January 2025 Book Reports

Some homeschooling moms proposed a bingo card reading challenge for the year. We all picked some categories and made a card. I was inspired and started reading a lot more!

My God and My All: The Life of Saint Francis of Assisi by Elizabeth Goudge - This was my book club book for the previous month, but our group pushed the date back because of Christmas, so I finished it in January. The beginning seemed slow to me, but it was a comforting read. Goudge writes beautifully of the landscape of Italy, especially around Assisi. I was disconcerted by her style, though. The book is historical fiction, as she imagines St. Francis's life unfolded, but she wrote it like a biography, so I was constantly thinking to myself, "She's just making all this up!" It would have been easier for me if it had been more obviously fictionalized. (purchased copy)

The Little Juggler by Barbara Cooney - We've had this book for many years, and I read it to the children when they were younger. When I realized they didn't remember it, I read it aloud to my teens this Christmas season. This delightful French tale retold and illustrated by Barbara Cooney is out of print, and vastly more expensive than when I picked up a used copy solely because I love anything Cooney and (for a time) bought anything with her name on it. In the tale, Barnaby (also the name of one of Cooney's sons) is a young orphan who knows only one thing, performing acrobatics and juggling, which he does to earn a few coins. In the winter-time, no one wants to watch a juggler, so he is cold and hungry, but a kind monk invites him to the a monastery, where he receives shelter. In imitation of the monks, and in gratitude for the love of God, he performs before a status of Mary and the Christ child as his Christmas gift. God wants nothing more from us than that we return his gifts out of Love. You can more easily find other versions of this tale, like The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola, but Cooney's will always be my favorite. (purchased used)

The Blackbird and Other Stories by Sally Thomas - link to my post (purchased copy)

You Carried Me: A Daughter's Memoir by Melissa Ohden - Melissa is an abortion survivor. She tells her story of self-destruction, redemption, forgiveness, and hope with great compassion for her mother and all who seek an abortion. (free e-book for Plough subscribers)

The Pearl by John Steinbeck - I read this with my book club. I do not like Steinbeck's books. He writes beautifully, but his characters suffer terribly, both of which are as true of this book as of the others I've read. I dreaded reading this book because I remembered enough of it to know it was tragic. Kino is assaulted on all sides after he finds The Pearl, and his life is destroyed through little fault of his own. I don't think there's a way to read this story and find a way to live or a way to make the world better or the truth of our redemption. (purchased copy)

The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Lawrence G. Lovasik - This book gives many examples of the results of productive prayer and examples of actions you can take to begin praying or move more deeply into prayer. I still like The Hidden Power of Kindness better, but this would be a good option for someone interested specifically in prayer. (purchased used)

Just Stab Me Now by Jill Bearup - My daughter has followed the author of this book for a while. I borrowed this book from her to fulfill a Bingo card category for a reading challenge I'm doing with some homeschool moms, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It's funny, sweet, and has happy endings for all the good guys and unhappy endings for the worst of the bad guys. It's a good thing I read it when we were still slowing transitioning out of winter break, because I finally just gave up on all the things I should do and read until I finished the book. (borrowed from my daughter, who pre-ordered it)

Just Don't Fall: A Hilariously True Story of Childhood, Cancer, Amputation, Romantic Yearning, Truth, and Olympic Greatness by Josh Sundquist - The author shares his story with humor and heartfelt thankfulness. I can understand why he made a young reader's edition; there were a few parts with references and language I wouldn't want to share with younger kids, but the story itself is wonderful. The author seems like a down-to-earth, hard-working, fun guy. (You've probably seen his Halloween costumes, even if you don't know who he is.) He endured a year of chem after the amputation of his leg, cancer scares later, and then his mom had chemo for her own cancer. His family is amazing. His faith stays strong, and he is brave enough to seek therapy and treatment when he needs it. Making an Olympic or Paralympic team takes enormous amounts of perseverance, practice, and money, and is worth celebrating, even when an athlete doesn't earn a medal. One of my favorite parts is in the acknowledgments, "I wish to acknowledge my many Winter Park and Paralympic teammates and coaches, all of whom I will never forget, and all of whom will be justified in their inevitable doubts as to whether my short and lackluster skiing career deserves to be recorded in a book."  (PaperBackSwap.com)

33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Divine Mercy Consecration by Michael Gaitley - I read this on the recommendation of a friend. Hopefully I can put some of it into practice. (gift copy from my friend)

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie - Some of the local homeschool moms came up with a reading challenge bingo game for the year. One of the categories was a classic detective book and this one was recommended. I didn't remember reading it, but had a solid guess for the murderer within a few chapters...which means I did read it before, probably in high school, because I am terrible at guessing the murderer. It was fun to read, though, especially when I was sick and wanted something to distract me without being too heavy. (library copy)

The Father's Tale by Michael D. O'Brien - This enormous (and relatively expensive book) was a book club selection. It was far longer than it should have been. Some paragraphs impressed me, but the writing was not as excellent as one would hope given it's enormous length. In the book, a rather distant father, with sons who seemed shockingly uncaring, abandons his safe life to follow his younger son, fearing he has been caught up in a cult. He travels through Europe and into Russia on his trail. When he's finally about to give up and go home, he's attacked and ends up stuck in Russia after his long recovery. Then he gets stupidly sucked up into international intrigue. Before he makes it home, he experiences a profound closeness with the crucified Lord and learns God may have used him to save oblivious Western countries from Russian military forces, somehow. I was so anxious early on for his son I almost couldn't keep reading, so be assured his son is alright. I'm not entirely sure I recommend this book. There are those moments of insight and brightness...but it's so very very long. (purchased copy)

The Gods of Winter by Dana Gioia - I like to think of myself as the kind of person who reads poetry, but I rarely pick up a book of poems collected, prepared, and published by a single poet. It's a different experience than an anthology, and probably one I don't understand as well as I could. Dana Gioia is a prominent American Catholic poet, so this book seemed a good one to try. I liked some of the poems more than others, but they all made me think. (purchased used)

Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley - This is a re-read of a book I adored as a girl, and it did not disappoint. It's a lovely retelling! (borrowed First Daughter's copy)

Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene - I picked up this book because I suspected it was one I remember from my teens that I haven't been able to identify. It wasn't, and there are some hard parts of the book. Patty is abused and neglected by her parents. She finds solace in the friendship and kindness of an escaped Nazi soldier. (library copy)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde - A re-read, and a delightful one. (discovered in a Little Free Library)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliates links.

