Teaching Montessori in the Home Author(s): Elizabeth G. Hainstock This book is filled with simple Montessori learning activities and techniques for young children (2 - 5 yrs. or so). Included are instructions for making the materials very simply and inexpensively. For example we made some very nice picture cards by cutting photographs out of magazines, catalogs, etc. I attached them to index cards with contact paper. Read more about Teaching Montessori in the Home
For the Children's Sake Author(s): Susan Schaeffer McCauley The information in this book is mostly gleaned from the writings of Charlotte Mason, a 19th century educator who has had a great deal of influence on the homeschooling movement of the late 20th century. Read more about For the Children's Sake
A Charlotte Mason Companion Author(s): Karen Andreola I have talked to a number of people who read For the Children's Sake, loved it, and wanted more. Karen Andreola has really provided for that need with this book. It was delightful to read Mrs. Andreola's personal experiences and ideas for applying the philosophies of Charlotte Mason to her own family's homeschooling years. Read more about A Charlotte Mason Companion
Dinner's in the Freezer: More Mary, Less Martha Author(s): Jill Bond Jill Bond is a big name in Christian Homeschooling circles. Her success in homeschooling her own children and at the same time being active in her community and among homeschoolers at large owes a great deal to the ideas which she outlines in this book. The book, subtitled A Home Management System, is primarily about a concept called "mega-cooking", i.e. cooking in larger quantities and freezing portions for later use. Read more about Dinner's in the Freezer: More Mary, Less Martha
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Author(s): Stephen R. CoveySean Covey Having a healthy skepticism of "self-help" books caused me to be lacking in enthusiasm when this book was recommended to me by my older brother. He had been studying it with some friends at work and had high praise for its content. I think I would never have picked it up except that I happened to be at my brother's house while he and my mom read a chapter aloud. Wow. It wasn't anything like what I had expected and turned out to be quite good. Read more about The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
The Tightwad Gazzette Author(s): Amy Dacyczyn This book is available in either three individual volumes or a newer paperback compilation. The books are collections of individual Tightwad Gazzettes, a newsletter filled with thoughts and ideas about saving money, getting out of debt, living on one income, etc. Some of the ideas seem a little extreme, but Mrs. Daczycyn explains that she has had people in very desperate situations call her for advice. She feels that it's worthwhile to include all of these ideas as they may be helpful to some. Read more about The Tightwad Gazzette
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families Author(s): Stephen R. Covey This is a great book! Although Stephen Covey is a Mormon, it is amazing how Catholic his underlying principles are. I was particularly struck by this because I happened to be reading it alongside The World's First Love by Bishop Fulton Sheen, which is about Our Lady. Both authors discussed the true meaning of freedom at length and their principles and conclusions were remarkably similar. The book covers seven major ideas, which when incorporated into our lives, can have a profound effect on our ability to accomplish goals and deal well with other people. Read more about The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families
A Child's Book of Prayer in Art Author(s): Sister Wendy Beckett This book is designed to help your child discover the lessons present in many fine works of art. The inside cover explains "In this, her first book for children, Sister Wendy has selected paintings that can speak to children, illustrating the important values of life, such as love, respect and forgiveness. Read more about A Child's Book of Prayer in Art
Catholic Authors - 4 Sight Edition Author(s): Brother George N. Schuster, S.M. This book was designed for grades 7 through 9 to give "a vital, illustrated presentation of Catholic literature to help students 'see' and love Christ four ways always: in Himself, in Others, in His Creation, in His Mother." [from the back cover] Read more about Catholic Authors - 4 Sight Edition
A Landscape with Dragons Author(s): Michael D. O'Brien This book has helped me to understand the importance of stories in a child's spiritual and intellectual formation. Mr. O'Brien explains how mythology, fiction, fantasy and fairy tales help children understand the real world - both what we can see and what we can't see. Stories help teach children the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. Unfortunately, many fiction stories give the wrong messages about good and bad. Mr. O'Brien gives parents the tools to tell good from bad and includes his own analysis of some popular stories and several Disney movies. Read more about A Landscape with Dragons
