Kindle Deals for July 25, 2022
American history resources
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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America’s Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines, by Gail Collins, $1.99. Collins has written an extensive primer on the history of women in America, from the first settlers to the end of the 20th century. All the famous faces in women’s history are here, but she also makes an effort to address the diverse experiences of non-white and immigrant women throughout America’s history. Keep this book alongside your traditional history curricula to provide a much needed counterpoint.
Kid Presidents: True Tales of Childhood from America’s Presidents, by David Stabler, $1.99. Presidents — they are just like us! Did you know that young Bill Clinton broke his leg jumping rope? Or that John F. Kennedy was so disorganized that his teacher wrote that “he can seldom locate his possessions”? Kids will enjoy both the insightful and entertaining stories and the amusing illustrations that accompany them.
The Spy with the Wooden Leg: The Story of Virginia Hall, by Nancy Polette, $1.99. Tweens and teens won’t want to miss this fascinating WWII story! From the publisher: “Virginia Hall had a dream to become the first woman ambassador for the United States. Turned down by the US State Department time and again, she could not stand idly by while the Nazi German army swept through Europe conquering country after country. She volunteered to drive an ambulance in WWII France. She rescued downed airmen, radioed vital information to the Allies, and led three battalions of French Resistance forces in guerrilla warfare—all with a wooden leg! Known as la dame qui boite or the Limping Lady, Virginia became a master British spy, rose to the top of the Gestapo's Most Wanted list, and turned the course of history!”
The Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities, by Mary C. Turck, $1.99. Over my homeschooling years, I’ve collected many of the books in this “For Kids” series. They provide excellent introductions to a topic. What I appreciate the most, though, is the well-considered, easy-to-implement activities that accompany the chapters. In this book, kids will learn about segregation, boycotts, marches, and major players in the Civil Rights Movement. Activities include setting up a freedom walk, writing a Freedom Ride journal, recording oral histories, and many more.
STILL ON SALE
How to Tell Stories to Children, by Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy, $1.99. From the publisher: “Stories help children manage their emotions, empathize with others, and better understand the complex world we live in. More importantly, storytelling cultivates a rich and meaningful bond between storyteller and listener, building intimacy and trust between parent and child. In this delightful book, Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy—early childhood educators with thousands of storytelling hours between them—distill the key ingredients of storytelling into a surprisingly simple method that can make anyone an expert storyteller. Their intuitive technique uses events and objects from your child’s daily life to make storytelling easy and accessible. By shifting the focus from crafting a narrative to strengthening your relationship with your child, this book will awaken skills you never knew you had. Complete with practical advice, helpful prompts, and a touch of science to explain how stories enrich our lives in so many ways, How to Tell Stories to Children is a must-read for parents, grandparents and educators. “
The Musical Child: Using the Power of Music to Raise Children who are Happy, Healthy, and Whole, by Joan Koenig, $1.99. Koenig has operated a music school for the past 30 years, and in this book she shares all that she has learned about teaching music to the very young. She intersperses practical tips and exercises with insightful stories from her teaching experience. This book focuses on the first six years of life, but there are lots of ideas that would be suitable for older kids as well.
The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction, by Meghan Cox Gurdon, $1.99. This is a love letter to the readaloud. Many parents spend hours reading to their pre-literate children, but this book makes the case for continuing reading together as a family activity through the teenage years. Detailed references highlight the cognitive and emotional benefits of focusing on listening. At the end, you’ll also find excellent book lists for all ages and stages.
The Project, by Courtney Summers, $2.99. After Lo’s parents died in a car accident, her sister Bea left to join a mysterious community. Lo has spent 6 years trying to find her sister, and the closer she gets, the more she realizes that Bea is in danger. You won’t want to miss this YA psychological thriller about cults, family, and belonging.
The Mary Shelley Club, by Goldy Moldavsky, $2.99. A teen horror-movie club takes a turn for the real-life danger in this action-packed thriller. The group has a tradition of “Fear Tests", in which club members are forced to face things that scare them. When the fear scenarios get increasingly specific and deadly, the teens find themselves over their heads.
The Wrong Side of Kai, by Estelle Maskame, $1.99. This YA revenge story looks like a lot of fun. From the publisher: “Vanessa Murphy doesn't do relationships. With a father who doesn't notice her, it's easy for her to sneak around with her latest fling, Harrison Boyd. But when an explicit video of Vanessa hooking up with Harrison is leaked the morning after she ends things with him, her life is thrown into chaos. And Vanessa wants payback. Enter Kai. With his own vendetta against Harrison, Kai proposes revenge, and the two pair up to ruin Harrison Boyd's life. At first, they are nothing more than an illicit partnership. Teammates working towards the same mission. But – between late-night stakeouts and crime committing – Vanessa is drawn into Kai's life. And, as the two grow closer, she finds herself letting Kai into hers.”
The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George, $1.99. The discovery of a science teacher’s body kicks off this tense YA thriller. Darby and Morgan are former friends who haven’t talked since something bad happened at summer camp. With a murder investigation in the works, the former friends must confront memories they have chosen to forget.
Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: From Toddlers to Teens, by Tamar Chansky, $2.99. If you know a kid who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, or intensely negative thoughts, this is the book for you. Chansky introduces techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help parents manage big emotions in kids of all ages.
Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help, by Phyllis L. Fagell, $4.99. Middle school is a major time of transition! Kids are facing mental, physical, and social changes that can be difficult to naviage. Fagell, a school counselor, offers parents guidance about setting up positive home culture, helping with social conflicts and bullying, providing academic support, and encouraging resilience in the face of obstacles. The book is geared toward families attending school, but most of the issues are likely to come up in homeschool situations as well.
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids, by Jancee Dunn, $4.99. As you can probably tell from the title, Dunn packs this useful, practical book with loads of humor. From the publisher: How Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the 'expert' at changing a diaper? On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation." Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate -- and rebuild -- your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children.”
How to Be a Calm Parent: Lose the Guilt, Control Your Anger and Tame the Stress, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, $0.99. Owkwell-Smith has written other books about parenting, but this one is a bit different because it focuses on the parent. You can know exactly what to do or say, but if you are not in control of your own emotions, it is hard to put those things into practice. She discusses everything from inherited family patterns to remembering to meet your own basic needs.
Tides and the Ocean: Water’s Movement Around the World, from Waves to Whirlpools, by William Thomson, $3.99. We learn the basics of water’s movement around the world in elementary and middle school, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more than “the moon’s gravity causes tides” you will want to pick up this detailed book. Thomson explains all sorts of ocean phenomena with simple, clear infographics and prose. The text is also peppered with fascinating and sometimes harrowing asides from Thomson’s own ocean adventures.
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do, by Wallace J. Nichols, $2.99. This book is sitting on the shelf next to me, just waiting to be taken out to the beach! From the publisher: “Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.”
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns, $1.99. The Scientists in the Field series from the Smithsonian is a fantastic collection of books that dive deep into the daily work of scientists. Use them as both longer-form nonfiction reading material and a way to introduce career exploration! In Tracking Trash, scientist study global ocean currents with the help of citizen scientists who comb beaches around the world. Good for upper elementary and middle school readers.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
The Simple, Stress-Free Way to Make a Homeschool Plan You’ll Actually Use
The best way to plan your homeschool year is the way that works best for your particular homeschool — and like all the rest of homeschooling, it may require some trial and error to find the right balance. That’s why our “perfect” planning method is adaptable as you need it to be: Use the skeleton to make a loose frame for the year, or go all out and plan every week in advance. It’s your homeschool. Make a plan that works for you.
The best way to plan your homeschool year is the way that works best for your particular homeschool — and like all the rest of homeschooling, it may require some trial and error to find the right balance. That’s why our “perfect” planning method is adaptable as you need it to be: Use the skeleton to make a loose frame for the year, or go all out and plan every week in advance. It’s your homeschool. Make a plan that works for you.
Here’s a dirty little secret about homeschooling: You don’t have to plan out your year to have a great year. In fact, some people wing it completely, while others pick a few big areas to focus on and let their kids’ interests and development guide them through the year. Planning is not an essential part of homeschooling — so if you’re not a planner or the prospect of mapping out your year in advance causes you more stress than pleasure, you are allowed to skip it.
“Homeschooling doesn’t require the same advance planning that running a classroom full of kids does,” explains life coach and homeschool consultant Gillian O’Keefe. “That means you can do it because you want to do it — because it makes your life easier or planning is fun for you.”
Reframing the question from “how do I plan my year?” to “do I want to plan my year?” makes planning an opportunity instead of an obligation. As a long-time planning nerd who is famous for mapping out every class before the first day of school, I appreciate the appeal of a shiny new planner full of color-coded priority lists — but as a homeschool mom, I have found that a looser approach actually works better for the way we learn. Other moms I know skip the planning completely, and their homeschools stay busy and productive all year long. And yes, some moms do keep spreadsheets for every subject for every class.
In other words, the best way to plan your homeschool year is the way that works best for your particular homeschool — and like all the rest of homeschooling, it may require some trial and error to find the right balance. That’s why our “perfect” planning method is adaptable as you need it to be: Use the skeleton to make a loose frame for the year, or go all out and plan every week in advance. It’s your homeschool. Make a plan that works for you.
Set Your Priorities
What’s the big point of this homeschool year? If you had to set two major goals for each of your kids for the coming year, what would they be?
Sometimes, there’s a clear academic mission: Get better at handwriting, learn to read, finish algebra, write a research paper. Other time, it may be something academic-adjacent: Find some social outlets, learn how to be more comfortable taking criticism, get better at focusing on work while it’s happening. Your goals may be even more removed from actual academics: Build confidence, get comfortable trying new things. Before you dive into the questions of history curricula and robotics classes, get a sense of the big picture: What is it that you really want your kids to accomplish this year?
“Homeschoolers can get so focused on the details that they miss the big picture,” explains O’Keefe. “Without goalposts, you don’t know which way to run or when you’re getting close to success — so you never know how well your homeschool is working.”
When we homeschool, we’re making an unconventional choice, and that means we often lack a clear framework for checking our progress: Those grade-by-grade standards list may not match up to what we’re doing in our homeschool — in fact, they may be very different from what we want to do in our homeschools. In that case, though, we’ve got to create our own goals and priorities. Two per student is a good place to start — you need more than one goal so that if you need a break, you can take one to focus on something else, but if you start piling on goals, you lose that clear view of the horizon that well-set priorities can give you.
You can stop there if you want to, but for many of us, it helps to break those big priorities down into bimonthly goals: Come up with six “checkpoint goals” for each of your priorities.
“Think of checkpoint goals as progress checks — if your big goal for third grade is to work on handwriting, what are some steps that get you closer to that goal?” O’Keefe asks.
She suggests mini goals, like writing a letter to a friend or relative, finishing a handwriting workbook, taking notes from a video, and making a grocery list. Checkpoint goals don’t have to be big goals — the key is to pick things that reflect progress for your particular child. And while it may seem like these goals should spread evenly over the year, be aware that they often cluster.
“You may not make any visible progress for a couple of months, and then see several checkpoint goals happen in the same week,” says O’Keefe.
Buy Supplies
When it comes to choosing curriculum, you have to know both what you need and what you’ll actually use each year.
“Before you buy anything, take an honest inventory of your homeschool,” says life coach Colleen Bhasker, who specializes in helping homeschool families. “Be ruthless: Write down all the things that worked great in one column, all the things that worked fine in one column, and all the things that didn’t work in another column. Make a fourth column for things you don’t have but know you need.”
Before you replace something that isn’t working, take some time to figure out why it didn’t work: Were there too many practice problems? Did your kids want more human interaction? Did they tune out during videos? Get feedback from your kids, too: A good question is “what did you like about this program?” which often elicits more useful responses than “what didn’t you like?” (Consider recouping some of the cost by re-selling your used curriculum — one family’s miss is often another’s solid gold hit.)
It’s worth rooting around in your computer downloads (try searching different key terms) and through your bookshelves to make sure you haven’t already bought something for a subject you need to cover this year. Lots of us download stuff willy-nilly only to rediscover it a few years later, after we would have used it, so don’t skip this piece of planning.
If you know what you need, you can start comparison shopping — many homeschool curriculum companies have their biggest sales around Memorial Day and in the early fall, so sign up for mailing lists to get information about discounts and coupon codes. If you need something but haven’t yet figured out what will fulfill that need, set a hard time limit for researching options. With so many choices, you could research curriculum forever, so you want to push yourself to take the next step.
Use your other lists to guide your purchases: If something’s on your worked-great column, it’s usually because the style as well as the content is a good fit for your family, so pay attention to patterns: Maybe your family does well with short, daily lessons or lots of project-based assignments. When you buy new curriculum materials, look for lessons that incorporate the things you already know work well for your family. Similarly, you can learn a lot from curriculum that works fine, even if it’s not life-shakingly inspiring.
“Everything isn’t going to end up being a magic moment,” Bhasker says. “If something is working just fine, it’s probably worth sticking with it.”
Homeschool Planning Central
Everything you need to plan your best homeschool yet
Fill Your Days
There are two methods for planning homeschool days, and each has its pros and cons:
Plan your weeks in advance, or keep a record as you go. If you are a planner and finishing your curriculum is important to you, planning things out can be a more comfortable strategy. Start by figuring out how many weeks you want to “do school” this year — for most people, that ends up being somewhere between 28 and 36 weeks. If you’re not sure, block off holidays and vacation time on your calendar, then add two weeks off in the spring and fall to cover sick days, don’t-want-to days, and unexpected fun days that might pop up. Break down your curriculum into units for each week that remains: Depending on how your program is set up, you may do a lesson or more a week, a chapter a week, an experiment a week, etc. You’ll need to spend time with lesson layouts to make this work.
Once you’ve broken down the curriculum by week, all you have to do is pencil it into your calendar, one week at a time. Since you’re already doing the work, now is also a good time to make a list of supplies you’ll need each week: art materials, supplies for experiments, etc. You may also want to make a note of tests and evaluations so that you can schedule those in the best way for your student — you might not want your first class back after the winter holidays to be a big math unit exam, for example.
Keep in mind that your schedule is a guideline, not a law, and that it probably will change, says O’Keefe. “Public school teachers rarely make it through their full syllabus, and you probably won’t either,” O’Keefe says. Be prepared to make adjustments as you go: A Trello board or sticky notes make this a little easier to do, since you can move pieces around instead of erasing or copying and pasting every week.
My personal preferred method involves tracking what you do instead of planning what you will do, but this can feel like flying by the seat of your pants to some people. The method is simple: Instead of plotting out what you’ll do every week, you work through your materials at your own pace, keeping track of what you complete each week. This lets your homeschool develop organically — if you want to spend more time on quadratic equations, there’s no rush to move onto the next thing; if you’re done with bugs after two weeks, you can jump right into your weather unit. There’s no way to fall behind, but you do have to trust that you’ll get where you need to go. This method is more comfortable for experienced homeschoolers, says O’Keefe, because we’ve learned how to trust the process.
If you’re intrigued by this method but not sure you’re ready, try keeping a list as an ancillary to your other planning. At the end of the year, how you feel looking over the list of things you accomplished in your homeschool will be a good indicator of whether this method is for you.
