February 2015 Book Report

Stout Hearts and Whizzing Biscuits: A Patria Story by Daniel McInerny is the first is a series (of two novels and one novella, so far) that has been highly recommended to me from a variety of sources. I was a little nervous because it looked like they might be self-published and sometimes those books were refused by publishers for good reason. I thought it was pretty fun and offered it to First Son (11) who declared it fantastic and read it in a few hours (over two days). First Daughter (8) is reading it now and also enjoying it. It seems to be just challenging enough for her. I had to request it through inter-library loan, but after I suggested it to the library, they have ordered both of the books. My kids are really excited to read the second one! (inter-library loan)

Happy Times in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren is a sequel to The Children of Noisy Village (recommended by Mater Amabilis for Level 1A and a truly delightful book). I learned only recently about the sequel and was thrilled when the library purchased a copy. It's just as delightful. The first book includes a bit more than a hint that Santa Claus does not actually deliver presents which I modified a bit when I was reading it aloud because we like St. Nicholas around here and I didn't want to ruin the fun too early for the girls. There's nothing like that in this book, so I'm comfortable handing it over to First Daughter (8) who will read it independently for her lessons when she finishes the Patria book. (library copy)

The Call of the Wild by Jack London was a book I was going to pre-read for First Son, but decided we'd just listen to it when I saw the library had it on audio CD. I have never read anything by Jack London myself. There were a few scenes in which animals were cruelly treated (most often by other dogs) and one fairly gruesome scene at the end where Buck attacks and kills a large number of people. As far as I know, it was all historically accurate (though fictionalized) and it was certainly beautifully written, but I probably would not have let my girls (6 and 8) listen to it if I had read it myself beforehand. They handled it without comment or gasp, though. It would have been worthwhile independent reading for First Son (11) either for school or summer reading. (audio CD from the library)

The Little Oratory: A Beginner's Guide to Praying in the Home by David Clayton and Leila Marie Lawler - my review. (purchased copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

The Bad Beginning: Or, Orphans! (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 1) by Lemony Snicket
We listened to the audio CD read by Tim Curry. It was delightful. Though awful things happen to the children, just as promised, there are frequent moments of laughter and ridiculousness. We love Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, and can't wait to hear more about them. (audio CD from the library)

The Bible Compass: A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures by Edward Sri was recommended as background reading for Volume 1 of Connecting with History (Ancient History). I read The Drama of Scripture, which Kansas Dad recommended, but thought it would be nice to read this one as well for a Catholic perspective. The first part of the book was a little frustrating as I felt like he was telling me only what the Catechism would tell me about the Bible (which I could look that up myself), but as the book progressed there was more detailed information about Scripture and how to read it. Overall, I feel like it's a good overview, especially for someone who is feeling intimidating about reading the Bible. (purchased copy from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden is recommended by Mater Amabilis in year 2 of level 1A (third grade) for People and Places. I did not consider it for First Son when I saw the plot focused on Japanese dolls, so this is the first time I've read it. A family comes together to create something beautiful and perfect, in the process providing a path for a young girl to establish herself in a new home. First Daughter is going to love it! (library copy)

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas Around the World by Gabriele Galimberti - my review. (review copy from Blogging for Books)

Bleak House by Charles Dickens - my review. (library copy)

Priest on Horseback: Father Farmer, 1720-1786 by Eva K. Betz is a book I read about but was always daunted by the high price as it is out of print. I was delighted to discover it on LibriVox coincidentally as we were studying colonial American history. First Daughter loved the story but the others were not as interested. This book gives a look at what colonial life was like for a traveling priest at a time when many people distrusted or outright hated Catholics. The reader is not my favorite, though I am glad she recorded this book. (listening with the children on LibriVox)

Marriage: The Mystery of Faithful Love by Dietrich von Hildebrand - my review. (inter-library loan copy)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• Open Mind, Faithful Heart by Pope Francis (January 2014) 
• The Education Of Catholic Girls by Janet Erskine Stuart (February 2014)
• Norton Anthology of English Literature Vol 2 (sixth edition) (August 2014)
• The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children by Sofia Cavaletti (September 2014, with a book club at our parish)
• Good Poems ed by Garrison Keillor (October 2014) 
• Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New Evangelization by Scott Hahn (January 2015, with our adult education class at our parish)
• For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay (January 2015, with my Start Here book club)
• The Story of the Amulet by E. Nesbit (February 2015, listening with the children on LibriVox)
• The Story of a Bad Boy by Thomas B. Aldrich (February 2015)
• The Best of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (February 2015)
• The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning by Simcha Fisher (February 2015)
• Humility of Heart by Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (February 2015)

