Choosing Books to Read with Your Kids

Within the last year, I have developed a new interest in children's literature.  I have always loved to read and have always read a great number of books to my kiddos beginning before they could even sit up!  I always made sure the books were appropriate and did not contain objectionable material, but outside of that, I read just about anything that was on the shelf for babies, toddlers and preschoolers.  While researching my homeschooling options this last year, though, I began to realize that there is much more that should be involved in choosing reading material for my kiddos.  I thought I would share a few things that I have learned, and I will also give you a few excellent books that our family has particularly enjoyed!

1.  Choose books that contain excellent illustrations.  Before children begin to read a story with words, they can read the story in a picture.  Find picture books that are detailed and exquisite in their illustrations.  Books that capture the attention of your little listener through its artistry prepare the way for excellent readers in the future.

2.  Choose books that have wonderful stories - stories that encourage adventure, excitement, imagination; stories that make you tingle with delight; stories that make your children ask you to read more or read it again. Choose books that connect you and your children emotionally to the characters within.

3.  Choose books that are well written.  Find books that have a natural flow and contain many descriptions.  Do not settle for books because they appear easy to read or understand.  A child's mind can take in much more than we adults can begin to fathom.  There is nothing that encourages me more as a "teacher/mom" than to hear my 4 and 5 year old using a big word they heard in our read aloud book.

4.  Choose books that are inspiring.  Books that encourage excellent character and noble ideas are just what you want your children to hear!  Read to them stories that show good conquering evil, stories that will inspire your children to make right choices even if they may not have any one else stand beside them.  Read stories that will encourage them to pursue excellence and honor and purity.

5.  Choose books that are for all ages.  You know you have found a wonderful book if the 4 year old and Daddy are both enjoying it!  This may sound impossible, but it really isn't.  Our family reads aloud almost every night before bed, and all of us enjoy the books.  Because we read a chapter or two each night, I allow our 4 and 5 year old to color or build blocks quietly, but they are always listening, and I am continually amazed by the questions they ask or how well they retell the story when we are finished reading.

6. Choose books that are classic - books that have been passed down from generation to generation.  Books that focus on quickly passing cultural trends are not usually books that will last or that contain the inspiration our children need.  Again, our children's minds are capable of so much more than we think.  Let's fill them with excellent material not just average.

What books does our family read?  I'll list some of them below. I get many of my book ideas from home schooling magazines (Sonlight and Veritas Press).  Even if you do not homeschool, you can go online and look at the many books they suggest for the different age levels.  I also use a book Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt which basically contains a book list for children from baby through teenager. It groups the books by recommended age.  Then, I also use the six steps above for choosing books from the library, consignment stores, thrift stores and book stores.  We have an unlimited supply of excellent literature out there.  Let's make sure we fill our children's minds with books of excellence...not just average!

Books our family has enjoyed:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Big Trucks, Little Trucks by Peter Spier

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Henny Penny, The Little Red Hen, Three Little Pigs, The Gingerbread Boy, Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone

The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (There are over 20 of these sweet animal books written by Beatrix Potter.  I haven't found one my kiddos do not enjoy yet!)

Curious George by Hans A. Rey

Drummer Boy by Ann Turner

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

Frog and Toad Are Friends (And many other books about Frog and Toad) by Arnold Lobel

Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower by Peggy Parish

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink

Black Beauty by Anna Sewall

Heidi by Johanna H. Spyri

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin

Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Swiss Family Robinson by Johann D. Wyss

Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers

Dangerous Journey by Paul Bunyan (edited by Oliver Hunkin)

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

The Story of Sir Lancelot and His Companions by Howard Pyle

Christian Heroes: Then and Now Series by Janet and Geoff Benge

Childhood of Famous Americans Series

This is only the beginning!  We have read many, many more and have even more on our "To Be Read" list!  Maybe these titles can give you a wonderful start in the beginning of a beautiful tradition of reading together!

 

Joyful Mom Monday ~ Being a Purposeful Mom

Hi there!  Welcome to our Joyful Mom Monday link-up!  I am excited to share with you more of my passion for being a joyful mom, and I can't wait to hear how all of you are doing the same.   Shortly after I began to realize that my original idea of motherhood was not working, I read somewhere (I can't remember where) about how we wives and moms should write out a statement of purpose and intention.  This statement should include our long-term goals and how we want to accomplish them.  I thought I would share my statement of purpose today.

