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Reading what is one of my all-time favorite books (that's all books, not just picture books) in The Digger and the Duckling by Joseph Kuefler. Seriously, if you haven't read this one yet, get on it! And pick up the others in the series as well. They are all wonderful. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Digger and the Duckling by Joseph Kuefler. A yellow digger truck, a pink front loader, and a red crane gaze lovingly at a little duck that balances on a beam held by the crane truck.

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Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor is a frequent reread in our house. It's a little random and weird but very charming. One of my favorites. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Snail Crossing by Corey R. Tabor. The illustration has the book title on a yellow, diamond-shaped street sign, along with a bright-eyed snail. An ant sits on the sign. A road and patch of cabbage are in the background.

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Leonard the ghost is back in Leonard Grows a Haunted Garden by Mike Ciccotello. And once again, he's doing things his own way, despite the reservations of his ghost friends. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Leonard Grows a Haunted Garden by Mike Ciccotello. A happy ghost with a gardening hat holds a large watering can over his ghost friends who are partially buried in soil and looking unhappy. A cheerful garden and a curious bunny are in the background.

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Home Sweet Home by Roger Priddy is a sweet and straightforward animal book with a lift-the-flap component. It's been much loved in our home. #picturebooks26

The cover of the lift-the-flap picture book Home Sweet Home. The illustration shows a green owl sitting in a tree hollow.

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Break the fourth wall with Help Me Find My Hamster, written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by Anna Süßbauer. A guessing game that feels like a wild goose chase and is good fun! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Help Me Find My Hamster, written by Brooke Hartman and illustrated by Anna Süßbauer. The illustration shows a fat hamster with a cute face sitting partly behind the title of the book.

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Little Boo by Maddie Frost takes sibling relationships to a spooky place! Big Boo trades out his little ghost brother for a little vampire one and discovers that maybe things weren't so bad with Little Boo. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Little Boo by Maddie Frost. Amidst a spooky nighttime background, an exasperated ghost wearing glasses and a striped hat holds a tote that says, "Boooks." A smaller ghost hovers above with a bag of candy corn, which he is putting on the other ghost's head. A squirrel happily gnaws on the candy corn.

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The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen keeps you on your toes as to what is going to happen and leaves you thinking. The toned-down color palette is a contrast to the somewhat disturbing story. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Rock From the Sky by Jon Klassen. The illustration has a soft sunset dominating the space. Way at the bottom, a turtle and an armadillo, who are both wearing hats, contemplate a single pink flower.

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Hitting up a classic with The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss. "Wild screaming beaches" has become a thing we say randomly. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss. Two yellow bird-like creatures with green stars on their bellies hold wings while walking down a hill, their beakish noses pointing in the air snootily.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 28/09/2026

Heads up, readers! Over 90 books for $69, starting tomorrow!!! A bundle of creepy and cosy reads. All by incredible indie authors! Ghosts, goblins and gothic tales! Witches, warlocks and werewolves! Demons, dreams and Hallowe'en themes! itch.io/b/3904/chill...

Graphic 1 for the Chills, Thrills & Kills October Itchio Sale. 93 books for $69. A VERY BIG AND SPOOKY BUNDLE of creepy and cosy reads perfect for this year’s Hallowe’en Season! Hosted by Indie Book Spotlight.

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Have a reader that is starting to move on from middle grade but isn't quite ready for older YA books? My novels Pirate Island and Witch Test are perfect for readers 12-15 years old! Both main characters are 13 and in 8th grade. #kidlit #bookrecs #middlegrade

The paperback books of Pirate Island and Witch Test, both by Katie L. Carroll, sitting on a worn wooden table surface.

The illustrated cover of Pirate Island shows a 13-year-old boy dressed as a pirate with a suspicious expression. A blazing orange sunset, a turquoise sea, and an island are behind him. A pirate ship sails in the water, treasure is to his side.

The illustrated cover of Witch Test shows a 13-year-old girl dressed in a black witch outfit and hat. A full moon and crows are in the dark sky. The girl is surrounded by corn stalks with a jack o' lantern at her feet.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 25/09/2026

If you love dystopian books but want something not too heavy, my dystopian romance Sunflowers at the End of the World might be the perfect book for you! Universal link ➡️ books2read.com/u/3RA2xY Signed copies ➡️ katielcarroll.com/purchase-boo...

A paperback of the book Sunflowers at the End of the World by Katie L. Carroll on a light green blanket with two big, fake sunflowers decorating the scene.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 25/09/2026

For some inexplicable reason, my upper middle grade book Pirate Island is only $2.99 on Amazon. Since I didn't set the price, I think I still get full royalties for it. Have at it! www.amazon.com/Pirate-Islan...

