by Carolyn | Adventure, Fantasy, Girls, Imagination, Juvenile Fiction, Magical Realism, Middle School, Middle-grade, Parenting
Orphan Island is a beautiful, poignant story for kids on the verge of leaving childhood. My older two kids are about the same age my brother and I were when we started sharing book recommendations back and forth (which we still do to this day). So it’s no...
by Carolyn | Boys, Character Training, Cultural Diversity, Older Elementary, Parenting, Picture Books, Recommendations
A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts is a rare book. It takes the reader through both the thoughts and feelings of doing something wrong and then making it right. It allows kids to vicariously experience a tempting situation and shows them a path for doing...
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 | Baby, Book Lists, Parenting, Picture Books
There’s nothing like a book to prepare a child for new experiences. And if your child is getting ready to become a big brother or a big sister for the first time, these books are a fabulous way to prepare them to welcome a new baby. There are funny books, sweet...
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 | Book Lists, Chapter Books, Character Training, Cultural Diversity, Early Readers, Education, Historical Fiction, Juvenile Fiction, Middle-grade, Newbery, Parenting, Read Alouds
This isn’t what I had planned on posting this month. But my heart has been heavy reading responses from friends on both sides of the aisle to the recent presidential election. There is fear of racism and persecution (and now actual occurrences of such). There...
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 | Book Lists, Education, Parenting, Picture Books, Read Alouds
The school year is just around the corner. Perhaps your kids have already started! Let’s celebrate with some picture books about school! These are some of the best picture books out there about school (including one about homeschooling)! Whether your kid is...
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 | Book Lists, Education, Parenting, Read Alouds, Reading, Recommendations, Resources
I was recently challenged by my librarian to participate in the adult summer reading contest. And that got me thinking. What books can I recommend to parents who want to instill a love of reading in their children? After all, summer is a great time to do a little...
