Books Children Love - Exodus Books

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A lot of parents understand the bankruptcy of the "read-and-regurgitate" educational method in which kids mostly just learn to hate any subject they have to study via textbook. But, almost as many parents aren't sure where to start instead, being unfamiliar with what many call "living books." Living books are usually written by a single author (as opposed to a board of experts) with a particular enthusiasm for his or her subject who passes that excitement to readers through an accessible narrative style.

The 19th-century British educator Charlotte Mason believed living books were the best way to teach children whatever they couldn't learn through simple observation, and so does Elizabeth Wilson, whose Books Children Love provides a great starting place for the uninitiated as well as an excellent resource for more experienced families. Besides a short introduction and a brief note on the book's organization, Wilson hasn't muddied her waters with explanations, instead opting to present hundreds of books in list form.

Each chapter (there are 25) simply contains a list of books grouped by subject. Subjects include history and geography, celebration days and seasons, talking animal stories, crafts and domestic arts, language, poetry, music, nature, etc. Two chapters at the end offer recommendations for parents with special needs kids, as well as supplemental teaching resources. A comprehensive index including authors and titles at the back helps with easy reference.

In every chapter, books are listed alphabetically by author (except in the "Biography" chapter, where books are listed alphabetically by subject). Wilson offers very helpful descriptions of each title, so you can find books particularly suited to your kids and family. Just about every type of book you'd ever want to read can be found here, and all of them are suited to younger readers—you won't find poorly written books or stories with sketchy content here, just books to expand kids' horizons by imparting a love of the subject and a curiosity to know more.

You also won't find books that controvert a Christian worldview. That's not to say every book listed is explicitly Christian, or written by a Christian author; simply that all these books support a Judeo-Christian values system, point kids to virtue, and help them learn more about God and His world by simply showing rather than telling. Wilson is a Christian and understands the need for kids to be given books that will support rather than challenge their faith, and she's done an excellent job assembling appropriate resources.

We offer a fair number of Wilson's chosen titles, though we want to bring in more; those we currently carry are listed below. Whether you intend to give your kids a Charlotte Mason education, or just want to open them to the world of great reading, Books Children Love deserves an honored place on your bookshelf. These aren't your typical recommended books: these are the sorts of books you need to hear about secondhand because you aren't likely to find many of them on your own. We recommend you let Elizabeth Wilson show you.

Review by C. Hollis Crossman
C. Hollis Crossman used to be a child. Now he's a husband and father who loves church, good food, and weird stuff. He might be a mythical creature, but he's definitely not a centaur. Read more of his reviews here.

