Inos Biffi and Franco Vignazia for Advent: The Life of Mary and The Way to Bethlehem

The Life of Mary

edited by Inos Biffi

illustrations by Franco Vignazia

The Way to Bethlehem

text by Inos Biffi

illustrations by Franco Vignazia

These two books are recommended by Mater Amabilis™ for Level 1A for Advent reading. I've mentioned them in the past when I've blogged about our Advent plans in general, but I thought I'd highlight them in their own post.

The Life of Mary is focused almost entirely on the illustrations, drawn to resemble stained glass windows. The limited text focuses the reader on the events of the life of Mary as they are related in the Gospels, pulling from (Roman and Ambrosian) liturgy, hymns (including at least one of the Eastern Church), and Scripture.

The meditations cover:

• The Annunciation
• The Visitation
• The Nativity
• The Presentation in the Temple
• The Flight into Egypt
• The Loss and Finding of Jesus in the Temple
• The Wedding at Cana
• The Crucifixion
• The Ascension
• Pentecost
• The Assumption or Dormition

The Way to Bethlehem contains more text than The Life of Mary. Based on the Gospel stories leading up to the Nativity and through the infancy of Jesus (coming of the Wise Men, flight into Egypt, return to Nazareth), it provides the same kind of contemplative artwork. The second section provides information on the saints of the season: Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Angels and Shepherds, Wise Men, the Innocents, Simeon, Anna, Nicholas, Lucy, Stephen, John, Thomas Becket.

I was afraid the children would be upset by the page on Herod's killing of the Innocents, but they seemed less saddened than I was. Perhaps my response was stronger because I had little babies myself when I first read it.

These are two beautifully illustrated books. The illustrations are stylized (much as you see on the covers) with brilliant colors.

When First Son was in Level 1A, I read both of these books aloud, a few pages a day, while the children ate breakfast. (That's our Morning Time / Morning Basket / whatever it's called now.) Reading aloud allowed me to control the reading rate, encouraging contemplation and a prayerful attitude.

As families change, so did our time all together, so the other three children read it on their own. In some ways, independent reading provides a great opportunity for a child to immerse themselves in these meditations, but I wasn't able to see whether either of them really took advantage of that opportunity. It's possible they were more focused on just finishing the reading for the day. (One way to combat that hastiness is to follow the Mater Amabilis™ recommendation to cut back on some of the other readings during Advent; the children then really have more time to appreciate the liturgical year readings.)

Here's the schedule I used for the those who read on their own. You might need to adjust the readings a bit to match the time you have in Advent and time you want to be off school for the season. I did not ask them for narrations.

Independent Reading Schedule

Second Grade: The Way to Bethlehem

Week 1
1 - pp. 8-11
2 - pp. 12-15
3 - pp. 16-19

Week 2
1 - pp. 20-23
2 - pp. 24-27
3 - pp. 28-31

Week 3
1 - pp. 32-35
2 - pp. 36-39
3 - pp. 40-43

Week 4
1 - pp. 44-47

Third Grade: The Life of Mary

Week 1
1 - pp. 6-9
2 - pp. 10-13

Week 2
1 - pp. 14-17
2 - pp. 18-21

Week 3
1 - pp. 22-25
2 - pp. 26-27

I intend to keep these books on our shelves because I do think they invite and encourage prayer for all ages. I hope the children will revisit them.

I've linked to Amazon above, but I have frequently found these books available directly from Liturgy Training Publications at reasonable prices.

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

Science in Second Grade: The Burgess Seashore Book for Children

The Burgess Seashore Book for Children

by Thornton W. Burgess

This book has been on my shelf for a few years now, purchased when I thought I might read it aloud before we went to the ocean for the first time (and still the only time), but it's never been read. Second Son heard much of The Burgess Bird Book for Children (one of the Level 1A science recommendations on the Mater Amabilis™™ syllabus) as I read it aloud to Second Daughter so I thought he might be interested in this alternative. I offered him the choice of the bird book or the seashore book and, based only on the cover (and maybe what he remembered), he chose the seashore book.


I read it this summer before the school year began because I am ambitiously asking him to read it independently and narrate it to me. I'm fairly certain he can handle the material, given what he reads on his own, though I don't necessarily recommend this route for all second graders. He's a great reader and is already 8 years old since we started kindergarten a year later than recommended.

If you have read any of the Burgess books for children, you will be familiar with the format. An animal or two wander an environment and learn about the creatures that live there. The Seashore Book follows mostly a mouse and a fox. Some of the conversations are stilted, but there are lots of opportunities for curiosity and wonder. If you're near a seashore or manage to find a copy cheaper than the Burgess Bird Book, feel free to substitute this one.