Links to Amazon are affiliate links. As an affiliate with Amazon, I receive a small commission if you follow one of my links, add something to your cart, and complete the purchase (in that order). My homeschooling budget is always grateful for any purchases. 

Links to RC History are affiliate links.

Links to Sacred Heart Books and Gifts are not affiliate links.

These reports are my honest opinions.

My Favorite Picture Books: Ox-Cart Man

Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall with pictures by Barbara Cooney

I read this book with the girls during our first week of school and it's a wonderful way to begin kindergarten or preschool (or end a day or begin a reading session or...well, anytime).

Hall begins in the fall by describing a year's worth of goods grown, sewn, carved, and gathered by a New England family. The ox-cart man loads it all up and travels by the side of his ox to Portsmouth where he sells everything, even the cart and the ox. He buys a few precious things for his family and walks home. Through the coming year, we watch the family again growing, sewing, carving, and harvesting in anticipation of another trip to the market.

Barbara Cooney's illustrations are wonderful as always, warmly illustrating this family's life of hard work and cooperation. The tone and style makes us easily believe they were painted long ago.

This is one of those perfect books that should be read again and again by every family.

Reading Through American History with Picture Books

When First Son was in kindergarten three years ago, we read through American history in picture books. Two or three times a week, we read picture books set in a particular time period. The books selected were mainly based on what I found in library searches and a few I had lying around; I didn't buy anything, but we were still able to read some wonderful books. I've been searching through the blog to find the particularly good ones to include for First Daughter's kindergarten year in 2012-2013. Next year, we won't read quite so many. Instead, I'm trying to find one picture book to read each week that will correspond to First Son's American history studies (Civil War through...well, as far as we get, but I'm hoping to get to September 11, 2001).

Well, I discovered that my blog records of our American history reading are rather hard to navigate, so I decided to write a post to help everyone, myself included, find them more easily.

For every time period, I was looking for living picture books. I was not particularly concerned with imparting factual knowledge like dates or big events. I wanted beautiful picture books that would delight us first and give us a feel for life in the time period second.

August and September: Pre-1600 North America - This group is mainly composed of Native American legends but also includes Columbus.

October: Colonial America through the Revolutionary War - the Mayflower, the Pilgrims, Paul Revere, Molly Pitcher, Johnny Appleseed and George Washington

November and December: Exploration, Expansion, and the Civil War - more tall tales, Sequoyah, Ox-Cart Man, the California Gold Rush, the Underground Railroad, and Abraham Lincoln

January: Reconstruction, Urbanization, and Industrialization (1865-1889) - The Statue of Liberty, immigration, and saving the buffalo

February: The Progressive Era (1890-1913) - Helen Keller, Least of All, George Washington Carver and more immigration

March: World War I and the Jazz Age (1914-1928) - The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Duke Ellington

April: The Great Depression - perseverance, family, and skyscrapers

May: Everything after the Great Depression to the present - John Steuart Curry, Art Tatum, Ella Fitzgerald, and some recommendations for later books

I spent a little time updating these posts, fixing the formatting and a few links that weren't working. I apologize to anyone who received updates in their readers for posts that are three years old.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the last post of the 2012-2013 picture books we used for First Daughter's kindergarten year. It includes links to all five of the posts.

September Book Report

Toliver's Secret by Esther Wood Brady is a wonderful book. Ellen Tolliver feels like she's scared of everything, but she agrees to help her grandfather with an important mission to get information to General Washington about the British as he prepares for the fateful events of December 25, 1776. The book provides a great amount of information about life for average people in the New York and New Jersey area during the Revolutionary War. It also shows some amazing problem-solving skills by the courageous Ellen. It's a great book for young ones and we'll be reading it aloud this year. (library copy)

Did You Carry The Flag Today, Charley? by Rebecca Caudill is a sweet story of Charley, just turned five, who attends The Little School in the Appalachian Mountains. He's an imaginative young boy, innocently finding himself in trouble time after time. In the end, we all learn a little about the magic of learning. This one is going on our list of read alouds, especially for the girls. (library copy)

Pocahontas by Joseph Bruchac is a much deeper and more informative book on Pocahontas than the Clyde Robert Bulla one I read last month. It is also written for much older students. I would guess at least middle school and into high school aged students would benefit the most from this book. It's still historical fiction, imagined from what little is known of Pocahontas and her people, but unlike many other authors, Mr. Bruchac seems to have a real talent for sharing Native American history, tales and lives. Recommended. (library copy)

Kateri Tekakwitha: Mohawk Maiden (Vision Books) by Evelyn M. Brown is one I decided to read with the children. We're studying Native Americans for the first couple of months of school this year and they've recently become fascinated with Tekakwitha. This particular book had one scene early on that I thought was too violent for the little ones, mainly the girls, so I edited it a little while I was reading it. Other than that, it's a solid and enjoyable piece of historical fiction. I haven't read any of the other Vision Books, but would definitely consider them. I am a little annoyed at some of the editorial problems - mainly commas and quotation marks not being properly used (or even consistently used), but those don't matter so much when a book is being read aloud. Kateri is a sweet example of loving Christ even when scared of when family members and close friends do not agree or understand. (purchased used on Amazon)

The Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele was a fun little book describing an exciting trip down the Tennessee River. First Son could read this book but I'm not sure he's quite old enough to understand the difference between Andy's language and behavior and what's currently acceptable. It will be on our list as a possible book in future years.  (library copy)

Protecting the Gift by Gavin De Becker (purchased copy)

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin is a fantastic book, far superior to her Earthsea novels (which I also enjoyed). The Envoy is attempting to interest the people of Winter in joining the Ekumen of Worlds. In doing so, he must bridge the gap between himself and a world in which gender does not exist except for brief times, and a bit longer if a pregnancy ensues. It is a book best saved for older students (and adults), allowing us to discuss gender, relationships, friendships, family and whether Le Guin has imagined an accurate or appealing world. My copy also included a very interesting discussion of gendered-pronouns in the afterword. (library copy)

Well, my list for September is significantly shorter than some previous months. I think it has something to do with starting school. I had no idea second grade, homeschool choir, Catechesis, story hour and soccer would keep me so busy. Though when I write it that way, it doesn't seem like I should have been surprised. I'm reading an excellent book now that I'll share in October and, if all goes as planned, I'll be sitting in on an awesome science fiction - theology class Kansas Dad is team teaching next semester. Hooray for reading!

August Book Report

The Matchlock Gun by Walter D. Edmonds (library copy)

The Hawk and the Dove trilogy by Penelope Wilcock (inter-library loan book)

The House of Power (Atherton, Book 1) by Patrick Carmen is the first of a trilogy of a world created by mankind after Earth's resources were abused and depleted. It begins with a young boy, eleven-year-old Edgar, who discovers a secret book and starts on a quest to find an ally in the powerful land above, the Highlands. The balance of water and of power shift as the land does, bringing war and perhaps even greater dangers. It's a thrilling adventure of loyalty, courage, deception, fear and men's plans gone awry.  Even better, it's wonderfully written. It's recommended for late elementary and middle-school aged children. So far, I see nothing that would preclude First Son from reading it in a year or two. Luckily, I'll have to read to the end of the trilogy to be sure. Be forewarned, the first book ends very much in the midst of the story. (library copy)

Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Series)  by Lisa T. Bergren is a young adult Christian romance, at least in theory. I was looking for something a little lighter than Charlotte Mason's Towards A Philosophy Of Education and this certainly was. Gabi and Lia, her sister, touch perfectly fitted hand prints in an Etruscan tomb (in Italy) and find themselves back in the 1300s. There, they find adventure, romance, and war. It's definitely for more mature young adults with deadly battles in which the girls participate. Though there's nothing beyond a few kisses physically, there's the hint of more, particularly in a malicious sense. I didn't find that much "Christian" about it, either, other than Gabi's occasional, "God are you real?" and "God please save me" thoughts. At first I thought it was badly written, too, but at the end I decided it was just written in a contemporary voice, something I almost never read outside of blogs. I will say this, it was quite exciting. If the next two books were available from my library, I might even read them. I can't say if or when I'd let the girls read them. I'll have to wait and see how Kansas Dad and I feel when they're teenagers. (Kindle version, which was available free for a limited time)

