The War Between the States draws to a close, and we look at a nation rebuilding with new inventions and enchanting literature.

Kaira's still working on her essay discussing whether the end justifies the means. (She told me she's taking a two pronged approach; discussing the topic generally, then more specifically as it pertains to unconstitutional moves President Lincoln took to preserve the union.) I'm fascinated to read what she's come up with when I glimpse her rough draft later this week.

Keegan's chuckling over Brer Rabbit, while Kendra and Keianna are thoroughly enjoying the Little House series.  All the children have been oohing and aahing over the other coffee table selections.  (And I've been nibbling at several of the titles myself!)

After an unexpected summer break, we started up school last week and are ready to resume our Tapestry of Grace studies tomorrow!   

In the coming weeks we'll further study the injustice of slavery (a thread we've been following from early times) and we'll look at our nation's struggle to abolish it.  Simultaneously, the older girls will be delving deeper into the constitution as we look at the War Between the States from a variety of perspectives. 

On the literature front, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott and Laura Ingalls Wilder will tell us their stories from the era.  (Louisa May Alcott's Jack and Jill is one of my Favorites, as is Twain's The Prince and the Pauper.)  

The children are all excited to be resuming Tapestry!  Kaira announced she'll be getting up early tomorrow to dig into the book basket, and Kendra's already picked out a few she's itching to read.  Keianna's excited to be a full Tapestry student this unit with independent reading assignments instead of just tagging along on read-alouds.  (So far the boys are just along for the ride.)

China, Japan, and WHO?  Ok, so dear Emily doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the books.

I considered moving her to from this smorgasbord to the next book buffett in a few weeks, but decided she provided variety and a bit of a reminder that even as we study the far East, history is occurring simultaneously in the West.

Upon realizing that we'd barely touched on the great nations of China and Japan which are featured this week in our tapestry studies, I decided to pull out a care package a friend sent us from China. It is brimming with educational goodies (thanks Beth!).  With so much to study in China and Japan we will linger in the east for a couple weeks. This week will be a regular Tapestry-week which will focus on events in China and Japan in the mid 1800's. Next week will be an extended PrairieFrog mini study that digs deeper as we explore China and Japan both in the past and today.

And then, of course, keeping an anchor for us in the Western, English speaking world is Emily Dickinson.

After our two weeks spent on one week of Tapestry, we'll continue our normal yet oft interrupted pace and proceed a week at a time. These books are just for this two week interlude--I have two full baskets waiting to grace the coffee table in a few weeks!

Tom's Midnight Garden has nothing to do with either Emily Dickinson or the Orient, but rather is another Anchor back to Mid-to-Late-Victorian England. It was a favorite book of mine as a child, and although very light on history, is a fun read.

The children have given up on digging the Erie Canal behind the barn, and yesterday they piled into the Radio Flyer wagon and told me they were traveling to Oregon!  (We've also been seeing a lot of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert "plays" around our home lately!)  History certainly has the power to capture the imagination.  I think much of it is due to delightful books!  When we come home from the library you'd think I'd brought home bags of sweets from the way the children pounce on my book bag!

I was thrilled to see George MacDonald appear in the coming weeks!  He is a favorite author if mine, and as of yesterday a favorite of Kaira's.  

Alamonians?  Um.. well, I guess it isn't a real word, but I like it.   In the next few weeks we are studying the Alamo and the Victorian era!   We also take a quick jaunt Down Under and learn about Austraila.  Here's a peek into our book basket:

Because of the vast amount of books (Ah, the wealth of the public library and Amazon!) for our studies this unit, I'm only putting out two weeks worth instead of the usual four.  This was met by much lamentation from my eldest two, who do not believe "too many books" is possible to achieve.  It will be good for them to pace themselves a bit instead of gobbling it all at once.

In the next two weeks we are studying the Erie Canal, Chopin, Louis Braille, John James Audubon, The Cherokee Indians, Hans Christian Anderson, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson. 

Yesterday we decorated in preparation for Christmas!  While we decorated inside, God decorated outside. Today is a winter-wonderland indoors and out!

