Off the Bookshelf: April 2010

I am going to start a new series here at Life Overseas called, “Off the Bookshelf.”  Essentially, since reading is such a major factor in our kids’ homeschooling and adult lives, I thought I would pause every now and again and write about the books we are reading in our home.  If I had the time or easy access to the web, I would post links to Amazon and have official pictures of the books, but for now, I will have to be content with cheesy kids-holding-the-books pictures.   For those of you who have blogs, I would love to know what you are reading, too.  Maybe you could do an “Off the Bookshelf” post sometime, too.  I am always looking for suggestions for what to pick up next–for me and for the kids.

In addition to the Bible and lots of picture books that are read in our house, here are the books that are currently off the bookshelf and into our laps  . . .

The Jesus Storybook Bible.  Sally Lloyd-Jones.  Zonderkidz.  I was first tipped off to this bible storybook from Sarah’s site, and I am loving it.  The tagline is:  “Every story whispers his name,” and the premise of this collection of Bible stories is that the entire Scriptures point to Jesus.  The illustrations are colorful, and the wording engaging, even for me.  We’ve read lots of different Bible storybooks, and this one is quickly becoming a favorite.  The kids ask me to read it, which is a huge indicator that it is a well-done.  Some liberties are taken in order to make it read more like a story, but it seems generally accurate and excellent.  Even if you personally don’t hold to the Bible’s validity, but still want to give your kids an overview of it, this might be a good choice, since it’s an easy read.  It would make a great gift, too! 

Hero Tales.  Dave and Neta Jackson.  Volume 2.  We love these books!  They are a bit over my younger two kids’ heads, but my 7 year-old can totally engage with them.  Each volume has 15 Christian Heroes in history, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Jim Elliott to Florence Nightingale.  Each person featured has a sketched picture and a short 2-page bio of his/her life.  Following the bio are three short stories/events in that person’s life, and with each story is included a character trait the hero exhibited, a Bible verse, and three discussion questions you can ask.  It’s an excellent tool for character education, history, and inspirational models.  Again, I think older kids would benefit more (the book lists ages 6 – 12), but it is definitely something to consider adding to your bookshelf.  We only read this maybe 2 days a week at breakfast devotional time. 

The Swiss Family Robinson.  Johann Wyss.  Troll Illustrated Classic.  Abridged.  We just finished this adventure story of a shipwrecked family.  The pictures were really helpful in keeping the kids’ attention, and Cade especially like hearing about all the animals the family encountered on the island.  It was a solid read, though my kids weren’t begging me to pull it out.  (But we don’t just adore everything that’s good for us, so finish it we did.)

Aesop’s Fables.  The Forest King and Other Stories.  Illustrated.  Frank Educational Aids.  I found this for 4 bucks at an educational store, and we are reading one story a day from it.  We talk about what a fable is and I ask them to try to guess the moral at the end.  Aesop’s Fables are excellent for character education, and the pictures on this edition really help keep my four year old’s  interest. 

The Cost of Discipleship.  Dietrick Bonhoeffer.  (Ava is really enjoying this read, as is obvious by the chocolate smeared on her mouth for the photo.  Wink, Wink.)  It turns out in the chaos of moving that other than the Bible, this is about the only adult book that made it with us.  (We have teams coming that will bring some of our extra suitcases, thankfully.)  I am only into the first chapter, but it is offering good food for thought thus far.  Bonhoeffer was a German pastor who smuggled Jews out of Germany during the Holocaust.  He eventually got arrested and placed into a concentration camp, where he continued to inspire and shepherd the prisoners and guards around him, until he was sentenced to execution, only one month before the Allies gained victory.  This book is his understanding of Christ-Following with regards to grace and discipleship.  He speaks against the idea of “cheap grace,” but instead reminds people that following Jesus should really be costly and life-changing.  It is definitely a read I can only take in small chunks, but it has provided Matt and I with some rich discussions so far.      

Allright, your turn– what’s off your bookshelf and on your nightstand right now?  Have any suggestions for good reads—kids or adults, fiction or non-fiction?  Leave a comment, or do a post yourself.  And Happy Reading.       

Tagged as: books, homeschool, off the bookshelf