An integral part of our 21 years of home educating was the time spent after lunch when Mom read a book aloud to our sons. This generally lasted about 30 minutes. They were very valuable minutes. Instrumental minutes in the forming of our sons into men.
What type of books did we choose? Books with boys and with girls who suffered real consequences for bad choices and/or chose to do right and learned responsibility. Books that carried us back to different times in history and acquainted us with key historical figures. Books which covered controversial subjects in our culture. No, we didn’t read much fantasy or science fiction and we tried to avoid twaddle. But we did choose unabridged editions to get the entire story, especially the Christian content that had often been removed.
There are many benefits to reading to a group of varied ages. You can read above their reading level and nurture a desire to read. Interests increase by the variety of books that are read. Attention spans, vocabulary, and imagination are expanded.
In the next few weeks I will be posting some thoughts about different types of books to read to your children and random lists of books we enjoyed. My hope is to encourage other mothers to take time in their busy day to nurture their child(ren) through reading.
Swiss Family Robinson (unabridged)
Sugar Creek Gang Series
William Carey-biography
Elsie & Mildred Keith Series
Little House Series
Tree of Freedom
Little Women
The Sign of the Beaver
Some Summer
Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation
Five Little Peppers
Caddie Woodlawn
Carolina’s Courage
In My Uncle’s House
The Courage of Sarah Noble
All of a Kind Family
Sarah: Plain & Tall
Wilderness Journey
One Bad Thing About Father
The Cabin Faced West
1 comment:
I adore this post. Very sweet. My LIttle Lady has read several of those on your list. She likes the Sugar Creek Gang. It is a favorite in this house. She also likes the Box Car Children too. I will sneak back in to pull some books off your list for her a little later. Thank You.
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