Little House in the Big Woods

Mom's Notes: We've been watching the Little House on the Prairie TV show for the past few years. I figure it's high time we pay homage to the source of the family and town we've grown to love! We have read this one together, but it was several years ago. I figured we'd start over in the Big Woods and make our way through the series over the next few years, reading two or three books a year. I'm actually really looking forward to reading Farmer Boy, as I've heard from many trusted sources that it's a favorite. I am amazed at how Laura Ingalls Wilder, decades later, describes the ins and outs of life in the woods in lovely and just enough detail for children. What a simple, challenging, dangerous, beautiful, fulfilling way of life knew. 

Mom's Notes: We read this to compliment our study of Ancient Rome. As usual, it was the highlight! We not only learned to play "Knuckle Bones," but were able to gain great insight into the culture and time period. (This was especially interesting as we are watching The Chosen series.) We drew lots of parallels to other books we've read dealing with the injustice of enslavement. (Slave Boy in Judea, The Viking Quest books. Soon we'll study the Civil War.) It was interesting to pull out maps, google terms, and relate scriptures to the story. 

Mom's Notes: This has been on my "To Read" list for years. We did it! It's a true adventure story, and we were shocked at the dirty deeds of the pirates and impressed by the bravery of Jim. Learning a little history of Stevenson's life and inspiration for the book was especially interesting, as was looking up some pirate phrases and slang. It wasn't until the last few chapters that I thought to print out a labeled diagram of a ship - that would've been extremely useful to study before reading! A list of pirate vocabulary and translation was fun and helpful too. 

Owls in the Family

Would you want an owl for a pet? 

Julia (14): "Sure, why not" 

Gabe (12): "Nah, because I'd rather have a dog." 

Evy (9): "No, because it's not my favorite animal!" 

Daniel (7): "Yes! That would be awesome! It's my favorite animal!" 

Michael (7): "No!"

Mom's Notes: Daniel grabbed this book off of our shelf last Spring. He and I started reading it together, but summertime crowded it out. So we were both excited to read it for our first book this school year - especially as we are learning about all things birds! I even stuck it in my purse before our visit to the aviary, where we read a chapter next door to the Owl Forrest. Not only did owl-loving Daniel enjoy this book, but we were all thoroughly entertained by the antics of the boys, owls, dogs, and company! I'd love to read more books by Farley Mowat. 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Jonny read this to the buddies over the summer. They're very familiar with the movie, so they were excited to hear about their favorite parts. We all love Narnia! 

Lumber Camp Library

Mom's Notes: Evy read this book and completely adores it. She even hosted a book club with neighborhood friends to share this sweet, sad, and hopeful story. Naturally, she insisted we read it aloud. It was just what we needed to round out a school year of beautiful, inspiring literature. Now I love it too! 

Snow Treasure

This story was a dangerous adventure! Do you think you would have been willing to help sled the gold to safety? 

Julia (13): "Yes, because it would be the right thing to do." 

Gabe (11): "Mm-hmm." 

Evy (8): "Yes, but I'm not old enough. I would be really scared but I would want to help to bring all that gold so they can get it in a safe place so the Germans won't get it. It was 13 tons of gold, which is a lot now but it was really a lot back then!"

Daniel (6): "Yeah, it would be good to do." 

Michael (6): "Yes! It would be fun to sled down. I wouldn't be scared, because I would be with somebody." 

The Winged Watchman

Mom's Notes: We listened to this while learning about WWII. It was an amazing insight into what it might have been like to live in occupied Holland. The secret codes of the windmill wings were especially interesting. We were also intrigued by the clever disguises. I loved the scenes in the family home, where people were hidden and safe and loved. Even in those uncertain, desperate times, there was some security and peace and hope in the home. 

The Secret Garden

What scene was the most meaningful or memorable to you in this story? 

Julia (13): "When Colin ran into his dad's arms, when he saw him walking for the first time."

Gabe (11): "At the beginning, when she meets Ben Weatherstaff and they talk about the robin." 

Evy (8): "When she brings Colin to the garden."

Daniel (6): "When she found the key." 

Michael (6): "When Colin went out and he stepped on his feet."

Mom's Notes: Susan Sowerby, Dickon and Martha's mother, is the unsung hero in this timeless story. Somehow her character doesn't make it in to the movie - and what a tragic oversight. (I'm referring to the 1993 version, which is a beautifully-made movie that does stay true to the heart of the story. But powerful allusions to God and his grace are left out. Luckily we now know the story well, so we can insert them as we watch.) Nearly every scene with Susan left me resolving to be a better mother, rejoicing in God's love, or marveling at the profound truths a simple story can so effortlessly convey. And this story is powerful. We were wrapped up in the setting and I wished we could be exploring Mistlethwaite Manor and the moors that surround it. We truly cared about the characters and feel like we have new friends in Mary, Dickon, and Colin - even old Ben Weatherstaff! Our Botany study was exponentially enhanced by reading this book alongside. Upon finishing the book, we weeded our own front garden, spent a lovely morning picking out flowers at the nursery, then planted. All are proud of our colorful work and excited to watch it grow. This book will be one we treasure and most definitely revisit. 

