Staff Favorites & Reviews

Store Location

No staff is entirely static, staying exactly the same for years with no additions or subtractions. We realize that, but we're also pretty proud of our current personnel, and the many ways they've helped shape Exodus Books and point it in some unforeseen and wonderful directions. So, in 2011 we started asking each individual to share their favorite books, curricula, games, etc., and these pages are the result.

Because sharing favorites is fairly personal, we thought you should get to know each of these peculiar persons and asked them all to write a main bio, as well as section-specific bios. These are partly to show why they selected the titles and products in their lists, and partly just to show you that Exodus Books is inhabited by real people who do real things.

One of our biggest in-store services is making recommendations and helping people find what works best for them. These lists aren't as customer-specific, but they serve the same purpose—we're not just trying to parade our excellent taste or prove that we're literate, we're trying to help you discover things you may never have found otherwise, and maybe to rediscover some old favorites.

It's probably a fact universally true of book-lovers: given the chance, they'll talk your ear off about the books they love, the books they hate, and all the books you'll never read but that are really much better than the well-known books you will read. This isn't pretension. It's simply what happens to those who love words and want to share them. We've tried to cut the talk down here, though we'll gladly answer any pertinent questions.

With that, we present Staff Favorites. You'll find some overlap (lots of people seem to like The Chronicles of Narnia), but rarely if ever will you find complete consensus on a single title, product, or curriculum line. That's why we let everyone make their own lists: you know the official Exodus stance by reading our reviews, but the individuality that makes our store unique and awesome is what's on display here. Enjoy, and don't judge too harshly.

	101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum Choosing the right curriculum & approach for your child's learning style by Cathy Duffy from Grove Publishing for Preschool-Adult in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC)
	102 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum Choosing the right curriculum & approach for your child's learning style by Cathy Duffy from Grove Publishing for Preschool-Adult in Practical Home Schooling (Location: HSR-PRAC) $15.00 (2 in stock)
	21 Super Simple Astronomy Experiments by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-8th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
	21 Super Simple Biology Experiments by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-8th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
	21 Super Simple Chemistry Experiments by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-8th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
	21 Super Simple Geology Experiments by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-4th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
	21 Super Simple Physics Experiments by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-8th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (Location: SCICUR-RS4K)
	Alpha List A Dictionary focusing on the Logic of English Spelling by Wanda Sanseri from Back Home Industries for 1st-4th grade in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR) $33.00
	America - with CD Heart of a New Nation from Diana Waring Presents for 1st-6th grade in Diana Waring History Revealed (Location: OHIS-DWHR)
	Arithmetic 2 - Charts and Games Home School Version from A Beka Books for 2nd grade in A Beka Arithmetic & Mathematics (Location: MAT-ABK)
	Bob Books Collection 3 Complex Words and Long Vowels by Bobby Lynn Maslen, illustrated by John R. Maslen from Scholastic Inc. for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Bob Books (Location: EAR-BOB) $11.00 (1 in stock)
	Catwings A Catwings Tale Book 1 by Ursula K. Le Guin from Atheneum for 1st-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Catwings Boxed Set by Ursula K. Le Guin from Atheneum for 1st-4th grade in Boxed Sets & Literature Packages (Location: FIC-BOX) $27.99
	Catwings Return A Catwings Tale Book 2 by Ursula K. Le Guin from Atheneum for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Corduroy - Spanish edition by Don Freeman from Puffin Books Personification Stories for Preschool-2nd grade in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Earthquakes Scholastic Science Readers Level 3 by Deborah Heiligman from Scholastic Press for 2nd-3rd grade in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	First Language Lessons Level 1 for the Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise 2^nd edition from Well-Trained Mind Press for Kindergarten-2nd grade in First Language Lessons (Location: GRA-FLL) $18.95 $12.00 (3 in stock)
	First Language Lessons Level 2 for the Well-Trained Mind by Jessie Wise 2^nd edition from Well-Trained Mind Press for Kindergarten-2nd grade in First Language Lessons (Location: GRA-FLL) $19.95 $12.00 (3 in stock)
	First Start Reading Storybook D by Kelly Booker & Michelle Tefertiller from Memoria Press for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP) $10.85
	First Start Reading Storybook E by Kelly Booker & Michelle Tefertiller from Memoria Press for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Memoria Press First Start Reading (Location: PHO-MP) $8.15
	Focus on Elementary Biology - Teacher's Manual (old) by Rebecca W. Keller from Gravitas Publications, Inc. for Kindergarten-4th grade in Real Science-4-Kids (old editions) (Location: OSCI-RS4K) $14.00 $10.00 (1 in stock)
	Geography through Literature K-3 - Guide A Literature Approach for Primary Grades by Rebecca Manor 1^st edition from Beautiful Feet Books for Kindergarten-3rd grade in Beautiful Feet Books (Location: HISCUR-BFB) $34.99
	Gravity is a Mystery Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science level 2 by Franklyn M. Branley, Illustrated by Edward Miller from HarperCollins for Preschool-3rd grade in Physics (Location: SCI-PHY)
	Greenleaf Ancient Egypt Study Package by Cynthia Shearer from Greenleaf Press for 2nd-5th grade in Ancient Egypt (Location: HISW-ANEG)
	Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster from Scholastic Inc. for Preschool- 2nd Grade 2006 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Jane on Her Own A Catwings Tale Book 4 by Ursula K. Le Guin from Atheneum for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Jane on Her Own A Catwings Tale Book 4 by Ursula K. Le Guin from Orchard Books for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Jeff Corwin: Snakes All aboard Reading Level 3 by Jeff Corwin from Grosset & Dunlap for 1st-3rd grade in Penguin Young Readers / All Aboard Readers (Location: EAR-PYR) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Johnny Appleseed My Story A Step into Reading Book Level 3 by David L. Harrison, Illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka from Random House for 1st-3rd grade in Step into Reading (Location: EAR-STEP)
	Knights & Castles 50 Hands-On Activities to Experience the Middle Ages by Avery Hart, Paul Mantell from Williamson Publishing Company for 2nd-8th grade in Middle Ages (Location: HISW-MID) $7.50 (1 in stock)
	Living in Space by Katie Daynes, illustrated by Zoe Wray from Usborne for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Usborne Beginners (Location: SCI-USBREA) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans from Puffin Books Realistic Fiction, Rhyming Stories for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1940 Caldecott Honor Book in Oversized Picture Books (Location: PIC-OVER) $9.99
	MapTrek - Atlas & Outlines Maps of World and U.S. History by Terri Johnson from Master Books for 1st-10th grade in Historical & Cultural Atlases (Location: HISRF-ATLAS)
	Maxed Out! Gigantic Creatures from the Past Penguin Young Readers Level 2 by Ginjer L. Clarke, illustrated by Pete Mueller from Grosset & Dunlap for 1st-2nd grade in Penguin Young Readers / All Aboard Readers (Location: EAR-PYR)
	Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder - with CD Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring from Diana Waring Presents for 1st-6th grade in Diana Waring History Revealed (Location: OHIS-DWHR)
	Night Sky National Geographic Kids Level 2 by Stephanie Warren Drimmer from National Geographic for 1st-2nd grade in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Nine Days to Christmas A Story of Mexico by Marie Hall Ets from Viking Press for Preschool- 3rd Grade 1960 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE)
	Norte, sur, este y oeste by Allan Fowler from Children's Press for Preschool-3rd grade in Spanish Resources (Location: FL-SPARE) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	Pandas National Geographic Kids Level 2 by Anne Schreiber from National Geographic for 1st-2nd grade in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Pirate School All aboard Reading Level 2 by Cathy East Dubowski and Mark Dubowski from Grosset & Dunlap for Kindergarten-2nd grade in Penguin Young Readers / All Aboard Readers (Location: EAR-PYR) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling, adapted and illustrated by Jerry Pinkney 2004 Paperback from HarperTrophy Realistic Animal Stories for 2nd-4th grade in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $7.99 $4.50 (1 in stock)
	Robots National Geographic Kids Level 3 by Melissa Stewart from National Geographic for 1st-3rd grade in National Geographic Early Readers (Location: EAR-NGR) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Ruby Bridges Goes to School My True Story Scholastic Reader Level 2 by Ruby Bridges from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-3rd grade in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH) $3.00 (1 in stock)
	Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin from Houghton Mifflin Biographies of Scientists and Inventors for 1st-3rd grade 1999 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99 $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Song School Spanish 2 - Teacher Edition by Julia Kraut, Grant Durrell Version 2.0 from Classical Academic Press for 2nd-3rd grade in Spanish for Children (Location: FL-SPA4C) $29.95
	Sword Drills for School, Church and Home from A Beka Books for 2nd-5th grade in Bible Study & Reference for Kids (Location: BIBR-STU) $5.00 (1 in stock)
	Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig from Simon and Schuster Animal Fantasy for Kindergarten-3rd grade 1970 Caldecott Medal winner in Picture Books (Location: PICTURE) $8.99 $5.00 (4 in stock)
	Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann & Phyllis Haddox from Simon and Schuster for Preschool-2nd grade in Miscellaneous Phonics (Location: PHO-MISC) $25.00 $14.00 (2 in stock)
	Teddy Roosevelt: The People's President Ready-to-Read Level 3 by Sharon Gayle, illustrated by Bob Dacey & Debra Bandelin from Aladdin Paperbacks for 2nd-3rd grade in Ready-to-Read (Location: EAR-R2R) $2.50 (1 in stock)
	Westward Ho! - with CD The Heart of the Old West Experience History Through Music by Diana Waring from Diana Waring Presents for 1st-6th grade in Diana Waring History Revealed (Location: OHIS-DWHR)
	When I Grow Up: Sally Ride Scholastic Level 3 Reader by AnnMarie Anderson, illustrated by Gerald Kelley from Scholastic Inc. for 1st-3rd grade in Scholastic / Hello Reader! (Location: EAR-SCH) $2.00 (1 in stock)
	WISE Guide Enrichment Activity Worksheets A-M by Elizabeth Fitzgerald from LITHBTH Educational Services for 1st-4th grade Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
	WISE Guide Enrichment Activity Worksheets N-Z by Elizabeth Fitzgerald from LITHBTH Educational Services for 1st-4th grade Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR)
	WISE Guide for Spelling by Wanda Sanseri from Back Home Industries for 1st-4th grade Cathy Duffy's 100 Top Picks in Spell to Write and Read (Location: PHO-SWR) $58.00
	Wonderful Alexander and the Catwings A Catwings Tale Book 3 by Ursula K. Le Guin from Atheneum for Kindergarten-4th grade in Fantasy Fiction (Location: FIC-FAN) $6.99
	Yellow Is the Sun by Joan A. Cotter, Ph.D., Illustrated by Carrie Lynn Heidrich for 2nd-4th grade in RightStart Mathematics (Location: MAT-RSM) $4.50 (3 in stock)

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