Horse Inspiration

In everything living being we study, we see the fingerprints of our Creator. God created horses on the sixth day of creation, the same day He created mankind. In the book of Job, the Bible describes God’s striking design of the horse in this way.

“Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a man? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.”

“Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin. With fierceness and rage, he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.”

Truly the horse is a marvel worthy of our observation!

Great Horse Stories

These are some of our tween’s favorite chapter books about horses!

*This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our family!

Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

Marguerite Henry has written several horse books, but Misty of Chincoteague is perhaps her most popular horse book of all. Follow the story of Paul and Maureen Beebe as they try to earn enough to buy the wild mare Phantom and her beautiful foal Misty among the wild ponies on Assateague Island. 

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Misty of Chincoteague

• Henry, Marguerite (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 176 Pages – 12/26/2006 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)

$5.83

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Other excellent Marguerite Henry books: 

Sea Star ( the sequel to Misty of Chincoteague)

King of the Wind

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Brighty of the Grand Canyon ( a story of a young burro)

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell

This was one of the first chapter books I read aloud to my kids when we started homeschooling so it holds a very special memory for me. I love how this story is told in first person so the reader can experience Beauty’s life step-by-step through each change from birth on an iconic English horse farm, to working as a cab horse to his final days. The reader feels deep sympathy for Black Beauty when he is treated cruelly by his masters and relief when he retires to the countryside later in his life. This book is a tear-jerker so grab some tissues! 

Black Beauty (Illustrated): The 1877 Classic Edition with Original Illustrations

• Sewell, Anna (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 162 Pages – 07/22/2024 (Publication Date) – Sky Publishing (Publisher)

$8.99

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A Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis

In the third book of Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia book series, Shasta and his horse Bree meet with Aravis and her horse Hwin as they are fleeing Calormen. The four embark on an adventurous journey heading for the beautiful country of Narnia. 

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The Horse and His Boy

• Author: C.S. Lewis.
• Publisher: HarperTrophy
• Pages: 241
• Publication Date: 2002
• Edition: 3

$5.59

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Little Britches by Ralph Moody

Ralph Moody is a wonderful author for boys. This book,  based on the autobiographical true story of his life, tells how he learned to be a cowboy riding horses on the family farm in Colorado. His family experiences many hardships, but these difficulties teach him hard work and many other valuable lessons. When his father dies, Ralph has to step up and be the man of the family. Little Britches is the first book in this series. 

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Little Britches: Father and I Were Ranchers

• Moody, Ralph (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 260 Pages – 09/01/1991 (Publication Date) – Bison Books (Publisher)

$9.55

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The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

The Little White Horse is lovely fairy tale with colorful imagery which makes it a wonderful choice for a tween girl. Thirteen year old orphan Maria Merryweather discovers many mysteries at Moon Acre Manor where she is taken after the death of her parents. Young women will fall in love with the beautiful estate and the people and animals she meets there, especially the little white horse. 

The Little White Horse

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Goudge, Elizabeth (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 239 Pages – 12/31/2001 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

$7.99

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Rush Revere Series by Rush Limbaugh

If you would like to teach United States history to a child with a love of horses, the Rush Revere series is the way to go! In these amazing books, Rush goes back into history as Paul Revere with his horse Liberty. Together they “rush, rush, rush into history!” They relive important historical events like the landing of the pilgrims, the Revolutionary War, and many others. Revere’s time-traveling, talking horse Liberty are there for the Boston Tea Party and the battle at Lexington and Concord. My boys especially loved listening to this series on audiobooks!

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Rush Revere and the First Patriots: Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans

• Audible Audiobook
• Rush Limbaugh (Author) – Rush Limbaugh (Narrator)
• English (Publication Language)
• 03/11/2014 (Publication Date) – Simon & Schuster Audio (Publisher)

$12.46

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The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

This classic tale is sure to be one of your kids’ favorite horse books! While traveling home from visiting his uncle in India, a young boy Alec sees a wild stallion on the shore shortly before they both board the ship. While en route home, the vessel is caught in a tumultuous storm which sinks the ship. Alec and the wild horse pull through but are stranded on an island where they quickly become good friends as they struggle to survive. This is the first in the black stallion series. Our family loved watching the wild Black Stallion movie best which follows the storyline closely.

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The Black Stallion

• Farley, Walter (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 187 Pages – 08/20/1991 (Publication Date) – Yearling (Publisher)

$5.84

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War Horse by Michael Morpurgo

War Horse is the story of a horse and boy in conflict. Albert is separated from his beloved horse, Joey at the onset of World War I.  As the family grows poorer in the war, Albert’s father gives Joey away to the army. He shifts from unwanted farm horse to a calvary horse. Since the story is told from the perspective of the horse, the reader can sense the devastation of war, the conflict courage and fear, and the hope of being reunited with Albert. This is a wonderful story of friendship and war that will move your kids to courageously live sacrificially for others.

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War Horse (Scholastic Gold)

• World War I
• Morpurgo, Michael (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 176 Pages – 09/01/2010 (Publication Date) – Scholastic Press (Publisher)

$6.29

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Horse Picture books

Tweens are not too old for picture books! Because of their colorful illustrations and engaging plots, your kids will love these stories!

Billy and Blaze by C.W. Anderson 

This series of books is the perfect way to introduce young horse lovers with early reading skills to great horse stories. Each page has short paragraphs in large print with a black and white picture illustrating the story. The main character, a young boy named Billy, receives his very own horse for his birthday. Billy instantly loves his horse Blaze and rides him every day. The Billy and Blaze picture books tell of their adventures and tales of friendship.

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Billy And Blaze

• Anderson, C.W. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 56 Pages – 04/01/1992 (Publication Date) – Aladdin (Publisher)

$6.57

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Bonnie’s Big Day by James Herriot

Each of the James Herriot books are based on true stories from his career as a veterinarian.  Young children will be delighted with this tale of an old farmer, John Skipton, who enters his retired horse Bonny in a family pets competition at the local fair. Dogs, cats, turtles, rabbits, and even a pet pig are all expected entries for the family pets class. But a horse?! This is great book for all animal lovers!

Bonny’s Big Day

• Hardcover Book
• James Herriot (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 06/11/1987 (Publication Date) – St. Martin’s Press (Publisher)

$17.99

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Fritz and the Beautiful Horses by Jan Brett

Reading this book is a great way to remind children that being useful can be better than being beautiful. In this horse story, a small town is known for its beautiful horses, but Fritz the pony is so plain that nobody notices him. He is unremarkable until he can solve a problem that none of the other horses can solve. Jan Brett’s bright colors and detailed illustrations engage young readers. 

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Fritz and the Beautiful Horses (Sandpiper Books)

• Ages 4 and up Pony Hero Rescue Parade Horse Jumper Charges
• Brett, Jan (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 09/21/1987 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)

$6.04

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Leonardo’s Horse by Jean Fritz

Leonardo da Vinci is one of my favorite people to study with our kids because he loved to learn about everything. Although he is most known for his art, he was also an astronomer, mathematician, musician, architect, inventor, and more! In this story, we learn of the famous bronze horse statue he was commissioned to create by the Duke of Milan. Leonardo spends much time observing the anatomy of the horse, its muscles and bones. But war and disappointments rendered the sculpture incomplete. He grieved his unfinished horse on his death bed. Leonardo’s dream of the bronze horse died along with him…until many years later another artist revives the dream and finishes Leonardo’s bronze horse. 

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Leonardo’s Horse

• Putnam Publishing Group
• Hardcover Book
• Fritz, Jean (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 48 Pages – 10/01/2001 (Publication Date) – G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers (Publisher)

$2.21

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Calico the Wonder Horse by Virginia Lee Burton

Caldecott Medalist (and one of my favorite authors) Virginia Lee Burton wrote this adorable horse story which is a perfect gift to give your kids for Christmas. Calico is not a very beautiful horse, but she is smart and very fast. When cowboy Hank saved her from wolves as a colt, she decided that day she would be loyal to him. In Cactus County Badlands, villain Stewy Stinker and his gang of bad men threaten to hold up Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. Through a series of adventures, Calico and Hank save the day just in time for the Christmas celebration. 

