5 Barriers to Reading Aloud and How to BUST through them!

Does the idea of reading aloud together as a family sound appealing, but the reality seems like an impossibility?

In our beginning years of homeschooling, reading aloud was something we did only if we got everything else checked off the list. Kind of like stuffing that last not so important box into a moving truck if there’s enough room.

As we’ve come to recognize the many benefits of reading aloud, it has become the core of our homeschool.

It is now the first box that goes into our truck and we’ve weaved it into the culture of our home.

But sometimes even if there’s a will to incorporate more reading aloud it feels as though there is not a way to make it happen.

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Following are five common barriers to reading aloud and how to break through them:

Barriers to Reading Aloud

Barrier #1) Not enough time in the day

Solution: Read 5-10 minutes when you can.  Squeeze it into pockets of the day.  Tag it onto a meal where everyone is already sitting together.

Barrier #2) Boring for kids

This is a common barrier for us because our daughter can speed read and it can be pain-staking for her to have to listen, as reading aloud takes a lot longer than reading independently.

Solution: Entice them… Bake a treat. Light a candle. Draw them in. Take the concept of poetry teatime and read a fun book instead.

Use ridiculously funny voices (this even gets the hubs to listen in!) Pick a humorous book.

Here are a few entertaining read-aloud books our kids enjoyed (these are all series books): Pippi Longstocking , The Great Brain,  Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. 

 

 

 

For our all-time FAVORITES, check out this post.

Barrier #3) Kids can’t sit still

Solution: Have them color, paint, draw or play with play-dough or thinking putty while you read.  Let them play legos, wedgits, magnatiles, blocks.  My son LOVES Perler Beads.  Allow them to lie upside down if that helps them focus.  You get the picture.

Let them move around. Many people are better able to listen if their body is moving.  I know of such people because I’m married to one, and a parent to another! 

Barrier #4) Little siblings

Solution: Bring out the crayons, play dough, rice bin, beans, stickers, etc.  Invest in some busy bags., or make your own quiet bins.

If you’re ok with a little TV maybe save the TV for read-aloud time.  I know at our house we don’t do much TV time, but it helps if  we do it at the same time each day and then they know it’s just part of the routine.

Or have a few special activities you only pull out for read-aloud.  Maybe a special toy that can keep their interest.

Barrier #5) You are in survival mode.

Maybe you’ve had a recent health change, or you have crippling fatigue (been there).  There could be a new baby, a death in the family, mental health challenges or other life changes.  Any number of things could cause us to be living in survival mode.

Solution: Audiobooks!  Audiobooks don’t need to be saved for “survival mode” but they are definitely your best option if that’s where you find yourself.

Final Read-Aloud tip:

If you find a book dull, put the book away and try something else.  There are so many books to choose from. Don’t waste your energy on a book you or your children don’t enjoy!


 

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Ancient Greece Book List Grades 3-6

Ancient Greece has been fascinating to study.  We’ve used a variety of books to deepen our knowledge and understanding of this time in history.   A time in history that has contributed to and influenced so many things in our current society.

One of my absolute favorite things about homeschooling is redeeming my own education and getting to dive deep into things that I was only able to “scratch the surface” of during my time in school.

These are the books we used to dive into the world of Ancient Greece.  I gave the suggested age range of grades 3-6 but you know your kids best so don’t feel like you need to be confined to that!

This blog post contains affiliate links and any purchases made through these links will result in a small commission for me (at no cost to you!) 

Our “spine” books that we use for all of history:

A Child’s History of the World by Hillyer.  A great overview of history.

Story of the World Volume 1 We only do SOTW on audiobook, the kids (and hubs!) just love listening to Jim Weiss.

Other books that cover much of history:

Time Traveler  Usborne (this is one to OWN!)

Atlas of World History Another Usborne book!

