I think I'm going to switch to Friday morning book posts. So here we go.
I began reading Redwall to both children. My son isn't yet interested in chapter books but seems to be enjoying it. My daughter? Not at all. But she grudgingly admits that I occasionally know what I'm taking about so she has agreed to give it a few chapters.
We wrapped up our history text for this time frame covering World War II. I thought we'd linger there for a bit. We began, then set aside, The Diary of Anne Frank. My little girl was rather horrified by the manner in which Anne wrote about her mother (good girl!). We read far enough to get a feel for the horror they were facing, but I actually didn't see any point in continuing. I could be wrong. It has happened before.
We switched Anne out for The Winged Watchman. We've only just begun, but it's already led to a lesson on polders etc. and some embarrassing attempts at Dutch name pronunciation.
We're in a bit of a poetry phase right now. I never plan that because I maintain that I don't like poetry (which is kind of ridiculous). I'll inadvertently pick up a poetry collection and just start reading. It's nothing more or less than pleasant. Never fails to surprise me. Home is a lovely collection I've been reading to my son.
On the audiobook front, we began listening to Stories from Shakespeare. I've always been impressed with Naxos products, but I would not recommend this version of MacBeth. Is a kid-friendly retelling of MacBeth even possible? Yikes.
I'm pretty sure I've got several books going myself, but I honestly can't remember.
We had such fun reading The Winged Watchman ... I had found a copy of Peter Spier's Of Dikes and Windmills (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00171ISKA?ie=UTF8&tag=stathanablog-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=1789&creativeASIN=B00171ISKA) and we ended up doing a bit of a unit on windmills, how they are made, why Holland needed them, etc. This is a great book if your can find it!
Posted by: Mary G. | September 16, 2011 at 07:41 AM
My daughter didn't enjoy Redwall at first, either. It wasn't until she was bored out of her mind in our small apartment in GA that she finally picked it up and read it and *gasp* enjoyed it. She didn't admit it until the end. She claims she wants to read more, but doesn't order them from the library. So. There you have it. The confused verdict.
Posted by: ChristineC | September 16, 2011 at 08:29 AM
My dd has just finished reading The Winged Watchmen! I am trying to very gently introduce her to WWII, and that book was recommended.
Posted by: sarah | September 16, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Have you watched any movies lately? Jane Eyre, and The Shunning came out on redbox this week. They were so good!! Now I'm going to have to re-read Jane Eyre (because the movie left a lot out, of course) and I'm going to have to read the trilogy (The Shunningy, The Confession, and The Reckoning). I love those Christian fiction chick-lit tales.
Posted by: Elisa | September 16, 2011 at 03:48 PM
We really like the Story of US! It is a well written text, not boring at all! lol
Posted by: Amy Caroline | September 16, 2011 at 07:35 PM
I was really tempted to get The Story of US this year when I heard about Joy Hakim. I did get her first science text, Aristotle Leads the Way, which we're enjoying. What grade is your daughter in? I admire you for reading aloud so much. I hardly read to them at all any more.
Posted by: Sara | September 17, 2011 at 04:46 AM
Sara, I really like The Story of US. We've been reading through all of them for the last two years (my daughter is 11 now, 5th grade). I don't think any history text is perfect, but this is very nicely written for children and leads to so much discussion etc. And I'm pretty sure I haven't found anything offensive in there yet.
I have Aristotle Leads the Way in my Amazon cart right now. I hope we like it as much.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 19, 2011 at 04:57 AM