Got Books?

We are a book loving, snuggle on the couch, spend hours reading kind of family. I'm sure this is because of my great teaching skills, and my superb ability of passing on my love of reading to both my children.

Either that or kids just love books and it's part of their God given personality. But I'll dwell on the first reason for a bit, okay?

And I'm really kidding - there is no greatness or superbness in this house, at least not on the teacher front. I do my best with my God given ability, and some days that's enough and some days it's only by grace that I make it through. We make it through.

Nevertheless, I do LOVE LOVE (yes, it's a double love) the fact that my kids love books. And Ansley in particular has all of a sudden become this crazy reading obsessed seven year old. Every time I turn around, whether it's when I'm grading her test or taking a short break in school (or just moving too slow for her!), she is reading a book. Or asking me to read a bit thicker one aloud. It comprises a lot of our afternoons, piled on the couch, a child's head on each shoulder (and a baby in the middle!) reading away.

We have discovered some great books. I'm always looking for suggestions, so I thought I'd pass some of our favorites on. I also always place books on hold at our local library and then go pick up a big stack. I mean huge. People stare at us, and almost always an elderly couple will smile and make a comment about being book lovers. We have been known to check out fifty (plus) books at a time.

First up, a newly discovered favorite that Ansley is absolutely CRAZY about, and Christian listens in and then repeats the stories later.

In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson. The chapters are short and very readable. Ansley reads some on her own, and we read some aloud. It takes place in a time that children can't even really imagine (sometimes me either!) and we have lots of fun discussions about the stories. In one story they lose their horse and buggy with their lunch packed in the back while going to town, and the kids are starving all afternoon while they search. Why didn't they just go to a restaurant? Ansley asked. Another story tells of a "new" coat for her, made from her brother's outgrown coat, and all she wants are new buttons. Her mother tells her they need not spend money on any "unnecessary items." Unnecessary?  But buttons are like fifty cents! Ansley says. My how times have changed! There are several books in this series, and you can bet I've already placed my hold on them at the library.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. SUCH a great story about being kind to everyone, becoming more aware that there are many children in the world with far less, and being compassionate. Ansley and I both got teary eyed by the end of this one! A fabulous book.

Dewey: There's a Cat in the Library! by Vicki Myron. This is based on a true story, and for my animal lovers, it is wonderful! This one is more a children's book that Christian loves as well. There is a book called Dewey that I'm trying to find for Ansley as well. Such a sweet story!

 
The Mr Putter and Tabby series by Cynthia Rylant. Both my kids LOVE this series - there are LOTS of them about sweet old Mr Putter and his old cat Tabby and their adventures together. Sweet, sweet stories. Ansley is usually reading these to Christian while I am making lunch. Or cleaning the kitchen. Or making dinner. They LOVE these stories!

Anything by Richard Scarry. Christian especially loves these, but Ansley enjoys them as well. The writing is very engaging, having kids search for different things on the pages, or solving a simple mystery. The illustrations are great, too! I highly recommend these books. This one just happens to be Christian's favorite.

 
Castle Diary by Richard Platt. An intriguing glimpse into a young boy's experiences from the year 1285 with great illustrations. Ansley is fascinated by this one!

This last one is mine. The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary by Susie Larson. This is a GREAT book on overcoming the usual temptations of being a woman (pettiness, comparing, gossiping, etc) and taking the uncommon road to rise above it all. A really great and captivating read.

My images are getting worse, and I'm not sure why since I'm doing the same thing I did with the top ones. But it is frustrating me so I will stop here. I have many more great ones, but I'll save them for another day.

Do you have any great book recommendations? I'd love to know about them!

Comments

[Gina]

My mom read the Grandma's Attic series to my sister and me. My mom loved them as much as we did. I actually wrote a letter to Arleta Richardson in late elementary/middle school and got a response handwritten from her. I wonder where that letter is now...

We also LOVE reading. The following is a list that include some I read as a child that Tabitha has also enjoyed, and some are ones that I did not know of as a child and just recently discovered for her:
The Little House on the Prairie series is a given.
Half Magic by Edgar Eager
Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright (The Melendy Quartet series)
Trixie Belden by Julie Campbell
The Ramona series (and The Henry Huggins series) by Beverly Cleary

MEGAN RESPONDS: Wow, thanks, Gina! We've only read a few of these - I'm off to find them online now! :)

[Laura Campbell]

Megan,

We LOVE to read around here too! I could read and read and read. So could my little boy. Julia is just now starting to sit still and read books.

Anyhow, one book I love is The Gardener (Caldecott Honor Award) by Sarah Stewart. Have you read it? It is set in the Great Depression.

Recently I've discovered a couple of places to find book recommendations. One is from from Sonlight. Even if you don't use their curriculum you can request a catalog or go online. They show specific books for each grade. I checked out one from the library recommended by Sonlight. It is The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury for preK. Christian and Julia love to look through it. It is a compilation of books that would be more for Christian's age. Also, Susan Wise recommends different books per grade from The Well Trained Mind. She also suggests a book called The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I checked it out and plan on buying these last two books simply for their book recommendations.

Thanks for book ideas especially for girls. That is helpful!

Laura Campbell

[Renee]

Thanks so much for taking the time to give your book list. I'll be adding some of these to our next library list. I'll have to post some of our favorites when I have a minute later. Thanks!

[Renee]

For the older girls these days: The Moody Family Series by Sarah Maxwell www.titus2.com
The Story of Priscilla Mullins by Tracy Leininger from the Beautiful Girlhood series www.visionforum.com
Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas
For me: Thru the Bible by J. Vernon McGee
Radical by David Platt
Homeschooling with a Meek and Quiet Spirit by Teri Maxwell www.titus2.com again - mom of the author of the Moody children's books above
Happy reading from one famiy of bookworms to another! :)