by Carolyn | Biography, Biography, Education, Fantasy, Middle-grade, Nonfiction, Recommendations
When I set this book down, I told my husband, “Mythmakers is a masterpiece!” I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. Mythmakers by John Hendrix is a non-fiction graphic novel about the friendship of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, a...
by Carolyn | Education, For fun, Gifts, Older Elementary, Parenting, Reading, Recommendations, Resources
How do you interact with the books you read? Maybe you log them on Goodreads or a similar site. Perhaps you love posting reviews on Amazon. Maybe you post on social or tell a friend. Most of those activities aren’t available or appropriate ways for our kids to...
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 | Book Lists, Education, For fun, Imagination, Parenting, Read Alouds, Reading, Recommendations, Resources, Summer Reading
I used to do a yearly post rounding up all the summer reading contests. My older kids are huge readers. They would fly through books and collect the rewards (often another book). But when my younger two girls came along, I discovered that those same summer reading...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Education, Nature, Older Elementary, Preschool, Read Alouds, Recommendations
Certain books just ask to be read aloud. Often, they possess a conversational quality or a certain voice you can “hear” in your mind. Beside the Pond by James Witmer, the newest in his Big Old Garden series, is one of those books. Witmer’s writing...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Boys, Education, For fun, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Mystery, Recommendations
Readers have asked me for more adventurous books that boys would like, and I think the Lost Art Mysteries series by Deron R. Hicks fits the bill. Boys and girls alike will be pulled into these fast-paced novels that read like a spy thrillers. They’ll be so...
by Carolyn | Biography, Book Lists, Education, Nature, Nonfiction, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
My youngest daughter has been on a space kick recently, so I thought I’d bring you a round up of picture books about Pluto. Pluto has always been such an underdog, even before it was kicked off the planet roster, that it tends to be many people’s favorite....
by Carolyn | Classics, Cultural Diversity, Education, Fantasy, For fun, Girls, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Mystery, Nature, Older Elementary, Recommendations
A real-world middle-grade fantasy built around the plot of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream? Yes please! Midsummer’s Mayhem by Rajani LaRocca is a magical story about a young baker and her family. The Story Eleven-year-old Mimi Mackson is the...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Character Training, Education, Older Elementary, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool, Read Alouds, Reading, Recommendations, Resources
I’ve got a great list of picture books about kindness and respect for others for you this week. I love when picture books can convey a message, especially when they can do so in a non-preachy and kid-relatable way. In a world increasingly polarized, where cancel...