The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties by Toon Tellegen is a delightful collection of stories of animal parties and celebrations. It's silly and lovely at the same time. I'm very much looking forward to reading it with the children this year as a fun read-aloud. The illustrations are wonderful as well. (library copy)

The Bears on Hemlock Mountain by Alice Dalgliesh is on First Son's reading list for the year. It's a bit below his reading level, I think, but I find I need to push First Son to read anything not in a series so I think it's acceptable to vary the challenges he faces in reading. The rest of us will enjoy listening to this story. Hopefully it will be just the right amount of scary for them as Jonathan discovers there still are bears on Hemlock Mountain. (library copy)

Rivers of Fire (Atherton, Book 2) and The Dark Planet (Atherton, Book 3) by Patrick Carman were both read on the drive home from our Missouri vacation. I battled carsickness the whole way, stopping when necessary to stare out the window for a while, but I couldn't bring myself to stop entirely. The second and last books of the trilogy are fascinating, thrilling and full of the unexpected. Though I'm not sure how I feel about a "created" world, and a "created" boy in particular, the story is otherwise compelling and well-written. (There's also a man-made dragon that plays an important role for good in the last book, for those that are familiar with the arguments in A Landscape with Dragons: The Battle for Your Child's Mind.) Overall, I found the trilogy excellent and intend to let First Son read them himself in a few years. The Patrick Carman website recommends the Atherton novels for ages 9-15 and I will probably wait until about the middle of that range. There are quite a few technical complications in the novels that will be better understood with a few more years. Also, there are battles, children in miserable conditions and the whole "created child" issue to address. (both library copies)

Binya's Blue Umbrella by Ruskin Bond is a book I found while searching for picture books on India. It's not a single-session picture book, so we won't be reading it as part of our Asian term, but it is going on the list for the girls to read in second or third grade, depending on their reading levels. Binya is a ten year old girl who trades for a beautiful sky-blue parasol, completely impractical and desperately loved. She carries it everywhere and quickly becomes the envy of everyone in her rural Himalayan village. The book recounts her adventures with the umbrella, culminating in the attempt theft by the local store-owner. Binya finds herself enjoying her umbrella less, knowing how the store-keeper has suffered for his greed and struggles to find a way to resolve her discomfort. I think it's a nice little story with an enjoyable look at life in India for the young reader. (library copy)

The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck is a heart-wrenching tale of a tsunami striking a fishing village in Japan.  Jiya is standing with his best friend, Kino, and Kino's father when the wave hits, watching as his home, father, mother and brother are swept away. While descriptions of the "gods" would need to be placed in context, Kino and Jiya learn what it is to live unafraid in a world full of the unpredictable destruction of nature. The themes of the book place it solidly in the realm of older readers (perhaps late elementary or middle school) despite it's short length. I think it could find a place as a read-aloud for younger children, though, if they have faced such fears themselves or have encountered disturbing images of such destruction and death in the news. Pearl Buck is, of course, a marvelous author. (library copy)

Paul Revere's Ride by David Hackett Fischer (library copy)

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford tells the story of three pets who travel across 300 miles of rugged and dangerous Canadian land to return to their home and owners. Thrilling, tender, well-written, and a wonderful tale set in Canada. Our library has an audio copy so we'll be listening to it. I'll be keeping a close eye on the girls (and the road, of course) to make sure the more frightening parts aren't too scary for them. (library copy)

Pocahontas and the Strangers (Scholastic Biography) by Clyde Robert Bulla is the first Bulla book I've read that I didn't love. It's a fictionalized account of Pocahontas's life. Though it does seem reasonably accurate in the details of Algonquin life, it's difficult to sympathize with Pocahontas. She seems like a spoiled, disobedient princess. I suppose the idea was to recognizer her contributions to the people of Jamestown as heroic, but I was not impressed by her actions. In addition, the writing is surprisingly awkward, not at all what I've come to expect from Bulla. I am not going to ask First Son to read this when we study Jamestown. I may allow him to read it on his own if he likes (which he probably wouldn't). (PaperBackSwap.com)

