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I was close to Amie's age when my love of reading took off.  Amie seems to have turned a corner, and is now devouring chapter books.  She started the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary and is now busy racing through the next ones.
I love, love, love seeing my children enjoy some of my own childhood friends.  

Every time I turn around, I find her curled up somewhere different, nose buried deep into a Ramona book.




Henry Higgins, Henry and Ribsy, Henry and the paper route,  Henry and the clubhouse

• Beezus and Ramona

• Ramona the Pest

• Ramona the Brave

• Ramona and her Father

• Ramona and her Mother

• Ramona Quimby age 8

• Ramona Forever

• Ramona's World

**Amie is 9, what books do your 8/9 year old girls love?  Any must reads?

Labels: reading basket

Stories are often the best way to capture a boy’s attention, the best way to drive home a moral point, and are also just good fun. With so many kid’s books tied into popular cartoons or shows, I fear our kids are missing out on enjoying and learning from classic books. Our boys would be served and shaped better by spending more time with stories of boys taking on manly responsibilities than by emulating the funny, wise-cracking, sarcastic hero of shows popular right now...

Today,I am writing about sharing classic books with our boys,
over at The Mothers of Boys Society.

click over to read the whole article. *Classic books: an ingredient for boy-building

If you have boys in your life, you will find much encouragement and inspiration over at the M.O.B. Society website! :)

Labels: homeschool, reading basket

Book Review: The Two Princesses of Bamarre
by Gail Carson Levine.

This is one of my favorite books, a real treat to give to a young teen reader. The Two Princesses of the kingdom Bamarre, Meryl and Addie are as different in personality as they are different in appearance. Meryl has always, even in childhood, been the brave, adventurous sister. She memorizes and acts out the great epic poem of her country and looks forward to the day she can set out to rid her country of monsters, dragons and illness. Addie is the timid sister, afraid of shadows, afraid of spiders, clinging to Meryl-her protector, fearful of the day her sister will leave her for adventure.

Meryl's favorite childhood game is acting out the Gray Death adventure, a mysterious illness that kills hundreds of people in Bamarre every year. A mystery about how to catch it, and uncurable, their mother died of the illness when they were small. In Meryl's favorite game, her sister Addie is stricken with the illness, and Meryl goes forth on adventure, returning just in time with the unkown cure.

When Addie is 16, the unthinkable happens, Meryl is struck by the Gray Death. Addie hopes her father, a cowardly King- will fulfill the prophecy; "When cowards found courage and rain fell over all Bamarre, the cure would be found"
When the king comes home very quickly from his quest, Addie realizes she must go out and attempt to save her sister.

What follows is a wonderful adventure, filled with peril, love, wickedly intelligent dragons and courage found. She has a bit of help from a sorcerer and some magic gifts her mother left; luck, determination, and deep abiding love for her sister to keep her feet on the adventure thrust upon her.

It is a beautiful story, filled with suspense, and not quite the ending you were expecting.
Not a bad ending, mind you- I would have thrown the book across the room for a bad ending...but it wasn't what I expected..which is good sometimes; formula endings are a bit too-easy, mostly.

For a story hard to put-down, and for a story to inspire your girl to be the hero in her own life, The Two Princesses of Bamarre will truly satisfy.

Labels: book review, reading basket

I wrote in an earlier post about audio books being one of my homeschool secret-weapons.
In this post, I would like to share one of our all-time favorite audio stories, A Coyote's in the House by Elmore Leonard.

Read superbly by Neil Patrick Harris- (really, I could go on and on about what a splendid job he did with this..) this is the story of Antwan, hip & wild Hollywood coyote- living the good life in the Hollywood hills, content to dine on left-overs scrounged outside movie-star homes, watching movies at the drive-in and through windows of homes, enjoying the wild/free life of living coyote.

Antwan is curious about the lives of domesticated dogs, and when he meets Buddy and is invited by Buddy to switch places with him, his curiosity gets the best of him, and he hilariously learns how to be dog. Antwan becomes the new family pet, sharing the house with Buddy and Miss Betty- a showdog. In return for lessons on being a dog, Antwan agrees to teach Buddy how to be wild and to introduce Buddy to Antwan's pack.