May 2024 Book Reports

Patterns for Life: An Orthodox Reflection on Charlotte Mason Education by Lisa Rose and Laura E. Wolfe - link to my post (gift copy from Kansas Dad)

The Ghost Keeper by Natalie Morrill - This was a second read (first read here), along with my book club. I enjoyed it as much or more than the first time through. Discussing it with my book club opened up even more thoughts and perspectives for me, so I do recommend reading it with a friend or a group. I haven't given it to my daughter to read. She's definitely old enough (eighteen year old senior), but very busy and tends to read much lighter things in her free time, which is fine with me. Like any book set in the time of World War II, there is violence, child loss, trauma, and heartbreak. (purchased used)

How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson - I heard a poem from this book on the Poetry for All podcast and grabbed it from the library. The poems are set in the 1950s as a young African American girl grows into her early teen years, based loosely on the poet's own life as a young girl when her father was in the Army and they lived in many different places. They are readable and enjoyable, even though they cover some difficult topics. Recommended. (library copy)

The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World by David Robson - link to my post (library copy; then purchased a copy)

The Kate in Between by Claire Swinarski - This is a middle grade novel that explores social media, bullying, friendship, and relationships. It's surprisingly good. Kate is trying to figure out who she wants to be in middle school. Her parents are divorced, but her dad is a steadying and supporting influence. It's probably not great literature, but it does encourage the reader to ask questions about how we live in today's world. (library copy)

Seren of the Wildwood by Marly Youmans - Youmans is the author of Charis in the World of Wonders, one of my favorite books, so I immediately added this book to my wish list. It's a narrative poem intertwining myth and fairy tales. It's wonderful, but also weird and tragic. The book itself is gorgeous, and not just the cover. The poem's stanzas fit on facing pages, or sometimes a single page with woodcut-type illustrations. A well-made book is a treasure in a world that puts so many of our words on screens. My ability to understand or explain the poem is inadequate, but I found some useful and interesting reviews online: Front Porch Republic, Strange Horizons, and The Catholic World Report. I will definitely be reading it again. (received as a gift from my family)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

January 2024 Book Reports

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas - I picked up this book at a library book sale and kept it to read because it's set in Kansas. If you love quilting or books set in the 1930s, you'll probably enjoy this book. There's a murder mystery, too, but it's not written like a detective novel. It's a fine book, good for some light reading. (purchased used)

Melal: A Novel of the Pacific by Robert Barclay - I picked up this book at a library sale and thought it might be a good option for a high school geography book. Shortly into the book, I began to feel quite anxious for the characters; a dread filled the pages. So many many terrible things happen in the book or there are references to the past, to colonialism and nuclear testing. The author lived on an island in the Pacific, so he knows more about myths of the area than I do. I can't say for certain that he got them all right, but it was interesting to read this novel about a convergence of myth and the modern world. I decided not to recommend it for high school geography reading because there are many upsetting incidents. It was certainly discomfiting for me to read as a privileged and safe American, but I think I'm glad I did. (PaperBackSwap.com)

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim - On the recommendation of a friend, I listened to the audiobook version of this book when I needed something light. I desperately want to spend April in Italy now, though. (Audible)

Flight into Spring by Bianca Bradbury - Sally Day lives in Maryland during the Civil War, a state split it its loyalties between North and South, though her family supports the Union. She falls in love with a Yankee soldier and marries him after the war. The book tells of her struggles as a young wife relocated at a time when a move from Maryland to Connecticut meant culture shock. This would be a good book for an older teen who struggled with reading, as the reading level is more like middle grade but the content is light and innocent romance. (purchased copy)

Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot - I read this poem with my book club. I read each quartet, then listened to Eliot reading it. (There are recordings on YouTube.) This is a difficult work. The vocabulary is so extensive, I allowed myself to write in the book, jotting down definitions of all the words I had to look up. earning about his life and references to other works helped, too. I can see how you could return to this poem many times and find something new each time. (purchased copy)

Five Bushel Farm by Elizabeth Coatsworth - I read this when I needed something light and easy. It's the second book in the Sally series, set in colonial Maine. It's a sweet little story, full of happy coincidences. It also has its share of 1930s ideas about Native Americans The illustrations are by Helen Sewell, and perfectly delightful. (purchased copy)

Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt - I read this as a child, but decided to read it again before Second Son read it for school. I'm glad I did, because apparently I had it confused in my mind with a complete different book! Jethro lives most of him life in the shadow of the Civil War, with loved ones in both armies. It's an excellent book of historical fiction, bringing the war to life without overwhelming a young reader with too many horrors. (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Falling Short of Expectations: 30 Poems to Memorize

30 Poems to Memorize (Before it's too Late)
edited by David Kern

I wanted to love this book. It seemed perfect for a poetry read-aloud with my high school students. They listen to a lot of poetry aimed more at the younger kids, so this seemed a good book for my oldest son's final years or homeschooling.

Each chapter includes a woodcut illustration of the poet (some poets have more than one poem), a short biography, a poem (or two), each followed by a reflection essay. There's a great guide for reading poetry at the beginning of the book (written by my friend and wonderful poet, Sally Thomas). There are also boxes here and there throughout the book with helpful notes on terms, rhyme schemes, and other more formally presented information.

I would read the poem, read the essay, then read the poem again. We read about one chapter a week, but took breaks for busy weeks and the seasons of Advent and Christmas, so it took more than a year to get through the book.

The reflections are written by different people, though a few wrote more than one. Some of the reflections were wonderful, and some were full of typographical errors and less organized thoughts. I was disappointed in the uneven quality.

There are also a few egregious errors in the biographies and poems. John Donne's brother died in 1893 (p. 35). "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evenings" has an extra word in the fourth line: "To watch his woods will [sic] fill up with snow" (p. 75). In a book designed to lead people to memorize poetry, I think the poems should be so thoroughly proofed for such a mistake to be impossible.