Be vigilant about keeping up with whatever method you choose so that you have a record of your year.
Homeschool planning is as much art as it is science, and your method will ultimately be as individual as your homeschool. “You’re the one doing the work, so make sure the method works for you,” says Bhasker. “It doesn’t matter if it looks good on Pinterest or if it would convince your mom that homeschooling was a good choice, what matters is that it works for your homeschool.”
Kindle Deals for July 18, 2022
Practical books for language and music education
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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How to Tell Stories to Children, by Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy, $1.99. From the publisher: “Stories help children manage their emotions, empathize with others, and better understand the complex world we live in. More importantly, storytelling cultivates a rich and meaningful bond between storyteller and listener, building intimacy and trust between parent and child. In this delightful book, Silke Rose West and Joseph Sarosy—early childhood educators with thousands of storytelling hours between them—distill the key ingredients of storytelling into a surprisingly simple method that can make anyone an expert storyteller. Their intuitive technique uses events and objects from your child’s daily life to make storytelling easy and accessible. By shifting the focus from crafting a narrative to strengthening your relationship with your child, this book will awaken skills you never knew you had. Complete with practical advice, helpful prompts, and a touch of science to explain how stories enrich our lives in so many ways, How to Tell Stories to Children is a must-read for parents, grandparents and educators. “
The Musical Child: Using the Power of Music to Raise Children who are Happy, Healthy, and Whole, by Joan Koenig, $1.99. Koenig has operated a music school for the past 30 years, and in this book she shares all that she has learned about teaching music to the very young. She intersperses practical tips and exercises with insightful stories from her teaching experience. This book focuses on the first six years of life, but there are lots of ideas that would be suitable for older kids as well.
The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction, by Meghan Cox Gurdon, $1.99. This is a love letter to the readaloud. Many parents spend hours reading to their pre-literate children, but this book makes the case for continuing reading together as a family activity through the teenage years. Detailed references highlight the cognitive and emotional benefits of focusing on listening. At the end, you’ll also find excellent book lists for all ages and stages.
How to Tell a Story, by Meg Bowles, Catherine Burns, Jenifer Hixson, Sarah Austin Jenness, and Kate Tellers, $2.99. If you are not listening to The Moth Podcast, you are missing out. The Moth has been helping people hone the storytelling craft for decades now. This book distills all of their best advice into useful tips for creating a memorable tale to share with others. You’ll also find inspiration in the remarkable stories shared within these pages. This could be an excellent creative writing spine for middle to high school kids!
STILL ON SALE
The Project, by Courtney Summers, $2.99. After Lo’s parents died in a car accident, her sister Bea left to join a mysterious community. Lo has spent 6 years trying to find her sister, and the closer she gets, the more she realizes that Bea is in danger. You won’t want to miss this YA psychological thriller about cults, family, and belonging.
The Mary Shelley Club, by Goldy Moldavsky, $2.99. A teen horror-movie club takes a turn for the real-life danger in this action-packed thriller. The group has a tradition of “Fear Tests", in which club members are forced to face things that scare them. When the fear scenarios get increasingly specific and deadly, the teens find themselves over their heads.
The Wrong Side of Kai, by Estelle Maskame, $1.99. This YA revenge story looks like a lot of fun. From the publisher: “Vanessa Murphy doesn't do relationships. With a father who doesn't notice her, it's easy for her to sneak around with her latest fling, Harrison Boyd. But when an explicit video of Vanessa hooking up with Harrison is leaked the morning after she ends things with him, her life is thrown into chaos. And Vanessa wants payback. Enter Kai. With his own vendetta against Harrison, Kai proposes revenge, and the two pair up to ruin Harrison Boyd's life. At first, they are nothing more than an illicit partnership. Teammates working towards the same mission. But – between late-night stakeouts and crime committing – Vanessa is drawn into Kai's life. And, as the two grow closer, she finds herself letting Kai into hers.”
The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George, $1.99. The discovery of a science teacher’s body kicks off this tense YA thriller. Darby and Morgan are former friends who haven’t talked since something bad happened at summer camp. With a murder investigation in the works, the former friends must confront memories they have chosen to forget.
Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: From Toddlers to Teens, by Tamar Chansky, $2.99. If you know a kid who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, or intensely negative thoughts, this is the book for you. Chansky introduces techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help parents manage big emotions in kids of all ages.
Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help, by Phyllis L. Fagell, $4.99. Middle school is a major time of transition! Kids are facing mental, physical, and social changes that can be difficult to naviage. Fagell, a school counselor, offers parents guidance about setting up positive home culture, helping with social conflicts and bullying, providing academic support, and encouraging resilience in the face of obstacles. The book is geared toward families attending school, but most of the issues are likely to come up in homeschool situations as well.
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids, by Jancee Dunn, $4.99. As you can probably tell from the title, Dunn packs this useful, practical book with loads of humor. From the publisher: How Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the 'expert' at changing a diaper? On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation." Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate -- and rebuild -- your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children.”
How to Be a Calm Parent: Lose the Guilt, Control Your Anger and Tame the Stress, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, $0.99. Owkwell-Smith has written other books about parenting, but this one is a bit different because it focuses on the parent. You can know exactly what to do or say, but if you are not in control of your own emotions, it is hard to put those things into practice. She discusses everything from inherited family patterns to remembering to meet your own basic needs.
Tides and the Ocean: Water’s Movement Around the World, from Waves to Whirlpools, by William Thomson, $3.99. We learn the basics of water’s movement around the world in elementary and middle school, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more than “the moon’s gravity causes tides” you will want to pick up this detailed book. Thomson explains all sorts of ocean phenomena with simple, clear infographics and prose. The text is also peppered with fascinating and sometimes harrowing asides from Thomson’s own ocean adventures.
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do, by Wallace J. Nichols, $2.99. This book is sitting on the shelf next to me, just waiting to be taken out to the beach! From the publisher: “Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.”
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns, $1.99. The Scientists in the Field series from the Smithsonian is a fantastic collection of books that dive deep into the daily work of scientists. Use them as both longer-form nonfiction reading material and a way to introduce career exploration! In Tracking Trash, scientist study global ocean currents with the help of citizen scientists who comb beaches around the world. Good for upper elementary and middle school readers.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Take a Homeschool Retreat
A homeschool retreat can be inspiration, direction, and sanity saver all in one — and if you don’t have a secular homeschool conference nearby, you can create your own.
Week 38 of the Happier Homeschool Challenge: Get inspired with a DIY homeschool retreat.
Mothers are the only workers who never get time off, said Anne Morrow Lindbergh, and that’s doubly true for homeschooling mothers, who cheerfully derail dinner prep to look up a particularly strange beetle in the bug guide and listen to impromptu poetry recitations while they’re in the bathroom. (Maybe that’s just me?) But time off every now and then is essential to maintaining your homeschooling mojo. While your books may be neatly shelved and your plans for the coming year ready to go, your homeschool soul could use a little nurturing. Whether you can spare a whole weekend or just a long afternoon, it’s worth the effort to make time for a homeschool retreat.
Retreats may seem like an old-fashioned notion, but the concept of reconnecting with yourself as a person and as a homeschooling parent is practically radical in these days of plugged-in, logged-on, non-stop presence. But homeschoolers are nothing if not radical (in both the original and now-dated modern sense of the word), and a retreat may be an inspiring way to bring fresh energy, insight, and life to your homeschool.
There are as many ways to plan a retreat as there are to homeschool, so we’ve put together a few suggestions that might work for your retreat or that might just serve as inspiration for your own retreat ideas.
Make your plans
If you’re like me, you have a never-ending list of books you’d like to read and lectures you’d like to hear. Whip out that list and start narrowing down the options. Are you starting to freak out about the prospect of putting together transcripts for college? Maybe it’s time to download that mp3 on homeschooling high school. Do you need help with setting a rhythm for your days? A Waldorf book about parenting young children could be a good bet. Try to focus on a mix of practical information—you want to change up your science curriculum or you need help getting inspired to teach writing next year—and strictly inspirational stuff. (We’ve included some great books and lectures below.) And go ahead and throw in all those awesome curriculum catalogs you’ve been hoarding so you can finally flip through them at your leisure. Try to add a mix of media: You won’t want to spend the whole day listening to mp3s or staring at your computer screen.
Choose a location
If you’re an introvert like me, the thought of a weekend of pure alone time probably seems blissful. But if you’re a social animal, you may get more from your weekend retreat if you invite a friend or two to join you. Either way, try to get away from the everyday—it’s going to be hard to give yourself over to recharging your batteries if you’re staring down a pile of laundry or constantly jumping up to refill someone’s cup of juice. If you can, splurge on a location that inspires you to relax, whether that’s a fancy hotel with room service and plush robes or a cozy cabin surrounded by hiking trails. Even an easy-on-the-budget, no-frills hotel room can make a comfortable setting for your retreat if you bring your electric tea kettle and a few candles. If money’s an issue, consider swapping baby-sitting with another homeschooling mom and set up your retreat in a spot with free wi-fi, like the library or a coffee shop.
Inspire yourself
Whether it’s your first year homeschooling or your fifteenth, you’re your own best inspiration. Start your retreat by making a list of all the things you’ve done right: great trips you’ve taken, fun art or science activities you’ve done, parenting moments where you got it just right. If you’ve been homeschooling, use this time to write down what’s really worked for you in the past, whether it’s starting the morning with yoga, doing narrations with Story of the World, or making Monday your baking day. Not only will making this list of homeschool successes remind you that you’re already doing a great job homeschooling, it will also help guide your choices for the coming year and may remind you of fun stuff that’s worth incorporating in your homeschool plans.
Define your homeschool’s mission
What’s the purpose of your homeschool? Ideally, you have an answer to that question that sums up your homeschool’s philosophy: “To grow curious, engaged children who believe they can learn anything and do anything if they are willing to do the work” or “Our homeschool teaches our children how to find, evaluate, and use information so that they can achieve whatever goals they set for themselves” are both examples of the kinds of big-picture goals your homeschool might have. Not so much of a mission statement writer? Make a homeschool vision board instead, putting together quotes, images, and other items that represent your ideas of what you want your homeschool to be like in the coming months.
Set your goals
In addition to setting academic goals for your students, consider setting some goals for yourself. Whether you’d like to be better informed about chemistry before you tackle the subject next year or you’re longing to be less stressed about unfinished assignments, take a few minutes to think about what you’d like to accomplish personally this year. Homeschooling can be an all-consuming activity, and it’s easy to be so absorbed in guiding your kids that you lose track of your own needs and wants. Use this opportunity to focus on yourself and to make a map of where you’d like to be this time next year as a teacher, a parent, and a person.
Make a little you-time
The purpose of your retreat is to recharge your homeschooling batteries, so build in some time to just relax. Giving your brain free reign inspires new ideas and connections that you don’t get when you’re dealing with the daily grind. You know what gets your creative energy flowing: Maybe it’s a hike up a waterfall, a session with a massage therapist, or an hour of uninterrupted knitting. Treat yourself to your favorite leisure activity, and you’ll be surprised by how it improves your mental clarity.
Write your bad day mantra
Bad days happen, and when you’re doing double duty as teacher and parent, it’s easy to take them personally. Right now, while you’re feeling energized and excited about the coming year, write a message to yourself to read when you’re having a bad day. Think about the words you need to hear when a math lesson ends in tears or you snap at your toddler for making a mess of the science center, and write them down in your best handwriting. Keep this message to yourself close, and pull it out when you need to as a much-needed reminder that you’re doing the right thing even when things don’t go just right.
Ideally, you should leave your retreat with a clear vision of what you want the coming year to look like (and the confidence to change your mind about that vision any time), a handful of new ideas, and a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the homeschooling fun ahead. But even if you just come away with some good questions, you can consider a retreat time well spent.
Tips for making your homeschool retreat a success:
Make a schedule to keep focused
Turn off your phone, log out of Facebook, and don’t check your email
Set aside time for just relaxing as well as time for being productive.
Food for Thought
Listen:
Susan Wise Bauer: Homeschooling the Real (Distractable, Impatient, Argumentative, Unenthusiastic, Non-Book-Loving, Inattentive, Poky, Vague) Child
The Homeschool Scholar: A Homeschool Parents Guide to Grades, Credits and Transcripts
Pam Sorooshian: Unschooling and Math
Donna Simmons: Talking Pictorially and Living Actively with your Young Child
Read:
Rafe Esquith: Lighting Their Fires: How Parents and Teachers Can Raise Extraordinary Kids in a Mixed-up, Muddled-up, Shook-up World
James W. Loewen: Teaching What Really Happened: How To Avoid The Tyranny of Textbooks and Get Students Excited About Doing History
Sharifa Oppenheimer: Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children
David Mulroy: The War Against Grammar
Lori Pickert: Project-Based Homeschooling
Grace Llewellyn: The Teenage Liberation Handbook: How to Quit School and Get a Real Life and Education
Your challenge this week: Figure out a game plan for your homeschool retreat, and write an official retreat date on your calendar.
Kindle Deals for July 14, 2022
YA suspense
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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The Summer We Forgot, by Caroline George, $1.99. The discovery of a science teacher’s body kicks off this tense YA thriller. Darby and Morgan are former friends who haven’t talked since something bad happened at summer camp. With a murder investigation in the works, the former friends must confront memories they have chosen to forget.
The Wrong Side of Kai, by Estelle Maskame, $1.99. This YA revenge story looks like a lot of fun. From the publisher: “Vanessa Murphy doesn't do relationships. With a father who doesn't notice her, it's easy for her to sneak around with her latest fling, Harrison Boyd. But when an explicit video of Vanessa hooking up with Harrison is leaked the morning after she ends things with him, her life is thrown into chaos. And Vanessa wants payback. Enter Kai. With his own vendetta against Harrison, Kai proposes revenge, and the two pair up to ruin Harrison Boyd's life. At first, they are nothing more than an illicit partnership. Teammates working towards the same mission. But – between late-night stakeouts and crime committing – Vanessa is drawn into Kai's life. And, as the two grow closer, she finds herself letting Kai into hers.”
The Mary Shelley Club, by Goldy Moldavsky, $2.99. A teen horror-movie club takes a turn for the real-life danger in this action-packed thriller. The group has a tradition of “Fear Tests", in which club members are forced to face things that scare them. When the fear scenarios get increasingly specific and deadly, the teens find themselves over their heads.
The Project, by Courtney Summers, $2.99. After Lo’s parents died in a car accident, her sister Bea left to join a mysterious community. Lo has spent 6 years trying to find her sister, and the closer she gets, the more she realizes that Bea is in danger. You won’t want to miss this YA psychological thriller about cults, family, and belonging.
STILL ON SALE
Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: From Toddlers to Teens, by Tamar Chansky, $2.99. If you know a kid who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, or intensely negative thoughts, this is the book for you. Chansky introduces techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help parents manage big emotions in kids of all ages.
Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help, by Phyllis L. Fagell, $4.99. Middle school is a major time of transition! Kids are facing mental, physical, and social changes that can be difficult to naviage. Fagell, a school counselor, offers parents guidance about setting up positive home culture, helping with social conflicts and bullying, providing academic support, and encouraging resilience in the face of obstacles. The book is geared toward families attending school, but most of the issues are likely to come up in homeschool situations as well.
