by Carolyn | Book Lists, Education, For fun, Poetry, Resources
I remember the first time I was introduced to the concept of palindromes. My sixth-grade teacher wrote on the board, “A man, a plan, a canal, Panama.” She asked us what was unique about this phrase. We puzzled and thought, but no one could get it. Finally,...
by Carolyn | Baby, Book Lists, For fun, Imagination, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool, Read Alouds, Toddler
I like my bedtime books to be quiet and sedate. But if you like to add some laughs to your nighttime routine, you won’t want to miss these hilariously fun bedtime books. Your kids will giggle, cuddle, and (hopefully) yawn by the end. I hope you find some new...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Education, For fun, Imagination, Nature, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Read Alouds
They All Saw a Cat by debut author/illustrator Brendan Wenzel is easily one of my favorite picture books published this year. In fact, this picture book caught the attention of my older kids just as much (maybe more so) than my younger ones. It’s brand new, but...
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Classics, For fun, Girls, Juvenile Fiction, Newbery, Older Elementary
Over the last few of months, my kids and I have listened our way through all of Beverly Cleary’s beloved Ramona books in the car. I didn’t grow up reading Ramona. I was really more into fantasy, and I somehow got the idea that Ramona was a brat. That idea...
by Carolyn | Audiobooks, Boys, Chapter Books, For fun, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
Sometimes, you just need something that will make you laugh. In this crazy world, there are so many things we can stress about. And there are certainly times for serious subjects but don’t miss out on the healing power of sharing funny stories, like Sideways...
by Carolyn | Animal books, Baby, Board Books, For fun, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool, Toddler, Wordless Books
Here it is, all shiny and new, the book I’m going to try to destroy. Just typing that makes me cringe. And why do I want to destroy this book? Well, the name is an inherent challenge: “Indestructibles: Chew Proof, Rip Proof, Nontoxic, 100% Washable.”...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Fantasy, For fun, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Mystery, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations, Scary Stories
I have three words for you: Mysterious Benedict Society. If I made a list of my top ten read-alouds, this would be on it. We listened to the audio book recently, and although we’d read the book to my older kids before, it was fun to see my six-year-old...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Cultural Diversity, Fantasy, For fun, Girls, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade
I love the way Anne Ursu weaves fantasy and real life together in her coming of age story, Breadcrumbs. Friendship, feelings of exclusion, adoption, and issues with parents are all primary themes in this retelling of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Snow...
by Carolyn | Boys, Discussion Guide, For fun, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary
So, I tend to be a bit of a word-nerd. I was an English major, took multiple linguistics classes (for fun), and can’t wait to hear the latest Grammar Girl podcast every week. Needless to say, I love the word-related concepts Andrew Clements so cleverly...
by Carolyn | Education, For fun, Parenting, Reading, Resources
It’s summer reading program time again! I always get excited about summer reading programs, especially when the rewards are more books! But I also want to be careful to cultivate the love of reading in my kids and not cause them to hate it with too much...