We are spending this week wrapping up and celebrating our Tapestry of Grace unit.   December we will spend on a "Tapestry break" as we focus on our other academics and on remembering God's grace as we prepare for Christmas.  (And what fun it will be to dive back into Tapestry in January!)

Ah, bliss!  We are back to our Tapestry Studies, and we have a wealth of books on the coffee table!  Life is good!  We will be studying the era of Napoleon, Austen, Dickens, John Adams and others. 

More of America's War for Independence, (And a bit on the French Revolution) as we complete the 2nd half of this tapestry unit! 

You'd think library day was Christmas from the level of excitement the girls have when we venture forth to replenish the coffee table!

Below are the books we are reading to compliment the next four weeks of our Tapestry of Grace studies:

I placed new books on the coffee table Monday, and we've been enjoying them nearly a week. 

Some of the books in the picture carry-over from the last batch.  I'll skip over those and just focus on the books that have been recently added:    (Scroll down past the picture to read my rambles about each.)

Our Colonial Year by Cheryl Harness:

Simple and sweet, this picture book gives a taste of the Colonial Era to the youngest children. 

The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

A sweet story of a young colonial girl in a strange new world.  Gentle lessons in friendship and courage and in overcoming preconceived ideas fill these pages.  We enjoyed this as a bedtime story.  Even Keianna retained enough that at lunch she gave her daddy a delightful unsolicited narration (without giving the poor man any context or telling him she was talking about a book!  Poor Ken was a mite confused about who Sarah was and why she had an Indian daddy while her daddy went to get her mommy...) 

Daniel Boone and the Exploration of the Frontier by Richard Kozar: 

Like the others in this Explorers of New Worlds series, there isn't a speck of fluff in this book, yet it is engaging. 

Elin's Amerika by Marguerite de Angeli. 

De Angeli is a favorite children's author of ours!  While this book is fiction, Gov. Johan Printz, was the actual third governor of New Sweden from 1643-1653.  Like all de Angeli's works, this is a treasure.

Handel at the Court of Kings by Opal Wheeler:

I had to insert Handel and Bach into our Tapestry studies, because the Enlightenment just isn't the same without them.  These books by Opal Wheeler are a delightful way slip them in.  Mrs. Wheeler has a glorious gift for expressing the story of the history.  Kaira and Kendra's narrations on these books have been especially detailed and joyous, a sure sign that the book is indeed a "living book" in the truest sense.

Hostage on the Nighthawk: William Penn by Dave & Neta Jackson:

A fun historic-fiction snack.  Much more fiction than history, but the flavor of the era is captured.  The adventure made it one of Kaira's favorites thus far from this batch.

Indians of the Longhouse: The Story of the Iroquois by Sonia Bleeker

This was a wonderful surprise from our public library.  Published in 1950 it has a nice balance of perspective, depicting the lives of the Iroquois in a changing world.  Conversationally told, it introduces the reader to the Iroquois in a natural manner.

Iroquois Indians by Caryn Yacowitz:

Colorful snapshots in text and images depict the Iroquois then and now.  A wonderful introduction to an interesting people. 

Just Plain Fancy by Patricia Polacco

This story about an Amish farm girl has been a "bedtime story" favorite of the girls for some time.  Although set in modern day Pennsylvania (on an Amish farm) it gives a nice child-sized depiction of Amish culture that hasn't changed dramatically from the colonial era.

Joseph Hayden: The Merry Little Peasant by Opal Wheeler

From the same author as Handel at the Court of Kings, and just as good!  Tapestry suggested a book on Hayden, and it looks great but I went the "use what we have" route.  (Which is yet another reason I love Tapestry.  The curriculum focuses on the subject matter, not on specific titles, and it flexes so easily to let me do it my way--I'm a pill about having to do things my way. HA!)

Life in New France: Picture the Past by Jennifer Blizin Gillis

Text interspersed liberally with pictures,  and captions as fascinating as the pictures themselves, this book truely does enable the reader to "Picture the Past."  For such a slim volume, it packs a lot of punch.

