Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones
Ancient Egypt and the early Old Testament is the overarching theme of our school year. I missed laying this foundation in the early years before learning of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education, so we’re back tracking a bit to build upon it going forward, Lord willing, as we travel through HIS(story) of HIS world. Boy…
Bud & Me by Alta Abernathy
Since we moved to Texas, we’ve been trying to learn as much as we can about its history and culture. So, like typical homeschoolers, we switched gears in the middle of the school year and jumped from Ancient Egypt to the history of the South because that’s where the science of relations was happening in…
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates is an excellent living book on the horror of the slave trade, the sanctity of human life, and the privilege of freedom. Beginning in Africa, the story gives us a glimpse into what life was like for the fifteen year old prince in the At-mun-shi tribe. Torn from…
Caleb’s Lamb by Helen Santos
Caleb’s Lamb by Helen Santos is one of the greatest gems in our collection of children’s stories. Scripture is full of sheep and shepherd imagery: we, the sheep, and Jesus, our Great Shepherd who leads us.Through the mountains and fields with Asher The Shepherd and his flock; and Caleb, Asher’s aspiring shepherd-son and his precious…
Children of the Storm: The Autobiography of Natasha Vins
Children of The Storm by Natasha Vins is a true story that takes place in the Soviet Union during the 1960s and 70s. We could not make it through a single chapter without drawing multiple parallels between the Communist government in Eastern Europe just one generation ago and what is happening here in North America…
The Basket of Flowers by Christoph Von Schmid
If you were to ask our two middle girls what story is their favorite, they would probably say, “The Basket of Flowers.” They have listened to Lamplighter Theatre’s recording of this classic story from the early 1800s dozens of times and nearly have it memorized. God never promised an easy life of wealth and prosperity…
The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes
Most of the books I have collected for our kids were based on memories I had of them growing up, recommendations by trusted friends, or because I had the chance to leaf through the pages at a thrift store and was pleased with what caught my eye. For some reason, I absentmindedly added The Hundred…
A Piece of the Mountain: The Story of Blaise Pascal
One of the books we enjoyed reading for science a few years ago was A Piece of the Mountain: The Story of Blaise Pascal by Joyce McPherson. Living books that cover the STEM disciplines are sometimes more challenging to find, but I think they are especially beneficial to younger children, as they whet their appetites…
Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey by Tyler Van Halteren
A dear friend lent me Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey, a version of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress that has been adapted for the youngest generation, and oh, how much we enjoyed it! Classics that have been abridged usually do a disservice to the original, and to our children. “ [Books] should provide material for their mental growth,…
Making Bombs For Hitler by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch
Last year, I recommended Trapped In Hitler’s Web by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, an author from our previous hometown. We enjoyed it so much, I nearly squealed out loud when I found another one of her books, Making Bombs for Hitler, at a thrift store shortly before we moved. We just finished reading it, two chapters at a time,…
Words On Fire by Jennifer Nielsen
The suppression of truth to advance one’s own agenda is nothing new. (Aren’t we all guilty of leaving out certain details to make ourselves look better?!) Ananias and Sapphira were punished with immediate death for their collaboration in a “white lie” that was made to elevate their appearance to the rest of the church. God…
