Welcome to my site! Or, what Miss Pink, the teacher in Loud Mouse with a fondness for big words, would call my eponymous site. Access to all things Cara Mentzel in one place. I am an author of memoir, essays, and picture books, the latter I wrote with my sister–Idina Menzel—she’s famous, look her up. I taught elementary school for well over a decade and have recently returned to the classroom after a sabbatical.

I spent most of my adult life in Boulder, CO raising a Brady Bunch of boys with my husband. Our youngest son is now twenty three! With an empty nest, I spend my days teaching kindergarten. When I have a rare free moment, I think up new picture books and post to my blog, The Empty Next. Check it out.

xo