Caleb's Reviews

C. Hollis Crossman, who was raised by wolves, wrote a staggering amount for the website during his first stint at Exodus Books, writing most of the curriculum overviews and category intro essays, along with reviewing 700+ unique titles. Below you'll find links to his book reviews; this link will take you to an incomplete list of the category descriptions.

As our used book buyer and product reviewer for eight years, Caleb did much to shape the character of the store. He left Exodus in December 2014 for contract work on behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, where he researched and wrote about open source software. He also pursued graduate studies in theology.

In March 2017, an array of unforeseen circumstances brought C. Hollis back to Exodus Books as we prepared for an intended move, then shifted towards a close later that year; although we reopened, he had moved on. Again in August 2021, he came back for a short stint, before moving his family out of our crazy state. He remains dearly missed in our day-to-day work; however, we keep in contact and plan to continue having him write reviews and essays for us on an occasional basis.

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Parent Categories
Caleb's Reviews
72 Items found Print
Active Filters: 3rd grade (Ages 8-9)
101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
by Cathy Duffy
from Grove Publishing
for Preschool-Adult
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
All Through the Ages
by Christine Miller
3rd edition from Nothing New Press
World History Reference for All grades
in World History Reference (Location: HISW-REF)
Alpha-Phonics First Readers Set
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld
from Storehouse Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$22.00
Alpha-Phonics: A Primer for Beginning Readers
by Samuel L. Blumenfeld
from Storehouse Press
for Preschool-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$25.00
At Last! A Reading Method for Every Child!
by Mary F. Pecci
from Pecci Educational Publishers
for Kindergarten-Adult
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
Beginning Public Speaking - Starter Set
by Teresa Moon
from Institute for Cultural Communicators
for 2nd-6th grade
in Speech & Debate (Location: SPEECH)
Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers: 4 Volume Set
by Joey Allen
from New Leaf Press
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Bible Doctrine for Kids (Location: BIBR-DOC)
Big Truths for Little Kids
by Richie & Susan Hunt
from Crossway Books
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Bible Doctrine for Kids (Location: BIBR-DOC)
$15.99
Big Truths for Young Hearts
by Bruce A. Ware
1st edition from Crossway Books
for 1st-8th grade
in Bible Doctrine for Kids (Location: BIBR-DOC)
$15.19
C. S. Lewis: The Ultimate Collection
by C. S. Lewis
for 3rd-Adult
in 20th & 21st Century Literature (Location: LIT7-20)
$613.84
Caddie Woodlawn
by Carol Ryrie Brink
from Simon Pulse
Realistic Family Fiction for 3rd-7th grade
1936 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Call it Courage
by Armstrong Sperry
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Fiction for 2nd-6th grade
1941 Newbery Medal winner
in Action & Adventure Stories (Location: FIC-ADV)
$4.99 $3.00 (2 in stock)
Cat Who Went to Heaven
by Elizabeth Coatsworth
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Eastern Fairy Tale for 3rd-6th grade
1931 Newbery Medal winner
$6.99 $4.00 (3 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)
$8.99
Child's History of the World
by Virgil M. Hillyer
from Calvert School
World History Reference for 2nd-6th grade
in History Spines & Surveys (Location: HISRF-SPINE)
Dangerous Book for Boys
by Conn & Hal Iggulden
from William Morrow & Company
for 3rd-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$22.99
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)
$7.99
Double Dangerous Book for Boys
by Conn & Hal Iggulden
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-Adult
in Dangerous Books for Kids (Location: SS-DAN)
$24.99
Drawing with Children
by Mona Brookes
