by Carolyn | For fun, Middle School, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Poetry
When I finished reading I’m Just No Good at Rhyming (And Other Nonsense for Mischievous Kids and Immature Grown-Ups) by Chris Harris, illustrated by Lane Smith, to my kids, my older two begged for their own copy of this hilarious book. We laughed together and...
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 | 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 | Animal books, Book Lists, Fantasy, For fun, Imagination, Picture Books, Poetry, Read Alouds, Recommendations
I don’t know how it started, but there has been a surplus of funny picture books with dragons published in the last few years. And when I say funny, I mean hilarious. I literally can’t read some of these without laughing out loud. If you have a child who...
by Carolyn | For fun, Parenting, Reading, Recommendations, Resources
It’s summer reading program time again! I always get excited about summer reading programs, especially when the rewards are more books! We all want to avoid the summer slump, but remember, our goal is to get your kids excited about reading. If these contests do...
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...