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	America Grows Up A History for Peter #2 by Gerald W. Johnson from Yesterday's Classics for 4th-7th grade in New Nation (1783-1801) (Location: HISA-18NN) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	America is Born A History for Peter #1 by Gerald W. Johnson (iilustrations by Leonard Everett Fisher) from William Morrow & Company for 4th-7th grade in Vintage History & Biographies (Location: VIN-HIS) $36.00 (1 in stock)
	Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss from Random House for 2nd-4th grade 1950 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $14.44 $6.80 (1 in stock)
	Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo from Candlewick Press Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 2001 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo Updated from Candlewick Press Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 2001 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Black Beauty Sterling Classics by Anna Sewell, illustrated by Scott McKowen Unabridged from Sterling Publishing Co. Realistic Animal Stories for 4th-8th grade in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Blue Willow Puffin Newbery Library by Doris Gates from Puffin Books for 4th-7th grade 1941 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Brady by Jean Fritz from Puffin Books for 4th-6th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $7.64 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade 1936 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $2.80 (1 in stock)
	Castle by David Macaulay from Graphia Architecture for 4th-8th grade 1978 Caldecott Honor Book in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $14.44 $6.40 (1 in stock)
	Charlotte's Web by E. B. White from HarperCollins for 2nd-6th grade 1953 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $4.80 (2 in stock)
	Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh Reissue from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Fiction for Kindergarten-6th grade 1955 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $5.09 $2.80 (2 in stock)
	Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 3rd-6th grade 1950 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.79 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Early Thunder by Jean Fritz from Puffin Books for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $6.79 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling from Morrow Junior Books in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $4.80 (1 in stock)
	Escape From Warsaw Originally titled The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, illustrated by Irwin Hoffman from Scholastic Inc. Historical Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Gardener by Sarah Stewart & David Small from Sunburst Book Realistic fiction for Kindergarten-4th grade 1998 Caldecott Honor Book in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.49 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	George Washington's Breakfast by Jean Fritz from PaperStar Books Biography for 1st-4th grade in American Revolution (1765-1783) (Location: HISA-18REV) $6.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Gladys Aylward The Adventure of a Lifetime Christian Heroes: Then & Now by Geoff & Janet Benge from YWAM Publishing Biography for 4th-7th grade in Christian Heroes: Then and Now (Location: BIO-BENGE) $10.19 $4.80 (3 in stock)
	Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright, illustrated by Beth & Joe Krush from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1958 Newbery Honor Book in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $3.20 (1 in stock)
	Heidi Puffin Classics by Johanna Spyri, translated by Eileen Hall and illustrated by Cecil Leslie from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary from HarperTrophy for 3rd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Heroes by Charles Kingsley from Yesterday's Classics for 4th-7th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $11.01 $6.00 (1 in stock)
	Heroes by Charles Kingsley from Living Book Press for 4th-7th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $8.49 $5.60 (2 in stock)
	I Am David Previously published as North to Freedom by Anne Holm from Harcourt Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $8.49 $4.40 (1 in stock)
	Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes from Yearling Historical Fiction/Adventure for 3rd-10th grade 1944 Newbery Medal winner in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF) $4.50 (2 in stock)
	Librarian Who Measured the Earth by Kathryn Lasky from Little, Brown & Company Biography for 2nd-5th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $16.99 $9.60 (2 in stock)
	Lion to Guard Us by Clyde Robert Bulla from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $8.49 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1948 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis from Aladdin Paperbacks Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-6th grade 1948 Newbery Honor Book in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI) $6.79 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	My Family Tree Workbook by Rosemary A. Chorzempa from Dover Publications for 4th grade-adult in Genealogy (Location: XFA-GEN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	New Way Things Work by David Macaulay & Neil Ardley 2^nd edition from Houghton Mifflin for 4th-10th grade in How Things Work (Location: SCIREF-HOW) $9.50 (1 in stock)
	Odyssey (retold) by Barbara Leonie Picard from Oxford University for 3rd-4th grade in Myths, Fairy Tales & Folklore for Children (Location: FIC-MYT) $6.50 (1 in stock)
	Out of Darkness The Story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman from Clarion Books Biography for 4th-6th grade in Biographies (Location: BIO) $10.19 $4.80 (2 in stock)
	Physics Experiments for Children by Muriel Mandell from Dover Publications for 4th-6th grade in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY) $6.76 $3.20 (2 in stock)
	Poem Stew by William Cole from HarperCollins in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Pyramid by David Macaulay from Houghton Mifflin Ancient Egyptian Architecture for 4th-8th grade in Oversized History Books (Location: HISW-OVER) $11.04 $5.60 (1 in stock)
	Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin 1^st edition from Grosset & Dunlap for 3rd-6th grade in Vintage Fiction & Literature (Location: VIN-FIC) $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Sam the Minuteman An I Can Read Book Level 3 by Nathaniel Benchley & Arnold Lobel from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in I Can Read Books (Location: EAR-ICR) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Sarah, Plain and Tall Includes an afterword to you from Patricia MacLachlan by Patricia MacLachlan from Scholastic Inc. Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade 1986 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 30th Anniversary from HarperCollins Family Stories for 2nd-6th grade 1986 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.79 $3.20 (4 in stock)
	Shipwrecked! The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy by Rhoda Blumberg from HarperCollins Biography for 4th-6th grade in Japan (Location: HISMC-JAP) $7.64 $4.40 (1 in stock)
	String in the Harp by Nancy Bond from Scholastic Inc. for 4th-8th grade 1977 Newbery Honor Book in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Sword in the Tree by Clyde Robert Bulla from HarperCollins Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $5.09 $2.80 (4 in stock)
	Tanglewood Tales Copper Lodge Library by Nathaniel Hawthorne from Classical Conversations for 3rd-6th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $14.40 $9.00 (2 in stock)
	Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne from Digibooks OOD for 3rd-6th grade in 19th Century Literature (Location: LIT6-19) $4.00 (1 in stock)
	Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John 2^nd edition from Moody Press Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $7.64 $4.40 (1 in stock)
	Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright from Square Fish Publishing Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1939 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $6.79 $4.00 (2 in stock)
	Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright from Yearling Realistic Fiction for 4th-6th grade 1939 Newbery Medal winner in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Time Traveler Book of Rome and Romans by Patricia Vanags, Philippa Wingate & Heather Amery 1^st edition from Usborne for 4th-6th grade in Ancient Rome (Location: HISW-ANRO) $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman from HarperCollins Realistic Fiction for 4th-8th grade 1987 Newbery Medal winner in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV) $7.64 $3.60 (2 in stock)
	Wind in the Door Wrinkle in Time Series #2 by Madeleine L'Engle from Square Fish Publishing Fantasy for 4th-9th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $7.64 $3.60 (1 in stock)
	Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by James Lynch from The Folio Society Humorous Animal Fantasy for 4th-8th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $20.00 (1 in stock)
	Young Person's Guide to Music by Neil Ardley Reprint from DK Publishing for 4th-8th grade in Music Appreciation (Location: ELE-MUSAP) $10.00 (1 in stock)

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