Non-Fiction Books

Usborne Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece Usborne yet again 🙂

Horrible Histories: The Groovy Greeks and Rotten Roman’s  Confession – these are bit much for my taste BUT based on fact that my kids love it and are learning a ton in the process, I have it on the list…   I catch my daughter reading and re-reading this one often! I got this one off eBay, not sure why it’s priced so ridiculously high on Amazon!

Archimedes and the Door of Science   We were fascinated by Archimedes and his inventions and creativity!

Ancient Greece by Daniel Cohen – Fabulous illustrations and easy to understand text.

Fiction:

D’aulaire book of Greek Myths   BEAUTIFUL illustrations!

Theras and His Town A great historical fiction novel contrasting the Spartans and Athenians.  Probably the book that surprised us the most.  Despite the slow start it ended up being a favorite!

Aesop’s Fables  Illustrated by Arthur Rackham.

Aesop’s Fables: A Pop-Up Book of Classic Tales  This is a great book to introduce younger kids (though my older kids liked it too!) to Aesop’s fables.  The pop outs are incredible.  

The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey  by Rosemary Sutcliff.

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Illiad, also by Rosemary Sutcliff (we actually did not get to this one yet, but is written by the same author as Wanderings of Odysseus)

The Usborne Illustrated Odyssey   Can’t get enough of Usborne! This is a simpler version of the Odyssey and a good book to use to introduce it (The Odyssey) to kids.  

Check out my other history book lists!

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Rome

Middle Ages


 

 

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Let Them Be Bored

It’s been a stormy summer here in the Midwest.  And we’ve been LOVIN’ it.  We get to watch the storms roll in from our back window, and it is just incredible!  But just like the storms outside, there are also storms that roll into our living room.

Yeah… not lovin’ those storms.  

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Summer & Screens

At the start of summer, I made a deal with myself that I was going to limit screens.  Especially for our youngest kiddo, who is a little too attached to the tube.  It’s not easy, and I don’t have any magic formula, but I’ve managed to stay true to good screen limits and at least tame the technological beast.

The biggest thing I have to remember in my weak moments (because let’s face it, there are going to be weak moments…  HELLO, strong-willed child who loves TV vs. tired mama wanting peace), is that my kid’s (not so pretty) plea for screens is like a storm before the calm.   

After he realizes I’m not going to give in, he settles in, whether alone or with his siblings and starts playing, drawing, starts a puzzle, or goes outside, and he’s the happiest child.

Let children get bored.

And unfortunately, things like screens are such a quick fix that if I go to the screen immediately he’s not able to get past that hump and onto “greener pastures” if you will.

Boredom is crucial for our kids.

It’s essential to let them stew in that boredom a little and see what they move on to next.   In our fast-paced culture, immediacy is king and our kids think instant gratification is par for the course.  It’s SO hard to counter that!  This article, Let Children Get Bored Again, sums it up so well.

So next time there is a storm in YOUR living room, think about this: boredom isn’t always a problem to be solved.  It could be just the start of something amazing for your kid!

 


Photo by Flora Westbrook from Pexels

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Why You Should Embrace Homeschool Gaps

In the UK they have a common phrase that’s heard when people are stepping onto the train platform.  “Mind the gap.”  The “gap” refers to the space between the platform and the train.  And one should be careful to step over it and not into it.  Cuz, yikes, that wouldn’t be good!

homeschool gaps

Gaps are scary.

And not just literal gaps, but figurative gaps, you know like… *ahem* education gaps.  Or let’s get more personal.  HOMESCHOOLING gaps.

As a new homeschooler, one of my main goals was making sure we would NOT have education gaps. In fact, that was THE motivating factor in me buying an all in one boxed curriculum for our first two years. The idea of gaps made me tremble in my boots.

Nevermind that there was very little joy using the boxed curriculum. It was my safety net.  It meant that I was doing things right and we were going to cover all our bases.

I often wish I could go back to my first year of homeschooling, and start a little bit differently, a little bit more gently, listening to the interests of my kiddo more.

