Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

🔔 Big News… I am officially making long-form content on YouTube!
🎥 My first video drops today @ 4 PM (Central)!

I started with the series: Reading with River 🐱 — a calm, kid-friendly space where I share book picks, gentle learning, and cozy vibes (with my buddy River the cat nearby 🐾). 

Here’s what you’ll find on my channel:

- Reading with River 🐱 book recommendations directed at caregivers and educators, promoting early reading, compassion and a love for learning.- Story Time How-To 🙌🏾 bite-sized finger plays, songs, rhymes, and movement ideas for caregivers, educators, and librarians.- Kid-Ready History 🗿 quick, easy history facts for parents to share with kids—always paired with a children’s book.- Cat-Walk Chronicles 🐈 how I travel with my cat River: her adventures + my tips & tricks for stress-free cat travel.- My Book ✍️ behind the scenes of If Monuments Could Talk: Notre-Dame and my indie author journey.
- Tons of Shorts 📱 fast book recs, especially nonfiction & history for kids.

🎥 First long-form video drops today—link in bio!💬 Tell me what you want to see next.📌 Save this to check out the playlists later.

🔔 Like, comment, share and don’t forget to subscribe to catch more children’s book recs! 👍

1 month ago | [YT] | 0

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

📚 If Monuments Could Talk: Notre-Dame continues to explore PARIS! 🇫🇷

Here we are in front of the iconic Eiffel Tower — and yes, my book If Monuments Could Talk: Notre-Dame is along for the ride! 🫶🏻

This is my very first children’s book! If Monuments Could Talk: Notre-Dame is a nonfiction picture book where the cathedral itself becomes the storyteller. Through rich illustrations by my brother @ryankdunckel and kid-friendly storytelling, Notre-Dame shares its journey through medieval times, revolutions, and restoration - making history come alive for young readers. ✨

Designed for curious young readers, it brings the rich history of Paris to life in an engaging, imaginative way — making the past feel personal, powerful, and fun.

Traveling with my book reminds me that stories can go anywhere — and I hope this one finds its way into your home, your hearts, and your bookshelves. 📚

🗼3 Fun Facts About the Eiffel Tower:

- It was built for the 1889 World’s Fair and was only meant to stand for 20 years!
- At 300 meters tall, it was the world’s tallest structure until the Chrysler Building took the title in 1930.
- Parisians once called it an eyesore — now it’s one of the most-visited monuments in the world (beside the Notre-Dame de Paris of course!)

📖 My book is now available on Amazon — link in bio!

#travelgram #travelphotography #nonfictionforkids #historyforkids #historyisfun #childrensbooks #booksforkids #kidlit #booksbooksbooks #readingisfun #writerlife #independentauthors #selfpublish #writergram

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5 months ago | [YT] | 1

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

♿✨ Celebrating Diversity Pride Month & the Fight for Disability Rights!

Diversity Pride Month honors inclusion, accessibility, and equal rights for all, especially celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was signed into law in July 1990. This landmark legislation was a victory for disability rights activists who fought for equal access and protection under the law.

📖 All the Way to the Top: How One Girl’s Fight for Americans with Disabilities Changed Everything by Annette Bay Pimentel tells the powerful true story of Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins, a young girl who played a historic role in the disability rights movement. At just 8 years old, Jennifer participated in the Capitol Crawl, leaving her wheelchair and crawling up the Capitol steps to demand accessibility for all. Her courage helped push the ADA into law, changing the lives of millions of Americans. ✊♿ @annettebaypimentel @sourcebookskids

🌟 I like this book because:

1️⃣ It uses simple yet powerful language to express the feeling of inequality those with disabilities face.
2️⃣ The nonfiction elements—timeline, key term definitions, photos and a foreword by Jennifer Keelan-Chaffins—add depth and historical context.
3️⃣ The true story gives diverse representation to children with disabilities, showing them they have a voice and can make a difference.

📖 Jennifer’s story is a reminder that change happens when we take action. The ADA was not freely given—it was fought for. This book is an incredible way to teach kids about the importance of advocacy, accessibility, and inclusion.

#disabilityawareness #disabilitypride #disabilityrights #nonfictionforkids #historyforkids #booksforkids #kidlit #childrensbooks #bookrecs #readingtime #raisingawareness #bookish #bookstagrammer

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5 months ago | [YT] | 1

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

✨ Celebrating Disability Pride Month! 💛

Disability Pride Month is all about embracing differences—whether in ability, culture, identity, or the way we think. Neurodiversity is an essential part of this celebration, recognizing that brains work in many beautiful and unique ways. 🧠

📚 Rebel Girls Celebrate Neurodiversity: 25 Tales of Creative Thinkers highlights trailblazing women with neurodivergent minds, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, and more. Their stories prove that thinking differently is a superpower! @rebelgirls

🌟 Meet five inspiring women from the book:

🏅 Breanna Clark – A Paralympic gold medalist in track and field who was diagnosed with autism and has shattered records worldwide.
✍️ Esme Weijun Wang – A best-selling author and essayist who has used her experience with schizoaffective disorder to advocate for mental health awareness.
🎬 Salma Hayek – An award-winning actress and producer who has dyslexia but never let it stop her from becoming a Hollywood icon.
🗣️ Julia Bascom – An autistic writer and activist who fights for disability rights and better representation of neurodivergent people.

