Recommended Reading
Juvenile Literature
Yes, I spend a good deal of time reading juvenile literature for a few reasons. 1) I enjoy most of it 2) I want to know what my children are reading so we can discuss the books. So here are some of my/our favorites:
Grandma's Attic Series
by Arleta Richardson
A young girl delights in her grandmother’s stories of days gone by, sparked by keepsakes and simple questions, Grandma shares marvelous stories of mischief , discovery, and laughter, such as the time she accidentally lost the family buggy.
Part of the bestselling Grandma’s Attic series, these charming tales—updated with delightful new illustrations—will whisk you away to another time and place. And you’ll find something worth far more than any treasure or keepsake…timeless lessons of life and faith!
Homer Price
by Robert McCloskey
Welcome to Centerburg! Where you can win a hundred dollars by eating all the doughnuts you want; where houses are built in a day; and where a boy named Homer Price can foil four slick bandits using nothing but his wits and pet skunk.
The comic genius of Robert McCloskey and his wry look at small-town America has kept readers in stitches for generations
Crown and Covenant Series
by Douglas Bond
This is a trilogy. They are about the Scottish Covenanters in the 1600’s. Great young boy books. They’re full of clean adventure, virtue, manliness, courage and wisdom. You won’t be disappointed with this series or anything by Douglas Bond. We’ve read a few of them. They are historical fiction but he explains in the back of the book what was real and what he fictionalized so there is no blur of history on the child’s part. Great idea, Mr. Bond!
Children's Books
Children’s books are my absolute favorites. So many of them are filled with humor and great art work. We have more children’s stories than anything else in our library. This list could go on and on but I’ll try to be somewhat brief.
Officer Buckle & Gloria
by Peggy Rathman
I love this book! It’s filled with hidden humor (which I really look for). She also wrote and illustrated Goodnight Gorilla which is a great before bed book because it hardly has any words. It’s a nice quick read when you’re in a rush for those little farm munchkins to be in bed.
Wisdom of Solomon Lapp
by Wanda Brunstetter
Your kids will love this delightfully written and beautifully illustrated storybook about a young Amish boy named Solomon Lapp and his sister Sara. Growing up amid the beautiful rolling hills of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the children encounter everything from dark, dancing shadows to loose chickens, quilt-eating goats, and mischief-making siblings. From one adventure to another in twelve intriguing chapters, Solomon and his friends learn life lessons about courage, brotherly love, helping, obedience, kindness, and more. This enchanting storybook will not only entertain but inspire, teaching children Christian values and the wisdom of God.
Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder
These were a great supplement to the chapter books that we have enjoyed so much. They’re definitely for younger children but all of the farm children still pick these out to read. The drawings are very lovely and the stories are from the original books.
Billy and Blaze Books
by C.W. Anderson
Billy was a little boy who "loved horses more than anything else in the world." Imagine how happy he was when he got his very own pony for his birthday! From that day on, Billy was seldom seen without his new friend, Blaze.
Riding through fields and woods, Billy and Blaze learned to trust and understand one another -- and to jump over fences and fallen trees with ease. They were a great team, but were they good enough to win the gleaming silver cup at the Mason Horse Show?
This is the first book in the classic Billy and Blaze series. Sensitive drawings and easy-to-read words capture the warmth and gentle understanding between a boy and his horse.
The Very Busy Spider
Illustrated by Eric Carle
The farm animals try to divert a busy little spider from spinning her web, but she persists and produced a thing of both beauty and usefulness. The pictures may be felt as well as seen.
I really enjoy the artwork of Eric Carle. Even before he was super popular, The Very Hungry Caterpillar is my all-time favorite book! I like most of his books. Farm Girls 2, 3, 4 really liked Papa, Please Get Me the Moon. Then there’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, and The Very Busy Spider.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Illustrated by Eric Carle
With more than two million copies sold, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? has opened up a world of learning to a generation of children. For this edition, created for the twenty-fifth anniversay in 1992, Bill Martin, Jr., restored his text to its original wording. And Eric Carle created all new pictures--based on the originals, but clearer, brighter, and truer to the colors they represent.
Bill Martin has been devoted to writing children's books for more than thirty years. He has a Ph.D. in early childhood education and he has long been a proponent of using rhyme and rhythm to teach young children how to read.
Eric Carle, illustrator of many beloved children's books, was born in the United States, but spent his early years in Stuttgart, Germany, where he studied art and design at the Academy of Applied Art. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? was the first book he illustrated.
Papa, Please Get Me the Moon
Illustrated by Eric Carle
This story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward. Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn't easy to climb all the way to the moon, but he finally succeeds--only to find that the moon is too big to carry home! The way the problem is resolved is a joyful surprise.
Cookbooks
Here are some of my favorite cookbooks to help you out around the kitchen. Enjoy!
Home Living
Here are some of my favorite miscellaneous and home living books for you to enjoy!
Large Family Logistics
by Kim Brennamen
This book is chock full of ideas on everything. Even if you don’t have a “large family” but are interested in ways to make the home run more smoothly, you’ll love this book. I have adopted so many of her ideas in my home. Just a lot of time saving ideas. One of my favorites.
Raising Respectful Children and Raising Unselfish Children in a Self-Absorbed World
by Jill Rigby
Both of Jill Rigby’s books are excellent and very well presented. If you’re at all interested in rearing respectful children, this is the book for you. She gives many examples from her own experience and it’s full of truths and practical wisdom.