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids, by Jancee Dunn, $4.99. As you can probably tell from the title, Dunn packs this useful, practical book with loads of humor. From the publisher: How Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the 'expert' at changing a diaper? On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation." Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate -- and rebuild -- your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children.”
How to Be a Calm Parent: Lose the Guilt, Control Your Anger and Tame the Stress, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, $0.99. Owkwell-Smith has written other books about parenting, but this one is a bit different because it focuses on the parent. You can know exactly what to do or say, but if you are not in control of your own emotions, it is hard to put those things into practice. She discusses everything from inherited family patterns to remembering to meet your own basic needs.
Tides and the Ocean: Water’s Movement Around the World, from Waves to Whirlpools, by William Thomson, $3.99. We learn the basics of water’s movement around the world in elementary and middle school, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more than “the moon’s gravity causes tides” you will want to pick up this detailed book. Thomson explains all sorts of ocean phenomena with simple, clear infographics and prose. The text is also peppered with fascinating and sometimes harrowing asides from Thomson’s own ocean adventures.
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do, by Wallace J. Nichols, $2.99. This book is sitting on the shelf next to me, just waiting to be taken out to the beach! From the publisher: “Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.”
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns, $1.99. The Scientists in the Field series from the Smithsonian is a fantastic collection of books that dive deep into the daily work of scientists. Use them as both longer-form nonfiction reading material and a way to introduce career exploration! In Tracking Trash, scientist study global ocean currents with the help of citizen scientists who comb beaches around the world. Good for upper elementary and middle school readers.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Kindle Deals for July 13, 2022
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Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
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How to Be a Calm Parent: Lose the Guilt, Control Your Anger and Tame the Stress, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, $0.99. Owkwell-Smith has written other books about parenting, but this one is a bit different because it focuses on the parent. You can know exactly what to do or say, but if you are not in control of your own emotions, it is hard to put those things into practice. She discusses everything from inherited family patterns to remembering to meet your own basic needs.
Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking: From Toddlers to Teens, by Tamar Chansky, $2.99. If you know a kid who struggles with anxiety, perfectionism, or intensely negative thoughts, this is the book for you. Chansky introduces techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to help parents manage big emotions in kids of all ages.
Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help, by Phyllis L. Fagell, $4.99. Middle school is a major time of transition! Kids are facing mental, physical, and social changes that can be difficult to naviage. Fagell, a school counselor, offers parents guidance about setting up positive home culture, helping with social conflicts and bullying, providing academic support, and encouraging resilience in the face of obstacles. The book is geared toward families attending school, but most of the issues are likely to come up in homeschool situations as well.
How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids, by Jancee Dunn, $4.99. As you can probably tell from the title, Dunn packs this useful, practical book with loads of humor. From the publisher: How Not To Hate Your Husband After Kids tackles the last taboo subject of parenthood: the startling, white-hot fury that new (and not-so-new) mothers often have for their mates. After Jancee Dunn had her baby, she found that she was doing virtually all the household chores, even though she and her husband worked equal hours. She asked herself: How did I become the 'expert' at changing a diaper? On the brink of marital Armageddon, Dunn plunges into the latest relationship research, solicits the counsel of the country's most renowned couples' and sex therapists, canvasses fellow parents, and even consults an FBI hostage negotiator on how to effectively contain an "explosive situation." Instead of having the same fights over and over, Dunn and her husband must figure out a way to resolve their larger issues and fix their family while there is still time. As they discover, adding a demanding new person to your relationship means you have to reevaluate -- and rebuild -- your marriage. In an exhilarating twist, they work together to save the day, happily returning to the kind of peaceful life they previously thought was the sole province of couples without children.”
STILL ON SALE
Tides and the Ocean: Water’s Movement Around the World, from Waves to Whirlpools, by William Thomson, $3.99. We learn the basics of water’s movement around the world in elementary and middle school, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more than “the moon’s gravity causes tides” you will want to pick up this detailed book. Thomson explains all sorts of ocean phenomena with simple, clear infographics and prose. The text is also peppered with fascinating and sometimes harrowing asides from Thomson’s own ocean adventures.
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do, by Wallace J. Nichols, $2.99. This book is sitting on the shelf next to me, just waiting to be taken out to the beach! From the publisher: “Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.”
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns, $1.99. The Scientists in the Field series from the Smithsonian is a fantastic collection of books that dive deep into the daily work of scientists. Use them as both longer-form nonfiction reading material and a way to introduce career exploration! In Tracking Trash, scientist study global ocean currents with the help of citizen scientists who comb beaches around the world. Good for upper elementary and middle school readers.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Amy’s Library Chicken: What I Read in May
Modern Gothic, hopeful speculative YA, classic kids lit mash-up, and one of my favorite new book discoveries made May an awesome reading month.
May is a heavy grading month for me, so a lot of my reading was student writing! I’m also reading lots of books to prepare for classes next year, which I will only review if I think they’re worth reading as standalones in their own right. But I thought some of the books I read this past month were pretty great.
White Smoke may be the modern Gothic vibe I’ve been looking for — maybe the missing ingredient in modern Gothic is that sense of real-life evil permeating beneath the surface, and this book (by Tiffany D. Jackson, who also wrote the terrific Monday’s Not Coming, which isn’t Gothic, but which now that I am looking back it definitely has that air of foreboding so essential to The Gothic Experience) tangled its haunted house mystery up with racism and capitalism in ways that made it genuinely creepy. Marigold’s mom wins an art fellowship that comes with a lovingly restored house in a small town all the way across the country. It’s a fresh start: Mari’s mom has just married a widower with a tween daughter, and they’re trying to figure out what their new family looks like, especially since Mari, her mom, and brother are Black, and Alec and Piper are both white. Mari’s also got stuff of her own to navigate: After an unfortunate bedbug incident triggered her OCD (and a drug coping mechanism that ended up with her overdosing her bedroom), Mari’s just trying to figure out how to get through the day. This is hard because their new house is weird — doors open on their own, shadows flit by places where shadows shouldn’t be, the power cuts on and off at weird times, and Mari’s new sister warns her that “Aunt Suga” doesn’t want Mari in her house. Trigger warning for bedbugs (I cannot stress this enough!), but if you, too, have been looking for some modern Gothic that satisfies in the creepy department, you may want to try this one, too. (It also has some of the problems you can run into with Gothic stories, but I’ve been wanting something actually creepy so bad that I would forgive it a lot!)
The follow-up to the amazing Raybearer (seriously, if you haven’t read this book yet and you like YA fantasy, you really should!), Redemptor does NOT suffer from second book letdown. At least it didn’t for me — it picks up right where Raybearer ends, with Tarisai the newly anointed Empress, charged with anointing her own council and traveling to the Underworld to fulfill her deal with the sinister spirits of the dead. Because this is the focus, the family building aspect of Raybearer is less present (though definitely still there!), and the relationships are less important than Tarisai’s own journey. This was OK with me because I felt like it made sense — I missed Kirah, but I liked that she was off having her own journey and that her story wasn’t just about being Tarisai’s friend. There are lots of fun twists, some great new characters, and an overall spirit of hope and possibility that frankly feels essential in the world today. I liked the first book better, probably, but I found its conclusion satisfying in pretty much every way.
See You Yesterday is a light-and-fluffy YA comedy about two college first-years stuck in a time loop. It’s basically Groundhog Day on a college campus and just the thing for a heartwarming beach read.
I’m honestly not sure how I feel about This Appearing House. I think that’s because I have a kiddo with a chronic health condition, which may not seem relevant, but I think it definitely affected my feelings about this book, so I want to mention it. Jac is almost five years cancer-free, but the weight of her diagnosis is still hanging over her head — and she’s had a few moments recently that made her wonder if she’s experiencing symptoms again. When some classmates dare Jac and her new friend to go inside the mysterious house, she finds that her darkest fears are shaping what’s inside — and that she’s going to have to be very brave if she wants to find the way out. This book definitely falls into the spooky middle grades genre — it’s very atmospheric and full of deliciously creepy moments. It’s also clearly a metaphor for what it’s like to go through a serious illness. I think the central idea — that the way out is through — is important, and I know that kids going through health crises need to see themselves represented in literature. I really appreciate that this book didn’t shy away from that. Something about it didn’t quite sit right with me, though, and I can’t put my finger on what it was. That’s why I think it might be connected to my own experiences and not to the book.
The Clockwork Queen is definitely going on my middle grades recommendations list. Sophie’s father gets hired to be the chess tutor to Catherine the Great’s son — but when lessons don’t go the way the empress wants them to, Sophie’s father is imprisoned, and Sophie and her mom are left to fend for themselves. Sophie relies on her father’s chess lessons to get by — and then her chess skills bring her an opportunity to rescue her father. I am very fond of stories about early robots, about Russian history, and about chess, so this book ticked a bunch of boxes for me.
I always enjoy Sarah Waters, but Affinity isn’t my favorite. It’s about a young lady in Victorian England who takes up visiting women prisoners as a way to recalibrate her life after a suicide attempt. She’s captivated by one of the prisoners, a young medium imprisoned after the death of her benefactress during a seance. I’m fascinated by Victorian spiritualism, and I love the way Waters nails her endings — this was a solid book. I’ve just enjoyed other of her books more.
A Secret Princess is out later this month, and it’s a wild and wacky mash-up of three Frances Hodgson Burnett classics: A Little Princess, The Secret Garden, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. The Little Princess, Sara, is an heiress from the Philippines; Mary from The Secret Garden is a rebel with a lot of causes; and Cedric is the poor little rich boy whose chronic health condition constantly disappoints his aristocratic family. The three meet up at Miss Minchin’s repressive and prestigious British boarding school and become fast friends. When a series of unfortunate events upend their lives, the trio run away from school to start a new life together. You probably won’t be surprised that the three stories are virtually unrecognizable from their original forms, but as long as you don’t go in expecting that, this book feels like a fun, fan fiction romp through a literary landscape where you’ll occasional spot a familiar landmark. I had no expectations going in and thought it was a lot of fun.
Wow, I loved Pretty as a Picture. I’m honestly surprised by how great I thought I was — I would read an entire mystery series with Marissa as the main character. She’s a film editor who is fantastic at her job turning pictures into stories and terrible at people-ing, so all she wants to do is hunker down in the editing room and get to work on her new true crime movie. The universe, however, has other plans, and Marissa ends up investigating the murder of the actress playing the murder victim with the enthusiastic assistance of two teenage girls and an ex-military security guy who might have motives of his own. It’s so much fun! I really loved how Marissa uses mental movie clips to identify or explain her feelings in a given moment — it reminds me of how I use bits from books the same way. This was one of those books that I discovered randomly, which somehow makes loving it even more delightful. I’m going to recommend this one if you like mysteries.
Survive the Night, on the other hand, was a random pick that did NOT delight me. Friends, if your best friend is murdered by a serial killer, please do not ride share with a random stranger you find on your college bulletin board. Maybe especially do not do this if you have a mental condition where you frequently aren’t sure what is real because your mind turns things into movie scenes. Consider taking a bus instead.
Did you read anything great in May?
I post my Library Chicken roundups on the HSL Patreon every month and on the blog here when I think about it! (We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.)
6 Surprising Signs You’re Actually Doing a Great Job Homeschooling
Chances are, you’re doing better with this whole homeschool thing than you think you are. These six signs are all indicators that you’re on the right track — and we think that’s something you should celebrate.
One of the hardest things about homeschooling is that there’s no report card at the end of year telling you how you’re doing. We tend to chalk up our successes to good luck or fortuitous timing and to take all the blame for every challenge we run into. But chances are, you’re doing better with this whole homeschool thing than you think you are. These six signs are all indicators that you’re on the right track — and we think that’s something you should celebrate with pride.
You’re happy to start your day.
One of the best signs that you’re doing just fine as a homeschooler is that you like doing it. Sure, there are bad days — but if for the most part, you’re upbeat, energetic, and excited about the prospect of a new homeschool day, there’s a good chance your homeschooling reflects that.
You’re always surprised by lunchtime.
Time drags when things are hard, but the hours seem to fly by when everything is going well. If lunchtime manages to get the jump on your and your kids most days, that’s a sign that you’re all really engaged in what you’re doing — which is a sign that your homeschool is a productive, positive place.
You’ve gotten comfortable with moving past mistakes, wrong turns, and things that just aren’t working.
You’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to try curriculum materials that don’t work, classes that feel like curses, and being too strict about something that turns out to be not all that important. When you’ve hit your stride as a homeschooler, you’ll be able to recognize your mistakes, own them, and move on, a little wiser.
You find yourself taking a new homeschooler under your wing.
A sure sign you feel confident about how you’re doing as a homeschooler: You’re willing to share your experiences and insight with other people. When this happens, you’ve become an expert — maybe not in homeschooling in general but certainly in your particular homeschool.
It’s sometimes hard to plan your days — not because you don’t know what to do but because there are so many things you want to do that you don’t know where to start.
When your to-do list is so exciting that it’s actually a pleasure, you know you’ve figured out a system that’s really working for you. Yes, it may turn out that you can’t actually do all the things you’d like to — but that’s a much happier challenge than feeling like there’s nothing you want to do.
You don’t feel the need to defend homeschooling every time someone makes a rude comment about it.
It’s very human to feel defensive when you’re still figuring things out — and some comments deserve a reasoned rebuttal. But as you grow more confident as a homeschooler, you’ll realize that you don’t have to engage with every misinformed stranger you meet. Sometimes, you just smile and walk away.
Kindle Deals for July 11, 2022
Get to know the Earth’s water!
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns, $1.99. The Scientists in the Field series from the Smithsonian is a fantastic collection of books that dive deep into the daily work of scientists. Use them as both longer-form nonfiction reading material and a way to introduce career exploration! In Tracking Trash, scientist study global ocean currents with the help of citizen scientists who comb beaches around the world. Good for upper elementary and middle school readers.
How to Read Water: Clues and Patterns from Puddles to the Sea, by Tristan Gooley, $2.99. Gooley is a keen observer of the natural world, and his books always feel a bit like magic to me. If, like me, you had no idea that you could tell which way is north by the behavior of a puddle or predict when a big wave will roll in, you need this book!
Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do, by Wallace J. Nichols, $2.99. This book is sitting on the shelf next to me, just waiting to be taken out to the beach! From the publisher: “Why are we drawn to the ocean each summer? Why does being near water set our minds and bodies at ease? In BLUE MIND, Wallace J. Nichols revolutionizes how we think about these questions, revealing the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. Combining cutting-edge neuroscience with compelling personal stories from top athletes, leading scientists, military veterans, and gifted artists, he shows how proximity to water can improve performance, increase calm, diminish anxiety, and increase professional success.”
Tides and the Ocean: Water’s Movement Around the World, from Waves to Whirlpools, by William Thomson, $3.99. We learn the basics of water’s movement around the world in elementary and middle school, but if you’ve ever wanted to know more than “the moon’s gravity causes tides” you will want to pick up this detailed book. Thomson explains all sorts of ocean phenomena with simple, clear infographics and prose. The text is also peppered with fascinating and sometimes harrowing asides from Thomson’s own ocean adventures.
