are featuring recent and coming soon titles! The Waiting Place by Dina Nayeri is a look at the lives of 10 refugee children from Afghanistan and Iran. Check it out along with the other titles below!

Chasing Rainbows
Written and Illustrated by Gabby Grant
Published by Tate Publishing
Available today!

Karthik Delivers
Written by Sheela Chari
Published by Amulet Books
Available now!

My Sister’s Big Fat Indian Wedding
Written by Sajni Patel
Published by Amulet Books
Available now!

Twas the Night Before Pride
Written by Joanna McClintick and Illustrated by Juana Medina
Published by Candlewick
Available May 3rd!

The Waiting Place: When Home is Lost and a New One Not Yet Found
Written by Dina Nayeri and Photography by Anna Bosch Miralpeix
Published by Candlewick
Available May 3rd!

Wildseed Witch
Written by Marti Dumas
Published by Amulet Books
Available May 10th!