A black tablet showing the cover of the middle grade book Pirate Island by Katie L. Carroll. The cover illustration depicts a boy in a pirate costume with treasure at his feet on a beach. A pirate ship with a sunset is in the background.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 17/09/2026

Spent the day working on something fun related to my picture book Grammy's Halloween Scare. Should've been working on something else, but whatever...it was fun! Anyway, stay tuned for an announcement soon.

Author Katie L. Carroll dressed in a black witch hat and holding her book Grammy's Halloween Scare, illustrated by Phoebe Cho. A shelf of books is behind her.

Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld was a favorite of my oldest kiddo. He's 15 now, and I always feel a little nostalgia reading this one. We regularly quote this part of the book, "Sure would help if we had thumbs." #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Shark Vs. Train by Chris Barton and Tom Lichtenheld. The illustration on a green background shows shark and a steam train facing off, staring at each other angrily.

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Always enjoy the Splat the Cat books by Rob Scotton. Secret Agent Splat! has the added bonus of a secret code to solve...very James Bond. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Secret Agent Splat! by Rob Scotton. The illustration shows a black cat with a white belly wearing a detective hat and holding a magnifying glass. A backpack of spy gear and a purple duck are at his feet.

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Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Reedie is a silly story about pranks and friendship with very expressive characters. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Hank Meets Frank by Maudie Powell-Tuck and Duncan Reedie. On a green background, a goose with a hat and a blue bird stand back-to-back and glance at each other suspiciously.

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Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Jay Fleck is impossibly cute! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Jay Fleck. The illustration shows a tiny t-rex with his tiny arms open. He stands on a hill with prehistoric foliage on it.

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Do you like dystopian books but find them hard to read right now? I've got a dystopian romance that leans into the quiet, cozy moments of one woman's dystopian life. And then a handsome stranger shows up! Author site: katielcarroll.com/purchase-boo... Universal link: books2read.com/u/3RA2xY

A yellow graphic with the cover of the dystopian romance novel SUNFLOWERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD by Katie L. Carroll. Arrows point out of the cover with the following words and phrases: dystopian, romance, no spice, last people on earth, library love, gardening, cozy vibes, later in life.

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Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis is a solid addition to this series about the friendship between a ghost and a girl. I'm always excited for a summer/Halloween mash-up. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis. The illustration shows a ghost and girl in pool floaties in a pool. Halloween decorations with a summer twist decorate the scene.

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Blob by Anne Appert has become a favorite in our house. Charming pictures and humorous text show that Blob (not Bob) can be anything, but what does Blob really want to be? A question for the ages! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Blob by Anne Appert. Set off by soft pastels in the background, the illustrations shows a white blob-shaped creature with skinny arms holding a paintbrush with yellow paint that that gotten all over it. The Blob wears star sunglasses.

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The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!, words and pictures by Mo Willems, is my youngest kiddo's favorite Pigeon book. I like that it has the Duckling in it. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Pigeon Finds a Duckling, words and pictures by Mo Willems. The illustration shows a pigeon about to take a bite out of a hot dog. A duckling pokes its head into the picture. A bubble says "with special guest star: the Ducking!"

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I've been reading the Gossie & Friends books to my kids for many years. Gideon & Otto: Best Friends, Lost and Found by Olivier Dunrea was the first one we ever read, so it holds a special place in my heart. So sweet! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Gideon & Otto: Best Friends, Lost and Found by Olivier Dunrea. A ruddy gosling splashes in a pond with his stuffed animal friend that looks a like a four-legged octopus.

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Continuing our Mother Bruce Series reads with Goodnight, Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins. Bruce is his usual grumpy self, the mice are up to mischief, and the geese are hungry. Everything you'd expect from a Bruce book! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Goodnight, Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins. the illustration shows a cabin bedroom with a grumpy looking bear reading a bedtime story to a group of mice and geese who look anything but sleepy.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 10/09/2026

Need a #SapphicSeptember read? Consider my gender-swapped, modern-day Hamlet retelling ONLY DARK EDGES! 💀 modern-day Hamlet retelling 💕 sapphic ⛈️ hurricane party 🏖 abandoned seaside lodge 😢 grief journey 🤫 secrets, lies, betrayals

A graphic with the cover of the sapphic modern-day Hamlet retelling Only Dark Edges by Katie L. Carroll. The cover depicts a young woman with strawberry blond hair whipping around her head, stormy skies and sea behind her. Arrows point off the cover to text that reads "secrets, lies, betrayal, sapphic, modern day, Hamlet retelling." Text above the cover reads "beware the storm."