STILL ON SALE
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Camp Like a Homeschooler
Nature time is one of the best parts of homeschooling — and a weekend camping trip is the ultimate homeschool nature adventure. Here’s how to make your homeschool camping trip a fun experience for the whole family.
Don't forget to pack your spirit of adventure and make this year's family vacation one to remember.
“Nature time is one of the best parts of homeschooling,” says homeschool dad Joel Tiegs, who, with his wife Anna, homeschools their three children. “And it’s surprising that it took us so long to make camping a part of that because it’s so obvious that weekend camping is the ultimate nature study.”
The Tiegs family had never been camping before their first family expedition, and “there was definitely a learning curve,” says Anna. “Do not make our mistake and go all-in on your first camping trip. Start with an overnight and work your way up.” Ultimately, though, camping felt like a happy extension of the Tiegs’ homeschool life, and now loading up the car for a camping adventure happens about once a month.
We all know the benefits of outdoor time — reduced stress, improved creativity, deeper connections to the natural world, affordability — and even if you’ve never pitched a tent, you can put together a fun family camping trip that just may inspire you, like the Tiegs clan, to make camping part of your homeschool life. We’ve got everything you need to know to plan that first family camping trip right here.
The Organized Adventure
We’re lucky in the United States, where a road trip can take your campout to mountain peaks and desert valleys, to natural wonders and woodland lakes. How do you choose the perfect spot for your family camping trip? These tips should help you narrow it down.
Keep it within easy driving distance.
Eventually, you may want to venture far and wide, but if you’re newbie campers, stick with campsites within a two-hour radius of your home base. Not only does this make a short drive to your destination, which means no car-lag to deal with when you arrive or worries about getting set up before dark if you hit traffic along the way, says Jen Aist, author of Babes in the Woods: Hiking, Camping, and Boating With Babies and Young Children. Keeping it close to home also takes away that panicked what-if-everything-goes-wrong feeling. “If everything goes wrong, you’ll load up the car, drive home, and try another time,” Aist says.
Stick with state and national parks.
If you’re new to camping, you will want decent bathroom facilities. Trust us: Helping your 9-year-old eliminate in the dark woods with nothing but a headlamp and a roll of toilet paper is not how you want to spend your first camping trip. Most state and national parks have restrooms, often with showers, and other amenities like on-site firewood bundles, running water, and even small supply stores. Check the park’s website (and Yelp reviews) to see what kind of facilities are available to campers.
Do advance reconnaissance.
Unless you’re an experienced naturalist, identifying new-to-you birds, bugs, trees, and wildflowers on the spot can be tricky. Prepare for your campout by spending some time getting familiar with your campsite’s local flora and fauna so that you’ll be able to identify it when you see it. You may still fumble for some identifications, but it’s amazing how much more competent you’ll feel knowing you can probably recognize a few local nature highlights.
Pick two activities.
On an overnight campout, you can reasonably fit in two nature activities: a longer activity the day you arrive and a shorter activity to enjoy between breakfast and packing the next day. The park website is a good place to start — most parks list on-site recreational activities as well as nearby ones. If you’re trying something brand-spanking new that none of you has done before — say, your first family canoe trip — do yourself a favor and look for a guide or beginner’s program that can walk you through the basics. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to choosing campout activities, but including one tried-and-true activity you know your family enjoys and one activity that’s new to some or all of you can be a good plan, says Meri-Margaret Deoudes, spokesperson for the National Wildlife federations's Be Out There initiative, which encourages kids to get outside. (Plan your new adventure for your shorter, morning activity.)
Always Safety First
Camping is an adventure — and while it’s usually perfectly safe, there are a few things you can do to make sure your crew comes back from campouts healthy and happy. When you check into your campsite, be sure to ask for directions to the nearest emergency care facility and the best way to handle after-hours emergencies. You’ll probably never need to use this information, but it’s good to have.
You know to bring a first-aid kid, but don’t forget to add items for your family’s specific needs, such as prescription medications or kid-safe pain reliever and allergy medicine, recommends Anna Tiegs. “On our first camping trip, I forgot my contact lens solution and had to spend most of the trip viewing the world through my near-sighted eyes,” Anna says. “General checklists are great, but everybody has specific things they need to function every day. Make sure you’ve included yours in your kit.”
Set ground rules for safe camping: Everyone needs a buddy, even if you’re only venturing as far as the bathroom, and no one’s allowed beyond a certain visual perimeter. (Big trees, fallen logs, flowering plants, and other clearly obvious natural objects make easy-to-define boundaries.) “After our son Rowan wandered a little too far and scared us all to death, we started tying red bandanas around tree branches to mark the roam-free boundary of our campsite,” says Joel Tiegs.
Encourage kids to talk and sing if you’re hiking or exploring — if critters can hear you coming, they’re likely to hide before you get there, but accidentally sneaking up on wildlife can kick their defenses into action, says Randy Johnson, author of Best Easy Day Hikes: Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Clean up thoroughly after every meal, and keep your food stored out of sight in your car. (If you’re in a car without a closed trunk, cover food with a blanket or towel so curious — and smart — creatures like bears don’t spot it.) Never bring food into your tent. People think of bears breaking into tents for food, but skunks, raccoon, snakes, and other wildlife are just as likely to be drawn to the smells of food.
Check your kids (and yourself ) thoroughly for ticks periodically during your camping trip to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for outdoor safety. Be sure to check sensitive areas, including the scalp, groin, armpits, and belly button. In addition to sunscreen, use a child-safe bug and tick repellent containing 20 to 39 percent DEET, and spray it on clothes as well as on your exposed skin. Tucking in shirts and pants (into socks or boots) can also help reduce your risk when walking through woods or un-mowed grass.
Teach kids to avoid poison ivy, oak, and sumac with the handy memory aid “Leaves of three, leave it be.” What if you do come into contact with poison ivy? Get kids to quickly soap up in the shower — baths can cause irritation to spread — and apply calamine lotion from your first-aid kit to the affected area.
Take it in Stages
If you want camping to be a great experience, don’t head straight for the woods. Instead, follow this three-step plan to help you get the hang of everything before you tackle your first official wilderness adventure.
The Backyard Campout
Give your equipment an official test drive in a no-stress spot: Set up (and take down!) your tent, build a small campfire, boil water for hot chocolate, and have a sleepover in your new sleeping bags right in your own backyard. This is smart for a couple of reasons, says Jen Aist. You’ll get comfortable with your equipment, you can pop inside for anything you forgot (and make a note that you don’t want to forget it when you’re actually camping out), and it lets kids acclimate to outdoor noises and darkness.
The Weekender
Once you’ve got a backyard campout under your belt, book a Saturday night campsite at a nearby state or national park. Ideally, you won’t need to drive more than an hour to get to a campsite with real bathrooms, fire rings, and a friendly visitor center. Arrive early on Saturday, get set up first thing, and head home after lunch on Sunday. “Think of it as camping-lite,” says Aist. “All the fun but none of the stress.”
The Real Deal
Now that you’re ready for multi-night campouts, let your spirit of adventure lead you. It’s still smart to gradually work up to bigger experiences, like thru-hiking and camping out along the way or week-long camping expeditions, but now you’re ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at you.
What Gear Do You Really Need?
Newbie campers do not need a lot of fancy gear to have a great campout. In fact, first-time campers should check with your state parks department to see if they offer loaner equipment for new campers — in Georgia, for instance, you can borrow a tent and sleeping pads and ask a ranger to help you set things up and get your campfire started on your first trip. If you have friends who camp often, you may be able to borrow basics from them.
Sleeping bag. If you’re going on a summer camping trip, any sleeping bag you already have will be just fine. If you don’t have a bag, don’t spend a lot of money: Look for one with a man-made filler (it’s cheaper and can handle getting wet better than fancier down versions) and keep in mind that the temperature rating is a bag’s absolute minimum viable temperature, so add 10 degrees to figure out comfortable sleeping temperature.
Sleeping pad. This is the one thing you should probably go ahead and splurge on — which is okay, since a splurge-worthy inflatable pad should cost less than $100. The sleeping pad goes under your bag, between you and the ground, and a good one makes the difference between waking up ready to play in the woods and staying awake all night finding new places to ache.
Tent. If you can’t borrow a tent, buy a lightweight, dome-style tent with flexible poles that sleeps one person more than you need. Tent person-sizes represent the maximum number of people who can fit comfortably into the tent, but if you want to avoid feeling cramped, buy a tent with a little extra room to spread out.
Floor tarp. Buy a sheet of thick, sturdy plastic, and cut a piece slightly larger than the floor of your tent. You’ll pitch your tent on top of this, and it will protect your tent floor from getting torn by debris on the ground. You can buy fancy versions from sports stores, but plain plastic works just fine.
Headlamp. The kids will want flashlights, but make sure you have a couple of cheap LED headlamps so that you can see hands-free for bathroom trips after dark.
Lantern. Nighttime in the woods can surprise you with how dark it actually is. A couple of inexpensive LED lanterns will give you light to cook and see by after the sun goes down.
Campfire Cooking
Cooking over a campfire can be a fun adventure —“it’s like we’re living in Little House on the Prairie” — or a giant pain, depending on how much you enjoy cooking outdoors. We’ve got a few ideas for your campsite cookout — from a super-simple plan that requires nothing more than a little prep work and strategic packing to practically dinner party- worthy recipes that you’ll want to pat yourself on the back for pulling off. Mix and match to come up with your family’s perfect combination of simple and delicious.
The easiest options. All you’ll need to pull off these simple meals is a kettle you can use to boil water over your campfire and a long cooking fork. For lunch when you arrive, prep and pack sandwiches in a cooler or insulated bag. For dinner, cook your favorite hot dogs over the campfire — make sure your cooking forks are long enough so that you can stand a safe distance from the flames. Bring pre-chopped veggies, buns, and condiments in your cooler. For breakfast, use your kettle to boil water to pour over instant oatmeal — pre-measure portions of oatmeal with toppings. You’ll need to bring bowls, plates, and spoons (disposable if you want to keep things simple). You can also use your kettle to make coffee and hot chocolate — you’ll need mugs or insulated cups if you plan to do that.
Breakfast. With a frying pan and a simple cooking grid (basically a metal shelf that acts like a stovetop), it’s not complicated to make eggs and bacon. (Pack ingredients that need to stay cold in your cooler.) You can also thread bacon on a cooking fork, accordion-style, and cook it just as you would a hot dog. If you’re feeling more ambitious, use your frying pan to make a Dutch Baby Pancake, a big, puffed, cake-like pancake that you slice and serve.
Lunch. If you’re aiming for a hot lunch, pack your favorite meats, cheeses, and veggies and a big loaf of French bread. Slice the bread, leaving about 1/4-inch at the bottom of each loaf so that the bread stays together. Spread each slice with butter and mustard and your fixings of choice (you can do all this at home and pack it in your cooler), wrap in foil, and cook over the fire for 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently.
Dinner. One of the easiest dinners is your favorite chili or stew — made and frozen at home and heated in a Dutch oven over your campfire. If you want to cook something more substantial on site, foil packets of meat, chicken, or fish and vegetables are easy and yummy — just nestle them in the fire and use heat-proof gloves to pull them out when they’re ready. (You can even make a pasta version with goat cheese and tomatoes.)
Dessert. S’mores are classic: Roast a marshmallow to golden brown, and sandwich is with a square of chocolate between two graham crackers. You can vary this by slicing a banana down the middle, stuffing it with mini marshmallows and chocolate chips, wrapping in foil, and cooking it on the fire for about 10 minutes.
First-Time Campout Schedule
Need help figuring what to actually, you know, do on your first camping trip? Here’s a simple schedule for a one-night camp:
Day 1: Morning
Load the car and head off to your already reserved campsite. Plan to arrive around 2 P.M.
Day 1: Afternoon
Set up your tent and campsite as soon as you arrive.
Explore the area around your campsite and define your roam-free boundaries together.
Engage in planned outdoor activity — hiking, canoeing, biking, etc.
Day 1: Evening
Start your fire for dinner around 7 P.M.
Cook, eat, sing, read, stargaze, etc., until bedtime
Day 2: Morning
Plan on everyone waking early and wanting breakfast by about 8 A.M.
Engage in planned morning activity—hiking, canoeing, biking, etc.
Day 2: Afternoon
Be back at your campsite about two hours before checkout time. (After a few trips, you can trim this down to one hour.)
Load up your gear, and head home.
Fun Things to Do on Your Camping Adventure
“Something magical happens when you are outside that doesn’t happen any other place,” says Aist, and a family camping trip is the perfect time to make a little outside magic. If you’re new to camping and nature study, you may need to take a more active role in helping your crew explore the natural world around them. If that’s the case, don’t worry — after a few trips, or even just a few hours, your kids will be playing outside like pros.
Set a collaborative camp scavenger hunt.
Before your trip, come up with a list of nature discoveries you’re likely to make at your campsite. Mix in easy-to-find items (a pinecone, a wildflower, a stick you could use to make a slingshot) with more specific items (a robin, a loblolly pine tree, a bird’s nest). If you like, give everyone an inexpensive camera to record their finds and compile them into a camping discoveries photo book when you get home, or keep a family nature journal as a record of your trip. As time goes by, your scavenger hunts can get increasingly sophisticated.
Set aside free time to just play.
And don’t expect kids to run off and play when you’re doing something cool, like building a fire or setting up the tent — they’ll want to participate in those activities, too, at least the first few times. Instead, set aside time for everyone, including you, to ramble, roam, and explore. Climb trees, look for fish in brook, follow the sound of a waterfall, try to discover the source of that sweet, floral smell. The more you’re willing to demonstrate how fun nature exploration can be, the more likely your kids are to follow suit.
Take advantage of your surroundings.
Parks often have cool natural features to explore, so get familiar with your destination so that you can pack accordingly. If there’s a lake, swimming hole, or lots of brooks and waterfalls, bring your swimsuits. If the park is crisscrossed with cool hiking trails, you’ll want to pack trail packs and hiking shoes. If the park has a croquet lawn or shuffleboard or some other set-up, file that away in your brain as an option in case something else doesn’t go as planned.
Don’t be afraid to do nothing.
Sometimes, it’s perfectly fine to let kids be bored and figure out how to stop being bored on their own. Resist the urge to schedule every minute or jump in with a solution when your kids complain of boredom.
Have night-time activities planned.
Everyone will be tired after a day of active play, but don’t be surprised if the kids are too hyped up to easily fall asleep. Plan evening as a wind-down process: Start slowing things down after dinner by singing and stargazing around the campfire. Read a book or listen to an audiobook. Alternatively, you may want to play cards or a board game by lantern light and save the reading until everyone is snuggled up in her own sleeping bag. Gradually slow down the tempo of your activities until everyone’s ready to go to sleep.
What If It Rains?
Plan your trip with an eye on the weather, but if the forecast isn’t your friend, don’t assume the campout is over. Here’s how to love a rainy campout.
Play in the rain.
