My cousin Sarah homeschools her kids. The creativity and research she brings to her lessons is incredible. They craft together, integrate reading with history, science and math, go on backyard excavations, to galleries and parks. They play. It’s a holistic approach tailored to the kids’ interests and abilities. It’s amazing.
So on a recent visit to their place, I ransacked their bookshelves and asked for some of their favorites. Here they are:
- The Mitten by Jan Brett – inspired by cultural photographs
- Good Morning Sam by Marie-Louise Gay
- Stella Star of the Sea by Marie-Louise Gay
- Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London + illustrated by Frank Remkiewicz
- If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff + illustrated by Felicia Bond
- A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno + illustrated by Kazue Mizumura
- Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
- Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully
- So Few of Me by Peter H. Reynolds (author of The Dot and Ish)
- Superdog – The Heart of a Hero by Caralyn Beuhner + illustrated by Mark Buehner
- Animalia by Graeme Base
- Meerkat Mail by Emily Gravett
- The Random House Book of Fairy Tales adapted by Amy Ehrlich + illustrated by Diane Goode
Homeschooling Books
- One Small Square – Pond by Donald M. Silver + illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne
- You Wouldn’t Want to Be a: Slave in Ancient Greece! by Fional Macdonald + illustrated by David Antram
There are also a couple of book awards: The Caldecott (picture books) and Newberry (chapter books) that have great book lists – another place to browse for books…when I’m not near my cousin’s shelves.