The selection of poems was a good mix of more well-known poems, like "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," and ones I might otherwise have never encountered, like "Listening to Peter and the Wolf with Jason, Aged Three" by A.E. Stallings (one of my favorites in the book). Not all of them are particularly suited to memorization, however. You could argue that there are poems worth memorizing that fall outside a regular meter or rhythm, but it's not clear they would be amongst the first thirty you'd want to memorize.

Most of the reflections provided insights into the poem that led my children to consider their poems more favorably on the second reading, despite the need for additional editing in some of them.

If you are reading to younger children, you may want to skip John Donne's "Holy Sonnet XIV." The poem and the reflection contain references to more mature topics, though nothing I thought inappropriate to read to my high school students. (I didn't pre-read, so I just adjusted my language a little as I read it aloud.)

Overall, I expected more of the CiRCE Institute and the editor, David Kern. I hope they are able to fix the mistakes in future printings. I also hope they will take greater care in choosing authors for reflections and editing those reflections if they attempt another poetry book.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. I purchased this book. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links.

July 2021 Book Reports

The Frontlines of Peace: An Insider's Guide to Changing the World by Séverine Autesserre - link to my post (library copy)

While the Kettle's On poetry by Melissa Fite Johnson - I read this book to complete my local library's 2021 reading challenge. I needed a Kansas Notable book. It's a small book of poetry centered on modern life. There were a few poems I enjoyed, most especially "Ode to Washing Dishes" and "Something about a Walk." (library copy)

Alone by Megan E. Freeman - In this middle grade free verse novel, a twelve year old girl wakes up to find herself alone in her small town. She learns to fend for herself, leaning heavily on a neighbor's sweet and protective dog. It's marvelous, and apparently worth reading more than once since my own twelve year old swiped it from my stack to re-read it. The ending wraps everything up a bit too quickly, but my older daughter pointed out the reasons behind her predicament are not the point. It's all about her own development and growth. (library copy)

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha - This book was mentioned in an alumni magazine I read recently, and I grabbed it from the library. I'm always keeping a look-out for books set around the world for our high school geography studies, especially ones written by people who are within the culture. (The author has lived in both the US and South Korea as well as Hong Kong. The book weaves together the stories and lives of a group of young women living in the same apartment building in South Korea. It's not a particularly flattering depiction of life there, but the women grow into new dreams as they support each other, strengthening their relationships and recognition of their worth. In any book written from different characters' points of view, it can be a little confusing to remember who is telling the story at any given time, but this one is pretty clear. The plot is subtle. At first I was disappointed in the ending, but the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated it. There's a little too much talk of intimacy, not generally not in a flattering way, for me to want to share it with my high school students, but I enjoyed it. (library copy)

That Quail, Robert by Margaret A. Stanger - This little book introduces a quail who moved into a house, becoming one of the family. It would work for a family read-aloud, but it's not as much fun as (copy from PaperBackSwap.com)

New Worlds to Conquer by Richard Halliburton - Halliburton is always a delight to read, though also always obviously playing to the 1920s audience in his depictions of indigenous peoples and cultures, as well as happy to include anything that hinted of scandal and the ridiculous. This book includes a story of a friend who accidentally surfed nude into an unsuspecting group of nuns and their female students on a picnic outing. In this book, he writes about his exploits in Central and South America, many of which are included in his Book of Marvels. I began reading thinking I might include this book on our high school list of geography books for the Americas, but I decided against it. As much as I might have enjoyed reading it, there were far too many instances of 1920s racism for me to want to hand it off to one of my students as an official school book. If one of my high schoolers sees it on my shelf and wants to read it, I'll allow it, but there's no need to assign it for narration. (purchased used at a library sale)

Wood, Water, and Wild Things: Learning Craft and Cultivation in a Japanese Mountain Town by Hannah Kirshner - link to my post (library copy)

Ourselves Book 1 by Charlotte Mason - I only read the first part of the book, because I was thinking of assigning it to my older daughter this year. It's a great easy introduction to habit and character formation. I'll write more about it when I read the second book...which may be next year. (purchased copy)

Creator and Creation by Mary O. Daly - link to my post (purchased copy)

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

Poetry of Time, Faith, and Family: Motherland

Motherland: Poems 
by Sally Thomas

I have a goal to read a bit of poetry every day, which is entirely attainable if you consider the number of poems that can be read in less than a minute. Yet it's a goal I often neglect. That's why it's taken me more than a year to finish Sally Thomas's Motherland. 

Sally is an advisory board member at Mater Amabilis with me, a woman I've considered a mentor for many years and a dear friend for the past year or two. I love reading her poetry, but I am both biased by our friendship and weak in any method of critical examination of poetry in general. Therefore, rather than a proper review, I will link to some who are wiser and more trustworthy.

• A lovely review in Dappled Things by Meredith McCann
• A mention from Anthony Domestico in his 2020 Books in Review for Commonweal
• Mom Egg Review by Carole Mertz

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon and Bookshop are affiliate links. I purchased this book.

Our 2019-2020 Poetry Books

These are the books I read for our poetry in 2019-2020. About once a week, I'd read a few poems while the children ate breakfast. We didn't memorize them or analyze them; we just listened and enjoyed.

In 2019-2020, I had a tenth grader, a seventh grader, a fifth grader, and a third grader.

In One Door and Out the Other: A Book of Poems by Aileen Fisher - I requested this book from PaperBackSwap.com because we've enjoyed so many of her poems. It was delightful, though by the time I read it aloud to my children, the poems were a little young for them. My favorite poem was Music Box which ended:

But Mother's all
that hinders me
from making noise continually. 

Poetry for Young People: American Poetry edited by John Hollander - I have enjoyed other books in the Poetry for Young People series. We read all the poems in this book, along with the little paragraphs for each. Some were favorites, many were familiar, a few were unknown even to me. Though it's a different kind of collection, in general we preferred Hand in Hand as a collection of American poetry.

O Holy Night - We read from this book during the Advent and Christmas season.

Children of Long Ago poems by Lessie Jones Little, pictures by Jan Spivey Gilchrist - This is a sweet little book with poems celebrating a child's every day activities and feelings. The illustrations show African American children, which sets is apart from many other books of poetry. I think it would appeal most to younger children.

The Monster Den: Or Look What Happened at my House -- and to It by John Ciardi - This book was recommended in one of the poetry conversations in the Mater Amabilis™ Facebook group. It's a quirky book of poetry inspired by the poet's children and family life. We all enjoyed it.

