by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Highschool, Magical Realism, Mystery, Young Adult
When I found out a friend I had met at Hutchmoot–a conference about faith in the arts–had written a book, I was curious to read it. I didn’t expect to get swept away in a compelling, beautiful written story. But that’s exactly what happened...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Baby, Board Books, Book Lists, Character Training, Classics, Education, Newbery, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Toddler
I usually review newer picture books, but sometimes it’s good to take a look back in time. Classic picture books have a lot to offer our fast-paced society with their simple, slower pace. They can remind us to slow down, take notice, embrace imagination. These...
by Carolyn | Uncategorized
I rarely review sequels. But sometimes, when that sequel is especially wonderful, and I don’t think enough people have read the first book, I make exceptions. The Bootlace Magician by Cassie Beasley, followup to Circus Mirandus, is one of those exceptions. The...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Book Lists, Chapter Books, Cultural Diversity, Early Readers, Fantasy, For fun, Girls, Highschool, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
It’s always fun for me to make this list, because I get to look back on all the great books I’ve read this past year. Some of these I’ve reviewed, and some I haven’t. But I think any one of these would make a great gift for your loved ones....
by Carolyn | Uncategorized
Loss and grief aren’t things I like to talk about, but they are a part of life. And they are a part of kids life. Whether that loss is death, absence, or something else, I hope these picture books about loss and grief can give you and your child a way to talk...
by Carolyn | Uncategorized
Have you noticed the plethora of unicorn, well, everything recently? There’s certainly no shortage of unicorn picture books that have come out recently! So, I guess it’s time I weigh in on my favorite unicorn picture books. Best Unicorn Picture Books Do...
by Carolyn | Uncategorized
I don’t usually review YA, but Mitali Perkins is one of my new favorite authors, and her new book, Forward Me Back to You, is fantastic! Ok, so I’ve only read two of her books so far, but I loved them both, and the rest are in my to-read pile. She first came on...
by Carolyn | Parenting, Reading, Recommendations, Summer Reading
I love summer reading programs, especially those that reward a child with a new book! I still have most of the books that belonged to me as a child, and they’ll always hold a special place in my heart. These are some of the best summer reading programs 2019 has...
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Autobiography, Cultural Diversity, Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations
When my 13-year-old daughter read Front Desk by Kelly Yang twice in a row and told me I had to read it, I should have picked it up right away. But I forgot about it. Thankfully I remembered again when it won the Asian Pacific American Award for Children’s...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Chapter Books, Education, For fun, Girls, Juvenile Fiction, Nature, Older Elementary, Recommendations
As you may know, my first book, Noah Green Junior Zookeeper and the Garage Sale Pet, came out last month (March 2019). And, no, I’m not going to “review” my own book. But I would like to introduce you to it!( Let’s start with a pop quiz. Is...
