Welcome to the online presence of the Butler Children's Literature Center, housed in Dominican's SOIS (Crown Library room 214). Here, we celebrate the best in books for youth and those who delight in sharing them. For Summer 2025, BCLC will offer collection access to the Dominican community and general public during posted open hours: Tuesday and Thursday 9am to 4pm, Wednesday noon-4pm, Friday 9am-5pm and by appointment with the Curator. Contact Jen Clemons at jclemons@dom.edu to make arrangements or you can still reach us at butler@dom.edu.
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recently released and coming soon titles! Abdul’s Story is a colorful story about how Abdul, with a little help from his teacher, learns that it’s okay to make mistakes when writing stories. Written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow, Illustrated by Tiffany Rose. Check it out along with the other titles below!
Abdul”s Story Written by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Illustrated by Tiffany Rose Published by Salaam Reads Available today!
Always Jane Written by Jenn Bennett Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Available today!
A Spring Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom Written by Angela Ferraro-Fanning and Illustrated by Anneliesdraws Published by Ivy Kids Available now!
Professor Figgy’s Professor Figgy’s Weather & Climate Science Lab for Kids Written by Jim Noonan Published by Quarry Books Available April 12th
So This Is Ever After Written by F.T. Lukens Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books Available today!
Trigger Written by N. Griffin Published by Atheneum Available today!
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recently released and coming soon titles! These include It Starts With a Bee by Aimee Gallagher. A poetic look into the world of bees. The colorful illustrations by Jennie Webber show the journey bees take to help the flowers you love, and the fruits and vegetables you eat, grow. Check it out along with the other titles below!
Blue Badger Written by Huw Lewis Jones and Illustrated by Ben Sanders Published by Happy Yak Available Now!
Don’t Call me a Hurricane Written by Ellen Hagan Published by Bloomsbury Available July 19th, 2022
It Starts With a Bee Written by Aimee Gallagher and Illustrated by Jennie Webber Published by QED Publishing Available April 5th, 2022
The Loophole Written by Naz Kutub Published by Bloomsbury Available June 21st, 2022
A Taste of Magic Written by J. Elle Published by Bloomsbury Children’s books Available August 30th, 2022
You Are Not Alone Written by The Alphabet Rockers and Illustrated by Ashley Evans Published by Sourcebook eXplore Available now!
This week we are featuring several books that are available Today!Right now! On the bookshelf you will find The Katha Chest. This picture book follows Asiya, a young girl learning about her aunts’ and grandmother’s memories through playing with their handmade quilts made from their worn saris. A beautifully illustrated tale about loving the memories you make and the ones that make them with you. Check it out along with the other titles below!
The Book that Did Not Want to Be Read Written and Illustrated by David Sundin Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Available Today!
The Katha Chest Written by Radhiah Chowdrury and Illustrated by Lavanya Naidu Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Available Today!
Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of how Forests Communicate Underground Written by Tera Kelley and Illustrated by Marie Hermansson Published by Source Books Available Today!
My Own Way: Celebrating Gender Freedom for Kids Written by and Illustrated by Joana Estrela Published by Wide Eyed Available Today!
Once Upon a Tim Written by Stuart Gibbs and Illustrated by Stacy Curtis Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Available Today!
Turning Written by Joy L. Smith Published by Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers Available Today!
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix Aminah Mae Safi March 1, 2022 Feiwel and Friends Ages 13-18
The third entry of the Remixed Classics series, this young adult novel reimagines Robin Hood as a Muslim teen girl amid the Third Crusade. Rahma followed her older sister Zeena into the war, though really all she wants to do is make sure her sister stays safe. As the sisters travel towards Jerusalem, Rahma continually produces schemes to get them out of trouble. She initially steals a horse that she sees is being abused, only to find out it is the invading Queen Isabella’s horse. This and further thefts lead to her gaining a reputation as the Green Hood. Through their travels, Rahma sees how much the people themselves are affected by the war, and she repeatedly redistributes the spoils of her thefts to the common people who help her. The two sisters meet a variety of like-minded individuals who join them as the group’s schemes escalate. They eventually steal wealth the queen is bringing to negotiate with King Richard. They find a peace treaty with the treasure, learning that Isabella is planning to manipulate Richard into peace on her terms. This leads to a final plan, with the goal being to end the war in a way that is beneficial to the citizens of the land.