In summer, when it’s raining but not storming, a rainy day hike can be refreshing, taking the edge off the heat, and it’s fascinating to watch the nature around you change in wet weather. Put on your rain gear and shoes that can handle a little mud, and continue with business as usual.
Be prepared.
Toss a couple of things into your pack that will liven up an afternoon in the tent — we like our plastic card deck (it can handle a little moisture), a fast-paced but strategic board game (that doesn’t use a lot of pieces), and a couple of ready-to-play audiobooks.
Relocate hanging out and cooking to a covered area.
Bigger campgrounds often have covered cooking and recreation areas, but you can also strategically drape tarps to create dry spot.
If the weather is stormy (with thunder and lightning or tornado watches on the radar) or if you’re genuinely miserable, pack up and go home. Your camping trip should be a fun adventure; it’s totally OK to call it quits if you stop having a good time.
(We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.) This was originally published in the summer 2017 issue of HSL.
Book Review: Down to Earth
A book with a homeschooling scientist as the main character and lots of cool geology facts? We love to see it.
Down to Earth by Betty Culley
Down to Earth is a quirky middle grades gem. Homeschooler Henry is obsessed with rocks, so of course he’s excited when a meteorite lands in his family’s field. He’s practically memorized all the rocks in his R volume of the encyclopedia, but he’s not prepared for this rock’s mysterious powers: It’s got some weird connection to the local water that causes floods and droughts to happen. So Henry does what any good homeschooler does when confronted with a Big Question: He does research, and he connects with experts in the field.
I’m always looking for good books with homeschooled main characters, so I was happy to discover this one, and I really loved that Henry’s curiosity feels authentic — he’s a bright kid with a deep interest in geology, and his homeschool experience felt totally relatable. I always have a soft spot for magical realism, and I liked how gently this book nudges the edges of the scientifically possible, reminding readers that science and magic have been tangled together throughout history. It’s also nice to have a male tween-age character who is intelligent, emotionally adjusted, and has healthy family and social connections — and I loved the scientist (tracking the meteor) who befriends him.
I think this book is just delightful. Recommended for middle grades readers, kids who love science (especially geology), homeschoolers in search of a book with a character who learns like them, and anyone looking for a genre-bending story that blends science and magic.
(We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.)
Homeschooling Isn’t Just for the Kids
5 surprising ways to build a homeschool life that works for your whole family — including you. “If your homeschool isn’t giving you personal satisfaction most of the time, something needs to change.”
5 surprising ways to build a homeschool life that works for your whole family — including you.
“If your homeschool isn’t giving you personal satisfaction most of the time, something needs to change,” says life coach and homeschool consultant Gillian O’Keefe.
O’Keefe says it’s easy to fall into a rut of thinking “this is just the way things are,” but very few homeschoolers are in a position where they’re helpless to the daily grind. “Homeschooling isn’t a punch-the-clock job — it’s a job that you make up each and every day as you go. So if something’s not working for you about your homeschool, all you have to do is change what you’re doing. You just have to know where to start.”
We bet you’ll find the inspiration you need to look at your homeschool life in a new way in these stories from real homeschool moms who took big, bold measures to get past a homeschool hump, from quitting homeschooling to keeping homeschool going after their kids opted back into traditional school. Whether your homeschool could use a little injection of energy or a big makeover, use the big perspective shifts in these stories to inspire your happiest homeschool year yet.
“I took a sabbatical.”
I homeschooled my oldest straight through high school, but by the time he graduated, I was genuinely burned out — even though I had an 11-year-old and a 13-year-old still learning at home. I tried to get motivated about another year of homeschooling, but that whole summer, as my oldest was getting ready to go to college, I kept thinking, “I just want a break.” And not surprisingly, when the school year started back up, everything felt so ridiculously hard.
My husband works in academia, so I am familiar with the idea of a sabbatical — a planned break from your everyday responsibilities that gives professors a little space to do their own work. And I thought, “I need a sabbatical!” So I took one.
I didn’t move to Tibet. I was still at home, doing laundry and cooking dinner and even going over tricky math problems. But we switched all the boys’ school work to things they could do 90-percent independently. They took online classes and a couple of local classes, and I was just there for support, like a regular mom with kids in regular school. I took a landscape painting class and beginning French at community college, read a big stack of books, none of which talked about homeschooling, and genuinely enjoyed spending time with my family again. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would ever want to go back to homeschooling, but by the next spring, I was eyeing new curriculums with a twinkle in my eye. I didn’t hate homeschooling. I just needed a break. And, three years later, I’m still running on the energy that sabbatical gave me.
—Allison
“I started a homeschool group.”
I liked homeschooling from the very first day, but finding a homeschool group made me feel like Goldilocks: This one was too big, that one was too strict, the other one was too unreliable. I worried and worried about socialization and never having friends for way too long before I realized that I could start a group myself.
This was about 10 years ago, when my girls were 6 and 9 years old. I started by asking a couple of families I’d met through other groups if they would be interested in getting together for a regular park day. (I didn’t want to be a jerk, so I made sure to pick a day that didn’t conflict with another group’s regular park day. I was really nervous about making other groups mad, but it turned out that no one but me really cared.) The park days got pretty popular, and another mom suggested we buy group tickets for The Nutcracker. Soon, we were doing field trips regularly, and a couple of years later, we’d started a co-op.
Both of my kids are done homeschooling now— my oldest is in college and my youngest decided she wanted to go to a private high school with some of her friends — but that homeschool group is still going strong. For me, it became a really important homeschool lesson: You may not find what you’re looking for on the rack, so to speak. Sometimes, to get what you want, you have to make what you want.
—Carolyn
“I stopped teaching math.”
Almost from the first day we started homeschooling, my daughter Alana and I were fighting over math. Every single math lesson seemed to end with one of us in tears. I had nightmares about math. Alana would yell at me that she was stupid, that she hated math. Sometimes she would yell that she hated me. This was so, so, so not what I envisioned when we started homeschooling.
I was talking to my friend, who is a high school English teacher, about how hard math was for us, and she laughed and said, “That’s why I don’t teach math!” She was just kidding, but it made me think. I hated math. I’d never been good at it in school, and it brought up all kinds of stress and insecurity from me. It was so obvious I was passing that on to Alana. And there was no good reason for it. I didn’t have to teach her math.
And I stopped, that day. I bought Teaching Textbooks, which has DVDs with instructions, for that first year, and the next year and every year after that, I signed her up for homeschool math classes at a hybrid school. She’s a junior this year taking trigonometry. Next year, she’s going to take calculus. She genuinely likes math, and, as it turns out, she’s actually pretty good at it.
Outsourcing a subject so completely wasn’t how I envisioned our homeschool. But it was the best thing for both of us, and quitting math has opened up the space for us to have a happy homeschool and a happy relationship, two things I’m really proud of.
—Julia
“I got rid of our school room.”
When we first started homeschooling, I was very excited to turn our dining room into a school room. I bought a big map and a bunch of Ikea bookcases and thought it was the greatest thing ever. I was so proud of that room. It was like having it proved that we were “real homeschoolers.”
But the “school room,” as I liked to call it, soon became one big messy space. However much I cleaned it up, it always felt messy and cluttered. No one wanted to spend time there. The kids did their work at the kitchen table or on the living room floor or on the patio. The school room just sat there gathering dust.
Last Thanksgiving, a bunch of out-of-town relatives decided to visit us. In order to have enough chairs for everyone, we had to move our old dining room table out of the garage and back into the dining room, and I had to pack up all the books and manipulative and science equipment and move it to the garage. A couple of times, one of the kids would say, “Hey, where’s the microscope?” and go find it in its plastic bin. But most of the stuff, nobody missed. Nobody was looking for it. Nobody wanted it.
We started eating at the dining room table again. The kids do their work there sometimes. My partner and I have our morning coffee there. Having a school room is never what made us real homeschoolers. Now our whole house is the school room, the whole world is our school.
—Gwen
“I kept homeschooling after my kids quit.”
Homeschooling was one of my favorite things I ever did, so when both my kids decided they wanted to go to our public school when they started middle school, I was pretty disappointed. I liked seeing them happy, and there was no question that they were where they wanted to be. But I missed homeschooling.
I looked for a job, but my resume had a huge gap and I didn’t have particularly great experience in anything. I couldn’t even get an interview for a cashier job at a craft store. We’d gotten used to living on one income, the kids still needed a ride to soccer and karate, and I still did the shopping and cooking and housework-type stuff, but I was bored out of my mind.
Then one day, when I was sitting home watching the clock for school pick-up time, I thought, well, maybe I’ll try to do that geometry program we didn’t get to use. Learning new things with the kids was my favorite part of homeschooling, and it turned out I liked learning things on my own, too. I learned geometry and algebra, Revolutionary War history, all about the Stuart kings of England, The Great Gatsby, all kinds of things. I pretty much homeschooled myself, and I ended up going back to college at 47 to study environmental science.
—Christine
Great Books for Kids Who Want to Start Their Own Business
If you have a kid who dreams of starting a business, these readalouds will help inspire them.
If you have a young entrepreneur, you’ll want to add these books — about kids who launch their own small businesses — to your homeschool reading list.
Camila’s Lemonade Stand by Lizzie Duncan
When Camila can’t afford a ride on the Ferris wheel, a friend suggests that she start a business to finance her fun. This book has great tips on the steps kids need to take to get their first business up and running, but kids will especially enjoy the story of how two friends with competing businesses deal with their conflict. (Elementary)
The Toothpaste Millionaire by Jean Merrill
Sixth-grader Rufus Mayflower’s determination to save money on toothpaste makes him a millionaire in this breezy guide to capitalism from The Pushcart War author. This was published in the 1970s and is set in 1960s Ohio — it’s not surprising that Rufus (who is Black) has to deal with racism from neighbors and competitors, and the book doesn’t shy away from this though it’s not a main focus. A plus: The book encourages kids to work through some of the starting-a-business math as they read — inflation may have changed the numbers in the problems, but doing the math gives kids a clearer understanding of the financial side of business. (Middle grades)
Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur by Luke Sharpe
Kid entrepreneur extraordinaire Billy Sure organizes a contest to find the next great kid inventor. Billy’s riding a middle school success train as the inventor of the All Ball (which can change into any sports ball with the press of a button) and the CEO of Sure Thing, Inc., which he runs with the help of his best friend (and CFO) Manny. This is definitely a little silly and over-the-top, but that’s probably why it makes such a fun readaloud. (Elementary)
Lunch Money by Andrew Clements
Rivals team up in a mini comic-publishing business that hits a bump when their principal outlaws comic books at school. This one is fun because it reminds kids that creativity can build a business — Greg’s talent for drawing comics is what makes his business work — and while his goal is to make money, he learns that business is about more than that. Kids can practice their math skills right along with Greg and Maura and learn from them how to approach adults about their business ideas and how to deal with obstacles. (Elementary)
Find your next favorite book!
Visit our summer reading guide for more summer reading inspiration.
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
An inherited lawn mower sends an ordinary boy into a whole new tax bracket. If your kids are interested in understanding how capitalism and the U.S. economy actually work — Paulsen’s version is so idealized as to be ridiculous, but that’s what makes it so great as a conversation starter. The more you read and discuss, the more problems you’ll discover. (Elementary)
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
A people-smart boy and his math-smart sister compete to see who can build the most successful lemonade stand empire. This book really gets into the nitty-gritty of what makes a business work, from the skills people need, to the accounting side, to things like marketing and public relations, and it does this in a way that recognizes that there’s no one right way to run a business. Bonus points for navigating a challenging but loving sibling relationship that turns a little too competitive. (Middle grades)
Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin
Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey start their own business, complete with officers, advertising, and a dedicated phone line. I feel like so many of us loved the Baby-Sitters Club because they managed to run a hugely successful business while still being normal middle school girls (and later Logan!) with regular middle school girl interests. A lot of books for entrepreneurs focus on what could be considered a very white male-centric version of economic success, and while that appeals to some kids, it’s definitely not the only way to go into business. The Baby-Sitters Club offers a different version of business success. (Middle grades)
Henry Reed’s Baby-Sitting Service by Keith Robertson
Henry and Midge team up for a summer of baby-sitting for profit in this sequel to Henry Reed, Inc. Yes, there’s some weird 1950s gender stuff going on, but it’s still a lot of fun: Expat Henry is visiting family in New Jersey and determined to get a summer business going — and when his market research suggests that baby-sitting is where the customers are, he dives into childcare with lots of enthusiasm and only the tiniest bit of actual experience. Henry’s thinking around business decisions is interesting, and he takes the details of his business very seriously — which gives kids a framework for how they might want to approach some of their own business making decisions. (Middle grades)
Not for a Billion Gazillion Dollars by Paula Danziger
Matthew’s got a million ideas to make big bucks on his summer vacation—but entrepreneurship may be harder than he thought. It’s got that 80s movie vibe (including some bits that might be considered a little racy by modern standards), but I’ve included it because even though it does end up with a successful business big, Matthew fails A LOT (and often hilariously) along the way, which is something a lot of entrepreneurs experience. (Middle grades)
This list is adapted from the summer 2016 issue of HSL. (We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.)
How to Find the Big Picture for Your Homeschool
It’s easy to get so caught up in your everyday to-learn lists that you lose sight of the bigger picture of what you want your homeschool life to feel like.
It’s easy to get so caught up in your everyday to-learn lists that you lose sight of the bigger picture of what you want your homeschool life to feel like.
A lot of us start homeschooling with a big, shiny vision of what our homeschool lives will look like. We have homeschool philosophies and founding principles. We have stacks of books and plans. (Some of us start by the seat of our pants and no clear idea what we’re going to do, and that’s fair, too!) But somewhere along the way, we get pulled into the busy-ness of our everyday life — the never-ending to-do list of home-keeping and kid raising and homeschooling — and that big picture we started with fades into the distance. We haven’t forgotten it, exactly, but it doesn’t feel relevant to what we’re trying to do on a busy Tuesday morning.
It is, though! That big picture is the whole point of homeschooling. It allows us to see where we can improve when we need to, it helps us make good choices with our time and money, and — maybe most important — it reminds us why we’re homeschooling in the first place. When people feel like they’re struggling in their everyday homeschool, it’s often BECAUSE that big picture has gotten lost. We’ve lost touch with the most important metric for measuring our homeschool success. We’re making choices and plans based on the moment and not the horizon — and if we do that enough, we can feel like we’re going nowhere.
The good news is that your big picture homeschool is still there — you just have to get back in touch with it. Here are some strategies to help you do just that.
Get back to your mission statement.
Many of us write a homeschool mission statement in that first fever of homeschool excitement and forget about it. But a clear mission statement is what gives your homeschool focus, says Lillian Ahern, a Pennsylvania-based life coach and homeschool mom. “Your mission statement is what helps keep you on track, helps you choose between Option A and Option B, helps you stay in touch with the values that matter to you, and helps you set goals and celebrate success,” say Ahern. “It’s one of those crucial things that we often don’t realize we need.”
