Carrie On...Together!

Proud to Present... Dozens of Doughnuts by Carrie Finison

6/30/2020

Imagine…you are craving doughnuts, so you make some. Yum! You are about to take a bite and dong-dong! Your friends show up. Of course, you share, but will there be enough for everyone? Big bear Lou Ann knows the answer and here’s a taste of why you will want to, as well.

A dozen reasons to love Dozens of Doughnuts:

1) The beauty of friendships are featured throughout the entire book. 2) A huge helping of heart is deeply rooted in the fact that it’s okay to host a variety of different emotions in friendships and life. 3) It’s a compassion-building experience in which kids will recognize the need for inclusion and 4) how to recognize when that’s gone wrong. 5) This naturally leads to and models forgiveness. 6) The rhyme is skilled and intricate, making for a fun reading experience and 7) fun surprises! Kids will instinctually repeat Lou Ann’s name every time the doorbell rings, which actually means 8) perfect page turns perked by curiosity and 9) a story arc that climbs with invested emotion. Kids will WANT Lou Ann to get her share of the doughnuts! (Even when she gets mad.) 10) The story provides a light-hearted way to springboard into teaching about hibernating animals and 11) internalize a love for reading by wanting to reread this story. 12) Doughnuts!

Dozens of Doughnuts will celebrate a book birthday with G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers on July 21!

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Proud to Present... Mootilda's Bad Mood by Kirsti Call and Corey Rosen Schwartz

4/22/2020

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We all have bad moods, and it’s easy for a bad mood to spiral out of control. Mootilda’s in a bad mood from the moment she wakes up. With Moomaw and her pals by her side, there are lots of distractions that might curb a bad moooood. Skipping rope? Nope. Diving high? Sigh. Alley-oops? Whoops! As one bad experience leads to another, Mootilda’s bad mood cowck-a-doodle doos itself into a solution. Farmtastic puns, perfect internal rhymes, and delightful cartoon-style illustrations are sure to make every young child beg for the reread “one mooore time!”

Learning to identify and name feelings is a great first step to managing them. As a teacher of primary students, social-emotional learning is number one. If we aren’t mentally healthy, learning won’t take place. Mootilda’s Bad Mood is not only a must for start of every school year, but also for every bad-mood-moment.

Mootilda's Bad Mood by Kirsti Call and Corey Rosen Schwartz is available for preorder today on Amazon! It will be released on September 1 from Little Bee Books. I can't wait to share this with students!

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Rosemary Wells Welcomes a New Bundle: Twin Trouble

10/1/2019

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When I began researching picture books back in the early 1990s, I fell in love with a book by Rosemary Wells. Shy Charles allowed us to empathize with a shy character while putting the introvert in the spotlight. I found Wells’ books to be rooted in the feelings and individual differences of young children and quickly called her one of my favorite authors. I was delighted to see that Rosemary Wells welcomed a new bundle this week!

Twin Trouble celebrates Wells’ tried and true book characters of Max & Ruby, who have also gained recognition in a television series of their own since 2002. I’ve always likened Ruby to a motherly version of Charles Schulz’s Lucy, because she knows a lot about everything and is not afraid to let everyone know it. She leaves little room for her comically inquisitive three year old brother Max to speak, but when the timing is right, he almost always gets the last word. The earliest books put all of the attention on Max and Ruby, with little interaction from the adults in their world. This allows the reader to leave their stories with a smile and a feeling that there is power to the youngest generation.

Twin Trouble allows a new generation to fall in love with the entire family, which now includes the adults in an underlying way. When Ruby and Max’s mom is expecting a baby, of course Ruby has a lot to teach Max. But Max is convinced that babies arrive in Taxis, and sure enough they do. They don’t expect twins, and therefore, there is never a calm moment. With the siblings, babies included, almost always in the spotlight, the action is full of wonder. In fact, only one page allows the adults to lead the action. At one point, no one can calm the babies, but you remember who usually gets the last word, right? Twin Trouble allows us to have a delightful look at the arrival of new babies, with all the charm of opposing interplay between Max & Ruby’s varying character traits.