To get through the entire book without reading more than a chapter at a time, I'm assigning this twice a week. Because I have four children and my oldest is starting high school, I made no ambitious second grade science plans this year. We'll read this book and have our nature walk two or three times a month and consider it excellently covered.

I purchased this book used from another homeschooling family. I received nothing for this review. The links above are affiliate links to Amazon.

Homeschool Plans: Preparing for First Eucharist and First Reconciliation

Once you've decided to homeschool, sacrament preparation for First Reconciliation (Confession) and First Eucharist (Communion) takes on a whole new aspect. Some homeschoolers decide to forego the parish preparation program entirely. We choose to participate in ours but I always supplement that preparation in our lessons at home.

Here's what we do.

Sunday Morning PSR
The K-5 PSR program on Sunday mornings happens between the early and late Masses and at the same time as an adult education class Kansas Dad co-teaches. Even if the information and class time is redundant, the social time is not; all of our children have friends in the parish who attend the PSR program and they enjoy that time together.

Children's Adoration
When Second Daughter was preparing for First Communion, the leader of our children's adoration hour read many books focused on the sacrament. Some of these are ones I read with previous children but some were new to us. Regardless of the actual program, time in adoration before the Lord is probably the very best preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

• King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola (I purchased this book used.) - I will definitely read King of the Golden City aloud to all the children this year before Second Son's sacraments. I wrote about this book on the blog a few years ago.
• The Little Flower: The Story of St. Therese of the Child Jesus by Mary Fabyan Windeatt - We don't own this one, but it's one all the kids heard two years ago.
• The Children of Fatima and Our Lady's Message to the World by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (purchased from the publisher) and Patron Saint of First Communicants: The Story of Blessed Imelda Lambertini by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (received as a gift) - I will probably let Second Son choose one of these for an independent read.
• St. Patrick's Summer by Marigold Hunt - I might read this aloud if we have time. I've never read it, but I've only heard excellent reports of it from other families and my own children.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Level 2 classes, including many presentations to prepare children for Reconciliation and Communion. These are offered at our parish and there's even a daytime class for homeschooled students.

Our Preparation at Home

We have two "lessons" each week in second grade. One day we have "catechism" and on another day we have "sacrament preparation."

Catechism
We're going to read Jesus and I by Aloysius Heeg. This is one of my favorite books! It's sweet and straight-forward without being overly-simplistic. There are preparation questions at the end for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, so it could almost work all on its own. I've written about it before on the blog. (I purchased this book from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, though I don't see it on their site now in June 2018.)

Sacrament Preparation
This is a time, once a week, I have set aside for readings and conversations related directly to sacrament preparation. We'll be reading through a few books and, for those that might like to try something similar, I've included our complete schedule. I've planned 30-31 weeks, but it might need to be adjusted depending on when the parish schedules the sacraments. Sometimes I read this aloud and sometimes the child reads it independently and narrates to me, just depending on time and how comfortable the child is with the subject matter and with reading. After five years of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and two years of weekly adoration, Second Son is quite comfortable with the sacraments already!
Jesus with Us: The Gift of the Eucharist by Tarzia and Ferri - This book gives a good overview of the Eucharist through Scripture and history. (I can't remember where I bought this book, probably at a used homeschool sale.)

• p 3-6
• p 8-12
• p 14-18
• p 20-24
• p 26-30

A Little Book about Confession for Children by Kendra Tierney - This book was recommended by Simcha Fischer. I used this book for the first time with Second Daughter. It seems clear and child-like (but not childish). (I bought this book from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts.)

• questions 1-4
• questions 5-8
• questions 9-12
• questions 13-16
• questions 17-22
• questions 23-24 (only 2 of the saints)
• question 24, remaining 3 saints
• First through Fourth Commandments
• Fifth through Seventh Commandments
• Eighth through Tenth Commandments

Seven Lonely Places, Seven Warm Places: The Vices and Virtues for Children by April Bolton - This book is a short picture book that attempts to place the seven deadly vices, four cardinal virtues, and three theological virtues into a child's ordinary life, showing how the vices separate us from other people (and God) and how the virtues can connect us to others (and God). It's not an essential book, but it's a quick read and a nice addition to preparation for Reconciliation. (I received my copy of this book from another member at PaperBackSwap.com.)

• Read and narrate.

The Good Shepherd and His Little Lambs: A First Communion Story-Primer by Mrs. Hermann Bosch with supplements by Janet P. McKenzie - I used this book with both First Daughter and Second Daughter. Through the course of this book, a gentle and loving aunt guides just a few children in their preparation for Holy Communion. This text is a little longer than the books above and might need to be read aloud even for a proficient reader. (I bought this book from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, though I don't see it on their site now in June 2018.)

