Not a Box is a simple book with pencil drawings of a rabbit and a box. Well, a rabbit and his Not a Box. These little books really capture the essence of a child’s imagination that can turn a box into a mountain, a pirate ship or a burning building. In just a reading or two, the children will be shouting, “It’s not a box!” as you read.

What child can resist an empty box?

And sadly, some of us must admit we are just too big to get in the Not a Box.

I realized recently that Lydia and Hannah are about the age that Bekah and Mary were when I read Black Beauty aloud. I decided that I must not miss the opportunity to share this well loved story with a second group of young ladies. Evenings are a bit different now with a few more children in the mix. This time around we are enjoying Black Beauty over lunch and during afternoon quiet time. Even Sarah, 3, looks forward to the horsie story.

Since Bekah and Mary had heard this before, seen the movie and read it on their own, I wasn’t concerned about them missing out on a chapter now and then. I was mistaken. They were a bit upset when I read a chapter or two without them. And one chapter was about Beauty’s friend Ginger.  I now know to wait until all children are assembled for reading hour!

We are almost to the end of Black Beauty. Only five chapters are left. One of the girls asked me to read the chapter titles. Mary was remembering how the story ends and Bekah quickly shushed her from sharing the outcome to the younger girls. I have a feeling that we will have a movie night upon us soon.

And our next read aloud? Bekah has already requested I read The Secret Garden. Again.

Apologia Press provided a wonderful opportunity to review Read for the Heart: Whole Books for Wholehearted Families. I was thrilled to be selected for this review as I am constantly on the search for quality literature to enrich the lives of my children. However, Read for the Heart is so much more than a list of books!

Read for the Heart was written by Sarah Clarkson; freelance writer and avid blogger currently working on a children’s novel. Miss Clarkson was also homeschooled and from an early age was surrounded by literary treasures.

I have used books similar to Read for the Heart in the past. My expectation was that Miss Clarkson’s book was going to be the same with a few hidden treasures revealed. I was mistaken. Miss Clarkson doesn’t just give a chapter on why reading good book is important and then has a list to peruse. Miss Clarkson throughout the book shares her love of literature, how our society is losing appreciation of literature and why quality literature is so important.

The way Miss Clarkson expresses her experience with literature was beautiful. As she was discussing the importance of carefully chosen picture books, as they set the stage, I pictured my little ones that come running when they see me with books in hand. And my older children sit and listen and share memories of when those books were read to them. Sweet memories. And I agree with Miss Clarkson that those days of picture books set the foundation for the literature our children will come to enjoy. We feed the appetite.

As Miss Clarkson introduces each chapter she touches on different issues that are crucial to consider as you make literature selections for your children. With her book selections, she gives a brief summary and gives “points of concern” if she feels some might have issues with something in the book. For example, Miss Clarkson recommends The Yearling. She gives a caution that the book deals with the “gritty realities of pioneer life, including the slaughtering of farm animals, the danger of wild animals and the death of two main characters.” While recommended for junior high, if you have a child sensitive to death of animals or death of loved ones, this might be a book you want to make sure you discuss or wait a while for your child to read.

The books are broken down into categories that make is easy to go back and find book recommendations you need. She also includes lists of Caldecott, Newberry and other medalists. Read for the Heart is an excellent resource to have on your shelf. It would be an excellent gift for a newly homeschooling family or a new mom.

Interested in adding Read for the Heart to your personal library? You can go here to view the Table of Contents and here to see a Sample Chapter.

You can purchase Read for the Heart for $17.00.

Read for the Heart is a treasure for any family with over 1,000 book recommendations from classics to modern literature; from picture books to lengthy novels; poetry and art to history and nature.

Please head over to the Crew and see what others are saying about Read for the Heart!

Disclaimer- As a member of TOS Crew, I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. No compensation was made. The thoughts/opinions/experience expressed in this post are my own.

In our homeschool, we value quality literature that can be used to enrich our children’s education and learning. Often times finding that quality literature can be difficult and challenging.  Yesterday’s Classics has made this task so much easier!

Yesterday’s Classics, in an effort to make quality, classic literature available have reprinted books from the golden age of children’s literature ( 1880-1920). Many of these books have been out of print for decades but are now available once again to be enjoyed!

The books published by Yesterday’s Classics offer so much:

*Text of high literary quality

*Stories that engage the reader

*Cultivation of moral imagination

*Awakens interest in nature

*Stimulates power of observation

Several homeschool curricula use Yesterday’s Classics; Ambleside Online, Heart of Dakota, Living Books Curriculum and Tapestry of Grace. We use one of these curricula and it was a struggle to find the core readings we need since our library had none on the shelves.  Due to finances, we and many other families, are not able to buy every book needed or desired. Yesterday’s Classics has a wonderful offer that makes building your personal library an affordable possibility.