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Need a #SapphicSeptember read? Consider my gender-swapped, modern-day Hamlet retelling ONLY DARK EDGES! Bookshop: bookshop.org/a/6315/97819... Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8PTX91G B&N: tinyurl.com/yh3j27f2 Itch: katie-l-carroll.itch.io/only-dark-ed... My site: katielcarroll.com/purchase-boo...

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 09/09/2026

Just happened to make a nice little graphic for this review of my picture book Grammy's Halloween Scare, illustrated by Phoebe Cho. Even better that I remember meeting this little reader! #kidlit

A graphic with the cover of the picture book Grammy's Halloween Scare by Katie L. Carroll and illustrated by Phoebe Cho on an orange background. There is a black cat with a purple witch hat next to the book.

A 5-star review reads, "My daughter (2) met the author of this book at a local farmers market about 3 weeks ago & we’ve read it every single day since. It’s quickly become one of her favorite books! She loves the rhyming and silly spookiness of the story, especially Grammy’s cat Jellybean! She has it memorized now and even does silly voices when she speaks for Grammy 'it’s my time for a scare!' Such a cute story perfect for kids!!"

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I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall and Laurie Keller uses humor to explain about evolution, particularly how chickens used to be dinosaurs. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book I Used to Be a Dinosaur by Casey Lyall and Laurie Keller. The illustration depicts a scary looking t-rex staring at a scared looking chicken. A second chicken pecks at some food, unawares.

Lesser Spotted Animals: The Coolest Creatures You've Never Heard Of by Martin Brown definitely delivers on its promise of sharing animals you don't know. It's done with a lot of humor and fun facts, too! #picturebooks26

The cover of the nonfiction children's book Lesser Spotted Animals: The Coolest Creatures You've Never Heard Of by Martin Brown. The illustrations depicts a banded linsang standing on a tree breach. It has a speech bubble that says, "Say hello to the nice people." A black-footed ferret has a speech bubble that says, "Hi."

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More nonfiction with Koala (Spotlight on Nature) by Melissa Gish. This an interesting blend of narrative nonfiction and more traditional nonfiction. We've read a lot about Koalas, and it was nice to learn some more in-depth information on them. #picturebooks26

The cover of the nonfiction children's book Koala (Spotlight on Nature) by Melissa Gish. The cover has a photograph of a young koala holding on to a tree branch.

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Puffins!, written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Maris Wicks, is one of those nonfiction books that has such a great story to it. Atlantic Puffin City is one of those places you didn't know you needed to know about until you know about it! #picturebooks26

The cover of Puffins! written by Maria Gianferrari and illustrated by Maris Wicks. The illustration shows a puffin looking right at the reader. A whole lot of other puffins are in the background on big rocks that lead to water.

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I love all of Salina Yoon's books, but Found has to be one of my absolute favorites. It has Salina's signature illustration style and so much heart. We even have Bear and Floppy stuffed animals at our house. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Found by Salina Yoon. The illustration shows an anthropomorphized bear hugging a stuffed bunny with a backdrop of green grass and blue sky. A red tricycle with a basket and bell sits in the background.

A double-shot of Berenstain Bears books by Stan & Jan Berenstain with New Baby and The Sitter. These were around when I was a kid, and they're still fun to read to my own kids. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Berenstain Bears' New Baby by Stan & Jan Berenstain. The illustration depicts Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Brother Bear greeting a baby girl bear.

The cover of the picture book The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter by Stan & Jan Berenstain. The illustration shows Brother Bear and Sister Bear nervously looking out the window of their tree house as the baby-sitter walks toward the front steps.

I don't normally read reviews of my published books because those are for readers, not me. But I came across this lovely review of Grammy's Halloween Scare, illustrated by Phoebe Cho, and had to share, especially because I remember meeting this little reader! bookshop.org/a/6315/97819...

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 01/09/2026

A short video about making a cheap cover without using AI. The cover for my YA sapphic Hamlet retelling Only Dark Edges was basically free.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 31/08/2026

30 minutes left to get these book bundles on Itch as part of the Narratess Indie Book Sale!

Banner for the Narratess Indie Book Sale. A chonky dragon reads a book at the bottom, a pile of skulls with a candle and ghost sit on the left of the text, and a space ship flies by a planet on the right of the text.

Text: Indie Book Sale

indiebook.sale

Fantasy, Sci FI & Horror

29 - 31 August

Banner designed by Arden Powell

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 31/08/2026

FINAL DAY for the Narratess Indie Book sale! Check out the hundreds of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror books on sale, including my award-winning YA fantasy Elixir Bound for just $.99! ➡️ indiebook.sale

The cover of the YA fantasy book Elixir Bound by Katie L. Carroll. The illustration shows a magical bottle in front of an evening sky and a silhouette of a forest.