Calico the Wonder Horse: Christmas Gift Edition

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Burton, Virginia Lee (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 262 Pages – 10/30/1997 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)

$8.99

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Mrs. Mack by Patricia Polacco

If you like reading books by Patricia Polacco who also wrote “Thank You, Mr. Falkner” and “The Bee Tree”, you will enjoy this picture book as well. She wrote this book about herself. As a young girl, she waited so long to be able to ride horses. One day her father decides it is finally time and takes her to see Mrs. Mack. She can’t help but be disappointed to see the stable she will train at is in a very shabby section of town. Mrs. Mack teaches her all she knows about riding. While at the stable, Patricia meets a beautiful mare, Penny with whom she instantly connects. Patricia learns some valuable life lessons from her time at the stables with Mrs. Mack and Penny. This is a great book for girls!

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Mrs. Mack (Picture Puffins)

• Looking to learn a thing or two about horses and life? This is the book for you!!
• Polacco, Patricia (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 40 Pages – 01/15/2001 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

$8.39

Buy on Amazon

If you want to find the best horse books for your children, this list of horse books is a great place to start! Whether your children have never been horseback riding or perhaps, on the other hand, have a horse of their own, they will quickly adore these well-loved stories. 

For more book list posts, you may enjoy reading these!

Creepy-Crawly Bug Book List for Kids

21 Must-Read Children’s Books About Courage

Books and Resources to Teach Kids About Honesty

ALL BOOK LISTS

Do you have any bug lovers in your family? Introduce your young children to a wonderful world of bugs by reading these insect books to them. 

When we see the beauty, design, and variety in the world around us, the evidence for a Creator is overwhelming! God’s fingerprints are in every detail!

Job chapter 12 says, “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you; or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you, and the fish of the sea will declare to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

Teaching Kids About Insects

Instead of pulling out a textbook when I teach science to my young readers, I like to read great books with fascinating facts and vibrant illustrations. 

After putting this list of books together for you, I’m excited to do an insect unit study, using these as our core science curriculum for the next few weeks. I don’t have any worksheets or planned experiments. Simply reading these books with colorful photographs and detailed illustrations will be enough to pique my children’s curiosity!

The fun facts in these books will answer all your kids’ questions!

• How do honey bees make delicious golden honey?
• Where does the praying mantis get its name?
• How does a caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly?
• Why do ladybugs have spots?
• How do lightning bugs light up? 
• Do dragonflies breathe fire?

You may also enjoy reading this similar blog post! 

How to Keep a Simple Nature Study Notebook

*This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our family!

Picture books

Perhaps my favorite books about bugs are Eric Carle’s books. His collection of stories with colorful illustrations is a treasury that should be in every home library.. Follow the very hungry caterpillar through its life cycle to watch it unfold into a beautiful butterfly. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Busy Spider

The Grouchy Ladybug

The Very Quiet Cricket

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Rise and Shine)

• Now even younger children can follow the little green caterpillar as he eats his way to becoming a beautiful butterfly in this sturdy board book
• Great for early development
• Children will enjoy this delightful tale
• Ages 3 to 7
• Hardcover Book

$11.58

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The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco

In this classic picture book, a little girl follows her Grandpa on an adventure to find a bee tree. Along the way, a crowd of people follow them and everyone gets to enjoy the sweet honey together. Her Grandpa admonishes her that just as they had to work hard to get the honey, books are full of sweetness, but you have to work hard to find it.  

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The Bee Tree

• Polacco, Patricia (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 05/04/1998 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

$7.01

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Rhyming Bug Books Preschool Age

Books with repeated sounds and songs are wonderful for children who are learning to talk! When I read these books to my preschoolers, I can hear them repeating them throughout the day! 

Some Bugs by Angela DiTerlizzi

This rhyming book is a great introduction to different kinds of bugs for a younger audience. After reading Some Bugs, kids will want to look in their backyard to find their favorite bug!

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Some Bugs (Classic Board Books)

• DiTerlizzi, Angela (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 34 Pages – 06/14/2016 (Publication Date) – Little Simon (Publisher)

$7.41

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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

In this story, an old lady swallows a fly and then keeps swallowing bigger and bigger animals. It is a silly rhyme that originates from an old ballad. My kids like me to sing the song as I read it. 

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I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly

• English (Publication Language)
• 22 Pages – 03/03/2020 (Publication Date) – LB Kids (Publisher)

$6.99

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Beetle Bop by Denise Fleming

The repeated sounds in this book will keep your little kids waiting to hear the next expected rhyming word in the pattern. They will learn all about what beetles can do, how they sound, what how to recognize different types of beetles.

Beetle Bop

• Scholastic Inc.
• Fleming, Denise (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 06/11/9999 (Publication Date) – Publisher (Publisher)

$2.02

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Non-fiction Bug Books For Kids

While some might write off non-fiction books as twaddle, my kids love books with plenty of close-up pictures and detailed sketches with short snippets of facts.

A Beetle Is Shy by Diana Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long

The first thing I noticed about this book is that it is very pretty. Kids will learn about different kinds of beetles, tasty beetle food dishes from around the world, and why a beetle is shy. 

A Beetle Is Shy (Sylvia Long)

• Aston, Dianna Hutts (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 40 Pages – 05/09/2023 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)

$7.99

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The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer

Bugs will come to life in this simple book with lovely illustrations! The book is divided into sections by insect, for example…beetles, pond bugs, termites, stick insects, etc. so you can choose the bugs you want to do first. This is a perfect book to read to young elementary students because each bug page gives brief, yet interesting facts so it’s not an overwhelming amount of information to consume. 

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The Big Book of Bugs (The Big Book Series)

• Hardcover Book
• Zommer, Yuval (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 64 Pages – 04/18/2016 (Publication Date) – Thames & Hudson (Publisher)

$11.40

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National Geographic Kids: Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs by Catherine D. Hughes

This is the kind of book I would sneakily put on the table for my kids to “notice” as they eat their breakfast cereal. This book does a great job of explaining the difference between bugs and insects. Although the sneaky table placement would be my first choice, you could also use this book as a mini-textbook to read a few pages a day, focusing on specific bugs.

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National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Bugs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)

• Hardcover Book
• Hughes, Catherine D. (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 128 Pages – 10/14/2014 (Publication Date) – National Geographic Kids (Publisher)

$8.82

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Bugs: A Stunning Pop-Up Look at Insects, Spiders, and Other Creepy Crawlies by George McGavin

Look at the anatomy of insects in 3D with this sensational pop-up book. Each page is filled with pop-up pockets that have interesting facts under the flap. As you turn the page a large 3D cricket or honeybee hive pops out at you. This book will keep your kids searching for to find all the fascinating bug facts!

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Bugs: A Stunning Pop-up Look at Insects, Spiders, and Other Creepy-Crawlies

• Hardcover Book
• McGavin, George (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 12 Pages – 10/08/2013 (Publication Date) – Candlewick (Publisher)

$14.94

Buy on Amazon

Chapter Books

We have a few favorite chapter books for older kids whose main characters are insects that simply must be included in this list! Although a narrative-type story may not teach kids many facts about bugs, it will help build a connection and enrich their knowledge of each insect’s capabilities. 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White

Whoever thought a pig could become best friends with a little spider? I love reading this classic book to my kids each fall around fair time. As Charlotte saves Wilbur’s life by writing special words about him in her spider web, kids learn the meaning of true friendship. 

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Charlotte’s Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner (Trophy Newbery)

• These are the words in Charlotte’s web, high in the barn
• Her spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, as well as the feelings of a little girl named Fern … who loves Wilbur, too
• Their love has been shared by millions of readers
• E. B. White (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

$6.29

Buy on Amazon

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James Trotter, an orphan boy escapes the clutches of his cruel Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge by entering a magical peach. Inside he meets a spider, glowworm, centipede, grasshopper, ladybug, and others. In tradorable story with a funny ending. 

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James and the Giant Peach

• Come celebrate and join James Trotter and his friends – Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider – on an adventure inside a giant magical peach.
• A classic that has endured through the years
• Ages 8-12
• Dahl, Roald (Author)
• English (Publication Language)

$5.19

Buy on Amazon

The Cricket in Times Square by George Sheldon, illustrated by Garth Williams (This is the same person who illustrated the beloved Little House series.)

This endearing story takes place in New York City at a small family business, a newsstand. The family falls in love with a cricket, Chester, who learns to play the music he hears on the radio until an accident nearly ends their friendship. This story is a tear-jerker, so you may want to grab a box of tissues. 

