I'm hooked on these at the moment. I've been reading ahead for Vikings this spring and Read 'Raiders from the Sea' by Lois Walfrid Johnson... and now I've just finished the third book of 5 (at least, I hope it's only 5...).
The books have got good things going for them:-
- Great Christian content. Children pray, witness to others and mature as Christians.
- Great models of family life, especially father role model.
- Good on Viking detail
These would be most suited to 8/9 through to 14, at a guess, but I know my 6yo will like no 1 at least. Nice to have something apart from Patricia St John to recommend!
10/10
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Friday, 16 January 2009
Sunday, 7 December 2008
'Caddie Woodlawn' - the verdict is...
... a bit dull. It's hard to pin down why, but L and I have been manfully reading through it now for weeks, never quite finding the time for it, which certainly can't be said for the Little House books.
There are huge similarities with LHITBW; Caddie Woodlawn grows up in Wisconsin in the 1860s; Laura Ingalls Wilder in Wisconsin in the 1880s.
There are two things that really make this a 'won't bother again' book. Firstly, there's not the struggle against harsh conditions that makes LHITBW so riveting; the Woodlawns have done well for themselves, so the things that happen to them are somehow less exciting; maybe as well I didn't like Caddie as much as Laura. The book is also less spiritually uplifting. Although the Little House books I've read aren't particularly explicit about religion, the family acts in a 'Christian' way. This book just doesn't have that spiritual warmth, and it's therefore a less appealing book.
6/10 - OK
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Instant 'dumbed-down' test
For a while I've been using a fairly reliable test to vet books I've not got time to read - in charity shops, for example. It's hardly ever failed me.
Look at the illustrations. If they are classic, attractive and, above all, DETAILED, chances are that the content will be pretty good. If they are scribbly, cartoon-style, generally the content will be as vacant as the illustrations. I'd be interested to hear of some exceptions (perhaps Charlie and Lola - but even those pictures are quite detailed...) The cover test is also reliable. Sparkly - and especially holographic - is BAD!
Oh, yes, and look at the final page. If the author has a strong moral/amoral message, it will usually come out there.
Look at the illustrations. If they are classic, attractive and, above all, DETAILED, chances are that the content will be pretty good. If they are scribbly, cartoon-style, generally the content will be as vacant as the illustrations. I'd be interested to hear of some exceptions (perhaps Charlie and Lola - but even those pictures are quite detailed...) The cover test is also reliable. Sparkly - and especially holographic - is BAD!
Oh, yes, and look at the final page. If the author has a strong moral/amoral message, it will usually come out there.
Artistic Pursuits - stress free art
The price of this course put me off for a year or so - at £20, it's more than I'm used to paying. But I've not been disappointed. We are doing the first book, aimed at K-3. Each of the 30 units is a three page lesson; part one explores something about what artists do- eg 'Artists look', 'Artists communicate' etc; part two is what artists see - this is a brief art appreciation section; the final part is a practical (and quick) project for putting what the student has learnt into practice. Students can see work done by other children to give them ideas/courage!
This course is so incredibly easy to use, I can't think there is any parent out there who couldn't use it, given a little practice and the help of the local art shop.
Find pages to see at
http://www.artisticpursuits.com/ak-3.htm#k-3%20a
Buy from
http://www.conquestbooks.co.uk/search.php?search_text=art&Submit=Find+It%21
Friday, 28 November 2008
'Casting the gods adrift' - Akhenaten
Just finished reading this to L. Based in the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten, it is the story of a boy who becomes a potter in Akhetaten for the royal family, and how his father tries to hatch a plot to kill the Pharaoh - with unexpected consequences. Nice links to actual artefacts, inc the bust of Nefertiti.
This is a book that would benefit from some parental input, given that the boy has another religion and we may not agree with him, particularly his conclusions about religion in the final chapter.
It's a brilliant depiction of the choices people have to make when faced with two religions, one of which is imposed. Some Christian homeschool writers seem to take Akhenaten's decision to worship 'one god' as somehow a step towards worshipping the Lord. This book (without preaching) shows clearly that the Aten, just the sun disk itself, is as much an idol as any other and bears no resemblance to the Lord.
This is richly written, not too long (so great for a history project where there's not really time for a 300 page read-aloud), and probably best suited for 7 up.
10/10
Thursday, 13 November 2008
'Arty Facts' - art inspired by science.
