Surviving a Road Trip with Toddlers

Surviving a Road Trip with Toddlers

Embarking on a road trip with toddlers can be as unpredictable as the weather, but with the right tools and toys, you can turn potential chaos into a harmonious adventure. Here’s a list of tried-and-tested products that have made our family road trips more enjoyable:

Snack Time Solutions

• Snack Cups: Fill them with a mix of puffs and yogis. Not only are they perfect for road trips, but they’re also a hit on planes.

• Dried Mangoes: A favorite from Costco, these are not only healthy but also keep the little ones busy for a good while.

Entertainment Essentials

• Light Tablet: Ideal for drawing and tracing, keeping those tiny fingers occupied.

• Magnet Board: A great way to spark creativity without the mess.

• Memory Game: Though it may become a bit noisy, it’s a fantastic way to boost cognitive skills.

• Sensory Toy: Engages the senses and helps with developmental milestones.

• Water WOW: A mess-free painting experience that can be reused multiple times.

• Pop Tubes: These provide a unique auditory and tactile experience.

• Lacing Toy: Enhances fine motor skills and concentration.

• Poke a Dot books: Excellent for keeping little fingers and eyes occupied

• Pop Toy: Simple yet effective for keeping toddlers entertained.

• Wiki Stix: Bendable, sticky sticks that allow for endless creativity.

• Doodle Board: Encourages artistic expression without any ink or paint.

• Switch Board: Offers a variety of switches and buttons to push and toggle.

• Mother Goose Talking Doll: While it can be a bit noisy, it’s a soothing alternative to the sound of fussing.

Tech Tips

• Portable Screen: If you’re unable to set up a screen for baby songs or shows like Daniel Tiger and Cocomelon, consider burning them onto a CD. This way, you won’t have to worry about streaming in areas with poor reception.

Remember, having a rotation of activities and the ability to take breaks at rest stops can make a world of difference. With these products in your travel arsenal, you’re well-equipped to handle the journey ahead. Safe travels and enjoy the ride!

How I Keep Homeschool Records

As a homeschooling parent, keeping accurate records is essential. Whether you’re required to do so by state regulations or simply want to maintain a comprehensive record of your child’s educational journey, effective record-keeping ensures clarity, accountability, and peace of mind. In this post, I share my approach to homeschool record-keeping, including practical tips and recommended tools.

State Programs: Overture and Tech Trep

Before diving into the details, let’s address two state programs that offer unique opportunities for record-keeping:

1. Overture Learning: If you’re in Idaho, consider signing up for Overture Learning. This K-12 distance education program provides support, curriculum, and resources to homeschooling families. By submitting work samples, you can receive state reimbursement for non-religious materials, zoo admission, and more. Overture becomes your grade/school of record, making it an excellent option for organized record-keeping.

2. Tech Trep Academy: Available in several states, including Idaho, Tech Trep Academy offers personalized, tuition-free education (this is the option we use). While not mandatory, it’s wise to keep records even if you participate in Tech Trep. Their flexible approach allows parents to choose learning resources that suit their child’s needs. You’ll receive a supplemental learning fund to enhance your homeschool experience. Tech Trep also offers virtual classes, clubs, and monthly field trips, fostering a well-rounded education.

Essential Record-Keeping Components

Regardless of state requirements, here are the key components to include in your homeschool records:

1. Attendance Records: Keep track of the days your child participates in educational activities. Even if not mandated, attendance records provide a clear picture of your homeschooling journey.

2. Curriculum Information: Document the textbooks, workbooks, and online resources you use. Note the subjects covered and any unique materials you incorporate.

3. Samples of Student Work: Collect samples of your child’s schoolwork—essays, projects, artwork, and assessments. These demonstrate progress and achievement.

4. Correspondence: Save any communication with school officials, including letters of withdrawal (if applicable). These interactions validate your homeschooling efforts.

5. Portfolios and Test Results: Create portfolios as keepsakes. Include student work, progress reports, and any standardized test scores or evaluations.

The Mardel Planner: A Game-Changer

One tool I highly recommend is the Mardel A Simple Plan Homeschool Planner. Here’s why it’s fantastic:

• Comprehensive Sections: This planner covers all bases. From lesson planning to attendance tracking, it’s designed to simplify your homeschool organization. As an added plus for large families, it has space for up to 6 kids!

• Versatile Learning Funds: If you’re part of a program like Tech Trep, the planner accommodates the $1700 learning fund provided per student. Use it for approved educational resources, technology items, and extracurricular activities.

• Virtual Classes and Clubs: The planner helps you schedule virtual classes and track club participation. It’s a hub for your child’s educational experiences.

Crafting a Homeschool Portfolio: A Time Capsule of Learning

Creating a homeschool portfolio is more than just a record-keeping exercise; it’s a way to capture the essence of your child’s educational journey. While not required in Idaho, we choose to compile portfolios as cherished keepsakes, allowing us to reflect on the growth and accomplishments of each school year.

The Art of Portfolio Creation

I love this video that offers a step-by-step guide on assembling a meaningful collection of your child’s work. This resource simplifies the process, ensuring that your portfolio not only serves as a record but also as a celebration of your child’s progress.

My Basic Portfolio Template

In addition to the video, I offer my basic portfolio template, designed to streamline your record-keeping. This template is a tool to help you organize work samples, highlight milestones, and create a tangible reflection of your homeschooling experience. It’s an easy-to-use framework that supports you in documenting the learning adventure you and your children embark on each year.

The Value of a Portfolio

Even though portfolios aren’t mandated, their value is immeasurable. They serve as a time capsule, capturing the essence of your homeschooling days—every project, every lesson, and every discovery. As you flip through the pages, you’ll be transported back to those moments of shared learning, and you’ll see, in vivid detail, just how far you’ve come together.

A portfolio is more than a collection of papers; it’s a narrative of your homeschooling path, a story that unfolds with each added piece. So, let’s create something beautiful that you and your children will treasure for years to come.

Remember, even if your state doesn’t require extensive record-keeping, maintaining organized records benefits both you and your child. Whether you choose Overture, Tech Trep, or another approach, find a system that works for your family. With the right tools and a dash of creativity, you’ll create a meaningful record of your homeschooling adventure.

Happy homeschooling!

Summer Bible Study for Catholic Families: Engage Your Kids with Scripture

Summer is the perfect season to explore faith with your children, and what better way to do it than through a Bible study that’s engaging, educational, and fun? Whether you’re lounging on the beach or enjoying the shade of your backyard tree, these resources will help you and your little ones dive into the Word of God together.

Not Consumed: A Non-Denominational Treasure First on our list is Not Consumed. While it’s not specifically Catholic, it comes highly recommended for its universal Christian values. It’s a fantastic resource for parents looking to instill a strong foundation of faith in their children, regardless of denomination.

The Biggest Story: An Animated Adventure Next, we have The Biggest Story curriculum. This is a gem for visual and auditory learners. You can watch beautifully animated Bible stories for free on YouTube, which is a great way to bring the scriptures to life. If you prefer reading, the Bible storybook is available for around $20. The Biggest Story also offers activity pages, craft templates, and coloring sheets for FREE on their website—perfect for hands-on learning.

DK Family Illustrated Bible: A Visual Feast For those who love to learn through images, the DK Family Illustrated Bible is a must-have. It’s not only visually stunning but also comes with a nihil obstat, indicating that it’s free from doctrinal or moral error. This Bible is a fantastic tool for teaching your kids about the stories and teachings of the Bible in a way that’s both informative and captivating.

Marigold Hunt’s Story-Based Learning If you’re looking for a story-based approach, Marigold Hunt’s books are a wonderful option. She offers a Catechism adventure that’s both engaging and educational. Her works on the life of Christ and the book of Acts are particularly noteworthy for bringing these powerful stories to life in a way that resonates with young readers.

Crafting a Summer of Faith
With these resources at your fingertips, you’re all set to create a summer Bible study that your kids will love. Mix and match reading, watching, and doing to cater to your children’s learning styles. Remember, the goal is to make the Bible accessible and enjoyable, fostering a love for God’s Word that will grow with them.

So grab some lemonade, gather your little ones, and embark on a summer adventure through the Bible. It’s a journey that promises to enrich your family’s faith and create lasting memories.

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The BEST Homeschool Subscription Boxes

Homeschooling can be a challenging yet rewarding journey, and finding the right resources to keep your children engaged is key to a successful educational experience. Subscription boxes have become a popular tool for parents looking to enrich their homeschooling curriculum with hands-on activities and global insights.

Here is my curated list of the top subscription boxes to complement your curriculum and spark joy in learning.

History:

• History Unboxed: History comes alive with History Unboxed. This subscription service offers a unique blend of crafts, stories, and activities that span ancient, medieval, and American history. It’s perfect for making history lessons more engaging and interactive.

Geography:

• Universal Yums: Explore the world through snacks with Universal Yums. Each box features treats from a different country, along with trivia and games, perfect for a tasty geography lesson.

• Letters from Afar: Isabelle, the fictional explorer, will take your children on a literary journey around the world with Letters from Afar. Each month, they’ll receive beautifully illustrated letters, field notes, and maps that explore different cultures and destinations. Pair this with Saints Around the World by Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Rick Steves’s travel documentaries for an immersive geography and cultural experience.

Faith:

• Mass Box: The Mass Box is a craft box that helps prepare kids for Sunday and Holy Day church services. It includes crafts, activities, and videos that correspond to the Bible readings, making it a great addition to religious education at home.

• Saint of the Month: Dive into the lives of the saints with Saint of the Month. Each box contains 4-5 gifts, a brochure, and a set of goals related to the featured saint, offering a unique way to learn about faith and holiness.

Science:

• Kiwi Crate: Kiwi Crate sparks creativity and innovation in children aged 5-8 with STEAM-based projects. From science experiments to art activities, each crate is designed to inspire young minds and develop problem-solving skills.

• Crunch Labs: Designed by former NASA engineer Mark Rober, Crunch Labs encourages kids to think like engineers. The Build Box and Hack Pack subscriptions provide DIY toys and robots that teach engineering principles through play. (This one is on my husband’s wishlist!)

For the Little Ones:

• LoveEvery: For the littlest learners in your family, LoveEvery provides stage-based play kits filled with playthings, books, and developmental guides. These kits support your child’s brain development and keep them busy while older siblings focus on their studies..

These subscription boxes are more than just fun; they’re a gateway to knowledge and creativity. Whether your child is crafting a historical artifact, tasting international cuisine, deepening their faith, or building a robot, these boxes will enrich their homeschooling experience in the most delightful ways.

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How to Homeschool with Littles

Ah, the eternal question: how to keep toddlers and preschoolers occupied during the big kids’ school time?

The pious answer? Pray.
The humorous answer? Drink.
The unhelpful answer? Get used to the mess and chaos.

I am fairly certain I have read every post and listened to every podcast episode that attempts to answer this question, and I can tell you one thing: they all fall short. None of them has the magic answer, and spoiler alert: I don’t either. There just is no easy way to homeschool in the middle of the chaos of toddlers and preschoolers.

There are, however, a few tips and tricks that make the roar quieter and the messes smaller. So, take solace in the fact that it is not just you; this is a tough season for everyone, and I am told by many a wise mother that better days are ahead. In the meantime, here is what is (sort of) working for us.

1. Pray.

   This is not a trite or pat answer. We have a later 9:00 start time precisely so I can fit in some nuggets of prayer while caring for my early risers (nursing the little one and entertaining my 4-year-old). Then, we start the homeschooling day in prayer. When things are going wrong, I abandon myself to Jesus in prayer like my toddler crawls crying into my lap after scraping her knee. Prayer is like oxygen; it is amazing what the simple act of breathing can do for a person.

2. Routine

   Having an optimized routine can help things to go more smoothly. I try to fill my little ones up before their schooling big siblings wake for the day —- with attention, and with plenty of snacks. We do art, science experiments, and other messy or involved projects while the baby is napping (anyone else still call their youngest “the baby” even though she’s nearly 2?). We have “tea time” with snacks and coloring pages while I do read alouds so their mouths are full and their hands are busy. Having everyone filled up also prevents hanger-induced tantrums, which is always a plus.

3. Busy Bins

   For the longest time, I avoided giving them sensory bins because I didn’t want to deal with the inevitable grains of rice and stray beans on the floor. However, after scrubbing toothpaste and butt cream and paint off various surfaces, I reconsidered and changed the out-of-control messes for limited messes of my choosing. I realized part of the reason my wild child was getting into such trouble every time he was out of sight was because he needed that sensory input I’d been depriving him of. This is a great book on making your own busy bags, and I have a post dedicated to the themed bins that we rotate through. This is a variation on the advice to have toys that they can only access during school times, and it has honestly worked wonders and been a huge relief — totally worth the initial investment and a heck of a lot cheaper than the preschool tuition I’d been considering to solve the problem. The way I see it, these items are necessary parts of our curriculum.

   A tip for managing the expense? Create an Amazon wishlist and let relatives know what you’re working on. Kinds honestly love these things so much, and it has been so much better to have toys and activities that actually occupy our kids and stimulate their creativity than another remote control toy or Barbie accessory.

4. Do Preschool.

   So, for a first or only kid, I am not a big fan of preschool. They get everything they need from storytime with mom, playtime in nature, visits to the library, and trips to the zoo — you get the picture. But as our family has grown, my perspective on preschool has changed. What this looks like will depend entirely on the interests and temperament of your individual little one, but having some kind of “school” for your little makes him feel like he, too, is special and a part of the action. This could be his own copy of the worksheet to scribble on alongside his siblings, or he might be ready for his own “table work” with mom. (We use The Good and the Beautiful’s preschool program and kindergarten prep along with Kate Snow’s Preschool Math at Home). We also use the books from My Father’s World. I’d love to implement the whole program, but it is too overwhelming for managing multiple grade levels). You make the call, but the more they feel included, the less they have to act out to garner attention.

5. Embrace it.

   I know I said this advice is unhelpful, but it is also a reminder I need constantly. THIS is the time for snuggles and silly picture books. THIS is the time to bake the cookies and have sweet conversations with our little ones. Especially as our focus moves to educating our older kiddos, it is so easy to lose touch with meeting the needs of our littlest. Remembering that this, too, shall pass, is both a great relief and a cause for sorrow depending on how my day has gone. Our time with our kids is so brief (one of the reasons we homeschool in the first place), and yet how often do I find myself rushing my kids onto the next thing or looking wistfully over the proverbial fence to those ages when the trials of this current stage will be long past?

   This stage is sticky, cacophonous, chaotic — a never-ending avalanche of clutter to be swept and booboos to be kissed. But it is also filled to the brim with the sweetest snuggles and the wonder of discovery. GK Chesterton said that “The way to really love a thing is to remember that it may be lost.” So, take the time to remind yourself that these are the days that we will soon long for.

Our THEMED Toddler and Preschool Busy Bins

Ah, the seemingly-eternal question: how to keep toddlers and preschoolers occupied during the big kids’ school time?

That is worth of a post in itself.

Here, you’ll find recipes with ingredients for themed busy bins, designed to be low-mess, independent, and engaging for those little hands and minds. Each has sensory, fine motor, building, and creative components and can be rotated on a daily basis to keep each activity fresh and exciting for your little one.

They don’t need to be themed (I just find buying to be easier and more fun this way), and if your little one enjoys some activities more than others, feel free to lean heavier on his interests!

Please let me know how you enjoy these! We have been having a blast so far. (Amazon links are affliliate links, so if you do purchase via these links, it’s like sending me a “thank-you for the idea” tip, at no extra cost to you.)

For each of these, I purchase and label a scrapbox bin for storing the items. I get mine for $5 on sale at Michael’s, but these Amazon options also work well. If a book doesn’t fit, I just store it on top of the bin, and if an activity has just too many pieces, I store just enough to keep those little hands moving in a little bag inside the box. The rest of the set goes into one of our regular play spaces for other times of the day.

FARM
Sensory: Bean bin with Montessori tools
Fine-motor: Melissa and Doug Hide and Seek Wooden Farm
Building: Duplo At the Farm Set
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Farm Water WOW
Puzzles: Melissa and Doug Cube Puzzle, Melissa and Doug Chunky Puzzle
Book: Melissa and Doug Poke a Dot Farm

OCEAN
Sensory: Kinetic Sand with Ocean Molds
Fine-motor: Learning Locks
Building: Plus Plus Ocean Creatures
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Ocean Water WOW, Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light “Watercolor”
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Fishing Puzzle
Book: Peek-a-Flap Ocean

BEARS/FOREST
Sensory: Play Dough Fun Set
Fine-motor: Lauri animal foam and peg stackers, Lincoln Logs
Building: Magnatile Forest Animals
Creativity: Color Wonder Alpha Pets
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Wooden Bear Family Dress-up
Book: Peek-a-Flap WHO

DINOSAURS
Sensory: Colored Rice and Dino Figures
Fine-motor: Skillmatics Foil Fun Dinos
Building: Infantino Sensory Blocks
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Water WOW, Melissa and Doug Reusable Puffy stickers, Color Wonder Dinos
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Chunky Puzzle
Book: The Ultimate Book of Dinosaurs

ICE CREAM RAINBOW
Sensory: Kinetic Sand Ice Cream Set, (also baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring in muffin tins with dropper to disperse the vinegar into tins filled with baking soda)
Fine-motor: Skillmatics Magnetic Alphabet Rainbow, Magnetic Ice Cream Color Matching
Building: Picasso Tiles, Magnetic Montessori Blocks
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Play Ice Cream Store (store the pieces only in the box), Ice-cream scented dot markers
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Ice Cream Magnetic Puzzle Set
Book: Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons, Let’s Lace

JUNGLE/SAFARI
Sensory: Safari creatures, rice, and sensory scoops
Fine-motor: Geo-Board
Building: Learning Resources Tangrams/Pattern Blocks
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Reusable Puffy Stickers, Melissa and Doug Safari Puppets
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Jungle Book/Puzzle, Melissa and Doug Safari Jigsaw
Book: Peek a Flap Zoo

LIFE CYCLES
Sensory/Fine Motor: Water play and Learning Resources Fine Motor Tool Set with Life Cycle Set
Building: Brain Flakes Building Set
Creativity: Crayola Color Wonder Stamp Set
Puzzle: 5-Layer Wooden Frog Puzzle
Book: DK How Does a Frog Grow Board Book, DK Life Cycles

CONSTRUCTION/VEHICLES
Sensory: Lentils and construction vehicles, Construction play sand set
Fine-motor: ImagiMake Shape Vehicle Puzzle, Skoolzy Nuts and Bolts
Building: Construction Magnatiles, Magnatile set (worth their weight in GOLD)
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Water WOW
Puzzle: Melissa and Doug Chunky Puzzle, Melissa and Doug Construction Jigsaw
Book: The Ultimate Book of Vehicles, Richard Scarry Busy Box Set, Melissa and Dog Poke a Dot Contruction

SPACE
Sensory: Pop tubes and space sensory bins
Fine-motor: Skillmatics “Dot It” Space Sticker Activity
Building: Kapla Planks, Space Duplos
Creativity: Melissa and Doug Water WOW, Paint by Sticker
Puzzle: Learning Resources Magnetic Solar System
Book: The Ultimate Book of Space

PRINCESS/CASTLE

Sensory: Little People Princess Set and dried peas OR Unicorn Sensory bin with kinetic sand
Fine-motor: Tea Party Set, Disney Princess Magnetic Dress Up
Building: Magnetic Castle, Magnetic Princess Blocks
Creativity: Play Scarves, Melissa and Doug Reusable Puffy Sticker Sets
Puzzle: Disney Princess Wooden Cube Puzzle, Minnie Mouse Mix and Match
Book: Beauty and the Beast Classic Pop-up

National Parks Unit Study

Everything We Used for Our National Parks Unit Study

We are not campers by any means, and our version of hiking usually includes a stroller. However, we aspire to become people of the outdoors, and as such, we have made it a goal to visit all 63 National Parks as a family. Never one to pass up an opportunity for travel or to educate my kids by doing, I designed a National Parks Unit Study that we can dip in and out of as our visits to the Parks occur. This can also be used as a stand-alone unit study.

I am ever-inspired by Charlotte Mason’s description of education as an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life. As such, you’ll find resources below not only to educate your children about the National Parks, but to help them become an integral part of their imaginations and your family culture.

Spine:
We used both DK National Parks For Kids and USA: Lands of Wonder as a wealth of information and for their gorgeous photos. I also liked Wide Eyed’s National Parks Book for lovely illustrations and approachable descriptions. If I have to choose one, I pick Lands of Wonder, but honestly, why choose? Our local library has them all and I bet yours does, too (although I did invest in these as we plan to revisit them again and again).

Activities:
Our kids actually did all of these on our road trip to visit the National Parks. They loved DK National Parks Sticker Book and the
National Parks Activity Book, but their favorite was this Sticker by Number book.

Read Alouds:
We have enjoyed the National Parks Mystery Series. The chapters are short and it has illustrations, making it a perfect fit for our morning time. I was a little bummed that the books didn’t match the exact parks we were visiting (we’ve been to Carlsbad, Hawaii Volcanoes, and Arches so far). I hear the author plans to make it a ten book series, so maybe your favorite park will be next! (Mine is Arches).

Games:
We have one day a week dedicated to gameschooling, and the kids also pull these out at random times for fun during the week. National Parks Trivia, Trekking the National Parks, and this gorgeous Parks Strategy Game are great for older kids. If you have a younger set, I recommend National Parks Bingo, National Parks Memory Game (also gorgeous), and what has probably been the biggest hit in our household so far, the Melissa and Doug National Parks Magnet Matching activity.

Pretend:
For igniting those little imaginations, you have to love Melissa and Doug’s Yellowstone Bear Set and Park Ranger Set.

Viewing:
America’s National Parks doesn’t feature every park, but it was the only series I found that held my kiddo’s attention. After viewing the episode on Hawaii Volcanoes, my 5-year-old was telling anyone who would listen that his favorite bug was a lava cricket — so I know learning was happening during all those leaps between couch cushions.

Ongoing:
As for the atmosphere part, I invested in this Wooden Keepsake Map for our family. It is beautifully made and comes with little green trees that press into the spaces to mark where your family has visited. I was also temped by this more affordable scratch-off poster which is still attractive but at a healthier price-point. I wish I had seen these National Parks Passports before we first embarked. I can’t find the ones we originally bought but am seriously thinking of just transferring the stamps we had into these because they are so lovely! (Also, I don’t have this throw blanket just yet, but it is on my wish list and my birthday is coming up! Hint, hint, husband!)

I also have to mention the Junior Ranger Program, in which the kids can receive badges for activites completed online or by visiting the Parks in person.

Happy hiking!

The ULTIMATE Catholic Homeschooling Booklist

Living books for all seasons

Building a robust homeschool library is both a dream come true (you mean it’s my responsibility to buy a lot of books??) and a never ending project, akin to a garden which must be consistently weeded, watered, and fertilized according to changing needs and seasons.

And while I hope this list can be helpful for you, it has been borne mostly out of my own need to obsessively curate an environment of living books to entice, attract, and enrich my children throughout their years of schooling.

A few disclaimers:

• Some of these will be read-alouds and others can be independently read. Many will be both. You will have to make the call for your own children based on their maturity and reading levels. There is never an age at which we should stop reading aloud to our children.

• I do not own all of these books…yet; this list is my way of keeping track of the books I plan to acquire slowly over the years at whatever pace my husband’s salary can reasonably accommodate.

• We still use the library. Frequently. I do not wish to acquire every book we read, particularly when diving deep on subjects of science and history. I lean heavily into purchasing religious materials (which our library doesn’t have), works of fiction that are beautiful and edifying (which our library has hidden amongst the twaddle and liberal propaganda), and high quality anthologies and encyclopedias which we will return to again and again.

• A note on “appropriateness”: While I do make every effort to shield our young minds from the pollution of contemporary propaganda running rampant in the libraries of even our very red state, we don’t believe in shielding our children from the realities of life, particularly as depicted in time-tested literature. We subscribe to the GK Chesterton philosophy of fiction: “Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed.” In other words, encountering life’s difficulties via fiction enables children to practice both empathy and resilience. Bad things happen in these books (particularly the latter grades), sometimes terrible things. The content may be beyond the line you wish to draw for your own children in terms of how sheltered you wish them to be. Familiarize yourself with the books in question and make your own call as to your child’s maturity, readiness to grapple with the material in conversation with you, the parent, whose job it is to guide your children in making meaning from these stories.

• This list is a work in progress, changing and shifting as I encounter good books and my children grow. If you don’t see your favorite, drop a comment.
  
  I would LOVE to discover new books from you!

Baby Books

Never Touch a Dragon
Goodnight Moon
Ten Little Ladybugs
A Missal for Toddlers
Little Owl’s Night
Touch the Brightest Star
Llama Llama Red Pajama
The Napping House
Brown Bear

Pre-K

Elmer
Winnie the Pooh
The Velveteen Rabbit
Beatrix Potter
Madeline
Eloise
Brambly Hedge
My Father’s Dragon
Mouse Nuns Series
Lyle Lyle Crocodile
Curious George
Blueberries for Sal
Make Way for Ducklings
Are You My Mother?
Green Eggs and Ham
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Stellaluna
Berenstain Bears/Mercer Mayer
How I Became a Pirate
Mother Bruce
The Monster at the End of this Book
Goodnight Goon
Little Blue Truck
Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
The Jesus Storybook Bible
Fr. Ben Gets Ready for Mass
I Went to Mass. What Did I See?
Our Lady’s Wardrobe
Our Lady’s Picture Book
The Crippled Lamb
You Are Special
You Are Mine
Because I Love You

Early Readers

Charlotte’s Web
Little House on the Prairie
A Little Princess
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
The Indian in the Cupboard
Mary Poppins
The Chronicles of Narnia
The Railway Children
5 Children and It
Mary, Mother of All
Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass
One Holy Marriage
Jack Giorgio, Future Priest
Lily Lolek, Future Saint
Light of the Saints

I-Can-Read Books That Don’t Make Me Want to Tear My Ears Off

Fancy Nancy
Amelia Bedelia
Dr. Seuss
Princess in Black (we just pretend book #10 Prince in Pink doesn’t exist)
Billie B Brown
Hey Jack
The Magic Treehouse

Primary Grades

The Princess Bride
Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Heidi
The Wind in the Willows
The Boxcar Children
Black Beauty
The Giver
Ender’s Game
Old Yeller
Where the Red Fern Grows
The Secret Garden
Pollyanna
Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Bridge to Terabithia
A Ring of Endless Light
McElderry Greek Myths
Usborne Complete Shakespeare (content warning; it’s Shakespeare)
Redwall Series
The Phantom Tollbooth
Because of Winn Dixie
Ella Enchanted
Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer
Robin Hood
The Tale of Desperaux
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Hatchet
Holes
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Flowers for Algernon
The Rifle
Swallows and Amazons
The Princess and the Goblin
The Courage of Sarah Noble
Across Five Aprils
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
The Egypt Game
To Be a Slave
Sing Down the Moon
Jacob Have I Loved
Afternoon of the Elves
Maniac Magee
Out of the Dust
The Princess Academy
Heart of a Samurai
We Dream of Space
My Name Is Philomena
The Princess and the Kiss

Middle Grades

The Hobbit
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Outsiders
The Hunger Games
The Divergent Series
What Happens Next
The Kate In Between
What Happened to Rachel Riley
Harry Potter (yes, we read Harry Potter)
Corrie Ten Boom
Number the Stars
She Said Yes
The Diary of Anne Frank
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul (check year of publications; who knows what they slip into in the new editions these days?)
Johnny Tremain
Men of Athens
The Fault in Our Stars
Flipped
Wonder
Mockingbird
Watership Down
Animal Farm

High School

Silence
The Count of Monte Cristo
The Three Musketeers
The Brothers Karamozov
Jane Austen
Flannery O’Connor
John Steinbeck
East of Eden
Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde
Frankenstein
The Lord of the Rings
King Arthur
The Divine Comedy
Confessions
The Consolation of Philosophy
All the Light We Cannot See
Brideshead Revisited
The Great Divorce
The Screwtape Letters
The Abolition of Man
1984
Farenheit 451
Brave New World
Death Comes for the Archbishop
Love in the Ruins
Kristin Lavransdatter
Anna Karenena
The Great Gatsby
For Whom the Bell Tolls
The Time Traveler’s Wife
Dune
Hannah Coulter
Redeeming Love
Hopkins
Chardin
Rumi
Johnny Cash
Mary Oliver
Emily Dickinson
Robert Frost
Walt Whitman
Thoreau
Into the Wild
Beloved
The Color Purple
The Red Badge of Courage
Dickens
Shakespeare
Bronte
Les Miserables
The Everlasting Man
What’s Wrong With the World

I will likely also add more theology texts, especially, from these 2 lists of the best Catholic books of all time from Bishop Barron.

Encyclopedias, Collections, and Anthologies

Saints Around the World
Saint Stories
DK National Parks x 2
DK Encyclopedias
DK Anthologies
Dover Coloring Books
What Was Series
Magic School Bus Series
Conservation for Kids
One Small Square
Sir Cumference

Be on the lookout for “Our Favorite Gameschooling Games” and “The BEST Homeschool Subscriptions” and “TV Schooling”