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The Cricket in Times Square: Revised and updated edition with foreword by Stacey Lee (Chester Cricket and His Friends, 1)

• Selden, George (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 160 Pages – 05/31/2022 (Publication Date) – Square Fish (Publisher)

$6.85

Buy on Amazon

Extended Ideas for Teaching Kids About Bugs

My primary purpose in creating this book list is to read these fantastic books to my kids. Reading for pleasure is enough. Nothing extra is needed, however, if you are looking for some activities to enhance your study, these ideas might be fun to try!

• Draw a comic strip style showing the life cycle of an insect. 
• Start a bug collection using styrofoam and pins in a shadow box. Use field guides to label your finds. 
• Find monarch caterpillars on milkweed (We find them in September in our area of Pennsylvania.) and raise them to butterfly. We keep ours in 2-quart mason jars with a breathable lid. When your caterpillar hangs upside down in a J shape, watch carefully to see it form its chrysalis. It happens quickly, in about 50 seconds. It is such an amazing sight to watch with your kids and the chrysalis with the golden beads is so beautiful. This activity requires very little preparation which is why it is one we do every year. 
• In a nature notebook, make a calendar of first. When do you see the first ant? Beetle? Carpenter bee? It is fun to compare from year to year so kids see a pattern of when different bugs appear in the season.

This insect book list is an excellent resource for nature study lessons with your kids. After you read these great bug books to your kids, grab a magnifying glass, step outside, and see how many you can find in the natural world around you! 

Happy bug hunting!

As election day draws closer, these resources can help you teach your kids about the voting process in the United States. These excellent children’s books will help prepare them to understand the importance of voting and how they can make a difference in this small, yet important act.

I recently had someone message me with this question.

“I was wondering what resources/printables/lapbooks etc. you would recommend for teaching about the election process this year?” This comment prompted me to do some searching to find some good resources for homeschool moms to use to help prepare our kids for the upcoming election season.

The first place I looked was our local library. As much as I searched, I was a little disappointed in the selection of books I found. Most of the books I came across were told from more of a “school” perspective where kids learn about elections mostly in the context of a classroom and less from their parents.

I would love to see more books emphasize family conversations and parents taking their kids with them to vote. Nevertheless, this list is a good place for starters.

Below I have also included links to popular unit studies and YouTube videos for you to use in your homeschool to help you teach your kids about elections and voting.

Picture Books for Kids About Elections and Voting

*This post contains affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

#1 One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote

If you have young children, this is a great way to introduce them to the concept of voting by giving examples of all the things we vote for in daily life….like class president, snack, or a pet. Because of its 4-line rhyming pattern. this book is perfect for young readers. Although Dr. Seuss books can be a little silly, don’t mistake this book for fluff, however! It is full of tidbits of good information. Some concepts included in the book are the history of voting rights, different elected offices in government, political party affiliations, debates, and rallies.

#2 Duck For President by Doreen Cronin

In this funny story, we meet Duck who is tired of his farm chores. He decides to hold an election because he wants to do more than just be a duck. He wins the election, replacing the farmer, but he soon realizes that farming is hard work as well. So Duck tries to move on up by running for Governor and eventually President, winning each time. Little kids will be intrigued by this funny tale and they may learn that the simple house chores they have to do aren’t so bad after all!

#3 See How They Run by Susan E. Goodman and Elwood H. Smith

What I like about this book is the mix of facts and historic photos with colorful sketches and funny stories. From the silly illustrations to the cartoon bubbles, this book highlights the satire of American politics. It does a great job explaining the history of the democratic process, the purposes of political parties, and how the Electoral College works to ensure a fair election by equal representation of all the states.

#4 What’s the Big Deal About Elections

This book starts by describing how elections were celebrated over 200 years ago shortly after the Revolutionary War. The reader learns interesting facts about the importance of active participation in the Presidential election, how African Americans, women, and Native Americans won voting rights, the three branches of government, and how we choose our presidential candidates. This creative non-fiction book is informative with nice illustrations on each page which, I think, makes it an engaging book for independent readers.

#5 Today on Election Day by Catherine Stier

In the introduction of this book, Stier gives a short description of election day. She also tells information about the 15th amendment and the following amendments which allowed women and 18-year-old’s the freedom to vote. I found this very helpful. If you are looking for a book that will help kids see what elections are like through the eyes of a child who may be experiencing it for the very first time, Today On Election Day is an excellent choice! Kids will read about campaigns, the evolution of voting rights, debates, where a polling place might be located, different ways to vote, and more.

#6 The Night Before Election Day by Natasha Wing

This cute story is written in the style of Clement C. Moore who wrote “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” My favorite part of this picture book is that it is more family-centered. Mom and Dad take the kids to the rally at the town hall to observe the debates. They also take the kids voting with them. Later, at home, everyone watches the TV to see who will be our next President. In this rhyming story, a little girl tells how much work goes into the election process.

#7 So You Want to Be President? By Judith St. George

I like the funny introduction in this book which tells the good and bad parts about being President. For example, it’s good that the President lives at the White House, but the bad part is that he always has to be dressed up! This book is chock full of fun facts and funny stories about all the Presidents in history up to our present day. If you want your kids to learn about all the Presidents of the United States, this is the book to read!

#8 Know Your Government Non-Fiction Books

Perhaps one of the best ways to learn about the political process is to read non-fiction picture books. The Know Your Government books do a great job of describing why voting is so important and how the President is elected through the electoral process.

More Election Resources for Homeschoolers

These additional resources (many of them are free) are excellent, and perhaps more importantly, approved or created by other homeschool moms.

Unit Studies

Silo and Sage Government and Election Unit Studies– This is a family-style unit study geared toward upper elementary and middle aged children.

Sonlight Election A Guide to Elections Free Unit Study-This free Election Day unit study includes information on the three branches of government, election process and timeline, electoral process, and much more!

The Homeschool Mom Unit Study Elections Unit Study / Notebooking Unit (FREE)– This unit study is very thorough and has the student do some of the research and recording. Includes a crossword puzzle and word search.

Homeschool Compass FREE Presidents of the USA Homeschool Printables– This resource would double as a unit study to use around President’s Day as well. Printable includes “portraits of each president, fact cards, famous quotations for copywork, and a My Presidents Book for your kids to record what they’ve learned.”

Audio Books

Adventures in Odyssey: For God and Country– This is an excellent audiobook to give your kids some American history. Listen in the car or at home. The set includes 12 episodes on 4 CDs.

Lap Books

Homeschool in the Woods Lap Pak– My kids love these lap books! Through hands-on activities, kids will learn how a President is chosen, the Presidential campaign, and the US. government.

Other Resources

Whole Child Homeschool Homeschooling Election Resources for Your Family– This resource has printables, video links, and articles to help kids teach about the voting process.

Why and How to Teach Your Kids About American Independence

As election time draws near, I hope these resources can help you teach your kids about the importance of voting in the local, state elections, and the Presidential race. As you head to the ballot box to cast your vote, take your kiddos with you and show them how they can change the unwritten future of America.

As you tuck your children in at night, this collection of poems, nursery rhymes, bedtime songs, and verses will be a great way to end your day with your little ones. 

Watch your little children’s eyes light up when they hear the funny poems of Shel Silverstein, let their imagination soar as they hear the tale of Wynken, Blynken, and Nod for the first time, or see their little eyes slowly nod off as you sing Brahm’s  lullaby. 

Bible verses are also comforting to young children. Hearing of God’s protection will help them not to be afraid. Scripture will remind them of Jesus, the good shepherd who cares for his sheep. 

Sometimes I like to read my kids a favorite bedtime story, but a short little children’s poem or verse or nursery rhyme is also a wonderful way to send them off to bed with the sweetest dreams. 