Squanto, Friend Of The Pilgrims (Scholastic Biography) by Clyde Robert Bulla is a better book than Pocahontas and the Strangers (see above), but I was not overwhelmingly impressed. Mayflower, while obviously more nuanced than a children's book could be, gave a much more interesting impression of Squanto. I think I may put this book where First Son can glace through it if he likes, but if we read anything on Squanto, it will be Squanto's Journey. (PaperBackSwap.com)

Mr. Revere and I: Being an Account of certain Episodes in the Career of Paul Revere,Esq. as Revealed by his Horse  by Robert Lawson is an account of the events leading up to the first shots at Lexington and Concord as told by Paul Revere's horse, who conveniently has (literally) a window into the Revere kitchen. It is most certainly not historically accurate. I can't remember if Paul Revere's horse was named Scheherazade, but I do remember from Paul Revere's Ride that on the night of the infamous ride, he borrowed a horse that was subsequently captured by the British and never returned. Paul Revere seems to be a bit of a country bumpkin in the book. Sam Adams spends as much time eluding his debts and insinuating himself into invitations to meals with others as he does concentrating on Liberty. All that being said, it's a highly entertaining book. Rather than reading it aloud, I think I'll wait until the children are older and ask them to explain what they think is accurate or inaccurate after they've read it. (library copy)

July Book Report

Bambi by Felix Salten (requested from PaperBackSwap.com)

Red Sails to Capri by Ann Weil is a book that should not be out of print. Mater Amabilis recommends this book for our People and Places study in Level 1A. It's a mystery, both exciting and beautiful. I'm excited to read it with the children next year. (library copy)

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry would be an excellent book to read with younger children portraying the bravery of the Danes in aiding their Jewish friends and neighbors to escape Nazi soldiers during World War II.  Though there is death and fear, the horrors of the Holocaust are not portrayed or described. I'm going to make a note of this book as an option for a read-aloud when we study World War II in a few years. (I think this book would be acceptable for First Son next year, in second grade, but it will be better for the girls when they are a bit older. He'll be better prepared for it as well.) (library copy)

Happy Little Family (Fairchild Family Story) by Rebecca Caudill is a lovely little story I plan to read aloud next year, mainly for the girls. Little Bonnie is a sweet four year old who tries very hard to grow up like her older brother and sisters. She's a darling and I'm happy to introduce her to my children. (purchased used at Amazon.com)

Along Came a Dog by Meindert Dejong is the story of a friendship between a stray dog and a poor little red hen who has recently lost her toes. Told from the point of view of the animals, it is an insightful look into the lives of chickens (and dogs, I suppose). This is a distinct possibility for a read-aloud for us next year, though I fear the children might not find it very exciting. It is wonderfully written, though, and I think true-to-life-chicken books are rare. (library copy)

The Princess and Curdie by George MacDonald is the sequel to The Princess and the Goblin. It takes place about a year after the first book, but covers much more serious themes. The king is surrounded by disingenuous advisers who are plotting to overthrow the kingdom. Curdie is sent on a quest by the princess with a faithful servant by his side to save the kingdom. While I think First Son might enjoy this book next year, as a second grader, I believe he'd gain more from it when he's a little older. Currently, I have this on the list for third grade. (free Kindle version)

Washington Square by Henry James seemed like the easiest to read of the James novels I've read, though perhaps I'm just getting used to his writing. Or maybe it's because it's quite a bit shorter. I enjoy his style quite a lot and think a novel of his may be useful for high school aged young women to read as a warning. All of his heroines seem to suffer much from poor decisions, many of which are warned against by male guardians or father figures. This book portrays a father who seeks to protect his daughter from an unworthy suitor (though not solely out of fatherly love). Catherine, who adores her father though she does not understand him, must choose between them. (free Kindle version)

The Giver by Lois Lowry (library copy)

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick (library copy)

