by Carolyn | Adventure, Boys, Character Training, Fantasy, Girls, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Scary Stories
Sometimes, when you have been anticipating a new book in a series, it won’t measure up. Well, I’m happy to say that’s not the case with The Door Before. It was stunning. The Door Before surprised me in multiple ways. First of all, it’s not just...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Cultural Diversity, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade
Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi is one of the most fascinatingly beautiful books I have read in recent memory. I finished it (the audiobook version) in less than a day. The Story In a fantastical land where color and magic are intimately connected, Alice is born...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Boys, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds
One of the first things that struck me when I began reading Henry and the Chalk Dragon is that Jennifer Trafton’s prose sings. This book will make a great read-aloud. The second thing that struck me is that his book is hilarious. It reminded me of the Scholastic...
by Carolyn | Character Training, Imagination, Older Elementary, Parenting, Picture Books, Preschool, Recommendations
I adore picture books, but it’s rare for me to run across one and think, I have to dedicate a whole post to this book. But Big Friends by Linda Sarah is one of those rare books. It’s a book about friendship. Big Friends asks the question, can a twosome...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Mystery, Older Elementary, Steampunk
I love The Mysterious Benedict Society Series! We’d recently revisited the first book, and I’d been wishing for something new from Trenton Lee Stewart. So I was thrilled to find out about his newest book The Secret Keepers. The Story Reuben and his mom...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Character Training, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Read Alouds, Recommendations, Spiritual Allegory
I’ve been wanting to write a post about my favorite middle-grade series for a while, but it’s so hard to write. I guess I’m afraid I won’t get it right. Because I really do want you to love The Wingfeather Saga as much as I do. And now that...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Older Elementary, Picture Books, Poetry, Recommendations
Books for Christmas are pretty much a staple at my house. The books I owned myself as a child hold a special place in my heart. In fact, I still have most of them to this day. Other presents my kids receive they will eventually break or grow out of. But a good book is...
by Carolyn | Character Training, Imagination, Picture Books, Preschool, Wordless Books
My kids know that sometimes their mama cries while reading. Ok, so it happens fairly often. But I’m not sure I’ve ever cried reading a wordless book before. Until today. The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett is a beautiful story of longing and friendship...
by Carolyn | Adventure, Audiobooks, Character Training, Fantasy, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Middle School, Middle-grade, Recommendations
Circus Mirandus, by debut author Cassie Beasley, is a book about a boy, his dying grandfather, and a magic circus. But that’s just the surface. This book, in my opinion, is really about faith. Like most good books, Circus Mirandus can be enjoyed on multiple...
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...