Bedtime Poems

Wynken Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod one night
    Sailed off in a wooden shoe—
  Sailed on a river of crystal light,
    Into a sea of dew.
  “Where are you going, and what do you wish?”
    The old moon asked the three.
  “We have come to fish for the herring fish
    That live in this beautiful sea;
    Nets of silver and gold have we!”
      Said Wynken,
      Blynken,
      And Nod.
  The old moon laughed and sang a song,
    As they rocked in the wooden shoe,
  And the wind that sped them all night long
    Ruffled the waves of dew.
  The little stars were the herring fish
    That lived in that beautiful sea—
  “Now cast your nets wherever you wish—
    Never afeard are we”;
    So cried the stars to the fishermen three:
      Wynken,
      Blynken,
      And Nod.
  All night long their nets they threw
    To the stars in the twinkling foam—
  Then down from the skies came the wooden shoe,
    Bringing the fishermen home;
  ‘Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed
    As if it could not be,
  And some folks thought ’twas a dream they’d dreamed
    Of sailing that beautiful sea—
    But I shall name you the fishermen three:
      Wynken,
      Blynken,
      And Nod.
  Wynken and Blynken are two little eyes,
    And Nod is a little head,
  And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies
    Is a wee one’s trundle-bed.
  So shut your eyes while mother sings
    Of wonderful sights that be,
  And you shall see the beautiful things
    As you rock in the misty sea,
    Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three:
      Wynken,
      Blynken,
      And Nod.

Bed in Summer Robert Louis Stevenson

In winter I get up at night  
And dress by yellow candle-light.  
In summer, quite the other way,  
I have to go to bed by day.  

I have to go to bed and see         
The birds still hopping on the tree,  
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet  
Still going past me in the street.  

And does it not seem hard to you,  
When all the sky is clear and blue,  
And I should like so much to play,  
To have to go to bed by day?

The Children’s Hour by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Between the dark and the daylight,
      When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes a pause in the day’s occupations,
      That is known as the Children’s Hour.

I hear in the chamber above me
      The patter of little feet,
The sound of a door that is opened,
      And voices soft and sweet.

From my study I see in the lamplight,
      Descending the broad hall stair,
Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,
      And Edith with golden hair.

A whisper, and then a silence:
      Yet I know by their merry eyes
They are plotting and planning together
      To take me by surprise.

A sudden rush from the stairway,
      A sudden raid from the hall!
By three doors left unguarded
      They enter my castle wall!

They climb up into my turret
      O’er the arms and back of my chair;
If I try to escape, they surround me;
      They seem to be everywhere.

They almost devour me with kisses,
      Their arms about me entwine,
Till I think of the Bishop of Bingen
      In his Mouse-Tower on the Rhine!

Do you think, O blue-eyed banditti,
      Because you have scaled the wall,
Such an old mustache as I am
      Is not a match for you all!

I have you fast in my fortress,
      And will not let you depart,
But put you down into the dungeon
      In the round-tower of my heart.

And there will I keep you forever,
      Yes, forever and a day,
Till the walls shall crumble to ruin,
      And moulder in dust away!

The Land of Nod by  Robert Louis Stevenson

From Breakfast on through all the day
At home among my friends I stay,
But every night I go abroad
Afar into the land of Nod.

All by myself I have to go,
With none to tell me what to do–
All alone beside the streams
And up the mountain-sides of dreams.

The strangest things are there for me,
Both things to eat and things to see,
And many frightening sights abroad
Till morning in the land of Nod.

Try as I like to find the way,
I never can get back by day,
Nor can remember plain and clear
The curious music that I hear.

The Sugar-Plum Tree by Eugene Field

Children Learn What They Live by Dorothy l. Nolte

The Moon by Emily Dickinson

The Lamb by William Blake

Bedtime Songs and Nursery Rhymes

Click on the links for the full song lyrics and video of someone singing. 

All Through the Night by Edward Jones

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones’ watch am keeping,
All through the night.

Lullaby and Goodnight Brahms’ Lullaby

Lullaby, and good night,
With pink roses bedight,
With lilies overspread,
Is my baby’s sweet head.
Lay you down now, and rest,
May your slumber be blessed.
Lay you down now, and rest,
May thy slumber be blessed.

I See the Moon Nursery Rhyme

I see the moon, and the moon sees me,
God bless the moon, and God bless me!

Wee Willie Winkie, a Scottish nursery rhyme

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs, in his nightgown;
Rapping at the window, crying through the lock,
“Are the children in their beds?
Now it’s eight o’clock.”

Sleep, Baby, Sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

Other Lovely Bedtime Nursery Rhymes

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

The Bitter Wind Doth Blow

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Comforting Bedtime Bible Verses for Children

The most important lesson and perhaps the best thing you can leave with your child before they fall asleep is the reminder of the truest truth from God’s Word. Comfort them with the promises of God. 

Psalm 56: 3 

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you.”

Matthew 11:28-30. 28 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Psalm 4:8

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,  for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 3:24

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid;  when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”

Psalm 121: 1-4

1. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
2. My help comes from the Lord,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.
3. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber.
4. Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 3:5 

“I lay down and slept. I woke again for the Lord sustained me.”

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

Books of Wonderful Bedtime Stories

Children’s Garden of Verses

The Real Mother Goose

Great Children’s Stories by Frederick Richardson

What is narration and why is it so effective in producing excellent writers? Learn the very basics of how to do a Charlotte Mason narration beginning with quality literature and moving on to oral and written narrations. 

Everything You Need to Know About Narration || How We Do Narration In Our Large Family

The Hidden Gem of Narration

The art of narration is a hidden gem. It’s such a simple tool that I think people tend to either overlook it or overthink it, yet, it is so effective that it’s worth making a regular part of your daily work.

If you are not using narration (and copywork, the twin to narration) in your homeschool, you are missing a powerful tool for teaching writing. Narrating helps kids use their most natural form of expression (telling) to express themselves well, first in speaking, and ultimately  in writing.

Whatever writing curriculum you are using in your homeschool, narration should at the very least, be a part of it. It is a supertool. It takes very little time, but works wonders in the brain. 

The exercise of consistent narration over a time period produces excellent communicators.

What is Charlotte Mason narration?

What is narration? Narration is simply telling. Whether we realize it or not, we all do narration in one form or another every day. 

When you ask your child to tell about her day or explain how she made a cake or describe the scene at the park, you are having her narrate.

Over a century ago, Charlotte Mason re-introduced the world to the practice of narration in her book Home Education. Charlotte Mason’s conclusions about narration were based on the classical education model used in ancient Greece and Rome, but she revived it by using it in the PNEU schools where she taught and by writing about it in her books. 

Narrating is the practice of arranging events or ideas to explain yourself to another person so that you both can understand and have a shared experience. 

With children, we start with oral narration which after practice, naturally lends itself to written narrations.  Learning to write well begins with telling well. Oral narration is the stepping stone to written narration. 

Why is Narration so Effective?

When I was studying education in college, we learned about Blume’s taxonomy. As budding teachers, we were learning how to ask comprehension questions in such a way to help kids progress to higher levels of thinking. Instead of asking objective questions with measurable answers, we were taught to ask questions that were open-ended to promote high-order critical thinking skills.

For example, instead of asking a question like, “What did the boy see at the park?” which has a measurable answer, we were taught to ask questions that would make them think more critically. A higher level thinking question might be, “How would you describe what you saw at the park?”

In her book Know and Tell: The Art of Narration, Karen Glass shows the weakness of this approach when compared to the superiority of simple narration.

“A teacher may assume that leading children through a series of questions will teach the children to think and reason for themselves. However, the one who asks the questions is the one who has thought about the material as a whole.” -Karen Glass

Narration skills require children begin with the highest level of thinking. It puts the weight of critical thinking on them. 

It replaces testing. A thorough narration from a child is so much better than having them answer random multiple choice questions or fill in the blank on a quiz. Actually, a child who has narrated a story well could easily create a short quiz or test on the subject matter because she has digested the information and knows it thoroughly.

Try Narration

When kids have to recall, assemble, and sift through the details of a story, they are cementing the story in their minds. 

If you doubt the effectiveness of narration, I challenge you to try it yourself. Read a short story or excerpt from a book and try retelling it to your spouse or a friend. It’s harder than you think! 

How do you teach homeschool narration?

Narration is the natural way for children to learn to write. Below are the three basic steps to take to teach narration in your homeschool. 

#1 Quality Literature is a Pre-requisite to Narration

If you want to see the positive results that so many have experienced with narration, you need to read quality literature to your kids. Miss Mason discouraged parents from reading “twaddle” and challenged them rather to choose living books for children. 

Kids can only express what they possess. If you read them silly cartoon-style books with little depth, you can’t expect their narrations be anything deeper than casual table conversations. Kids need a rich feast of ideas and these can only come from quality literature. 

Ambleside Online has a wonderful selection of living books throughout their curriculum. This is usually the first place I look for excellent book choices. 