• "Feed My Lambs!"
• Baptism
• Penance
• Obedience
• The Holy Childhood
• Children of Mary
• Faith
• Hope
• Charity
• The House of God
• The Fair White Page
• Service of God
• Heaven
• The Happy Day

The Brown Scapular Coloring Book by Mary Fabyan Windeatt - I bought this book years ago (from Seton, I think) in a set of Windeatt coloring books and it's one of just a few we've kept and used over and over again. Our parish gives each of the First Communicants a Brown Scapular and this book seems to prepare the children well to understand what it is, respect it, and wear it. It can be more difficult to find now, though a Google search turned up a few options. I think another book on Simon Stock would be a good substitute. The series, In the Footsteps of the Saints, has one.

Supplements
These are resources we have that complement sacrament preparation. If you're feeling overwhelmed by what's above, skip these.

My Path to Heaven: A Young Person's Guide to the Faith by Geoffrey Bliss, S.J., with pictures by Caryll Houselander - I bought this originally to read with First Son when we did Connecting with History volume 3 many years ago. It fits nicely with preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion. I've read it along with some children and asked others to read it independently, depending on their ability to focus and mediate. If you follow Mater Amabilis™, this book is assigned for Lenten reading in Level 2 Year 1 (fourth grade). You could choose to wait until then, but I think it's the kind of book that benefits from repetition, so I plan to use it both years. (purchased new, affiliate link to RC History)

First Communion Days by a Sister of Notre Dame - This is a nice little hardcover book that was gifted to me when a local homeschooling family retired from homeschooling. It's one from Neumann Press that has not been republished by TAN books. (At least, I couldn't find it on the TAN site.) There are a number of the type of stories where young children receive the Eucharist and go to heaven happily when they die a little later of an illness, so I choose not to read it aloud. First Daughter loved the stories in it. Second Daughter read some of them but didn't want to finish it. We'll see what Second Son thinks.


I'd just like to mention a book I think is a great First Communion gift. It's Pray Always: A Catholic Child's First Prayer Book. Second Daughter received a copy of this book from a priest last year, I think just because we were in the right place at the right time. It's a lovely hardcover prayer book. I wrote a bit more about it here.

Links to Amazon, RC History, and PaperBackSwap.com are all affiliate links. Other links are not affiliate links. I received nothing in exchange for this post and it is only my honest opinion.

Reading Around the World with Picture Books 2015-2016: Asia

As you can see, I'm still finishing up drafts from years ago. These are the books we read when focusing for a year on the countries, culture, and geography of Asia back in 2015-2016. That year, I had a sixth grader, a third grader, a first grader, and a preschooler. These books were mainly for the younger two, but the third grader often listened in as well or read them on her own.

** I've used two asterisks to mark the ones we enjoyed the most.

Unless I state otherwise, these books were all checked out from the library.

The Littlest Matryoshka (Russia) by Corinne Demas Bliss, illustrated by Kathryn Brown begins with a woodcarver in Russia who sends a beautiful set of nesting dolls to an American toy store. The littlest one is bumped off the shelf and goes through a few adventures before being reunited with the set. There's a note in the back about nesting dolls in general and the ones lovingly and carefully crafted in Russia beginning in the 1890s.

** The Gigantic Turnip (Russia) by Aleksei Tolstoy and Niamh Sharkey, with illustrations by Niamh Sharkey, is a hilarious retelling of Tolstoy's short story. The old man and old woman eventually call on all the creatures on their farm to pull the gigantic turnip. Second Daughter and Second Son adored this book. They anticipated what would happen but were still delighted to see each page turn and the expected events depicted.

** The Blessing Cup (Russia) by Patricia Polacco is the story of a young family of Russian Jews trying to escape persecution is aided immeasurably by a kind doctor and a real cup that embodies hope and love for the author's family.

The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship (Russia) retold by Arthur Ransome, pictures by Uri Shulevitz, is a fun standard fairy tale in which the third son wins all in the end. Uri Shulevitz is not my favorite illustrator, but the pictures are bright and colorful.

** Magic Maestro Peter and the Wolf (Russia) is an audio CD of the Prokofiev symphony complete with narration and demonstration of the traditional Russian instruments. It also includes a brief biography of Prokofiev. The very best tracks are not available as MP3s so be sure to find a copy of the CD. Our library has one and we've checked it out many times over the years. Along with the CD, there are many versions of the story available in picture books. My favorite is Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev, translated by Maria Carlson and illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak

The Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky's Abstract Art (Russia) by Barb Rosenstock, illustrated by Mary Grandpre is a little biography of a fascinating artist who probably had synesthesia which allowed him to "see" sounds.

