Charlotte Mason advocated using living books in all of our studies.  I love the idea  and agree that our children should always read excellent books filled with creativity, challenging vocabulary, and firsthand accounts that will spark their imagination.  So when it came time to introduce a new subject (Geography) to my children this year, I started looking for a good living book to add into our curriculum.  I discovered an entire series that can be added into Geography and Science by Holling.  Most people have heard of Paddle to the Sea, but did you know that there are many great books by this same author?  Each of these living books offer insight to life in a particular geographic area through the eyes of an animal or plant.  The reader also learns the life cycle, history, and habits of each main character, which is weaved throughout the story.

We have the opportunity to go to the ocean this autumn for a week.  This will only be the second time that my youngest three have ever seen the ocean and they were all under 4 the first time.  So, we will be studying oceans, seashores, tide pools, sea life and shore life for two months before we go to the ocean.  The Holling book Pagoo is perfect as a living book to add to our studies.  This book follows the life of a hermit crab as he travels along the seashore meeting many other sea creatures.  Each page of this book is filled with little tidbits of information that will most likely spark the interests of my children and lead them on a quest to know more.  I love it when a book makes my job easy, hehehe...  The pictures in the book are illustrated in a nature journal style which will give the children great examples when they are working on their own nature journals. 

Here is a list of 5 of Holling's books:

Paddle to the Sea - This book follows the journey of a canoe from Lake Superior to the Atlantic Ocean.

Pagoo - A study of tide pool life is introduced through the travels and life of a hermit crab.

Tree in the Trail - A cottonwood tree watches history in the making on the Santa Fe trail.

Minn Of The Mississippi - This story follows the journey of a turtle from the source of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.

Seabird - A carved ivory gull is the mascot of 4 generations of seafarers; a whaler,  a clipper ship, a steamer and an airplane.

Blessings,

Dawn

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Posted by ohiomom

Pagoo was excellent. My kids enjoyed reading it so much that we decided to add three hermit crabs to the family. Not a good idea, hermit crabs are hard to care for and ours died. Another book we enjoyed was The Burgess Seashore Book for Children. Not a geography book, but a great read if you're heading to the ocean.

Blessings,
Tonya

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Posted by sahmto4orMore

I LOVE Holling C Holling's books!

I am so excited for you all to get to go to the ocean.

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Posted by cupcakers1

Wow those books sound like they would be fun to read.

~cupcakers1~

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Posted by Kellie

We have a few of his book and *gasp* have never read them.....you've inspired me to pull them off the shelf!

www.thepiratemom.com

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi - I have the Beautiful Feet guides for the Geography unit using these books = if you don't have it and want to borrow it I am sure I can dig it out.

Dorothy in MN
http://urbanservant,blogspot.com

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Posted by lahbluebonnet

I think the beach is the best SI playground in the world! We used to go there on vacation when my kids were little and they did so well there. We even did a mini unit about the beach, using the Mrs. Frizzle book and using elements from the specific island we were on. The kids wore their bathing suits for their presentation. They were about 6 and 4. Have fun!
Blessings,
Laurie

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Posted by Anonymous

We loved "Paddle to the Sea" so much that it was hard to stick to the schedule and not read straight through. We're looking forward to the others.

Have a fun trip to the ocean this fall!
Richele
http://www.BarefootVoyage.blogspot.com

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Posted by DanielleW

I LOVE Holling books! We read Pagoo this year and it was a favorite with DS. When we read the last page, he wanted to start again from the beginning.

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