Text reads, "A young woman's quest to become the next guardian of a secret healing Elixir is perfect for fans is Shadow and Bone and The Lord of the Rings. $.99"

Underneath is the Banner for the Narratess Indie Book Sale. A chonky dragon reads a book at the bottom, a pile of skulls with a candle and ghost sit on the left of the text, and a space ship flies by a planet on the right of the text.

Text: Indie Book Sale

indiebook.sale

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 30/08/2026

Have you taken advantage of the Narratess Indie Book sale yet? This weekend only! Get my award-winning YA fantasy Elixir Bound for just $.99! And make sure to check out the hundreds of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror books. indiebook.sale

The cover of the UA fantasy bom Elixir Bound by Katie L. Carroll. The illustration shows a magical bottle in front of an evening sky and a silhouette of a forest.

Text reads, "A young woman's quest to become the next guardian of a secret healing Elixir is perfect for fans is Shadow and Bone and The Lord of the Rings. $.99"

Underneath is the Banner for the Narratess Indie Book Sale. A chonky dragon reads a book at the bottom, a pile of skulls with a candle and ghost sit on the left of the text, and a space ship flies by a planet on the right of the text.

Text: Indie Book Sale

indiebook.sale

Fantasy, Sci FI & Horror

29 - 31 August

Banner designed by Arden Powell

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 29/08/2026

So many amazing fantasy, sci-fi, and horror books for less than $3, some even free, in the Narratess Indie Book sale! This weekend only! Let me know what books you grab for your ereader. ➡️ indiebook.sale #booksky #indieaugust #indiebooks

A selection of book covers from the indie book sale around the banner for the Narratess Indie Book Sale. A chonky dragon reads a book at the bottom, a pile of skulls with a candle and ghost sit on the left of the text, and a space ship flies by a planet on the right of the text.

Text: Indie Book Sale

indiebook.sale

Fantasy, Sci FI & Horror

29 - 31 August

Banner designed by Arden Powell

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 25/08/2026

Duck has always been my favorite character in the Click Clack books, and he really shines in Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. #picturebooks26

The cover of Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. The illustration shows a duck in front of a lectern and election paraphernalia around him.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 25/08/2026

The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova and Sarah Jacoby is so unique in both the illustrations and the story. It explored the difference between loneliness and being alone in really accessible way for kids. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Coziest Place on the Moon by Maria Popova and Sarah Jacoby. The illustration shows a blue porcupine-like creature stares up at the moon in the dark sky. A kind of pastel rainbow connects them.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 25/08/2026

The Flower Thief by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater really captures the essence of a squirrel in its main character. This whole series is a big hit in my house! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book The Flower Thief by Alice Hemming and Nicola Slater. The illustration shows an enthusiastic squirrel pointing at a flower. A bird sits on a tree stump in the spring scene.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 17/08/2026

Why did I immediately think of this?

This NASA image from April 10, 2026, captures NASA’s Orion spacecraft, with its parachutes deployed, seconds before splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The parachutes have a similar pattern and color to the sushi image being referenced in the quoted post, and they both have a blue background.

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Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 17/08/2026

Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton gives us a sweet hedgehog who just can't get anyone to hug him...at least not until he finds the perfect friend for a hug! My kiddo loves all things hedgehog, so I was super excited to meet Jen at a conference and get a signed copy. #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Hedgehog Needs a Hug by Jen Betton. The illustration shows a smiley hedgehog standing in a patch of greenery and yellow flowers with arms wide open, ready for a hug.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 17/08/2026

Double-header of Two Tough Trucks and Two Tough Trucks Get Lost! by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Hilary Leung. We would definitely get more books in this series if they were to create more! #picturebooks26

The cover of the picture book Two Tough Trucks by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Hilary Leung. The illustrations depicts a red big rig with a trucker hat and a blue big rig with a bandanna face each other with tough facial expressions. A desert scene is in the background.

The cover of the picture book Two Tough Trucks Get Lost! by Corey Rosen Schwartz and Rebecca J. Gomez, illustrated by Hilary Leung. The illustration depicts a red big rig with a trucker hat and a blue big rig with a bandanna look scared in a night desert.

Katie L. Carroll @katielcarroll.com · 14/08/2026

My award-winning YA fantasy Elixir Bound is just $.99 right now! 🥾🌲 Quest into the forest 🌨️🌩️ Higher beings that communicate through the weather 🪄🧪 Magical healing Elixir 🗺️📜 Memory maps 🧙‍♀️🐎 A forest witch with horse-riding minions 🌹💕 Touch of romance books2read.com/u/31R2pl #books