The Sea King's Daughter (Russia) retold by Aaron Shepherd, illustrated by Gennady Spirin, is simply magnificent. The illustrations by Spirin are magical though the text is a little dense for very young listeners. There is a pronunciation guide for a few of the names.

** The Chiru of High Tibet by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Linda Wingerter is the true story of one man's quest to protect the chiru, an animal unique to Tibet. It's a beautifully illustrated tale of perseverance and hardship on a scientific expedition. There are a few photographs at the end.

Cherry Tree (Himalayas) by Ruskin Bond, illustrated by Allan Eitzen tells of a young girl who learns about growth from her grandfather as they watch and care for a growing tree. Apparently there is another book by Bond with the same title written about a boy rather than a girl. I haven't read that one, but just from the cover I'd guess the illustrations aren't as inviting as the Eitzen ones.

** Kami and the Yaks (Nepal) by Andrea Stenn Stryer, illustrated by Bert Dodson is one of my favorite picture books full of beauty and bravery.

All the Way to Lhasa: A Tale from Tibet retelling and art by Barbara Helen Berger is a parable showing a humble young boy and his yak struggling but persevering in a journey to Lhasa, a holy city. This book has small amounts of text and vivid pictures making it a good choice for young listeners.

** King for a Day (Pakistan) by Rukhsana Khan, illustrations by Christiane Kromer is exactly the kind of book for Reading Around the World. A young Pakistani boy, confined to a wheelchair, dominates the skies with his sleek homemade kite during the festival of Basant. He conquers the bully next door and soothes his victims.

The Lotus Seed (Vietnam and the United States) by Sherry Garland, illustrated by Tatsuro Kiurchi, tells of a lotus seed treasured by a grandmother who collected it the day she saw the emperor cry in Vietnam then carried it to America when she fled her war-ravaged Vietnam.

The Story about Ping (China) by Marjorie Flack, illustrated by Kurt Wiese is a familiar story to most of us. (own copy, probably received as a gift many years ago)

** Ruby's Wish (China) by Shirin Yim Bridges, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, is one of my favorite picture books. (copy from PaperBackSwap.com)

The Leaky Umbrella (Japan) by Demi is no longer available at our library and I'm afraid I don't remember it well enough to say anything other than that we read it.

** On My Way to Buy Eggs (Taiwan) by Chih Y. Chen is one of my favorite picture books. It's sweet and simple and conveys some of Taiwanese life through the joyful experience of a young girl on a short errand.

The Runaway Wok: A Chinese New Year Tale (China) by Ying Chang Compestine, illustrated by Sebastia Serra, is one of the silly stories I always try to include for the little ones.

** Brush of the Gods (China) by Lenore Look, illustrations by Meilo So, is an "imagined version" of Wu Daozi, one of China's greatest painters at the height of classical Chinese civilization. I love the beautiful and vibrant illustrations.

Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China by Ai-Ling Louie, illustrated by Ed Young, is the story of a young girl in southern China mistreated by her stepmother.

** Mulan (China) by Li Jian, translated by Yijin Wert with the Chinese characters remaining on the page, is an excellent Chinese story to share because it is not an Americanized version of the legend of Mulan, but one written and illustrated originally for a Chinese audience.

** One Grain of Rice (India) by Demi is one of those picture books you can read over and over again, focusing on the mathematical concepts, the gorgeous illustrations, or the Indian parable. (own)

Dim Sum for Everyone! (China) by Grace Lin is a brightly colored book celebrating a happy family dinner at a restaurant, enjoying the different little dim sum dishes. It's limited text is perfect for little listeners and there's more information on the dim sum tradition at the back for grown-ups and older readers.

** Rabbit's Gift (China) told by George Shannon, illustrated by Laura Dronzek, is based on a folktale from China in which a gift is passed from friend to friend until it is shared by all. It's sweet and welcomes the anticipation of little ones as they guess who will receive the gift next and what will happen to it.

Daisy Comes Home (China) by Jan Brett is a sweet story of a little girl with a flock of happy hens, all except one who is the outcast. One night, she floats away on the adventure of a chicken's lifetime and learns how to establish her place on the roost. It's not exactly a true depiction of chicken behavior, but it's close enough to be fun. The illustrations are classic Jan Brett with hidden pictures in the background.

The Bee Tree (Malaysia) by Stephen Buchmann and Diana Cohn, illustrated by Paul Mirocha, is a story of respect, family, tradition, and accomplishment. I absolutely love one stunning illustration in particular, showing a rain of sparks from the upper branches of the bee tree. The text is a little heavy for very little ones, but my five year old and seven year old were entranced for the whole book.