They created their own indoor "secret garden" one Sunday afternoon. 

On the last day of school, the kids picked favorite books from the year to create projects around. Julia and Gabe made a hilarious trailer for The Wind in the Willows. These three acted out and videoed a few scenes from The Secret Garden. The videos are priceless - as is this beautiful story! 

The Princess and Curdie

Mom's Notes: There were squeals of joy when this sequel came in a package. Daniel carried it around for a while! (I think he especially liked that it was green- his favorite color.) This story was just as exciting as the first. We were nervous for the king, but trusted in the Great Grandmother's plan and believed in Curdie and the Princess. It was sad to so many subjects in the kingdom being swayed by the lies and misconceptions that turned them away from the truth. The story of the dog-creature Lina was full of powerful symbolism and hope. 

By the Great Horn Spoon!

What was the most interesting thing about the Gold Rush that you learned in the story? 

Michael (6): "Somebody found the gold and then one person told the guy that there was gold. And then another, and then another!" 

Daniel (6): (He recapped many parts of the whole book with detail and accuracy! But I just typed out this last part.) "The gold on their belts was pushing them down. So they had to unbuckle their belts and swim up. The gold went down and they couldn't find it!" 

Evy (8):  "It was interesting that the guy had gold in his hair. He said they could keep his hair! And I liked when the cats came on the ship because Praiseworthy had fish!"

Gabe (11): "Gold was really plentiful then, it actually wasn't very rare. Where they were searching and got it, it wasn't worth very much there. It's worth a lot more in other places." 

Julia (13): "The voyage there and how long it took." 

Mom's Notes: We learned so much while reading this book! We continually pulled out the map as we followed their sea voyage, and were relieved they ever even made it to California! Praiseworthy and Jack's adventure hooked us from the very beginning, and their success story after so many failures was an inspiring lesson in persevering. (Praiseworthy's optimism was astonishing and exemplary! We'll not forget his patience in tough times. There's plenty to apply to life there.) 

The Princess and the Goblin

What Christian allegory was most powerful and vivd for you in this story? 

Julia (13): "When she walked through the mines with the thread. It kind of made me think back on girls camp activities and Young Women activities with the iron rod type thing." 

Gabe (11): "I think the Grandmother's lantern. It was like a symbol of God and Jesus and if you follow the light, which is Him, you will have faith and never give up. Like the string, if we follow in faith like Irene did in the cave with the goblins, she still had faith even though it looked like they would never get out."

Evy (9): "The string attached to the ring reminds me that He will always guide you." 

Daniel (6): "Her grandmother reminded me of Jesus."

Michael (6): "I don't know. But I like when the princess promised she would give him a kiss... and she made it all the way to the end."

Mom's Notes: I'd read George MacDonald was a favorite of C.S. Lewis and had been meaning to read some of his books for a while now. After reading HCA's short fairytales, I thought we'd continue on with a novel in that same vein. This story had the kids hooked from the very beginning with a sweet young princess, creepy goblins, secret stair cases, and mystical "Great, Big, Huge Grandmother," and an adventurous miner boy. The Christian allegories throughout were beautiful and not missed by the older kids especially. Meanwhile, I was underlining many beautiful and meaningful passages, while trying not to hold up the exciting story! Before we were even finished with the book, all the kids were begging for the sequel. 

Select Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

What was your favorite fairy tale that we read? 

Julia (13): "'The Little Mermaid' was my favorite one. It was very interesting to hear the original and  compare it to the Disney version."

Gabe (11): "I thought 'The Emperor Who paraded Naked' was funny.' The people didn't see any clothes so they all thought they were dumb. So they just pretended that they saw them." 

Evy (8): "I like 'Little Tiny.' It's a cute story and I like the funny toads! Everyone wants to marry her! I also liked that she helped the swallow."

Daniel (6): "Mine was 'The Ugly Duckling' because it was happy at the end. It was kind of sad when people picked at him but he got to stay with a cat and a hen and a grandma. At the end when it was happy he was actually a beautiful swan!"

Michael (6): "'Little Tiny' was my favorite. I like that her traveled all they way with this bird to an island."

Mom's Notes: We're planning a trip out to California's Central Coast to visit our dear friends the Mathews. We booked a little vacation home in the charming Danish town of Solvang, which we have visited a few times in the past. I remember visiting the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, seeing the monument to him in the park, and stopping by the replica of The Little Mermaid fountain. All this inspired me to dust off the beautiful compilation of his tales that I brought home from Grandma's Logan shelves as she was moving. I prepped the kids for stories that wouldn't always end "happily ever after," like most of the versions they are used to. We read about a dozen, really only tapping the surface. But we made sure to spend time with the most enduring tales like "The Ugly Duckling," "The Princess and the Pea," "The Nightingale," "Little Tiny or Thumbelina," "The Emperor's New Suit," and "The Little Mermaid." "The Little Match-Seller" was beautiful and had us in tears. But we also enjoyed unexpected and thought-provoking treasures like "The Pen and the Inkstand," "The Conceited Apple-Branch," "The Mail Coach Passengers," and "The Loveliest Rose in the World." 