A Family of Poems ed. by Caroline Kennedy - This is one of my favorite collections of poetry. I pull it off our shelves whenever I didn't request a book from the library in time. Also in times of pandemic when our library is temporarily closed.

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Amazon, Bookshop, and PaperBackSwap are affiliate links.

2015-2016 Memory Work: Sixth Grade, Third Grade, First Grade

This is just a quick post to share the kinds of poems and verses the kids memorized in their respective grades. I remember early on I would have trouble discerning which options were too difficult.

Now, in 2020, I have a big binder of poetry and prayers for them to look through and choose their own. (That's the reward they get when they memorize something - something else to memorize!) I generally choose the Scripture verses unless a child specifically asks for something. They come from readings we've done, catechism books, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, or just verses I happened to like.

I've written before about how we practice our memory work.

First Son's Sixth Grade Memory Work

Poetry

• Paul Revere's Ride by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - This took him more than a year to memorize, but he learned the whole thing. He was able to immediately notice that our favorite picture book version is missing a verse (for no explicable reason) and, four years later, can still recite it from memory.

Memory Verses

• James 1:19-20
• 1 Peter 5:7
• Daniel 3:26-27 - First Son picked these verses.

First Daughter's Third Grade Memory Work

First Daughter loves memory work. She practices multiple times a week, even on days she doesn't work with me.

Poetry

• Yellow Butter by Mary Ann Hoberman from Forget-Me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart
• Bird Talk by Aileen Fisher from Forget-Me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart
• The Little Elf by John Kendrick Bangs from Poems to Learn by Heart
• Dad's cell phone number
• Anima Christi
• Catch a Little Rhyme by Eve Merriam from Poems to Learn by Heart
• I Heard a Bird Sing by Oliver Herferd from Forget-Me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart
• The Kitten by William Wordsworth from Primary Language Lessons

Memory Verses

• 1 John 4:18-19
• Hebrews 13:16
• Isaiah 40:31
• 1 Peter 5:7

Second Daughter's First Grade Memory Work

Poetry

• Toad by the Road by Joanne Ryder from Forget-Me-Nots: Poems to Learn by Heart
• Catch a Little Rhyme by Eve Merriam from Poems to Learn by Heart
• her birthdate and birth city
• Prayer After Meals
• The Bluebird by Emily Huntington Miller from Primary Language Lessons

Memory Verses

• Jeremiah 31:25
• Psalm 31:24
• John 6:35

I have received nothing in exchange for this post. All links to Bookshop and Amazon are affiliate links.

Paradise Lost and Milton in Tenth Grade: The Life and Writings of John Milton

The Life and Writings of John Milton

by Seth Lerer

I selected this audiobook as a supplement to First Son's tenth grade English course. The Mater Amabilis™ beta high school plans recommend Paradise Lost as the second of three epics for English. I tried to read Paradise Lost when I was in college and failed. I was hoping to find something that would help put Milton in context for First Son (and myself) without putting too much strain on our schedule with a bunch of lectures.

This is a reasonably short series of lectures, six hours in total. There are a few that cover Milton in general but most focus on one or more of his works, or part of a work in the case of Paradise Lost. I listened to the whole series without reading any of Milton's works and was able to follow along, though I think it would be better to read the work in question and then listen. Milton is still not my favorite writer, but I think I will be able to grapple better with Paradise Lost after listening to these lectures.

I do think these will be helpful for First Son, so I included some of them in his assignments. I have decided to use the online edition of Paradise Lost found at the Dartmouth College website, The John Milton Reading Room. I appreciate being able to click on words for additional information.

Our schedule takes more than twelve weeks, so we will have to move through The Song of Roland and Idylls of the King a little faster. I have a sense that Paradise Lost might be the most difficult of the three and therefore worth the additional time, but I haven't read any of these three epics so we'll have to see how it goes. Here's what we have scheduled for the second term of epics.

Week 1

1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 5: Paradise Lost--An Introduction - listen and narrate (Note: we skipped lectures 1-4)

2. Book 1 lines 1-399 - narrate.


Week 2

1. Book 1 lines 400-798 - narrate.

2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 6: Paradise Lost, Book 1 - listen and narrate


Week 3

1. Book 2 lines 1-527 - narrate.

2. Book 2 lines 528-1055 - narrate.


Week 4

1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 7: Paradise Lost, Book II - listen and narrate.

2. Book 3 lines 1-371 - narrate.


Week 5

1. Book 3 lines 372-742 - narrate.

2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 8: Paradise Lost, Book III - listen and narrate


Week 6

1. Book 4 lines 1-504 - narrate.

2. Book 4 lines 505-1015 - narrate.


Week 7

1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 9: Book IV—Theatrical Milton - listen and narrate

2. Book 5 lines 1-460 - narrate.


Week 8

1. Book 5 lines 461-907 - narrate.

2. Book 6 lines 1-445 - narrate.


Week 9

1. Book 6 lines 446-912 - narrate.

2. Book 7 lines 1-338 - narrate.


Week 10

1. Book 7 lines 339-640 - narrate.

2. Book 8 lines 1-337 - narrate.


Week 11

1. Book 8 lines 338-640 - narrate.

2. Book 9 lines 1-612 - narrate.


Week 12

1. Book 9 lines 613-1189 - narrate.

2. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 10: Book IX—The Fall - listen and narrate


Week 13

1. Book 10 lines 1-590 - narrate.

2. Book 10 lines 591-1104 - narrate.


Week 14

1. Book 11 lines 1-452 - narrate.

2. Book 11 lines 453-901 - narrate.


Week 15

1. Book 12 lines 1-334 - narrate.

2. Book 12 lines 335-649 - narrate.


Week 16

1. The Life and Writings of John Milton Lecture 12: Milton's Living Influence - listen and narrate (Note: we skipped lecture 11)

2. Test on Paradise Lost (not yet written)



I purchased this audiobook. I have received nothing for this post which only shares my honest opinions. I did attend Dartmouth College but had nothing to do with the creation of the website devoted to John Milton. The links to Amazon are affiliate links.

