One of my greatest joys as a mother is cuddling up with my children and reading to them. For each of our read-alouds, I plan to post a book review. We also have some favorites that I will include a review for as well.
Seven Silly Eaters has been a favorite of my daughter since she was 2 years old. She still asks to have it read aloud to her even though she is 7 years old now and reading on her own.
The story follows a family as they grow from one to seven children. However, as the children grow they each continue to only eat their one favorite food. Their poor mother is worn out trying to cater to their picky eating habits. At the end of the story, the children stumble upon a way to show their mother how much they love her while also solving their eating problem.
In this book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCamillo takes on tough topics such as separation, sickness, and death and weaves them throughout the story in a gentle way that children can understand and identify with.
Edward is a prim and proper bunny brought home as a gift for a rich little girl. He becomes the little girl's best friend who she talks to incessantly and confides in completely. On one fateful day they are suddenly and completely separated. Throughout the rest of the story, Edward travels from one home to another in hopes of finding his very first loving little girl. He meets people in all ages and stages of life. With each interaction, Edward is transformed. By the end of his journey, he has learned what it means to truly love someone just because with no strings attached. His final destination is a wonderful surprise that thrilled his gentle bunny heart and will thrill the readers alike.
Hansi: The Girl
Who Left the Swastika
In the fall of 1938, German soldiers of
the Third Reich marched into her small village and announced that they had come
to free the German people from oppression of the Czech government. The soldiers
marched in and brought with them food, jobs, and books. Hansi loved books!
Soon, she was tested and found to be intellectually intelligent enough to join
Hitler’s Youth program. It seemed to be a great honor, and she felt great pride
in being chosen. As an orphan being raised by Czech foster parents, this was
her great opportunity at a better life. She and her foster mother walked together
to the train station. As Hansi’s train pulled away to transport her to the
glorious city of Prague, her mother called to her, “Marichen, don’t ever forget
Jesus!”
Hansi’s pride in being a part of the
Third Reich and her confidence in Hitler lingered. The war lingered. Food
became scarce. Her friends were being killed. She became ill. She recovered.
She faced certain death and survived
over and over again. Why? Why should she survive when so many others did not?
Hansi: The Girl
Who Left the Swastika is the story of Maria Anne Hirschmann, affectionately
known as Hansi. It is her story of survival against impossible odds. It is the
story of how she was protected by an unseen power that she did not know and could
not explain. And, it is the story of how she came to know that power through a
relationship with Jesus Christ.
Maria Anne Hirschmann developed a great
love for the American people through the kindness of American soldiers she met while
escaping a Russian labor camp at the end of WWII. She also developed a great
love for Jesus and a desire to share His message with as many people as
possible.
We were privileged to be able to meet Grandma Hansi and to hear her share
a part of her story. It is a pleasure to be able to share her story with you.
If you would like to order her book, you can find it here. We plan to add this book to our reading list when we get to WWII in our American History studies this coming school year.
Next UP: Charlotte's Web & Tom Sawyer
Update: Now that two of my children have graduated from High School and my younger two are in High School, our reading has become more individualized. That saddens me a little since I loved reading out loud to my children. I am, however, reading the same books as they are reading so we can still share our thoughts and have great conversations! We have our own mini book club goin' on here.
Fall 2020 Reading List:
Since we participate in a Classical Conversations Community, our reading is now coinciding with that curriculum. The level of the book will be listed in parentheses.
Pilgrim's Progress (Ch II) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school
There is a DVD version of this book.
Audiobook available.
Where the Red Fern Grows (Ch A) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school, There is a movie version of this book. Actually, there are two: one from the '70s and a much newer one. Our family preferred the older version.
Audiobook available.
Robinson Crusoe (Ch II) appropriate for middle school and high school
There is a movie version of this book. We have not viewed it as yet.
Audiobook available.
The Phantom Toll Booth (Ch A) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school
Genre: Fantasy
There is a DVD version of this book which is fun to watch
after reading the book
Audiobook available.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Ch II) appropriate for high school and college
Genre: Historical Fiction
takes place in the Middle Ages
Mature themes
Audiobook available.
Canterbury Tales: A Knight's Tale: (Ch II) appropriate for high school and college
Genre: Poetry/Prose
Middle Ages
Mature themes
Audiobook available.
Beowulf (Ch II) appropriate for high school and college
Genre: Poetry/Prose
Prehistoric/Viking
Audiobook available.
The Hiding Place (Ch A) appropriate for middle school and high school
takes place during World War II
Mature themes
There is a movie made about this book. Our family enjoyed it, although the scenes of the concentration camps both in the film and the book were upsetting to our more sensitive child. It affected him deeply as it did me when I was young and reading this awful reality. I suggest parents weigh the maturity of their children and whether or not they are ready to discuss these difficult parts of history with them before reading the book or watching the movie.
Audiobook available.
The Call of the Wild (Ch I) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students
takes place in early 1900s
Difficult Themes (Animal Abuse and Violence)
2020 Movie with Harrison Ford: My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed
this movie, although the CGI animals take some getting used to.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Ch I) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students
takes place during Colonial Era
Genre: Historical Fiction
Difficult Themes (Witchcraft, public discipline)
Audiobook available.
Sign of the Beaver (Ch I) appropriate for upper elementary and middle school students
takes place during the Colonial Era
Genre: Historical Fiction
There is a movie which we enjoyed watching. (1997)
Audiobook available.
Much Ado About Nothing (Ch III) appropriate for high school and college
Genre: Drama (Comedy)
There are several movies made of this play by Shakespeare. I
couldn't get through any of them. However, I did enjoy
the Audiobook.
Johnny Tremain (Ch I) appropriate for middle school and high school
takes place in Colonial America just prior to the Revolution
Genre: Historical Fiction
Movie available (1957)
Audiobook available.
No comments:
Post a Comment
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss