Because of Winn Dixie

Mom's Notes: I realized the buddies had never read this sweet, sad, beautiful summertime story. So we read it in a few sitting out on the deck couch. This was my first introduction to Kate DiCamillo many years ago. I'll always love this story for its treatment of the everyday in a divine light. 

 

Heidi

Mom's Notes: Julia will soon be headed off to Switzerland for a senior trip with Ensign Academy! I've been meaning to read this aloud for years, and this was just the right opportunity. Of course I wish we were all tagging along! But at least we can picture the green mountains and wildflowers through Johanna Spyri's thoughtful and thorough descriptions. There's so much more to this story than the Shirley Temple movie that we're most familiar with. I'm glad we can treasure it now. 

Centerburg Tales

Mom's Notes: This was so fun to listen to on drives with the buddies! We think the reader is perfect and really brings the stories to life with just the right style. Daniel and Michael shared many chapters with Jonny when he drove them to choir rehearsal. Grandpa Herc has us reminiscing about Grandpa Strever and his wild (and true!) tales. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

 Mom's Notes: It's always so inspiring to follow Eustace's transformation. Because of the scene with Aslan helping him remove the dragon scales, this is a favorite book of mine in the series. 

Prince Caspian

Mom's Notes: Continuing on in Narnia! It's been fun to watch the movies after the books. The kids watch them often, but I don't. They are so well done. I wish they had continued! 

The Horse and His Boy

Mom's Notes: We listened to much of this less-familiar story as drove from Christchurch to Queenstown. A stop at the Elephant Rocks was wonderfully apropos, as it's a movie set scene from the first Narnia film. 

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Mom's Notes: We just learned that this year is the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Chronicles of Narnia! We're thrilled to be reading them anyway, but it feels extra special now. These stamps were issued in honor of C.S. Lewis's timeless series. 

We finished listening to this classic story as we drove along the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. We had just visited Cathedral Cove, beautiful in its own right, but also an iconic movie scene location from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.