2nd edition from Penguin Putnam
for 2nd-8th grade
in Art & Drawing Reference (Location: ELE-ARTREF)
$19.95 $11.00 (3 in stock)
Drawn into the Heart of Reading - Teacher's Guide
by Carrie Austin
from Heart of Dakota
for 2nd-8th grade
in Drawn into the Heart of Reading (Location: LITCUR-DHR)
$40.00 (3 in stock)
Easy Start in Arithmetic
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
English for the Thoughtful Child Volume One
by Mary Hyde & Cynthia Shearer
2nd edition from Greenleaf Press
for 2nd-4th grade
in Charlotte Mason Language Arts (Location: GRA-CM)
$14.50 $7.50 (3 in stock)
Expedition Earth
by Cindy Horton
2nd edition from Knowledge Quest
for 2nd-5th grade
in Geography Curriculum (Location: GEO-CUR)
Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl
from Puffin Books
Animal Fantasy for 2nd-6th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Flora & Ulysses
by Kate DiCamillo
Reprint from Candlewick Press
for 3rd-6th grade
2014 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$8.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
Ginger Pye
by Eleanor Estes
from Harcourt
Realistic Animal Fiction for 2nd-5th grade
1952 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$7.99
Gospel Story Bible
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Bible Stories for Kids (Location: BIBR-STO)
$29.99 $18.50 (1 in stock)
Hidden Treasures
by Pam Forster
from Doorposts
for Nursery-4th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIB-CHDP)
$22.00 $15.00 (1 in stock)
Home Start in Reading
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
Joyful Noise
by Paul Fleischman
from HarperCollins
for 2nd-6th grade
1989 Newbery Medal winner
in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL)
$6.99
King of the Wind
by Marguerite Henry; illustrated by Wesley Dennis
from Aladdin Paperbacks
Realistic Animal Stories for 3rd-7th grade
1949 Newbery Medal winner
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$6.39
Language and Thinking for Young Children
by Ruth Beechick
from Mott Media
for Preschool- 3rd Grade
$3.00 (3 in stock)
Last Stop on Market Street
by Matt De La Pena
1st edition from G.P. Putnam's Sons
Realistic Fiction for Preschool-3rd grade
2016 Newbery Medal, 2016 Caldecott Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Honor 2016
in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
$17.99
Lessons on Time
by Marcia Harris Brim
from Brimwood Press
for 3rd-6th grade
in Tools for Young Historians (Location: BIBWV-TYH)
$16.50 $11.00 (1 in stock)
Life Skills for Kids
by Christine M. Field
from Shaw Books
for ages 6 and up
in Life Skills for Kids (Location: SS-LIFE)
Linguistic Development Through Poetry Memorization - Set
by Andrew Pudewa
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 2nd-10th grade
in Poetry Curriculum & Resources (Location: LIR-POET)
$65.00
Long Story Short
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
for 1st-6th grade
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$25.99 $14.00 (1 in stock)
MapTrek - Atlas & Outlines
by Terri Johnson
from Master Books
for 1st-10th grade
in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
Matchlock Gun
by Walter Edmonds
from PaperStar Books
Historical Fiction for 2nd-4th grade
1942 Newbery Medal winner
in Historical Fiction (Location: FIC-HIF)
$7.99 $4.50 (2 in stock)
Miss Hickory
by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey
from Puffin Books
Personification story for 3rd-7th grade
1947 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$2.50 (3 in stock)
New England Primer of 1777
by Gary & Wanda Sanseri
from Back Home Industries
for 1st-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$20.00
Old Story New
by Marty Machowski
from New Growth Press
for Kindergarten-6th grade
in Family Worship (Location: BIB-FAWO)
$24.99
One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate
1st edition from HarperCollins
for 3rd-7th grade
2013 Newbery Award Winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate
from HarperCollins
for 3rd-7th grade
2013 Newbery Award Winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Painless Reading Comprehension (old)
by Darolyn E. Jones