How do you determine if a book is a living book? I love how Jaime from The Unlikely Homeschooler describes them in her article What is a Living Book Anyway?. 

“Charlotte Mason called them living or full of life. Some have referred to them as whole or complete, lacking in nothing. Still, others describe them with words like imaginative, original, or full of human touch.”

From a very young age your children should be reading the very best books. 

#2 Oral Narration

If you are reading excellent living books to your kids, the next step in learning to narrate is oral narration. You are probably already doing this with your younger students when you ask them about their day, ask them what they had for supper, or what happened at grandma’s house. Start with their interests and let them naturally tell you the things that are important to them. 

When your child is ready to start narrating stories in the early years, begin slowly. I like to read a short passage, maybe a paragraph or two, and have them narrate after parts of the story rather than giving a whole narration at the end of a single reading. 

It’s hard for younger children to hear the whole story and then give a re-telling. It’s easier to break it up into bite-sized pieces. 

It may help them for you to model a narration. Show young children by example how to sort the main idea from specific facts and how to include the most important parts in order.

Don’t Be Discouraged With Your Beginning Narrator

If your child’s early narrations leave much to be desired, don’t be discouraged! In their younger years, they are developing their ability to pay full attention and this is hard work that takes several tries. 

Often, for the first or second reading, my new narrators can hardly remember anything. The problem is that they aren’t used to paying close enough attention to be able to tell back the details. It takes repeated practice to develop a habit of attention. 

I’ve noticed a marked improvement with my youngest children after several weeks of trying narration. Becoming an active listener is a skill that takes practice. 

#3 Written Narration 

After your kids have been doing oral narration on a regular basis, they will be ready for written narration. This usually happens around age 10 or 11, but it will vary for individual children. Written narrations require no additional thought. They are simply putting pen to paper from the narrations they have been giving all along. 

It is important that older children can handwrite fluently so that the gross motor skills do not take a long time or hamper their ability to express their thoughts. If they wish to type a narration, that works well too!

When our kids begin, I start by typing their oral narrations as they tell them to me. When we finish, I have them read what I wrote out loud. This is a great way to help them see that the written narrations are essentially the oral narrations in writing.

It also helps them see areas they need to improve. I write down every “um” and “like” and when they re-read the typed passage, they can see ways to improve their writing. 

Start by having students write one narration per week and gradually work up to more. Since older students usually do the readings on their own by this point, remind them to write the narration in their own words, not copying from the passage. 

How We Do Narration in a Large Family

It can be a challenge to be consistent with narrations when you have multiple children. In our family of ten kids, I aim to listen to at least one oral narration from each of my younger kids every day. For the older kids, I expect them to do two weekly narrations on their checklist with the understanding that I may randomly check it at any time. 

At the beginning of every school year, I give each of our older kids a narration notebook. Together we decide where to fit written narrations into their weekly checklist. Having a notebook in hand helps homeschool moms to see the progress from the beginning to the end of the year. 

Another thing I have done in the past is to focus on different aspects of our homeschool for a certain period of time. Last year I spent three months focusing specifically on narration. I read a section from George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster at Morning Time and asked the kids to write a narration afterward. They were writing about four written narrations a week. It was a short, intensive practice and they made a lot of progress.

One of the easiest ways to check multiple narrations in a big family is to have the older kids read their narrations aloud as part of Morning Time. 

Narration Examples

Below are some narration samples I’ve collected from our children. They are copied as written with no corrections.

Oral Narration from the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff, almost 6-year-old boy

There was this little tiny goat and then he went across the bridge to make himself fat, but then he said to the billy goat gruff, “Wait til the big billy goat gruff comes.”  And then he wasn’t actually the biggest one, it was the second one. And then it was like “TRIP TRAP, TRIP TRAP.” And then the big billy goat gruff came. Then he got across to make himself fat and then when they went home and they were too fat, if the fat fell off, they would already be fat still.

Narration from 50 Famous Stories Retold, the story of “George Washington and His Hatchet”, 7-year-old girl

This was an oral narration that I typed as she told it.

There was a little boy named George and one day his father gave him a hatchet. But one time because he loved cutting down things with it, so one time he went outside with it and he saw this one tree that he wanted to cut down. So he went over and he cut it down, but then his father came back right then and his father was really mad because he saw that the cherry tree was chopped down. Um, so then he went inside, but he was really really mad. Then George came and told him that he chopped down the cherry tree. And then his father said, he said, he would lose a dozen cherry trees rather than him not telling the truth.

Narration from a chapter of Child’s History of the World by Virgil Hillyer, 9-year-old boy

This was an oral narration that I typed as he gave it to me.

King Charles I was king at that time and um, they would fight wars with this other land and before they fought wars, they would feast before they went out to wars and do hymns and stuff. Oliver Cromwell helped raise up the army, like train them. So they lost a lot of battles and one time King Charles I was found guilty of committing some crimes, I think. So they killed him in the end and made Oliver Cromwell king. He was a really good king, but he was strict. Later when he died, a Stuart, Charles II became king and he was a really wicked king because he kind of took Oliver Cromwell out of his tomb. I think later one of his servants murdered him and that was the end of the story.

Narration from Robinson Crusoe, 11-year-old girl

This was copied from her written narration.

Robinson Crusoe builds a 2nd boat after his 1st one is too heavy to get into the water. It can swim very well so he explores the island through it.

After going through a lot of the island his boat gets stuck far from the island, but he manages to get back to land. He sleeps in a tree drying his boat nearby. He wakes up to someone calling his name. he is suprised to see Poll his parrot.

When he gets home he sees he’s low on ammunition and begins to set traps, pits, and is able to get lots of goats to breed. 

Narration from Story of the World about Catherine the Great, 13-year-old girl

This was copied from her written narration.

Catherine was the empress of Russia, even though she wasn’t even Russian. One of her uncles married the Empress of Russia. The Empress wanted a wife for her heir, Peter. She thought Catherine was perfect! Catherine was quickly whisked off to Moscow to meet Peter. He was handsome, but was rude and foolish. She told her mother she didn’t want to marry him, but she didn’t listen. Soon they were engaged, but days before the parts, Peter got small pox. He recovered, but Catherine was horrified when she saw him again. His face was twisted, and he had red scars all over him. Reluctantly, they got married. Soon after the Empress died, Catherine led a revolt. She sent soldiers to the town Peter was in to surround it. Accidentally he was killed by a soldier guarding him. Catherine became the Empress of Russia. She helped conquer Alaska, and expand Russia’s borders. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do you make narration a consistent, expected part of the day? There are many different ways that you can approach this and it is important that you find the way that works best for you. In our large family, I am not able to check every narration every day. What has been more helpful is to focus on it at certain times. They have it on their checklist and it is required of them, knowing that I may randomly check it at any time.  I may focus on checking and reviewing narrations more closely for a few months in a row. Or I might designate one day a week to review my kid’s narrations. As far as oral narrations with younger kids, I try to have each child do at least one a day. 
2. How many narrations do you have your kids do each week? I try to have younger kids give at least one oral narration a day. For older kids, I generally require two narrations per week. If it is a time when I am focusing more on narration than at other times, I may require more. 
3. How long should a narration be? I have my kids start with half of a notebook page and work up to a page or a page and a half. Some kids need to learn to be more concise and not include all the particulars, while other children need to add more descriptions. After several narrations, these peculiarities usually iron themselves out. 
4.  Do you do every reading? I don’t ask each child to do every reading, however, since I am usually reading to more than one child, I will let them all know to listen so they can narrate and I usually pick one person to narrate. This way, they are all listening with the intention of narrating so they pay attention more closely.
5. How much should you instruct or correct their written narrations? Occasionally, I give guidance regarding the mechanics of the writing (capitalization, punctuation, spelling), but it’s important to let it be their own work. Trust the narration process; kids naturally improve with consistent practice.
6. What can I do if my kids get bored with narrating? Encourage kids to do creative narrations. Mix it up. Try narrating a picture study or a field trip. You can also allow them to use props like legos, sketches, or play dough to show their narrations. 
7.  How do you check in with your kids at the end of the day in a timely manner? I don’t check in with every child every day, but I do try to regularly be checking their work. Just knowing that mom might check is usually enough incentive for them to do their best. 
8. Do you require a high school student to narrate? Absolutely! This is where the most growth happens! In the high school years, they can fine tune their skills. 

Further Narration Resources 

You may enjoy these other similar posts on the blog about teaching writing in your homeschool.

Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Homeschool Writing

Helpful Habits for Writing Well #1: Creating a Literate Environment

Helpful Habits for Writing Well #2: Copywork

Helpful Habits for Writing Well #3: Narration

Helpful Habits for Writing Well #4: Notebooking

In this post Living Books and Narration With All Boys, I interviewed a fellow homeschool mom, Sarah, who shares her best resources and ideas for teaching narration specifically to boys. 

I love the very basic way Sonya Schaeffer explains narration in this article. She breaks it down step-by-step in a way that makes it very easy to understand.

How to Do Narration

You may also enjoy reading her book Your Questions Answered: Narration.

If you search for “narration” on the website simplycharlottemason.com, you will find a plethora of blog posts on topics such as how to do narration in high school, ideas for narration, narration with special challenges, narration with multiple children, and more.

Ambleside Online also answers frequently asked questions about narration in this article. 

Ambleside Online Narration

Books

*This post may contain affiliate links which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The first place to start if you want to understand narration is to read Charlotte Mason’s book Home Education.

Karen Glass has also written the book Know and Tell: The Art of Narration. This is an excellent book that has been very helpful to me in my understanding and practical application of narration.

Whatever curriculum you are using to teach writing, I hope you include narration for some of it. It is an under-utilized, yet highly productive tool!

#1 George Washington by Ingri and Edgar Parin D’aulaire book

This book is a personal favorite of mine! The D’Aulaires have done it again!

This lovely picture book of George Washington tells the story of his life in beautiful illustrations. Beginning with his mother telling him stories from the Holy Bible, the narrative goes on to show his later admiration for his older brother Lawrence, his early surveying days with Lord Fairfax, and his experiences fighting the native Americans in the woods. 

Readers sympathize with General Washington’s hardships in the American Revolution during the winter of Valley Forge, but they cheer him on as Lord Cornwallis surrenders to him. The book concludes with his inauguration as the “little boy from the lone Virginia plantation had become the Father of His Country.”

#2 Take the Lead, George Washington by Judith St. George

This George Washington book tells all about the early years of his boyhood, family life, and early adult life. Kids will learn some little-known facts like how he was almost swept away by the current crossing the Potomac River on a surveying trip with Lord Fairfax.

#3 George Did It by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain

Read about the real man, the dependable and modest George Washington. He willingly led the army as commander-in-chief and helped write a new Constitution, but he did not want to be president of the United States!

He turned away the offer of President because it caused him “great anxiety.” Weighed down by the heavy responsibility of running a new country after his election (he was the only candidate,) he compared himself to a criminal going to his execution. Everywhere he went he was celebrated, but he humbly asked people for no reception.

Despite his fears, George had a big job to do and as the book finishes, “George Did it.”

#4 Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards

Meet George Washington in this short chapter book that tells about his life from beginning to end. What I love about this book is that it is easy to read with nice illustrations on almost every page to keep the reader engaged. It also includes a few diagrams, charts, and a timeline to give young readers further details. 

#5 George Washington’s World by Genevieve Foster

Would you like to know what was going on in the world around him during the time of George Washington’s life? This chapter book, geared toward older kids because of its length, tells the stories of his contemporaries along with the details of his life.

Learn about the famous kings, leaders, scientists, doctors, and inventories who were living at the same time as George Washington! The table of contents is divided into six parts: George as a boy, a soldier, a farmer, the commander, a citizen, and the President.

The pencil-drawn illustrations add a nice touch to this classic book!

#6 President George Washington by David Adler

This book is a good option for young readers who are building literacy skills. The text uses simple words to help kids learn about this great man who was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

#7 George Washington for Kids by Brandon Marie Miller

This is a non-fiction, textbook-style book that walks through the major event’s in Washington’s life., Readers can observe famous paintings of Washington,  a picture of George’s geometry lesson, and several other first-hand resources. I love the hands-on project options where you learn to play the game of quoits, make a compass, and design a bookplate. 

#8 George Washington’s Breakfast by Jean Fritz

In this adorable story, the main character, George, has the same name and birthday as George Washington. He knows so much about his hero, but one thing he has never been able to find out is what George Washington ate for breakfast. He is determined to find the answer to this question. He even makes his grandma promise to make George Washington’s breakfast for him if he can learn what it is. The fun part of this book is that kids can try making George Washington’s breakfast at the end of the book.

Sale

George Washington’s Breakfast

• Fritz, Jean (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 48 Pages – 02/02/1998 (Publication Date) – Puffin Books (Publisher)

$6.38

Buy on Amazon

#9 George Washington’s Teeth by Deborah Chandler and Madeleine Comora

In this funny tale, we learn of Washington’s lifelong tooth problems. Written in four-line rhyming verses, the story weaves in and out of the major events in his life showing the problems he was having with his teeth throughout these moments. The end of the book shows a timeline of events with excerpts from his writings to validate the dental problems described throughout the story. The fun facts in this book will be ones your kids will remember!

#10 George Washington: His Legacy of Faith, Character, and Courage

Read about Washington’s faith in God and his determination to always be truthful. Learn the famous story of six-year-old George chopping down the cherry tree and responding to his father’s questions by saying, “I cannot tell a lie. I am the one who cut down the cherry tree.” This book highlights George’s courageous character by telling the stories of his British ancestors who certainly must have influenced his character and way of living. 

Sale

George Washington: His Legacy of Faith, Character, and Courage

• George Washington: His Legacy Of Faith, Character, And Courage
• Hardcover Book
• Demi (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 48 Pages – 02/01/2018 (Publication Date) – Magnificat-Ignatius (Publisher)

$12.88

Buy on Amazon

Enjoy these other book list suggestions you may want to add to your library.

11 Excellent Christian Biography Resources for Your Homeschool

Ambleside Online Homeschool Curriculum For A Large Family

7 Favorite Thanksgiving Homeschool Read-Aloud Books

9 Favorite Christmas Picture Books

9 Favorite Homeschool Christmas Chapter Books and Short Stories

Pin it! 10 Fantastic Books for Kids About George Washington

Are you looking for a user-friendly curriculum to use in teaching your child to read? Bob Books are a simple and practical way to teach reading. I love them so much that I have used them to teach eight of our children to read. This Companion Beginner Guide For Teaching Bob Books is the perfect handbook to accompany you as you teach your child to read using Bob Books.

As a homeschool mom to ten, I have seen plenty of curriculum come and go! 
The Bob Books series by Bobby Lynn Maslen, however, remains my go-to for teaching kids to read.

The phonics-based method of Bob Books series uses very simple stories and funny pictures to engage young children. It is perfect for kids with short attention spans. These easy-to-read books are a great way to build young readers’ confidence and give your kids a love of reading. 

Teaching Kids to Read Using Bob Books

When I first started using Bob Books to teach our oldest son to read fifteen years ago, I felt like something was missing from the Bob Books set. I liked the simplicity of the program. I loved how it slowly progressed from simple words to more complex sounds and sentences, but I thought it would have been more helpful to have a parent guide that introduced new sight words and phonics skills as they appeared in the books. 

Looking online, I found other Bob Books resources like workbooks and Versatiles. They also have several Bob Books boxes, in addition to the original sets 1-5. What I wanted, however, was a handbook to tie it all together and lead me and my child step-by-step through Bob Books level. 

To fill this void, I did what many homeschool moms do when they can’t find a certain helpful tool… I made my own! 

I began with a simple manuscript tablet. I divided it into two parts: sight word list and phonics sounds. As we came to a new word or sound, I jotted it down in my notebook. This tablet became so handy that I have used it to teach eight of my ten kids to read. 

Just recently, I had the idea to take my original manuscript tablet notes and make it into this Companion Beginner Guide For Teaching Bob Books so that other parents can use this great resource as well!

The Bob Books Method

What I love about Bob Books is the slow progression from simple to more complex words and sentences. The first reader in Box 1 has short words that are easy for kids to sound out. The following first stories are also short with two to four words on each page.

 As the levels increase, the simple sentences become more complex. I noticed a marked jump in the number of new phonics sounds in Box 3 and again halfway through Box 4. 

Towards the end of Box 5, the sentences become longer and longer. Occasionally I had kids who struggled to adjust to reading the longer narratives. To help them transition, I would have them read a page and I would read the next page, alternating through to the end of the book. 

For Which Bob Books Is this Guide Designed? 