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Gaps have continued to haunt me over the years.

And I know I’m not alone! Right?

This past year was really the first year that I’ve begun to accept that gaps are inevitable AND that they are OK, and *GASP* even to be embraced!

homeschool gaps

 

In his book, Passion-Driven Education Connor Boyack states this obvious yet important truth:

“Not every person needs to know the same things, let alone all things.”

Every education includes gaps.

A big “a-ha” moment for me was when I truly considered how all educations have gaps.

Think about this…  Did you learn everything you needed to know for life in school, or have you had to learn things “on the fly”?

Guess what?  When you taught yourself something new, you were filling in a gap!

Public school.  Private school.  Charter school.  Homeschool.

You name it.  There are gaps.

There is beauty in the gaps.

Gaps mean our kiddos are spending a good chunk of time studying their interests, rather than only filling their minds with information the curriculum or standards deem important.  Or worse yet, learning something ONLY because it’s going to be on a standardized test.

Gaps mean our kids are growing in skills that they are excited about, and may possibly pursue a career in someday.

Children are more likely to retain information when they’re curious in a subject matter.

And if we’re so busy dotting all of our i’s and crossing our t’s, we’re missing out on those curious moments, and guess what, those are gaps too!  And in my opinion, those gaps are much more grievous.

If we spend our days trying to “mind the gap” in our kid’s education, there may not be time or energy left for them to dive into their interests.

So rather than “minding the gap”, maybe we should keep in mind our child’s interests in our homeschool environment.

Education is not the filling of a bucket but the lighting of a fire.


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Book Review: Britfield & The Lost Crown

I was given a copy of the book Britfield & The Lost Crown by C.R. Stewart in exchange for writing a review.  All thoughts are my own. 

How do you determine a great read-aloud book…?

Is it a classic?

A favorite from your childhood?

Full of adventure?

At our house, the biggest indicator of a successful read-aloud novel is when the kids simply can not get enough of a book.  They are hungry for more.

You know, when you say, “Ok, that’s all for tonight!” and they vehemently respond, “NOOOO!”

We experienced this with Britfield.

Britfield is the story of two orphans, Tom and Sarah, who escape from the terrible orphanage of Weatherly in a search to find Tom’s parents.  They endure many interesting adventures all over England, and along the way discover that Tom may be a true heir to the royal throne.

Packed with adventure, mystery, history, geography tidbits, and themes of friendship, bravery and loyalty, there is much to love about Britfield.   I definitely feel confident recommending this to other families looking for a unique read.   Best for kids in the 8-12 age range.  

It admittedly was a little slow to start but once the adventure kicked in, the kids were hooked. As a side note, I would love to have listened to this one on audiobook, and may choose that format when we read the subsequent books in the series (when they come out!)

A few comments from my kids:

“Britfield is really good. We should get the next book.” – Joe

“Britfield was a book with constant suspense and adventure; I loved it!👍❤️” – Lydia

The highpoints for the kids were the adventure and mystery.  To be honest, I am NOT an adventure person.  I’m more of a history and mystery gal. So the allure of Britfield for me was the description of historic landmarks all over England and the mystery and intrique regarding the royal throne that were tied in.

My son’s interest of England’s geography and history was piqued through reading Britfield.

Whenever you have interest, learning happens naturally, and it doesn’t need to be forced.  THE BEST WAY TO LEARN! In that way, Britfield was like many historical fiction living books we’ve read.

Britfield & The Lost Crown will have it’s national release to the public on August 15, 2019.   If you want to learn more about it now, you can check out their website here.

Want to win your own copy of Britfield?  Enter their giveaway here!

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Read Aloud Book Log 2018-2019

With the 2018-19 school year all done (not that we really ever stop, because the learning is always happening!), I wanted to look back at what we accomplished this last year. Here is our Read Aloud Book Log from 2018-2019.