Yesterday’s Classics now offers 225 books in epub or kindle files. Now a bookshelf full of books can be held in your hand and for a fraction of the cost! Oh, how excited we were for this review!

In purchasing the epub/kindle files of Yesterday’s Classics 225 ebooks you will receive:

*Illustrations – if the original text had color illustrations, they will be in color on the Kindle/epub files.

*Table of Contents for each ebook which makes navigation a breeze!

*22 different genres: world history, science, readers, American history, biographies, Shakespeare,  poetry and so much more.

Have more than one student who needs to utilize these books? There are no restrictions on how many devices you can put the books on. You can also print out whichever books you chose to print.  And Yesterday’s Classics has excellent customer service and are happy to help in any way!

They also provide resources to make utilizing the epub/Kindle files so simple. When you purchase the ebooks, you will receive a list  of the books arranged by genre, title, author and level to make finding the books you need easy. A list of book thumbnails and descriptions are provided so you can make sure the book covers the information you are looking for.

If you are like me and clueless to the ways of e-readers, this resource will be invaluable! Yesterday’s Classics provides a guide to e-reader devices  and software. Our family does not own an e-reader such as a Kindle or Nook. I was thrilled to learn that I could download a free e-reader for my computer and still utilize Yesterday’s Classics wonderful resource of these e-books. What a blessing!

Purchasing Details!

From now until May 31st, you can purchase Yesterday’s Classics Package of 225 books in epub or Kindle files for $99.95. 225 books for $99.95. I know! An amazing offer!

Here are some comparisons to help you see the amazing deal this is! If you purchased each book in paperback edition, it would be $2495.75! Wow! If you were to purchased epub/Kindle files individually, it would be $648.80. This special offer really is special. Excellent quality literature to enrich your child’s learning for such a small price.

Our Thoughts:

I will admit that I am one of those old school book lovers. I love to hold the book in my hand, to hear the sound of a newly opened book, the smell of the pages….. I was not jumping on the e-reader bandwagon.

Then I had the opportunity for this review. While I still treasure holding the book in my hand, I am a homeschooling mom of 7, using a literature based curriculum with children who devour books and a limited budget. Practicality won out on this and I am so pleased with the epub files from Yesterday’s Classics.

A few of the books, my girls had been reading online from www.mainlesson.com (Yesterday’s Classics sister site). However, they hated it. Often they would ask me to print them out but that was not a frugal option!  Reading on the computer gave them headaches, it was hard to find their place  and hindered their retention. Having these selections in epub files has been such a blessing. We downloaded a free e-reader for our computers and now our children can read easily without eye strain. They can easily make a “bookmark” for where they are to pick up reading. One of my daughters loves being able to make the text bigger and another loves not having to scroll and scroll and scroll as she had to do with the free online version.

It is getting more and more difficult to find literature appropriate for my children and Yesterday’s Classics has been such a help. From my 5 year to my 12 year old, selections are available that are well written, quality literature. My 5 year old will soon begin using the readers to reinforce her phonics lessons.

Not sure if the epub/Kindle files are the right choice for your family? Yesterday’s Classics gives you the opportunity to download The Dutch Twins by Lucy Fitch Perkins for free so you can experience this format before you buy.You just simple download whichever version you need (epub or Kindle) or download both! Free.

If you decide to purchase the Yesterday’s Classics Package and are not satisfied, they offer a 100% risk free guarantee! If you scroll to the bottom of this page, you can view a thumbnail and description of each of the 225 books offered in the epub/kindle package.

Not everyone is going to love the epub/Kindle format. For those who want the paperback copies of these books, Yesterday’s Classics offers free shipping with the purchase of 4 or more books.

Our family has thoroughly enjoyed this affordable resource provided by Yesterday’s Classics. I can’t say enough how thrilled we have been with this product!

Please stop by the Crew and see what others thought of Yesterday’s Classics!

**Disclaimer – As a member of TOS review crew, I received a complimentary copy of this product for review. No compensation was made. The opinions/thoughts/experiences expressed in this post are my own.

Today is Read-Aloud Thursday and I have two adorable little ones to share with you!

First up is When Stella Was Very, Very Small by Marie-Louise Gay.

Stella is a delightful new find for our family. From the very first page, I loved little Stella. We get to see Stella eye-level with a turtle, then she grows a bit and loves her doggie and goldfish. We laughed out loud when Stella fed the goldfish. Stella reaches the preschool years and we enjoy her whimsical butterflies she has put on her walls. What an artistic flair! Soon, Stella has left the crawling, toddling, preschool art days behind and is sharing her wisdom with her little brother, Sam.  When Stella Was Very, Very Small is absolutely lovely. Everyone from my 3 year old to my 10 year old enjoyed Stella. It brings to mind when your 5 year old say, “when I was little….” because, of course, 5 is so old and wise. For me is was such a sweet picture of our home. There was Stella at the end sharing all her wisdom with little Sam. We have our own little Sam and he has a Sarah who is trying to teach him all she knows. We will definitely be grabbing a few more Stella books on our next library run!