Because the Bob Books website has created several box sets in addition to the original five, it can be a little confusing to know which books to use and in what order. When I teach our kids to read, I use only the Box Sets 1-5 as listed below. 

Set 1, Beginning Readers

Set 2, Advancing Beginners

Set 3, Word Families

Set 4, Complex Words

Set 5, Long Vowels

*This post may contain affiliate links from which I may make a small profit at no extra cost to you.

How Will I Know If My Child Is Ready to Begin Bob Books? 

When I am teaching beginner readers, I play some games to help them with letter recognition and sounds. 

For young children to be ready to read Bob Books, they should be able to do two things.

1. Identify the names and sounds of each of the letters of the alphabet.
2. Sound out basic three-letter words. 

The games I use to help my kids be able to do this are described in the section of the guide “Getting Your Child Ready For Bob Books.”

How Do You Use the Companion Beginner Guide For Teaching Bob Books?

After a child exhibits signs of readiness as prescribed above, we start with the first stories in Set 1. Before our reading lesson, we use the Sight Words List and Phonics Sounds List in the guide to review the new sight words and phonics sounds in the next Bob Book. This review should be very brief, 5-10 minutes. 

What’s Included in the Companion Beginner Guide For Teaching Bob Books? 

This 24-page guide includes the following:

• A description of how to use the guide 
• Some ideas and games to help you get your child ready to begin reading the first Bob Books Set
• An index of sight words and phonics sounds in the order they are introduced in the books
• Sight Words List
• Phonics Sounds List
• Additional notes and FAQ

Sight Words List

The sight word list in this guide will help early readers identify irregular words that can not be sounded out. These high-frequency words are important for kids to recognize easily.

Phonics Sounds List

This systematic phonics instruction will help your beginning reader progress through the reading levels seamlessly. As they move through the book sets, this list will help introduce new sounds. 

Short vowels

Long Vowels

Endings

R Controlled Words

Words Ending in Y

Blends

Dipthongs

Digraphs

Compound Words

The playful stories with silly illustrations in Bob Books are a wonderful tool to help your kids have a positive first experience with reading. I hope this Companion Beginner Guide For Teaching Bob Books will be as helpful to you and your beginning reader as it has been for me and my children over the years. 

For more resources about teaching kids to read, you may enjoy these similar posts.

When Should I Start Teaching My Child To Read?

Teach a Child To Read With Two Important Habits

Simple Steps for Teaching Reading That Work

How to Help Kids Develop a Habit of Reading the Bible

As the weather turns colder this fall season, these fun literature-based November journal writing ideas will give your kids some creative ways to sharpen their writing skills. These picture books, famous poems, and historical documents, all centered around the month of November, can be a great way to add some pizzazz to your daily writing practice.

You may also enjoy reading these similar posts that are perfect to use in November.

7 Favorite Thanksgiving Homeschool Read-Aloud Books

The True Thanksgiving Story Book List for Kids

Traditional Thanksgiving  Poems and Songs for Kids

Fall Themed Copywork (Free Printable)

*This post contains affiliate links which means I make a small profit at no extra cost to you. 

These creative writing prompts are intended to give you some fun writing ideas to use with your kids in November. This collection of November journal prompts are arranged by different literature styles: picture books, poems, short stories, and historical documents. Sometimes kids can experience writer’s block when they look at a blank page, but these creative prompts, along with regular journaling practice, will inspire them with thought-provoking ideas. 

Kids may want to designate a notebook specifically for this November study. Have them design a colorful journal cover so they can enjoy this keepsake for years to come, pulling it out to read and review in future November months.

Picture Books

Sleep Tight  Farm by Eugene Doyle

Read the book Sleep Tight Farm to your kids. In this book, the family slowly puts the farm to bed for winter, the season of rest. Ask your kids to think about what your family does to prepare for winter. Do you have a garden or animals? What preparation do you do around your home to get ready for the colder dormant season? Maybe you don’t have a garden or homestead, so this may look a little different. Do you close your pool? Switch out your summer clothes? Do some fall cleaning? Shop for winter clothes or supplies?

Sale

Sleep Tight Farm: A Farm Prepares for Winter

• Hardcover Book
• Doyle, Eugenie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 36 Pages – 08/02/2016 (Publication Date) – Chronicle Books (Publisher)

$9.96

Buy on Amazon

Writing Prompt: Have your kids rewrite the book telling what you do in your family to prepare for the winter season. What does this look like in your everyday life in these fall months?

What’s the Big Deal About Elections by Ruby Shamir and Matt Faulkner

The Tuesday after the first Monday in November has been designated as Election Day. This picture book helps kids understand the election process, its history, and how to get involved. It answers questions like these. What are elections? Who gets to vote? Why do we vote? How do we elect our leaders? How do we vote? Read this book with your kids or have them read it themselves. Discuss the questions at the end of the book, “What do you think our government should spend its time on? What do you think our leaders should pay attention to?” 

What’s the Big Deal About Elections

• Shamir, Ruby (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 64 Pages – 08/25/2020 (Publication Date) – Philomel Books (Publisher)

$5.99

Buy on Amazon

Writing Prompt: Write a how-to-style narrative explaining the voting process to a new voter. Explain how they can register, where to find information on candidates, and different ways to get involved.

The Wall by Eve Bunting 

On November 11th we remember our veterans. The Wall by Eve Bunting is a wonderful picture book to read on this special day of the month. This story will help kids remember and honor those who paid the ultimate price. The Wall is the story of a father and son who visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to find the boy’s grandfather’s name. Read this book aloud to your students on Veterans Day. Discuss the book by asking the following questions. What is a veteran? Can they name veterans they know? How can we support our veterans?

Sale

The Wall (Reading Rainbow Books)

• Bunting, Eve (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 08/24/1992 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)

$7.67

Buy on Amazon

Writing Prompt: Write a letter to a veteran thanking him or her for their service to our country. This is a wonderful way to show them your appreciation for preserving our freedom.

Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra

In this inspiring true story, Sarah Josepha Hale, a widowed mother of five, we learn about a young woman who, despite many unfortunate circumstances, becomes a writer and editor in a popular woman’s magazine. During her lifetime thanksgiving was celebrated mostly in the New England colonies, but Sarah wanted to see that change. She petitioned several presidents, asking them to make Thanksgiving a national holiday, but to no avail. After many failed attempts, President Abraham Lincoln finally gave Sarah’s idea some consideration and declared Thanksgiving to be a national holiday in 1863.

This is a good book to read with your children because it gives some unknown insight into the history of Thanksgiving through the decades. Additionally, it inspires young writers to persevere and make their stories known. 

Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday

• Hardcover Book
• Allegra, Mike (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 32 Pages – 09/01/2012 (Publication Date) – Albert Whitman & Company (Publisher)

$30.06

Buy on Amazon

Writing Prompt: Have your kids write a letter to President Abraham Lincoln persuading him to make Thanksgiving a national holiday.

In November by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant gives a beautiful description of the changes we see in November in this book. What do the animals do? How does the landscape change? What new things do you see as the seasons change? In what ways is the food different? This book is meant to be read aloud to children. 

Sale

In November

• Rylant, Cynthia (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 26 Pages – 09/01/2008 (Publication Date) – Clarion Books (Publisher)

$6.99

Buy on Amazon

Writing Prompt: Have your kids make a list of all the changes they observe in November. What is your favorite thing to do this time of year? Using their five senses, create a word bank telling what they observe in their surroundings: acorns, leaves, pumpkins, wind, snow, coats, etc. Use this list as an outline to write a similar narrative describing November. Encourage them to use illustrations!

Poems

The New England Boy’s Song About Thanksgiving Day by Lydia Maria Child

What is Thanksgiving without this famous poem? Read the original poem with all twelve verses or listen to the song. Ask them to describe the poem. What do they see, hear, smell, taste? 

Writing Prompt: Starting with the same line, “Over the river and through the wood,” write a similar poem differently, using your own words. Try to use the same rhythm and meter. 

November Night by Adelaide Crapsey

In this short poem, Crapsey compares the falling leaves to the end of life.  This poem is a great way to introduce your kids to the Cinquain style of poetry. Review the rules for writing a cinquain. They are five lines long. Cinquains have two syllables in the first line, 4 in the second, 6 in the third, 8 in the fourth, and two in the last. A cinquain does not need to rhyme. 