This story shines because of the fast and funny dialog between characters. It's wonderful on audio with the entertaining accents done by Neil Patrick Harris. Antwan calls Buddy "homes" and runs with a gang called the "wild diablos"- he exudes coolness. Buddy is the stern ex-dog star, Miss Betty the elegant, stuck-up show dog. The best character reading had to be Lola, the show cat Miss Betty talks Antwan into cat-napping, instead of eating...she is read as a valley-girl-talking aspiring actress, and it is just hilarious.

Antwan is accepted in the family as "our Timmy", Buddy becomes more depressed at being the over-the-hill dog star and Miss Betty comes up with a plan to cheer him up. The plot and adventures get all tangled up in good fun. All my kids, ages 7 up to 14 loved this book, they begged to continue listening everytime we got into the car.
-One warning, the *b word is used twice, in referring to a show dog- it's done in a technical, matter of fact way, not meant to be used as a bad word at all- but it might startle you if you don't know it's coming. My kids don't realize at all that it is used in a bad way, so it did not cause any comment with my bunch. -just a warning.

love this story, give it a 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Labels: book review, reading basket, secret weapon

Everyone loves a good story. Even if they do not know this indisputable truth of life -yet, it still rings true...everyone loves a good story. Your job, homeschool mom- is to reel them in...


My third homeschool secret weapon is...slip them a good, good story
- audio books are a highly effective way to accomplish this.

If you have emergent readers at your home- or even older readers who haven't fallen hard yet for reading...take a peek at the audio books your library has, and prepare to capture your captive audience.

My most successful audio stories to reign in the beginner reader:

• Hank the Cowdog
• The Boxcar Children series
• From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler
  
  

The Boxcar Children are a series of easy chapter books written in the 1920's. Clean and innocent, with mystery. My first attempt at 'reeling' in my new readers was a big success.
~Here was my method, first time out of the box...

Step 1-I borrowed The Boxcar Children book #1-audio, listened to it in the car. The kids were a captive audience, became drawn into the story...and begged to listen to more whenever we were in the car.

Step 2- Brought home The Boxcar Childrn book #2 in regular old book format...began reading it to the kids nightly, and then- got too busy to finish 2 chapters from the end.

Step 3- left the book lying around in open areas...on the dining table/next to the couch/on the kitchen counter.

Step 4- happened on its own, spotted my readers curled up with book, finishing the story.

I keep my eye out for new/fun reads on audio at the library. We enjoy comedy best, but have enjoyed several classics, too. Have a long road trip coming up? Stock up on audio books, they will encourage an interest in books, and introduce wonderful vocabulary.

Hank the Cowdog is our hands-down favorite on audio- and what a treat, the episode supply is almost endless! Other audio books that tickled our funny bones include;

*The Tale of Despereaux ( a work of art!, not to be missed on audio!)
*Ella Enchanted (much different/richer than the movie) *Boston Jane *A Coyote's in the house
*did I mention Hank the Cowdog?...

others we have enjoyed:

*Winnie the pooh *Socks (read by Neil Patrick Harris, he is amazing- he did Coyote in the house, and did a superb job) *Pollyanna (wonderful, Sky loved this one on a long trip)
*Artemis Fowl *The Secret Garden *Chronicles of Narnia *Our only May Amelia

now, go reel them in, mom!

Labels: homeschool, reading basket, secret weapon

Labels: reading basket

I aim to keep my homeschool students busy, interested, motivated; and I love to put an occasional smile on their faces. One secret weapon (I happened to stumble upon) for doing all of these things is my local bookstore.

I thought I'd post a little 'this works for me' sort of post...

We are a family of bookstore-junkies. It is usually the end-destination for Sky and I on date-night, and we've made sure to pass along our bookstore affinity to the kids.
Our thought is that you grow young readers by example, in addition to seeing us reading at home, the kids see their parents enjoying an evening at the bookstore.

We started them on "bookstore night with daddy". The youngest looked forward to learning to read so they would be lucky enough to be invited.


I like to mix it up and take them once in a while during the day. Along with the exciting prospect of being out and about during the day, our trips to the bookstore encourage a love for reading in several (happenstance) ways:

1. The enjoyment of a yummy child's hot cocoa with a good read. I started them off with a few board books, then moved on to children's magazines, and then of course...Calvin & Hobbes [icon status in our home...]

2. reading lessons in a new place. Sometimes I would bring our phonics books with us and conduct a lesson while the other children browsed. I would keep it short and sweet and then let the student reader browse, too.

3. Read alouds. Fun way to dip into some new types of books. We might sit on the stage and be a little theatrical.

4. Prizes. I do not give prizes for expected good/responsible behavior, but I have found that prizes for skills not easily learned are a great motivator. In the past, I have given prizes for each 20 lessons completed in our phonics program - the prize was a trip and a book from the bookstore, and all the kids were invited to come along, so the winner spread the happiness. I've given book prizes for multiplication tables memorized, and lately I've given pennies for classical memory work- which can only be spent at the bookstore.

5. Calvin & Hobbes. If you don't know Calvin, look him up...you will love his imagination and expansive vocabulary. My children were greatly motivated to learn to read so they could enjoy Calvin & Hobbes themselves.

Some of our favorite bookstore finds:

Calvin & Hobbes

Graphic Universe books on classic myths and legends

Garfield

The Warriors graphic novels

and, why- yes, we were at the bookstore today! :)

Labels: homeschool, reading basket, secret weapon

I stumble upon The Awe-Manac a daily dose of wonder by Jill Badonsky at the bookstore, and I had to have it! It's a daily almanac of sorts, but each day it gives you creative quotes, thoughts to inspire you, and ideas to challenge you to act out in some creative way each day. It's got lovely illustrations, too. Love it!



Healthy cooking for your kids is bargained priced over at Barnes & Nobles. It's a hardback and has great photos and some really good sounding recipes.
The Dragon slippers by Jessica Day George -this series is much loved at our house. I've read the first one, it was everything a good fantasy tale for kids should be. Josie is reading book three right now.

Labels: book review, reading basket

Picture books about hens catch my eye, I have a soft-spot for that particular genre. This particular book, I took home with me. Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken is by Kate DiCamillo- the author of The tale of Despereux. It's a keeper, you have to take it home. To sum it up, Louise is a hen who longs for adventures and she has several in this book.
Chapter 1-Louise at sea...it says it all, really.

Here is an excerpt from the inside flap...

"She longed for adventure. So she left her home and ventured out into the wide world. The pleasures and perils she met proved plentiful:...Yet in the face of such daunting danger, our heroine...She was brave. She was fearless. She was feathered. She was a chicken. A not-so-chicken chicken. Her name? Louise."

Illustrations by Harry Bliss are a combination of comic and scenic..-wonderful.

Here are some of the quotable parts that just tickle me, and I quoth these often..as often as I can work them in...

"Louise stood alone on the deck of the ship and let the wind ruffle her feathers..."

and

"Her heart beat fast within her feathered breast." -that is my favorite quote, and it is repeated throughout the story, much to my delight...

..."And inside the henhouse, safe and warm, all the chickens slept the deep and dreamless and peaceful sleep of true adventurers."

sigh. Love it.

Labels: book review, hens, reading basket

First, I will start with a book review:

"The Mother-Daughter Book Club" by Heather Vogel Frederick
is about 4 very different girls roped together by their mothers- to form a book club. The mothers decide the book for the year will be "Little Women". The story of what happens next is told in alternating chapters between the four girls. The girls are each very different from each other, I think young girls reading will find someone in the story to identify with.

Emma is the quiet, bookish daughter of the town's librarian. Jess is Emma's close friend and lives on an organic farm- her mother is working in New York and Jess finds herself missing her mother and dealing with a broken family. Cassidy is the new girl in town, her mother is an ex-super model- a lot to live up to, or to live down- if you are a hockey playing tom-boy who looks nothing like her. Megan is from a newly wealthy family, and used to be best friends with Emma, but is now running with the mean girls.

There is enough information sprinkled throughout the book to get girls interested in Little Women if they have not read it, and girls will not be handicapped by not having read it.
I loved that the girls begin to ask themselves..."what would Jo March do?" - and that at the end of the book when asked which March girl they identified the most with, the girls gave some surprising answers.

