As a girl, I think I read Stories from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson at least a dozen times. I loved the stories of the author's precocious grandmother, who was constantly in trouble. I am amazed at the memories in this book - not only the memory of the author, whose grandmother told her the... Continue Reading →
The Courage of Sarah Noble
This year, my younger children and I are exploring American History, and enjoying some wonderful books on our journey. One of those is The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh. I remember my older two children enjoying this book when they read it two years ago, but this was the first time I had... Continue Reading →
Ballet Shoes
Several years ago, I was looking for a book that the children and I could listen to in the car as we drove around town. I picked up Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild a couple of times, and put it down a couple of times. My girls were taking ballet lessons then, and loved them,... Continue Reading →
The Story of the World
One of the great benefits of teaching my children at home is that I get an education as well. I'm learning so much more about history and science that I just didn't get in school - either because the curriculum didn't include the information, or because I didn't understand it. I've always enjoyed history, but... Continue Reading →
The Sign of the Beaver
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare is one of those books I don't think I'll ever tire of reading. The lessons about growing up, independence and the importance of family resonate loudly throughout the book - and the story keeps me turning the pages and my kids begging for "One more chapter!... Continue Reading →
Hill of Fire
In Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis, we read about a volcano that suddenly formed out of a farmer's field. That's the story in one sentence - Lewis builds up beautifully to the moment, describing the farmer's mundane life of living in a small Mexican village, eating breakfast, and working in the fields, complaining... Continue Reading →
Egermeier’s Bible Story Book
I've said before everyone needs to be familiar with the Bible because so much of Western literature alludes to it. A great place to start is The Jesus Storybook Bible, which I've already reviewed. The strength of The Jesus Storybook Bible is also it's weakness. It gives a wonderful overview of the Bible, so that... Continue Reading →
The God King
As my children grow older, I admit I am more and more frequently reading ahead in our school books. It's hard to resist - the books are so great! My new favorite author is Joanne Williamson. She writes historical fiction that's just superb. The God King is one of those books. The main character is... Continue Reading →
Walk the World’s Rim
My younger two children and I just finished reading Walk the World's Rim by Betty Baker this morning. This is my second time through the book, their first. We really enjoy this book, which is a fictional account of a real-life event. A Spanish expedition sailed from Cuba to explore Florida in 1527. Of the... Continue Reading →
Dolphin Adventure
If you have a child in your life who loves animals, especially dolphins, she will love this book! I read Dolphin Adventure aloud to my children several times, and they have read it on their own many more times. Wayne Grover, a deep-sea diver based in Florida, tells the story of how he met a... Continue Reading →
Cultivating Readers 