{"id":107,"date":"2025-03-13T17:05:38","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T17:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?page_id=107"},"modified":"2025-05-29T23:51:58","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T23:51:58","slug":"book-reviews","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?page_id=107","title":{"rendered":"Book Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I review some of my favorite children&#8217;s books as Dr. Toughlove, one of the protagonists in my first book, <strong><em>Jamal and Me.<\/em><\/strong> My column appears monthly in The Bay Times\/Record-Observer, a local newspaper located in Queen Anne&#8217;s County, MD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Latest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"columns-3 wp-block-post-template is-layout-grid wp-container-core-post-template-is-layout-6d3fbd8f wp-block-post-template-is-layout-grid\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1851 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1851\" target=\"_self\" >If You Give A Mouse A Cookie written by Laura Joffe Numeroff<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Dr. Toughlove decided to put a spotlight on an &#8220;oldie but goodie&#8221; that has been enjoyed by kids and adults alike since 1985. Enjoy! <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-04-09T22:14:49+00:00\">April 9, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1832 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1832\" target=\"_self\" >She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World by Chelsea Clinton<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Looking for a book to inspire you during Women&#8217;s History Month? Dr. Toughlove highly recommends She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed the World written&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-09T20:31:33+00:00\">March 9, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1812 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1812\" target=\"_self\" >Game, Set, Match, Champion Arthur Ashe by Crystal Hubbard<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Happy Black History Month! Celebrate by reading a review of Game, Set, Match, Champion Arthur Ashe by Crystal Hubbard. Enjoy! <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-20T01:17:02+00:00\">February 20, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1788 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1788\" target=\"_self\" >The Crayon Man: The True Story of the Invention of Crayola Crayons, written by Natascha Biebow, illustrated by Steven Salerno<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Happy 2026! Dr. Toughlove recommends that you start the new year by reading a review of a colorful book &#8211; The Crayon Man: The True&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-01-03T01:15:18+00:00\">January 3, 2026<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1776 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1776\" target=\"_self\" >How to Catch a Santa written by Jean Reagan, illustrated by Lee Wildish<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">You won&#8217;t want to miss this review of a hilarious, entertaining holiday book! How to Catch a Santa is one of many of the highly&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-12-11T18:00:15+00:00\">December 11, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-1747 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\"><h2 style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title has-large-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=1747\" target=\"_self\" >As You Grew by Dana Moneymaker<\/a><\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-excerpt__excerpt\">Dr. Toughlove was honored to review this enchanting book, for her November 2025 column. It is written by first-time author, Dana Moneymaker. Enjoy! Thanksgiving is&hellip; <\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-11-10T23:00:29+00:00\">November 10, 2025<\/time><\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<nav class=\"aligncenter wp-block-query-pagination is-layout-flex wp-block-query-pagination-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-numbers\"><span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\">1<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-19-page=2&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">2<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-19-page=3&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">3<\/a>\n<span class=\"page-numbers dots\">&hellip;<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-19-page=11&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">11<\/a><\/div>\n\n<a href=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107&#038;query-19-page=2\" class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-next\">Next Page<\/a>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Archive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query is-layout-flow wp-block-query-is-layout-flow\"><ul class=\"wp-block-post-template is-layout-flow wp-block-post-template-is-layout-flow\"><li class=\"wp-block-post post-391 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=391\" target=\"_self\" >Dr. Toughlove Recommends: Dreamers<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-387 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=387\" target=\"_self\" >Dr. Toughlove Recommends: Child of the Dream: A Memoir of 1963<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-383 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=383\" target=\"_self\" >I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark by Debbie Levy<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-378 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=378\" target=\"_self\" >All My Stripes: A Story for Children with Autism by Shaina Rudolph and Danielle Royer<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-374 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=374\" target=\"_self\" >How to Raise A Mom by Jean Reagan<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-366 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=366\" target=\"_self\" >Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-361 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=361\" target=\"_self\" >Pie is for Sharing by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-357 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=357\" target=\"_self\" >I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerasco\u00ebt<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-353 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=353\" target=\"_self\" >The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><li class=\"wp-block-post post-347 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-reviews\">\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-contrast-3-color has-alpha-channel-opacity has-contrast-3-background-color has-background alignwide is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-33233fb6 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:72%\"><h2 style=\"font-size:clamp(0.984rem, 0.984rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.86), 1.5rem);line-height:1.1;\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/?p=347\" target=\"_self\" >Nana in the City by Lauren Castillo<\/a><\/h2><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<nav class=\"wp-block-query-pagination is-content-justification-space-between is-layout-flex wp-container-core-query-pagination-is-layout-b2891da8 wp-block-query-pagination-is-layout-flex\" aria-label=\"Pagination\">\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-numbers\"><span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\">1<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-23-page=2&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">2<\/a>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-23-page=3&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">3<\/a>\n<span class=\"page-numbers dots\">&hellip;<\/span>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"?query-23-page=7&#038;rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107\">7<\/a><\/div>\n\n<a href=\"\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fpages%2F107&#038;query-23-page=2\" class=\"wp-block-query-pagination-next\">Next Page<span class='wp-block-query-pagination-next-arrow is-arrow-arrow' aria-hidden='true'>\u2192<\/span><\/a>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I review some of my favorite children&#8217;s books as Dr. Toughlove, one of the protagonists in my first book, Jamal and Me. My column appears monthly in The Bay Times\/Record-Observer, a local newspaper located in Queen Anne&#8217;s County, MD. Latest Archive<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-107","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/107","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=107"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/107\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1535,"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/107\/revisions\/1535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolfranksrandall.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=107"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}