If you have a mission statement, dust it off and make sure it still reflects the homeschool you’re trying to create. If you don’t have a mission statement, now’s the time to write one. The most effective mission statements are concise, specific, and answer three questions: what will your homeschool do? how will you do it? what will be the end result? (Ahern says her family’s mission statement is: “The mission of the Ahern family homeschool is to educate our children thoroughly in the Charlotte Mason learning tradition at home, using living books and nature study as the foundation for an education that will instill in our children a love of and confidence in learning and allow them to find jobs or get into college after graduation.”)
Feel your way.
Often, it’s easy to focus on the things we want to do in our homeschool, but successful people put their feelings first, says Lauren Wills, a U.K. life coach who specializes in coaching moms. Wills suggests thinking about how you want your homeschool to feel— peaceful? energized? organized? rigorous? excited?—and to use that feeling as your starting point for every decision.
“If you dream of a relaxed homeschool, but you’re signing up for activities every day of the week, you’re going to feel unfocused,” says Wills. “Or if you want a peaceful homeschool and you’re fighting with your child about math every single day, it’s quite obvious what you need to change.”
Take advantage of group-think.
When homeschool gets out of focus, it can be because you and your kids don’t share a common goal. Maybe your son wants to do more science, while you’re trying to stick with a Classical schedule — or your daughter wants to go to fashion school and is frustrated by a traditional academic schedule. “Focusing means getting on the same page,” says Ahern. The first step? Sitting down with your kids to talk about their goals and expectations.
“The minute you stop saying I and start saying we, magical things can happen in your homeschool,” says Ahern. Once you understand each other’s wants and needs, you can point your homeschool in the right direction. Sometimes that direction is immediately obvious. Other times, it may take some compromise and negotiation to figure it out. Either way, talking about it is the first step.
Lean into the NO.
One of the most effective ways to hone in on what’s important to you is to figure out what you don’t want. There are trade-offs for every choice: If you’re embracing a fully child-led learning style, that means math might end up on the back burner for big stretches of time. If you’re opting into a structured Charlotte Mason homeschool, you won’t have the kind of wild and free forest school experience other homeschoolers share on Instagram. As you articulate what you want your homeschool to be, take some time to spell out what it won’t be, too. Every homeschool is different, but knowing what’s NOT part of your homeschool vision can help keep you from getting distracted by shiny ideas that aren’t true to your particular priorities.
Let go of clutter.
If you’re saving stacks of art projects, curriculum you know you’ll never use again but feel guilty getting rid of, or dusty science supplies that never see any action, cleaning out your school space can have a significant positive impact on your sense of focus, says career coach Beverly Jones.
“When you declutter, you aren’t just cleaning up,” says Jones. “You’re deciding what is valuable and what is not. It’s a physical, practical way to engage in making decisions about what matters to you and what you really want to do.
Kindle Deals for June 13, 2022
Books about plants and the people who love them
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
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The Earth in Her Hands: 75 Extraordinary Women Working in the World of Plants, by Jennifer Jewell, $3.99. Almost all the names in this biographic collection are new to me, and I’ve been fascinated to learn about all the different ways people interact with plants. From the publisher: “In this beautiful and empowering book, Jennifer Jewell introduces 75 inspiring women. Working in wide-reaching fields that include botany, floral design, landscape architecture, farming, herbalism, and food justice, these influencers are creating change from the ground up.”
Flora: Inside the Secret World of Plants, by DK, Smithsonian Institution, and Kew Gardens, $1.99. This book is simply gorgeous. Botany experts from the Smithsonian and Kew Gardens have collaborated to collect spectacular photo illustrations that help to explain all the major groupings of plants, as well as the magnificent variety in all every area of plant anatomy.
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, by Kate Messner, $1.99. This beautiful picture follows a garden through the seasons to see what is happening above and below the surface. Information sections about organic gardening techniques and about each of the creatures encountered in the story provide a great jumping off point for further learning.
Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life: The Plants and Places That Inspired the Iconic Poet, by Marta McDowell, $1.99. Part literary biography, part gardening book, part arty scrapbook, this book has something for everyone. From the publisher: “In Emily Dickinson’s Gardening Life, award-winning author Marta McDowell explores Dickinson’s deep passion for plants and how it inspired and informed her writing. Tracing a year in the garden, the book reveals details few know about Dickinson and adds to our collective understanding of who she was as a person. By weaving together Dickinson’s poems, excerpts from letters, contemporary and historical photography, and botanical art, McDowell offers an enchanting new perspective on one of America’s most celebrated but enigmatic literary figures.”
STILL ON SALE
The Crossover: The Graphic Novel, by Kwame Alexander and Dawud Anyabwile, $1.99. Alexander’s award-winning novel in verse has been given new life in this bold graphic novel adaptation! Kids will love getting to know 12-year-old Josh, who is star on the basketball court and the rap stage.
The Doughnut Fix, by Jessie Janowitz, $1.99. When Tristan moves from New York City to a small town, the ONLY good thing he finds is a sign in a store window promising chocolate cream doughnuts. Even that hope fades after he discovers that the store doesn’t make them anymore. Determined to make something good happen in his life, Tristan begins a quest to make and sell the doughnuts himself. This middle grade book is full of feelings, chocolate, and business plans.
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
The Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste, $1.99. This is another mythology-based book, but grounded in Haitian folklore. Corinne doesn’t believe that jumbies, tricksters that live in the forest, are real. But when a mysterious woman arrives in her town, it is up to Corinne to save the entire island from being taken over by jumbies. This spooky, action-packed adventure will appeal to middle grade readers.
Spirit Hunters, by Ellen Oh, $1.99. This middle grade mystery/horror novel packs a seriously scary punch! Sensitive readers may want to avoid this one; the descriptions of the actions of the angry spirits haunting the main character’s house are intense. Harper has moved to a new town, and there rumors that her house contains evil spirits. Could that be the reason her brother is acting strangely? Both Korean and Jamaican culture are integral parts of the story!
Maya and the Rising Dark, by Rena Barron, $1.99. Rick Riordan fans, this one’s for you! Maya and her friends Frankie and Eli are charming middle school nerds who find themselves in the middle of a high stakes adventure when their Chicago neighborhood fills with creatures from African legend. Maya’s father goes missing, and in trying to track him down Maya learns that she and her friends are part Orisha and have their own supernatural powers.
The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn, $1.99. My tween daughter is a huge fan of Mary Downing Hahn. Here’s what she says: “It’s really good and heartwarming, and it touches on symbolism of friendship and life after death. There are some really interesting plot twists I’d love to talk about but can’t. I’d give it a creep factor of 4/10: no gruesomeness or gore, but rated G for ghosts.”
Even If We Break, by Marieke Nijkamp, $1.99. I’m working my way through Nijkamp’s twisty mystery/thriller books, but I haven’t gotten to this one yet. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Five friends take a trip to a cabin. It's supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways—a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they've been playing for the past three years. But they're all dealing with their own demons, and they're all hiding secrets. And as they start to play the murder mystery game that brought them together in the first place, the lines between the game and reality blend, with deadly consequences. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants to make them pay. Soon, it's a race against time before it's game over—forever.”
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, by Julia Nobel, $1.99. Amy really liked this one. Here’s her review: Emmy’s dad is MIA, and her mom is so busy explaining how other people can be great parents that she never has time to just be Emmy’s parent. Emmy is crushed when her mom ships her off to a fancy British boarding school — until she gets pulled into a mystery involving a super-secret order that may involve her long-missing father. It’s true that I’m a sucker for a boarding school book, but this is the kind of middle grades book I like best: It assumes a smart reader who can connect the pieces, and there’s plenty of action to keep the plot moving and mostly likable, individual characters who make you care about what’s happening. I recommend this one!
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Ellingham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” My caveat: This is the first in a series, so if you can’t stand cliffhangers, be prepared to pick up the next book immediately.
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, $2.99. Amy reviewed this book in 2020, and she loved it! If you love it too, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the first in a long series! Here’s Amy’s review: “So I am very late to join the fan club for Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but let me assure you that I am now FULLY ON BOARD. I wanted something light and escapist that still felt engaging, and lots of people (including my daughter, who queued it up in my Kindle a year or two ago) have recommended the Queen's Thief series, which this book begins, so I thought, well, if not now when? And it turns out, this book is exactly what I wanted. Gen's got one last get-out-of-jail card (literally) to play: If he helps the king's magus recover a mystical ancient treasure, he can earn back his freedom, so accompanying the quest party is the obvious option. Or is it? Everyone on the adventure has secrets, and the dangers are real -- both practical, as they navigate three kingdoms teetering on the brink of war, and supernatural, as they spin the stories of the gods whose treasure they seek. In lots of ways, this is a story about a world more than about specific people or a specific adventure (though I quite liked the people and their adventure), but I feel like you kind of expect that in a fantasy series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see why my mythology-loving daughter recommended this so enthusiastically.”
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi, $2.99. Most of the books in this series are currently on sale! From the publisher: “One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.”
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez, $1.99. Do you know this fascinating piece of American history? During WWII, the US military was desperate to find a secure means of communication. The Marines turned to Navajo speakers to develop a system the Germans could not break. In this memoir, Chester Nez describes his childhood living on a reservation and all the steps that lead to his military achievement. Nez has a knack for telling a compelling story.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender, $1.99. From our Memorable Characters booklist: “This twisty whodunnit is a standout for its diverse cast and lovable protagonist: a Black trans artist who must learn what it really means to love who he is when an anonymous fellow student harasses him with transphobic messages.”
Alan Cole is Not a Coward, by Eric Bell, $1.99. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this funny and poignant middle school story. From the publisher: “Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as exceptional as a goldfish. And—scariest of all—he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove—to Nathan, to the world, to himself—that this goldfish can learn to swim.”
The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey, $1.99. This emotional story about a trans 6th grader trying to navigate middle school is a welcome read. Shane is not questioning his identity; he has been living as male for years. He spends his time working on his graphic novel (sample pages are included in the text!), playing baseball, and hanging out with friends. But when someone threatens to reveal Shane’s birth gender, he has to decide whether he wants to keep living with his secret or be open and face the scrutiny of others.
The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this graphic novel yet, but I’ve seen it on dozens of recommendation lists. Tien is having trouble connecting with his immigrant parents. He has always been fascinated with fairytales. Is there a way his beloved stories can help him tell his parents he is gay?
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Book Review: Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan Series
Here’s an action-packed, steampunk-inspired YA series for teens that is great for kids who love historical fiction or books about World War II. Suzanne explains why Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan series is summer binge reading material.
It’s got adventure, flying whale-beasts, and a brave and resourceful heroine. What more could you want?
In an alternate steampunk Europe on the brink of World War I, a young woman disguises herself as a boy so she can join the British Air Service and serve on their fleet of giant genetically-modified air beasts. Meanwhile, the Central Powers (or Clankers) are building up their army of steam-powered many-legged machines as the inevitable conflict approaches. You want to read these books already, don’t you? But wait, there’s more! All three books (pick up the hardback editions, if you can) have wonderful full-page illustrations by Keith Thompson, including some of the most gorgeous endpapers I’ve ever seen.
Many people are familiar with Scott Westerfeld’s YA science fiction series beginning with Uglies, but it seems that fewer have heard of this steampunk/biopunk alternate history. Marketed as YA, I’ve been recommending it for middle schoolers and up (including adults) ever since it first came out. It’s got adventure, flying whale-beasts, and a brave and resourceful heroine. The series also makes a great side-read for anyone studying World War I, since Westerfeld uses actual history as his jumping-off point and includes historical figures ranging from Archduke Franz Ferdinand to Nikola Tesla. As a bonus, after you’ve read the trilogy (including an extra final chapter and illustration on Westerfeld’s website) you can check out The Manual of Aeronautics, an illustrated guide (by the fabulous Keith Thompson) to the world and technology of Leviathan. What are you waiting for?
Leviathan
Young Scotswoman Deryn Sharp rejects the dresses that a “proper lady” should wear to disguise herself as a boy and study to be a midshipman on one of the great British air-beasts. Meanwhile, Prince Aleksander, son of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, must go on the run after his parents are killed. Will their paths cross when the ship Leviathan crash-lands in Switzerland? (SPOILER: Yes.)
Behemoth
War has broken out, though Alek (an Austrian Clanker) and Deryn (a British Darwinist) still want to work together for peace. After their mission goes awry, however, the friends are separated and their friendship will be tested as they end up on opposite sides of the conflict.
Goliath
Together again, Alek and Deryn are still in the thick of things as their adventures take them to Siberia (where they rescue Nikola Tesla), California (and William Randolph Hearst’s estate), and Mexico (where they get help from Pancho Villa). And don’t forget the bonus chapter!
(We’re Amazon affiliates, so if you purchase something through an Amazon link, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Obviously this doesn’t influence what we recommend, and we link to places other than Amazon.)
Kindle Deals for June 9, 2022
Realistic fiction options for all ages
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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The Boy Who Steals Houses, by C.G. Drews, $0.99. Keep a box of tissues handy; multiple reviews have called this one poignant and likely to tug at your heart strings. From the publisher: “Can two broken boys find their perfect home? By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming, this is a gorgeously told, powerful story. Sam is only fifteen but he and his autistic older brother, Avery, have been abandoned by every relative he's ever known. Now Sam's trying to build a new life for them. He survives by breaking into empty houses when their owners are away, until one day he's caught out when a family returns home. To his amazement this large, chaotic family takes him under their wing - each teenager assuming Sam is a friend of another sibling. Sam finds himself inextricably caught up in their life, and falling for the beautiful Moxie. But Sam has a secret, and his past is about to catch up with him.”
Ivy and Bean Make the Rules, by Annie Barrows, $0.99. Ivy and Bean are back in the perfect summer adventure. When Bean’s older sister goes away to camp, the girls decide to create their own summer camp, where they will (of course) be in charge of everything. Beginner readers will love reading about Ivy and Bean’s adventures with nature, crafts, and chaos. The humor is sophisticated enough that parents won’t get bored during readalouds.
The Doughnut Fix, by Jessie Janowitz, $1.99. When Tristan moves from New York City to a small town, the ONLY good thing he finds is a sign in a store window promising chocolate cream doughnuts. Even that hope fades after he discovers that the store doesn’t make them anymore. Determined to make something good happen in his life, Tristan begins a quest to make and sell the doughnuts himself. This middle grade book is full of feelings, chocolate, and business plans.
The Crossover: The Graphic Novel, by Kwame Alexander and Dawud Anyabwile, $1.99. Alexander’s award-winning novel in verse has been given new life in this bold graphic novel adaptation! Kids will love getting to know 12-year-old Josh, who is star on the basketball court and the rap stage.
STILL ON SALE
The Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste, $1.99. This is another mythology-based book, but grounded in Haitian folklore. Corinne doesn’t believe that jumbies, tricksters that live in the forest, are real. But when a mysterious woman arrives in her town, it is up to Corinne to save the entire island from being taken over by jumbies. This spooky, action-packed adventure will appeal to middle grade readers.
Spirit Hunters, by Ellen Oh, $1.99. This middle grade mystery/horror novel packs a seriously scary punch! Sensitive readers may want to avoid this one; the descriptions of the actions of the angry spirits haunting the main character’s house are intense. Harper has moved to a new town, and there rumors that her house contains evil spirits. Could that be the reason her brother is acting strangely? Both Korean and Jamaican culture are integral parts of the story!