The Boy Who Drew Cats (Japan) retold by Anushka Ravishankar, illustrated by Christine Kastl, and The Boy who Drew Cats adapted by Margaret Hodges, with illustrations by Aki Sogabe. I wrote about these two picture books here.

** Yuki and the One Thousand Carriers (Japan) by Gloria Whelan, illustrated by Yan Nascimbene, tells of a young girl traveling on more than 300 miles for her father's new position. It's beautifully illustrated with many examples of haiku. (library) - library no longer has

Grass Sandals : The Travels of Basho (Japan) by Dawnine Spivak, illustrated by Demi, is an interesting book on the famous Japanese poet, Basho. Each page contains a haiku, a Japanese character and its meaning, and text describing some of the few facts we know about Basho. It's beautifully illustrated and nicely incorporates history and poetry.

Issun Boshi: The One-Inch Boy (Japan) by Ichinori is a retelling of a Japanese folktale in which a tiny boy overcomes an ogre to save a beautiful girl. The illustrations are overlays of yellow, orange, and blue, very different from most other books we have read.

The Boy from the Dragon Palace (Japan) by Margaret Read MacDonald, illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa, is a Japanese folk tale about a flower seller who receives the blessing of a young boy after giving flowers to the Dragon King by sprinkling them on the sea. He's annoyed, feeding the boy shrimp, but the snotty boy sneezes out money and other treasures. My kids loved this book; they laughed hilariously at the snotty boy. The message of thankfulness and contentment is welcome, but it was a little too gross for my own taste.

Three Samurai Cats: A Story from Japan retold by Eric A. Kimmel, illustrated by Mordecai Gerstein (Japan), is a folktale that delighted all of the children. As I was reading it, the twelve-year-old and the nine-year-old crowded around along with the two younger ones. A big ugly rat has taken over a palace. Three samurai cats come, one by one, to battle him. The oldest and seemingly weakest is the last to come, and conquers in a surprising way. The illustrations are entertaining. The rat is despicable. There was much cheering at the end.

Yumi and Kimonos (Japan) by Annelore Parot were great fun. Both the younger children enjoyed them. I wrote about them earlier on the blog here.

Hopefully this post gives some good ideas for Reading Around the World with Picture Books in Asia, but the best strategy is to search your own library's catalog for appropriate books. I've had excellent results by searching for individual country names.

I have received nothing for writing this post. Most of these books were ones we checked out of our local library. Links above are Amazon affiliate links and I do receive a small commission if you follow a link and make a purchase.

Greek Myths, Illustrated: D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

Mater Amabilis™Level 1A recommends Classic Myths to Read Aloud in Level 1A (second and third grade) and we loved it. But after reading it aloud for the first two children, I was ready for a change. So Second Daughter and I read Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire instead.

We had already listened to the audiobook from our library, which is wonderful and a book even Kansas Dad enjoyed hearing. The book we also had on the shelves, a gift from dear friends of ours many years ago.

In the first year, second grade, I read the stories aloud to Second Daughter. In the second year, third grade, I started out reading them aloud, but she asked if she could read them independently and then narrate them. The disadvantage of independent reading is that many of the names are difficult to pronounce and even more difficult to remember. So I would usually try to model the name for her during her narration if not before her reading. (I also learned from the audiobook that there are multiple acceptable pronunciations for many of the names.)

These stories are exciting and entertaining. They are wonderfully illustrated, of course, in the d'Aulaire style you might recognize from one of their many books. Many incidents in the Greek myths are not appropriate for young ears, but the d'Aulaires manage to phrase them in a general and circumspect manner that makes them acceptable for all ages.

For those that are interested, I'll post our schedule. It's easy to spread the stories over the two years leaving plenty of extra time for breaks during Advent or for important things like trips to the zoo.

Year One (second grade), reading once a week:

• In Olden Times and Gaea pp 9-11
• The Titans pp 12-15
• Zeus and His Family pp 16-23
• Hera pp 24-27
• Hephaestus pp 28-29
• Aphrodite pp 30-31
• Ares pp 32-33
• Athena pp 34-37
• Poseidon pp 38-39
• Poseidon cont pp 40-43
• Apollo pp 42-43
• Artemis pp 44-49
• Hermes pp 50-55
• Hades pp 56-57
• Persephone and Demeter pp 58-63
• Dionysus pp 64-69
• Minor Gods and Prometheus pp 70-73
• Pandora pp 74-75
• Deucalion pp 76-79
• Eos pp 80-81
• Helios and Phaethon pp 82-85

Year Two (third grade), reading once a week:

• Selene pp 86-89
• Pan pp 90-91
• Echo pp 92-93
• Syrinx pp 94-95
• The Wild and Vulgar Centaurs and Asclepius pp 96-99
• The Nine Muses pp 100-101
• Orpheus pp 102-107
• Europa and Cadmus pp 108-111
• Tantalus and Pelops pp 112-113
• Danaus, Perseus, and the Gorgon pp 114-122
• King Midas pp 123-125
• Sisyphus pp 126-127
• Bellerophon pp 128-129
• Melampus pp 130-131
• Heracles pp 132-139 (stop before 11th labor)
• Heracles pp 139-147
• Theseus pp 148-157
• Oedipus pp 158-161
• The Golden Fleece pp 162-166 (stop before "The Black Sea was a dangerous…"
• The Golden Fleece pp 166-175
• The Calydonian Boar Hunt p 176-177
• The Apples of Love and the Apple of Discord p 178-184
• To the End p 186-189

I have never really done exams with the kids, but inspired by Know and Tell, which I had recently read, I asked Second Daughter to tell me her favorite Greek myth at the end of this book and she beautifully narrated more than one of them. It was one of those moments when you think perhaps this homeschooling thing will work out alright after all.

I wouldn't say this book of Greek myths is better than Classic Myths to Read Aloud, but if you happen to have it on your shelves it can make an excellent substitute.

I received nothing for writing this post which contains only my honest opinions. I purchased a used copy of Classic Myths to Read Aloud and we received the d'Aulaire book as a gift. Links to Amazon are affiliate links.

Second Daughter's Masterpieces: Early Elementary Artistic Pursuits

Artistic Pursuits

Early Elementary K-3, Book One

An Introduction to the Visual Arts

This book is not recommended in the Mater Amabilis™ curriculum but some others in the series are. After using one of the later books with First Son and First Daughter, I decided to try this one to make sure I was getting art time with Second Daughter and to provider her with an opportunity to use something besides crayons and markers.

I have 2013 edition. This is just a book. There is a new edition that includes a book and a DVD illustrating artistic techniques. See the new edition and video lessons here. I can see how the DVD might be nice, but Second Daughter didn't have any trouble trying out the techniques in her book and it's nice not to have to be always going over to the TV to watch something.

This book provided lots of opportunities for Second Daughter to focus on artistic skills with materials unfamiliar to me (water-soluble wax pastels) or ones I might have anticipated as too daunting on my own (like the sculpture). Every lesson provides some background and a connection to real artists and their work, including artists lost in antiquity whose work remains in archeological digs, and an example of student work that encouraged my daughter in an attempt that might not match what she sees in her mind's eye.

Each lesson follows a similar pattern:

• A page on how and why artists make art,
• A page showing a piece of art with a few guided discussion questions,
• And a project page with a project for the student and a very few simple descriptions of artistic techniques or instructions for a new kind of media.

I read the pages with Second Daughter and then set her up for her art project. I think by the end of third grade, she probably could have read and worked without me.

There are 36 lessons in the book, enough for one lesson every week, but rarely have I done a full 36 weeks for a K-3 student. Plus, it's nice to have more flexibility with younger students to skip lessons during Advent or Lent, for example. So I spread Book One over two years for Second Daughter (second and third grade). We both enjoyed it so much, though, that I did purchase Book Two in the hopes that Second Son will be able to do even more. I probably wouldn't bother with a formal study like this in kindergarten, but it might be fun to start it in first grade as long as a student didn't get frustrated.

Second Son will use this book next year, in second grade. Second Daughter is going to move on to Elementary 4-5 Book One. First Daughter has completed the Elementary 4-5 book and we liked it, but I haven't written a full review on the blog.

This is an example of art produced by Second Daughter in lesson 5, when she was early in her second grade year. She was supposed to paint a picture from a photograph and chose a kangaroo rat.

Near the end of the book, Second Daughter (nearing the end of third grade) was able to create a handful of sculptures.

Above, we have Kansas Dad. Below is her rendition of her bearded dragon. (I nicked a bit of his tail off, but Kansas Dad fixed it later.)

The picture at the beginning of the post shows Second Son's art box almost ready for school. I bought four boxes like this, one for each student, and they work beautifully. Everything they need is right in the box (excluding things like water or newspaper, etc.) and they can carry it to the table or even outside. I labeled the sides with different washi tape to make it easy to see which one they need.