Life on a Southern Plantation by Sally Senzell Isaacs

From the same publishers as Life in New France, and in the same style.   To me, these books are "must haves" (or at least close) for grammar stage children studying this era.

Marooned: The Strange But True Adventures of Alexander Selkirk, the Real Robinson Crusoe

by Robert Kraske

I'd not heard of this until I stumbled upon it when searching our local library (online) at the beginning of this unit.  This little book has been fascinating!  Selkirk was the real life model for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, and his story is, perhaps stranger than the fiction it inspired.

Mr Bach Comes to Call (Audio CD) by Classical Kids

An imaginative presentation of Bach.  I like this series, and the children have a lot of fun with them.  For every unit we study I like to have one or two audio or video supplements to pull out as a special treat when I have a migraine day or when the children are run down.

Paddle-to-the-Sea by Holling Clancy Holling:

The adventures of an Indian boy's hand-carved toy canoe as it journey's from the Lake Superior to the Atlantic.   These books make learning rich indeed!

Peter the Great by Diane Stanley:

Wow!  This book is brilliantly done.  Because we've enjoyed Diane Stanley's Joan of Arc and her Shakespear book, I expected we'd like this one too, but I was still amazed!  The pictures are georgous, and Stanley weaves together incidents both small and large from the life of this fascinating Tsar.  Did you know that he was proud to have been given papers certifying him as a carpenter?   I didn't.  So many interesting tidbits fill these pages. 

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe (Eyewitness Classics from DK publishing)

I typically dislike abridged versions, and will make sure we get the delight of the original on our next voyage through the ages, but...  this Eyewitness Classics version is well done.  If I were reading it aloud, I'd go with the original. (Alas, our read-aloud time filled up fast this unit!)  For Grammar stages to read alone though, this one is superb!  Perhaps I was able to get past my usual abridged aversion because this does more than just boil down the original.  Through the captioned pictures, and side notes, it is more of a study of the story than a condensation of it. 

Sebastian Bach, The Boy from Thuringia by Opal Wheeler and Sybil Deucher

Ah, Bach!  Once again Opal Wheeler's delightful story telling makes for an enchanting biography.

The Silversmiths (Colonial Craftsmen) by Leonard Everette Fisher,

Almost as good as a field trip to a real smithy!  The illustrations, also by the author are wonderfully unique.  They are black and white, and appear to be ink stamps or plate prints.  (I'll have to google and see if I can figure out the artist's technique.)  However they are done, they have a striking bold simplicity, yet remarkable detail.  The silversmith's tools, and even the expressions on the faces of the customers come to life.  The text is as interesting as the pictures, completing the virtual field trip.

Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli:

Set in German Town Philadelphia, this is another story rich in Colonial history and de Angeli charm.

Thee Hannah by Marguerite de Angeli:

A Quaker girl finds her bonnet plain, but begins to see beauty in it as the story unfolds.   (Have I mentioned that I like de Angeli?) 

 William Penn: Founder of Democracy by Arthur M Schlesinger, Jr

While well done, I'd have said that this book is a bit dry; reading more like an encyclopedia than an interesting story.  It must have some hidden charms though, because both Kaira and Kendra chose this one when told to choose one of our two William Penn books for their reading and narrations.  It is packed with detail  They certainly chose the more scholarly of the two books I had on the subject.

William Penn Founder of Pennsylvania by Steven Kroll

A beautiful biography that is half picture book.  I still am bewildered that my children bypassed it in favor of the other William Penn book.  The narrative in this is done in beautiful story, making the biography not mere facts, but personal.  The illustrations are rich and full of life.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

Another Newberry from Speare, this historic fiction is a good way to introduce the complicated and tragic history of the witch trials.  It will be next week's read aloud for us.  (Tapestry spreads it over several weeks, but we tend to gobble more at a time, lest we lose context.) 

