Confessions of a Homeschool Dad

Dec. 9, 2005

Wonder Bread for the Brain

My wife and kids recently went to their weekly trip to libarary to feed the appetite particularly of my oldest, who is a voracious reader.

I was taken aback a little, however, because one of the books that she ended up with was from "The Kids In Mrs. Coleman's Class" series.

No, I hadn't heard of that series either, but they prominantly displayed that the authoress was a writer of something the the "Babysitter's Club Little Sisters" series.

I may have a misperception, but my knowledge of the Babysitter's Club books was that they were "romance light" - in other words, gateway drugs for books that have Fabio on the cover with his hair blowing in the wind while he holds some mostly undressed woman in one arm (and a mirror in the other?)

So, I guess my first question for you much-more-in-touch-with-this-sort-of-thing women would be am I right about the Babysitter's Club books?

UPLIFTING VS. WONDER BREAD

Now, I will admit that, as I looked through this book, it didn't seem like anything particularly. My daughter (who is 8) said that the people in the book said some "mean things" that they shouldn't, but it was mostly innocous fluff as best as I could tell.

That being said, it seemed like Wonder Bread for the brain. Light, fluffy, and looks pretty, but no nutritional value whatsoever. And, for what it's worth, so simple that she breezed through the book in about 2 days.

What I'm wondering if you fine folks know of any actually GOOD books for this age of girl (though she reads better than a lot of high school students that I remember). My ideal criteria are books that:

Promote Godly living / values
Are genuinely entertaining to this age girl
Are tough enough to challenge her a little - maybe they might take a whole week to read!
Don't introduce topics that she shouldn't be into just yet.
Are available at a local (good) library. Our libraries are interconnected and web-enabled, so if any library in the county has the book, we can get it delivered to our local library.

So, whatcha got, ladies?

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Comments

Dec. 9, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I stumbled on your blog from Spunky's. Have you checked out Vision Forum's books? They have a set/series for young girls there. I dount you can check them out though... but some really awesome books for sale there. I love their material.

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Dec. 9, 2005 - Oh sure!!

Posted by redmom

Make fun of our snowmen and then you're too chicken to comment on the hair!!?? Sheesh! rofl

I use Sonlight w/my eight year old daughter and LOVE the books. Many you need to do as read-alouds. Understood Betsy was excellent (lots of good messages). I'd go to their website and check out the read-alouds for each age. You'll get lots of good ideas. She just finished The Courage of Sarah Noble and is now reading The Matchlock Gun. Pedro's Journal was excellent, also. (Can you tell we're studying US History this year) For read-alouds we just finished The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I loved Walk The World's Rim. I have a good historical fiction series that my son really liked. I'll have to look at the name of it next time I go upstairs. I'm sure you'll get lots of good input here, though.

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Dec. 9, 2005 - Good Books

Posted by sagerats

I agree! Check out the Sonlight reading list. Also check out Bob Jones University Press they have some great stories for children and adults. Here are some more: Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, the Mandie series by, by, oh dear I don't remember. Elsie Dinsmore series, In Grandma's Attic series by Arletta Richardson.

Some "fluff" books, but are written in the 50's for children so they at least show morals, respect for elders and such are: The Happy Hollisters by Jerry West, and The Bobbsey Twins by Laura Lee Hope. Don't get any of the NEW Bobbsey Twins books. These updated versions are junk.

Books that could be harder for her, but to keep in mind are: Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maude Montgomery. Any of the books by Bethlehem Books, these are historical fiction.

These are the ones I can think of right off. Need more? Let me know! I can poor over my shelves and favorite catalogs to refresh my memory.

Blessings!

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Dec. 9, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by mamaduso

I would open up the Crhistian book homeschool catalogue and peruse that. There are so many great books available. I've liked the Sisters in Time series. Historical with a christian perspecive, respectable chidren, very itneresting. I've read these outloud and my girls love them. I' also got some on sale for 1.99 at CBD. Then you should check out Robinson Curriculum.com. For a reasonable price for CD's you can get literature for all subjects up to 12th grade. Mr. Robinson has picked out these excellent books (1800-early 1900's, some out of print). Classical education is the emphasis. You do need to print these books, does no good to read them on the computer. Did I mention 12th grade? The Cd's are 200.00 but you can easily find them used for cheaper if need be. And the price of a good laser printer and you are set. Most people spend more than that each year per child and this takes care of all children. I suggest you go to the website and peruse, because there is tons of info on his philosophy.

Oh, and The babysitters club- I actually haven't read these but my take on it is twaddle. Why waste time on this when you could give your child so much more. Something they could actually learn from.Susan

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Dec. 9, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by frogiggie89

Good books are:

Trailblazer Books, By Dave and Neta Jackson. These are historical fiction and present a Christian missionary/preacher in each one.

Anything put out by Lamplighter Publishing, especially Basket of Flowers.

Promise of Zion Series, by Robert Elmer. Series of 6 books, that are set during WWII. Also historical fiction.

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Dec. 10, 2005 - Get the Elsie Dinsmore Series

Posted by

And if you get on Vision Forum's Mailing list, you can get the books half off when they run a special twice a year, usually around this time and again in the spring! They are absolutely what you are looking for. If you are blessed, you have a children's librarian who listens to homeschoolers' recommendations. You could suggest these books for their budget and if there are other hs'ers like yourself definitely bomabard her nicely with recommendations. Librarians I have found love to do whatever will bring more children into the library.
By the way, you've just been tagged! Visit my blog entry:

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jammie/54381/

for the Seven Sevens and post your own answers as an entry on your own blog.
(no deadline :) No obligation of course...if you opt out you're still my friend ;)

Joyful Christmas~Jen aka Jammie
PS - Reference to your comment, "What is Ragbrai?" - go to www.ragbrai.org for details....in short, it is a week long bike ride on a different path yearly, across Iowa.

Edited by Jammie on Dec. 11, 2005 at 7:49 PM

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Dec. 10, 2005 - My goodness, aren't we popular!

Posted by ByHisGraceInColorado

I also tagged you with the seven sevens tag, my good fellow. Now be a good sport, okey dokey?
You got some excellent suggestions for books. Many of them were on my mind---my two girls are voracious readers. I suggest the Little House series, and then the Martha Years, the Caroline Years, and on back---there are books done on the whole family back to the days in Scotland. Also, the Elsie Dinsmore books are very good, but make sure to get the originals. Stay away from American Girls books, and most any popular series are garbage, ie-Babysitters Club. Biographies of great men and women, YWAM sells excellent ones. Patricia McClatchan (I think that is how you spell it) ---Sarah Plain and Tall etc. And, lets see----the list is endless!

Nancy

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Dec. 11, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by maggieraye

Check out Ambleside Online, they have reading lists for each year, but they also have a complete Pre-Year 7 reading list, which is mostly classic literature. If she finishes all of those, she'll be well read and well educated. Plus they are all the really great books we all should have read, but didn't until we started homeschooling. At least this is true in my case.

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Dec. 12, 2005 - Nota....

Posted by Amber

Is that Russian or something? Chance, Chance, Chance....ah ha, I have a friend with the last name Chance, I wonder if your related. Her name is Ifihada, I think she's Russian too.

God Bless,
Amber

Check out my link to Usborne for books.

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The no-holds-barred confessions of a Christian Husband, Father, and Provider living, working, and homeschooling in Texas.