With a full month of school under our belts, we have officially gotten into the rhythm of a new schedule. We find freedom in a schedule...freedom and extra time. Extra time to read. (This post contains affiliate links.)
Here's what's in our book box this month.
(In case you're curious, our reading time typically looks like this>>)
Read Aloud- Everybody
So technically, we haven't started our October read aloud because we just finished our September one, but we've narrowed our search of potentials down to two. We've checked them both out from the library and will be taking a family vote to see which one makes the cut.
Ragweed
- "Early polls" show that my animal loving crew will probably choose this one.
- "Early polls" show that my animal loving crew will probably choose this one.
But, I'm kinda hoping I can swing the vote to THIS ONE!!
More Perfect than the Moon- Since I was a little girl, I have always loved the Sarah, Plain and Tall trilogy. I've shared them with my kids and even our co-op families. Little did I know, it is NOT a trilogy at all, but a series of FIVE BOOKS! How could I have missed that? Why didn't anyone tell me? This is the fourth in the series and since it is short, I'm hoping we can somehow...just maybe...read book four AND five this month! (But, if the vote goes the other way, expect to see a 35-year-old woman reading two children's books ALL BY HERSELF.)
Jamie- that's me!
The Best Yes- As a self-proclaimed "Martha", I have struggled with sacrificing THE BEST on the altar of THE GOOD my entire life. In my late twenties I began to see that saying "yes" to everything meant I had to often times say "no" to the things that really mattered to me. Little by little, I began to make big changes to the way I prioritized my commitments. I'm still a work-on-progress when it comes to choosing the BEST yes, but I have come a long way. When this book, by one of my favorite authors, recently hit the shelves of my library, I was the first to bring it home!
Sweetie Pea- 6th Grade
The Care and Keeping of You
- (Mom-assigned book) I'll confess, I picked this book up at a garage sale when my daughter was only about two-years-old. I had it tucked away ever since, but have finally unearthed it in anticipation of the changes headed her way during these tween years.
- (Mom-assigned book) I'll confess, I picked this book up at a garage sale when my daughter was only about two-years-old. I had it tucked away ever since, but have finally unearthed it in anticipation of the changes headed her way during these tween years. 
The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud 
- (Read-for-fun book) The epic length of this book combined with her school/church/social schedule, pretty much guaranteed that it would take her more than a month to finish it. She started it in September and isn't quite halfway done with it. It is reeeaaally long. But, according to her, really good and worth the commitment.
- (Read-for-fun book) The epic length of this book combined with her school/church/social schedule, pretty much guaranteed that it would take her more than a month to finish it. She started it in September and isn't quite halfway done with it. It is reeeaaally long. But, according to her, really good and worth the commitment.
Super Boy- 3rd Grade
The Snow Walker
- (Mom-assigned book) This true story of the bravery of 12-year-old Milton Daub during the blizzard of 1888 is the perfect book to inspire courage and selflessness into any young boy
- (Mom-assigned book) This true story of the bravery of 12-year-old Milton Daub during the blizzard of 1888 is the perfect book to inspire courage and selflessness into any young boy
National Geographic Readers: Rocks and Minerals
- (Read-for-fun book) My rock-crazed-boy has carried an old black-and-white-barely-any-pictures-lots-of-words rock field guide around for the past three years...pouring over the pages until he has practically rubbed off all the ink. I was glad when he found this book at the library which is more his reading level and actually has colored pictures in it.
- (Read-for-fun book) My rock-crazed-boy has carried an old black-and-white-barely-any-pictures-lots-of-words rock field guide around for the past three years...pouring over the pages until he has practically rubbed off all the ink. I was glad when he found this book at the library which is more his reading level and actually has colored pictures in it. 
Blonde Warrior- 2nd Grade
Chester Cricket's Pigeon Ride (Chester Cricket and His Friends)
- (Mom-assigned book) This is the sequel to The Cricket in Time Square which we read for a family read-aloud a few years ago.
- (Mom-assigned book) This is the sequel to The Cricket in Time Square which we read for a family read-aloud a few years ago. 
Bears Life in the Wild (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
- (Read-for-fun book)
- (Read-for-fun book)
Greased Lightning- Kindergarten
Step Into Reading Phonics First Steps, set 2- This is a series of graduated phonetical readers that comes in a boxed set.
Now it's your turn. Whatcha readin'?
We just finished Charlottes Web and have moved onto a book of read aloud train stories I found at a second-hand bookstore. My boys love it! I wanted to ask if you ever start a book and after a while realize your kids do not enjoy it (or perhaps just aren't ready for it yet). Do you keep going anyway or do you ever stop and try again at a later date?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Rachel! I actually stop reading. We definitely give it a decent trial run, but after the first few chapters, if my kids are still not into it, we pass and find something else. There are too many WONDERFUL books out there to squander your time on something you don't enjoy.
DeleteWe love the Sarah Plain & Tall series here also! I had no idea there were 5 books! Now I know what I need to look for this week on our library day! We are currently reading "A Pioneer Sampler" by Barbara Greenwood. My girls ages 9 & 7 love it! It is a book that portrays the everyday life of a pioneer family in 1840. There are 2 other books in the series,one is about Thanksgiving & the other Christmas. I found them used on thriftbooks.com for around $3 each.
