In this weblog I will be discussing books, libraries, and reading in general, as well as reviewing specific educational materials including curriculum, homeschool how-to's, reference books, historical fiction, literature study guides, science kits, videos/DVDs, audio tapes/CDs, computer software, board games, etc. As for my qualifications, I'm an experienced home educator, church librarian, published book author and newspaper columnist. In addition to library technology, I studied children's literature, creative writing and poetry in college. I've been writing reviews for a local homeschool group since 1999. Depending on the item and subject matter, I may review it by myself, with my husband, or have our children try it out. My husband is a scientist, certified quality engineer, and math tutor. Our three boys range in age from preschooler to preteen and teenager. Each of our sons is strong-willed, easily distracted, and gifted - so any learning materials with which they are presented are put to the ultimate test! As a homeschooling family of bibliophiles, we have almost 5,000 books in our home library as well as an extensive collection of audiotapes, videos, CDs and DVDs. When purchasing a product, I look at its general quality, instructional content, innovation, kid appeal, ease of use and long-term value. While the length of my reviews can range from 100-1500 words, I always give each item serious consideration, as I strive to be accurate and honest. Personally, I like to find unique products that are useful and educational, yet are not necessarily well-known among the mainstream homeschool community.