What We're Reading in March 2016

This past week during our everybody-read-a-just-for-fun-book time (I should probably think of a more eloquent name for our morning reading time. No?), my "Reading's-not-my-favorite-thing" boy couldn't get enough of his book! (Can I just add a few more exclamations points to that sentence? One just doesn't seem to capture my excitement.) Even after our reading time was done and everyone else had left the living room to begin their studies, this boy...this I'm-allergic-to-fiction-books boy KEPT READING!!! And did I mention he had his nose in a fiction book?!

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Don't get me wrong...he absolutely looooooooooves having fiction read out loud to him. He's just always been a bit more of a non-fiction sorta fella' during his own personal reading.

That's fine by me. Truly. I lean towards non-fiction myself. But a small part of me has secretly hoped that reading fiction would eventually grab him.

That day?...that glorious day last week...found him captivated by a story. (Cue the sappy Hallmark movie soundtrack!)

Even though I typically encourage the kids to get busy with their first subjects of the day after our just-for-fun-reading time, I was not about to distract my son from the book he was holding. Thoughts of erecting a DO NOT DISTURB police-style barricade around the perimeter of the living room entered my head...but only for a brief moment. I promise.

As I had hoped, his reading skill level has improved quite a bit this year, and apparently so has his desire to read fiction

Ahhhh...bliss!

Here's what we'll be reading this month.

Read Aloud- for the four oldest

Mary Poppins- Although my oldest two kids saw the movie version of this fantastical classic years ago, my youngest three have never had the privilege. After we finish the book, we'll have a family movie night in honor of Ms. Poppins and her carpet bag o' fun!

Read Aloud- for the two youngest

Little Runner of the Longhouse

Jamie- that's me!

Age of Opportunity- One more year and I'll have myself a teenager. While the world would have me believe that the emotional and physical changes of these youthful years are to be feared, I think God's Word has something different to say about the matter. I'm obviously going into the next decade of parenting with eyes-wide-open. But, I'm also excited to see how God can use my kids to serve Him in mighty and wonderful ways. This book has come highly recommended by a few moms who have already walked through the teenage years and have lived to tell about it! I'm about a third of the way through with it and find the writing style to be a bit dry. The content is good. Just dry. We shall see...

Sweetie Pea- 7th grade

Island of the Blue Dolphins- (Mom-assigned book) This is just one of the many books on her Middle School MUST READ list.

The Borrowers- (Just-for-fun book) This is also on her Middle School MUST READ list. She has enjoyed the list suggestions so much that she's now reading the titles for fun.

Super Boy- 4th grade

Daniel Boone- (Mom-assigned book) Admittedly, due to the anti-Native American sentiments of 1939 when it was originally published, this book does not paint Native Americans in the best light. But, I'm not going to let that discourage me from using it as a source of dialogue with my son. In fact, one of the questions I like to ask most often of my kids as they read a book ("How does reading this book now in this moment of history change the story from the author's moment?") will no doubt give us plenty to talk about. 

Voyage of the Vikings- (Just-for-fun book)

Blonde Warrior- 3rd grade

Mr. Popper's Penguins- (Mom-assigned book) My son loves silly, non-sensical fiction and fact-filled biographies. This book definitely falls into the former category. We read it together years ago, but as he was just a toddler, he only vaguely remembers the plot. He's loving the chance to get re-acquainted with Mr. Poppins and his energetic penguins.

Peril in the Palace- (Just-for-fun book)

Greased Lightning- 1st grade

Wild, Wild Wolves- (Mom-assigned book) I'm always looking for easy nature books for my young naturalist! I think he's gonna love this one.

(Update: We began this book and realized that there was a section about werewolves in it. So, we sent this one back to the library and began reading through something else.)

Barn Storm- (Just-for-fun book)

And that's what we'll be reading this month. How about you? Got any good titles to share?