ReplyDeleteWe read the Prairie Sampler a few years ago when my daughter was obsessed with all things Little House. I thought it would branch us out into other books because it wasn't necessarily about the Ingalls family but still had the prairie vibe. Great book.
DeleteOoops...I meant Pioneer Sampler.
DeleteWe own that rocks and minerals book. It's a good one!
ReplyDeleteWe just finished Alice in Wonderland. Now need to decide if we should just start Wizard of Oz or wait for Through the Looking Glass to be available at the library.
Hmmm...tough choice. We've not read Through the Looking Glass.
DeleteI loved Through the Looking Glass when I was young, but I'm almost certain the Jabberwoke portion would give our son nightmares into his 30s. I bet our daughter would like it if I read it only to her at bed time though! Thanks for the reminder about this one!
DeleteI grew up with my parents playing the Jabberwoke song by the 3 D's on the old record player. So I knew and loved the poem before I ever read the book.
DeleteMom assigned (Kindergartner)--One chapter out loud per day of a random Mr. Putter and Tabby book by Cynthia Rylant (These are so enjoyable!)
ReplyDeleteFor fun--Solar system, planets, moons books from library
(Preschool) Mom assigned--Bob books, early phonics
For fun--Picture books about planes and trains
Me--Project Based Homeschooling, Lori McWilliam Pickert
--Stepping Up (a journey through the Psalms of Ascent), Beth Moore
--This Momentary Marriage, John Piper (Read aloud with my hubby as we are able......which translates to: hardly ever.)
I love these choices! I've not heard of the Momentary Marriage, but I'm a fan of Piper's books. I'll have to check it out. Project Based Homeschooling has been on my list for a while. Gotta get to it.
DeleteThanks for sharing! I love book suggestions!
You bet. Say, I've been meaning to ask, how has your milk-soap making been going? Just wondering if you're planning a blog update on that in the near future!
DeleteOhhh...how I wish I had anything to report. I have all the stuff...EVERYTHING. But, I'm so nervous about burning myself with the lye, I haven't tried it yet. I have a friend who suffered a horrible lung burn do to inhaling fumes and will suffer the rest of her life because of it. It makes me soooooo nervous. I need to just take the plunge, though. Thanks for the nudge.
DeleteI love that you post these each month! I love book ideas! We just started a small group Bible study on The Best Yes. We are definitely loving it so far! Especially as homeschool mamas, we need the reminder that it is okay to say no sometimes. :)
ReplyDeletehttp://thisoutnumberedmama.blogspot.com/
Yep. We sure do!
DeleteI look forward every month to this post! After seeing what "The Best Yes" on your list, I requested it from our library! It's a great book so far, eye opening for sure. Question, can you recommend a book dealing with making decisions/procrastinating? And also a book about improving family time? As new Christians we just aren't sure what's out there! Many thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what you are referring to about "procrastinating", but I really enjoyed the Money Saving Mom book...it deals with organizing your life (time, money, resources) in order to get the most out of your days.
DeleteFor improving family time, Five Star Families by Carol Kuykendall is a nice start as well as Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper...this one was hard to get into at first but so worth the read.
Thank you for such a prompt reply! That's exactly what I was looking for in reference to procrastinating:) you have been a huge inspiration to me as a mom/homeschooler/Christian wife, thank you! I look forward to each and every post:)
DeleteI thought of one that might be in line with what you're asking for. It's called Seven (An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess) by Jen Hatmaker. It talks about simplifying so that our time and efforts and money and head-space are used for glorying God, and serving our family and communities (read: neighbors). And it's just plain hilarious to boot. Might give you the push you need to clear out the space to make decisions easier and the time to spend with your family more stress/clutter-free.
DeleteThat sounds great! Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely be reading it! It's so refreshing to not feel judged when reaching out for suggestions:)
DeleteThanks for chiming in, Krista. It's so nice having a community of moms willing to encourage and equip oen another.
DeleteAny time :) P.S. My hubby and I will be leaving our part of the frozen wasteland (errr...tundra) in a few weeks, for a short trip to what I'm guessing is your part of the frozen tundra. I'll give a friendly wave in your general direction! Thanks for being so generous with the wisdom God's given you, Jamie! I'm so glad I was led to your blog!!! And COURAGE to you on the soap making! I'll be in rapt attention to see how it all turns out if you end up going through with it! Hope your friend is okay and healing!!
DeleteI found your blog a few months ago and it's now one of my favorites as I begin my second year of homeschooling. Thanks for sharing all of your wonderful ideas! You've inspired me to start my own What We Are Reading section on my blog. I am definitely going to check out More Perfect Than The Moon. I think my first grader will like that.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I think that's a great idea. I'm always getting requests for book suggestions...I think finding QUALITY reading is something that all mommas struggle with, myself included. Sharing good titles is a great way to help each other out.
DeleteThanks for reading. I'm glad you have found some encouragement here.