I am wary of books with spoiled/bratty kids, disrespect towards family, plain old attitude....we skip over many popular series for this reason...but this book was free from anything off-putting, I thought. There was some tension between a few of the girls and their mothers, but normal - mother/daughter angst...'she doesn't understand' type stuff that was realistic and not over-the-top. The ending was a little too fairy-tale-ish for me- despite the fact I love a happy ending, it was a little too-sweetly wrapped up...but yet, a fun, clean read for girls.
I think it is a can't miss summer read for girls ages 5th to 6th grade...even 7th.

Next, our Summer reading- so far...

I am reading "When the brain can't hear, unraveling the mystery of auditory processing disorder" -see it here at Amazon, I am reading this to understand better how to help our bonus student, Teddy, who has been diagnosed with APD.

I am also reading "Pride and Prejudice", just because I needed a Elizabeth/Darcy fix...

Meg is reading "Double Identity" , which is a mystery/thriller- she has a thirst for those, but it is hard to find ones that are age-appropriate, clean, and won't give her nightmares...I read this one first and approved it- and enjoyed it, a very well-done story. The main character in the story is twelve, and the grade level is listed as 5th to 8th.

Meg is also re-reading the Harry Potter series...

Josie is re-reading the Warriors series... I am reading "Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg" with Demi and Amie right now, and Demi is reading lots of "Calvin & Hobbes", as always.

Next up on our list is "Peter and the Starcatchers" which was recommended
by OC Mom, and "The Mob-feather and bones series" which is a series about crows- a favorite study subject of Meg's, I think she might like it...

So, what are you reading? Any good recommends?

Labels: book review, reading basket

I just love it when learning comes as easily as breathing. Yesterday, the whole family was out in the street, playing football with the neighborhood kids...when I looked behind me and saw a small swarm of bees in our yard. I gathered the kids to make a run for the neighbor's house across the street...but we noticed the swarm move to the corner of our yard and get smaller.
It was a spring-time swarm looking for a new home, and they picked our fence. The first photo most of the bees are inside the rock column, but you get the idea...





Today, as we loaded up the van to head to the library, my 3 youngest students began asking all manner of questions about bees. I picked out several books on bees of course, and a dvd. I think we have our science for the month decided on...

So far, we have Bees (under the microscope),
Honey in a Hive, and Time for kids-Bees!

Labels: homeschool, nature, reading basket

Here is a book that would make a great devotional read-aloud.
Sentinel, city of destiny is aimed at boys ages 8 and up- but girls will enjoy it too.

The story, written in an allegory-pilgrim's progress meets Narnia style-
is about two brothers setting out on a coming of age quest toward the city of Sentinel. They must travel far, face many challenges and find the four keys (courage, integrity, service and vision) to unlock the gate of Sentinel and enter in to serve the King.

The two brothers make very different choices on their journey- beginning with the choice of companions...one brother brings a royal falcon named Prayer, the other brother brings his pet pig named Sin.

The Author wrote this story for his own sons, and he touches on several important topics young men need to consider and learn to approach wisely as they grow up; subjects such as the narrow vs. the broad road, idleness, debt, gambling, gaming, corrupting music, greed, etc.

One brother Jerol, faces his quest with courage and steadfastness...

"As was his morning custom, Jerol spent time reading and meditating upon the Logos, immediately followed by sending Prayer off with more notes to the King." page 131.

Jadan is ruled by his impulses,...
"The brothers stopped and stood in silence studying their choices. "Well, the best way to me is obvious. Come on, follow me," Jadan barked as he hoisted his gear, winked, and quickly headed down the wide road with Sin hurrying to catch up. "Anybody with half a mind can see that the way traveled by the most people has got to be the best way to go!" page 89

The author added his own illustrations, all well done and a helpful addition to the text. My favorite part of the story was the warning on debt- and the illustration was great- here it is:




A picture of Jadan with his fetter, debt- who had grown too large to manage...

Here is an excerpt from that chapter...
"By Jadan's estimation, she was growing at least three hands wider every day! Jadan was in a desparate situation. To feed her, he was forced to trade back every belonging he owned just to survive." page 153


Jadan and Jerol's story is one of warning, imitation and encouragement. Through the actions and choices of the two brothers, your young boys should find warning of what not to do and be, and good example of what kind of character to strive for. The allegory is a gentle way to impress on your boys the lessons you hope they will learn, without lecturing to them- I think story is more often the better vehicle for life's lessons to youngsters.
Passages such as this one; "One particular morning, Jerol began his day as he had many times before. First, he searched the Scrolls for direction. This discipline had proved its worth like a candle in the dark, helping him often to avoid unseen dangers. He then called Prayer and launched him off ..." page 209 and this one, "I know what I can do. I will send out Prayer on his behalf. Prayer is so much stronger than I am.." page 208 - coupled with our example can often speak to a heart better then a hundred urgings.

