A Living Book Library for the Early Years

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What is a “Living Book”? This question, I’m asked all the time has become much easier for me to explain and understand than it was 8 years ago. At first, I didn’t fully grasp what a living book really was. It takes time to spot them so I wrote down this list that I keep on my desk. Here’s my list:

Does the book’s author have a passion for the topic? Living books are OFTEN authored by one person that is an expert on this topic and is passionate.
Does the book pass the one-page test? If you take a moment to read the first page, does the story draw you in?
Does the book INSPIRE the child with ideas rather than offer “diluted” vocabulary? Charlotte Mason believed children were educated by ideas. Children are able to grasp much more than we believe. This is why we remember in selecting books, the first principle from Charlotte Mason: “Children are born persons”. Our book selections should reflect that principle.
Living books are JUST THAT- ALIVE! Compared to a dry textbook, a living book makes the subject or story come alive to the reader.

In the early years, we are busy creating a quiet growing period at home. Our work is to create a secure, well-managed home for our children to thrive in. Charlotte Mason said a whole third of education is the atmosphere. That being the case, we work at creating and maintaining an educational atmosphere.

Every home, no matter how big or small needs to have a collection of books. I can’t stress or say it enough. Don’t spend your money on textbooks and boxed curriculum, spend your money on books that will become your own personal library.

One of my biggest early mistakes was buying a ( very expensive) boxed curriculum at the beginning. I wish I would have put that money towards a living book library and bought a few curriculums that I now recommend and that’s it.

The temptation in the early days of homeschooling is to buy so much…please don’t. You need to buy your CORE subjects and add living books plus nature study. Your first-grade days shouldn’t last more than a few hours or less. Homeschool moms easily get frustrated when they purchase so much and never have the time to do it. Please remember. As CM educators, we are keeping our lessons SHORT in the early years. “Short and focused”…

I am going to offer my resources at the end for Phonics instruction and Math for 1st grade. These are my personal recommendations.

Last year, I wrote a “guide” called “The Enchanted Kindergarten”™. My goal was to meet the attainments by Charlotte Mason herself for the Kindergarten years AND to gently get children in a sort of routine. The books in the recommended list are all Classic, prize-winning living books. I want to offer moms this guide as a way to ease them into homeschooling. There is a debate we often see in the CM world: ZERO early instruction vs. gentle instruction. The truth is, children, need and thrive with some routine and look forward to their “time” with you. The Enchanted Kindergarten™ is 30 weeks of books, art, music, and living Science, utilizes a free Math program, cooking as a handicraft, and scheduled Nature studies on Friday. All year I talked to mamas from all over the world using the guide, and the results amazed me! My happiest moments are hearing: “My children really love these stories…” “My children are loving their time in the morning with me”… Honestly, I know these children are being “fed” rich Literature and are leaving the program with the wonderful stories from “Winnie the Pooh” and the classic tales from “Beatrix Potter”.

I recommend all the books from the booklist from The Enchanted Kindergarten™ (these can be purchased slowly or used on Amazon…the goal is to add books as you are able!)

Go HERE for help with your routine

(Note: some of these book recommendations are religious focused, some are not)

You can check that out here

Leading Little Ones to God: A Child’s Book of Bible Teachings Primary Bible Reader A BEKA BOOK A Child’s Garden of Verses The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh Beatrix Potter Complete Tales (Palmera Publishing Illustrated)Mother West Wind’s Animal Friends (Dover Children’s Thrift Classics)Now We are Six (Pooh Original Edition) (Paperback) – Common Hide and Seek Fog OX-CART MAN Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy Town The Story about Ping The Story of Ferdinand[STORY OF FERDINAN-75TH ANNIV/E][Hardcover]Miss Rumphius Tracks, Scats and Signs (Take Along Guides)

Everyday Graces: A Child’s Book of Good Manners Hungry Planet: What the World Eats The Very First Americans (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Reading Railroad Books)Christian Liberty Nature Reader Book 1 (Christian Liberty Nature Readers)

To purchase the 30 week Enchanted Kindergarten Guide go Here:

These books are the books I WISH I invested in at the beginning of homeschooling.

If my children were over 6 I would add: Copywork/Phonics/ higher level Math. ( Note: Spell to Write and Read is a very in-depth Language Arts KIT. I fully stand beside this program as superior in teaching the mechanics of English. If you are interested in more information, please comment below)

The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading Spell to Write and Read: A Step by Step Guide to Foundational Language Arts Saxon Math 1 Homeschool: Complete Kit 1st Edition Learning Without Tears – Letters and Numbers for Me Student Workbook, Current Edition – Handwriting Without Tears Series – Kindergarten Writing Book – Capital Letters, Numbers – For School or Home Use

My Suggestions

The books listed above ( in the booklist) are easily above grade level for Kindergarten. All of those books are beneficial and staples in a living book library. In fact, you will find most books are award-winning and classic tales that are part of our history.

Budgeting

To buy all the books at once may be too hard. So, buy them in increments or buy only the books you would like to use. The library will have most of these books, but I’d like you to own them. These books can be used for generations 😊

I get SO excited knowing children’s educations are being REDEEMED. It’s my mission…my joy. Just to see one more child thrive… gives me goosebumps..no joke! 😊💜

I hope these suggestions help you with your beginning library. If I can help you in any way, go to my Facebook page here and message me.