Several years ago at a workshop Emily and I were holding on Charlotte Mason’s method of education, we were addressing her way of teaching the Bible. A mother who was there shared a revelation she had recently had while reading a biography of the poet, William Blake, to her children. It dawned on her suddenly as she read of… Read More A Book for Good Friday
I’ve been discussing the differences between old books and new books. Let me defend myself at the outset by saying that I do not have an attachment to old things just because they’re old. I have owned my share of antiques in the past, but like new furnishings as well. We have driven many old cars, but there’s nothing… Read More Is New Always Better?
Our monthly Book Sale has been updated! Please visit our Book Sale Page to browse our current selection of living books for sale.
I received the following comment from my last post: I often think that if Charlotte Mason were alive today, she would be thrilled with the immense variety of children’s titles now available…books that were such a rarity in her own time. To me, the wonder of Mason is that she recognized that education/ information didn’t have to come… Read More A Good Question
Who doesn’t love a good story? It’s almost like saying, “Are people human?” to ask that question. It’s part of the way we’re made, to love stories. You may not remember the time and date of an appointment, but you will remember the story your friend had to share. You may not remember the text of the sermon, but… Read More Tell Me a Story
Do you remember your first trip to the library? When I was a child, libraries were hushed places. This lent an air of hallowedness to the whole visit. Woe be to the child who became the object of a stern librarian’s admonition for silence. A dropped book was a thunderclap to be avoided at all… Read More Can a Library Last Forever?
Emily and I are currently attending the South East Homeschool Convention in Greenville, doing a little book shopping, of course, and helping friends to sell the precious books we love. I make this qualification because we do have a special passion for them. When we attend these events, we meet all kinds of homeschool families with every variety of… Read More Are You a Listless Homeschooler?
Spring is Here by Lois Lenski Beloved illustrator’s simple rhymes highlight the activities of spring. A perfect picture book for little hands–just slightly bigger than a Beatrix Potter book–thankfully reprinted recently, many libraries still have this, and used copies are available online (though Amazon has none that are affordable at the time of this post).… Read More Top Picks: Spring
I previously wrote about the important role fiction can play in our every day life. Anyone who has observed children playing knows they pretend. They play act, imitating what they have seen and heard. This is a healthy and normal part of childhood learning. I remember my youngest daughter’s surprised tone of voice when I asked her what she had… Read More The Necessity of Fiction
When families are new to our library we give a little tour. I say little because the library is small; I say tour, not because one could get lost in its labyrinthine sprawl as in one of those vast public library buildings, but because we want them to be able to locate the books they need. In the course… Read More The Therapeutic Effect of Fiction