The Warrior's Challenge: David Zeisberger by Dave & Neta Jackson:

Kaira enjoyed the other Trailblazer book from the library (Hostage on the Nighthawk) so much that I grabbed this one as well.  I'm glad we got it.  It is based on a tale of The Moravian Indian Boy, and deals with the incidents of peaceful converted Indians who were brought to Philadelphia for protection but weakened from illnesses and ultimately suffered massacre at the hands of the colonists.

Sunday evening we watched a Nest DVD on William Bradford, and began our journey with the Pligrims! 

Across the Wide Dark Sea: The Mayflower Journey by Jean Van Leeuwen

A lovely picture book!  Kendra went right for this one!

The Adventurous Life of Myles Standish and the Amazing-but-True Survival Story of Plymouth Colony (Cheryl Harness Histories) by Cheryl Harness

Information rich and well told, far more than just a book about Miles Standish, it has information about the clothing, foods, family relationships, and stories that give vivid pictures of incidents in daily life for the Pilgrims in the New World.

 American Pioneers and Patriots by Caroline D. Emerson

Another gem from Christian Liberty Press.  This publisher does a wonderful job of fleshing out history with captivating glimpses into the lives of the figures.

Boys and Girls of Colonial Days by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

One more Christian Liberty Press title.  Excellent! 

I'll be reading sections of this aloud, almost like a text.  Full of information that gives substance to daily living, furnishing, clothing, tools, and other such details, it is the type of knowledge that fascinates my children, but written in a less engaging way than some.  Reading it together will make it more lively.

Colonial Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in the New World (A Kid's Guide series) by Laurie Carlson

A fun, fun, fun book of activities! We'll be doing a few of these at the end of our Colonial unit!

Colonial American Home Life (Colonial America)by Edwin Tunis

Like Colonial Living, this gives essential information, and after reading  a few pages is really a very friendly book.  It doesn't reach out and pull in a reader at first glace though.  If I get time I'll read segments of this aloud to the children.  (Or let them take turns reading sections aloud to me and to each other!)

The Double Life of Pocahontas by Jean Fritz

Jena Fritz's books are favorites here.  Kaira (who says she's not called "Kaira" anymore, but "Pocahontas") has claimed this one too.   

Simple and beautiful.  A wonderful, easy Chapter Book.

Henry Hudson: Ill-Fated Explorer of North America's Coast (Explorers of New Worlds) by Barbara Saffer

I purchased this series of Explorers at Library and Educational Services (I love their prices!)  They read like well illustrated and interestingly written encyclopedias.  Not super fun or at all fluffy, but solid, and easily read.  (The spacing of the type makes it especially nice for young readers too.)

 
Life in New Amsterdam (Picture the Past)Life in New Amsterdam by Laura Fischer

Others in this series will be appearing on the coffee table for the second half of our Colonies unit.  The text portions are excellent but minimal, accented by lots of wonderful illustrations.  Perfect to give Kendra and Keianna a solid feel for time and place.

This Beautiful Girlhood book, along with a matching doll dress, was one of Kaira's birthday presents.  The dress and book are presently available at a discounted price at Vision forum. 

One of the girls must have been reading this one when I photographed the others.  It missed the photo shoot.

John Smith (Junior World Explorers)  by Charles P. Graves

Simply written to be approachable even to the early elementary aged crowd.  Another I'm glad our library had available.

John Smith Escapes Again! by Rosalyn Schanzer

This National Geographic book is beautiful!  The pictures and text are rich and fun.

The Jamestown Colony (Cornerstones of Freedom) by Gail Sakurai

Kendra gave me the most wonderful narration on this book today.  (Wow!  That girl does awsome narrations, with a lot of detail!) For such a thin volume, this book packs in a lot of information in a way that certainly grabbed Kendra's attention.

Jolliet and Marquette: Explorers of the Mississippi River (Explorers of New Worlds) by Daniel E Harmon

Another title from the Explorers of New Worlds series that I found discounted at Library and Educational Services.  Reads a little bit like an encycolpedia, but an excellent and accessable encyclopedia.

Kings & Queens of England and Scotland by Plantagenet Somerset Fry

I have a copy from our library, and even with shelf space and book dollars at a premium, I'm resisting temptation to buy our own copy.  This is a great book to keep as a reference. 

