Author Spotlight: Carmen Agra Deedy

When I was asked by Carmen Agra Deedy’s publicist to participate in a blog tour next week for her new book, I almost shouted “yes” loud enough to be heard in Atlanta.  You see, I have been privileged to sit under her storytelling three times in the past few years, and each time has been a joy.  I [...]

Read Aloud Thursday

Isn’t it strange how children often love something that we have no idea that they’ll actually like? (Actually, one would think I’d be used to that by now.)  I picked up Below by Nina Crews because I thought it looked like a fun concept book.  Despite my copious training and reading on gender roles, I didn’t think [...]

Carnival of Homeschooling

This week’s Carnival of Homeschooling has been published at SmallWorld.  There are many inspiring articles in this week’s carnival.  If you are a homeschooling family, please consider participating some time!

What’s on My Nightstand–Looking Back & Looking Ahead

 I love these monthly Nightstand posts because they offer me the opportunity to look back and reflect on what I’ve been reading.  Sometimes I feel like I make very little progress in my reading due to the many other demands on my time, but when I consider the month, and certainly the year, I realize that [...]

Just in Time for the New School Year. . .

we thought we’d really throw a monkey wrench into our own plans by turning our garage into a school room! Steady Eddie is one of those guys who, once he makes up his mind to do something, does it with all his might.  In fact, he is out in the garage working even as I type [...]

Our Pre-K Reading Experience

I thought about titling this post a few different things:  “Amy’s Eager Beaver Approach to Reading” or “How to Have a False Start and Still Manage to Raise a Reader” (the jury’s still out, actually), but I settled on the more benign title.  Let me be the first to admit that I really don’t know [...]

Superstar Readers!

This year our library gave away these great yard signs as one of the prizes for completing the summer reading program. The girls also got the sign topper to display in their room. I thought this was a neat idea–much better than cheap-o toys and candy we just don’t need. They also gave away library-themed [...]

Read Aloud Thursday

I’m starting off this week’s Read Aloud Thursday with what I consider a real dark horse candidate:  Rikki Tikki Tavi.  I never expected my girls to like this book, perhaps because I’ve never been a particular fan of Rudyard Kipling myself, excepting a successful recitation of “If” way back in the ninth grade.  I checked it [...]

Kids’ Pick–The Froggy Books by Jonathan London

For this month’s Kids’ Picks post, I thought I’d highlight a fun, fun series of books that is a staple here at the House of Hope.  In fact, I can’t believe I haven’t already mentioned them, they are so popular ’round these parts.  We own a few of the Froggy books ourselves, and one or two [...]

And the winner is. . . (Narnia Giveaway)

We have been slow moving this Monday morning, but I’m finally up and about to post the winner of the Narnia giveaway!  I used random.org to help me pick a winner, and it turns out that Stephanie @ {Olive Tree} had the winning comment with comment #4, way back on the first entry of Narnia Week.  This [...]