Bøker av Carly Mottinger

Peek into the magic of Christmas with this delightful story about family, friendship, and holiday spirit!A few weeks before Christmas, a tiny golden puppy is born. One fateful day, her life changes forever when a kind man takes her home and welcomes her into his family. She is always peeking, so they give her the perfect name: Peek!However, when the children find a present with a tag that reads "Don't Peek," it leads to confusion. As the children repeat "No peeking!" and "You can't peek!" in the days leading up to Christmas, Peek is left feeling exhausted from constantly thinking they are yelling for her. What will happen when they decide to change Peek's name?This holiday season, Peek's story will warm the hearts of readers as they learn the importance of acceptance, understanding, and embracing our true selves.Embracing Individuality: Peek's connection to her unique name will encourage readers to consider what makes them special, and it highlights the idea that everyone is extraordinary in their own way.Communication: Don't Peek shows how misunderstandings can arise when we don't consider how our words and actions affect others. It encourages children to be mindful of what they say and to communicate with kindness and clarity.The Magic of Christmas: Set during the holidays, Don't Peek captures the joy that surrounds Christmas. It invites readers to celebrate the wonder, joy, and excitement that the season brings, as well as the comfort that can be found in family and togetherness during this time of year.

Gigi: Big Sister is the tale of a little girl who is super excited about her baby sister, Birdie, becoming her new best friend. However, Gigi is faced with the harsh reality that... well, newborns just aren't all that much fun. It's kind of like trying to be best friends with a potato (if potatoes cried all the time and pooped everywhere). But Gigi soon discovers that>Told through whimsical illustrations and a kid's POV, the story takes us from Gigi's initial disappointment at a little sister who only seems to eat, sleep, and poop, through her gradual discovery of Birdie's abilities, and finally to the sister friendship she'd been hoping for. Kids will delight in Gigi's exaggerated reactions and Birdie's bodily functions (how can something so little burp that loud?) and her over-the-top expectations for her infant sister (when will Birdie be able to wear tutus and have a tea party?). A perfect gift for a big-sibling-to-be, this book is a fun way for second-time parents to talk to their firstborn about what to expect and have a laugh at the messy chaos that a new baby brings. It's a reminder to savor the experience of watching their little "potato" grow into a walking, talking member of the family... and that being sisters is a lifelong journey of love.

Do you have a stack of parenting "how-to" books gathering dust on your shelf? Well, here's one that you're guaranteed to use night after night! How to Make a Monster Disappear is a delightful tutorial that can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. When Lucy dreams about a monster and can't go back to sleep, her dad comes up with a way to turn him from scary to friendly through a series of whimsical sketches. How do you tame a monster? You start by giving him a silly name ("Cheese Sandwich"), then you boop his nose (he didn't see that coming!), then you tickle him, compliment him, and finally ask about his favorite game. Not even the most horrid, scaly, drooling, pointy-toothed beast can resist this time-tested methodology. As Lucy practices this new skill step-by-step, she becomes confident that she has what it takes to defeat even the scariest of monsters and happily drifts off to dreamland, secure in her newfound abilities.Author Carly Mottinger brings lots of humor to this timeless tale that is so relatable to parents and kids. (What mom or dad hasn't had to find a way to scare off the monster lurking under their kid's bed or in the closet?) The relationship between Lucy and her dad is sweet and charming, and showcases the best kind of gentle parenting. The two bond over this middle-of-the-night adventure and Lucy gets both the nurturing she needs and a new sense of self-reliance. The colorful illustrations are quirky and fun and will have readers laughing out loud as Dad sketches out Lucy's terrifying dream monster (who has curly broccoli-like green hair and avoca-toes) and then turns him from scary to sweet (after he's been tickled and tamed.) How to Make a Monster Disappear is a bedtime story that's sure to become a family favorite. And guaranteed to solve all your inevitable nighttime monster situations!

Little kids have big feelings! And that can be a lot to handle, especially when you don't know where those feelings are coming from or when they might go away. MAD is the story of a little girl who is troubled by a persistent feeling of anger, personified by a tiny tornado that refuses to leave her alone. The tenacious funnel of fury follows the little girl throughout her daily activities, whether she's brushing her teeth, jumping rope, or watching a movie with her family. Although she tries many ways to get rid of the unwanted feeling - escaping it with a nap, ignoring it, tossing it in the trash - it just refuses to blow over! Finally, the girl's mom comes up with the perfect answer to the problem as they are out in the garden together: it just takes pulling some (metaphorical) weeds! After all, once the weeds have been pulled, you can plant something beautiful, just like an angry feeling can be replaced with seeds of happiness. MAD is a beautifully written and illustrated book that puts the concept of overwhelming emotions into language and images that young readers can understand. The idea of anger being a little storm cloud that follows you around is a clever metaphor that resonates with adults and kids alike, and the cloud's changing expressions - gloating as it intensifies and pouting as it's pushed out - add to the quirky humor of the storytelling. This book makes a wonderful conversation starter for parents and their kiddos, opening the door for little ones to explore and accept their emotions. Weeding a garden and planting seeds are simple concepts that children can easily grasp and apply to their own lives. Giving kids the tools to cope with things beyond their control is a special gift, and having MAD as part of the toolkit is a great start!

Wendy loves spaghetti and meatballs, and she can't resist chocolate ice cream (especially with sprinkles). But one evening, just as she's about to enjoy her favorite meal, she is suddenly no longer hungry. When her mom mentions that she must have lost her appetite, Wendy enlists the help of her doll, Mildred, to help her find it. But first, she has to figure out what an appetite is! Using her vibrant imagination, Wendy envisions what an appetite might look like and begins her quest to track hers down. Readers will join Wendy and Mildred as they explore every corner of the house, from the laundry room to under the car and even the sandbox! But even after their long quest, they can't seem to find it anywhere. Luckily, Wendy has one more idea: she creates a "lost" poster! Feeling sure that this will lead them to Wendy's appetite, she and Mildred wait and wait and wait. Finally, they head to the pantry, where Wendy's stomach starts to grumble. Has she finally found her appetite after all? Author Carly Mottinger's playful characters and engaging prose will spark curiosity for readers, and Kevin Meier's vivid illustrations bring the story to life. It's a reminder to persevere through challenges, be patient, and savor the journey, and readers will be left hungry for more.