Rabbit Day Book Review - January

We are more than half way through the school year and its going rather well.  I had a bit of hick-up in December where I questioned our history choice for a bit.  I spent some time sampling other history curricula, only to end up back where be started before the Thanksgiving break.  Thankfully, I didn't get off track for too long; this time.  I guess these times of question are good, even when nothing changes, because it gives me a greater sense of confidence about what we are using.  We did start doing one thing differently.  I am using the quotes at the beginning of each chapter of Synge for Dictation practice and ironically I have seen a big improvement in the boys spelling.  Therefore, I am going to continue with this and scripture memorization with Scripture Typer for the remainder of the year, in lieu of the spelling and grammar worksheets we had been using.

On our trip to Florida we took the time to listen to three audio books; two were from the Classical Kids collection that produced Beethoven Upstairs that the kids love to play over and over again.  They were Halleluiah Handel! and Mozart 's Magnificent Voyage.  The one on Handel is interesting because it picks up where Vivaldi's Ring of Mystery left off using the same main supporting character.  It stresses the power of music to empower people.  Mozart was a bit more a fantasy.  The kids enjoyed both but Beethoven is still their favorite.

The third audio was our first audio from the famous Jim Weiss, "Galileo and the Stargazers".  I found his voice tolerable and the book certainly kept the boys attention, but I was irked at the stories historical inaccuracies, particularly regarding Archimedes.  They seemed to try to bring the story into modern times sacrificing accuracy in the process.

Speaking of history, Chris read the boys a true treasure this month, The Apprentice by Pilar Llorente. My friend Brandy had recommended this as their families favorite book on the Middle Ages/Renaissance, so I didn't pre-read.  The story takes place in Italy and revolves around a young boy who is apprenticed to become an artist.  The story was so enthralling, I found myself asking them to wait so I could listen.  Finally, I had to sit down and finish it myself one night.  One the main characters has the most Christ like, in his approach to life, I have ever found in children's literature.  I wish more books would stress such incredible positive character modeling for children. 

Lance read Gone Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright for his independent read this month.  I'd found it on an odd list of books I wouldn't read, books I liked a lot and ones I'd never heard of; the later being the most useful.  It a simple, yet entertaining, book about a summer break spent exploring and making new friends.  If your children need video game entertainment, they'll hate this book.  If they enjoy the simple pleasures of traditional everyday life of kids they should enjoy this thoroughly.  I'm happy to say my darling boy did.

I took another chance this month and let Jared read Stuart Little by E.B. White for his independent read again without pre-reading.  I had seen the movie years ago and Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White is a family favorite, so I took the chance.  From Jared's review it was definitely a bit more suspenseful.  His only real complaint was the the foot didn't finish, it left him hanging he felt.  In my eyes that turned into a great thing, when he decided the only thing to do is write the sequel.  I'll let everyone know when its in print.

In my never ending attempt to find good historical fiction, I stumbled upon a comic/graphic novel version of Don Quixote, called The Last Knight by Will Eisner  Much to my chagrin this was a favorite of all three boys, so much so that I became over familiar with it as they read it aloud to Titus, again and again.  I'm not a big fan of comics/graphic novels but it made me familiar enough with the story to realize I had no interest in reading the original (Think Disney vs. Grim Brothers Cinderella, sometimes Disney's version is better or at least less graphic and offensive.)