Exploring education through books, travel, and adventure
Picture Books are magic. There is something so incredibly special about diving into a beautiful picture book with a child! We were recently given the opportunity to check out an amazing subscription box that is perfect for picture book lovers! KidArtLit so generously sent us …
Want to know a secret? I have a giant fear of science and science projects. They overwhelm me and give me moderate panic attacks. Want to know another secret? My kids LOVE THEM! They would do nothing but science experiments all day, every day. I …
Calling all Booknerds!! Have we got a place for you! My dear friend, Arlene, and I have co-created a fabulous Facebook Group called The Booknerd Cafe. It is just for booknerds! If you are a booknerd, bookworm, book hoarder, booksniffer…whatever you want to call it…this is the place for you!
Arlene and I both had a vision in our minds of a place where bookish homeschoolers could gather and talk about our favorite subject. No, not our children…BOOKS! I’m sure your kids are great too…but…BOOKS! The Booknerd Cafe is a place to come together to discuss books, share book recommendations, to talk about literature-based homeschool curriculum, to share a virtual cup of coffee…or tea…and so much more.
We would absolutely LOVE to have you come and chat with us! You can find us over on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/393408588206389/
We are also over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.booknerdcafe
Did you know that some Dung Beetles are particular about the poo they eat? Yep…they only enjoy poo from a specific species! I mean, I have a favorite brand of coffee…but…poo? Who knew??? Facts abound in this gorgeous new book called Bugs Everywhere! I can’t …
Calling all Book Nerds!! Are you a mama who loves to read? Do you adore books, reading, holding books, smelling books, buying books? Well, have I got a fun challenge for you!! My dear friend Arlene and I have started a fun and low-pressure challenge …
Can you believe we are just days away from ringing in the New Year? I say it every year, but I honestly can’t believe another year has gone by! I have a gorgeous new book to share with you that would make a perfect read for New Years! Freedom Soup is a stunningly beautiful story all about celebrating freedom and the start of a New Year! I know that you and your kids will absolutely love it!
I love learning about different cultures and their traditions and celebrations! Have you ever heard of Freedom Soup? I know I hadn’t until I read this beautiful new book. Freedom Soup is a dish that is made by Haitian families all around the world. It is not only a dish made to ring in the New Year but it is also a celebration of Haitian freedom and independence!
Freedom soup is the story of Belle and her grandmother, Ti Gran. It is time for the tradition of making Freedom Soup to be handed down from grandmother to granddaughter. Ti Gran tells Belle the story of Freedom Soup, of her Haitian roots, and of her family history. Together they dance, clap, and cook up the magic that is Freedom Soup.
Author Tami Charles has created such a beautiful story. Her words flow like music…you can almost hear the maracas. It is more than a story about soup…it is a story about family, tradition, and freedom. You can feel the joy that Ti Gran has as she shares her family’s history with her granddaughter. The illustrations by Jacqueline Alcantara are breathtaking. They are the perfect complement to the book. The rich warm colors seem to bring the story to life. Both the artwork and words make you feel like you can almost smell the delicious Freedom Soup!
I absolutely fell in love with this book. The story was so full of family traditions, love, and pride. There is something so special about the passing down of a recipe from one generation to the next. Along with the recipe comes so much history. In the case of Freedom Soup it is not only the history of this family, but it is the history of an entire nation. This is going to be a book that we read again and again. I can’t recommend this one enough. Absolutely wonderful.
For more information about author Tami Charles, you can visit her website here.
For more information about illustrator Jacqueline Alcantara, you can visit her website here.
To order a copy of Freedom Soup for yourself you can click here or on the image below!
Do you have any family traditions for bringing in the New Year? I would love to hear them!
Picture books are my go-to gift for nearly every occasion! There is something so special about giving someone a book! My favorite time to give books are at baby showers or to celebrate the arrival of a new baby! Books are such an incredible gift …
At The Mountain’s Base is an absolutely breathtaking new picture book that celebrates love, bravery, and the unwavering support that family provides. This is a gorgeously illustrated poem that would make an incredible addition to a study on Native Americans or World War 2. At …
We are just at the beginning of our astronomy and space unit! The kids have been looking forward to this unit for months! I have spent so much time collecting resources, books, supplies, and organizing activities and I can’t wait to share it all with you!! I am hoping to have lots of posts with ideas for books, projects, and supplies! This post is going to be ALL about the amazing out of this world books to add to your unit! As you well know by now, all of our units are super book heavy…we just can’t get enough! So, let’s get to it!
Narrowing down this list was nearly impossible…but I limited myself to just sharing my top 6…and I didn’t even include my very favorite books from Usborne Books & More…which could fill an entire blog post in itself…actually…it probably will! Anyway…on with it!
Not to be dramatic…but you need this book. If you are a fan of Botanicum or Animalium…this is the newest installment from Big Picture Press. It is just gorgeous and so packed full of information. I can’t recommend these books enough. Awesome resources to use again and again.
2.) Seeing Stars: A Complete Guide to the 88 ConstellationsIf you plan to cover constellations YOU.NEED.THIS.BOOK. I have only had this book for 3 days and it is incredible. Not all books will contain all 88 constellations, but this one does. Not only does it show you the constellations but it also explains to you how they came to be named, the brightest star in the constellation, and where and when to see it. I think my favorite thing about this book (aside from the fact that it smells fab) is that it breaks the constellations down into the “ancient” constellations and the more modern ones. So well organized and just gorgeous.
I have had this book forever and have only recently opened it. It is incredible. I loved the way it was organized so much that I planned much of our unit based on this book. It is so beautiful but it also explains things in such an easy way that it is easy for kids to understand! It also comes with glow in the dark star stickers and a cool star finder!
This one can best be described as Gor-Geous. It is such a wonderful combination of science and myth. It is packed with so much goodness. I ordered this one before even seeing it in person because I had a feeling it would be a keeper and it absolutely IS!
: An Out of this World AlphabetNo Homeschool by the Beach unit would be complete without an alphabet book from Sleeping Bear Press. These are my go-to books for creating homeschool units. I wrote about my obsession with them here. G is for Galaxy is another home run. It is packed with information and in usual alphabet book fashion has gorgeous illustrations and tons of facts! S is for Saturn, T is for Telescope, and J is for Jupiter are just a few of the pages you will find. Absolutely awesome book!
I literally just got this book this week! I was supposed to have it yesterday on it’s release day but my friends at Amazon were a little late getting it here…not pleased my friends! Anyway, it was worth the wait. This book is GORGEOUS! Star Stories is FULL of the tales and mythology surrounding the constellations. You will read about stories from Ancient Greece, China, India, North America, Egypt, and the South Pacific. We are starting this book this afternoon. I read the first few stories and it is awesome. The illustrations are SO lovely and the stories are ones both you and your kiddos will love!
To view my Amazon list click here.
Children have an amazing gift of imagination. Have you ever listened to your children play and been completely amazed at some of the things they think up? 5 Cherries is a celebration of that imagination! I was immediately drawn to this book because of the …