As you will see, many tied in with our study of ancient history.  These are the books I read aloud with my 9 and 11-year-old.

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Read Aloud Book Log for 2018-2019

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness – The first book in the Wingfeather Saga, this book is Andrew Peterson’s first novel, full of fantasy, humor and adventure.  And the character’s have the best names!

Adam & His Kin – Written by Ruth Beechick, Adam & His Kin gives a picture of what life was like from Adam to Abram.  Should be read alongside the book of Genesis.  This book helped us to see Adam, Noah, Abram, etc. as real people.

A Cry From Egypt – One of my daughter’s now favorites!  A Cry From Egypt, which is a Christian Historical Fiction novel, was a crowd pleaser for sure. It helped us to see what it might have been like to be living as a Jew during the time of the ten plagues and the exodus.

Golden Goblet – A book that gives a picture of what it was like to live as a common Egyptian in Ancient Egypt.  Gives a great picture of what Ancient Egyptian culture was like with fantastic detail.  A little slow to start but then it picks up.   This was a favorite of my son’s.

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson – We read this during the start of baseball season this year.  It’s a sweet story about a Chinese immigrant girl moving to New York.

Adara – Another historical fiction novel (set in the period of the Kings from the Bible).  This one takes place during the time of General Naaman.   This book gave good insight into what life was like during that time.  Kind of slow, but still liked by my kids.

Amon’s Adventure: A Family Story for Easter – We read this the weeks leading up to Easter and it was a favorite!   This book certainly made the time of lent more meaningful for us, and will be read again many times I’m sure!   It helped us reflect on the power and beauty of Jesus’s resurrection.

Jotham’s Journey: A Storybook for Advent – This was our third time reading this one!  We always read to coincide with the advent season.  A powerful little story that always helps us reflect on the meaning of Christmas.

Theras & His Town – This was one was slow to start and we almost stopped reading it.  HOWEVER,  this was perhaps one of the most surprising novels, because we ended up enjoying this one immensely.   And it was especially good for teaching the differences between Athenian and Spartan culture.  A fabulous living book.

Wanderings of Odysseus – Written by Rosemary Sutcliff, this is great retelling of the Odyssey. Still working through (we had to break so we could read Britfield because I’m writing a review for it!)

Britfield – This is the book we are currently reading.  Loving it so far.  Has a historical fiction “feel” but set in modern times.   I’m personally loving the setting of England.   A unique story with a great plot.   This one comes out in August! www.britfield.com

Mysterious Benedict Society – We listened to this one on audiobook.  It’s about 4 smart kids who go on a mysterious mission.  It’s full of codes, puzzles, and intrigue.

Tale of Despereaux – An endearing story about a mouse (who talks!), a rat, a servant, and a princess.

Farmer Boy – The story of Almanzo’s (Laura Ingall’s Wilder’s husband) childhood growing up on a farm.  Has the same feel as the Little House books.  We listened to this one on audiobook.  Great for the whole family!

Anne of Green Gables – Anne is one of my favorite characters and though I love the movie I had never read the book until this year.  We chose to listen on Audiobook.

Crenshaw – This is a story about a family who is going through a difficult time, and a boy and his imaginary friend.  It’s a touching story that my kids really enjoyed.

Wizard of Oz – This was our third time through this classic.  Always a favorite!  We listened to the audiobook version read by Anne Hathaway.

Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – With a similar feel to Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, this is a fun quirky book that would make a great summer read! If you’re well acquainted with children’s literature, this book is sure to delight as there are so many references to children’s books.

Shiloh – Ok, I’ll admit, the kids listened to this one on their own!  It was a short audiobook we did over just a few car trips.  I remember enjoying this as a child so I thought my kids might like it too.  It’s a moving story about a boy saving a dog.  Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is one of my kids’ favorite authors.

 

Here is a list of our favorite read alouds of all time!

