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Carolyn Leiloglou 🏠📕🐛

@housefullofbookworms

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📚Award-winning author of THE RESTORATIONISTS
📚Kidlit reviewer/blogger 10+ years
📚Accidental church librarian

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Howdy! I'm long overdue for an intro post, so here we go!⁠
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My name is Carolyn, and I love children's books, particularly middle-grade fantasy. I've been reviewing kids books on my blog housefullofbookworms.com for over ten years!⁠
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I'm the award-winning author of The Restorationists series (currently working on a prequel set to release in 2028).⁠
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I'm married to a pediatrician, and I'm a homeschooling mom of four, though two are in in college pursuing creative careers in film and music. (Yes, that's a little scary, but we need more Christians in the arts, so I'm cheering them on!)⁠
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I recently became our church's children's librarian. It's a small church, so if you have the idea, you probably volunteered. I love connecting books with readers, so it's been great!⁠
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I've lived most of my life in San Antonio, Texas, and I love it here! (If you live in the SA/Austin area and would like me to come do an author visit at your school, public or private, please reach out!)⁠
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(btw, this photo is a few years old. Credit to @lanaivankaphotography)⁠
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You can see some of my favorite children's books in this photo, but I'd love to hear some of yours in the comments! by @housefullofbookworms

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a month ago

Step into a new world with this plot-driven, well-paced middle grade fantasy fiction series where art is powerful, paintings are portals, and one family has been tasked with protecting them.

Readers have described The Restorationists series as a delightful adventure filled with expressive illustrations—excellent for family read alouds. These award-winning books will make you want to study art and get your paintbrushes out! Have you read #TheRestorationists? by @housefullofbookworms

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a year ago

What would you do if you had the Gift of Traveling through #art? The first book in #TheRestorationists series is a highly rated award-winning middle grade fantasy trilogy. Get the whole family excited about reading + art with this engaging story featuring creative worldbuilding and vivid illustrations of paintings from the likes of Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and more!

Learn more about the series at 🔗 therestorationists.com.

#summerreads #middlegradereads by @housefullofbookworms

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2 years ago

Some book photos demand to be taken outside, like this beautiful copy of your family’s next favorite read aloud, Busy In the Sun by @jamesdwitmer⁠
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(I literally missed a hummingbird by seconds on this nearly-ninety-degree-mid-October day)⁠
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Seriously, though, James is one of the most gifted writers I know. I absolutely fell in love with a few of these characters, especially Rueben, the oldest meadow vole in the world. This book made me cry (in a lovely way), and that’s about the highest recommendation I can give!⁠
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This whole series is truly lovely and doesn't have to be read in order.⁠
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Thank you James for sending this and for the chance to read an early copy!⁠
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Link in bio!⁠
⁠ by @housefullofbookworms

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21 hours ago

Not only is this book fantastic, so is the woman who wrote it, @emilybainmurphy , and I finally got to meet her last week at Hutchmoot!⁠
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Since our publisher @waterbrookchildrens had a booth at the conference, our editor and marketer were there too (and we snagged this photo with fellow WaterBrook author @andrewpetersonmusic)!⁠
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Find my full review at the link in bio (or at housefullofbookworms.com)⁠ by @housefullofbookworms

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3 days ago

If you grew up traveling through a wardrobe to Narnia and want more books like that for your kids, you're gonna want to save this post.⁠
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These are some of my favorite fantasy series to recommend, especially for Christian families who love Narnia (but honestly for anyone with kids 8 and up).⁠
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If you don't know me, I'm Carolyn, an award-winning middle grade author and church librarian who's been reviewing my favorite children's books on my blog for the last twelve years!⁠
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Want the full list? Check the link in my bio!⁠
⁠ by @housefullofbookworms

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10 days ago

Rain or shine (probably rain!), I'll be at the Boerne Book Festival this weekend!⁠
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Come on out to the Patrick Heath Library to say hello and get your signed copies of The Restorationists series or Library's Most Wanted.⁠
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@boernebookfestival taken in Patrick Heath Public Library by @housefullofbookworms

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16 days ago

I think every creator needs this art print from @johnhendrix about The Arc of a Long Project (titled The Pit of Despair)

When I moved into my mini office, I had the idea to place little sticky note labels to track the arc of my works in progress, and it’s now one of my favorite things. Because even if I feel that I’m in the Pit of Despair, I can see there’s a way to climb out.

(Hopefully John Hendrix is not offended by my sticky notes! 😬)

ps. Book titles are not final 😉 by @housefullofbookworms

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22 days ago

Another church library post!

Thank you @sdsmithereens for stocking us up on all things Green Ember, Jack Zulu, and Tumbleweed Thompson! Sam’s one of the most generous guys out there, and y’all should go check out his books!

@glennmccarty @thegreenemberofficial by @housefullofbookworms

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a month ago

At first, I thought it was a scam. I get lots of spam/scam emails related to my books. ⁠
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But guys, this is real! ⁠
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Beneath the Swirling Sky was selected for the Hong Kong Battle of Books! ⁠
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As far as I understand, kids at participating schools in Hong Kong will be reading these books (in English) and participating in a quiz style competition on their content! ⁠
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This is wild! And I'm so grateful! by @housefullofbookworms

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a month ago

Most checked out books from my church's children's library (so far)...⁠
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This is one of the fun parts of being the church librarian. I get to see what the kids are actually checking out so I can buy more books they love! Here are the top hits:⁠
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The Dream Keeper Saga by Kathryn Butler⁠
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The Dead Sea Squirrels by @mike.nawrocki⁠
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The Green Ember series by @sdsmithereens⁠
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The Wilderking Saga by @jonathanhrogers⁠
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Imagination Station series⁠
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The Restorationists series (by me)⁠
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Check my link in bio to get these for your home library :) by @housefullofbookworms

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a month ago

I'm back reviewing books on housefullofbookworms.com!⁠
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Tbh, I was pretty burnt out after 11 years of reviews. Maybe I just needed a break. Or maybe I just needed a new space to write in! Either way, I'm feeling inspired.⁠
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And I think you and your kids are going to love this graphic novel version of 100 Cupboards by @ndwilsonmutters whether or not you're already familiar with the series. And I love the illustrations by @forrestdickison⁠
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Be sure to check out my full review at the link in my bio!⁠
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@harperalley⁠
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⁠ by @housefullofbookworms

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a month ago