There are so many reasons that The Chronicles of Narnia are such classics. We love them! Can't wait for Philip to read them with The Hubby..
The Magician's Nephew
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Last Battle
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Book Series: Pippi Longstocking
How much do we love Pippi? Ever so much!!
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Goes On Board
Pippi in the South Seas
Pippi Longstocking
Pippi Goes On Board
Pippi in the South Seas
Book Series: The Mysterious Benedict Society
I have heard rumors that there may be more books in the Mysterious Benedict Society coming... I sure hope so!
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
The Mysterious Benedict Society
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma
Book Series: Edward Eager's Half Magic
The Half Magic series by Edward Eager is totally one of my favorites, and I can't wait to read it with Philip (or have The Hubby read it with him, so that they both get to experience it!!)
Half Magic
Magic By the Lake
Magic or Not?
The Well Wishers
Knight's Castle
The Time Garden
Seven Day Magic
Half Magic
Magic By the Lake
Magic or Not?
The Well Wishers
Knight's Castle
The Time Garden
Seven Day Magic
Book Series: Little House Series
I thought it might be nice to gather together some of our favorite series, in easy to find posts.
The Little House Series was a HUGE hit.
Little House in the Big Woods
Farmer Boy
Little House on the Prairie
On the Banks of Plum Creek
By the Shores of Silver Lake
The Long Winter
Little Town on the Prairie
These Happy Golden Years
** We chose not to read The First Four Years at this time
The Little House Series was a HUGE hit.
Little House in the Big Woods
Farmer Boy
Little House on the Prairie
On the Banks of Plum Creek
By the Shores of Silver Lake
The Long Winter
Little Town on the Prairie
These Happy Golden Years
** We chose not to read The First Four Years at this time
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Surviving the Applewhites
My dear friend Lisa, of Explayration, brought a bag of books for the kids a while back. She was particularly excited to read Surviving the Applewhites, one of her childhood favorites. I can see why she liked it so much!
The Story: Jake Semple has been kicked out of every school he has ever been in, and is suspected of burning down one of them. His last chance before juvenile hall is the unorthodox unschooling at Wit's End, the domain of the Applewhite family. The Applewhites are, as a whole, a very artistic and free-spirited family. They are comprised of a famous author, a poet, modern furniture makers, a dancer, a theatre director, an inquisitive little boy, a mysterious and rarely seen teenaged hermit, and... E.D, the grounded, organized, and more conventional one. She is saddled with Jake, because everyone else is doing their own thing, and they are not in the least able to handle an unruly teenaged boy. E.D. isn't really, either, but at least her schooling is more structured than any of the others, and he certainly isn't able to be left to himself yet. She is not happy about this responsibility, but begrudgingly takes it on. He is no happier, but he figures it is better than juvie. Slowly, something begins to happen to Jake. He begins to care. He gets a part in Randolph Applewhite's grandiose production of The Sound of Music. He is basically adopted by both the family's Bassett hound, and the youngest, non-stop talking youngest Applewhite, Destiny. When the production of The Sound of Music is moved to the Applewhite estate, the whole family bands together to make it happen, with E.D. as the ever capable stage manager. They pull off what no one thought was possible - a multi-cultural rendition of The Sound of Music, in a barn at Wit's End, accompanied by an accordion playing over-zealous would be television producer who has moved in with the Applewhites, along with the "kitchen guru," Gavindaswami, who makes refreshments for the whole clan, whilst imparting wisdom along with his spicy curries. The other impossible thing they pull off is that Jake Semple becomes more than the teenaged delinquent ne'rdowell that everyone assumed him to be.
The Good: The chapters rotate perspective between Jake and E.D. and it is very well done. The characters are believable, and you find yourself rooting for Jake's transformation. Evalina and I particularly enjoyed her search for the great spangled fritillary, the last butterfly needed to finish her self-imposed butterfly curriculum, along with Jake's hatching of black swallowtails, partially for Destiny's benefit. The growth seen in Jake doesn't seem forced, but very organic and natural. I wish that I could have seen their production of The Sound of Music!
The Bad: Some of the things Jake says and does (especially at the beginning of the book) may be a bit shocking.. but it's worth it to see where he ends up. The Applewhites are a scattered bunch, and they often leave Jake or E.D. in charge of the 4-year old Destiny, which is a bit disconcerting!
The Verdict: Absolutely worth a read. It didn't win the Newberry Prize for nothing! It is recommended for grades 5-8, but as a read-along, it was fine for Evalina, who is in 3rd grade. It was funny and touching and exciting and just all around a great book. I had never heard of it before, so I am very grateful to Lisa for bringing it to my attention! And now, I'm bringing it to your attention... so don't miss it!
The Story: Jake Semple has been kicked out of every school he has ever been in, and is suspected of burning down one of them. His last chance before juvenile hall is the unorthodox unschooling at Wit's End, the domain of the Applewhite family. The Applewhites are, as a whole, a very artistic and free-spirited family. They are comprised of a famous author, a poet, modern furniture makers, a dancer, a theatre director, an inquisitive little boy, a mysterious and rarely seen teenaged hermit, and... E.D, the grounded, organized, and more conventional one. She is saddled with Jake, because everyone else is doing their own thing, and they are not in the least able to handle an unruly teenaged boy. E.D. isn't really, either, but at least her schooling is more structured than any of the others, and he certainly isn't able to be left to himself yet. She is not happy about this responsibility, but begrudgingly takes it on. He is no happier, but he figures it is better than juvie. Slowly, something begins to happen to Jake. He begins to care. He gets a part in Randolph Applewhite's grandiose production of The Sound of Music. He is basically adopted by both the family's Bassett hound, and the youngest, non-stop talking youngest Applewhite, Destiny. When the production of The Sound of Music is moved to the Applewhite estate, the whole family bands together to make it happen, with E.D. as the ever capable stage manager. They pull off what no one thought was possible - a multi-cultural rendition of The Sound of Music, in a barn at Wit's End, accompanied by an accordion playing over-zealous would be television producer who has moved in with the Applewhites, along with the "kitchen guru," Gavindaswami, who makes refreshments for the whole clan, whilst imparting wisdom along with his spicy curries. The other impossible thing they pull off is that Jake Semple becomes more than the teenaged delinquent ne'rdowell that everyone assumed him to be.
The Good: The chapters rotate perspective between Jake and E.D. and it is very well done. The characters are believable, and you find yourself rooting for Jake's transformation. Evalina and I particularly enjoyed her search for the great spangled fritillary, the last butterfly needed to finish her self-imposed butterfly curriculum, along with Jake's hatching of black swallowtails, partially for Destiny's benefit. The growth seen in Jake doesn't seem forced, but very organic and natural. I wish that I could have seen their production of The Sound of Music!
The Bad: Some of the things Jake says and does (especially at the beginning of the book) may be a bit shocking.. but it's worth it to see where he ends up. The Applewhites are a scattered bunch, and they often leave Jake or E.D. in charge of the 4-year old Destiny, which is a bit disconcerting!
The Verdict: Absolutely worth a read. It didn't win the Newberry Prize for nothing! It is recommended for grades 5-8, but as a read-along, it was fine for Evalina, who is in 3rd grade. It was funny and touching and exciting and just all around a great book. I had never heard of it before, so I am very grateful to Lisa for bringing it to my attention! And now, I'm bringing it to your attention... so don't miss it!
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