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 | Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
Just when I think every biblical story has been told, I discover a completely fresh and faithful retelling. The Story of Us by Mitali Perkins presents the story of creation, redemption, and restoration through the perspective of the four classical elements: earth,...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Boys, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
A magical world that intersects with ours. A nostalgic 1980’s setting. Engaging characters kids will love. All of this in a new series from a favorite author your kids probably already love. Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key is the first book in a new...
by Carolyn | Book Lists, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
Moves are never easy, even when they lead to good things. Thankfully, there are so many wonderful picture books about moving to help our kids process their world. Before I started researching these, I hadn’t considered that kids dealing with a move may need...
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 | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
When your daughter hands you a book and tells you it’s the best book she’s read in a while, you read it! A Time of Green Magic by Hilary McKay is a fantastical story set in the real world with compelling characters and vivid writing. The Story Living in a...
by Carolyn | Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
Roll With It by Jamie Sumner is a heartfelt book full of quirky characters. It touches on so many issues: living with a disability, dementia, complex friendships, standing out, and family. But if I were to pinpoint one theme it would be that accepting help and...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Read Alouds, Recommendations
I read lots of picture books that retell or mash up fairy tale, but it’s wonderful to find a fairy tale that feels brand new. The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess by Tom Gauld combines a classic style with more modern sensibilities (read: no wolves or...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations
If you love fairytales, I have a wonderful book for you. Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things by Matilda Woods is a beautiful fairytale about friendship that touches on complex moral themes. The Story When Otto’s mother disappears in their new, freezing...