This story is written for ages 8 and up, and while Demi-Sky, age 8, was really captured by the action, I do think the finer lessons escaped him. I will be re-reading Sentinel to him at age 10 when I think he will absorb it better. Meg age 12 and Josie age 11-though girls and not the intended audience, really enjoyed the story and understood the underlying themes.

The book is meant to be entertaining for the boys and a teaching tool for parents, to that end, you will find a study guide at the back of the book.

The last sentence of the book sums it up, really...

"I hope that hearing about Jadan and Jerol's crossing will help you to find your way to manhood. Just like them, you must choose which road you will take.
Choose Wisely."

Sentinel can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Borders, etc.

Labels: book review, reading basket

Last night I started this read aloud with the younger kids.
Ribsy by Beverly Clearly is a favorite I remember from my childhood.

This book takes place in the 1970's (at least from what I can tell by reading it) and the first chapter was in large part, sights and scenes from my childhood.

Sky and I were discussing it later that night, how I could see, smell, feel and touch Cleary's descriptions because they were the backdrop of my childhood. It was kind of humorous to have to describe for my kids what a station-wagon was, and Sky started in with a "do you remember?-" of the feel of the plastic faux-leather seats that were used in most of the cars then. Sky brought up the memory of how they hardened with age, began to crack and split and then poke you very sharply on your bare legs when you climbed in wearing shorts. All of this remembering-springing from Cleary's descriptions of the new car and plastic smell from Ribsy's point of view. She also described the family going to a shopping center, where the novelty and attraction were several stores in one spot, and a parking lot with plenty of parking and no parking meters. So, again a description was needed for my kids to understand a time before malls and its precursor- the shopping center.

The family read-aloud that began as a literature assignment has morphed into history.

It's kind of strange, being a relic of history past.

p.s. Neil Patrick Harris narrates the audio version of this book, and we thought he did a wonderful job with "Socks", if you are looking for a good audio book...

Labels: reading basket

Here is a fun meme I found over at By Sun and Candlelight...

Book Meme

Rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.
   

"If we had tried to see what a dreadful muss we could make, things could have looked no worse. I think father told her to wait in the carriage, but we heard her cry: "Oh Mr. Stanton, let me see the dear children I'm to teach, and where I'm to work."
Hopped is the word. She hopped from the carriage and came hopping after father."
-Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter (one of my all time favorite books)

So, I am going to tag OC Mom at An Orange County Sitcom, Dawn at Picking up Pebbles,
Daisy at Lesser Road Academy, Lisa at Koinonia Academy and then leave it open for anyone else who would like to play...

Labels: memes, reading basket

I know I am way behind on this, but here goes....
The results of my 2007 Fall reading challenge hosted by Callapidder Days





Non-Fiction:

Lies My Teacher told me- about 2/3 finished...very well written, I am just slow working on this one- I recommend it highly.

Confessions by St. Augustine - barely 1/4 thru...very slow with this one, I am also doing a Teaching Co. audio course on St. Augustine- again, slow going with this.

Added: 101 devotions for Homeschool moms - not finished, but I am trying to stick to one devotion a day so it will last. Sometimes I cheat and read 2... I am enjoying it, very well written and thought provoking.

Added: Jane Austin and her times- Finished! Enjoyed it, though I didn't always agree with the authors conclusions about some of the points in Austin's books.

Added: Mosaic by Amy Grant- Finished! I enjoyed reading it and learning more about the songs I have loved for so long. I thought it was very well written, and I admired that she did not avoid mentioning her ex as if he did not exist, but yet she kept everything private. The book did make me sad though. I enjoyed most discovering that Amy Grant does something we call "pray reading" at our church- each morning before she starts her day.

Dropped: City of God-St. Augustine (because Confessions was first on the teaching co. course)
Orbit- just never got around to it
Teaching the Trivium- just didn't get it ordered

Read aloud:

Laddie - still working on it, but the older girls really love it- I just need to stay consistent about getting the book out to read (this is one of my all-time favorite books!!!)