📖 Let’s celebrate neurodivergence, creativity, and the power of thinking differently.

#disabilitypride #diversityisbeautiful #diversity #dei #neurodiversity #neurodivergent #equality #booksforkids #booksbooksbooks #bookreviewer #bookworm #kidlit #childrensbooks #booksforkids

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5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 0

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

Today is the 4th of July! 🎆

However, I’m not feeling very patriotic. Although, I’m angry and disappointed, I do still love my country. In fact, I am critical of my country because I love it… our country was founded on the principle that protest and dissent were the tools to evolve and grow.

“𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓃𝓎 𝐹𝑜𝓇𝓂 𝑜𝒻 𝒢𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓃𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒷𝑒𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝒹𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓇𝓊𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓈𝑒 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝓈, 𝒾𝓉 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑅𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒫𝑒𝑜𝓅𝓁𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝓁𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝑜 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓁𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝒾𝓉, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝒾𝓃𝓈𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓌 𝒢𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓃𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉, 𝓁𝒶𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝓃 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓅𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝒾𝓅𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝓇𝑔𝒶𝓃𝒾𝓏𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒻𝑜𝓇𝓂, 𝒶𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂 𝓈𝒽𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝑒𝑒𝓂 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝑜 𝑒𝒻𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝒮𝒶𝒻𝑒𝓉𝓎 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐻𝒶𝓅𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈.” - 𝒟𝑒𝒸𝓁𝒶𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝐼𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓅𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓃𝒸𝑒 📜

It’s easier for me to reflect on the history rather than the present. The 4th of July celebrates the United States’ independence, marking the day in 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

📖 What is the Declaration of Independence? by Michael C. Harris is a nonfiction book that explains how the Founding Fathers wrote and signed the Declaration, why it was important, and how it shaped the country. @penguinkids

✨ 5 Fun Facts About the 4th of July & the Declaration of Independence:

1️⃣ The Declaration of Independence wasn’t fully signed on July 4, 1776—most delegates signed it on August 2!
2️⃣ Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft, but it went through edits before final approval.
3️⃣ John Adams thought July 2nd should be the holiday, since that’s when Congress officially voted for independence.
4️⃣ Fireworks became part of the celebration in 1777.
5️⃣ Three U.S. Presidents died on the 4th of July—John Adams and Thomas Jefferson (both in 1826) and James Monroe (1831).

Our country has made plenty of mistakes and is far from perfect: Thomas Jefferson, the writer of the declaration owned slaves; We stole the land we have today from peoples who lived here for thousands of years; And we deprived millions of people from their inalienable rights guaranteed to them by the declaration for years, and we continue to do so. However… our country is built on hope and progress. And I choose to hope we will continue to grow and live by the promise written down on July 4, 1776.

#4thofjuly #nonfictionforkids #booksforkids #historyforkids #booksbooksbooks #readingcommunity #bookrecs #kidlit

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5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

👶📚 Exploring the Human Body with Little Learners! 🧠💡

📖 My Body by Jill McDonald is a fun and engaging board book introducing babies and toddlers to the wonders of the human body! From head to toes, this book helps little readers understand their amazing bodies through bold words, fun facts, and colorful illustrations. ✨

🌟 Why I love this book:

1️⃣ Bold sight words help develop early literacy skills.
2️⃣ Fun facts throughout the book encourage curiosity and early research skills.
3️⃣ Diverse illustrations represent children of all backgrounds, fostering empathy and inclusion.

📖 A perfect first book to help little learners discover how their bodies work!

#bookaholic #librariesofınstagram #bookgram #booksforkids #booksforbabies #childrensbooks #forparents #forteachers #BookTok #nonfictionbooks #booksfortoddlers #kidlit

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5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

My first children’s book has come full circle! ✨ “If Monuments Could Talk: Notre-Dame” meets the one and only Notre-Dame de Paris 🇫🇷

Seeing my book in front of the monument that inspired it was surreal. It’s been a journey to get to this point, and it’s never complete. I’m still working hard and learning how to promote and market my self-published work. But I’m proud to stand in front of this beautiful cathedral and pose with my book. 🫶🏻

📖 In this nonfiction work, Notre-Dame comes to life and tells its own story to the reader— from medieval Paris to the French Revolution to modern times. It’s a fun, educational journey through history for young readers interested in history, travel, and monuments.

In my book, I want to promote the importance of history at a young age, encourage independent information gathering with resources such as glossaries and timelines, and inspire travel and exploration through the personification of the Notre-Dame. I hope to continue the series with more exciting monuments to come! 🗺️

My mom once said, “imagine what these walls could tell us.” Well, now they can! Let the Notre-Dame show young readers the history it witnessed. 🏰

🛍️ Now available on Amazon and my website! Click the link above or head to my Linktree to grab your copy. ⬆️

#selfpublished #writerlife #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #booksforkids #historybooks #historyforkids #nonfictionbooks #kidlit #bookrecs #forparents #forteachers

6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

🏳️‍🌈 Let’s continue Pride! 🏳️‍⚧️

Pride Month is a time to celebrate love, identity, and the history of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s about honoring trailblazers, activism, and the ongoing fight for equality. One of the best ways to teach kids about Pride, its symbols, and its history is through books that make learning fun and meaningful!