July and August 2018 Book Reports

The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah with Nicolas Diat - link to my post. (library copy)

In the Steps of the Master by H. V. Morton - link to my post. (purchased used)

Calde of the Long Sun by Gene Wolfe - I'm reading this series again and enjoying it more the second time around I think. Sometime in the past few years, the library copy of the last book was damaged or lost so here's hoping they buy another one for me. (library copy)

Echoes by John Ciardi - I picked this book out of the library catalog when I was searching for poetry books for the children. (How to Tell the Top of the Hill is delightful.) This book is beautifully printed on lovely paper. Many of the poems seemed melancholy or dispirited to me, but a few near the end of the book appealed to me. I liked Ten Minutes my Captive in which he describes a turtle he allows to escape "into the green flecked edge of water and home." (library copy)

Joan of Arc by Hilaire Belloc - link to my post. (purchased Kindle version)

Ember Rising by S.D. Smith - We started listening to this audiobook with Kansas Dad, but he asked us to finish it without him because he found it upsetting that the main characters seemed to suffer worse and worse fates as the book progressed. I'm going to have to go against the current on this series and admit I often find the writing almost painful. There's far too much alliteration and minute descriptions; I'm always thinking there should have been more editing. The story is reasonably good, though, and the children enjoy it. I bought it thinking it would be the last of the trilogy, but it's not. I suppose I'll buy the rest of the books for the children to read but I think I'll pass on the audiobook. (Audiobook received from our contribution to the funding page.)

Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe by Robert Matzen - This incredibly researched book tells Jimmy Stewart's wartime story based on extensive interviews and governmental reports. It gives detailed accounts and descriptions of life for bombers living in England and flying missions over Europe. Stewart's life in Hollywood (with all his exploits) is described just as openly as the often graphic scenes of carnage and struggle in war, so this is a book for mature readers, but it could be a fascinating read for anyone interested in World War II. (borrowed from my dad)

The Blood-Red Crescent by Henry Garnett - link to my post. (purchased used on Cathswap)

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw - One of the historical fiction books recommended by RC History for Connecting with History volume 1, this is an exciting story of an inadvertent double spy in the time of Queen Hatshepsut. There's a Novel Inquiries guide for the novel which I own, but I haven't decided if we'll use it. First Daughter (sixth grade) is going to read this for independent reading and I might not ask her to do anything in particular other than reading it. It's a good choice for a middle schooler or older student as there is some violence and romance. It's exciting and I enjoyed the story, but I was a little upset at some of the scenes where she flirts with a guard (to get him to let her out of the gate) or her love interest because they reaffirm stereotypes, but First Daughter hears me talk about those things enough for me not to be concerned about her reading them here and there. (purchased used)

Baptism of Fire by Andrezej Sapkowski - This is the third book in the Witcher series. After I read the second book, I wrote that I wouldn't recommend them due to the use of the rape myth in the plot line. Of course, I kept reading them myself and discovered this book has a surprising pro-life message. Entertaining fantasy and moral questions for a mature audience. (library copy)

Crosstalk by Connie Willis - This is a light-hearted science fiction book set in the near future when the instant messaging and texting creates a constant bombardment. I read this book in the twenty-four hours before and during my daughter's surgery. It was nothing major, just pins in a broken finger, but I was worried and this book was the perfect companion as I tried to relax and waited for the results. (library copy)

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children by Thornton W. Burgess - link to my post. (purchased used)

Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare - First Son is reading this as his first Shakespeare play of high school so I read it to help myself be prepared. I read the No Fear Shakespeare version (linked) and the one he will read. It helps a lot to have the modern translation and some editorial helps to understand the references. It doesn't include any essays on the meaning, but I found a Cliff's Notes with a bit of information for him to read after he reads the play. (I just requested whatever was available on PaperBackSwap.com.) Reading even those short notes gave me some added dimensions for understanding the play, the characters, and the themes. I am absurdly excited to be reading Shakespeare with First Son and First Daughter this year. (They'll be reading different plays.) I've scheduled three plays for each of them this year, but even if we only make it through two of them, I'll be thrilled. Realizing I didn't encounter Shakespeare at all in college, I've decided this must be a priority for us in middle school and high school. It might be their only experience with the Bard. (purchased book for the play, requested book for the supplementary reading from
PaperBackSwap.com)

The Sea Around Us by Rachel Carson - link to my post. (purchased used)

Usually here I list all the books I'm reading, but that would take too long because I'm reading everything First Son is reading for high school. Yikes! It's a lot.

Our Homeschool: Poetry in 2017-2018

Poetry is a part of our culture studies loop: Three or four times a week, depending on our schedule, we loop through these subjects:

• Shakespeare
• Poetry
• Shakespeare
• Picture Study

You can read more about the loop scheduling here. (I've moved Fairy Tales to our read-aloud loop since writing that post.)

Shakespeare gets double-duty because it includes review of our memorized passages. (Here's an example of what Shakespeare looks like for us.)

During this poetry time, I pull a book of poetry off the shelf and I read a handful of poems. Generally I keep going for about ten minutes or as long as we are all interested. Then I put in the book mark and we pick it up again the next time Poetry rolls around. I do not discuss meter, rhythm, rhyme, or other such things unless someone asks a particular question. I do sometimes explain a word if it's one they might not know. Mostly, though, we enjoy poetry together. Here are the books we read over the 2017-2018 school year.

Classic Poetry: An Illustrated Collection selected by Michael Rosen has a carefully selected collection of two or three poems by prominent poets in roughly chronological order, but I was disappointed at the times only a portion of a poem was included without any indication that it was just a portion. I don't mind excerpts of poetry for younger audiences; I just like to know. There was a nice sentence of two to introduce each poet. We started it last school year but didn't finish, so I picked up where we left off at the beginning of the year. (There's a newer version available, but we read the old one from our library.)

