"Living books" can be terrific additions to any method of home education. What is a "living book"?
According to simplycharlottemason.com, living books are "… usually written by one person who has a passion for the subject and writes in conversational or narrative style. The books pull you into the subject and involve your emotions, so it's easy to remember the events and facts. Living books make the subject "come alive." They can be contrasted to dry writing, like what is found in most encyclopedias or textbooks, which basically lists informational facts in summary form…"
(http://simplycharlottemason.com/basics/faq/livingbook/)
Think through your bookshelves: what living books do you own? You may be reading and enjoying these gems without realizing it!
Leave a comment sharing the titles, authors, and brief synopses of your favorite living books. Others will benefit from your favorites, and you can benefit from theirs!
Join us next Tuesday for a once-a-month excerpt from the new living book: "Light of the World."
I read a wonderful biography called "Isaac Newton, Reluctant Genius" a couple of years ago. I had intended to read it to my children at some point, but did not get to it till recently. Actually, reading "Light of the World" (a terrific "living book," btw ;-) to my children was a wonderful lead-in to this biography, since Newton made some ground-breaking discoveries relating to light and color. Even though we don't all understand all the science and calculus that is described in the book, because it is woven in to the story of his life, it is interesting to read. I hope to get more biographies of important figures in science and other academic fields.
ReplyDeleteWe also have enjoyed the Christian Liberty Nature Readers a great deal. I need to pull them back out for my newer readers. I had forgotten about them!
Books like "Pocahontas, True Princess" by Mari Hanes and it's sequel "Two Mighty Rivers" are the kinds of books I like to let my children read, to encourage their apetite to learn history. Really, they are two of my all time favorite books just for my own personal enjoyment. True page-turners. But be sure to pre-read these before giving them to your children -- some of the scenes are disturbing, describing some extremely savage pagan practices in order to show the contrast with Biblical culture. I save these for when I think each of my children is ready for them, rather than read them aloud.
“Living” history books:
ReplyDelete“The Prince of the House of David” or “Three Years in the Holy City”
By Rev. J.H. Ingraham
Although written in letter-writing style, which isn’t usually my favorite, this book gives the best picture of 1st. century Jews waiting for the Messiah and struggling to understand if Jesus was the One.
“The Winged Watchman”
By Hilda Van Stockum
Excellent for all ages/good read-aloud. WWII occupation of Holland. Could study and model windmills at the same time. :)
“Living science books:
“All on a Mountain Day”
By Aileen Fisher
Follows the separate stories of several different animals living on a mountain, all coming together into one story by the end. (From Rod & Staff Publishers)
“Cubby in Wonderland”
By Frances Joyce Farnsworth
A bear’s-eye view of living in Yellowstone.
“Buzztail: the Story of a Rattlesnake”
By Robert M. McClung
Teaches what you need to know about rattlesnakes through an engaging story.
“Sweet Sue’s Adventures” and “Calamity Jane: the Wise Old Raccoon”
By Sam Campbell
“Sweet Sue’s Adventures” is a realistic story about a mother skunk and her eight baby skunklets. “Calamity Jane” is a realistic story about a mother raccoon and her four baby coonlets.
“Gift from a Sheep: the Story of How Wool Is Made”
By Alberta & Nicole Eiseman
Throughout the course of the story, the readers is introduced to shearing, carding, and spinning wool.
How about the Elsie Dinsmore series for Christian and character building, Daughters of the Faith series (stories based on the lives of very good examples of Christian girls), and all the old Henry, Ballentyne, Ellis, Otis, Oliver Optic, Pansy, and Millie Keith collections of books. Will send more if we think of them.
ReplyDelete