 

 

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Vision Therapy: 36 Week Update

Vision Therapy Results

Well, here we are.   Finally at the end of 36 weeks of Vision Therapy.  His therapy pretty much spanned the school year and it seems fitting to be finishing up at the same time as summer just is taking off. We are very happy with his vision therapy results.

I’ll be honest, I’m feeling a bit emotional as I write this.   These last seven years (starting at age 2) have been a journey with our middle son.  Between therapy in the home, therapy in Early Childhood, therapy at the clinic, Brain Balance, integrative doctors, functional medicine doctors, and lots of diet/supplement interventions along the way, we’ve been through a lot.

We’ve not “arrived” by any means, and I’m not sure that we ever will fully.

BUT, I would say that vision therapy was one of our son’s “magic bullets” in unlocking his potential.  He has made huge strides this past year, largely due to Vision Therapy.   So right now, I just sit here, thankful.

It is difficult to accept your child’s delays, but also necessary, so you can love and enjoy them as they are.  And have peace.   However, I do not think we should just stay stuck in this thinking if there is something out there that can help them.

The difficulty is striking the balance between loving them for who they are AND continuing to seek out things that can help them.  This is a balance I have often failed at and other times managed to strike quite well.

For us, homeschooling has been a huge ingredient in our child’s confidence and success.

It has allowed us to customize our son’s education to cater to his passions and strengths while gently working on his weaknesses.   I am grateful to be able to do so.

Ok, had to get that sappy stuff out of the way.   As much as I want this blog to help others, it’s also healing for me to write.  Dual purpose.  Win-win.  Two birds one stone.  🙂

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Here are the gains we’ve seen from Vision Therapy

(many of these were mentioned in the 12 week update I did too):

Ball play is easier

Not as easily fatigued

Considerably fewer headaches

Handwriting improved

Spelling improved (And I should note – I don’t do spelling as a subject!)

Hiking is easier.   He described this as “less stumbling”.   When we went to Yellowstone in the fall, he had to stay near me or hold my hand to feel safe on the paths.  He would often lose his footing or feel unsure on the trails.  This is not an issue now. Just two weeks ago we did a rigorous hike (picture below was taken mid-hike) and this kid was at the head of the pack, trekking with confidence!

Focus while reading much improved.  His words were, “It’s easier to concentrate while reading.”

I love objective results, so I was thrilled to find out he went from reading AND comprehending 128 words per minute for his grade level, to reading and comprehending 208 words per minute for his grade level.  This was a huge jump!

Obviously, we are elated with his progress.    We will still be doing a couple of exercises each day, but in total it should only be about 5 minutes a day.  I’m okay with that!  Especially since he does most of them without my help.

He continues to use this slant board which makes schoolwork, especially writing, easier.


If you want more info about vision therapy, check out this post I did for his 12 week update.

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Busting 5 Myths about Introverts

Introvert or Extrovert?  Does it really even matter?

It was “Greek to me” until my first psychology class.

I love learning about all the different personality types and why people act the way they do (maybe a bit too much, ha!)

I’ve geeked out on learning about “introvertedness” ever since I learned the word, and more significantly, since learning I fell into that category.   It was reassuring to know I wasn’t just weird (I was surrounded by LOTS of extroverts at that time!)

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And since that was right about the time the internet exploded, it wasn’t long before I found a Myers- Briggs personality test online and discovered I’m an INFJ, in which the “I” stands for introvert.

Sometimes people are surprised to find out I’m an introvert.  After all, I’m generally friendly and really do enjoy talking with others.  (Though it’s true that I most enjoy a group that’s three or fewer people.)

There are a lot of misconceptions that surround what it’s like to be an introvert, and I hope to dispel some of those here.

Introvert Myths

Myth #1: Introverts always prefer to be alone.

Truth: Introverts need time alone to RECHARGE – this is the difference.  We ALL need community, and introverts are no different.  However, when an introvert is “all peopled out” they need to retreat and re-charge.  I liken it to charging a phone when it runs out of battery. 

