Hi possums,
I’m finishing up my Term 1 review of homeschooling this week, and thought it would be fun to share some of the books we’ve most loved reading together so far this year. We read books together for up to an hour each day – me snuggled up with my girls (4 and 8 years old). Then I ask the girls for their book rating out of 5 stars, and record our reads that day using Goodreads.
Something odd – I don’t have a long lasting reading (or speaking) voice. I’m a throat speaker, and it gives out pretty quickly. I’ve consciously spent the last year building up my read aloud capacity, and it’s improving, thankfully. I’ve built it up by trying to speak from my belly while I read… it does make my voice slightly deeper and less excitable, but it definitely helps with endurance.
ANYWAYS! Here’s what we’ve been loving lately… as voted by my kids.
The Olga series by Elise Gravel.
We bought the first for Christmas and it was so inhaled and adored that I pre-ordered the second one that day.
What I love most about it is it’s a girl who adores science and animal biology, and she researches, uses the scientific method and keeps a scientific notebook. Plus it’s gorgeously illustrated, and just so much fun.
Best part: her pet is called MEH who says MEH constantly. My kids love taking it in terms to yell MEH as soon as they see the word on the page. It becomes pretty funny.
When I asked my kids for their 5 star rating, Mermaid Daughter #1 said “GOOGLEPLEX! THE LARGEST KNOWN NUMBER IN THE UNIVERSE!” so I’m pretty sure that’s a decent rating.
I mentioned Magic Tree House books in this post of my top 2017 books, but we are still reading through them and loving.
Mermaid Daughter #1 adores audiobooks with the force of a hungry word wolf, so I also bought the complete collection on audiobook, along with the complete collection of Merlin Missions books (which is the next series for slightly older readers). She’s consumed all 50+ audio books… twice. Girl loves words!
Pippi Longstocking (illustrated by Lauren Child)
We read about Astrid Lindgren in Mermaid Daughter #1 ‘s much adored Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls, and Mermaid Daughter #1 was so fascinated she wanted to read her book.
I had this rad edition in the bookcase – it’s illustrated by Lauren Child (i.e. Charlie and Lola fame). Her illustrations were like icing on this book.
The girls were enthralled by Pippi’s adventures and it was sweet for me to revisit it with them.
Storey Treehouse series – Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton
We’ve read them all before, but we just did another full re-read after going to see another Storey Treehouse play. We’ve been to two now, plus a book launch/talk with Andy and Terry. Events like that make the books come even more alive and ready for another re-read.
Isla Fisher’s Marge In Charge series
These ones are sweet, funny adventures of two kids with a magical, rainbow-haired babysitter.
Always gets my girls giggling.
I love that these books include survival skills, animal facts and geology. I like when books do double time for both fun and learning.
The comic story of a girl whose alter ego is CRAFTY CAT! Ready to solve all problems with… CRAFT!
Cute as heck, and crafty to boot.
Woop woop!
Hope these books have given inspiration for your kids and reading time.
And if you haven’t already, I really recommend reading Reading Magic by Mem Fox.
If you’re looking for more book recommendations, we’re working our way through this book: 101 Books To Read Before You Grow Up.
With love and words,
