We love books around here! Because I always enjoy recommendations from other homeschoolers and avid readers, I’ll periodically share what we’ve been reading.

A few faves from around the web:

• What the modern world has forgotten about children and learning – A long article but worth a read. Reminded me it’s No Big Deal that my 7-year-old boy is not yet a fluent reader.
• How to Minimize your Belongings – Also check out her other posts on minimizing and organizing things like photos and keepsakes.
• “Not a Math Person”: How to Remove Obstacles to Learning Math – Rethinking how we teach math can literally rewrite obstacles to learning for those of us who feel we just don’t have a “math brain.”
• 8 Practical Ways to Change Your Self-Description – Words matter. What we say about ourselves and our lives affects how we view everything.

My Books:

I’m still enjoying my kindle unlimited membership. Our local library doesn’t have a very large a selection of books, and although I do still borrow there, I like having another easy option. My two cents, in case you might be on the fence about trying it. The first three books below were all free with kindle unlimited.

• Crooked Little Lies  – by Barbara Taylor Sissel. A suspenseful story that kept me guessing but wasn’t too much for me; I have to be careful with things like this or I’ll never sleep!
• The Crimson Cord – by Jill Eileen Smith. Biblical fiction about Rahab; this is the first in a series and I’m interested in reading more
• House for Happy Mothers – by Amulya Malladi. Fictionalized account of the real-life surrogate industry in India.
• Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace  – by Sarah Mackenzie. Not done with this one yet but I needed some inspiration for our new homeschool year.

I’ve also been working my way through a giant stack of magazines my awesome and thoughtful mom sent me. 🙂

The kids’ books:

Right now I’m working with my youngest (age 7) on developing his attention span and retention of what we’ve read, so I’m starting with mostly short read-alouds and storylines to hold his interest. So far, so good, although The Tailor of Gloucester (in the Peter Rabbit book) fell a bit flat because there were too many old-fashioned words he doesn’t know yet.

• The Story About Ping – Marjorie Flack
• Tales of Peter Rabbit and His Friends – Beatrix Potter
• The Story of Ferdinand – Munro Leaf
• Farmer Boy – Laura Ingalls Wilder

Scout (9) has been engrossed in Amelia Bedelia books, and finally seems to be beginning to get all the punny humor — as long as I’m nearby so she can ask questions.

Kathryn hasn’t had much time for leisure reading lately, but she’s in the midst of the first of her classic literature for the year: Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. She likes it but doesn’t love it, and it’s slow going. Once she finishes, I’ve recommended she also read a modern novel based on two women who tried to beat the eighty days in Verne’s book: Liz and Nellie by Shonna Slayton. I read this one a few months ago and enjoyed it, but I’ve never read the original story. Yet.

Jamie

Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »