How Jane Austen Discovered Her Voice
A fascinating picture book how Jane Austen developed her "voice" and type of story. This book reveals how she transformed and matured as a writer and also reinforces how writing well requires perseverance.
Lots of back matter and even famous lines from her novels included.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
We recently watched and participated in a writing workshop via Read Aloud Revival featuring Irene Latham. She instructed the attendees how to write a nonet poem. After my boys wrote their nonet, they shared it with her via Google Docs, and she commented on their poems and the specific lines. I will publish a review of her book with nonets soon.
This book of poems contains "nestlings", poems derived from another poem. The author may only use words from the source poem to create new poems. I had never heard of this type of poetry. Reading all one-hundred-sixty poems she created, I was amazed at the variety of poems created!
In the back, Ms. Latham explains how to create nestlings.
-Borrowed from the library.
Matilda Pages, aka Tilly, lives with her grandparents in their bookshop called Pages & Co. Her mother disappeared when she was a baby. Her grandparents never discuss her father. Over fall break Tilly begins to see and talk with literary characters, specifically, Anne from Green Gables and Alice from Wonderland. Then she is transported into their stories. . . .Tilly begins to unearth secrets her grandparents have kept, including information about her father. With her new friend Oskar, Tilly ventures into the new world of bookwandering. Can they thwart the plans of the evil Enoch Chalk?
As of April 2021, there are three books in the series.
-Borrowed from the library.
Warning: Matilda Page is born out of wedlock and under unusual circumstances.
Two families joined my sons and me as we read the original play, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Using Ken Ludwig's book, How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare and other resources, I was able to host five "classes"! We had so much fun discussing the play together and sharing favorite lines and parts. The boys ranged from the ages of eleven to fourteen.
I recommend reading a copy with modern English on the opposite page. Below are books different boys/moms used during the "class"-
Folger Library-
-Award winner -John Newbery Medal
I read this aloud to my boys, ages eleven and fourteen. We all thoroughly enjoyed. My fourteen year old liked it the most out of the books I have read aloud so far this year. The boys probably would not have read it on their own. But it is a worthy book to encourage kids to read!
Bud Caldwell is weary of living in the orphange or in foster homes. So after a particularly abusive foster family, he goes on the "lam". He knows his father is Herman E. Calloway, who is part of the famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! From Flint, Michigan, Bud sets off to find his father in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
What I loved about this book was the character development. Bud is so likable and well-developed. Even the gentlemen in the band, minor characters, are well-developed. Mr. Curtis is a master of portraying real life--heartbreaking situations coupled with laugh-out-loud comments and events. This book brought tears to my eyes and also made me burst out laughing.
We also listened to some chapters on audio during weeks we were in the car more frequently. Mr. James Avery was a delight to listen to and portrayed the different characters well.
Warning: Although it is marketed to middle grade, I would recommend it for middle school and up. The themes would be valued more by an older audience/readers. Bud faces abuse in his foster care setting. A girl kisses him, and he likes it! His mom's death is brought up a few times. This is a book I would recommend reading with and discussing with your kids.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-We own this book. We borrowed the audiobook.
Our small group read this book over this past year. Mr. Youssef unpacks I and II Thessalonians. Through vivid analogies and examples, Mr. Youssef creates lasting impressions of God's Word.
-We own this book.
*Highly recommend.
Marcel, the hedgehog, resides in a movie theater with two chickens. After theatergoers leave, the threesome feasts on the leftover candy and popcorn. Despite this pleasant arrangement, Marcel misses Dorothy, his former owner. When the theater closes and Marcel is dumped in the countryside, Marcel commences traveling back to the city and to his Dorothy. Along the way he forms new friendships and begins to deal with his past.
A lot of connections to The Wizard of Oz. I am not a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz so the connections did not excite me! 😉
Warning: One of the characters dies.
-Borrowed from the library.
Surviving a Lost Childhood
If I had had the time, I would have read this book in one sitting. The writing is beautiful and the story compelling. Gary Paulsen shares his personal story of survival, beginning when he was four years old. Since his parents were alcoholics, he roamed the streets for food, shelter, and distraction. Although he experienced horrors and neglect, a couple of people impacted his life in a positive manner-an aunt and uncle and a librarian. Reading this story, I was incredulous that a child and then a young man had to endure such abuse and neglect. But the three people who interacted with him in a positive manner, sprinkled in hope . . .small gestures of kindness may truly affect someone's life in a huge way.
*Highly recommend (see warnings).
-Borrowed from the library.
This book is only appropriate for teens and adults, but for those sensitive teens and parents: . . . . Warnings/points to discuss: can infer that his mother would make herself available to men at bars, parental neglect/abuse, alcohol-abuse, graphic war violence, he watches a woman at a carnival strip (no details were given, but it is clear what he is doing) and referred to the incident as learning about Life from a woman named Wanda-pg. 315, minimal swearing-just a couple of words, when in the army, he shares how the medical personal examined his scrotum and penis with a tongue depressor (not abuse-just routine check-up)
The Strange Creatures that Live On Us, In Us , and Around Us
Husband and wife team!
Magnificent enlarged illustrations and descriptions of common yet maybe unknown creatures! Ms. Page includes the actual size of the creature with each illustration. In the back, Mr. Jenkins includes additional facts, including where each creature can be found on earth.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I loved this book! It is a Read Aloud Revival book of the month.
Readers tag along with Monet at 3:30 A.M. as he captures different moments of light on the Seine River. The word choice is superb. Even though I have read about Monet for many years, I learned a lot about him and his methods from this picture book!
*A definite must-read when studying Monet.
It is amazing to think that the artist Ms. Grandpre (who illustrated the Scholastic editions of Harry Potter book covers) had to paint like Monet while illustrating this book!
The epigraphs are lovely-"I can't begin to describe a day as wonderful as this. One marvel after another, each lasting less than five minutes . . ."
-Borrowed from the library (but I may purchase it!).
*Highly recommend.
Through the style of sijo, a traditional Korean poetry form, Ms. Park introduces the readers to a teacher and her class. The teacher's writing assignment is to explain the "one thing they would save" if their home/apartment was on fire. As the students and teachers dialogue and share, the reader enters their lives and discovers their personalities and struggles.
Amazing how the entire book is in written in sijo!
Point to discuss: Children who have experienced a home fire may be sensitive and turned off by this book. One student does share how he was in a house fire and how the only thing you care about at that moment is "saving your own sorry skin".
Pair with Ms. Park's book Tap Dancing on the Roof.
Teaching idea: Use this book as a writing prompt.
-Borrowed from the library.
Sijo (pronounced SHEE-zho) is an ancient Korean traditional style of poetry. It typically has three lines of thirteen to seventeen syllables. The first line introduces the subject, the second line expounds on it and the third line throws in a surprise. Sometimes the three lines are divided into six shorter lines. Topics usually found in this poetry are broad in range-from personal experiences, relationships, everyday moments, and also describing the nature.
In this book, Ms. Park writes about a lot of different topics (breakfast, long division, frog, soccer). I love how she organized the poems--the reader reads through the season but also one day! The first poem is about breakfast and the last one is titled "Day's End". In between, however, the poem topics follow the season order, beginning with fall and school.
*Highly recommend.
Pair with Ms. Park's newer book, The One Thing You'd Save.
-Borrowed from the library.
What Your Son Needs Most from You
Mrs. Swanson is a mother of four boys, ranging in age from early twenties (I think) to ten/eleven years old. When this book was published in 2019 her oldest son was nineteen and her youngest was eight years old. She maintains a blog and also publishes podcasts https://monicaswanson.com/about/.
Her writing style is friendly and organized. She discusses the importance of establishing a good relationship with your son and then narrows in on specifics that are necessary to raising a boy to a "man who will make the world a better place". She does emphasis the importance of faith and the need for God and for a personal relationship with Christ as the sure foundation to parenting and in the son's life. She covers the whole person-from faith to physical health to mental health to learning/passions to technology to character to influences to dating to work ethic. I especially appreciated her helpful lists at the end of most chapters (her questions to ask your son about dating are thought-provoking!).
Initially, I felt like she was bragging about her older sons, but as I continued to read, she shared some their/her struggles. I realized that was not her intention.
I read this book over several days, but it would be more effective if I had discussed it with another mom (there are action questions at the end of each chapter) .
Although she wrote this book for moms of all boys, even a mom with one boy and numerous girls would glean a lot from it.
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
I absolutely love this book!
Mel, a kingfisher, decides one day that she is going to fly even though she is scared. Readers ride along with Mel in her downward and upward flight. Along the way down, Mel encounters numerous creatures who offer to help her. On her return flight, they applaud her accomplishment in their unique ways.
I love how the readers must orient the book different ways in order to read it. They really are along for the ride!
The author's note explains the habits of kingfishers.
**Highly, highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
-Award winner-Caldecott-Honor
Ambulance driver, Alaa, remains in war-torn Syria to continue to his job. As time passes, he notices the many cats from families who had fled. He begins to feed them. Word about his kindness spreads throughout the world, resulting in people donating finances and supplies. Alaa continues to rescue and to help cats and other animals. In addition, he has recently built an orphange for children whose parents have died because of the ongoing war.
-Borrowed from the library.
Award-winner- A 2021 Schneider Family Book Award Young Children Honor Book
A beautiful picture book that reveals how Itzhak pursued his love for music and for the violin despite physical obstacles.
The illustrations almost seem musical!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.
Our current artist study is Norman Rockwell. Out of the artists we studied this year, he is the boys' favorite (and mine!). Below are a list of books we are utilized:
1. 102 Favorite Paintings by Norman Rockwell with introduction by Christopher Finch-my favorite resource-the paintings are large and give us the opportunity to study them and discuss the story. *Highly recommend. I own this book ($10 from an used book store!).