Hooray for more work by Rosemary Wells!

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Inquiry-Led Education Meets Lori Degman's Like a Girl

8/13/2019

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As growing writers, we are all students. Learning only stops when we adopt fixed mindsets. Reviewing a piece of literature helps us look through critical, explorative eyes, learning from the strengths and weaknesses of each piece. Imagine the ownership that takes place when elementary writers try their hands at reviews. Like getting a drivers' license for the first time, students appreciate this freedom to express their opinions and excitement.

Lori Degman's newest book, Like a Girl, releases today and with it comes a grand feeling of empowerment. What better way to celebrate this amazing picture book than to allow students' to speak on its behalf. Happy Book Birthday to Lori Degman!

We can learn a lot from our readers. Have you considered putting the process of inquiry to work by adopting a test-group of students for your work-in-progress? Or allowing them to review your newly published material? Their insight might surprise you, as witnessed from the second, third, and fourth grade girls below. Read and review on, girls!

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Inquiry-Led Education Meets The Crayon Man

7/15/2019

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At one point or another, I’m sure we’ve all heard someone say, “There isn’t a creative bone in my body!” Thinking in a growth mindset, this statement isn’t possible. So what’s missing for these individuals? I’d like to think that it’s three main ingredients:

A willingness to explore.
The belief that we can learn anything.
An opportunity to take small risks.

In a nutshell, it’s the process of inquiry. The good news is, it’s never too late to mix a creative recipe.

The Crayon Man, by Natascha Biebow and Steven Salerno, serves as a springboard to this process. This nonfiction picture book biography brings the story of Edwin Binney’s inquisitive mind to life. The result? Crayola Crayons! After reading this text to my students right at the end of the school year, kids were bursting with crayon ideas to brighten their summers. Young inventive minds appreciated the way Binney took risks to create something new and even the photographic how-to in the back matter.

We can learn a lot from kids. They are filled with wonder and more apt to own the process of inquiry. And although I have always been extremely inquisitive, I don’t take enough time to enjoy the process as an adult. Being a teacher allows me to enjoy inquiry, while constantly learning from my students. Being on summer break, and missing their influence, I put myself to the summer inquiry challenge. I hope you’ll join me. This student idea inspired me:

Playing the role of the student, I listened to my teacher's instructions above, allowing inquiry to lead me to new steps, too. Join me in exploring!

(Directions appear when you hover over each picture.)

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SUMMER DETOUR! Young Adult Spotlight: John Green

6/9/2018

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Credit: J.W. Lynne (Click photo to visit site)

As a dedicated primary educator, picture book writer, children’s literature enthusiast, so much of my passion and energy has been devoted to picture books as mentor text for 25+ years. Branching off into my studies as a library media specialist, I dive deeper into children’s and teen’s literature. Many of you have read my picture book author studies and have hopefully learned a great deal. Today, I explore young adult literature and the author John Green. You may be wondering: Why John?

We all hear rumblings about great books, and occasionally, we pick one up at the store intending to read what the hubbub’s all about. It’s a common occurrence with me, and just like you, my life gets busy and the book goes unread. The Fault in our Stars was first in the back of my mind, and then marked on my To-Read list. A few years later, I made the purchase. It’s been calling my name from my bookshelf for at least three or four years now. (And no, I’ve refused to watch the movie until I the book was read. More on that later…) So why John? I’ve neglected this book long enough and hear so many others that have read his books. I just wanted to see for myself.

While it’s true that glimpses of an author’s life, personality, and beliefs can be present in their fiction stories and sometimes characters, personal details and connections aren’t revealed until we read interviews, author’s notes, and listen to podcasts. Undoubtedly, when we read their books, we meet authors as artists. We’re sucked into their characters’ lives and share laughs and cries at the intersection of their word choices. But we still don’t know the person behind the book’s mask.