Is he not the cutest little thing? Well, the cutest little four legged thing? If you are a dog owner or lover, you need to read this book. So completely cute! Another one loved by all the children. In Please Take Me for a Walk, Susan Gal introduces us to Puppy who wants to go for a walk and through the books we learn all the excitement waiting for him. Chasing cats and squirrels, greeting neighbors and visiting the butcher are a few highlights of a walk. Puppy wants to feel the wind in his ear, the sun on his belly and visit his doggie friends at the park. But the best thing of all? He gets to walk with his best friend. Awwww…Just an adorable book! We have a golden retriever who jumps up if we even walk past her leash so this book was a peek into what might be going through her mind, lol.  On the inside covers we get to see all the different dogs at the park and the children love pointing all the different doggies and finding their favorites. I think this book will be enjoyed a bit before it makes it way back to the library shelves.

So what did you read aloud this week?

My daughter and I did a quick library run; just the two of us. We ran over to the picture book sections to grab a few reads for the little ones back home. Out of the stack of book we brought home, two have been read and then read again.

Mountain Wedding by Faye Gibbons

What a delightful find this was! We go back to an old time wedding but it has a few exciting twists and turns before they are all gathered together. The widow Searcy is going to marry the widower Long. However, the five Searcy children and the seven Long children aren’t in agreement about the nuptials. Toss in a dog, cat, a few chickens and a loaded down wagon, well an adventure was in the making. It was simple, sweet story enhanced by colorful, detailed illustrations that had my children laughing and asking me to read it one more time. It has become a favorite of my 7 year old.

Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks by Robert Kinerk

If you have a boy or two in your home, then Timothy Cox Will Not Change His Socks is a must read. Just days before our library trip we had a discussion in our home (jokingly) about people not changing their socks. So when my daughter found this book, it had to come home with us. Timothy Cox is a boy of his word and decided that he will not change his socks for a month. Oh my. This book is hilarious in its rhyming text. As the smell grows Timothy is banished to the farthest corner of his yard, laws are made against not changing socks, and even the skunk has to leave Timothy behind. Timothy is true to his word and goes a whole month without changing his socks. At the end, he realizes that maybe he should be more faithful to better endeavors. We all had a good giggle with this one!

Head on over to Read Aloud Thursday and see what other have been reading!

In an effort to have some accountability I am participating in Read Aloud Thursdays hosted by Hope is the Word. Maybe you’ll discover a little literary treasure or at least enjoy pics of my cute kiddos.

We have read several great picture books this week but we picked two of our favorites to share. First up is one my older children remember reading in the past. The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant.

The Relatives Came is a delightful, fun telling of family from Virginia leaving their grapes behind for an extended stay with their kin. It is joyous visit full of hugging, eating and enjoying family. The illustrations make you smile and long for a visit from your kin as well.

My children, young and old, were all cuddled up on the couch enjoying this quaint little story. They loved pointing out details such as a toy car looking just like the one the relatives arrived in. Sleeping arrangements were tight and we all giggled over a relative that was barely hanging on a bed. So much like daddy when little ones need middle of the night cuddles.

Our second selection was a new one for all of us. It caught my eye when we were at the library so I grabbed it. Feast for Ten by Cathryn Falwell. A delightful surprise!

In Feast for 10 we join a mom and her five children on a trip to the grocery store to prepare for a feast. As they shop we count from one to ten… one shopping cart, two pumpkins…they arrive home where dad helps unload the goodies and we count from one to ten again as we prepare the meal. It ends with 10 family members gathered around for a yummy meal of fried chickens and greens. My mouth was watering!

The littles one and I enjoyed this simple book so much. Family focused illustrations make it so real for children…sleeping baby, children helping to prepare the food. The illustrations are cut paper and make me want to hand construction paper to my kiddos to make our own counting book. So many ways to learn with this book; counting, food prep, family meals. A sweet little book.

What are you read aloud in your home? Head on over to Read Aloud Thursdays and share!

The girls read it often as if it were a novel. Imagine my delight when i stumbled across this book at the library:

A picture book about Fannie Farmer and how she began her culinary teaching. She comes to work for the Shaw family. In the beginning, little Marcia Shaw does not appreciate Miss Farmer’s intrusion. However, after leaning the art of baking dainty biscuits, Marcia begins to grow fond of Fannie.

It is a delightful read that had all my children’s attention. (OK, the one year wasn’t really captivated.) Sprinkled throughout the book are little tips from Fannie’s cookbook. Lydia was happy to point out each one so I wouldn’t miss it.

