My Goodnight Book

My Goodnight Book is a short and simple book about the routines of little girl as she readies for bed. The illustrations by Eloise Wilkin are precious. Liam brings this book to me, oh, about a dozen times a day, to be read to him.
I think it is out of print now. I bought when Tierney and Caleb were little at a thrift shop.

Singing Away the Dark

Sweet book, with darling illustrations about a girl who had to walk far, far to the bus stop, in the cold and early dark.
Love this.

Homeschooling and the Voyage of Self-Discovery

I am really loving this book. A collection of essays based on David Albert's thoughts on education and his relaxed "unschooling" approach to his daughters' education, it is informative, interesting, and rings true.
In fact, it backs up every research driven article and book I have read (that wasn't funded by a curriculum or a "charitable" foundation.
Here's an excerpt on reading:
"The kids learn to read if there are lots of children's books in the house, adult books, or just a few old magazines. They learn to read if they are read aloud to from the time they can sit up, or if storytime is ignored......Schools don't want parents to know this dirty little secret. If they did, school administrators wouldn't be able to trumpet school "successes", or mount campaigns for more funds for "failing schools", or hold mom and dad nervously enthralled to hear the report on Susie's progress on parent-teacher night, or blame the parents for lack of it. Stadardized tests would be known to measure the variables they actually do reliably gauge-- neither student not teacher performance, BUT AVERAGE PARENTAL INCOME AND AVERAGE YEARS OF PARENTAL EDUCATION IN THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA SURROUNDING THE SCHOOLS."
Think about that. Of course, thank goodness, there are exceptions.

His chapter on the terrifying game of dodge ball was excellent. Dodge ball was SCARY for me. In jr. high we would line up against a wall, and the boys would try to hit the girls in the breasts or butt as hard as they could (thank goodness, I didn't really have any breasts). I am not quick. I am not agile. I am not exaggerating. I hated it.
"The only argument put forward by the defenders of dodge ball is that it is a fun reprsentation of what life is really all about....Fun for whom, kimo sabe? But I don't think it can easily be denied that dodge ball is, at bottom, an accurate and chillingly dynamic depiction of the sorting and culling mechanisms, built on a foundation of systematic violence, at which American public education excels."

Excellent. And true. This book isn't just for homeschoolers. Although I dislike the author's attempts at humor, I think this book is excellent for teachers who want to make the classroom more humane and less factory-driven for the helpless students bound to attend by compulsory schooling and the dangling allure of free babysitting.
Damn. I wish I could figure out how to work parttime, so I could homeschool.

Storm Chaser

Early into summer vacation, disaster strikes at thirteen-year-old Jessica's ranch. While her family struggles to make ends meet, Jessica struggles to show her father she is old enough to train horses and to cope with the disappointment over having to sell the Paint horse she longs to own.
This book is predictable, and Jessica is a bit too well-behaved to be much fun, but she does offer glimpses of resentment which make her more likable.
Recommended for girls who like horses, but I enjoyed the quick trip to the dry Nevada desert.

Those Shoes

In this picture book, the boy is dying to have "those shoes"- the cool shoes that every kid is wearing. Unfortunately, those shoes are just not in the budget. This sweet book is about wanting to fit in and generosity, and is definitely worth the quick read!