If you’re familiar with the multiple intelligences, introverts tend to be more self-smart.

Myth #2: Introverts don’t like people.  

Truth: Introverts love people just as much as extroverts. They just need to re-charge alone or in a very small group.   Are you seeing a pattern here?!

Introvert ≠ Hermit

Myth #3: Introverts are shy.

Truth: Okay, so it’s probably more likely that a shy person is an introvert rather than an extrovert.  But I know plenty of introverts who are not shy at all.  In fact, many public speakers are introverts.

Myth #4: Introverts only want to be friends with other introverts.

Truth:  It’s true – we introverts do enjoy our introvert friends because let’s face it…. they “get it” when we just don’t want to go out, or need time to do nothing but stare at a wall (haha, kidding!) 

BUT, as an introvert, I can honestly say I enjoy having both introverted and extroverted friends.  It’s nice to see the world through other people’s eyes and it can grow and challenge us!   

Myth #5: You can convert an introvert to be an extrovert.

Truth:  An introvert is just who God meant them to be. 

As one of my favorite authors and speakers, Dr. Kathy Koch says,”Be who you were created you to be.” 

Extroverts and introverts both have different things to offer.  One is not better than the other!

As my mom always told me, the world would be a boring place if we were all the same!

If you’re curious what your Myers-Brigg type is, check out this super easy quiz!


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Why You Should Camp With Your Kids

Bugs, Spiders, TICKS, oh my!  OK, so ticks are a pretty big “oh my!”

But…

Campfires.

Being outside ALL DAY.

Scrumptious Smores.

SCREEN-FREE days that take us back in time.

Memories being made…

Obviously, you can see where my bias lies. 😉  
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I grew up camping so it has never seemed extreme to me.

Though I get it when people say they could never camp.  I’ve heard the comments countless times.

“I don’t do bugs.”

“I’ll sleep in my own bed, thank you very much.”

“I’m a beach person.”

“That’s a lot of work just for a few days.”

And it’s true.

Sleeping in a tent or camper ISN’T quite as luxurious as your warm, free from dirt and bugs, comfy bed.

Camp showers are NOT the same as a nice hot (not to mention high water pressure) shower at home.

Spending hours to prepare to (temporarily) live in an environment where a just a canvas or nylon cloth separates you from the often BRUTAL elements DOES seem a little HUGELY insane.

It IS a lot of work to go camping.

It IS a little uncomfortable to live away from home and the niceties that come with it.

The bugs and ticks ARE a real nuisance.

So WHY do we do it?

Well, the list above says it all.

Family time.  Memories.  And hello…. CAMP FOOD!

I believe the pros outweigh the cons.
Here’s WHY:

Once camp is set up, there is nothing else to do besides enjoy each other and make a camp meal or two.  You can’t be working on household stuff because your house IS the great outdoors. 

Kids are forced into boredom and finding ways to pass the time outside.  When I was a kid we spent a lot of unstructured time outside.  But these days it’s less and less common and kids are in danger of NDD (Nature Deficit Disorder).

Time slows down if only for a few days.  We live in an immediate gratification culture.  Everything is at our fingertips.  We are losing what it means to slow down and be patient.  Camping isn’t the solution, and neither is getting rid of all technology.  However, camping offers a much-needed break from the hectic busy nature of life. 

And let’s be honest, what can compete with the glowing rectangle?!

Camping is a great way to get to know your family better.  When we see each other in different surroundings we learn new things about each other.  For instance, I see my nature-smart kid come alive when we’re camping. Normally quick to get tired, he has a renewed energy being out in the elements.

If you have a nature-smart kid, this book is a great book all about camping, packed with TONS of ideas for meals, activities and more.

Camping helps foster independence in kids.  Children can have some freedom to roam when camping, while still being under your watch.  They can fetch some water or maybe walk to the bathrooms themselves, or bike around a loop.  Possibly even make a new friend.