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine is a retelling of many fairy tales in one (mainly Cinderella). An infant girl is given the gift of obedience by a fairy at her birth, but it's more like a curse. If someone gives an order, Ella has to follow it, even if the order is from an ogre who intends to eat her. She sets out on a quest to free herself of the curse and instead falls in love. The story was clever and seemed appropriate for readers a bit older than First Son. (It is a love story.) Though the writing isn't fantastic and God isn't mentioned at all, I think it could spark interesting discussions on the meaning of free will and why God does not demand our love or obedience. (received as a free book from Borders for their summer reading program)

Otto of the Silver Hand  by Howard Pyle is the story of Otto, who is raised by his great-uncle, the abbot of a monastery as his father, a robber baron of Germany in the time of armor and sword battles, seeks revenge for the death of his wife. Eventually, his father returns and joyfully brings him home where Otto learns much and is happy despite his father's violent lifestyle. Then, when his father is away, Otto is kidnapped and mutilated by yet another revengeful robber baron. Otto's rescue gives his father a chance to redeem himself. It's a thrilling tale, complete with sword fights, courage, sacrifice, loyalty and holiness. It's on our read-aloud list, though we may wait until First Son is in third grade because it is a little violent and both of Otto's parents suffer, in addition to poor Otto's injury. (free Kindle version)

Book Review: Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War

Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community, and War by Nathaniel Philbrick

My brother-in-law (Kansas Dad's brother) is a PhD student in American history, focusing on the period up to the American Revolution. I recently asked for some book recommendations as I wanted to learn more about the eras we'll be studying next year. He recommended this book and I second it.

Everyone knows the familiar tale of the Pilgrims searching for religious freedom, but few of us follow their tale much farther than the first Thanksgiving (such as it was). Mr. Philbrick begins his tale years before the Mayflower sailed and provides detailed backgrounds on nearly all of the passengers. Beyond their goal of religious freedom, the book explores the personalities of the individuals and families, how they worked together and how they struggled.

Most interestingly, Mr. Philbrick goes beyond the first year or two to describe the culture and towns that grew up in the generations after the Mayflower landed. He explores the relationships between the transplanted Europeans and the Native Americans as well as the relationships with Europe. My own knowledge of history pretty much skipped from the first Thanksgiving to the Revolutionary Warm, but obviously much happened, including King Philip's War. As the author states, "this culminating event--King Philip's War--brought into disturbing focus the issues of race, violence, religious identity, and economic opportunity that came to define America's inexorable push west." This war shaped New England for generations to come and perhaps even into modern times.

I lived for a few years in Boston and visited Plimoth Plantation (which I highly recommend). I loved reading this book that placed the area into additional context for me. I wish very much I could travel there for another visit!

There was a little discussion at Afterthoughts recently on reading history books written for adults aloud to the family. I think much of this book could be fascinating for a family, but King Philip's War was brutal with atrocities committed by both sides. Much in the second half of the book would need to be adapted for young listeners. I think middle-schoolers might be alright, though always pre-read. I was thinking of my oldest at seven or eight and knew I didn't want to share many of the events with him or younger sisters.

By the way, Nathaniel Philbrick also wrote In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex which I enjoyed as well.

History & Culture, Colonial Times through the Revolutionary War

I can hardly believe another month is gone already. For October's history and culture we read books from colonial times through (and including) the American Revolution.

Tattered Sails by Verla Kay and illustrated by Dan Andreasen. This poem, with beautiful illustrations, is lovely. It has few words on each page but follows the story of one family's journey to the New World (on a ship traveling later than the Mayflower). I love it, but the kids were only mildly interested. I probably should have read it a bit later, but I was waiting on books from the library so we read it first without any larger context for the poem.

We then read three books by Kate Waters, all illustrated by photographs of children at Plimoth Plantation (one of my favorite living history museums!): Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy, Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl, and Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy In Pilgrim Times. I thought these were fascinating peeks at the real lives of Pilgrims and the Native Americans who lived near-by. The children were not as interested as I hoped. First Daughter liked best when Sarah had to chase the chickens. First Son seemed to like Tapenum's story the most. (Thanks to Tiffany for suggesting Books to Build On where I found these.)