Fiction:

Miss Julia stands her ground - Finished! I think this was the Miss Julia book I enjoyed the most, because it showed inside her heart regarding little Loyd and his mother. Miss Julia is a hoot, I recommend all the books in the series.


Nineteen Minutes - Finished! This book was one of the hardest for me to read...I will do a book review on it soon. It was a painful read, and it haunted me for weeks.

Size 12 is not fat, Size 14 is not fat either, and added Big boned -all by Meg Cabot
Finished all three! These are all part of a series, and I am hooked now...book review coming

By Bread alone- Finished! Author of one of my favorites, "Blessed are the Cheesemakers"- it was a good read, really sad in some parts, not on my favorite list- but the bread making directions at the end are worth your perusing.

Added: (because fiction is like chocolate and you just can't stop...)

* Cornelia and the audacious escapades of the somerset sisters by L. Blume -*my review*
-Finished!
*Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot (because I am addicted to them)-Finished!

*Miss Julia meets her match, *Miss Julia Strikes back (on a Miss Julia run, too) -Finished!

*Persuasion, Mansfield Park and Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (because I was on a Jane Austin kick, and nothing else would do...) -Finished all! -old favorites

I enjoyed:

I enjoyed the last two Heather Wells mysteries by Meg Cabot- the most (size 14 is not fat, either and Big boned) I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed them, I was not sure after the first book how much I could like the heroine- but she has grown on me- I hope she has another one on the way!!

I also really enjoyed Lies my teacher told me, though parts of it curled my hair...!

I did not enjoy

Nineteen Minutes ;it was a painful read, a painful subject and story. I thought the author did a superb job telling the story. As a homeschool mom it was just awful to read, because all I could think the whole book was, "why didn't they pull him out of school?", and regretting that so many people failed one little boy. The book depressed me, and haunted me for weeks. I do have to say that it changed me some, too. I thought much more about the little moments with my little boy, holding his hand seemed so much more precious.

Well, that wraps up my fall reading challenge- stop by Katrina's place to read more wrap-ups and reviews.

See you at the next challenge!!

Labels: memes, reading basket

I stumbled upon this great read quite by accident, I picked it up thinking it would interest Josie age 10- who seems to be between books right now...She hasn't picked it up yet, but I did- and wow, what a cute/fun/sweet book.

This is homeschool family read-aloud-fun, people!

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley Blume is listed for grades 4-6 or 5-7, but I think it would have a wider interest range as a read-aloud.

Cornelia is the 11 year old heroine of this story, mostly left to herself home alone with servants while her famous, pianist mother tours or vacations. Cornelia is a quiet, introverted little girl-and the housekeeper's attempt to compensate for the lack of attention by her mother -by smothering her-pushes Cornelia to resort to using big words as a shield, isolating her even more. Cornelia also struggles mightily with hating how people only show interest in her because of who her mother is. Just as Cornelia is feeling more alone then ever, a new neighbor moves into the apartment next door. Cornelia becomes friends with fascinating Virginia Somerset who begins to share wonderful stories of the four Somerset girls and their daring adventures during the 1930's and 40's. Cornelia begins to change alittle, and to become a little more adventurous due to the impact Virginia and her stories have on her. The ending was sad, Virginia is elderly and dying, but she makes an effort to connect with Cornelia's mother and influence the healing of their relationship. It was a good, fun story, though sad at times too. The ending was satisfying. Virginia herself says in the story,

"Notice I didn't say that story endings should be tidy, Cornelia," she added solemnly. "Very few stories have tidy endings, or entirely happy ones. But a story can have a positive ending without it being wholly happy."

That is exactly the sort of ending this story has.

It was a really fun, witty and satisfying read that just begs to be read aloud, specially the French parts. The next time you go to say "what?", you just might find yourself asking, "comment?", and you will always think of French china and chiens together and have to laugh.

Put it on your next read aloud list, you won't be disappointed.

Labels: book review, reading basket

Katrina over at Callipidder Days is hosting the Fall into reading challenge 2007- go on over to see a list of participants and to join in.

Here is the list of reading I will attempt to finish this fall:

Fiction: because I blaze through fiction...I love a light read...