The House of a Mouse by Aileen Fisher, illustrated by Joan Sandin - We've memorized many of Aileen Fisher's poems, so when I saw this book of poetry available I picked it up. It's a whole book of poems about mice. The youngest two especially enjoyed it. I was, as always, conflicted about poems about sweet little field mice because I pretty much hate them whenever they find their way into our house. But they are sweet little poems for little folks. (own, from PaperBackSwap.com)

The Frogs and Toads All Sang by Arnold Lobel, color by Adrianne Lobel - This is a book of silly frog and toad poems. We read it in one sitting and the younger children especially enjoyed it. (library copy)

A Whiff of Pine, a Hint of Skunk: A forest of poems by Deborah Ruddell, illustrated by Joan Rankin - And another book of silly poems. These are certainly more amusing than edifying, but it was highly enjoyed. (library copy)

Walking the Bridge of Your Nose: Wordplay Poems and Rhymes selected by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Chloe Cheese - And yet another book of silly poems. I read these aloud, but often found myself needing to show the words of the poem so the kids could see the puns and jokes. I think they were best appreciated when the kids read them aloud themselves. They definitely loved reading them aloud. It was fun for me to watch the younger ones as they figured out the jokes. (library copy)

Peaceful Pieces: Poems and Quilts about Peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines is a book of poetry around the theme of peace. The poems were a bit uneven in quality, with some I liked very much and others I found forced or awkward. The kids' favorite was From a Story in the Paper about a snake that made friends with its intended food, a hamster. (library copy)

Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: False Apology Poems by Gail Carson Levine with illustrations by Matthew Cordell is a whole collection of poems written in the style of William Carlos Williams's This Is Just to Say. Most of them are entertaining, but the best of them are written as if by fairy tale or Mother Goose rhyme characters. The kids had fun yelling out the character before I flipped the book to show the illustration. The illustrations are all pen and ink and purposefully ragged; not my favorite illustrations, but variety is good when reading aloud to four children. (library copy)

During Advent, we read from The Oxford Book of Christmas Poems, which we've been checking out from our library every December for a few years now. I just start where we stopped the year before. It has an expansive collection, though sometimes I think the page layouts are erratic. (library copy)

Overall, our poetry for the year leant much more to the humorous than in years past. This was a good balance for our single poet studies. As with the books above, I didn't make a real "study" out of any of these. We read one poem each day until the book was finished. I like the Poetry for Young People series because the selections are already edited with young people in mind. I might not always have chosen exactly the same poems, but I'm willing to make concessions when they've already done the work. My children appreciate illustrations on every page. There is also usually a brief introduction for each poem which I read aloud before the poem.

Walt Whitman (purchased used)

Langston Hughes  (library copy)

William Butler Yeats (purchased used)

This post contains my own opinions. I've indicated which books we own and which we checked out from the library. I received nothing for writing this post. The links above to Amazon and PaperBackSwap are all affiliate links.

From Darkness to Light: Quite Early One Morning

Quite Early One Morning

by Dylan Thomas

This is a collection of essays, stories, and transcripts of pieces Dylan Thomas created for the BBC. They range from memories of his childhood to an overview of Welsh poetry and poets. I'm not sure how it ended up on my list of books to read (it was added in 2013), but I was delighted to see A Child's Christmas in Wales in the table of contents, and a little surprised that it was slightly different than the one I read earlier this year. Apparently he edited it in different ways over the years.

Most of the essays contained lyrical prose, as to be expected from a poet. I often wondered what Thomas himself must have sounded like when reading these words for documentaries or radio shows, as many of them were. There are quite a few recordings available online.

Thomas was born just at the end of World War I, which placed him in the generation of young men who fought and died on the battlefields of World War II. These kinds of experiences appear throughout the book, but the most powerful was Return Journey. He seeks all over his hometown for his own self as a youth and finds everyone remembering young men as boys and all the lessons and playing and music-making and climbing and swimming and yelling that young boys do.

Park-keeper [the last of many to respond to his questions]: Oh yes, I knew him well. I think he was happy all the time. I've known him by the thousands.

Narrator: We had reached the last gate. Dusk drew around us and the town. I said: What has become of him now?

And the park-keeper answers, as the bell rings:

 Dead...Dead...Dead...Dead...Dead...Dead

Much of the book concerns poetry and I found it enlightening to read Thomas's thoughts on poetry. I often enjoy reading poetry, but I appreciate learning from people who have thought about and struggled with and written poetry. When asked if he intended poetry to be useful to himself or others, Thomas responded both:

My poetry is, or should be, useful to me for one reason: it is the record of my individual struggle from darkness towards some measure of light, and what of the individual struggle is still to come benefits by the sight and knowledge of the faults and fewer merits in that concrete record. My poetry is, or should be, useful to others for its individual recording of that same struggle with which they are necessarily acquainted.

An essay On Poetry is a series of excerpts from a discussion on poetry with James Stephens. Thomas said:

Poetry, to a poet, is the most rewarding work in the world. A good poem is a contribution to reality. The world is never the same once a good poem has been added to it. A good poem helps to change the shape and significance of the universe, helps to extend everyone's knowledge of himself and the world around him...

The essay is only two pages, but it's marvelous. Thomas also says, at the end of it:

What's more, a poet is a poet for such a very tiny bit of his life; for the rest, he is a human being, one of whose responsibilities is to know and feel, as much as he can, all that is moving around and within him, so that his poetry, when he comes to write it, can be his attempt at an expression of the summit of man's experience on this very peculiar and, in 1946, this apparently hell-bent earth.

 I'd read very little of Dylan Thomas's prose before this book, so I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it, though I did find it most enjoyable when I read it slowly. Otherwise it was too easy to read the words without really paying attention to the meaning.

I checked this book out of the library to read it. All opinions in this post are my own. Any links to Amazon are affiliate links.

Nature Study as a Life: The Girl Who Drew Butterflies

The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science

by Joyce Sidman

I happened upon this book in a library search while searching for something else. Maria Sibylla Merian is not entirely unknown to me as we've read Summer Birds: The Butterflies of Maria Merian. This book, though, is a much more developed biography which incorporates aspects of the culture, industry, and geography of the European world during her lifetime in order to understand her better. It's a biography, but one so bursting with other kinds of information it could fit just about anywhere in a homeschool curriculum (science, nature study, art, poetry, photography, history, and geography, to name a few subjects).

The story of Maria Merian's life is told in twelve chapters, each named after a phase in a caterpillar and butterfly's life cycle, beginning and ending with Egg. They parallel the periods of growth and change experienced by Merian. Throughout the book are maps, photographs, reproductions of engravings and paintings (many by Merian) and quotes from Merian's writings. While it's possible her art was not entirely responsible for changes occurring in scientific studies at the time, Merian's life was remarkable. At a time and in a culture where women were excluded from professional lives by law, she persevered in artistic and business pursuits.