I received a flavor of who John Green is when I read The Fault in Our Stars Author’s Note:

“Neither novels nor their readers benefit from attempts to divine whether any facts hide inside a story. Such efforts attack the very idea that made-up stories can matter, which is sort of the foundational assumption of our species.” (Green, Author’s Note, The Fault in Our Stars)

Through these words, I was able to share a moment with him, mask off. Young Adult fiction matters. Sharing moments with fictional characters matters. Would his books swallow me into the characters’ worlds?

via GIPHY

I can now say that I read my first John Green novel. I tested the waters with The Fault in Our Stars, and by waters, I mean the tears I cried. The waves of emotion I rode. The ice that solidified me with his characters and required me to thaw out long after walking away from the book.

The following brief synopsis can be found on the Penguin Random House website:

"Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist names Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be rewritten."

Personally, I loved the intelligence behind each very real teen character. They are not dumbed down in any way. I loved the depth of their conversations and the way Hazel reflected on her feelings about Gus vs. the compassion behind her illness. I loved the the interesting language choices and syntax.

But, I honestly did not find the power of this story or its themes in the book trailer, which is really more of a teaser. The characters do not appear to be afflicted by anything, which is not an accurate portrayal of their battles. But I'll let you be the judge.

I am one that prefers to read the book before watching any consequential movie that might be birthed from its loins. So yes, the book was first for me. But there is also a movie for this title.

I have yet to find a movie that is better than its book partner, but teens may want to compare the movie to the book and offer their own perspectives. Afterward, the following HuffPost article may encourage additional discussion on movie vs. book differences.

How is it that John Green was able to touch upon this fiction subject from an inside perspective? Who is this man behind the mask?

According to an interview with Business Insider, John read a lot about cancer and interviewed cancer patients, families, and doctors. He believes that cancer or illness should not define an individual. (Amen, John!)

You can find a lot of information about John on his very own website. This guy is creative and active on many fronts! Just to give you a flavor of who John is, let’s shoot for a few of the fun
Facts. (Because really, doesn’t life need more fun?)

FUN FACTS

In addition to being a #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Printz Prize winner, and Edgar Award Winner, in addition to many other writing accolades, John is or has been a podcaster, philanthropist, publishing assistant, production editor, father, husband, and much more. His books have been printed in more than 55 languages, 24 million+ are in print and 3 have turned into movies. What?! Unreal. To read John’s bio, visit HERE.

After committing to a “no text” policy with his brother, they communicated via YouTube instead! Their vlogging community, termed as ‘nerdfighters’, attempt to diminish the ‘worldwide level of suck’. Even the word choice for his community and mission are statements! (Just like in The Fault in Our Stars.)

One of their informational vlogs is called Mental Floss: Scatterbrains. Again, how cool is that name? In the videos, John introduces each topic, is followed by a colleague that shares information on the topic for three minutes, and then John conducts a series of pass or fail experiments. There is additional information following. I particularly like this one on Coffee Hacks and Life Facts.

All around, John seems to be one interesting guy! (Or in the language of Mental Floss: “PASS!”)

One stellar engaging book always makes me beg for more. John Green has a lot for me to look forward to:
To read an excerpt, synopsis, or varied reviews, click the cover images below.

His most recent release, Turtles All the Way Down, touches on themes of fear, and has been called John’s “most personal book yet.” As discussed in this New York Times post, John himself struggles with emotional pain and anxiety. Knowing that so many teens struggled with emotions and anxiety, this will be my next to read.

After reading The Fault in Our Stars, you'll find that characters Hazel and Augustus have unanswered questions for the author of their favorite book. While their questions may go unanswered, it's comforting to know there's a place we can turn with our own questions: John’s FAQ page!

As if that’s not enough, educators have something to look forward to as well:
INSTRUCTIONAL GUIDES to all of John’s books! Plus, this Prestwick House blog post focuses exclusively on The Fault in our Stars' teaching points.

The question remains…

Which book will you start with? Or if you've already started, which is your favorite and why?

References:

Business Insider. (2014). [Web Resource]. Why ‘The fault in our stars’ author wrote a book
    about cancer. Retrieved from http://www.businessinsider.com/why-john-green-wrote-
    the-fault-in-our-stars-2014-6

GIPFY. [Web Resource]. Disney crying alice in wonderland. Retrieved from https://giphy.com/gifs/disney-crying-alice-in-wonderland-
    J2q8zK4HgrT5C/embed

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York, NY: Penguin.

Huff Post. (2014). [Web Resource]. All the differences between ‘the fault in our stars’ book &
    movie. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/06/the-fault-in-our-
    stars-book-movie_n_5433348.html

John Green. [Web Resource]. Retrieved from http://www.johngreenbooks.com

My Dream Came True! (2014). [Web Resource]. I met john green! Retrieved from
    http://mydreamcametrue.com/johngreen

New York Times. (2017). John green tells a story of emotional pain and crippling axiety. His
    own. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/books/john-green-anxiety-obsessive-
    compulsive-disorder.html

Penguin Random House. [n.d.] [Web Resource]. An educator’s guide to the works of John Green.
    Retrieved from http://www.penguin.com/static/images/yr/pdf/JohnGreen_Guide_june
    _2014.pdf

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. An abundance of katherines. Retrieved from
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/295284/an-abundance-of-katherines-by-
    john-green/

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. Looking for alaska. Retrieved from
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/530266/looking-for-alaska-special-10th-
    anniversary-edition-by-john-green/

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. Paper towns. Retrieved from
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/295286/paper-towns-by-john-green/

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. Turtles all the way down. Retrieved from
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/299005/turtles-all-the-way-green/
    down-by-john-

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. Will grayson, Will grayson. Retrieved from
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/250464/will-grayson-will-grayson-by-john-
    green-and-david-levithan/

Penguin Random House. [Image Resource]. The fault in our stars. Retrieved from
    https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/299004/the-fault-in-our-stars-
    by-john-green/9780142424179/

Prestwick House. [n.d.] [Web Resource]. How to teach the fault in our stars.
    Retrieved from https://www.prestwickhouse.com/blog/post/2014/06/ how-to-teach-the-
    fault-in-our-stars

YouTube. (2018). [Video Resource]. Coffee facts and life hacks! Mental floss: Scatterbrained.
  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXyOkWpturM&t=360s

YouTube. (2012). [Video Resource]. The fault in our stars, john green. Retrieved from
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gYPS6IQX6yY

YouTube. (2014). [Video Resource]. The fault in our stars extended official hd trailer. Retrieved
    from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuVjGbncgQE

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Proud to Present... Groundhug Day by Anne Marie Pace & Christopher Denise

12/3/2017

4 Comments

You may have observed an overabundance of observances these days. There is a day for everything: National Onion Ring Day, National Farm Animal Day and for goodness sakes, Tuesday is National Microwave Oven Day! Doughnuts have not one, but two Nationally proclaimed days in their honor. With so many things to honor day after day, it’s nice to get back to something that’s been around for a while.

The first Groundhog Day dates back to February 2, 1887, and honors a rodent meteorologist named Punxsutawney Phil. We all brace ourselves, hoping that Phil will not see his shadow and run back into his burrow. Especially for our friends in the North! Shadow = winter, or so Phil forecasts. It’s a fun tradition and come Tuesday, we will have another fun literary source to help us celebrate.

Lovingly titled, Ground(hug) Day mashes up four long-time holidays, one of them being Valentine’s Day. Nestled in beautiful scenery by New York Times bestselling illustrator, Christopher Denise, our animal friends show tons of heart. Anne Marie Pace pins the ‘tale’ on Moose’s Valentine party, where everyone important must come to join him. But when you have a friend who retreats at the sight of his shadow right before Valentine’s Day, perfect attendance becomes impossible.