It ends with a brief biography of Miss Farmer and her Famous Griddle Cake recipe.  (We will be trying it soon!)

Fannie in the Kitchen is a great read for your little culinary artists  in training.

Join in the fun!

A couple of years ago, I was online looking around for books for my children. I stumbled upon Salem Ridge Press and was extremely interested in their books. For whatever reason, I didn’t bookmark the site and it was pushed to the back of my mind. Then as a part of the TOS crew I was able to share 3 books from Salem Ridge Press with my children. As my children are all bookworms, they were excited as well!

First I want to tell you a bit about Salem Ridge Press and why you should go take a look around.
Salem Ridge Press was founded by Daniel Mills, a 2003 homeschool graduate. In 2005, he began Salem Ridge Press. Books from the late 1800s and early 1900s that fit the SRP standard are re-typeset for readability, a few edits such as vocabulary notes or maps are added and questionable illustrations would be replaced. They keep Philippians 4:8 as the standard: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Not all books offered through Salem Ridge Press are Christian but they do all hold to high moral values and encourage positive character. Daniel’s mom works alongside him and he has several younger siblings who are happy to screen book selections.

How wonderful that we have the opportunity to support such a business and receive quality literature as well! Let me share the three books I received to review.

First was Mary Jane – Her Visit by Clara Ingram Judson. This is the second book in a series about Mary Jane, a delightful five year old. In this selection, Mary Jane goes on a visit to her great-grandparents farm. We share in her experiences as she learns about caring for farm animals, cooking with grandmother, a trip to the circus and more. It was originally published in 1918 and is for 6-10 year olds. I was a bit concerned that only my younger girls would enjoy this story. However, as I read aloud each day, my 10 and 11 year old girls were asking for just 2 more chapters each time I would finish one. It was a delight to read and I can see my 7year old soon grabbing it to read on her own. I will be honest in that it didn’t appeal much to my 8 year old son so I would say it is definitely more for the female audience. Salem Ridge Press also offers the first in this series, Mary Jane – Her Book. (*Note from Daniel Mills – Salem Ridge Press version of Mary Jane –Her Visit is different from the one available at Project Gutenburg. They felt a few revisions were necessary to meet their standards. )

Next up was The American Twins of the Revolution by Lucy Fitch Perkins. We are in the midst of the Revolutionary War and General Washington has no money to pay his discouraged troops. General Priestly calls on his wife and twins, Sally and Roger, to hide a shipment of gold that will be used to pay the troops. British spies learn of this shipment and are determined that it will not reach Washington’s army. This book is based on a true story during this exciting time of American history. It was originally published in 1926 and is for ages 8-adult. This book was wonderful! My children could not get enough. Each chapter had them on the edge of their seats for what would happen next. Such an exciting time in history and The American Twins shows how individuals were willing to sacrifice much for this new country. We managed to read this book aloud in 3 days. As soon as I finished, my son took it from my hands to read on his own. Interested? You can read the first chapter online!

And the last book we were asked to read was Soldier Fritz by C. A. Ferrier. Young Fritz wants to follow in the steps of Martin Luther and be a soldier for the Lord. For his birthday he chooses a Bible from a peddler’s pack. His father, the Count, is sent off to war. Fritz and his family is forced to flee to the forest to escape imprisonment for their new faith. Disguising themselves as commoners, they must trust in the Lord as they wait for the Count to return and rescue them. We could not have received this book at a better time. We are deep in the middle of studying the Reformation and Luther. I chose not to do this as a read aloud but handed it to my son as part of his history reading. I will say that I find it very difficult to find quality books for my son. It did not take him long to jump into Soldier Fritz. I think he has read it twice and I can never find it when I want it back. It always ends up with his stash of books. A wonderful story of character and standing strong in your faith.

So have you gone to Salem Ridge Press yet? Hurry! Take a look around.

There are several ways you can purchase books published by Salem Ridge Press. You can buy directly from them. Their books are also available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNobles.com. If you prefer e-books, they are available through the TOS Magazine’s Schoolhouse Store. I received a paperback copy of Soldier Fritz, but Mary Jane and The American Twins were both in e-book form. Personally, I prefer hard copies, but the e-books were excellent quality and easy to read on the computer or to print out. Very clear and easy on the eyes. There are also other homeschooling bookstores and catalogs that offer Salem Ridge Press; check out this list to see if your favorite place to shop is listed.

Mr. Mills also provides prompt and excellent customer service. I had a quick question on a book and his response was timely, gracious and answered me completely. This company was a delight to review for and I will definitely be purchasing books in the future. Quality literature. Love it!

Make sure you stop by and see what other TOS crew members think about Salem Ridge Press!

***Disclaimer- I received complimentary copies of these products for review as a member of TOS Homeschool Crew. No compensation was made to me. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.