Tag Archives: reading

What to do when kids say ‘I don’t like to read’

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

When I was in elementary school, my bedroom window faced the front of our garage. At night, the exterior garage light lit the front yard, and its glow shone between the gap in my curtains. That strip of light was … Continue reading →

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8 memorable cats in children’s literature

Posted on January 19, 2026 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Cats make great book characters. They have a reputation for being mysterious, aloof, cunning, mischievous, and occasionally irritating. All of those traits lend themselves to compelling, memorable personalities. Here are eight cats from children’s literature that stand out in my … Continue reading →

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6 middle grade books to kick off 2026

Posted on January 3, 2026 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Happy 2026! With the start of a new year, people turn their focus to resolutions, self-improvement, and positive change in the world around them. Those concepts aren’t exclusive to adults, and they also aren’t exclusive to January. Here are six … Continue reading →

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It’s finally happening! New book coming in November

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since Sarah & Katy and the Book of Blank was published. It was my sophomore children’s book, independently published in November 2015. Riding the high of a recently released novel, I immediately started … Continue reading →

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Why you should be reading aloud with older kids, too

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Julie Stroebel Barichello

I clearly remember the first time I read the Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede. I was about 9 years old, tucked away in the odds-and-ends room of my childhood home, surrounded by shelves and Sterilite plastic totes filled … Continue reading →

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