Across the Wide Dark Sea: The Mayflower Journey by Jean Van Leeuwen, illustrated by Thomas B. Allen. I love this portrayal of the Mayflower journey. It doesn't hide the difficult parts, like infants that were buried at sea, but it is beautifully written and illustrated. The kids, especially First Son, preferred Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern, illustrated by Elroy Freem. I found the illustrations more mundane and the writing wasn't as poetic, but it did an adequate job conveying what the journey and first year were like for the Pilgrims.

Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Greg Shed. I mentioned last month that we enjoyed some stories by Joseph Bruchac. This is one of the books I found by looking for more from him and it's worth your time. In it, we follow Squanto as he is kidnapped, taken to Spain and makes his way back to the Americas. I think this is one of the few books to tell of the first Thanksgiving from the Native American point of view in a positive way. The illustrations are also wonderful, warm and realistic.

Thy Friend, Obadiah written and illustrated by Brinton Turkle. This is exactly the kind of lovely picture book around which we're building our history & culture story times. The story is about a young boy who is befriended by a seagull. Though he is annoyed and teased early on, he misses the seagull when it stops visiting and helps it when it returns with a need. We learn a bit about the life of Quakers in colonial Nantucket, but we also learn about friendship and kindness. There are, in fact, a few books following Obadiah and his family. I'm requesting them over time, rather than in a bunch, but so far we've read Rachel and Obadiah, which I loved. It's a delightful tale of perseverance set against the backdrop of ships returning to Nantucket after long voyages, and the wives they left behind.

Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, illustrated by Ted Rand. First Son was enthralled. He loved it! He especially loved tracing the routes on the map on the opening pages. We've looked through the illustrations in a few different picture books of this poem and many of them are wonderful.

They Called Her Molly Pitcher by Anne Rockwell, illustrated by Cynthia von Buhler. I was afraid the battle depicted in this book might disturb the children, but Kansas Dad thought they'd be fine. First Daughter didn't actually listen much. (She often doesn't.) First Son was mainly interested because of the battle. The design of the book is wonderful with illustrations crackled and burnished to appear as if they were period paintings. The text is printed on a linen background as well. I also appreciated the brief notes at the end on Molly Hayes and a list of important dates of the Revolutionary War. (I didn't read these to First Son, but they gave me a few ideas when he asked questions.) The story is quite enjoyable and informative, just as a biography should be. I was a little worried the kids would want to know more when we read "The only fault her employers ever found with her was that she swore like a soldier." After all, they don't really know what swearing is. They didn't mention it, though, so neither did I.

Johnny Appleseed a Tall Tale retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg. We intend to read a few of Mr. Kellogg's tale tales. In fact, First Son's love of Paul Bunyan was one of the inspirations for our history and culture story times. Whatever the benefits of reading such stories to create a common culture for our children may be, they're just good stories and worthy of our time.

The 18 Penny Goose by Sally M. Walker, pictures by Ellen Beier. This easy reader (Level 3) tells the story of a young girl's worries for her goose when she and her family hide as British soldiers approach their New Jersey farm during the Revolutionary War. My mom found it at a resale shop and I'm in favor of using what you have. This happens to be a story the kids enjoyed, too.

George Washington: A Holiday House Reader by David A. Adler. He has a large list of books, including many in the Picture Book Biographies series. I read through many of these (around 25) and considered them for our history and culture study, but eventually decided against using any this month. All the Revolutionary War ones contained a great amount of details on the Sons of Liberty, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. We will, of course, study all of these in later years, but I didn't want quite so much information quite yet. This easy reader gave enough of George Washington's life to be pertinent without being overwhelming. Plus, First Son could read it himself, though he didn't. (Incidentally, the picture books I liked best were A Picture Book of Sojourner Truth, A Picture Book of Dwight David Eisenhower, and A Picture Book of Thomas Alva Edison (his poor parents: he was kicked out of school and burned down the barn, not to mention the chemistry lab he set up in the basement). We might read some of these later. Outside the Americas, my favorite ones were A Picture Book of Louis Braille and A Picture Book of Florence Nightingale.)

I had intended to read The Courage of Sarah Noble, right up until we didn't. I decided at the last minute it was too long. I couldn't read it in one session and I didn't want to add another book to our more extended readings. I still think it's a wonderful book and know we'll read it eventually.

In the next two months we'll be reading all the way through the end of the Civil War.