As the animals work their way through possible solutions, Groundhog emerges to see his shadow. This is where the story launches into an inquiry-based learning sequence that models many activities for preschool-2nd grade students. Alongside Moose, children can explore how to make shadows dance. They’ll enjoy exploring Bunny’s silhouette drawing segment, Squirrel’s cloud study, and Porcupine’s shadow puppets. With the four-holiday mash-up, students might also internalize a unique sense of time by creating a holiday timeline for each season.

The story addresses the whole child by highlighting social disagreements between friends, the value of listening to all ideas, and communicating to solve problems. Speaking to so many different areas of child development, this story ranks high on the useful meter.

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Proud to Present... Cookiesaurus Rex by Authors Amy Fellner Dominy & Nate Evans

10/6/2017

12 Comments

After just making cut-out cookies with my grown daughter, this was the perfect way to end our day. I imagine that this story will elicit lots of baking and decorating desires after reading, as well! It's fun to think about a big, bad, bossy T-Rex wanting sprinkles and sparkles and struggling to stay in control as the decorator creates. Although we never really find out the gender of the decorator, I generalize to "him" because the illustrator is a male. A.G. Ford's illustrations are so much fun and I wondered how much hands-on cookie research he completed to create such realistic cookies. They really do look delicious and as if a he had studied a master-cookie-decorator! The all-dialogue text and use of speech bubbles will prompt some super fun writing at the early primary levels. It will be helpful for young students to dig deep into their schema and access past experiences that deal with the underlying themes of jealousy, dashed preconceived expectations, and greed. The story is written almost exclusively in the voice of T-Rex, with little character interaction. He reacts to what the hidden decorator is doing throughout the story and the other characters are bystanders. The illustrations show alternate cookie-character reactions (facial expressions) to T-Rex and it would be fun to discuss what the characters are thinking. Near the end of the story, T-Rex notices that the other cookies are looking at him. Two alternate cookies have one speech bubble each, which are colored the same as T-Rex's speech bubbles throughout the story. For young readers, a distinction in color would have been helpful, even as a read-aloud. But, the play on words cannot be denied and is an amusing way to end the story.

This light tale greets the deeper theme of jealousy with humor and will be a fun read aloud.

Mentor text alerts:

All-dialogue text (speech bubbles)
First person
Metafiction-ish: Plays with the structure of the book by having the character interact with the hidden decorator. Since T-Rex looks at the reader several times and appears to be directly addressing the audience, there is a feeling that the intent is for the reader to feel involved, or be the decorator. But the decorator’s hands and face are visible in the story which limits the reader’s involvement.

I received a review copy of this book from Disney-Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.

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Proud to Present... Bruce's Big Move by Author/Illustrator Ryan T. Higgins

9/25/2017

6 Comments

The bear is back, but he's moving out. You remember Bruce, right? He's hard to forget. He's large, hairy, and against his initial instincts, motherly, too. When we first met him, he revealed himself as a grump....NOT liking much of anything. But as in most picture books, Bruce transforms. From a crabby, selfish bear who loved to cook for himself to a busy, messy mom who adopts four goslings. After a nice vacation in Miami and a chaotic return home to a trio of mice that won't leave, Bruce is back for a third book.

Or should I say that he's not really back because he is leaving? You may have been there and done that. Sometimes guests just won't leave or they show up uninvited. What's a bear to do? After living in a messy, noisy, crowded household with three mice that don't understand that it's time to skedattle, Bruce packs up his goslings and decides to move. But you remember what happened in the first book, right? That little transformation Bruce goes through? I'm just sayin'... Well actually, I'm not saying anything. You'll just have to see what happens for yourself.

