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I’m in the process of finishing Bull Run by Paul Fleischman with my oldest son and we both really enjoyed it. The book covers the first major battle of the U.S. Civil War (and leading up to it) from sixteen different voices. Northern and Southern, male and female, black and white, young and old characters […]
I’ve gotten a few questions via email over the years on the curricula we use in homeschooling our two boys. I’m always a little hesitant to answer because we have been trying different approaches to see what is a good fit for the boys and what isn’t. The latter group doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a […]
Pardon the interruption…my wife’s book proposal was close to the deadline so that has been about our only focus for the past week. I have had to continually deal with my arch-nemisis ‘that/which’ too many times for me to care right now. Anyway, back to reading books. My oldest son went to a LitWits Workshop […]
I’ve posted before on the LitWits Workshops my oldest son has attended and it looks like I’ll do so again. We read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell and he attended the workshop on it. For anyone not familiar with the story it’s a Robinson Crusoe-like tale based on the Lone Woman of […]
I have been reading Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham with the boys and they are really enjoying it. OK, I have been, too. It’s the story of Nathaniel Bowditch and his contributions to ocean navigation. It’s also a great story for kids since Bowditch had to overcome so much in his life. […]
When I read the review of this book in David Meadow’s post at rogueclassicism I thought it would be a great way to get my boys interested in a version of The Iliad. Unfortunately neither of them was inclined to pick up the book on their own but they have responded well to my reading […]
Bird Life in Wington: Practical Parables for Young People by John Calvin Reid, illustrated by Reynold H. WeidenaarFrom the preface: In seeking to stimulate the interest of children and young people in the worship services of the church, through the years I have used a number of ideas for Sermonettes. Just one has succeeded beyond […]
I have mentioned that my parents saved most of the books I had while growing up. A couple of this week’s favorites with the boys revolve around Lyle the Crocodile. My favorite part is in Lyle and the Birthday Party, where I read Lyle’s doctor with a German accent (think of “Hogan’s Heroes” with a […]
The most popular books this week with the above audience: Doctor Dolittle’s Circus–we should finish this book tonight and start on the next in the series this weekendCloudy with a Chance of MeatballsThomas and the Big, Big BridgeOlive the Other Reindeer–I think they are hoping to get a jump on Christmas
My parents kept all my books from when I was a kid, including this copy of Doctor Dolittle that one of my brothers gave me over 40 years ago. My wife and I have been reading it to the boys, and I should finish the last two chapters tonight. To say that it underwhelms me, […]