by Carolyn | Character Training, For fun, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool
The perfect Valentine is a book! That’s because February 14 also happens to be Book Giving Day… and I’ve got a Valentines Day picture book recommendation for you! Be My Valenslime by Kris Tarantino has just the right amount of sweet and silly. And it...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Animal books, Chapter Books, Early Readers
I have not one, but several dachshund-obsessed friends. I have to admit, they’ve never appealed to me too much, UNTIL I read A Nose for Trouble by James D. Witmer. Kevin Maximus, the little dachshund with a big imagination, absolutely stole my heart! This brave...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Recommendations, Resources
Gift Guide 2023--Something to Read Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read! I’m here to help you out with that last bit. These are some of the best new books I’ve encountered this year, and I don’t think you...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, For fun, Imagination, Middle-grade, Recommendations
One of the fun things about being an author is getting to know other authors. This summer, I shared a booth at the Great Homeschool Convention with my friend and fellow author Summer Rachel Short. We both got to hear each other pitch our upcoming middle grade...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Book Lists, Education, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Mystery, Recommendations
Maybe art has been on my mind a lot with the publication of my own art-themed novel, Beneath the Swirling Sky. I’d love to see more stories that pique kids’ interest in art and creativity. Here’s a round up to some of my favorite art-themed novels...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Character Training, Cultural Diversity, Education, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Parenting, Recommendations
I haven’t encountered too many middle grade novels about homelessness for kids, but two good ones happened across my path recently. If you haven’t encountered it personally, child homelessness isn’t something you and your kids have thought about....
by Carolyn | Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
I’ve been a long time fan of Sarah Mackenzie, so needless to say, I was excited to read her debut picture book, A Little More Beautiful. It exceeded my expectations! Even though I’d already seen snippets of the story, it still managed to make me cry....
by Carolyn | Highschool, Historical Fiction, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams is a story about storytelling. And who better to write such a book but master storyteller Daniel Nayeri, author of the award-winning Everything Sad is Untrue? I enjoyed the audiobook version, read by the author,...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Bible, Boys, Character Training, Historical Fiction, Read Alouds
The cover art of The Songs of a Warrior by Katy Morgan instantly hooked me. I’ve enjoyed Biblical retellings meant for adults from authors like Francine Rivers and Tessa Afshar, so I was interested to read this. The Songs of a Warrior is a Biblically faithful...
by Carolyn | Chapter Books, Classics, Girls, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
I tend to review new books. It’s certainly not that I don’t like old books. I love them! But sometimes, I think everybody already knows about all the wonderful children’s books that have been around for a while. But when I was looking around for...
