Thursday, September 13, 2007

Christmas is coming!

And I need some help. My mom mentioned the other day that she'll soon need a "list." That started me to thinking of some ideas for gifts for our boys. Toys mean nothing to them... they'd rather have a wire whip, colander and a stew pot any day.

Allan particularly loves books and enjoys having stories read to him. This has given us some wonderful training opportunities as we use literature that furthers our goal of training our boys to be men who are passionate about serving God. Jim and Elizabeth George's book God's Wisdom for Little Boys, the Uncle Arthur Stories, Max Lucado's Because I Love You, and the Johny and Susie books have been wonderful resources. But good children's literature is hard to come by and I don't have the time to read all that is out there to glean the good. So I'm asking any other bloggers who have found resources that are helpful to please share your "finds"! Even if they are old books (like Johny and Susie) I can try to find them on Amazon or Ebay. Thanks!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed the book by Hannah Hurnard called, "Hinds feet on high places" ...the children's version... I had three daughters at home, who are all grown up and married now...but, they loved the book, maybe the boys will too.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=42021&event=CFN


Blessings to you :O)
BTW- Beautiful Pictures

Sandra
Psalm 91
Hebrews 13:20-21

Liz said...

We really like Dave Ramsey's children's books about money. Gracie like them - we read them repeatedly! And she is making some of the connections - work and money, debt and slavery, etc. Anyway, just a thought. If I think of others . . .
www.daveramsey.com

Take care!
Lizzy

Liz said...

Marianne,
Tried to e-mail you, but it's coming back to me . . . can you write when you have a moment? Maybe I've got an old address.
Thanks,
Lizzy

lauralavon said...

Hi Marianne,
I feel like I know you a little--from your blog! We met your husband at Mode Camp last summer. I hope to meet you one of these days.

Curt and I have two girls. They're 11 and 13 now, but through the years we too have often given them books for Christmas. I'll list a few of our favorites from the early days.

My favorite children's fiction book is A. A. Milne's original "The Complete Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner". It never fails to amuse and bring enjoyment to our family. We still read it together every so often.

The set of books by Mildred A. Martin about the Millers were favorites.
1. Wisdom and the Millers
2. Storytime with the Millers
3. Prudence and the Millers

We loved Kenneth Grahame's The Wind In The Willows.

We liked the Beautiful Feet books by Ingri & Edgar Parin d'Aulaire.
1. Abraham Lincoln
2. Buffalo Bill
3. Columbus
4. George Washington
5. Pocahontas
6. Leif the Lucky
7. Benjamin Franklin

Curt read the original "Sugar Creek Gang" series to the girls when they were quite small as well as "The Chronicles of Narnia".

Our girls also enjoyed the Usborne books covering a myriad of topics.

That's just a small sampling of what we have in our library, but I tried to think of ones that would particularly appeal to little boys.

Blessings to you and yours!

lauralavon said...

I'm sorry, Marianne, but I forgot to mention that I found if I bought nice, hardback, well- illustrated versions of books like The Wind in the Willows, I could keep the girls' interest at much younger ages. Our WITW is illustrated by Inga Moore--beautiful work, and our Pooh collection is illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Just thought that might be something to consider.

Anonymous said...

Ditto's to A.A. Milne's original Winnie the Pooh. My brother and I used to giggle until we couldn't breathe while reading those stories. My dad also read The Chronicles of Narnia to us when I was around 5. Some of my favorite stories were the Uncle Wiggly stories about the old rabbit gentleman. I'm not sure they are in print anymore, but some of my earliest memories of story time with my mom revolve around Uncle Wiggly. They were wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Also, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (the originals) are other good reads. They may be just a bit over the boy's heads now, but they are funny and enjoyable as well.

Unknown said...

THANK YOU! This gives me some wonderful ideas to start with. Thanks for taking the time to comment.

sarahmfry said...

I'm collecting my own list of books to try from all these comments.

I have learned a lot from www.tanglewoodeducation.com. It is a homeschooling website that combines Classical education with the Charlotte Mason approach. I just love browsing their book lists. I have found some jewels there.

Also - www.simplycharlottemason.com - go to "Early Years Books." I have really enjoyed learning from Charlotte Mason's ideas, like her emphasis on avoiding worthless books - "twaddle."

Another love: "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease. I keep it in my library bag. I go to the library system and write the call numbers right in the book. (Now that I have internet again I can do this part at home.) Then when I go to the shelves, all I have to do is find the right section and work through alphabetically as I try to keep my kids from doing anything entirely embarrassing.

The other day Karissa managed to ride the "Alligator" (elevator) BY HERSELF and ended at the circulation desk. The call for "Karissa's Parents" over the intercom was quite humbling.

Okay - one more favorite resource. "5 in a row" and "Before 5 In a Row" are two books that choose old, classic children's books and guides you through using them to teach various subjects. This explanation doesn't do it justice -check out fiveinarow.com.

Love your blog - maybe I'll see you at homecoming. Someday I would enjoy getting to visit with you longer than "hello" and "how have you been?"

sarahmfry said...

Oh...and ditto on the illustrated classics thing. Although I am trying to move more towards teaching them to listen without looking - at 1, 3 and 5 they still scramble and crane their necks for any pictures that the book may have.

We found a charming version of Rudyard Kipling's "The Elephant's Child" illustrated b y Tim Raglin. (ISBN: 0394884019) I also have the regular paperback version of Kipling's Just So Stories. The illustrated version brought it to life so much more at this age than the original version I read them.

How fun to get them loving the story I love about the "great grey-green greasy Limpopo river, oh best beloved." smiles

sarahmfry said...

Out of curiosity, I just checked Amazon for this illustrated version of the book. There are many choices for $.01!! Ours needs returned to the library, so I think I'll have to break down and spend the penny (plus shipping, of course) so we'll have it to keep.

sarahmfry said...

Okay. I'm cracking up, laughing out loud as I look back at all the words I just flung you.

I think I know what's going on, and maybe you'd understand.

I believe I'm feeling the effects this morning of having a PhD student/preacher/high school teacher for a husband. Even when he's home, his nose is in a book or his brain on something else. Sorry - you got the brunt of my unused words this morning. lol

I have actually thought of calling you when I get the PhD blues. Not many understand the seminary-widow thing.