But I will say this, the third book in this series has just as much charm, heart, and feeling as the last two. It's adventurous and animated, with deep hues of color that transcend Bruce's mood and demeanor, while revealing lots of action and scenery. The characters are so much fun that I feel like I could watch them in a TV series. As a mom, I relate to Bruce. Even though my kids are teens now, the messes never stop. Instead of toys, it's clothes and shoes and papers all over the place. As soon as I wipe chunky fingerprints off the refrigerator handle, they are back as soon as I turn around. To have a parent relate to the conflict is a plus, but will the kids relate? With mischievous little mice who love to play and make us laugh, that's a resounding yes. They create newspaper/cardboard castles and whoops...draw pictures on the wall! They even get the geese to snorkel and have upbeat, positive spirits that see the best in every situation.

In a few words, this is a super fun read. Writers will find a traditional story arc modeled, with a clear problem and three failed attempts to get rid of it. A fourth escalating attempt to resolve the crisis works, but has an unexpected layered problem and a surprise thrown in at the end. Additional mentor text shout-outs go to... (drum roll, please)
...Great page turns! Especially after Bruce meets his neighbors. When you think everything will work out and it starts to go in another direction, great page turns are the result.
...Emotion! The grumpiness, the sarcastic expressions, and unexpected loneliness are driving forces that give this story heart.
...Art surprises! You MUST look under the jacket! Expression that will make you laugh out loud and a license plate that could very easily be mine.
...End papers! I love that we get to have the directions for frying-pan ball (By Nibbs) and a recipe for Grammie Tootie's Applesauce.

A home can be chaotic. A home can be messy. A home can be noisy. But a home is home.

What are some wanna-forget-em-but-gotta-have-em features about your home? Or how about other mentor texts that feature chaotic settings?

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Proud to Present... It's NOT Jack and the Beanstalk by Author Josh Funk

9/18/2017

6 Comments

As writers, we know that every story starts out as a manuscript. I was lucky enough to read It's NOT Jack and the Beanstalk in draft form. It had "publish me" written all over it! After receiving the hard-cover finished product, I love it even more. In fact, I have a new humorous favorite.

Jack is a boy who is not afraid to speak what's on his mind. When the narrator's directions begin to lead him in directions he does not want to go, he stands strong and offers his honest advice (and ear for rhyme) to a giant in need. As it turns out, Jack is not the only one who doesn't like to be pushed in undesirable directions. And as all fairy tales seem to go, happy endings make the best of all.

In a traditional story, a narrator usually doesn't interact with other characters. But author Josh Funk adds a unique metafiction spin when he plays with the story's structure. Jack and the narrator don't just communicate, they even disagree. It gets downright bossy at times and Jack is fully aware that he is in a story. I must disagree with Jack when he says, "This story keeps getting worse and worse." For readers, it just keeps getting better and better. Reader code for worse and worse is of course, tension, drama, and conflict. Yes! We crave it! We must have it! Without it, the story would be boring. There will be none of that in this story which begs to be read a loud. Step into character and be ready to perform. It's your chance to use two distinct main character voices... (Personally, I use an British announcer-ish voice (think Robin Leach) for the narrator and a pronounced nasal-ish tone for Jack. Oh, and a low moo voice for Bessy the Cow, a dreamy voice for Cinderella, and a booming voice for the Giant.)

Paired with Edwardian Taylor's animated illustration style and lots of dialogue between characters, It's NOT Jack and the Beanstalk appeals to the reader just as a humorous video or television program would. And in this age of electronics and technology, it ought to earn high points with kids. Reaching the child reader's interest level is the key to transforming them into lifelong readers. Author Josh Funk has the formula and It's NOT Hansel and Gretal is coming in 2019!

Check out some of Josh's other books, too! They are great mentor texts for rhyme, voice, and unique concept!

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Carrie Charley Brown

As a children’s writer, and a teacher, my goal is to help you carry on. Sometimes learning is challenging, so why go it alone? Your journey will be more meaningful and comfortable with friends to share it with. Together, we'll get up close and personal with authors, illustrators, and the best of picture books. If we work together, great things will follow!

FUN FACTS

Carrie Charley Brown

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