Now…  about those ticks.

I’ll be honest, I loathe bugs.  Like “scream your head off when they fly near your face” loathing.  Yes, I’m one of those people.   And we’ve been on a few trips where the bugs were BAD.  Usually, that’s when I layer up and spray myself with DEET (not ideal for this semi-crunchy mama).

Ticks are the WORST and I really do understand why some people would avoid camping for this reason alone.  Although I should point out, you can get ticks anywhere…  We had some in your yard when we lived in the suburbs of Chicago!

We’ve learned a few “TICK TRICKS” over time.
  1. Homemade tick spray (recipe here), or OFF for the really wooded areas.
  2. Lint Roller to roll over everybody after a day of playing outside.
  3. Tick Twister (For $5, these are AMAZING!)  We used them to get two TINY deer ticks off my son last summer.  If you are a camping family, this is a MUST HAVE.

Don’t let the ticks deter you from camping!  Use these tricks to deter THEM!

Any great reasons for camping I missed?  Please add them to the comments below!


 

 

 

 

 

 

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Favorite Read Alouds (Mom AND Kid Approved!)

When it comes to read-aloud novels I can think of countless books that are favorites in our family…

And then, there are the favorites of the favorites.

Reading aloud is the spine of our homeschool.  A good majority of our time is spent reading (mostly living books) together.  It is probably my absolute favorite thing about homeschooling.

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I compiled a list of all the books we have read aloud together during the last few years and then pulled our top 5 from that list.

These are perfect for ages 6-12, or elementary age kids!

And they are all kid AND mom approved!

Drum roll please………. (in no particular order)

1) Caddie Woodlawn

Based on a true story, and set in Wisconsin in the 1860’s, Caddie is a spirited young lady who gets into all sorts of mischief fun.  This is one of the most entertaining historical fiction novels we’ve read.

2) Winnie the Pooh 

Who doesn’t love Pooh?!  We especially loved listening to the audiobook version of this book.  The dramatization was fabulous and piglet’s snorts make us burst into giggles every time.  And the characters have such different personalities.  Winnie the Pooh is a classic!

3) Pippi Longstocking

Okay, so full confession here.  Of this list, this is probably MY least favorite.  But when I asked my kids what their favorite read-aloud books were, Pippi was the first book to come out of their mouths.  And it’s been almost 3 years since we read it!  Obviously, it made an impression!  If you’re not familiar with Pippi, she’s a strong-headed orphan girl who lives alone and loves adventure and crazy antics.   (No wonder the kids loved it!)

4) Little Pilgrim’s Progress

Based on the original Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan, this version is a just a teeny bit easier (translate: RIDICULOUSLY easier) for kids to understand.  The author has simplified the vocabulary and written it in modern English (the original is in Old English!) while still maintaining the same beautiful storyline.  This title is a great read for both children and adults, and a FANTASTIC allegory of the Christian life.

5) Amon’s Adventure and Jotham’s journey

We just love these books by Arnold Ytreeide that take us back to the time when Jesus walked the Earth.  I couldn’t pick just one as we loved BOTH of these.  They have helped us understand what it may have been like to have lived during both the time of Jesus’s birth and death and resurrection.   Not only do these books keep you on the edge of your seat, but they also foster spiritual growth and keep you focused on the meaning of Easter and Christmas.

There are three others in the series that we hope to read soon:

Ishtar’s Odyssey, Tabitha’s Travels, and Bartholomew’s Passage


Honorable Mention: A Cry From Egypt

We read this when we studied Ancient Egypt and my daughter has re-read it several times since and wanted to make sure it made the list.  🙂

All of these books, and many others that weren’t mentioned here come up in conversation often, whether it’s an amusing part of a story we remember together, or something meaningful that we dive into deep discussion about.  I love how books have enriched our family culture.

Do you have a “favorite of favorites” read-aloud?  We’d love to know!

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