Each book consists of double-spreads on different topics. The left hand page is full of information and really beautiful photos. The right hand side is an art project to reinforce the topic. For example, in the 'Light and Colour' book, the first few topics and activities are:- sunshine/golden sundial; silvery shades/flashing fish; reflections/mirror ball.
The beauty of these books is that the project always turns out individual and is still educational; when we were doing the brain in the 'body' book, dd drew a hugely detailed 'brain city'. It really made her think about the functions of the brain and how they relate to each other.
One of these books would work well as a term's change from a more formal science programme, at 1 to 2 hours a week. Multi age - no problem!
10/10 - give them a look!
'Crafty ideas from science' - the best of the bunch
One of those times when a charity shop book is actually brilliant, rather than pretty much the same as all the other charity shop books you've bought on making science fun...
The beauty of this book is the simplicity. Each page has a hugely simple activity with a clear list of ingredients; it then tells you what result you get. Then there is a little science nugget at the bottom explaining what happened. Yes, there are the usual magnet-powered boats and growing crystals, but also the technical side is streets ahead of other good books I've got. I'll be trying the butterfly garden, making starch and the dancing mothballs.
I'll definitely be using this. It would work well for holiday time. Author - Myrna Daitz. ISBN- 100863273866
The beauty of this book is the simplicity. Each page has a hugely simple activity with a clear list of ingredients; it then tells you what result you get. Then there is a little science nugget at the bottom explaining what happened. Yes, there are the usual magnet-powered boats and growing crystals, but also the technical side is streets ahead of other good books I've got. I'll be trying the butterfly garden, making starch and the dancing mothballs.
I'll definitely be using this. It would work well for holiday time. Author - Myrna Daitz. ISBN- 100863273866
Friday, 24 October 2008
'Tirzah' - Lucille Travis (Egypt, Israelites)
Read this while looking for Egypt or Israelites 'living books' so thought I might as well review it, since it doesn't seem to be on many booklists.
There may be a reason for that! Ok, it's not so bad, but it's not a page-turner. It follows the eponymous heroine through the Exodus and up to the return of the spies and God's judgment on the Israelites about who will see the Promised Land.
I like books with surprises. This had none. To be fair, that's partly because one knows the main story, but a better author could have made that work. It felt like the main characters were sitting watching 'The Ten Commandments', only live action, and commenting on what happens; God judges the Israelites - 'Oh how scared I am'; God blesses them - 'Isn't Yahweh good'. The author makes the poor mother have a pregnancy that lasts over a year, otherwise I didn't spot factual bloomers (but wasn't actively looking...)
The good thing about this book was a great family at its centre, which makes it a decent read, and there were some good scenes to enrich understanding of the Exodus account.
It struck me that, if you set comprehension questions on books, this might be a good one to use; there are lots of issues - obedience to family, God; relationships, justice and judgment, racism etc. Otherwise, watch 'The Ten Commandments' instead.
6/10
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Ancient Egypt: 'A Place in the sun' by Jill Rubalcaba
Just finished pre-reading this. Some people might feel uncomfortable about the emphasis of this book, but I thought it was really useful.
The story is of the young son of a sculptor. His father is bitten by a cobra and, to try and get the god Sekhmet to heal him, he carves a statue. In the process, he accidentally kills a dove, a crime punishable by death. Though saved from death by 'the god', his punishment is severe, but another statue which he carves later in the story saves his life.
This is ideal for the younger crowd, a hard niche to fill. 75 pages of thrills and spills, really well-written. It's a cracking story that delivers the facts as well.
We do see Senmut and others praying to their gods and thanking them for healing, etc. However, opportunities for talking about Christ are handed to you on a plate: for instance, Senmut asks the god (an idol) for mercy; even as he's doing it, he's marvelling at the sort of man who could have made a statue that became a god... In this book, we can see that the Egyptians are pious and believe in their gods, but they are clearly not gods who hold the answers.
10/10
Ancient Egypt Books and Unit
Ancient Egypt Unit and lapbook
I'm in the middle of teaching this at the moment, so it will be updated soon.
CORE BOOKS
Landmark - Landmark book of Ancient Egypt. This is a fabulous read and the spine for this unit. Read-aloud for 6 up.
RSM - The Real Story of Mankind (free ebook - http://www.puritans.net/curriculum/Real%20Story%20of%20Mankind.pdf
Usborne - Usborne Guide to Ancient Egypt. Fits in really well with illustrations for the Landmark.
HPAC ebook - Evan Moor history pockets Ancient Civilizations. I blow hot and cold over these - too simple, but provide lots of nice things to put in a lapbook, so use it a lot.
OTHER USEFUL BOOKS - not worth getting for this unit alone
How children lived (DK) - pp10-11 (Egypt)
FICTION/READ-ALOUDS
Temple Cat - Andrew Clements. Pre K/K. Thin on text; borrow, don't buy.
Casting the gods adrift - Geraldine McCaughrean. E/UE (Akhenaten) - excellent! - see review
A Place in the Sun - Jill Rubalcaba. E/UE (Ramses II) Excellent! - See review.
Tirzah - Lucille UE+ (Passover, exodus, desert); see review.
Cleopatra - Adele Geras E/UE. (Cleopatra) - visually interesting; diary ok and full of historical facts.
Books for older readers, or not managed to source:-
Egyptian Diary - Richard Platt. If it's like Castle Diary, probably very good.
Mara, Daughter of the Nile
The Golden Goblet - Mcgraw...
The Cat of Bubastes - G. A. Henty. I've started the unabridged version and it's a bit slow - maybe (gulp) get an abridged one! There's an audio one out there.
Cleopatra - Diane Stanley
ACTIVITY BOOKS AND OTHER THINGS:-
Punch out Egyptian masks (including Tutankhamen and Nefertiti)
DK Egypt sticker book (excellent)
Bellerophon Egypt colouring book (has Tutankhamen's mask etc)
CD-ROM
History Explorer - bit on Egypt
CD
Egyptian Treasures - Jim Weiss - good; mixture of history and myths. Especially good on discovery of the Valley of the Kings etc.
DVD
BBC Egypt series.
Joseph ('Bible' series - Ben Kingsley) - excellent! About 3 hours long.
The Ten Commandments (Cecil B. DeMille). Again, about 3 hours long: split into sessions. Amazing Exodus crowd scenes. It's slow but satisfying and reverent.
Moses, Prince of Egypt.
Here are the bones of what we are doing. For each 'unit', I've included one historical figure etc and one more vague topic, as dd can't abide studying the latter unless they're slipped under the wire...
1. How do we know about Egypt? - the Rosetta Stone; education and writing
Landmark: 'The Rediscovery of Ancient Egypt'
Usborne for rosetta stone and education/ writing.
DVD - BBC: the mystery of the Rosetta Stone (good reinforcement).
- Key facts: Rosetta stone was in hieroglyphics, demotic and Greek; scholars understood Greek, so could begin to translate. Champollion used cartouches to crack the code
- Make Rosetta stone-shaped accordion book
2. Early history - unification of Egypt under Menes: geography, daily life (nuts and bolts of civilization)
MENES
Landmark - 'Menes' chapter
Usborne pp16-17: Early Egypt
- Key facts: Menes the Unifier united Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3200BC. The red and white crown of Egypt united the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt.
Childhood, toys, pets
How Children lived pp10-11
- Lapbook: make 'Menes the Unifier' card with the crown depicted.
DAILY LIFE
Geography facts
- use a globe and atlas.
- Lapbook: complete HPAC Eypt words to know; colour fertile areas on map
THE NILE
Usborne pp92-3 (travel)
- Lapbook: make the HPAC Nile booklet
HOUSES ETC
Usborne pp74-83
- build lego Eyptian home: compare with Greek one.
FOOD
3. Cheops (Khufu) and the Great Pyramid at Giza; Mummies
CHEOPS
Landmark p40f
Usborne pp18-19 (pyramids, Cheops, Sphinx) and pp66-67 (Giza)
- Make up 'shanty' about what hard work it was to build the Great Pyramid.
- make the little HPAC pyramid.
- Lapbook: make Cheops and Great Pyramid fact card
MUMMIES
Usborne pp60-64
4. Invasion and deliverance; Egyptian religion
5. Queen Hatshepsut, 'His Majesty, Herself'; the role of Pharaoh.
6. Akhnaten; temples and everyday religion; art in Egypt.
Read Landmark; 'The Criminal of Akhetaten'
- Key facts. Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhnaten to reflect is belief in one god rather than the traditional group of gods - the Aten, or the physical disk of the Sun. He moved the court away from Thebes (and the temple of Amun) to the new 'City of the Horizons' he had built in the desert - Akhetaten. The art produced during his reign was very different from the highly stylized forms which had dominated Eghptian art for a thousand years; for example, Akhenaten commissioned pictures of his family in situations from daily life.
7. Tutankhamen
Read Tut's Mummy: Lost and Found
Read Landmark; Tutankhamen half of Akhenaten chapter.
Watch BBC Egypt: Tutankhamen episodes.
- Key facts. Pharaoh Tutankhamen (perhaps the half-brother of Akhenaten) died at 18. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, supported financially by Lord Carnarvon. The importance of the discovery was immense, as every other royal tomb had been robbed. Tutankhamen's tomb was covered by some old huts, which had helped it avoid detection.
8. Ramses II; court life.
- Key Facts. The most famous event of Ramses II's reign was his 'victory' of Kadesh against the Hittites. As the Pharaoh told it, he single-handedly fought off 250 Hittite warriors. More wall-space on Egyptian temples is taken up with this battle than anything else. The battle was not in fact decisive and hostilities against the Hittites only ended with a treaty and Ramses II marrying a daughter of the Hittite king.
By the end of Ramses II's reign, Egypt was on the decline. The Sea Peoples eventually overwhelmed Egypt, then Alexander the Great. The Ptolemies were the last dynasty; the last Pharaoh was Cleopatra.
9. Moses, the Passover, the Exodus.
10. The last Pharaoh - Cleopatra; the fall of Egypt; A Christian perspective.
Read Cleopatra (Geras).
Read The Real Story of Mankind; Egypt section.
LAYOUT OF THE LAPBOOK
Cover - nice colouring page
Centre left page:-
Nile pull-down
Rich and poor minibook
Centre page:- FAMOUS PEOPLE
History fact card pockets
Great Pyramid booklet
Hatshepsut booklet
Akhenaten booklet
Centre left page:- WRITING AND ART
Words to know (ACHP)
Rosetta Stone concertina
Names in hieroglyphics - L, Cleopatra
Akhenaten's art booklet (comparing traditional and Akhenaten's art)
Back of left page:- ARCHAEOLOGY
Mummies
Myth of Isis and Osiris
Discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb booklet
Back pocket for other work
I'm in the middle of teaching this at the moment, so it will be updated soon.
CORE BOOKS
Landmark - Landmark book of Ancient Egypt. This is a fabulous read and the spine for this unit. Read-aloud for 6 up.
RSM - The Real Story of Mankind (free ebook - http://www.puritans.net/curriculum/Real%20Story%20of%20Mankind.pdf
Usborne - Usborne Guide to Ancient Egypt. Fits in really well with illustrations for the Landmark.
HPAC ebook - Evan Moor history pockets Ancient Civilizations. I blow hot and cold over these - too simple, but provide lots of nice things to put in a lapbook, so use it a lot.
OTHER USEFUL BOOKS - not worth getting for this unit alone
How children lived (DK) - pp10-11 (Egypt)
FICTION/READ-ALOUDS
Temple Cat - Andrew Clements. Pre K/K. Thin on text; borrow, don't buy.
Casting the gods adrift - Geraldine McCaughrean. E/UE (Akhenaten) - excellent! - see review
A Place in the Sun - Jill Rubalcaba. E/UE (Ramses II) Excellent! - See review.
Tirzah - Lucille UE+ (Passover, exodus, desert); see review.
Cleopatra - Adele Geras E/UE. (Cleopatra) - visually interesting; diary ok and full of historical facts.
Books for older readers, or not managed to source:-
Egyptian Diary - Richard Platt. If it's like Castle Diary, probably very good.
Mara, Daughter of the Nile
The Golden Goblet - Mcgraw...
The Cat of Bubastes - G. A. Henty. I've started the unabridged version and it's a bit slow - maybe (gulp) get an abridged one! There's an audio one out there.
Cleopatra - Diane Stanley
ACTIVITY BOOKS AND OTHER THINGS:-
Punch out Egyptian masks (including Tutankhamen and Nefertiti)
DK Egypt sticker book (excellent)
Bellerophon Egypt colouring book (has Tutankhamen's mask etc)
CD-ROM
History Explorer - bit on Egypt
CD
Egyptian Treasures - Jim Weiss - good; mixture of history and myths. Especially good on discovery of the Valley of the Kings etc.
DVD
BBC Egypt series.
Joseph ('Bible' series - Ben Kingsley) - excellent! About 3 hours long.
The Ten Commandments (Cecil B. DeMille). Again, about 3 hours long: split into sessions. Amazing Exodus crowd scenes. It's slow but satisfying and reverent.
Moses, Prince of Egypt.
Here are the bones of what we are doing. For each 'unit', I've included one historical figure etc and one more vague topic, as dd can't abide studying the latter unless they're slipped under the wire...
1. How do we know about Egypt? - the Rosetta Stone; education and writing
Landmark: 'The Rediscovery of Ancient Egypt'
Usborne for rosetta stone and education/ writing.
DVD - BBC: the mystery of the Rosetta Stone (good reinforcement).
- Key facts: Rosetta stone was in hieroglyphics, demotic and Greek; scholars understood Greek, so could begin to translate. Champollion used cartouches to crack the code
- Make Rosetta stone-shaped accordion book
2. Early history - unification of Egypt under Menes: geography, daily life (nuts and bolts of civilization)
MENES
Landmark - 'Menes' chapter
Usborne pp16-17: Early Egypt
- Key facts: Menes the Unifier united Upper and Lower Egypt in about 3200BC. The red and white crown of Egypt united the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt.
Childhood, toys, pets
How Children lived pp10-11
- Lapbook: make 'Menes the Unifier' card with the crown depicted.
DAILY LIFE
Geography facts
- use a globe and atlas.
- Lapbook: complete HPAC Eypt words to know; colour fertile areas on map
THE NILE
Usborne pp92-3 (travel)
- Lapbook: make the HPAC Nile booklet
HOUSES ETC
Usborne pp74-83
- build lego Eyptian home: compare with Greek one.
FOOD
3. Cheops (Khufu) and the Great Pyramid at Giza; Mummies
CHEOPS
Landmark p40f
Usborne pp18-19 (pyramids, Cheops, Sphinx) and pp66-67 (Giza)
- Make up 'shanty' about what hard work it was to build the Great Pyramid.
- make the little HPAC pyramid.
- Lapbook: make Cheops and Great Pyramid fact card
MUMMIES
Usborne pp60-64
4. Invasion and deliverance; Egyptian religion
5. Queen Hatshepsut, 'His Majesty, Herself'; the role of Pharaoh.
6. Akhnaten; temples and everyday religion; art in Egypt.
Read Landmark; 'The Criminal of Akhetaten'
- Key facts. Amenhotep IV changed his name to Akhnaten to reflect is belief in one god rather than the traditional group of gods - the Aten, or the physical disk of the Sun. He moved the court away from Thebes (and the temple of Amun) to the new 'City of the Horizons' he had built in the desert - Akhetaten. The art produced during his reign was very different from the highly stylized forms which had dominated Eghptian art for a thousand years; for example, Akhenaten commissioned pictures of his family in situations from daily life.
7. Tutankhamen
Read Tut's Mummy: Lost and Found
Read Landmark; Tutankhamen half of Akhenaten chapter.
Watch BBC Egypt: Tutankhamen episodes.
- Key facts. Pharaoh Tutankhamen (perhaps the half-brother of Akhenaten) died at 18. His tomb was discovered in 1922 by archaeologist Howard Carter, supported financially by Lord Carnarvon. The importance of the discovery was immense, as every other royal tomb had been robbed. Tutankhamen's tomb was covered by some old huts, which had helped it avoid detection.
8. Ramses II; court life.
- Key Facts. The most famous event of Ramses II's reign was his 'victory' of Kadesh against the Hittites. As the Pharaoh told it, he single-handedly fought off 250 Hittite warriors. More wall-space on Egyptian temples is taken up with this battle than anything else. The battle was not in fact decisive and hostilities against the Hittites only ended with a treaty and Ramses II marrying a daughter of the Hittite king.
By the end of Ramses II's reign, Egypt was on the decline. The Sea Peoples eventually overwhelmed Egypt, then Alexander the Great. The Ptolemies were the last dynasty; the last Pharaoh was Cleopatra.
9. Moses, the Passover, the Exodus.
10. The last Pharaoh - Cleopatra; the fall of Egypt; A Christian perspective.
Read Cleopatra (Geras).
Read The Real Story of Mankind; Egypt section.
LAYOUT OF THE LAPBOOK
Cover - nice colouring page
Centre left page:-
Nile pull-down
Rich and poor minibook
Centre page:- FAMOUS PEOPLE
History fact card pockets
Great Pyramid booklet
Hatshepsut booklet
Akhenaten booklet
Centre left page:- WRITING AND ART
Words to know (ACHP)
Rosetta Stone concertina
Names in hieroglyphics - L, Cleopatra
Akhenaten's art booklet (comparing traditional and Akhenaten's art)
Back of left page:- ARCHAEOLOGY
Mummies
Myth of Isis and Osiris
Discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb booklet
Back pocket for other work
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
read aloud booklist: stage 4
What reading stage?:-
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. The books are listed roughly in order of difficulty.
Narnia books - C. S. Lewis
Charlotte's Web - E. B. White
Stig of the Dump - Clive King (but watch the last chapter - looks like child sacrifice for those old enough to understand - it just means missing out a sentence). Otherwise excellent.
Little House series - Laura Ingalls Wilder
101 Dalmatians - Dodie Smith (but NOT The Starlight Barking, which is drivel)
Mr Popper's Penguins - Richard Attwater
Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl. I know it's hard to get away from them, but I don't like the others very much...
Mrs Frisbe and the rats of NIMH - Robert O'Brien
The Borrowers - Mary Norton
The Dolls House - Rumer Godden. Captures tension well, but could be unsettling for a soft-hearted child (though I haven't met many of those...)
The Secret Garden, A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild
The Sign of the Beaver - Elizabeth George Speare
And here are the ones that didn't work for us (sorry if they're your favourites...)
My Father's Dragon - R. S. Gannett. A sort of modern fairy tale that was just too knowing for me - but L loves it.
Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo. Don't get me started. If you want a book reflecting the sense of victory that we have in Christ, don't read this. The small world is made a little better by some self help.
Pinocchio - I stopped reading at the point where Pinocchio was being hung from a tree and was half dead, while a witch with blue hair watched from a nearby house. It's also badly written.
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. The books are listed roughly in order of difficulty.
Narnia books - C. S. Lewis
Charlotte's Web - E. B. White
Stig of the Dump - Clive King (but watch the last chapter - looks like child sacrifice for those old enough to understand - it just means missing out a sentence). Otherwise excellent.
Little House series - Laura Ingalls Wilder
101 Dalmatians - Dodie Smith (but NOT The Starlight Barking, which is drivel)
Mr Popper's Penguins - Richard Attwater
Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl. I know it's hard to get away from them, but I don't like the others very much...
Mrs Frisbe and the rats of NIMH - Robert O'Brien
The Borrowers - Mary Norton
The Dolls House - Rumer Godden. Captures tension well, but could be unsettling for a soft-hearted child (though I haven't met many of those...)
The Secret Garden, A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild
The Sign of the Beaver - Elizabeth George Speare
And here are the ones that didn't work for us (sorry if they're your favourites...)
My Father's Dragon - R. S. Gannett. A sort of modern fairy tale that was just too knowing for me - but L loves it.
Because of Winn-Dixie - Kate DiCamillo. Don't get me started. If you want a book reflecting the sense of victory that we have in Christ, don't read this. The small world is made a little better by some self help.
Pinocchio - I stopped reading at the point where Pinocchio was being hung from a tree and was half dead, while a witch with blue hair watched from a nearby house. It's also badly written.
Bible resources from birth up
These have been the most useful Bible resources for us:-
BIBLES
Adam, Adam, what do you see? - Bill Martin
Beginners' Bible
One Year Bible for Kids, Challenge edition - Tyndale
CATECHISM
Right Choices - Kenneth Taylor
Everything a child should know about God - Kenneth Taylor
A faith to grow on - John MacArthur
HOLY LIVING
Storytime with the Millers, Wisdom and the Millers, Prudence and the Millers, Schooldays and the Millers - Mildred Martin
Little Pilgrim's Progress - Helen Talyor
MUSIC
Hide 'em in your heart - Steve Green
BIBLES
Adam, Adam, what do you see? - Bill Martin
Beginners' Bible
One Year Bible for Kids, Challenge edition - Tyndale
CATECHISM
Right Choices - Kenneth Taylor
Everything a child should know about God - Kenneth Taylor
A faith to grow on - John MacArthur
HOLY LIVING
Storytime with the Millers, Wisdom and the Millers, Prudence and the Millers, Schooldays and the Millers - Mildred Martin
Little Pilgrim's Progress - Helen Talyor
MUSIC
Hide 'em in your heart - Steve Green
Booklist: stage 3
What reading stage?:-
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. These are some of our favourite books, listed roughly in order of difficulty.
The Julian Stories and others by Ann Cameron
Henry Huggins, Henry and Ribsy and others - Beverly Cleary
Ramona series - Beverly Cleary
Flat Stanley - Jeff Brown
Milly Molly Mandy series - Joyce Lankester Brisley
Church Mouse series - Graham Oakley
Boxcar Children and as many of the series as you can take - Gertrude Warner
Famous children series - artists and musicians
Paddle to the Sea, The Tree in the Trail and others by Holling C Holling
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. These are some of our favourite books, listed roughly in order of difficulty.
The Julian Stories and others by Ann Cameron
Henry Huggins, Henry and Ribsy and others - Beverly Cleary
Ramona series - Beverly Cleary
Flat Stanley - Jeff Brown
Milly Molly Mandy series - Joyce Lankester Brisley
Church Mouse series - Graham Oakley
Boxcar Children and as many of the series as you can take - Gertrude Warner
Famous children series - artists and musicians
Paddle to the Sea, The Tree in the Trail and others by Holling C Holling
Booklist: Stage 2
What reading stage?:-
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. These are some of our favourite books, listed roughly in order of difficulty.
Goodnight, Moon - Margaret Wise Brown (also Stage 1)
Floss, First Snow and other Kim Lewis books.
Whistle for Willie and The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats
The Tiger who came to tea - Judith Kerr
Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell
The Alfie series - Shirley Hughes (the odd Bible reference)
Lucy and Tom series - Shirley Hughes
The Mog series - Judith Kerr (but not 'Goodbye, Mog') - cats
No Roses for Harry - Gene Zion
Dogger - Shirley Hughes
A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town, the Gruffalo and others by Julia Donaldson
The Little House and others by Virginia Lee Burton
Hairy Maclary series - Lynley Dodd
Tim series - Edward Ardizzone
Angelina Ballerina series - Katherine Holabird
Stage 1: Evocative text with pictures that enable a parent to talk to the child about what is happening.
Stage 2: Stories of children and their worlds. Appeal to toddlers and very young children. Simple stories but rich text.
Stage 3: Simple chapter books and other books with lots to think about.
Stage 4: Books that are technically for any age but where we found the themes and emotional level suitable for younger children.
I'm aiming to keep this list updated. These are some of our favourite books, listed roughly in order of difficulty.
Goodnight, Moon - Margaret Wise Brown (also Stage 1)
Floss, First Snow and other Kim Lewis books.
Whistle for Willie and The Snowy Day - Ezra Jack Keats
The Tiger who came to tea - Judith Kerr
Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell
The Alfie series - Shirley Hughes (the odd Bible reference)
Lucy and Tom series - Shirley Hughes
The Mog series - Judith Kerr (but not 'Goodbye, Mog') - cats
No Roses for Harry - Gene Zion
Dogger - Shirley Hughes
A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town, the Gruffalo and others by Julia Donaldson
The Little House and others by Virginia Lee Burton
Hairy Maclary series - Lynley Dodd
Tim series - Edward Ardizzone
Angelina Ballerina series - Katherine Holabird
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
'Jotham's Journey'
Having waited so long to get hold of 'Jotham's Journey' (Arnold Ytreeide), in a fit of zeal I have pre-read it to be set for Advent.
Let me just say - what a cracking book this is! It is the story of a little boy in Israel just before Jesus' birth who becomes separated from his family. His search to find them leads him into danger but he ends up finding his family and the Nativity at the same time. The idea is that you light advent candles (though I suppose you could skip this if candles really isn't your thing) and read a chapter as a family each night. After the story, there is a Bible verse or thought about Christmas, and often a prayer.
The only bad points are the strange yellow background to the text and the inconsistent spelling. Spiritually, I just loved it and can't wait to read the book as a family for the first time this year.
WARNING: some scenes are too graphic for young children, though they are easily adapted. For example, the baddie cuts a young boy's fingers off; and the hero and friend fight the baddie in an underground tomb wielding a human leg-bone. I think we will read this book in the morning rather than in the evening, as suggested.
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