Her personal life was not ideal. She leaves her husband, eventually seeking sanctuary from him in a religious community until he abandons his attempt to convince her to return home with him. He then divorces her and leaves her to financially support their daughters. Undaunted, she not only succeeds in supporting them, but travels to South America to study insects and create a stunning book of her observations.

But her extraordinary skills set her apart. She had the curiosity of a true scientist, the patience it took to raise insects, and the superb artistic skill necessary to share her observations. In short, she was quietly engaged in some of the finest insect work of her time.

This lovely book is going on our read-aloud schedule for next year, when Second Son will be in second grade, the year I order caterpillars we can watch turn into butterflies. I think much of it will go over his head (he'll be eight) but he'll understand enough, and the others will learn a great deal. I hope, too, they feel a little more inspired when we're on our nature walks and pulling out the nature journals.

There is another book on Merian, published just a week earlier. Our library doesn't have a copy and it has fewer pages (according to Amazon), but it might also be interesting: Maria Sibylla Merian: Artist, Scientist, Adventurer.

I checked this book out from the library to read it and received nothing for this review, but the links above are affiliate links to Amazon.

Reading Around the World in Picture Books 2014-2015: Africa

These are the picture books we read when Reading Around the World with a focus on the continent of Africa. Oh so long ago, my children were in fifth grade, second grade, kindergarten, and diapers. My fifth grader usually did not sit with us while we read these books, but he was around and they hung out with our library books for the full month we had them.

** I've used these two asterisks to mark the books we enjoyed most of all.

The Storytellers by Ted Lewin (Morocco) tells of Abdul and his grandfather in the market in Fez, Morocco, lavishly illustrated by Lewin. (His illustrations always make me want to travel.) (library copy)

The Butter Man by Elizabeth Alalou and Ali Alalou, illustrated by Julie Klear Essakalli (Morocco), is a story of hunger told within a loving family. It's authentic and touching. Though young children may be distressed to hear of a hungry child, it's good to introduce these themes to children over time so they understand our obligations to care for all people. (library copy)

** Mirror by Jeannie Baker (Australia and Morocco) - Baker shows a family in Australia on the left and, turning pages the other way, a family in Morocco on the right. The illustrations are beautiful and I love how she attempts to show the similarities and differences between the families in an understanding way. (library copy)

Ali, Child of the Desert by Jonathan London, illustrated by Ted Lewin (Morocco), is the story of a young boy who is separated from this father in a sandstorm while traveling in a caravan. He is offered hospitality and invaluable aid by a Berber and his grandson. (library copy)

Bintou's Braids by Sylviane A. Diouf, illustrated by Shane W. Evans (West Africa), is told in the voice of young Bintou who desperately wants braids for her short fuzzy hair. At the baptism of her baby brother, she sees all the other women and their beautiful braids, and wanders off sadly only to discover boys in need of help. Her quick thinking earns her some beautifully decorated hair of her own. This is a sweet book for young girls with all kinds of hair. (library copy)

** Tug of War by John Burningham (Nigeria) is a retelling of a Nigerian folktale of wisdom and strength, and inspiring lots of laughter. (library copy)

** The Hatseller and the Monkeys retold and illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite (West Africa) - Many may be more familiar with this tale as it is shown in Caps for Sale: A Tale of a Peddler, Some Monkeys and Their Monkey Business, but I love this West African version. The illustrations are delightful. (library copy)

** I Lost My Tooth in Africa by Pende Diakite, illustrated by Baba Wague Diakite (Mali) is a book written by the illustrator's daughter, hoping desperately to lose her tooth while she's visiting extended family in Africa so the African tooth fairy will bring her a chicken. It's a nearly perfect book for showing children in America what family life and love looks like in Mali. (library copy)

My Baby by Jeanette Winter (Mali) tells of a woman making a bogolan, a cloth painted with mud, for her baby, depicting the natural world in the painting. (library copy)

** Rain School by James Rumford (Chad), written by a man who taught school in Chad when a member of the Peace Corps, tells of a school built by the community at the beginning of the year that is broken down by the seasonal rains after nine months. It's a celebration of education, beautifully illustrated. (library copy)

** My Name Is Sangoel by Karen Lynn Williams and Khadra Mohammed, illustrated by Catherine Stock (Sudan and the United States), is the story of a young boy who immigrates to the United States to escape the war in Sudan that killed his father. Bewildered by his new surroundings, he finds it impossible to explain to his new classmates how to properly pronounce his name...until he discovers a creative solution. Catherine Stock's illustrations are wonderful, as always. The themes of the book are a big deeper and harsher than most picture books, but I think the value is worth the risk. Read ahead and decide for your own family. (library copy)

** The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela: A Tale from Africa by Christina Kessler, illustrated by Leonard Jenkins (Ethiopia), is the story of Almaz, a girl who wants to keep bees and collect the best honey. Turned away by the male beekeepers of her village, she is encouraged by the young Orthodox priest. It's a brilliant book of problem-solving and perseverance. (library copy)

The Perfect Orange: A Tale from Ethiopia by Frank P. Araujo, illustrations by Xiao Jun Li (Ethiopia), is a tale of a young girl who travels to her ruler to share with him a perfect orange. Her generosity is rewarded while the greed of another is thwarted. (library copy)

Muktar and the Camels by Janet Graber, illustrated by Scott Mack (Kenya and Somalia), is the story of an orphan who shows himself to be adept at caring for camels and in so doing finds a place for himself in the world. (library copy)

** Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Liberia), is a fun tale describing how arms, legs, a head, and a boy joined together. (library copy)

** Mrs. Chicken and the Hungry Crocodile by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret H. Lippert, illustrated by Julie Paschkis (Liberia), is the hilarious story of a chicken who outwits a crocodile. (library copy)

** Koi and the Kola Nuts: A Tale from Liberia by Verna Aardema, illustrated by Joe Cepeda (Liberia), is a tale of wisdom and goodness, wonderfully illustrated. (library copy)

One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference by Katie Smith Milway, illustrated by Eugenie Fernandes (West Africa), is based on a true story of a young boy who takes out a loan to buy a hen, the beginning of a flourishing egg business. It's text-heavy for younger children, but a fascinating introduction to micro-loans for older elementary students. I also ask my children to read this book in third grade when they do a little financial literacy study. (library copy)

