From a young age, Cari made up stories. One of her favorite places to make up stories was on her grandpa and grandma's farm in southern Minnesota. There, she would find a quiet little spot in the corn field or on a swing and let her imagination wander.

Cari has lived in Connecticut, Massaschusetts, and Pennsylvania. She now resides on a small hobby farm in Minnesota with her husband, John, their four boys, and a horse named Willie.

Besides writing and reading, Cari loves to ride horses, play pirates, and make dinosaur noises.

[Pronunciation guide: Cari (cuh-rye) Meister (my-stir)]

Bug Race!
illustrated by Burak Senturk
Picture Window Books, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 9781404847460

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow
illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz
Picture Window Books, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 9781404848436

Robin Hood and the Tricky Butcher
illustrated by Necdet Yilmaz
Picture Window Books, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 9781404848405

Tiny on the Farm
illustrated by Rich Davis
Viking, 2008
ages 4 to 8, ISBN 9780670062461

Tiny makes a giant discovery in his first picture book.

Tiny, the lovable giant dog, is starring in his very first picture book! Tiny and Eliot are visiting Uncle John’s farm, and they plan to help with chores. But Uncle John’s cat and her new kittens are missing, so Eliot and Tiny decide to find them. Their hunt takes them all around the farm, and no one is more surprised than Tiny when he discovers the hiding cats.

My Pony Jack at the Horse Show
Viking Juvenile, May 2006
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-670-05919-5

Lacy and her pony, Jack, are competing in a horse show. Lacy gets Jack ready by braiding his mane, combing his tail, and more.When they arrive at the show, Lacy is initially overwhelmed. It’s so big! But once she and Jack get onto the course, they do just fine.They even win a second-place ribbon.

Tiny Goes Camping
Viking Juvenile, May 2006
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-670-89250-1

Tiny and his friend are going camping! First, they gather supplies, then they venture into the great outdoors (a safe backyard) to set up camp and play games. Together they sing songs, chase frogs, and capture fireflies. But when it’s bedtime, they discover Tiny isn’t quite tiny enough for the tent. That’s okay! Tiny always finds his own way to fit anywhere.

My Pony Jack at Riding Lessons
Viking Juvenile, September 2005
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-670-05918-8

This Level 1 reader features simple stories with playful illustrations that capture the charming connection between a girl and her pony.

My Pony Jack
Viking Juvenile, June 2005
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-670-05917-1

Taking care of a pony is fun, but a lot of work is involved. Readers can follow along as Lacy grooms her pony, Jack—from brushing his coat to cleaning his hooves. Illustrations show lots of visual clues that are ideal for kids just learning to read on their own. Includes a glossary of terms.

I Love Trees
Children's Press, March 2005
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-7368-5356-9

Fits national reading standards by linking images to the text to provide picture clues and introducing age-appropriate vocabulary.

Luther's Halloween
Viking Juvenile, August 2004
ages 4-8, ISBN 978-0-670-03555-7

Luther is a pet dinosaur, though that doesn't stop him from trick-or-treating with the rest of the kids. But when Dracula starts stealing candy, it looks as though Halloween will be ruined. Is Luther brave enough to stand up to mean old Dracula?

What Can I Be?
Children's Press, March 2004
ages 8-12, ISBN 978-0-516-27810-0

A young girl wonders what she can be as she tries on different costumes from her dress-up box, and finds that being herself is the best choice.

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