The Martha Years Little House in the Highlands by Melissa Wiley*

 Mrs. Wiley extensively researched life in Scotland in the late 18th century in order to write this series accurately. Martha, Laura Ingalls Wilder's great-grandmother, is the focus in this series. Martha lives in the Stone House in Glencaraid, Scotland, where her father is the laird. Readers join Martha in adventures in the house and outside on the moors. A delightful read! Our extended family just visited Scotland, so it was fun to make connections while I read. My sister-in-law recommended this series to me while we were touring Scotland. 

*Highly recommend.

Eloise Wilkin's Book of Poems by Deborah Wilkin Springett illustrated by Eloise Wilkin

 Sally Clarkson recommended Eloise Wilkin's illustrations in a recent podcast. This book contains poems written by her daughter, Deborah. Deborah's inspiration for the poems were her mother's illustrations. The illustrations are sweet and exquiste. Children will connect to the poems and enjoy their rhymes. 

Consideration: In one poem a child, who is sitting in the pouting chair, shares how he was spanked.

-Borrowed from the library.

Lincoln Logs Creator by Megan Borgert-Spaniol

 John Lloyd Wright

While researching Frank Lloyd Wright for this upcoming school year, I discovered a book about his son, who was also an architect. In addition to being an architect, John Lloyd Wright invented the beloved toy, Lincoln Logs. This book offers a brief overview of his life and the evolution of Lincoln Logs.

Discuss/consideration-he divorced and remarried several times

-Borrowed from the library.

Jonas Hanway's Scurrilous, Scandalous, Shockingly, Sensational Umbrella by Josh Crute illustrated by Eileen Ryan Ewen**

 Jonas Hanway lives in London where its inhabitants are accustomed to rain and being wet. Not Jonas! He hates it. When he begins to use an umbrella, he is laughed at and sometimes even accosted! He perseveres for thirty years. Then Londoners adopt his idea!

The word choice is superb. The narrative is humorous. The illustrations are expressive. I loved the extra information in the back and the brief history of umbrellas page.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell

 Gerald Durrell, a naturalist and founder of Jersey Zoo and the Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust, relates the years he and his family spent on Corfu, an island part of Greece. Having a propensity to collect animals at an early age, Gerald delighted in gathering animals in Corfu and bringing them to the family's villa. Some family members abhorred his hobby, while others tolerated it. Numerous humorous accounts throughout the book made me laugh out loud. I also enjoyed the descriptive nature of his Gerald's writing. Superb writing and word choice

 A couple of homeschool sites/books recommended this book (Gerald is basically homeschooled. .. sparodically. Despite his erratic education, he was very successful as an adult). Because of some of the implied and more direct sexual references, I am refraining from handing this book over to my eighth grader.

Warnings/consider: swearing, sexual references/sensuality, describes animals mating, drinking/adults becoming drunk

-I own this book.

An Amazing Illustrated Atlas of Scotland by David MacPhail illustrated by Anders Frang*

 Our Scottish guide, Iain Stewart, who has an undergraduate degree in history and a masters in folklore, is friends with Mr. MacPhail and acted as a consultant while he wrote this book. Mr. MacPhail dedicated this book to him. My sister-in-law and I were determined to purchase it. After looking in numerous bookstores with no success, at a last bit of effort without much hope, I checked out a grocery on the Isle of Mull before we boarded the ferry. There two copies sat on the shelf! God's provision! We bought them and had him sign them. 

Region by region Mr. MacPhail shares interesting historial and modern facts about Scotland. I wish I had purchased this book in the beginning of our trip so I could consult it as we toured.

*Highly recommend.

-I own this book.

Side-note-Here is a link to Iain's tour company-https://www.serenityscotland.co.uk/about/

The Tall Tale of the Giant's Causeway by Lari Don illustrated by Emilie Gill*

 I bought this Celtic folktale for my nephew and niece while visiting Scotland. I own a version of this folktale retold by Tomie DePaola and was delighted to discover a version written by a Scot. 

Two giants agree to fight it out to prove who is the mightiest. Of course, an intelligent wife saves the day! An entertaining tale!

 Unfortunately, our group was unable to visit Fingal's Cave and Staffa where this story takes place because of high winds.

*Highly recommend.

books by Benedict Blathwayt*

 Recently my in-laws took their sons and families to Scotland/Ireland for a few weeks. The only tokens I bought while there were children's books! At a bookstore on the Isle of Skye, I was drawn to little books illustrated and written by Benedict Blathwayt. Their details and clarity appealed to me. My sister-in-law and I figured out he is the author/illustrator of the The Little Red Train books we both loved sharing with our sons when they were toddlers. Now that we have visited Scotland, I can confidently say that his illustrations depict his country well! At one point he lived on the Isle of Mull, on which we also stayed for a few days. The following two books I bought and highly recommend-

(I kept this one.)

