Karen Alaine Hunt

What Reviewers are saying about The Rumpoles and the Barleys and A Picnic with The Barleys

"...a delightful adventure and teaching tale that will capture children’s attention with the compelling story and the rich, vivid illustrations. Actually the illustrations are stunning! The attention to detail is so much fun. And the pictures are so beautiful that I continue to look at the book just to admire the artwork."

-Andrea Sisco, Armchair Interviews

"Hunt's illustrations are outstanding. They are reminiscent of Beatrix Potter's, but are more detailed and colorful. The story itself is a good one, too, with messages about sharing, putting yourself in someone else's shoes, bravery, apologizing, and forgiving."

-Christina, Christian Children's Book Review (Reviews by Moms for Moms)

"Each page is filled with action and detail that will bring a child back to the book again and again just to look at the pictures. In fact, the bright, lively cover made my eight-year-old grab it from my book pile and ask for a read aloud. The story definitely contains enough action and tension to make the very clear "lesson" element more palatable. And each character is made distinct in voice and behavior, which also adds interest and enjoyment. It would definitely be a welcome addition to a discussion on thankfulness and a cheery book for a cozy parent-child read."

Reviews: Goodnight Blessings
My daughter LOVES this book, written and illustrated by Karen Hunt. I believe it was written as a Christian book, but I find its message to be very universal in feeling and flavor, and the benefits we have received have CERTAINLY been universal.

My daughter asks to read this every night for months on end... she'll take a short break, and then go right back to it again. It has lovely illustrations with lots of detail and color, and takes your child through the simple pleasures and every day delights of their world. The phrases have a lyrical quality to them, and things flow from page to page in a lovely way. It starts in a cozy, familiar-feeling bedroom, where the narration, told from the child's point of view, describes the child's bedtime routine of climbing up in bed, snuggling with her teddy bear, hugging and kissing her mommy goodnight... but before she does any of those things, she says thankyou... thankyou for things like the sky, and rain, flowers, animals, fish, friends, and of course, Mom and Dad... all the simple, sweet things that make life so rich... the illustrations match the richness of these blessings, and quickly move the reader to adventurous spaces... mountain peaks filled with furry beasts, a brilliant sky, a sparkling underwater world, and then finally, back to the porch outside her home, and after a final thank you for the moon, into her cozy bedroom for a gentle goodnight. My daughter latched onto this book when she was not quite two, and now that she is three, she still loves it as much as ever. My favorite thing about this book, though, is how it has gently, and so naturally introduced the concepts of gratitude and being aware of blessings... even counting them.. to her. She now loves to list her own blessings she is grateful for... and it seems as natural as breathing to her, and as joyful as reading her favorite book... now THAT's what I call a wonderful bonus! We love this simple, sweet book with it's gorgeous illustrations. I bet you will too. :) Thankyou for reading! Epinions.com Greegi

“Delightfully humorous…well produced…and warm illustrations fully compliment the text.” Material Matters, Great Britain

“Bright, contemporary stories that can stand confidently beside any new reader series.”
The Guardian newspaper, Great Britain

“….Large, colored-pencil art invokes feelings of security and warmth. Early readers will enjoy reading the key word on each page.” Moody Monthly

The best part of making books is hearing back from the kids and parents who read them. Here are some comments from children and parents:

“Hi! I’m a big fan of your books. I hope you continue to have books because I think that anyone who had read at least one would say they were GREAT!”
Sincerely, Janette, Nairobi, Kenya

“When we read your books the pages seem so life-like and real you almost feel like you could jump right in the story. I never had that experience with any other book.”
Thank you! Julie, St. Louis, MO

2008: The Rumpoles & the Barleys, Harvest House Publishers, USA
2008: A Picnic With the Barleys, HArvest House Publishers, USA
2006: What We See: Poems & Essays of the Students in the InsideOUT Writers
Program. Republished and Edited by Karen Hunt, Mark Salzman and Susan Shields
1999: What We See: Poems & Essays from Inside Juvenile Hall, Edited by Karen Hunt
and Mark Salzman
1996: All the Children of the World, Thomas Nelson, USA
1994: Goodnight Blessings, Thomas Nelson, USA
1992: In Search of Righteous Radicals, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1991: Katie Lost in the South Seas, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1991: Katie and the Amazon Mystery, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1991: Katie’s Russian Holiday, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1991: Katie Goes to New York, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1990: The Great Bible Adventure, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1990: Katie’s Swiss Adventure, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1990: The Lost Princess, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1989: The Money Tree, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1989: Christmas at Rumpole Mansion, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1989: A Picnic with the Barleys, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1988: The Rumpoles and the Barleys, Harvest House Publishers, USA
1986: The Marble Tree, Mantra Publishing, Great Britain
1985: Sunita at the Zoo, Mantra Publishing, Great Britain
1985: Sunita’s Special Day, Mantra Publishing, Great Britain
1985: Sunita Makes Friends, Mantra Publishing, Great Britain