This Usborne book is part of our Core B/C with Sonlight.
This unique book gives a fun overview of four major time periods. It's an interesting look at culture including family, school, work, dress, food and general living. Our family enjoyed reading through this to learn about different time periods and how they lived.
4 stars
This history read is part of our Core B/C with Sonlight.
This was a fun book to take you through history. The chapters are short and easy to read. They are definitely written to catch the attention of children. It has a decent amount of detail, but I would only consider it to be a brief overview of certain history. It covers all areas of the world, but not all areas for all time. Essentially, it covers major events. Our children enjoyed reading this together and talking about different parts of the world throughout time. I learned many things that I did not know. I appreciated that it took a more of a neutral perspective, but it was a little bit biased in some areas. On the whole not a bad overview, though I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it.
3 stars
This classic children's book is part of our Core A reading with Sonlight.
Our family had such a good time reading this book this time around. As our children are now older and want to try some of the things we read about the Ingalls family doing. It is an excellent family read and very easy to read and understand. We had some fun discussions about this book, like what to do if we meet a bear in the woods or giving thanks that we don't have to sit perfectly still all Sunday afternoon. It is fun to look at the way they lived and survived and we are excited to try some of these things as the Lord permits. First up a family garden. Who can tell us how to get rid of our kudzu???
3 stars for this classic. (though the children would probably give it five!)
This missionary story is a read aloud in our Core C Curriculum with Sonlight.
Where do I even begin! If you claim Christ, you NEED to read this book. If you don't claim Christ I highly recommend you read this book.
I have known so many foreign missionaries in my life, and all of them have amazing stories of the work God is doing in the areas where they are serving. This book is no different. Joanne is called to go to the mission field and after many interesting adventures God calls her to the Philippines to work on Bible translation. How she gets there shows you how God works in all kinds of ways to prepare us for the work He has planned for us to do.
After she and her translation partner, Anne, reached their people group, they saw just how much work there was to be done. They had to learn a new language, culture and help in many ways, especially medically, in this remote island village. They were among a head hunting, fierce group of people, that welcomed them into their area with hesitation because of them being women. A local leader adopted them and through many a blunder, they became part of his family.
Jo tells how she worked and told the Gospel as she learned the language. She tells of her difficulties and her sin as she learned a new culture. She learned about the spirit world, the one we westerns like to pretend doesn't exist. She learned what demon possession and oppression looked like first hand and she learned how to pray as she taught others about the God who is over all of the evil spirits.
To hear the power of God told in such a simple yet powerful way was overwhelming and absolutely beautiful! Tears often filled my eyes as I read the miracles of God told again. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know more about the power of God who defeats the devil and gives salvation to sinful man.
Words are not adequate enough to explain the extraordinary story in this book that so seamlessly weaves in the THE Grand story of all time woven and told by the God of the universe. I cannot recommend it enough!
10 Stars for this powerful read!
This missionary biography is a part of our Core C history read aloud with our Sonlight curriculum.
I have heard bits of Gladys Aylward's story before, but this book was absolutely mind blowing! This little woman who was rejected my mission agencies because of age and lack of proficiency in anything but house cleaning worked hard and bought her own ticket to China. On the way she is derailed by the war between Russia and China. Held essentially hostage by the Russians, God miraculously gets her to China where she travels nearly the length of the country north to south to find the woman she is planning to work with. After establishing an inn in a small village with her mission partner, Glady earns the respect of the mandarin of her village and is given a government job with personal security and is able to share the Gospel with thousands all over that region.
After a few years, WWII breaks out with Japan invading China. At this time Gladys is the "mother" of many orphaned children and she must take care of them in the midst of turmoil beyond comprehension. Near the end of the war she leads nearly a hundred children across the vast countryside of China in a way that only God could lead in. She was an incredible and brave woman of God who was willing to do whatever it took to bring the Gospel to China. We can all learn so much from her. This book had me in tears as I beheld the glory of God shown in the determination of one woman to bring God the glory and honor He alone is due.
5 stars for this incredible biography. I cannot recommend it enough!
The sixth installment of the Harry Potter Series was better than I remembered! It is such a challenge to review these books without spoilers in case the reader has yet to experience this fantastic story-telling.
This one shows us a little more of the pieces that make up Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord of the wizarding world and what is going to need to be done to defeat him. Alongside this fascinating and even tragic storyline, we see the main characters growing, maturing (or not in some cases) and learning what it takes to do what needs to be done.
Rowling is a master story teller in the secular realm. Even knowing these stories and how the book would end, I was hooked on every page, looking at every detail to piece together the intricacies of this fantasy world. Without knowing it, she gives a nod to THE Master Storyteller as she sets up the final battle of good vs evil.
As with all books of this nature, parental advisory is warned in reading this book with children. As the characters age so does their language and situations. They are minimal, thankfully, with little to note. If you're reading aloud you can simply skip the words and still keep the message and story of the book.
I absolutely love this book from a secular standpoint and recommend it for enjoyment or study.
5 stars!
I have so many books to review right now! This one was recommended to me by my sweet friend Katie Hornor and it was what I needed. In fact I read it in September and I already need to read it again!!! I probably need to read it every week if I'm honest.
This book is super practical, as well as a quick and easy read. It's also extremely to the point and convicting if you have a problem with complaining or blame shifting like me. QBQ! tells it like it is and bust opens all of the lies that we believe or have been taught about personal accountability and doing what we say we're going to do. This book stepped all over my toes as there are so many things that are victim mentality that I did not recognize because they're so ingrained in me and in the culture in which we live.
I highly recommend this book. It is not Christian in nature, but the concept is certainly Biblical and needs to be applied to all areas of life.
5 Stars for this life read