(I gave this one to my nephew and niece.)

Carry on, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham**

-A Newbery Medal winner

 My friend has been sharing with me for years how much she and her family love this book. Finally, I decided to add it to our school reading list. My eighth grader will be reading this novel as part of his literature course this coming school year.

In an engaging narrative format, Ms. Latham shares with reader's Nathaniel Bowditch's life and progress to become a self-educated man and an eventual publisher of his book, The American Practical Navigator. Mr. Bowditch is an impressive, tenacious man-a worthwhile historical figure to study and for teens/children to admire. Individuals who love mathematics will relate to Mr. Bowditch as he often says, "It's simple mathematics." As I read this book, I thought of my mother-in-law and husband . . .both who are very intelligent and who love mathematics. I am confident that my eighth grader will relate to Mr. Bowditch and will thoroughly enjoy this account. 

**Highly, highly recommend.

I own this book.

The Sacred Search by Gary Thomas*

 What If It's Not about Who You Marry, but Why?

The search for a biblical dating book for my teenage son proved challenging. Mr. Thomas takes a different approach to dating. He challenges the reader to marry in order to seek the kingdom of God and to grow in righteousness. He discusses infatuation, sex, when to say no and many more topics. This book may be written for young adults, but I want my son to have a biblical perspective before he begins to date or before infatuation threatens to rule his logic!

*Highly recommend.

I own this book.

Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

Caldecott Award Winner 

While on a trip with our extended family, some of the kids watched one of the Jumanji movies, not realizing it was based on a picture book. Upon returning home, I requested this book for my youngest son to read. 

A brother and sister have to entertain themselves while their parents go to an opera for the afternoon. Soon bored with their household toys, they venture into the park across the street. They discover a board game lying on the ground. Taking it home, they begin to play, very underwhelmed by the game's goals. Soon they are very overwhelmed when the spaces they land on come true!!

-Borrowed from the library.

Nothing to Fear by Jackie French Koller*

 Thirteen-year-old Daniel Garvey learns to be a man during the Great Depression in NYC. When his Pa leaves to find work outside the city, he carries the burden of caring for his pregnant mother and little sister. 

Ms. Koller develops a dynamic, interesting character in Daniel. She immerses the reader into the hardships and challenges families endured during this time. Her word choice and imagery is superb. A great book to read aloud/read when studying the Great Depression. It will make history come alive.

*Highly recommend for 13 years and older. My thirteen-year-old read this book before me and really enjoyed it.

Warning/considerations: swearing, fighting, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse (Daniel's friend Maggie's dad is an abusive, alcoholic), accuses his mom and Hank of "messing around" , He calls Hank a gigolo

-I own this book.

C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower Collector's Edition*

 DVD-recommend for ages 13 and older 

Abbie Halberstadt recommended this TV series in her book M is for Mama. Our whole family enjoyed it! It was refreshing to watch a show where the main character has honor and integrity even if he would be justified in taking a different route. 

Viewers witness Horatio Hornblower rise to high ranks in the British Royal Navy. He encounters despicable men, dire situations, and harrowing challenges. Each episode is packed full of adventure and intense scenes. It is not a relaxing show!

*Highly recommend.

Warning:(why I recommend it for 13 years and older) swearing, intense action/violence (war and fighting), blood/gore from war,  some drinking, some cleavage, a woman prisoner gives herself sexually to a guard so he would release her and her fellow prisoners-you see them together-easy to fast forward/have them turn their eyes

-Borrowed from the library.

Reading with Purpose by Nancy Wilson*

 Applying the Christian Worldview to American Literature 

For the past three years Betsy, on the Redeemed Reader blog, has been sharing her high school homeschool literature plan. In her American Lit. unit she recommended this booklet. 

This quick read discusses why and how Christians should read literature. Most of the book focuses on the different literary movements, their tendencies/traits, and how a Christian should interact with these works. I found it interesting to observe the decline in man's worldview via the themes in literature. In her Appendix she includes a nifty chart that about the changes in worldview over time.   

I plan to have my sixteen-year-old son utilize this booklet this coming school year as he reads American literature.

*Highly recommend. 

She has a strong opinion about a popular Christian series!! I found it amusing and mostly agree with her. Some people may take offense, though! 

-I own this book.

Hooey Higgins and the Shark by Steve Voake illustrated by Emma Dodson

 Hooey and his friend Twig want to purchase the gigantic chocolate egg in the display window at the local candy store. Being resourceful, they charge people to see a sea urchin in the sea near their home. A cast of quirky characters. The story takes place in a seaside British town.  Humor within the story definitely has a British flair!

A perfect book for transitional readers who are building stamina. With short chapters and with plenty of illustrations, newer readers will be able to achieve the accomplishment of reading a chapter book. A couple more books are in the series.

-Borrowed from the library.