Miss Julia stands her ground by Ann B. Ross (imagine a book read out-loud by BooMama) Finished!

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult Finished!

Orbit by J. Nance (was on my Spring reading challenge and I never read it)

Added: Size 12 is not fat-Meg Cabot, Size 14 is not fat, either.
By Bread Alone by Sarah-Kate Lynch Finished, finished, finished!!!



I am sure I will add more later, that is all I can think of right now...

Read aloud with the kids: Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter (last list too, just got too busy)

Nonfiction:

The City of God by St. Augustine (going to listen to a Teaching Co. lecture series on him)

Teaching the Trivium

For the Love of Learning: information and resources for combining Charlotte Mason and Classical education by Jenny Sockey

Added: Confessions by St. Augustine, Lies my teacher told me

Kind of a short list, at least on the fiction side...no kidding, I blaze through fiction. I am sure I will find titles to add.

If you post a list, let me know and I will come look! Happy reading!

Labels: memes, reading basket

Dawn, over at By Sun and Candlelight wrote up this book recommend on a Cynthia Rylant book. We really loved Cynthia Rylant's "Mr Putty and Tabby" series- really a sweet read for beginner readers. Anyways, this new book is about a red squirrel- and we like squirrels. -at least so far, they just moved onto our street about a year ago, so for now they are still a new treat! Dawn gives some good links on squirrels and even one with photos of a drey. If you don't know what that is, go on over and see... I have Dawn on my bloglines list, she is very crafty and very into nature, she inspires me to get outside and do more.

Labels: nature, reading basket

Memo to self: not a good idea to start Harry Potter #7 a week before the start date of homeschool. when.I.should.be.planning/organizing. Just saying...

I have to mention that this afternoon was the perfect storm; bibliophile-wise.

Picture it:

• Me
• a glass of chilled diet coke with a slice of lemon
• a tin of Natural Cougar Gold Cheddar Cheese- aged 2 yrs
• a box of ritz crackers
• a box of water crackers..just cuz I can go back and forth between crackers...
• HP #7, about 2/3 way through...

sometimes your week just can't get any better.

Labels: Jen's world, reading basket

Today is the first day of Summer, and time to do the
Spring reading thing 2007 wrap-up

Katrina hosted the Spring reading challenge over at her place, go *here* to see a list of wrap-ups!

So, how did I do?
Well,... here is what happened with my list:

• Real Learning: Education in the heart of the home by Elizabeth Foss -Finished it, and loved it- it was very good, and very inspiring.
  

• Life Study of Romans by Witness Lee (from last list...it usually takes me a year to get through one of these) well- I'm going to have to move it over to the next list..not done

*The original home education series vol. 1 by Charlotte Mason -finished, what can I say, it's a classic and a gem.

• The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau -finished, really, really good- I did a book review on it *here* I also went on to finish #2 and #3 in this series.

• Orbit by John Nance -didn't read, never reserved it at the library

• The Novelist by Angela Hunt- Finished- very well written, but not something I really enjoyed..but, I was impressed with her writing ability to pull off such a different kind of story.

• Miss Julia speaks her mind by Anne Ross Finished! And I loved it! I went on to read #2 and #3 in this series, and I will for sure look for more. Miss Julia rocks!!

Now I have to add all the other books I read, not on my list...ahem..

*Queen Bees and wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
*Lion boy by Zizou Corder -great read, I am now reading #3 in the series
this book is a great one for kids, very clean.
*Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
*Princess in the Spotlight
*Princess in waiting
*Princess in Love

ahem...yes, I was having a binge-fest, as chronicled in this post...

*Framed by Frank Boyce -Finished, another pre-read for my kids, it was a good read, clean.

-the rest of my list:

read aloud with Josie

• Little House in the Highlands by Melissa Wiley (look for the unabridged version)Finished! but we both read it independently, the tandem reading fell by the wayside.
  

Read aloud with Josie and Meg

• Laddie by Gene Stratton Porter -started, but didn't get far..the kids loved it
  

Read aloud with all 4 children

• 50 famous stories re-told by James Baldwin -2/3 finished, using it for school
  
• How is was with Dooms by Xan Hopcraft -finished, great book- review *here*
  

• Burgess Bird book
  

didn't get to this one, couldn't find a copy-another book for next time!

Labels: book review, memes, reading basket