The story is told primarily in the first person, from Rahma’s point of view. Occasional chapters are written in the third person and from the perspective of the invaders, such as Queen Isabella and King Richard. Large bold text indicates the location is shifting, which helps to ease the possible confusion when the point of view changes. The band of protagonists is diverse. While the main character is Muslim, supporting characters include Jewish and Christian representation. There is also an LGBT romance among the members of the group. The pace is quick, with Rahma’s group eventually reaching six members. They bond while the action itself occurs, allowing the story to move forward quickly. Back matter includes a brief timeline of the Third Crusade and an author’s note that encourages the reader to further research the time period on their own, rather than providing extensive notes of Safi’s own research. This novel is sure to appeal to teens interested in historical fiction, especially those looking for representation outside of what tends to exist in this genre.
This week we are featuring a few young adult novels we received in the last week. On the bookshelf you will find The Serpent’s Wake the fantasy adventure novel by Rachel Hartman. Follow Tess and her friends as they search for the last remaining mystical Serpent. Check it out along with the other titles below!
Across a Field of Starlight Written and Illustrated by Blue Delliquanti Published by RH Graphic Available now!
Bitter Written by Akwaeke Emezi Published by Alfred A. Knopf Available now!
It Will End Like This Written by Kyra Leigh Published by Delacorte Press Available now!
Rima’s Rebellion: Courage in the Time of Tyranny Written by Margarita Engle Published by Athenum Available now!
In the Serpent’s Wake Written by Rachel Hartman Published by Random House Children’s Books Available now!
The Turning Pointe Written by Vanessa L. Torres Published by Alfred A. Knopf Available today!
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recent arrivals to the Butler Center, highlighting works by and about African-American creators such as The Faith of Elijah Cummings by Carole Boston Weatherford and Laura Freeman. This picture book biography follows congressman and civil rights advocate Elijah Cummings from his beginning as a struggling student through his success as a lawyer and politician advocating for equality. Check it out along with a variety of other selections below!
Blue: A History of the Color as Deep as the Sea and as Wide as the Sky Written by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond and Illustrated by Daniel Minter Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers Available now!
Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman Written by Kristen R. Lee Published by Crown Books for Young Readers Available now!
Operation Sisterhood Written by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich Published by Crown Books for Young Readers Available now!
I’m Growing Great Written and Illustrated by Mechal Renee Roe Published by Doubleday Books for Young Readers Available now!
Sweet Justice: Georgia Gilmore and the Montgomery Bus Boycott Written by Mara Rockliff and Illustrated by R. Gregory Christie Published by Random House Studio Available now!
The Faith of Elijah Cummings: The North Star of Equal Justice Written by Carole Boston Weatherford and Illustrated by Laura Freeman Published by Random House Studio Available now!
Valentine’s Day is coming up soon! This week’s Butler Bookshelf celebrates the holiday with books about Valentine’s Day as well as books about love itself, in all forms. Love Grows Everywhere by Barry Timms and Tisha Lee showcases love between families, neighbors, friends, romantic partners, and more through a family that grows and sells plants in their local community. Check it out along with the other titles below!
Valentine’s Day Jitters Written by Julie Danneberg and Illustrated by Judy Love Published by Charlesbridge Available now!
All the Right Reasons Written by Bethany Mangle Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books Available February 15, 2022
Glimpsed Written by G.F. Miller Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
Bananas for You! Written by Sabrina Moyle and Illustrated by Eunice Moyle Published by Abrams Available now!
Rebel Boys and Rescue Dogs, or Things That Kiss with Teeth Written by Brianna R. Shrum Published by Sky Pony Available now!