Miles Standish: Plymouth Colony Leader (Colonial Leaders) by Arthur M Schlesinger, Jr

A well written biography.  Not exciting, but clear and very readably written.

The New Americans: Colonial Times: 1620-1689 (The American Story)by Betsy Maestro

We will be using this book extensively in this unit of Tapestry of Grace.  I've only flipped through it so far, but am pleased with what I see.

Old Silver Leg Takes Over! A Story of Peter Stuyvesant by Robert Quackenbush

I chose this because it was the only children's book in the library on Peter Stuyvesant.  Despite being chosen simply by default, it is delightful!  The asside dialogue between two little pigs in the drawings gives an added chuckle. 

We were able to acquire quite a few Abeka books that my children enjoy just for pleasure reading.  This was among them, and Kaira and Kendra have both read it several times.  It is an Abeka 3rd grade book, with comprehension questions and vocabulary words included (although children can ignore these and just read it as a story.)

Pilgrim Cat (Albert Whitman Prairie Paperback)by Carol Antoinette Peacock

Finding this at the library was pure delight!  The author's discovery that cats accompanied the pilgrims on the Mayflower sparked this book!   Pilgrim Cat gives us a glimpse of Plymouth Plantation through the eyes of "Pounce."  Keegan chose this book for a bedtime story Saturday night, and officially kicked off our unit!

Pocahontas by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire

The d'Aulaire's books are fantastic, and this one is perfect for my Pocahontas enraptured children.

Kaira's claimed this one too.  A well told account.  My copy has my name penciled inside in childish printing, and I remember enjoying it when I was about her age. 

Rebel Pilgrim: A Biography of Governor William Bradfordby Wilma Pitchford Hays

A find from our jaunt to the library: I've not yet perused this one well.

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters

Another photograph-rich book follows a Pilgrim boy as he helps with the Rye harvest. 

Beautiful engaging reenactment photos, bring the reader along with Sarah Morton to Plymouth Plantation.

This is a fun easy reader.

This book, from Christian Liberty Press, is outstanding.  Historically accurate, at least according to my recollections of William Bradford's journals and other accounts from the time, it is rich in both information and appeal.

The Thirteen Colonies (Cornerstones of Freedom)by Gail Sakurai

On the "must read" list for both Kaira and Kendra, as we begin this unit.  An excellent overview.

Three Ships Come Sailing by Gilchrist Waring

Another good overview of the founding of Jamestown.

Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness

Captivating enough for even a young child, but surprising detailed in information.  Definately a treasure for teaching small folk. 

William Bradford: Governor of Plymouth Colony (Colonial Leaders)by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr

Great combination of reenactment photographs, drawings and paintings, this book takes the reader from England to Holland then to Plymouth.

We are wrapping up some remaining Renaissance studies, Royalty and Explorers, primarily.

I did throw in a few other fun windows on the era, such as our read aloud, I, Juan de Pareja.  What a wonderful book!  Through the eyes of Juan, a black slave to Spanish painter Diego Velazquez, the canvas of this era is painted in a sensitive light, with masterful strokes, and unique perspective.  It is a gem for a wide range of ages, and is within grasp of Kaira and Kendra, yet I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my parents, and am enjoying it myself.

Here are the girls, playing at painter, inspired by Juan de Pareja  .  When I surprised them with the camera in the playroom, Kaira was being the artist and Kendra the subject.  Soon after they switched roles.  (Apparently the model gets to read to prevent boredom.)

And, the finished portraits:

In other news our new schedule is going well thus far!  I've been rising at 6:30, not 6:00 though, and skipping the exercise slot.  Bad Dell!  I do hope to work in within a week or two as I acclimate. 

A few years ago I wouldn't have thought I'd ever schedule to 15 minute intervals!  But then, until this year it wasn't necessary, and I could afford a loose routine.  Somehow though as the older girls have begun doing more involved work, and we've added more children to the mix, it became necessary.  What would have been a burden and hindrance  in the past, now gives our days  needed and beautiful orchestration.