Here's the list of supplies with my notes:

• ebony pencil - I bought this box of ebony pencils about three years ago and we've been using them ever since. The kids each have one in their art boxes and most of us have them in our nature study bags. They've held up really well and I still have extras in our art supplies.
• vinyl eraser - We use this kind of eraser for everything. I've always bought them when back to school shopping in the fall at our local super-store. They each have one in their art boxes and in their pencil boxes and I keep one with my supplies.
• set of soft pastels - I bought this set on Amazon. We've had success with this brand in the past. It is easy for pastels to get broken and smushed together so the colors are mussed, but this box stayed safely in Second Daughter's art box and survived the study quite well. (We have a larger communal set that's always with our art supplies for "whenever" use.) She used about a third of the black, but the others are all still nice and long, definitely plenty for another child or two. I'm just moving this set to Second Son's box.
• sketch or drawing paper pad - I generally buy a few of these when they're on sale at our local Hobby Lobby. While the kids do most of their drawing on cheap printer paper, I like to have some nicer paper if they want to make a serious drawing or make a gift. Second Daughter didn't use her whole pad for this study, but she absconded with it for her own person use, so Second Son will need a new one.
• a set of watercolor crayons - I bought this set of water-soluble wax pastels and they are fantastic. The colors are bright and blend well. After the course, they have barely any use so there is lots of life left in them for Second Son.
• #8 round watercolor brush - I had trouble finding one at our local hobby store, so I bought this one on Amazon. I'm no expert on paintbrushes, but it seems nice. All three older kids have one and they have used them for the past two years on various projects; they just live in their art boxes.
• watercolor paper pad - I bought this one, though at our local hobby store during a sale. Second Daughter used exactly 15 of the 30 pages, so I anticipate Second Son having enough paper for the study. However...these are such great pages for all watercolor work, I might get an extra one so they can make more than the minimum paintings.
• heavyweight construction paper - I bought a assorted package at our local hobby store and have plenty left for Second Son. (I kept this stash separate for our "everyday" cheap construction paper.)
• assorted tissue paper - I bought a package at our local super-store, which was kept with our gift wrap and had to be frequently replaced. If I had kept it separate, one package would probably have been sufficient for both Second Daughter and Second Son.
• a pair of scissors - We have lots of these roaming around.
• 4 or 5 lb of gray self-hardening clay - I bought this at our local hobby store, but I think it was the same as this one on Amazon. You could probably stretch this for two children if they were doing the study at the same time, and were satisfied with small sculptures. Second Daughter used it all and would happily have used more.
• cotton cloth - The project for lesson 33 is an oil pastel painting on cotton cloth. We skipped this one because a piece of cotton cloth is the only supply I didn't buy and stock at the beginning of the study. It happens in the lesson talking about embroidery and I decided it was alright to skip it since Second Daughter does actual embroidery. I may try to figure something out for Second Son.
• glue stick - This isn't listed with the official supplies, but there are a few lesson activities that require some kind of adhesive.
• binding materials - The last activity is the making of a book that requires some kind of binding: stapler, hole punch, etc. I would imagine most homeschooling families would have something appropriate available.

I noticed a lot of art supplies go on sale during Amazon's Prime Day last summer (in 2017), so it might be worth checking to see if that happens in the future.

I purchased Artistic Pursuits Early Elementary K-3 Book One new and have received nothing in exchange for writing this post. All opinions are my own. Any links to Amazon are affiliate links. Links to the Artistic Pursuits site are not 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.

A Coloring Plan for The Burgess Bird Book for Children

The Burgess Bird Book for Children

by Thornton W. Burgess

Mater Amabilis™Level 1A recommends The Burgess Bird Book for Children as one of the books for year 1 (2nd grade) science, a focus on nature study. I tried reading this book to First Son and we made it through most of it but he often found it tedious. First Daughter read it to herself but didn't enjoy it very much.

Second Daughter, though, loves birds and is the best at bird identification in the family. I knew she would love this book, but I also knew she would not want to read it herself. I wanted her to be able to color pictures for each of the birds. There are lots of websites out there with links to all sorts of pictures for each bird in the book. I found these pictures to be troublesome to print because they're all over the internet and, for the same reason, they were often of uneven quality. (Any accomplished bird artists out there? I think you could make good money on a coloring book of the Burgess birds; all you need are line drawings of all the birds in the books in one PDF and a site to sell it.)

Anyway, I thought I could purchase a coloring book that would get me 90% of the birds at a fraction of the hassle and ordered the Peterson Field Guide Coloring Book: Birds.
The main problem with my plan was the unexpected lack of an index in the coloring book. I therefore had to go through and look page by page for each bird. You don't have to, though, because I've typed it up below. This list is only useful if you have a copy of the Burgess Bird Book and this exact Peterson guide; I can't make promises for other Peterson guides because I don't have any others in front of me.