Love Grows Everywhere Written by Barry Timms and Illustrated by Tisha Lee Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books Available now!
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features recently released and coming soon titles! These include The View from the Very Best House in Town by Meera Trehan. This debut middle grade novel explores the troubled friendship of Sam and Asha, both autistic middle schoolers. As Sam is accepted into a prestigious school and Asha is not, their friendship is put at risk. In addition to being told from the perspectives of both Sam and Asha, the very best house in town also has its own perspective in this story.
Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life Written by Cheryl Blackford Published by Clarion Books Available now!
Ready for the Spotlight! Written and Illustrated by Jaime Kim Published by Candlewick Available now!
Wayward Creatures Written by Dayna Lorentz Published by Clarion Books Available now!
The Monarchs Written by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige Published by Clarion Books Available now!
On the Move: Home Is Where You Find It Written by Michael Rosen and Illustrated by Quentin Blake Published by Candlewick Available February 8, 2022
The View from the Very Best House in Town Written by Meera Trehan Published by Walker Books US Available February 8, 2022
Only a Monster Vanessa Len February 22, 2022 HarperTeen Ages 13-17
In this first installment of a planned trilogy, debut author Vanessa Len lays down the foundations of a world where monsters live among humans, appearing no different from their human counterparts. Monsters’ primary ability involves travelling through time, though in order to do so they must “steal time” from humans, shortening the lifespans of their victims. Beyond this ability that is shared by all monsters, each also has an additional ability shared by their family line. The story’s protagonist, Joan, is half-monster, half-human, and the monster half of her family has intentionally hidden the full extent of their abilities from her. Shortly after accidentally using her powers for the first time and learning the truth about them, Joan also learns that her crush, Nick, has sworn to destroy all monsters. Joan escapes a massacre, where the victims include most of her own family. As Joan teams up with another survivor of the massacre, she must quickly learn how to navigate not only her powers, but the entire society and hierarchy of monsters living hidden throughout London.
Despite being the first in a series, Only a Monster can stand on its own as the primary conflict is solved by the end of the book, with greater unresolved questions looming for those who will wait for its sequels. Its primary theme relates to morality, and the ambiguity of good versus evil, with the ever-present question being whether monsters are always evil, and heroes are always good. Another central theme is that of adapting to a new society. In the monster world, Joan feels out of place as she is half-human. Since her family hid the truth about monsters from her, Joan is not aware of monster society which has its own rules about what can and cannot be done regarding time travel, as well as urban legends which end up having truth to them as Joan learns more. She also alludes to feeling out of place in the human world as well due to being of mixed race. The supporting cast is also diverse, featuring characters of various ethnicities and sexualities. While the story gets dark, and features depictions of death, it is not overly graphic. Fantasy readers who enjoy time travel and related themes, such as alternate timelines, are sure to enjoy this fast-paced read.
This week’s Butler Bookshelf features some recent arrivals to the BCLC! These include Lawless Spaces, a novel in verse by Corey Ann Haydu that tells of Mimi’s coming of age through her own journaling and the discoveries she makes looking through the journals of the women in her family line. Check out more new and coming soon titles below!
The Princess in Black and the Mermaid Princess Written by Shannon and Dean Hale and Illustrated by LeUyen Pham Published by Candlewick Available February 1, 2022
Lawless Spaces Written by Corey Ann Haydu Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers Available now!
Ear Worm! Written by Jo Knowles and Illustrated by Galia Bernstein Published by Candlewick Available January 25, 2022
Not That Pet! Written by Smriti Prasadam-Halls and Illustrated by Rosalind Beardshaw Published by Candlewick Available February 1, 2022
Alice Waters Cooks Up a Food Revolution Written by Diane Stanley and Illustrated by Jessie Hartland Published by Paula Wiseman Books Available now!
Even Robots Aren’t Perfect! Written and Illustrated by Jan Thomas Published by Beach Lane Books Available now!