from Barron's
for 1st-3rd grade
in Miscellaneous Reading Comprehension (Location: REACOM-MISC)
$7.99
Plants Grown Up
by Pam Forster
2nd edition from Doorposts
for 1st-12th grade
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIB-CHDP)
$48.00
Polished Cornerstones
by Pam Forster
2nd edition from Doorposts
for All grades
in Doorposts Materials (Location: BIB-CHDP)
$48.00
Rabbit Hill
Puffin Newbery Library
by Robert Lawson
from Puffin Books
for 3rd-6th grade
1945 Newbery Medal winner
in Animal Stories (Location: FIC-ANI)
$7.99
Rabbit Hill
Puffin Modern Classics
by Robert Lawson
from Puffin Books
for 3rd-6th grade
1945 Newbery Medal winner
in Puffin Classics (Location: FIC-PUF)
$7.99
Read for the Heart
by Sarah Clarkson
from Apologia Educational Ministries
for Nursery-6th grade
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
Reading Pathways
by Dolores G. Hiskes
5th edition from Jossey-Bass
for 1st-3rd grade
in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC)
$24.95
Reading Roadmaps
by Adam Andrews, Missy Andrews
from Center for Literary Education
in Teaching the Classics (Location: LITCUR-TTC)
$39.00
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)
$7.99 $3.50 (1 in stock)
Science for Every Teacher Volume 1
by John D. Mays
1st Ed. from Novare
for Kindergarten-8th grade
in Novare Science & Math (Location: SCICUR-NOV)
$21.95
Science in the Ancient World
by Jay Wile
from Berean Builders
for 3rd-6th grade
in Berean Builders Science (Location: SCICUR-BER)
$43.00
Science in the Beginning
by Dr. Jay L. Wile
from Berean Builders
for 1st-6th grade
in Berean Builders Science (Location: SCICUR-BER)
$43.00
Shen of the Sea
by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
from Dutton Juvenile
for 3rd-5th grade
1926 Newbery Medal
$17.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Sounder
by William H. Armstrong
from HarperCollins
Realistic Fiction for 3rd-8th grade
1970 Newbery Medal winner
in Realistic Fiction (Location: FIC-REA)
$6.99 $4.00 (2 in stock)
Story of the U.S.
by D. H. Montgomery
1st edition from My Father's World
for 2nd-3rd grade
in My Father's World (Location: CUR-MFW)
$7.50 (1 in stock)
Strong Start in Language
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$1.50 (1 in stock)
Tale of Despereaux
by Kate DiCamillo
from Candlewick Press
for 3rd-6th grade
2004 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Telling God's Story - A Parents' Guide to Teaching the Bible
by Peter Enns
from Olive Branch Books
for 1st-4th grade
in Miscellaneous Bible Curriculum (Location: BIB-MISC)
The Moomins Set
by Tove Jansson
from Square Fish Publishing
for 1st-7th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
by Sally Lloyd-Jones
from Zonderkidz
for Preschool-3rd grade
in Devotions for Kids (Location: BIB-DEV)
$16.99 $11.00 (1 in stock)
Three Cups
by Mark St Germain
from Thomas Nelson Publishers
for 1st-6th grade
$5.00 (1 in stock)
Three R's
by Ruth Beechick
from Arrow Press
for Kindergarten-3rd grade
in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
$12.00
Timeline of Classics
by Gail Ledbetter
2nd edition from Institute for Excellence in Writing
for 1st-12th grade
in Recommended Book Lists (Location: LIR-REC)
$29.00
Treasury of Poetry for Young People
by Anthology - Various
from Sterling Publishing Co.
for Preschool-6th grade
in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL)
$22.00 (1 in stock)
Visit to William Blake's Inn
by Nancy Willard
1st edition from Harcourt Children's Books
for 1st-4th grade
1982 Newbery Medal, 1982 Caldecott Honor Book
in Poetry for Children (Location: POET-CHIL)
$9.99
Voyages of Doctor Dolittle
by Hugh Lofting
from Dover Publications
for 3rd-7th grade
1923 Newbery Medal winner
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$14.95
Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Wizard of Oz Book 1
by L. Frank Baum
Unknown from Dover Publications
for 3rd-8th grade
in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN)
$16.99 $9.00 (1 in stock)
Young Historian's Introduction to Worldview
by Marcia Brim
from Brimwood Press
for 3rd-8th grade
in Tools for Young Historians (Location: BIBWV-TYH)
$39.95