Maya and the Rising Dark, by Rena Barron, $1.99. Rick Riordan fans, this one’s for you! Maya and her friends Frankie and Eli are charming middle school nerds who find themselves in the middle of a high stakes adventure when their Chicago neighborhood fills with creatures from African legend. Maya’s father goes missing, and in trying to track him down Maya learns that she and her friends are part Orisha and have their own supernatural powers.
The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn, $1.99. My tween daughter is a huge fan of Mary Downing Hahn. Here’s what she says: “It’s really good and heartwarming, and it touches on symbolism of friendship and life after death. There are some really interesting plot twists I’d love to talk about but can’t. I’d give it a creep factor of 4/10: no gruesomeness or gore, but rated G for ghosts.”
Even If We Break, by Marieke Nijkamp, $1.99. I’m working my way through Nijkamp’s twisty mystery/thriller books, but I haven’t gotten to this one yet. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Five friends take a trip to a cabin. It's supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways—a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they've been playing for the past three years. But they're all dealing with their own demons, and they're all hiding secrets. And as they start to play the murder mystery game that brought them together in the first place, the lines between the game and reality blend, with deadly consequences. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants to make them pay. Soon, it's a race against time before it's game over—forever.”
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, by Julia Nobel, $1.99. Amy really liked this one. Here’s her review: Emmy’s dad is MIA, and her mom is so busy explaining how other people can be great parents that she never has time to just be Emmy’s parent. Emmy is crushed when her mom ships her off to a fancy British boarding school — until she gets pulled into a mystery involving a super-secret order that may involve her long-missing father. It’s true that I’m a sucker for a boarding school book, but this is the kind of middle grades book I like best: It assumes a smart reader who can connect the pieces, and there’s plenty of action to keep the plot moving and mostly likable, individual characters who make you care about what’s happening. I recommend this one!
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Ellingham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” My caveat: This is the first in a series, so if you can’t stand cliffhangers, be prepared to pick up the next book immediately.
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, $2.99. Amy reviewed this book in 2020, and she loved it! If you love it too, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the first in a long series! Here’s Amy’s review: “So I am very late to join the fan club for Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but let me assure you that I am now FULLY ON BOARD. I wanted something light and escapist that still felt engaging, and lots of people (including my daughter, who queued it up in my Kindle a year or two ago) have recommended the Queen's Thief series, which this book begins, so I thought, well, if not now when? And it turns out, this book is exactly what I wanted. Gen's got one last get-out-of-jail card (literally) to play: If he helps the king's magus recover a mystical ancient treasure, he can earn back his freedom, so accompanying the quest party is the obvious option. Or is it? Everyone on the adventure has secrets, and the dangers are real -- both practical, as they navigate three kingdoms teetering on the brink of war, and supernatural, as they spin the stories of the gods whose treasure they seek. In lots of ways, this is a story about a world more than about specific people or a specific adventure (though I quite liked the people and their adventure), but I feel like you kind of expect that in a fantasy series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see why my mythology-loving daughter recommended this so enthusiastically.”
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard, $3.99. We recommended this one in our summer 2015 reading guide: In Mare’s world, the Silvers have all the power, while the Reds do all the labor. But Mare, a Red, has powers no one suspects in the first novel in this medieval fantasy series.
Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi, $2.99. Most of the books in this series are currently on sale! From the publisher: “One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.”
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez, $1.99. Do you know this fascinating piece of American history? During WWII, the US military was desperate to find a secure means of communication. The Marines turned to Navajo speakers to develop a system the Germans could not break. In this memoir, Chester Nez describes his childhood living on a reservation and all the steps that lead to his military achievement. Nez has a knack for telling a compelling story.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender, $1.99. From our Memorable Characters booklist: “This twisty whodunnit is a standout for its diverse cast and lovable protagonist: a Black trans artist who must learn what it really means to love who he is when an anonymous fellow student harasses him with transphobic messages.”
Alan Cole is Not a Coward, by Eric Bell, $1.99. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this funny and poignant middle school story. From the publisher: “Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as exceptional as a goldfish. And—scariest of all—he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove—to Nathan, to the world, to himself—that this goldfish can learn to swim.”
The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey, $1.99. This emotional story about a trans 6th grader trying to navigate middle school is a welcome read. Shane is not questioning his identity; he has been living as male for years. He spends his time working on his graphic novel (sample pages are included in the text!), playing baseball, and hanging out with friends. But when someone threatens to reveal Shane’s birth gender, he has to decide whether he wants to keep living with his secret or be open and face the scrutiny of others.
The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this graphic novel yet, but I’ve seen it on dozens of recommendation lists. Tien is having trouble connecting with his immigrant parents. He has always been fascinated with fairytales. Is there a way his beloved stories can help him tell his parents he is gay?
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Kindle Deals for June 8, 2022
Middle grade books for Stranger Things fans
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
Never miss a deal! Sign up for an email notification every time we post here.
The Old Willis Place: A Ghost Story, by Mary Downing Hahn, $1.99. My tween daughter is a huge fan of Mary Downing Hahn. Here’s what she says: “It’s really good and heartwarming, and it touches on symbolism of friendship and life after death. There are some really interesting plot twists I’d love to talk about but can’t. I’d give it a creep factor of 4/10: no gruesomeness or gore, but rated G for ghosts.”
Maya and the Rising Dark, by Rena Barron, $1.99. Rick Riordan fans, this one’s for you! Maya and her friends Frankie and Eli are charming middle school nerds who find themselves in the middle of a high stakes adventure when their Chicago neighborhood fills with creatures from African legend. Maya’s father goes missing, and in trying to track him down Maya learns that she and her friends are part Orisha and have their own supernatural powers.
Spirit Hunters, by Ellen Oh, $1.99. This middle grade mystery/horror novel packs a seriously scary punch! Sensitive readers may want to avoid this one; the descriptions of the actions of the angry spirits haunting the main character’s house are intense. Harper has moved to a new town, and there rumors that her house contains evil spirits. Could that be the reason her brother is acting strangely? Both Korean and Jamaican culture are integral parts of the story!
The Jumbies, by Tracey Baptiste, $1.99. This is another mythology-based book, but grounded in Haitian folklore. Corinne doesn’t believe that jumbies, tricksters that live in the forest, are real. But when a mysterious woman arrives in her town, it is up to Corinne to save the entire island from being taken over by jumbies. This spooky, action-packed adventure will appeal to middle grade readers.
STILL ON SALE
Even If We Break, by Marieke Nijkamp, $1.99. I’m working my way through Nijkamp’s twisty mystery/thriller books, but I haven’t gotten to this one yet. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Five friends take a trip to a cabin. It's supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways—a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they've been playing for the past three years. But they're all dealing with their own demons, and they're all hiding secrets. And as they start to play the murder mystery game that brought them together in the first place, the lines between the game and reality blend, with deadly consequences. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants to make them pay. Soon, it's a race against time before it's game over—forever.”
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, by Julia Nobel, $1.99. Amy really liked this one. Here’s her review: Emmy’s dad is MIA, and her mom is so busy explaining how other people can be great parents that she never has time to just be Emmy’s parent. Emmy is crushed when her mom ships her off to a fancy British boarding school — until she gets pulled into a mystery involving a super-secret order that may involve her long-missing father. It’s true that I’m a sucker for a boarding school book, but this is the kind of middle grades book I like best: It assumes a smart reader who can connect the pieces, and there’s plenty of action to keep the plot moving and mostly likable, individual characters who make you care about what’s happening. I recommend this one!
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Ellingham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” My caveat: This is the first in a series, so if you can’t stand cliffhangers, be prepared to pick up the next book immediately.
Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, $2.99. Amy reviewed this book in 2020, and she loved it! If you love it too, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the first in a long series! Here’s Amy’s review: “So I am very late to join the fan club for Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but let me assure you that I am now FULLY ON BOARD. I wanted something light and escapist that still felt engaging, and lots of people (including my daughter, who queued it up in my Kindle a year or two ago) have recommended the Queen's Thief series, which this book begins, so I thought, well, if not now when? And it turns out, this book is exactly what I wanted. Gen's got one last get-out-of-jail card (literally) to play: If he helps the king's magus recover a mystical ancient treasure, he can earn back his freedom, so accompanying the quest party is the obvious option. Or is it? Everyone on the adventure has secrets, and the dangers are real -- both practical, as they navigate three kingdoms teetering on the brink of war, and supernatural, as they spin the stories of the gods whose treasure they seek. In lots of ways, this is a story about a world more than about specific people or a specific adventure (though I quite liked the people and their adventure), but I feel like you kind of expect that in a fantasy series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see why my mythology-loving daughter recommended this so enthusiastically.”
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard, $3.99. We recommended this one in our summer 2015 reading guide: In Mare’s world, the Silvers have all the power, while the Reds do all the labor. But Mare, a Red, has powers no one suspects in the first novel in this medieval fantasy series.
Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi, $2.99. Most of the books in this series are currently on sale! From the publisher: “One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.”
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez, $1.99. Do you know this fascinating piece of American history? During WWII, the US military was desperate to find a secure means of communication. The Marines turned to Navajo speakers to develop a system the Germans could not break. In this memoir, Chester Nez describes his childhood living on a reservation and all the steps that lead to his military achievement. Nez has a knack for telling a compelling story.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender, $1.99. From our Memorable Characters booklist: “This twisty whodunnit is a standout for its diverse cast and lovable protagonist: a Black trans artist who must learn what it really means to love who he is when an anonymous fellow student harasses him with transphobic messages.”
Alan Cole is Not a Coward, by Eric Bell, $1.99. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this funny and poignant middle school story. From the publisher: “Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as exceptional as a goldfish. And—scariest of all—he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove—to Nathan, to the world, to himself—that this goldfish can learn to swim.”
The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey, $1.99. This emotional story about a trans 6th grader trying to navigate middle school is a welcome read. Shane is not questioning his identity; he has been living as male for years. He spends his time working on his graphic novel (sample pages are included in the text!), playing baseball, and hanging out with friends. But when someone threatens to reveal Shane’s birth gender, he has to decide whether he wants to keep living with his secret or be open and face the scrutiny of others.
The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this graphic novel yet, but I’ve seen it on dozens of recommendation lists. Tien is having trouble connecting with his immigrant parents. He has always been fascinated with fairytales. Is there a way his beloved stories can help him tell his parents he is gay?
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Kindle Deals for June 7, 2022
Mystery series and standalones!
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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Five on a Treasure Island, by Enid Blyton, $0.99. Enid Blyton is one of the most famous children’s authors in Britain, but I’ve found that few people in the US are familiar with her books. The Famous Five series was originally published more than 50 years ago, but the stories feel timeless. Fresh illustrations are designed to hook contemporary readers. Middle grade readers will enjoy the mysterious adventures of 4 kids and a dog in the British countryside.
The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane, by Julia Nobel, $1.99. Amy really liked this one. Here’s her review: Emmy’s dad is MIA, and her mom is so busy explaining how other people can be great parents that she never has time to just be Emmy’s parent. Emmy is crushed when her mom ships her off to a fancy British boarding school — until she gets pulled into a mystery involving a super-secret order that may involve her long-missing father. It’s true that I’m a sucker for a boarding school book, but this is the kind of middle grades book I like best: It assumes a smart reader who can connect the pieces, and there’s plenty of action to keep the plot moving and mostly likable, individual characters who make you care about what’s happening. I recommend this one!
Even If We Break, by Marieke Nijkamp, $1.99. I’m working my way through Nijkamp’s twisty mystery/thriller books, but I haven’t gotten to this one yet. Here’s the publisher’s description: “Five friends take a trip to a cabin. It's supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways—a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they've been playing for the past three years. But they're all dealing with their own demons, and they're all hiding secrets. And as they start to play the murder mystery game that brought them together in the first place, the lines between the game and reality blend, with deadly consequences. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants to make them pay. Soon, it's a race against time before it's game over—forever.”
Truly Devious, by Maureen Johnson, $2.99. From our summer 2018 reading list: “Ellingham Academy is one of the most competitive private schools in the country—and also the scene of one of the country’s most notorious unsolved mysteries. New student Stevie Bell is determined to put her true crime obsession to work on Ellingham’s famous cold case, but the murderer may not be ancient history after all.” My caveat: This is the first in a series, so if you can’t stand cliffhangers, be prepared to pick up the next book immediately.
STILL ON SALE
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, $2.99. Amy reviewed this book in 2020, and she loved it! If you love it too, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the first in a long series! Here’s Amy’s review: “So I am very late to join the fan club for Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but let me assure you that I am now FULLY ON BOARD. I wanted something light and escapist that still felt engaging, and lots of people (including my daughter, who queued it up in my Kindle a year or two ago) have recommended the Queen's Thief series, which this book begins, so I thought, well, if not now when? And it turns out, this book is exactly what I wanted. Gen's got one last get-out-of-jail card (literally) to play: If he helps the king's magus recover a mystical ancient treasure, he can earn back his freedom, so accompanying the quest party is the obvious option. Or is it? Everyone on the adventure has secrets, and the dangers are real -- both practical, as they navigate three kingdoms teetering on the brink of war, and supernatural, as they spin the stories of the gods whose treasure they seek. In lots of ways, this is a story about a world more than about specific people or a specific adventure (though I quite liked the people and their adventure), but I feel like you kind of expect that in a fantasy series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see why my mythology-loving daughter recommended this so enthusiastically.”
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard, $3.99. We recommended this one in our summer 2015 reading guide: In Mare’s world, the Silvers have all the power, while the Reds do all the labor. But Mare, a Red, has powers no one suspects in the first novel in this medieval fantasy series.
Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi, $2.99. Most of the books in this series are currently on sale! From the publisher: “One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.”
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez, $1.99. Do you know this fascinating piece of American history? During WWII, the US military was desperate to find a secure means of communication. The Marines turned to Navajo speakers to develop a system the Germans could not break. In this memoir, Chester Nez describes his childhood living on a reservation and all the steps that lead to his military achievement. Nez has a knack for telling a compelling story.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender, $1.99. From our Memorable Characters booklist: “This twisty whodunnit is a standout for its diverse cast and lovable protagonist: a Black trans artist who must learn what it really means to love who he is when an anonymous fellow student harasses him with transphobic messages.”
Alan Cole is Not a Coward, by Eric Bell, $1.99. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this funny and poignant middle school story. From the publisher: “Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as exceptional as a goldfish. And—scariest of all—he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove—to Nathan, to the world, to himself—that this goldfish can learn to swim.”
The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey, $1.99. This emotional story about a trans 6th grader trying to navigate middle school is a welcome read. Shane is not questioning his identity; he has been living as male for years. He spends his time working on his graphic novel (sample pages are included in the text!), playing baseball, and hanging out with friends. But when someone threatens to reveal Shane’s birth gender, he has to decide whether he wants to keep living with his secret or be open and face the scrutiny of others.
The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this graphic novel yet, but I’ve seen it on dozens of recommendation lists. Tien is having trouble connecting with his immigrant parents. He has always been fascinated with fairytales. Is there a way his beloved stories can help him tell his parents he is gay?