Writing Prompt: Write a cinquain with “November” in the title. 

Psalm 100

Read the Psalm together. Make a “thankful list” together, remembering God’s many blessings from the past year.  

Writing Prompt: Write your own prayer to God expressing your gratitude for his provision. 

Short Stories

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott

Thanksgiving may quickly become your favorite holiday after you read this endearing short story with your children. Louisa May Alcott beautifully tells how a 19th-century New England family prepares for Thanksgiving dinner.  

This story begins by introducing the Bassetts and their eight children as they prepare the farm and food for Thanksgiving Day. All the food preparation is coming along nicely when suddenly mother and father must leave to take care of Mrs. Bassett’s ailing mother. The children must manage the house and cook themselves for the upcoming feast. The day is full of old family stories, cooking blunders, and unexpected events, but Mr. and Mrs. Bassett return earlier than expected and the mother is pleased to see a beautiful meal all put together by her children.

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving

• Hardcover Book
• Alcott, Louisa May (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 24 Pages – 04/03/2018 (Publication Date) – SMK Books (Publisher)

$11.99

Buy on Amazon

Thanksgiving Writing Prompts: Describe the scene in your home if the same circumstances happened to you! Your mother and father are called away and the kids will need to make the Thanksgiving meal. What’s on the menu? Who does the cooking? Will your favorite Thanksgiving dish be on the table? How does it turn out? 

Historical Literature

These suggestions are great for high school or middle school students because of the rich language. It will also help them become familiar with historical texts. 

The Gettysburg Address 

Read this short historical speech to your children. Have them take a turn reading it aloud. The vocabulary in the text is a little challenging, but it will take very little time since it is only a few sentences. What important events were happening in the United States during this time?

Writing Prompt: Rewrite the president’s speech in your own words. (Think narration here, have kids retell the speech in their own words, as they understand it.)

President Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Proclamation of 1864

After reading this short speech, ask your kids when this speech was given. Was it before or after the Gettysburg Address? Before or after the Civil War? Why would these special events call for a national day of Thanksgiving? 

Writing Prompt: Imagine you are the president. Write your own Thanksgiving Proclamation. Make sure to include why we should have a national day of Thanksgiving.  

Mayflower Compact

What happened on Cape Cod on the 11th of November? What was the purpose of this voyage to the new world? 

Writing Prompt: For some daily practice, write a few journal entries of the pilgrims and their experience in the new world. How do they spend their time? Describe what they see. What is the first priority in building a new colony? What problems do they encounter? Describe their daily life.

The Pilgrim-Wampanoag Peace Treaty from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford

Read this excerpt from Of Plymouth Plantation written by a great historical figure, William Bradford. What signs did both sides give to show their friendliness in making this treaty? What were the terms of the agreement? 

Writing Prompt: Write your own peace treaty between the native Americans and pilgrims. Include your terms of agreement.

I hope this list of November writing prompts has given you some inspiration for your writing lessons during the special days in this holiday season. You can use these as daily writing prompts or insert them into your regular lesson plans to switch things up a bit. 

How do You homeschool with ALL Littles?? Do you look at seasoned homeschooling moms incredulously, wondering how they possibly did it when they were in this stage? You love the idea of offering your kids a rich education through homeschooling, but with so many young ones underfoot, it just seems so hard! In this post, I want to offer encouragement for homeschool moms of littles.

I have a lot of sympathy for homeschool moms who have all young kids. I remember that season very well having been in it for so long. In fact, I’m still in it. We have ten children ages 18 down to 7 months and we are going on our 14th year of homeschooling. Having kids under age six in our home has become the norm for our family for so many years now so that I can’t hardly imagine it any other way. Even so, I have to admit it really is easier now than when they were all little. Those early years of diapers, dishes, dinner, and dirty laundry on repeat…they were hard!

Video: Encouragement For Homeschool Moms of Littles

“I Can’t Get Anything Done!”

Being with very young children all day is really exhausting! Have you heard yourself saying the words, “I can’t get anything done!”? I sure have. For homeschooling moms of all littles, getting very little done is the hard reality.

A day spent with all littles is completely unpredictable. You may write out your daily “to do” list, but it is completely subject to your children’s moods, potty training, lost sleep, tears over math, spilled milk, and a host of other possibilities.

• whining two year old
• toddler deciding not to nap
• baby teething
• constant interruptions
• repeated questions from three year olds
• younger children still building immune systems so they are sick more frequently
• pregnancy or adjusting to a new baby

Additionally, many moms with young children are homeschooling for the very first time, so there are other difficulties as well.

• choosing (and learning) a curriculum
• discovering your homeschool style and your child’s learning style
• finding a routine that works for you
• finding homeschool friends/co-ops
• family or friends questioning your decision to homeschool that can be discouraging
• adjusting to a homeschool mentality after having been traditionally schooled yourself

These Are The Foundational Years of Your Homeschool

One thing I did not realize when I was in the thick of homeschooling with all young children was that I was in the investment stage of both our homeschool and our family life. Whenever you start any kind of endeavor, whether it is a business, a project, or perhaps building your first home, the beginning is always the hardest part. How many years does it take for a business to start earning a profit? When you dig out the foundation for the construction of a new house, it actually looks like you are going backwards, digging that big hole in the ground. Who could look at that hollow cave of dirt and see the beautiful home you have envisioned?

It is the same with homeschooling. In the beginning, you make the largest investment and see very little fruit. You change messy diapers, make meals, attempt a reading lesson, answer a million questions, read one more story, cry over math, bathe dirty feet, run another load of laundry, kiss them goodnight ….and crawl into bed exhausted. And for what?! To get up and do it one more day.

The idea of homeschooling is so appealing, but the reality of it just seems impossible some days. When you look into your children’s sweet faces, you wouldn’t have it any other way, but are you really getting anywhere?

Seeing Fruit

When you have been homeschooling for several years, you gain perspective. When you see your kids become avid readers or develop unique hobbies, you begin to reap the rewards of all your blood, sweat, and tears. And it is SO worth it! When our second son showed an interest in learning guitar and taught himself to play by watching YouTube videos or when our daughters exhibited artistic talent in some of their baking endeavors, I loved seeing them blossom. Watching your kids become individuals right before your eyes is a beautiful thing. It makes all the investments of the the early years worth it, I promise!

Encouragement: It Does Get Easier!

The good news is that it does get easier! It gets easier because the longer you homeschool the better you get at it. It becomes second nature. You no longer puzzle over the math problem. You’ve learned how to break things down in a way that the kids understand. You are more familiar with your curriculum as well, so that’s one less hurdle.

I have noticed that when the number of independent kids in your home begins to outweigh the number of dependent kids, you really start to see the scales tip the other way. The younger ones are stimulated by just having the older ones around. They no longer look to you for all the entertainment. Additionally, when you have older kids around, the littles look to the older kids to learn the patterns and rhythms of the home.

When your kids are all little, they know nothing at all. You have to teach them everything! I remember teaching our oldest son how to ride a bike without training wheels. We went out every single day for weeks helping him. With all the kids after him, however, as we started to help them, we realized their older sibling has been teaching them. It took half the time and less work for us.

Practical Solutions

Do a little reading, writing, and math every day. A little here and there goes a long way over time. Let your goal be making progress. Hold your homeschool plans loosely. Some days you will get a lot done, other days not so much. But as long as you do a little every day, you will keep moving forward. Steady plodding brings success!

Get away to recharge. We’ve all experienced that moment when you feel like you can’t wipe one more nose, tackle one more discipline issue, or do one more math problem. You are starting to feel burn out. One of the best solutions I have found when I feel this way is to get away for a little bit. Going out for coffee, shopping with a friend, or just taking a walk will give you a break and help you recharge. When you come home, you will be refreshed.

Pause and tackle tough issues: What is the issue you are struggling with in your homeschool? Messy house? Behavior issues in your kids? Try taking a break from school to find a better strategy to solve the problem. If you have to take a day off of school to get on top of things, the kids won’t get behind. You will be able to make more progress when you have smoothed things out.

You Are Doing Kingdom Work

I want to encourage you that you are doing kingdom work. All the work that you are doing with your little ones has eternal ramifications. The children that God has entrusted to you are eternal souls. You have the responsibility and the awesome privilege to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. When you can have an eternal mindset, it really helps these small earthly struggles and setbacks seem much smaller.

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