The Spider Weaver: A Legend of Kente Cloth by Margaret Musgrove, illustrated by Julia Cairns (Ghana), is a brilliantly illustrated origin tale of kente cloth, common in many African nations. (library copy)

** The Village that Vanished by Ann Grifalconi, illustrated by Kadir Nelson (unspecified country or area), features a young girl who courageously leads all the people of her village across a hidden bridge to escape marauders searching for people to sell as slaves. The text is a bit long but it's worthwhile for those ready for it as it portrays some of the fear and tragedy of slavery in a successful escape from it altogether. Nelson's realistic illustrations are presented uninterrupted by the text, which appears on white space next to them. (library copy)

** Once Upon a Time written and illustrated by Niki Daly (South Africa), is the sweet story of a young girl who struggles to read but flourishes in the imaginary escapades with her Auntie Anna. With perseverance and practice under the supporting gaze of her Auntie, she succeeds in achieving fluency. The setting of this book gives glimpses into life in Africa while connecting us with the familiar school setting. (Even though we homeschool!) (library copy)

Mama Wangari (Kenya) is an inspiring woman who deserves a place in any picture book study of Africa. She attended college in Kansas which gives us an even more personal connection here on the Range. There are quite a few books featuring her life and work. In addition to reading a few picture books, we watched this video (more than once).

** Seeds of Change: Wangari's Gift to the World by Jen Cullerton Johnson, illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, is probably my favorite, if you can only read one, though young children may tire of the amount of text. The colorful illustrations will delight children of all ages. Mama Miti: Wangari Maathai and the Trees of Kenya by Donna Jo Napoli, illustrated by Kadir Nelson, is a more lyrical book with less details. The illustrations fill the pages with vibrant color. Even I enjoy looking through this book again and again. Wangari's Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter, is less detailed story with more gaps. The illustrations are not as lavish as those of Nelson, simpler but suited to the setting. (all library copies)

** The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore with collages by Susan L. Roth (Eritrea), tells the true story of a scientist who guided the people of a village to improve their lives by planting mangrove trees. Ecology, botany, creativity, generosity, and perseverance...all presented in poetic repetitive text for younger listeners and more detailed text for older readers. The collages contrast the bright clothes of the villagers against the browns of the land before it's transformation. (library copy)

** The Most Important Gift of All by David Conway, illustrated by Karin Littlewood (unspecified, but I think Kenya),  is a beautifully illustrated book about a little girl who goes in search of love to give to her new baby brother. It's African, but her family is as lovely a family as you'd want to meet anywhere. (library copy)

** My Rows and Piles of Coins by Tolowa M. Mollel, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (Tanzania), is one of my favorite picture books and also appears in our third grade literacy study. It's about family and perseverance, prudence and joy. Read it! (library copy)

First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch (Kenya) is an encounter between a Maasai boy and a Kikyua boy, from two cultures who employ land differently and yet find common ground. It is an decent story for the presentation of overcoming differences, but the illustrations are merely adequate. (library copy)

** Ah, then we read the Elizabeti books, just wonderful books! Elizabeti's Doll, Mama Elizabeti, and Elizabeti's School by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, illustrated by Christy Hale (Tanzania), all feature Elizabeti and are definitely among our favorite pictures books! (We own Elizabeti's Doll and checked the other two out from the library)

** The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, pictures by Elizabeth Zunon (Malawi), is based on the true inspiring story of a young boy in Africa who builds a windmill from scraps to power a light bulb using only his ingenuity and a book from the library after he's been forced to leave school. I love the illustrations for this book, a combination of collage and paintings. For those who want to learn more, the middle grade book of the same name is also excellent. (library copy)

** How the Guinea Foul Got Her Spots retold and illustrated by Barbara Knutson (a Swahili tale) - another favorite picture book. (library copy)

Jamela's Dress, Happy Birthday, Jamela, and Where's Jamela?, all by Niki Daly (South Africa) share the life of Jamela in a sweet fun way, especially for little girls. She gets into exactly the kind of trouble an American girl might find, but always manages to come out on top. There are other Jamela books as well, but these are the ones our library had. (library copies)


** Where Are You Going, Manyomi? by Catherine Stock (Zimbabwe) is one of my absolute favorite books! You can find the book online here. (owned, from a member at PaperBackSwap.com)

** Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe (Zimbabwe, mostly) is like a fairy tale in which the more generous daughter receives her just reward. My daughter loved this book so much, she insisted we buy our copy, albeit a much loved and repaired one from a library book sale. (owned)

Gugu's House by Catherine Stock (Zimbabwe) is another Catherine Stock book, this one sharing the beautiful painting and sculpture of Gugu, Kukamba's grandmother, as well as a story of recovery. It's based on an inspiring woman in Zimbabwe. (library copy)

The Herd Boy by Niki Daly (South Africa) tells the story of a day in the life of a young goat herder. We see his world and his bravery, and his dream of being president. (library copy)

Under the Baobab Tree by Julie Stiegemeyer, illustrated by E. B. Lewis (unspecified, but maybe southern Africa) is mostly the musings of a brother and sister as they walk through the African countryside for a gathering "under the baobab tree." We see a bit of what sometimes happens under the tree and therefore glimpses into the lives of the Africans who live near-by. In the end, they are gathering to worship God. (library copy)

We also read a book of poetry called Off to the Sweet Shores of Africa and Other Talking Drum Rhymes by Uzo Unobagha, illustrated by Julia Cairns. The poet was born and raised in Africa and the illustrator lived in Botswana for nine years. It's a lovely book we've enjoyed many times.

I'm sure there are many new picture books set in African countries. When I was first putting this list together, I copied a list of all the countries in Africa and then searched our library catalog for each country's name. That's how I found most of these books. Do that yourself and you'll find not only potentially lovely new picture books, but a wealth of picture books set in Africa you can check out of your library for only the cost of your taxes, which you've already paid!

The links above are all affiliate links to Amazon, which means if you click on one, put something in your cart, and order it within a specified length of time (whatever Amazon decides), I receive a small commission. You can also find these books by searching by title on Amazon or at your library.