Once again, I sit on my calves on the floor at the bookshelf, rearranging schoolbooks, reminiscing. I started homeschooling when my oldest was five years old. He's now 21 and in college, and his two sisters follow not too far behind him in 11th and 12th grade. I have, and have had, so many books!
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| Photograph by Alex Foster |
Some books I pull out, and just the sight of its cover warms my heart and surfaces wonderful memories. Other books cause me to think out loud: "I always hated this book." It's trial and error, and that's how you know. One definite learning experience is that every homeschooling family is different. Mine is different from yours, and yours is different from mine.
So, when I read about a "favorite" book that "my child loves," I now realize that one size never fits all.
That's how God planned it.
With that being said, I feel that I do have some great books to share with you. The books have to pass the test three times before I call it truly great, through all three of my children.
Furthermore, it's important to note that all three of my children have personalities that are completely distinct. Many times, I thought I would have to buy three different curriculums, and sometimes, I had to.
Following is a list, arranged by age/grade, of books that I believe you cannot go wrong in purchasing.
Young/Elementary:
Frog and Toad (& all Arnold Lobel books)
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey (actually, anything by Robert McCloskey)
The Story About Ping by Flack & Wiese
A New Coat for Anna by Ziefert & Lobel
Lessons From the Farmyard by Christian Liberty Press
Brer Rabbit
Dandelion by Don Freeman
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
The Boxcar Children Series by Gertrude Warner
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Pioneer Girl by Megan Stine
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
Little Pear by Eleanor Lattimore
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
The Story of the World by Susan Wise Bauer
Backyard Pets by Carol Amato
Nature Reader[s] by Christian Liberty (5 books)
Christian Kids Explore Earth & Space
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Pleasant Verses and Rhymes Copywork by Sandi Queen
Stories from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson (a GREAT read-aloud)
God's Design for Sex (Books 1 and 2)
Tween/Middle:
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Surviving Hitler by Andrea Warren
Lessons From History 1990s by Gail Schultz
Frankenstein (abridged) by Mary Shelly
Eccentrics: Critical Reading Series
The Outer Edge: Uncommon Courage
Easy Grammar Grade 6 by Wanda Phillips
The Apple and the Arrow by Mary & Conrad Bluff
The Nutcracker
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
From a Boy to a Godly Man: David & Joseph by Chris & Katy Foster
Fundamentals of Math, 2nd ed., Grade 7 by Bob Jones (pretty tough -- great prep for Algebra)
Teen/High School:
How to Study by Edward Shewan (Quick note: My son found it boring -- I liked it.)
Adam and His Kin by Ruth Beechick
101 Great American Poems
Vocabulary Cartoons
Real Citizenship by Tim Echols (If TeenPact is in your area, sign your child up.)
A Boy's Bible Study of Jesus: From a Boy to a Godly Man by Chris & Katy Foster (My own – I did initially write it for my own children.)
Algebra 2 by Abeka
I Kissed Dating Goodbye (I know – old and old-fashioned, but some interesting perspective for great conversation.)
Exploring Creation with Physical Science (Thus far, this book takes the cake!)
Invisible Man by H. G. Wells
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Life of Pi by Yann Martel (great conversation piece regarding narrator reliability – Was Pi really a Christian?)
Book of Job from the Bible
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
I’m forgetting a few great ones, I’m sure, but these are the ones that quickly came to memory.
Many homeschool families recommended this book below for 8th or 9th grade science. I'm glad I listened -- my son wanted to learn more each day, eagerly reading the book and completing the labs (which were very practical). He often wanted to conversate over what he had learned. This book takes the cake!
My next book for Fostering Truth is a study guide for the Book of Job, and I'm so excited about it! Please add any other books that you particularly love in homeschooling in the comments. I hope this list is helpful to you. What a fun connection we homeschoolers have!