by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Classics, For fun, Girls, Juvenile Fiction, Newbery, Older Elementary
Over the last few of months, my kids and I have listened our way through all of Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona books in the car. I didn’t grow up reading Ramona. I was really more into fantasy, and I somehow got the idea that Ramona was a brat. That idea...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Animal books, Audiobooks, Character Training, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations
I just finished reading an advance copy of Ember Falls by S.D. Smith, and it is magnificent! Ember Falls, the sequel to The Green Ember, is full of twists and turns, intrigue, and action. Heather and Picket have grown into confident, mature characters, but all their...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Education, Parenting, Picture Books, Read Alouds
The school year is just around the corner. Perhaps your kids have already started! Let’s celebrate with some picture books about school! These are some of the best picture books out there about school (including one about homeschooling)! Whether your kid is...
by Carolyn | Uncategorized
This summer has flown by for me! But, as promised, it’s time to pass out prizes for the Summer Reading Hopscotch Challenge. Did you forget about the Challenge? No problem. I’ll give you till the end of August for your kids to finish and you to register to...
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Boys, Chapter Books, For fun, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
Sometimes, you just need something that will make you laugh. In this crazy world, there are so many things we can stress about. And there are certainly times for serious subjects but don’t miss out on the healing power of sharing funny stories, like Sideways...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Baby, Board Books, For fun, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool, Toddler, Wordless Books
Here it is, all shiny and new, the book I’m going to try to destroy. Just typing that makes me cringe. And why do I want to destroy this book? Well, the name is an inherent challenge: “Indestructibles: Chew Proof, Rip Proof, Nontoxic, 100% Washable.”...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Fantasy, For fun, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Mystery, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations, Scary Stories
I have three words for you: Mysterious Benedict Society. If I made a list of my top ten read-alouds, this would be on it. We listened to the audio book recently, and although we’d read the book to my older kids before, it was fun to see my six-year-old...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Education, Parenting, Read Alouds, Reading, Recommendations, Resources
I was recently challenged by my librarian to participate in the adult summer reading contest. And that got me thinking. What books can I recommend to parents who want to instill a love of reading in their children? After all, summer is a great time to do a little...
by Carolyn | Baby, Book Lists, Education, Imagination, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Preschool, Toddler
A few weeks ago, I introduced you to my favorite board books that teach shapes in creative ways. And those are a great place to start, especially for toddlers. But sometimes your preschoolers need more shape practice as well, and they want real picture books, not...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Cultural Diversity, Fantasy, For fun, Girls, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade
I love the way Anne Ursu weaves fantasy and real life together in her coming of age story, Breadcrumbs. Friendship, feelings of exclusion, adoption, and issues with parents are all primary themes in this retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow...