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
Kindle Deals for June 6, 2022
Explore a new series!
Today's Best Book Deals for Your Homeschool
(Prices are correct as of the time of writing, but y'all know sales move fast — check before you click the buy button! These are Amazon links — read more about how we use affiliate links to help support some of the costs of the HSL blog here.)
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Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi, $2.99. Most of the books in this series are currently on sale! From the publisher: “One touch is all it takes. One touch, and Juliette Ferrars can leave a fully grown man gasping for air. One touch, and she can kill. No one knows why Juliette has such incredible power. It feels like a curse, a burden that one person alone could never bear. But The Reestablishment sees it as a gift, sees her as an opportunity. An opportunity for a deadly weapon. Juliette has never fought for herself before. But when she’s reunited with the one person who ever cared about her, she finds a strength she never knew she had.”
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner, $2.99. Amy reviewed this book in 2020, and she loved it! If you love it too, you’ll be pleased to know it’s the first in a long series! Here’s Amy’s review: “So I am very late to join the fan club for Megan Whalen Turner's The Thief, but let me assure you that I am now FULLY ON BOARD. I wanted something light and escapist that still felt engaging, and lots of people (including my daughter, who queued it up in my Kindle a year or two ago) have recommended the Queen's Thief series, which this book begins, so I thought, well, if not now when? And it turns out, this book is exactly what I wanted. Gen's got one last get-out-of-jail card (literally) to play: If he helps the king's magus recover a mystical ancient treasure, he can earn back his freedom, so accompanying the quest party is the obvious option. Or is it? Everyone on the adventure has secrets, and the dangers are real -- both practical, as they navigate three kingdoms teetering on the brink of war, and supernatural, as they spin the stories of the gods whose treasure they seek. In lots of ways, this is a story about a world more than about specific people or a specific adventure (though I quite liked the people and their adventure), but I feel like you kind of expect that in a fantasy series. I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see why my mythology-loving daughter recommended this so enthusiastically.”
Caraval, by Stephanie Garber, $2.99. This atmospheric YA trilogy is now complete, so it’s the perfect time to start reading! Scarlett and Tella have always dreamed of seeing Caraval, an elaborate yearly performance with audience participation. When they finally make it to the show, Tella is kidnapped and whisked into the performance. Rescuing her becomes a game for the whole audience, but if Scarlett does not get to her first, Tella might be lost forever. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games and like fantasy elements, this might be the perfect series for you.
Red Queen, by Victoria Aveyard, $3.99. We recommended this one in our summer 2015 reading guide: In Mare’s world, the Silvers have all the power, while the Reds do all the labor. But Mare, a Red, has powers no one suspects in the first novel in this medieval fantasy series.
STILL ON SALE
The Tycoons: How Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan Invented the American Supereconomy, by Charles R. Morris, $2.99. The last 1800s saw changes to the American economy that have permanently altered this country, and these men played a big role. From the publisher: “The modern American economy was the creation of four men: Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Jay Gould, and J. P. Morgan. They were the giants of the Gilded Age, a moment of riotous growth that established America as the richest, most inventive, and most productive country on the planet. Acclaimed author Charles R. Morris vividly brings the men and their times to life. The ruthlessly competitive Carnegie, the imperial Rockefeller, and the provocateur Gould were obsessed with progress, experiment, and speed. They were balanced by Morgan, the gentleman businessman, who fought, instead, for a global trust in American business. Through their antagonism and their verve, they built an industrial behemoth—and a country of middle-class consumers. The Tycoons tells the incredible story of how these four determined men wrenched the economy into the modern age, inventing a nation of full economic participation that could not have been imagined only a few decades earlier.”
Code Talker: The First and Only Memoir by One of the Original Navajo Code Talkers of WWII, by Chester Nez, $1.99. Do you know this fascinating piece of American history? During WWII, the US military was desperate to find a secure means of communication. The Marines turned to Navajo speakers to develop a system the Germans could not break. In this memoir, Chester Nez describes his childhood living on a reservation and all the steps that lead to his military achievement. Nez has a knack for telling a compelling story.
That Wild Country: An Epic Journey Through the Past, Present, and Future of America’s Public Lands, by Mark Kenyon, $1.99. Adults and older kids feeling the strain of being indoors may also enjoy a little vicarious travel to some amazing places — our National Parks. Mark Kenyon combines historical fact with a travelogue of his own experiences at Yellowstone, Arches, Grand Teton, and other parks.
Leah on the Offbeat, by Becky Albertalli, $2.99. I haven’t read this sequel to Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (made into a movie as Love, Simon), but I’m eager to find out more about what happens with Simon’s best friend. Leah on the Offbeat was the Goodreads YA book of the year! From the flap: When it comes to drumming, Leah Burke is usually on beat—but real life isn’t always so rhythmic. An anomaly in her friend group, she’s the only child of a young, single mom, and her life is decidedly less privileged. She loves to draw but is too self-conscious to show it. And even though her mom knows she’s bisexual, she hasn’t mustered the courage to tell her friends—not even her openly gay BFF, Simon.
Felix Ever After, by Kacen Callender, $1.99. From our Memorable Characters booklist: “This twisty whodunnit is a standout for its diverse cast and lovable protagonist: a Black trans artist who must learn what it really means to love who he is when an anonymous fellow student harasses him with transphobic messages.”
Alan Cole is Not a Coward, by Eric Bell, $1.99. Middle-grade readers will appreciate this funny and poignant middle school story. From the publisher: “Alan Cole can’t stand up to his cruel brother, Nathan. He can’t escape the wrath of his demanding father, who thinks he’s about as exceptional as a goldfish. And—scariest of all—he can’t let the cute boy across the cafeteria know he has a crush on him. But when Nathan discovers Alan’s secret, his older brother announces a high-stakes round of Cole vs. Cole. Each brother must complete seven nearly impossible tasks; whoever finishes the most wins the game. If Alan doesn’t want to be outed to all of Evergreen Middle School, he’s got to become the most well-known kid in school, get his first kiss, and stand up to Dad. Alan’s determined to prove—to Nathan, to the world, to himself—that this goldfish can learn to swim.”
The Other Boy, by M.G. Hennessey, $1.99. This emotional story about a trans 6th grader trying to navigate middle school is a welcome read. Shane is not questioning his identity; he has been living as male for years. He spends his time working on his graphic novel (sample pages are included in the text!), playing baseball, and hanging out with friends. But when someone threatens to reveal Shane’s birth gender, he has to decide whether he wants to keep living with his secret or be open and face the scrutiny of others.
The Magic Fish, by Trung Le Nguyen, $1.99. I haven’t had a chance to read this graphic novel yet, but I’ve seen it on dozens of recommendation lists. Tien is having trouble connecting with his immigrant parents. He has always been fascinated with fairytales. Is there a way his beloved stories can help him tell his parents he is gay?
The Silver Arrow, by Lev Grossman, $2.99. This was one of my daughter’s favorite books of 2020, and the second book in the series just came out! When Kate’s uncle bring her a very unusual birthday present (a sentient train), Kate and her brother set off on an amazing adventure. Along the way, they pick up and drop off countless animals and begin to understand the purpose of the magic train. Grossman has created a really interesting world with a subtle environmental allegory.
The Mandalorian: Allies and Enemies, by Lucasfilm Press, $3.99. This book is not great literature, but if you are looking for a high interest book for a reluctant reader or big Star Wars fan, this book will do the trick. It’s not a story, per se, but a guide to all the characters in The Mandalorian (think “a nonfiction take on a fictional world”).
Choose Your Destiny: A Finn and Poe Adventure, by Cavan Scott, $3.99. Choose your own path in this fun adventure story! Finn and Poe are on a mission for the Resistance. The reader gets to make choices and can go through the book multiple times to find all the different endings.
The Concise Human Body Book: An Illustrated Guide to its Structure, Function, and Disorders, by DK Publishing, $1.99. When your students are ready for a deep dive into anatomy, this book is an excellent starting point. Don’t let the word “concise” fool you, there are more than 300 pages of illustrations covering every major body system. from the cell level up.
iOpeners: Skeletons Inside and Out, by DK Children, $0.99. This short DK guide is a great introduction of skeletal anatomy for elementary readers. Detailed photo and drawn illustrations show skeletons in standard poses and in motion. While there’s a lot of detail about human skeletons, the book also covers all major vertebrate animals (and even insects).
Natural Wonders of the World, by DK Publishers, $1.99. The Earth is a majestic place, full of breath-takingly unique landscapes. This gorgeous DK books is full of pictures from remarkable places, paired with expert information from geologists and biologists. You’ll find terrain maps and explanations of the geological processes that created the features.
Annabelle and Aiden in The Story of Life, by J.R. Becker, $3.99. I had the pleasure of meeting J.R. Becker at a secular homeschooling conference, and my daughter loved his books when she was younger. His books combine charming, rhyming text with serious science. In this volume, Annabelle and Aiden learn about evolution and how humans are related to other animals.
How Evolution Explains Everything About Life: From Darwin’s Brilliant Idea to Today’s Epic Theory, by New Scientist, $0.99. If you are looking for a quick but comprehensive explanation of evolution, this book will give you everything you need in less than 250 pages. Chapters cover Darwin’s initial work, the role DNA evidence plays in understand evolution, common misconceptions, and even the evolution of behavior over time.
Malamander, by Thomas Taylor, $1.99. Get ready for a strange, fast-paced adventure by the sea! When Violet bursts into the Grand Nautilus Hotel, she is in the process of tracking down her long-lost parents. Herbert works the Lost and Found office, but can he help her find what she needs? They’ll have their work cut out for them; the town of Eerie-On-Sea is home to many odd characters and a legendary monster.
The Stolen Prince of Cloudburst, by Jaclyn Moriarty, $2.99. Moriarty has a great ear for dialog, and this middle grade fantasy, written largely in first person, is full of witty and relatable conversations. This novel manages to poke at some fantasy conventions in a subtle and surprising way. Esther is just an ok student at her boarding school, so when she begins to suspect that strange things are happening, she doubts whether she could make a difference. In this charming story, ogres and faeries share space with ennui and pop quizzes.
How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague, $2.99. I’ve read this book aloud more times than I can count. If there’s a dinosaur lover in your life, you’ll definitely want to snag this book. The delightful illustrations follow enormous dinosaurs going through a nightly routine.
Steam Train, Dream Train, by Sherri Duskey Rinker, $0.99. All aboard the Dream Train! This bedtime story is the perfect balance of wacky action and soothing repetition. In the dream world, the train is staffed by animals — giraffes, kangaroos, monkey, and more — who load each car with unusual items. Tom Lichtenheld’s drawings are perfect as always.
A Seed is Sleepy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, $1.99. Sylvia Long’s accurate, detailed illustrations are a big part of what makes this book such a great addition to your nature library. Kids will learn about all kinds of seeds, from the ones light enough to float on the breeze to ones that can weigh up to 60 pounds.
What I See: Asian-American Racism From the Eyes of a Child, by Christine T. Leung, $1.99. The pandemic has led to an increase in racism and hate crimes against Asian people. Leung has written a book about what it feels like to experience racist mistreatment. The topic is heavy, but the text is accessible for young readers (the author suggests 8+).
Tua and the Elephant, by R.P. Harris, $0.99. This illustrations in this middle grade book really bring Chiang Mai to life. From the publisher: “Ten-year-old Tua—Thai for "peanut"—has everything she needs at home in Chiang Mai, Thailand, except for one thing she's always wanted: a sister. In the market one day, Tua makes an accidental acquaintance—one with wise, loving eyes, remarkable strength, and a very curious trunk. And when Tua meets Pohn-Pohn, it's clear this elephant needs her help. Together, the unusual team sets off on a remarkable journey to escape from Pohn-Pohn's vile captors. From the bustling night market to the hallowed halls of a Buddhist temple and finally, to the sanctuary of an elephant refuge, this clever girl and her beloved companion find that right under their noses is exactly what each has been searching for: a friend.”
The Storm Keeper’s Island, by Catherine Doyle, $4.79. Attention, Rick Riordan fans! This mythological Irish adventure tale is for you! From the publisher: “Fionn Boyle comes from a long line of brave seafarers, people with the ocean behind their eyes. But he can't help but fear the open sea. For years, Fionn's mother has told him stories of Arranmore Island, a strange place that seems to haunt her. Fionn has always wondered about this mysterious island, and from the day he arrives he starts noticing things that can't be explained. He can sense the island all around him, and it feels like the island is watching him, too. Once in a generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for his grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step down. But as Fionn and the other descendants of Arranmore's most powerful families fight to become the island's next champion, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on rekindling a long-ago war and changing Fionn's life and the island's future forever.”
The Young Time Traveler’s Guide to Really Interesting People: Grace O’Malley, The Pirate Queen of Ireland, by Megan Stringfellow, $1.99. I only recently discovered this history series, and I’m please to be able to share it with you today. Stringfellow puts readers in the position of time travelers, taking them to discover events and people from the past. In this book, she profiles Grace O’Malley, who was born into the nobility but found a life of adventure on the high seas. Stringfellow’s books have a scrapbook feel, with maps, sketches, and other embellishments.
The Story of the Leprechaun, by Katherine Tegen, $1.99. This cheerful picture book tells the story of a leprechaun slyly defeating a greedy man determined to steal the leprechaun’s gold. Warm, magical illustrations make this a pleasant read-aloud experience to share with your favorite children.
Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee, by Chris Van Dusen, $0.99. Kids will love the wild and wacky adventures of Mr. Magee and his little dog, Dee. Chris Van Dusen is a master at using impressively funny rhymes to tell a story. In this book, Mr. Magee and Dee decide to learn how to ski, but things take a turn when they encounter a moose in their way. My daughter absolutely loved the Mr. Magee books (there are three) when she was younger; the rhymes and charming illustrations give this one high reread potential.
Little Pea, by Amy Kraus Rosenthal, $0.99. Kids will love this subversive little picture book about a pea who can’t have his vegetables for dessert unless he eats all his sweets first!
Juniper Kai: Super Spy, by Laura Gehl and Alexandria Neonakis, $0.99. Juniper knows something is up with her parents, and she is determined to figure out what is going on (Surprise! It’s a new baby!). She uses all her best spy techniques: listening at the door, using binoculars to observe from afar, and wearing clever disguises to go unnoticed. Kids will love this plucky Asian heroine!
Delores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, by Sarah Warren, $3.99. Dolores Huerta was a teacher who was concerned when she saw students coming to school hungry and without shoes in the 1950s. When she discovers that these are the children of migrant workers living in intense poverty, she becomes a tireless activist working to improve the working and living conditions for marginalized people. This beautiful picture book explains how Huerta got involved with labor rights and how her work has impacted generations of farm workers.
Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers’ Strike of 1909, by Michelle Markel, $2.99. Clara Lemlich was a Ukrainian immigrant who took a job in a garment factory as a child. Appalled by the working conditions, she leads a strike of girls and women who demand safety reforms and fair pay. The picture book has a unique visual style, pairing watercolor paintings with textile collages.
A creative learning space is less about actual stuff and more about giving your children space to explore ideas in different ways.