📖 A Child’s Introduction to Pride by Sarah Prager is a vibrant and engaging nonfiction book that explores LGBTQIA+ history, culture, and activism. With kid-friendly language, it covers the meaning behind Pride flags, important historical events, and inspiring figures who have shaped the movement. @sarahpragerbooks @workmanpubkids 🌈

🌟 Three Facts About Pride:

1️⃣ Pride started with a protest. The Stonewall Riots in June 1969, led by LGBTQ+ activists like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, sparked the modern fight for LGBTQIA+ rights. ✊
2️⃣ The rainbow flag was created in 1978. Designed by Gilbert Baker, the original flag had eight colors, each symbolizing different aspects of the LGBTQ+ community, like life, healing, and spirit. 🏳️‍🌈
3️⃣ Pride is celebrated worldwide. While June is Pride Month in many places, different countries hold their own Pride events throughout the year, making it a global celebration of identity and love! 🌍

📖 Pride is about celebrating who you are, honoring those who paved the way, and building a future of love and acceptance. This book is the perfect way to help young readers understand and appreciate LGBTQIA+ history!

#pridemonth #pride #lgbtqia #loveislove #booksforpride #booksforkids #historyforkids #nonfictionbooks #kidlit #forparents #forteachers #raisingreaders

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6 months ago | [YT] | 0

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

🧘‍♀️ Yesterday was World Yoga Day!

Every June 21st, we celebrate World Yoga Day, recognizing the power of movement, mindfulness, and balance for a healthy body and mind. Yoga isn’t just for adults—it’s a wonderful way for kids to build strength, coordination, and relaxation skills too! 🧘‍♂️

📖 My First Yoga: Fun and Simple Yoga Poses for Babies and Toddlers is a wonderful board book that introduces little learners to basic yoga poses through engaging photos, illustrations, and step-by-step flows. It’s never too early to start encouraging movement and mindfulness! @dkbooksus

🌟 Why I love this book:

1️⃣ Encourages movement and a healthy mindset early on, with yoga flow sequences in the back!
2️⃣ Uses real-life photos of young children alongside nature illustrations that represent each pose, making learning interactive and relatable.
3️⃣ Teaches mindfulness and relaxation, supporting social-emotional learning.
4️⃣ Develops fine motor skills, dexterity, balance, and coordination through gentle movement.
5️⃣ Promotes early literacy with bold vocabulary and sight words

📖 A perfect way to introduce little ones to self-care, movement, and body awareness from an early age!

#boardbook #booksforbabies #kidlit #childrensbooks #yogaforkids #mindfulnesspractice #sel #bookreviewer #readingcommunity #booksbooksbooks

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6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Kelsey Rae Dunckel | If Monuments Could Talk

👨‍👧 Happy Father’s Day!

Today, we celebrate the incredible bond between dads and their children, but since I am a daughter, I would like to highlight the remarkable connection between fathers and daughters. A relationship built on love, teamwork, and adventure!

📖 Rebel Girls Dads and Daughters: 25 Tales of Teamwork and Fun shares real-life stories of fathers and daughters who have worked together, pursued dreams, and created lasting legacies. From sports and science to music and activism, this book highlights how dads can empower and uplift their daughters in amazing ways! @rebelgirls

🌟 Meet five inspiring duos from the book:

🎶 Angela & Pepe Aguilar – A father-daughter singing duo continuing a legendary musical legacy in Mexican regional music.
🐊 Bindi & Steve Irwin – The wildlife-loving duo who worked together to protect animals and educate the world about conservation.
🎾 Coco & Corey Gauff – Tennis prodigy Coco Gauff and her dad, Corey, who coached and supported her rise to the top.
💡 Ananya & Sanjay Sharma – A father-daughter science team working on groundbreaking solutions in medicine and health.
🍼 Ghazal & Qazi Farooqi – A father who inspired his daughter’s entrepreneurial journey, leading to a revolutionary baby care brand.

🌟 Why I love this book:

1️⃣ It celebrates real stories of teamwork, mentorship, and fatherly love.
2️⃣ A great mix of fields—music, sports, science, activism, and business.
3️⃣ The stories are engaging and beautifully illustrated, making them fun to read!

📖 Fathers play a huge role in empowering their daughters to chase their dreams. This book is a wonderful way to celebrate those relationships today and every day!

** Swipe right to see me and my dad: my personal example of an empowering father-daughter duo! **

#happyfathersday #dadsanddaughters #girlsdad #childrensbooks #booksforkids #readingcommunity #booksbooksbooks #bookrecs #bookblogger #forparents #forteachers #nonfiction #biography

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6 months ago | [YT] | 0