by Carolyn | Book Lists, For fun, Newbery
The ALA Youth Media Awards like the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, and the Newbery came out this morning, but some of my family’s favorites were missing! So, we decided to create our own, very unofficial, favorite book awards of 2017. Each of my kids and I...
by Carolyn | Baby, Book Lists, Parenting, Picture Books
I hope you haven’t forgotten that Valentines Day is also Book Giving Day! (Really! I didn’t make it up!) Here are some adorable picture books to tell your kids, “I love you.” And if you have older kids, any book they really like will tell them...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Audiobooks
If you missed any of Audible’s Daily Deals last year, they are all back on sale this week only! I’ve linked to some of my favorites below. Make sure the “Buy Now With One Click” button is selected rather than the free trial. You can get the...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Fantasy, Highschool, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Young Adult
I almost didn’t read Beyonders by Brandon Mull. After I had read several recommendations for his book Fablehaven and found I didn’t care for it, I hadn’t planned to pick up another book by the same author. However, one of my readers encouraged me to...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Character Training, For fun, Imagination, Parenting, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
Have you ever made a mistake that causes you want to curl up in a ball and hide from the world? I have! But when you’re a kid, those feelings are compounded. That’s exactly what Andrea Tsurumi’s fantastic new picture book, Accident!, is all about....
by Carolyn | Books about Books, For fun, Parenting, Recommendations
Are you looking for some bookish gifts for your kids this Christmas? (And maybe some for yourself too!) These are some of my very favorite bookish gifts around the web to read, wear, color, or listen to. If you’re looking for a list of books, check out the one I...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Bible, Boys, Character Training, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Read Alouds, Recommendations
The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers is a delightful middle-grade fantasy series. It’s based loosely on the life of King David from his shepherd days to his coronation. I had previously read the first book, The Bark of the Bog Owl, and recommended it on the...
by Carolyn | Character Training, Imagination, Picture Books, Preschool, Read Alouds, Recommendations
After the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again… We all know the nursery rhyme: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men couln’t put Humpty together again. But what if...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Scary Stories
Do you get super excited when one of your favorite authors comes out with a new book? Me too! (I’m assuming you said yes, right?) I loved Cassie Beasly’s debut middle-grade novel, Circus Mirandus, so when her new novel, Tumble & Blue, arrived in the...
by Carolyn | Character Training, Cultural Diversity, Girls, Giveaway, Parenting, Picture Books
This past Christmas, I found a picture book I just couldn’t pass up for my daughters or my nieces. Every little girl longs to know they are beautiful, but what exactly does that mean? Beautiful by Stacy McAnulty provides a great answer to that question. (And for...
