I'll share if you share

We do a lot of reading around here and I love finding a great book. Sometimes I think I decided to homeschool just so I could justify buying lots of books!

I'm going to try to keep the sidebar updated and would love to hear what you're reading too.

Here are our current favorites:

Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice- Jackson was introduced to Skippyjon Jones by his book-loving friend Anson. This is the latest Skippyjon book and since it comes with a CD of the author reading the book we have just as much fun listening to it in the van as much as we do reading it.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Stories to Read Together - There are a series of these books as well. Haviland just finished her reading curriculum and these are great books with which to follow up. However, the best thing (in my opinion) about these books is that they are set up so the adult reads one part of the text, the child reads another part of the text and then you both read the words together in blue. This lets us really enjoy the stories together instead of me always feeling like the teacher and her the student. Sweet reading!

How to Build an A - I came across this book for Bennett and I think he'll enjoy it very much. He recently announced that he was going to start "school" with us and I admit that I haven't included him very much up to this point. Included with this book are 11 foam pieces that you can build the letters with as you learn your ABCs. At the very least, he'll have something to build with (which is one of his most favorite things to do!)

For science this year, we're focusing on Earth Science and I found these newly written Dr. Seuss books. I admit that even though I know that God's wonders are in His creations, I sometimes find science of any type boring so these may be more about me staying interested so I can muster up some excitement when I teach the kids. :) There is a whole series of these as well; not just the ones I listed.

Oh Say Can You Seed?: All About Flowering Plants (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library)

Oh Say Can You Say What's the Weather Today?: All About Weather (Cat in the Hat's Learning Library)


The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life, 4th Edition- I just finished this book and it was so insightful into what happens as the symptoms of Alzheimer's and Dementia progresses. My grandmother has dementia and as a family we are just beginning to learn the tools to be able to love and serve her. This book was recommended as THE resource book and I agree. Considering 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer's Disease, keep this book in the back of your brain in case you know of anyone that has family members dealing with this uncurable disease.

So, what is Simon reading? Although I didn't list it to the right, he's enjoying reading Training Hearts Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism  to the children at night before bedtime. It is wonderful and if you don't know the basics of the Christian faith (i.e. the purpose of life, what the Lord's Prayer teaches, what Scripture principally teaches) then you will get as much or more out of it than the kids!

And for Whitaker, well I guess he just soaks it all up! :)