Praise for Clara’s Curiosity and Her Foxy Friends
“‘Look out your window? What do you see?’ The talented author and illustrator take curiosity seekers on a journey with Clara, who learns to delight in observing the woods outside her home—especially a family of gray foxes. Beautifully told and imagined, families, teachers, and caregivers will relish sharing this story of what we can see when we look closely. An enchanting book for engaging young readers in the natural world!”
—Regie Routman, educator and author of The Heart-Centered Teacher: Restoring Hope, Joy, and Possibility in Uncertain Times (2024)
“’Do you look out your window? What do you see?’ Who doesn’t want their young child to put down the electronics and instead, look outside for inspiration and joy? Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends had me at page one. A delightful treasure of a story and in Clara, a curious and clever female character for all to admire.”
—Mary Lou Mackin, Less is More Editing Services, LLC
“Each child left [the author visit with Karen] with some observation and coloring activities to do with classmates as well as materials to take home. Our teachers expressed their appreciation for such a great morning and we all truly enjoyed having Karen and Fran share their wonderful story with us. We are eagerly awaiting the sequel and reading about the outdoor adventures of Clara and her foxy friends!”
—Jill Meyer Zielinski, Lead Teacher at Nature Center Preschool, South Natural Science Center
“Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends is a delightful story, perfect for quiet reading or for readers preparing for their own outdoor adventures.”
—The Children’s Book Review
“…a delightful topic that’s paired with engaging, colorful illustrations.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Clara’s Curiosity is written simply and elegantly portraying the interest and nature of a curious young mind and the nature of the Maine Gray Fox. The illustration’s beautiful and rich palette pleasingly transports the reader from Clara’s home to the adventures she finds outside her window, while the writing encourages the reader to question what they might be curious about. Sometimes the most joyful teaching and learning opportunity is found just outside a window. This precious story models and encourages more reading, writing, and storytelling for all children.”
—Lesa Scott, Educational Publishing Professional-Retired
“In a world where children are constantly exposed to screens and all things digital, it is beyond refreshing to see a book about a child’s curiosity for the natural world. Not only does Clara engage with nature and the three foxes, but she carefully studies them. With her notebook and binoculars, she’s begun to cultivate the observation skills every scientist needs. Too often, girls are discouraged from pursuing their passion in the sciences. This book serves as a model for young girls everywhere whether they want to grow up and help preserve habitats, further our understanding of different species, or they simply want to explore their own backyards and delight in all the wonder the world holds.”
—Bill Varner / Senior Editor – ASCD
“Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends is a delightful story about a young girl’s curiosity and love for nature. Clara observes the animals in the woods surrounding her home in rural Maine. Her family nurtures her curiosity by encouraging her to explore nature, keep a journal, and add research and facts to her inquiries, enhancing her learning through trips to the local library. The back of the book includes educational extensions such as a short glossary of animal footprints, facts about the Maine gray fox, and space for young readers to begin recording their own observations of what they see outside their window. Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends is a lovely picture book for teachers, parents or caregivers to share with children to spark curiosity and inquiry.”
—Julie Kreiss, ASA.org / Senior Director of Program Management
“Loved Clara’s Curiosity and Her Foxy Friends. I can hear you reading this to a group of kids and getting them so excited about and involved in their own surroundings. As the author, your sense of story, combined with the illustrator’s joyful creativity and a child’s natural sense of wonder, has resulted in a wonderfully delightful picture book. Used as a read aloud, the repeated prompt of ‘what do you see?’ makes for built-in opportunities for the reader and the listener to pause and discuss not only what they see in the pictures, but also what they see outside their own windows. The introduction of vocabulary and subject-specific facts are perfect learning moments within the context of the story. And the page spread with the view from the binoculars is a terrific example of how the art supports the story in such meaningful ways. The interactive nature of the last few pages is an added bonus that furthers the student’s involvement by sharing their sense of the world through words, pictures, and meaning. This story is one that can be returned to again and again with something new to uncover each time.”
—Pat Carls, Teacher, Marketing-Educational Publishing
“This book is an invitation for young readers to open their eyes and see. Educators will appreciate the story Clara’s Curiosity as a way to discuss what makes a curious mindset and how to develop observation skills. The rhyming in the story along with the detailed illustrations creates a fun shared reading experience. The adventure tools Clara shares helps children think about their adventure journeys and what will go in their backpack as they explore nature and develop their own curiosity. This book is so much more than a story with ways to learn about animal prints and facts about the Maine fox. Children get to make the book their own by sketching their nature curiosity. In the current digital world, teachers will find this book a refreshing tool that can be revisited again and again to inspire curious minds.”
—Carissa O’Gara, Reading Writing Specialist K-12
“This is a feel-good, cuddle-up story for inquisitive, adventuresome kids! Clara’s Curiosity perfectly captures the awe that children, and grown-ups alike, feel when encountering wildlife. Clara explores the woods around her home with a special pair of binoculars, and we learn together about the Maine gray foxes. As a Boston family, we love seeing New England wildlife represented in the story! The included animal print guide (just like Clara’s!) is so exciting to kids like mine . . . who are ready to go exploring!”
—Erica Janiec, Community Kangaroo Member & Mother
“Clara’s Curiosity & Her Foxy Friends is a wonderful step into Clara’s imagination and the outdoor world. The beautiful, vibrant illustrations open up children’s minds to the question, “What is happening outside of our doors and windows and what adventures might we find if we go and explore?” Clara’s inquisitiveness jump-starts their minds into thinking “What if…” and “What else…” Additionally, the text throughout helps to reinforce numerous common sight words and introduces some new vocabulary that children are both excited and proud to learn. As parents, it is sometimes a difficult chore to reinforce words through common strategies such as flashcards, but when those words are embedded in a fascinating and interactive book, it becomes a fun experience. The new vocabulary in Clara’s Curiosity encourages children to ask definitions of words and excites them to use their newfound words in their own sentences. The author not only provokes children to continue to explore their thoughts and the outdoors, but brilliantly leaves spaces in the book for them to expand on their thoughts through both writing and drawing. Clara’s Curiosity is a delightful book that we will be reading and re-reading in our home again and again.”
—Jenn DeLorey, Girl Scout Troop Leader & Mom