Philippians 3:10a & 14 -  That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection...I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

My purpose in life is to be a content, wise and godly woman.  I will accomplish these three things in my life 1) by living purposefully - loving God more each day; loving and inspiring my husband; loving, teaching and training my children; exampling to my family and friends the love and power of God; 2) by living faithfully - believing that God can do in my family's life what I could never accomplish on my own; 3) by living creatively - bringing fun, laughter and joy to my home and those I meet; 4) by living paradoxically - being willing to be different from the world,  being the opposite of my selfish nature and  giving more than I feel like giving.

God, help me to accomplish these purposes - not for my pride but for Your glory!

If you have never done anything like this before, I would encourage to take a few minutes this week to do this.  I keep mine in my Bible and in my Quiet Time Box, and on rough days, it is helpful to pull it out and remind myself of why I am doing what I am doing.  There are many things we can do to help us become more joyful moms, but one of the best ways to begin is by recognizing our purpose for doing what we do day in and day out and by being intentional as we carry out that purpose.

Make sure you link up below because I can't wait to hear your ideas on being a Joyful Mom!  Let's be joyful moms with purpose and intention this week!  Happy Monday!

 

Today, when you link up, you will need to use a text link.  I'm still working on the button.  Sorry...it's been a little crazy around here this last week!  I will post a button as soon as I finish figuring it out! :)

The "rules" (because everyone else's blog has rules) are simple:

1.  Share anything that will encourage other moms to be joyful in their journey.  This can be a fun craft idea, a recipe to cook with your kiddos, a post from your heart, a Bible verse, a picture, a fun memory, a family night idea...anything that we moms can look at and say, "I should try that!" or "That's the way I want my kids to remember me!"

2.  Please link directly to your Monday URL post - not to your blog - so that we can look directly at your post in future days.

3. Please acknowledge the link to Joyful Mom Mondays in some way - either with the button or through a text link so that others can stop by and see all the ideas we have posted.  (I will have a button made by Monday!)

4.  Enjoy the journey with other moms.  Stop by the other blogs and leave a sweet note of encouragement.

Homeschool Journal - 10/5

    

In my life this week...

Our family has been busy helping out at a huge fundraiser.  We do this each year, and even though it makes the days a little busier, it is always more than worth it!  The fundraiser covers two weekends.  The first weekend, we organize a yard sale with items from many, many families.  The second weekend, we host a dinner and auction.  Our family enjoys the time we have to be with our friends, and we get a small break from school! :)

In our homeschool this week...

We have actually only had two days of school this week and next week we will only have three!  But, that's OK because we started a week before most everyone else.  We did accomplish much in our two days.  We are reading the book The True Story of Noah's Ark written by Tom Dooley.  This book is amazing!!!  My kids are completely enthralled as we read it.  I love that it uses such big words too!  I have heard the kids using a few of them this week! :)  The illustrations are beautiful and help readers to picture how magnificent the ark must have been!

Mr. A (7) is reading Frog and Toad Together and enjoying every minute of it!  I love to hear him laugh out loud as he is reading.   Miss E (9) has begun reading Misty of Chincoteague.  We had to look up that pronunciation and practice it several times before we could even begin the book!  Mr. G and Miss M (5 and 4) read WORDS this week!!!  A big step for them!  Overall, it was a short but successful week!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

Whoops!  I think I covered this already! :)

Things I'm working on...

I am excited about a link up called Joyful Mom Mondays that I am going to begin this Monday.  This is new territory for me, and I have had to spend quite a bit of time researching on how to do this, but it's been fun!  If you're interested in the details for the link-up, you can see more here.

I'm cooking...

Even though we have been busy this week, I have been trying to make sure a good meal is put on the table each night.  Our favorite meal this week was BBQ Pork Ribs (which I had found on a great sale!).  The best thing about this main dish is how easy it is to prepare.  I buy McCormick's BBQ Pulled Pork Seasoning Mix, follow the directions on the back which involve an entire THREE ingredients, put it all in the slow cooker and leave it until supper time!  It's always a hit!

I'm grateful for...
This week I am most grateful for wonderful friends who make the load lighter and the work filled with laughter.  I'm so blessed to be surrounded by friends who have the same heart and focus. I am thankful for the encouragers God has placed in my life.

I'm praying for...
My burden this week has been for other moms.  Every mom faces different challenges everyday, but I know of a few who are particularly struggling.  I am praying that God will work in their lives in a special way this week.

So, that's what's been happening here!  I hope you all have had a wonderful Saturday!  I am looking forward to a great night's rest (I hope my newbie agrees with me!) and a beautiful day of worship tomorrow!