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Book Review: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn By Kenard Pak

Happy fall everyone! (at least for those of us in the Western Hemisphere.) I was hoping to get this book up yesterday, for the actual first day of fall, but time escaped me. Regardless, it still feels incredibly appropriate as the weather around here hasn’t decided to move completely into cooler fall days quite yet.… Continue reading →

September 23, 2016September 29, 2020

Caryn

Book Reviews

Review: Noodlephant By Kramer & Steele

Oh. How do I even begin to explain the clever, fantastic, intense work of art that is the storytelling in this book?… Continue reading →

February 28, 2020June 21, 2020

Caryn

Review: Fry Bread By Maillard & Martinez-Neal

A “Native American Family Story,” a powerful and poetic book about fry bread – a food full of shape, flavor, art, family, diversity, history and tradition. Take a look at Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal, 2019.… Continue reading →

February 27, 2020April 18, 2020

Caryn

Review: Bilal Cooks Daal By Saeed & Syed

A picture book about a traditional Pakistani food: daal! A delightful story about young Bilal who excitedly and also a bit nervously introduces his friends to a family favorite meal. Come share the table with Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed, 2019.… Continue reading →

February 26, 2020April 18, 2020

Caryn

Review: Freedom Soup By Charles & Alcántara

A fantastic story about a little girl and her grandmother making a holiday feast of traditional soup and sharing in the cooking as well as the history of their family and their Haiti. Dance along to the lyrical tale of Freedom Soup by Tami Charles, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara, 2019.… Continue reading →

February 25, 2020April 18, 2020

Caryn

Review: Magic Ramen By Wang & Urbanowicz

This is the story of Momofuku Ando who persistently experimented for over a year to invent instant ramen. Grab a bowl of delicious noodles and take a look at Magic Ramen by Andrew Wang, illustrated by Kana Urbanowicz, 2019.… Continue reading →

February 24, 2020April 18, 2020

Caryn

Review: My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon By Lucas & Sif

How do you talk to a kid about losing someone? How do you explain what it feels like to grieve? There’s a book for that. Grab a few tissues and take a look at My Big Dumb Invisible Dragon by Angie Lucas, illustrated by Birgitta Sif, 2019.… Continue reading →

February 19, 2020April 18, 2020

Caryn

Book Lists

Favorite New Picture Books 2019

Join me this Advent season and celebrate 2019 in favorite books.… Continue reading →

December 1, 2019April 18, 2020

Caryn

How To’s

How To Read A Wordless Book

A few pointers I have gleaned to help make wordless picture books less intimidating and perhaps invite you to experience them more fully. Taking a cue from 6 of the stellar wordless books from 2013, here are my 5 tips to reading a wordless picture book.… Continue reading →

September 9, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn

How To Be An Excellent Father

Let’s take a look at a few of Father Bear’s strengths and celebrate the joy of fatherhood through him. Here are my observations on how to be a great dad as seen in Father Bear Comes Home by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1959.… Continue reading →

June 23, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn

How To Be An Excellent Mother

With the help of the first of the books, Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik, pictures by Maurice Sendak, 1957, here are my five ways to be an excellent mother.… Continue reading →

May 11, 2015April 18, 2020

Caryn

How To Make A Children’s Book Character Costume (Part 4)

For our final portion of children’s picture book costumes, I bring some rather obscure, bizarre, ridiculously easy, and just plain comical ideas. I really had way too much fun with this.… Continue reading →

October 30, 2014April 18, 2020

Caryn

About

Hello. I’m Caryn, passionate obsessor of children’s picture books and an illustrator. This is where I share my ever-growing knowledge and love of children’s books. I’ll be reviewing books, sharing tips, and hopefully convincing the world of the loveliness of picture books.

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