Carylee Carrington: Mom of the Month [June 2026]

Carylee Carrington is an award-winning children’s author, literacy advocate, marketing strategist, and founder of Read With Carylee. Read with Carylee is a nationally recognized platform dedicated to amplifying diverse voices in children’s literature. Affectionately known as the Tutu Queen, Carylee inspires children and families to embrace confidence, creativity, and joy through storytelling. She is the author of multiple picture books, including Everyone, Just Like Me and You Name It, Gram Made It. She is a passionate champion for inclusive books in schools and libraries.

 

A TEDx speaker and community leader, Carylee partners with organizations such as Reading Is Fundamental of Northern Virginia, Jack and Jill of America, and Top Ladies of Distinction. She has collaborated with the Washington Wizards and Washington Commanders to promote literacy initiatives that extend beyond the classroom. Through every endeavor, Carylee’s mission remains clear: to make reading joyful, inclusive, and empowering for every child. 

Here is our Q&A with Carylee Carrington

1.What is one motherhood moment that changed you forever?

The moment I realized I had to rebuild from the ground up for my sons changed me forever. Losing stability through a divorce, navigating court battles, and facing seasons of uncertainty forced me to choose strength even when I felt broken. Not being able to even protect the house I had built for my sons, the home that we built, hurt me to my core. Motherhood stopped being just about nurturing — it became about protecting, rebuilding, and showing my boys what resilience looks like in real time.

2. Why is diverse children’s literature personal for you?

Diverse children’s literature is personal because I want my sons and all children to see themselves reflected as powerful, joyful, complex, and worthy. I didn’t always see that growing up. Through Read With Carylee and my own books, I’m intentionally making sure children see characters who look like them, dream like them, and lead boldly. Representation is not a trend, it’s identity formation.

3. What legacy are you intentionally building for your children?

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