A Grain of Rice by Helena Clare Pittman is a part of our Sonlight Curriculum in Core A.
I remember liking this book the first time we read it together, but reading it with my kids today reminded me why I enjoyed it so much! This book is clever, easy to read and understand for young kids, and teaches wonderful life lessons.
Pong Lo wants to marry the princess, but is a peasant and therefore refused by her father, the Emperor of China. The Emperor threatens Pong Lo's life, but the Princess steps in and saves his life. Now he must work to prove his worth. Can Pong Lo become worthy of the princess?
This book teaches working hard but working with joy and a smile on your face even with menial tasks. It teaches that it's worth working hard even with no promise of what you want. I really appreciate it showing the purpose of knowledge and using it to do your best work. It also shows using wisdom and cunning to answer difficult questions and remaining humble. This book teaches so much humility.
I really enjoyed talking about the lessons this book teaches with my kids and showing them how Pong Lo was living out mandates God has given us in Scripture. I absolutely recommend this book as a family read. We were able to read it fairly quickly over lunch but you can space it out if you would like.
I would give this read 4.5 stars.
This book does not really fall into any of my reading challenges very well, so it's a bonus book for me!
Thursday, January 30, 2020
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
In Grandma's Attic
This fun little book is part of Core A in our Sonlight Curriculum and this is our second time reading it as a family.
I love this book as it gives you pictures into what it was like for Grandma growing up in rural America in the early 1900s. It is fun thinking back to what it was like to take care of animals, stoke a fire for cooking and warming the house, making all food from scratch and having a horse and buggy for transportation. It is also a great reminder that kids are kids no matter what generation they grow up in. Kids explore, make huge mistakes and learn valuable lessons from their foolishness by the grace of God. Grandma is quick to share the lessons she learns from her misadventures and give great talking points as you read these chapters. As an adult you also get a good laugh as you think of these things happening and how to teach in these lessons.
The writing is wonderful as it is straightforward and easy to read and understand. Each chapter is short with no more than ten pages, which is perfect for a quick family reading time that includes little ones. Grandma is very clear about the lesson she learned from each story as she teaches her granddaughter. While it is not overtly Christian, it is unmistakable that faith drives this family, which is also a wonderful element. The stories are clean and appropriate for all ages.
I give this family read five stars.
Reading Challenges:
This book is going on the Tim Challies 2020 Reading Challenge as a book of 100 pages or less in the Avid section of the challenge.
I love this book as it gives you pictures into what it was like for Grandma growing up in rural America in the early 1900s. It is fun thinking back to what it was like to take care of animals, stoke a fire for cooking and warming the house, making all food from scratch and having a horse and buggy for transportation. It is also a great reminder that kids are kids no matter what generation they grow up in. Kids explore, make huge mistakes and learn valuable lessons from their foolishness by the grace of God. Grandma is quick to share the lessons she learns from her misadventures and give great talking points as you read these chapters. As an adult you also get a good laugh as you think of these things happening and how to teach in these lessons.
The writing is wonderful as it is straightforward and easy to read and understand. Each chapter is short with no more than ten pages, which is perfect for a quick family reading time that includes little ones. Grandma is very clear about the lesson she learned from each story as she teaches her granddaughter. While it is not overtly Christian, it is unmistakable that faith drives this family, which is also a wonderful element. The stories are clean and appropriate for all ages.
I give this family read five stars.
Reading Challenges:
This book is going on the Tim Challies 2020 Reading Challenge as a book of 100 pages or less in the Avid section of the challenge.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
I decided it was time to reread the Harry Potter series as our kids are getting older and asking about reading them. I have always enjoyed the movies but honestly don't remember my first read of these books. This first book was even better than I remember!
I was laughing throughout and enjoyed every moment of this book. I remember why I enjoy reading books and why I have to treat books separate from their movies because as usual the book far exceeds the movie. The books tells you all of the little details you miss or they don't put into the movies and gives you a more complete picture of the story world.
J.K. Rowling is a very skilled writer and weaves such an incredible and involved story that you are entranced from the beginning. I really enjoy how she contrasts the two worlds so starkly as well as puts such a difference between Harry and the Dursley family, with whom he lives. It is fun discovering the wizard world with Harry as he gradually learns who he is, who his parents were and what he is to do. Because this is a seven book series this book only gives you a slight glimmer into the full story, but it also does a great job standing as a book alone.
There are many lessons and talking points when reading with your kids. Good vs evil is a theme throughout. The kids in this book often disobey the rules and must deal with the consequences. There is also things that could be considered ambiguous, which makes for great discussion as you look at what the characters do and why. For example, is there ever a time in the fight against evil to break the rules?
I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to sharing it with my older kids in the near future. I do think kids need to be well grounded in reality and truth to be able to enjoy this book and learn the lessons this book has to offer.
I would give this book 5 stars.
Reading Challenges:
I'm using this book for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge as one of the books by the same author
For Tim Challies I'm using this book as a book of my choice in the Light section
I was laughing throughout and enjoyed every moment of this book. I remember why I enjoy reading books and why I have to treat books separate from their movies because as usual the book far exceeds the movie. The books tells you all of the little details you miss or they don't put into the movies and gives you a more complete picture of the story world.
J.K. Rowling is a very skilled writer and weaves such an incredible and involved story that you are entranced from the beginning. I really enjoy how she contrasts the two worlds so starkly as well as puts such a difference between Harry and the Dursley family, with whom he lives. It is fun discovering the wizard world with Harry as he gradually learns who he is, who his parents were and what he is to do. Because this is a seven book series this book only gives you a slight glimmer into the full story, but it also does a great job standing as a book alone.
There are many lessons and talking points when reading with your kids. Good vs evil is a theme throughout. The kids in this book often disobey the rules and must deal with the consequences. There is also things that could be considered ambiguous, which makes for great discussion as you look at what the characters do and why. For example, is there ever a time in the fight against evil to break the rules?
I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to sharing it with my older kids in the near future. I do think kids need to be well grounded in reality and truth to be able to enjoy this book and learn the lessons this book has to offer.
I would give this book 5 stars.
Reading Challenges:
I'm using this book for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge as one of the books by the same author
For Tim Challies I'm using this book as a book of my choice in the Light section
Saturday, January 18, 2020
More Reading Challenges
Like last year, I've got my eye on three other reading challenges apart from the Back to the Classics Reading Challenge that I'm aiming for this year. I will double, triple or may be even quadruple dip on some of the books, but its fun having different categories from a variety of challenges to expand my reading repertoire and also to encourage to read the books on my shelf that have yet to be read.
I'm using the same challenges as last year for my guidelines.
1. Tim Challies 2020 Reading Challenge
This challenge has up to 104 books. While reading that many books would be amazing, I'm not sure if I'll read that many and if I do many may not fit into the categories provided as his are very versatile and specific.
2. The Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge
This challenge has only ten categories with twelve books as one category is three books by the same author. I do think I'll be able to complete this challenge between all the books I plan to read this year and reading with my kids.
3. 2020 Christian Reading Challenge for Women with Jami Balmet
This challenge has two levels, with 13 or 26 books for the year with varying categories but several that repeat. Jami does give books for each category, however I will likely find books in the categories that I already have. There are many I am interested in from her list so I'll keep an eye out for deals.
I'm trying to read my shelves before buying more books. Between the four challenges I'm using as guidelines I hope to make a good dent. I did well reading off my shelf last year. Full disclosure I will be using a couple books I started last year in these challenges as the fit categories I'm seeking to fill. I didn't get all of my reviews written but hoping to do better with reviews this year.
Ready for a year of reading with my family both for learning and fun.
Do any of these challenges peak your interest? What are you reading this year?
I'm using the same challenges as last year for my guidelines.
1. Tim Challies 2020 Reading Challenge
This challenge has up to 104 books. While reading that many books would be amazing, I'm not sure if I'll read that many and if I do many may not fit into the categories provided as his are very versatile and specific.
2. The Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge
This challenge has only ten categories with twelve books as one category is three books by the same author. I do think I'll be able to complete this challenge between all the books I plan to read this year and reading with my kids.
3. 2020 Christian Reading Challenge for Women with Jami Balmet
This challenge has two levels, with 13 or 26 books for the year with varying categories but several that repeat. Jami does give books for each category, however I will likely find books in the categories that I already have. There are many I am interested in from her list so I'll keep an eye out for deals.
I'm trying to read my shelves before buying more books. Between the four challenges I'm using as guidelines I hope to make a good dent. I did well reading off my shelf last year. Full disclosure I will be using a couple books I started last year in these challenges as the fit categories I'm seeking to fill. I didn't get all of my reviews written but hoping to do better with reviews this year.
Ready for a year of reading with my family both for learning and fun.
Do any of these challenges peak your interest? What are you reading this year?
Back to the Classics Challenge 2020
I am so excited that Karen's Books and Chocolate is hosting her annual Back to the Classics Challenge for this year! I'm hoping that with the books on my shelf, my Kindle and in our curriculum that has many classic gems I'll be able to cover all twelve categories this year. I'm really excited about the categories and the challenge of finding a title for each one.
This year's categories are:
This year's categories are:
- 19th Century Classic
- 20th Century Classic
- Classic by a Woman Author
- Classic in Translation
- Classic by a Person of Color
- A Genre Classic
- Classic with a Person's Name in the Title
- Classic with a Place in the Title
- Classic with Nature in the Title
- Classic About a Family
- Abandoned Classic
- Classic Adaptation
I will be reading 1984 for my Abandoned Classic because it's one of two I can think of that I never fully finished.
Other titles I am considering for this year include:
This Hideous Strength
The Jungle
Little Women
Pilgrim's Progress
Lord of the Flies
The Ugly American
Anne of Green Gables
The City of God
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas
Emma
Wuthering Heights
Red Badge of Courage
Tale of Two Cities
These are ones that have caught my attention, but if you have any great suggestions for any of these categories let me know!
Who wants to join me on this challenge? What are you reading?
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