I read one chapter a week to First Daughter, which means this book carried over into the third grade year. (I gave her the option to finish it herself, but she preferred to double up on science for a while.) Each week, she'd find the birds in the guidebook (I gave her the page number) then color it to match the Peterson sticker while I read the chapter. Then she'd narrate for me. With interest and time, we would check a few other resources, too:

• YouTube for videos of the bird (there are some playlists, but I found it easier to just search)
• All About Birds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (particularly good for listening to the birds)
• The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots (obviously, choose a guide for your area, but we love this one and use it all the time)

Integrating the Peterson Field Guide Coloring Book: Birds with The Burgess Bird Book for Children

• Chapter 1: house wren p 43
• Chapter 2: English or house sparrow p 55
• Chapter 3: song sparrow, white-throated sparrow, fox sparrow - all on p 64
• Chapter 4: chipping sparrow and tree sparrow on p 63 (no vesper sparrow)
• Chapter 5: bluebird (eastern) p 45, robin on p 47
• Chapter 6: phoebe on p 38 (no least flycatcher)
• Chapter 7: kingbird p 37, great crested flycatcher p 38
• Chapter 8: peewee p 38
• Chapter 9: woodcock p 27, spotted sandpiper on p 25 and 27
• Chapter 10: red-winged blackbird p 56, northern flicker p 36
• Chapter 11: downy and red-headed woodpeckers p 37, hairy woodpecker p 36
• Chapter 12: brown-headed cowbird p 57, Baltimore oriole p 57 and 47
• Chapter 13: orchard oriole p 57, bobolink p 56
• Chapter 14: northern bobwhite p 22, eastern meadowlark p 56
• Chapter 15: chimney swift p 35, tree swallow p 39
• Chapter 16: purple martin p 39, barn swallow p 40
• Chapter 17: American crow p 41, blue jay p 47
• Chapter 18: red-tailed hawk p 20, ovenbird p 52
• Chapter 19: ruffed grouse p 22, common grackle p 57
• Chapter 20: osprey p 19, bald eagle p 21
• Chapter 21: great blue heron p 9, belted kingfisher p 35
• Chapter 22: bank swallow p 39, American kestrel p 22 (sparrow-hawk)
• Chapter 23: common nighthawk p 34 (no whip-poor-will or chuck-wills-widow)
• Chapter 24: yellow warbler p 50, American redstart p 55
• Chapter 25: black and white warbler p 49, yellow-throated warbler p 53, yellow-breasted chat p 55
• Chapter 26: northern parula p 50, magnolia warbler p 50, yellow rumped myrtle warbler p 51
• Chapter 27: gray catbird p 44, cardinal p 47
• Chapter 28: scarlet tanager p 58, rose-breasted grosbeak p 59
• Chapter 29: red-eyed vireo p 49, warbling vireo p 49 (no yellow-throated vireo)
• Chapter 30: brown thrasher p 44, northern mockingbird p 47
• Chapter 31: wood thrush p 44, hermit thrush p 45 (no Wilson's or tawny thrush)
• Chapter 32: indigo bunting p 59, eastern towhee p 62
• Chapter 33: American goldfinch p 61 and 63, purple finch p 60
• Chapter 34: mourning dove p 32, yellow-billed cuckoo p 33
• Chapter 35: ruby-throated hummingbird p 35, loggerhead shrike p 48
• Chapter 36: European starling p 47, cedar waxwing p 48
• Chapter 37: black-capped chickadee p 41 (could also include the Carolina chickadee, same page)
• Chapter 38: common loon p 8, Canada goose p 12
• Chapter 39: brown creeper p 42, white-breasted nuthatch p 42 (red-breasted on p 43)
• Chapter 40: dark-eyed junco p 63 (tree sparrow done earlier)
• Chapter 41: horned lark p 63, snow bunting p 63
• Chapter 42: screech owl p 34
• Chapter 43: red crossbill p 61
• Chapter 44: common redpoll p 62 (no pine grosbeak)
• Chapter 45: great horned owl p 34 (no goshawk)

There are lots of birds left to color now that we're finished with The Burgess Bird Book.  I thought a bunch might be in The Burgess Seashore Book which we already own, but it appears there are only a handful in that book. I plan to let Second Daughter just color the rest of the birds on her own.

This is the copy of The Burgess Bird Book we have, which was pricey at about $20 when I bought it in 2010. I wanted the full color illustrations, which were indeed nice and helped my oldest son focus while we were reading. I think the addition of the Peterson Guide, though, makes the illustrations less important. If I were looking for a copy today, I'd probably get the Dover one above. Be careful about some of the print on demand options as they often have minuscule text, no page numbers, or limited margins. The Dover one has a complete index which includes the common name of the birds as well as the nicknames used in the text.

Links above to Amazon are affiliate links. I received nothing in exchange for this post.