Katherine and Caroline Brickley are a writer/sister duo passionate about inspiring young minds to embrace storytelling. They are the creative force behind the Friendly Bookshelf, a project dedicated to celebrating and encouraging children’s creativity and self-expression.
Katherine and Caroline’s journey into the world of children’s books and empowering young storytellers started with their childhood experiences. Raised in a household that valued the magic of stories, their mother’s unique bedtime tales kindled their love for narrative from a young age. These weren’t just any stories; they were personalized, interactive adventures that excited the entire family.
Katherine recalls their mother’s “mystery club” series in which she and her sister, Caroline, were the detectives, and their pug, Rover, served as the loyal sidekick. These imaginative stories provided them with a sense of adventure and togetherness. The sisters’ passion for storytelling led them to write and illustrate their own stories in countless journals, filling them with original narratives. These journals, now treasured keepsakes, reflect their enduring love for the art of storytelling.
The Brickley sisters are on a remarkable journey to encourage young minds to embrace their narratives, be the authors of their own lives, and, most importantly, fall in love with reading and writing.
During high school, the sisters sought creative outlets to express their art. For their 16th birthday, instead of hosting a traditional sweet 16 party, Katherine and Caroline created a children’s entertainment company specializing in bringing beloved Disney characters to life at birthday parties. Through these experiences, they discovered the profound impact storytelling and character interaction had on children. It was witnessing this reaction that made the sisters want to create those relationships themselves; “It was amazing, seeing the way that the children reacted to the characters as if they were their friends and felt safe with them, even though they had just watched them on a screen. We were like, we really want to create stories of our own that do that,” Katherine told me.
In their junior year of college, Katherine and Caroline published their first children’s book, “The Blossom Shoppe.” The story revolves around twin sisters who operate a quaint flower shop in a gray, lifeless town. The town’s residents fail to see the beauty and meaning in the colorful blossoms, considering them frivolous. However, the determined twins transform their home into a vibrant, exciting place. “The Blossom Shoppe” is a transformative story that emphasizes the power of creativity, self-expression, and positive change.
Katherine and Caroline created “The Friendly Bookshelf” during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. With its flagship character, Bibli the Bookshelf, this project encourages children to see the importance of their own stories and find the confidence to share them. The story begins with Bibli, who, like many of us, had never seen a story about someone like him. On a quest to find such a tale, Bibli discovers that he can be the author- and the main character of his own story. The book highlights the importance of giving children the courage to share their unique stories. Katherine and I talked about this theme and trends in storytelling today. “So many children we’ve worked with feel like they don’t see themselves in the stories they read about and the things they watch. No matter how inclusive something says it is, everybody’s story is so unique that nothing can really capture that. And so, we wanted to create a story that empowered children to find their voices and bravely tell their own stories instead,” she said.
The Brickley Sisters’ commitment to nurturing young minds extends beyond their books. They have brought Bibli to life as a plush character and introduced writing programs in libraries. These programs enable children to write their original stories, become published authors, and receive a special Author Ceremony to commemorate their achievements. The New Canaan Library features a life-sized Bibli in the children’s section, where local kids can add their original stories to his shelves. This innovative initiative has successfully inspired children to write and share their stories. Katherine and Caroline have witnessed the impact of Bibli as children embrace the idea of having their stories showcased in the library for others to enjoy; “We feel so grateful for the support of the New Canaan Library for giving us this amazing opportunity to make our character Bibli a meaningful part of the New Canaan community and allowing us to further our mission to share Bibli and his story’s powerful message,” said Caroline.
Katherine and Caroline’s passion to create a space where children can fall in love with reading and writing drives their work. This December, the sisters will host a storytime event that will, for the first time, be led by children in the community, allowing them to share their stories with their peers. The Brickley sisters are on a remarkable journey to encourage young minds to embrace their narratives, be the authors of their own lives, and, most importantly, fall in love with reading and writing.
To learn more about Katherine and Caroline’s mission to inspire young storytellers, visit their website at thebrickleysisters.com and follow them on social media at @thebrickleysisters, and to register for the storytelling event in December, visit the New Canaan Library website.