I'll end with a nostalgic note about "The Little Mermaid." I remember Grandma Julie sending a card in the mail for my 9th or 10th birthday, letting me know that she'd soon be in town and had a special gift just for me: a reading of the original story of "The Little Mermaid" together. I remember looking forward to this time with Grandma - rare and precious quality time for any grandchild - but especially a twin! It was dark outside when she arrived. We snuggled under the pink canopy of my bed and she read the sweet and sad tale by lamplight. I still have memories of images that passed through my mind as she read. But mostly I remember how loved and special I felt that night. She went on to have some one-on-one time with Emily and taught her to crochet a rag rug. How insightful it was of Grandma to cater to us twins individually, and to choose an activity so well-suited to each. I related this memory to my kids and we cozied up on my bed, closed the blinds, and read the story by lamplight from the same pages Grandma did. 

Note: We had a lovely time in Solvang! We did see the fountain and monument in the park. Unfortunately the HCA museum was closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Next time! Ooh, as a bonus we spotted several (fake) storks in wagon wheel nests on the rooftops!

The Wheel on the School

 

What was your favorite vignette in this book? 

Julia (13): "My favorite is when the younger kids get stuck in the bell tower." 

Gabe (11): "I like the one where they push Janus's chair down to the teacher's house.. and all that." 

Evy (8): "I liked when they were getting the wheel out of the canal. It was kinda funny to me!" 

Daniel (6): "The last chapter. They saw the storks and the wheel was already on the roof. They held the storks and put them on the school roof." 

Michael (6): "I liked that the boy tried to get the wagon wheel from the farm."

The search for a wagon wheel brought so much more than storks to the townspeople of Shora. What else did they gain? 

Julia (13): "Janus was able to open up and play along with the kids, and they met a lot more people. Also   Shora helped and worked together making friendships."

Gabe (11): "Friendship, like Janus became friendly and stuff." 

Evy (8): "Friendship - especially with Janus." 

Mom's Notes: This is a book that has been on my shelf for a decade. And before that, it was on the shelf of my childhood home my whole life! I'm not sure how I missed this treasure, but I'm glad I know it now! Julia read this a few months ago and insisted we read it aloud. We love Shora! To think of all that came about because a few kids took some time to wonder about storks. There's so much goodness in this sweet, funny, adventurous story. The story of leg-less Janus getting a new chance at really living again is possibly my favorite part. We can't wait to visit Holland someday and marvel at the storks perched on rooftops in wagon wheel nests. I wish we were going next week! 

P.S. We haven't made it to the Netherlands yet, but we did see some "storks" on the roofs in Solvang! 

Winnie the Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner

Who is your favorite character in The Hundred Acre Wood? 

Michael (6): My favorite character is Tigger because he's funny. It's kind of funny when Tigger comes in Pooh's house. Well, it's not that funny. I just like Tigger! I also like Rabbit... because he's a rabbit." 

Daniel (6): "Owl! He's my favorite my animal... and he's kind of funny. And I like Christopher Robin because he's always nice to all the animals."

Evy (8): "I like piglet. He's the funniest. I like the 'tiddly-pums'!"

Gabe (11): "I think the funniest one is Winnie the Pooh. He says lots of funny things. And my favorite character is Small... he and his brother Alexander are tied."

Julia (13): "I like Roo because he's really cute, and he says funny things that remind me of little kids." 

Mom's Notes: We love Winnie the Pooh! And we can't believe we didn't really know that until now. A friend recommended reading the books. She said they just capture childhood so well. I definitely agree. A.A. Milne did a masterful job bringing these distinct characters and enchanted places to the world. Of course, on a deeper level, everyone can relate to the various characters in different ways. The stories had us laughing (a lot!), thinking, and drawing! (We even compiled a book of the drawings. There are lots because we listened to the stories over the course of a few months. The WtP phase lasted a long time! A lovely illustrated book fro Christmas revived it and we had a "Hundred Acre Wood Day" for our first homeschool theme day of the new year.) 

At first the buddies, Julia, and I listened to the audio book on our way driving Julia to Ensign Academy. We loved the stories so much that we had to share them with the rest of the family. We listened to the first book en route to Colorado over fall break. (We were glad Jonny got to be involved since he usually misses out on read-aloud books during the school year.) Peter Dennis is a phenomenal reader and his love for the stories and personal friendship with Milne are evident in his playful delivery. We listen and re-read favorite chapters often!