Homeschool Friday - I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

I Survived the Chicago Fire, 1871 (I Survived, # 11)

By: Lauren Tarshis

Publication: February 24, 2015 by Scholastic Inc.

115 pages

Genre: Children's, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Adventure, Chapter Book

Source: Borrowed from the e-library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Could an entire city really burn to the ground? Oscar Starling never wanted to come to Chicago. But then Oscar finds himself not just in the heart of the big city, but in the middle of a terrible fire! No one knows exactly how it began, but one thing is clear: Chicago is like a giant powder keg about to explode.An army of firemen is trying to help, but this fire is a ferocious beast that wants to devour everything in its path, including Oscar! Will Oscar survive one of the most famous and devastating fires in history? Lauren Tarshis brings history's most exciting and terrifying events to life in this New York Times-bestselling series. Readers will be transported by stories of amazing kids and how they survived!

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 is the second book in the I Survived series that we have listened to. We follow Oscar who's mother is remarrying after being a widow for a while. Oscar isn't happy to be moving to a new place even though he does like the man his mother is planning on marrying. When they arrive at the train station in Chicago Oscar's luggage is stolen, and shortly after he decides to take off after a girl who was instrumental in helping the boys who stole it. Oscar finds the little girl and learns why she is helping a gang of boys steal in the city. In the meantime, the famous fire breaks out and Oscar has to find his way back to his mother and Mr. Morrow while helping the little girl also.

My kids were really enjoying the audiobook when we had to take a break because they went on a trip during Spring Break with my parents and our library copy expired. The break in our rhythm kins of messed things up, and they weren't as excited to finish this book than I think they would have been otherwise.

Oscar's story is brief but packed full of all the good things you hope for in a kid's book. He faces many challenges and has to overcome them. The people he meets aren't always good, and he has to decide how to handle each one.

I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871 was another good installment in a series that I know we will continue diving into. I love how Lauren Tarshis mixes fictional stories into historical events that help the reader (or listener) feel like they are actually experiencing the events and learning about historical events in the process. The characters always face challenges that bring out the best in them. I Survived the Chicago Fire, 1871 gets 4 Stars. Have you read (or listened to) I Survived the Great Chicago Fire, 1871? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Frank and Bean: The Stinky Feet Monster

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

Frank and Bean: The Stinky Feet Monster

By: Jamie Michalak

Illustrator: Bob Kolar

Publication: September 26, 2023 by Candlewick Press

48 pages

Genre: Children's, Humor, Early Readers

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--Frank takes the lead in tracking down a very smelly creature as our favorite culinary odd couple embark on their funniest adventure yet.

Frank has a book, a map, and a plan to find the Stinky Feet Monster. Bean has new boots, a new hat, and a drum, and is ready to rock—BOOM, BOOM, BOOM! He doesn’t believe in the Stinky Feet Monster, but as the two friends trek through the dark woods, they encounter strange noises, big footprints, and a very foul odor. Could that be the elusive monster? Will it make Frank and Bean its next meal? Get ready for a final twist as wry text, deadpan timing, a dash of suspense, and bright, comic illustrations lay out a feast for beginning readers and young listeners hungry for laughs.

My 6-year-old son is learning to read. Yet he pretty much hates it. He gets overwhelmed with a lot of reading at one time even though he's doing very well and is already working on first grade level work when he should still be in kindergarten. (One of the pros of homeschooling is that we can work at the pace of the child. And even while not loving to do it, he's still ahead.) That being said, I've been trying to find books that are his type of humor. And Frank and Bean: The Stinky Feet Monster was a close hit to his interest.

Frank is a hotdog, and Bean is...well...a bean. They're two friends who set out on a journey to find the Stinky Feet Monster. Bean doesn't believe he's real, and Frank is determined to show he is. There are three things Frank knows about the Stinky Feet Monster: his feet shake the ground, he's really stinky, and he says "me want to eat you." The pair do meet a monster they believe to be the Stinky Feet Monster, but there's a twist that I don't want to spoil for you.

In the end, this is a relatively easy phonics level for beginner readers. And the content will be right up the alley of little boys who like all things stinky and monster. Frank and Bean: The Stink Feet Monster gets 4 Stars. Have you read Frank and Bean: The Stink Feet Monster? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The BFG

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a review/mini-review for each.

The BFG

By: Roald Dahl

Publication: August 16, 2007 by Puffin Books

208 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Humor, Chapter Books, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Classics

Source: Borrowed from the Elibrary

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Goodreads description--Roald Dahl's beloved novel hits the big screen in July 2016 in a major motion picture adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg from Amblin Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures. When Sophie is snatched from her orphanage bed by the BFG (Big Friendly Giant), she fears she will be eaten. But instead the two join forces to vanquish the nine other far less gentle giants who threaten to consume earth’s children. This beautiful hardcover gift edition of Dahl's classic features the original illustrations by Quentin Blake, as well as a silk ribbon marker, acid-free paper, gilt stamping on a full-cloth cover, decorative endpapers, and a sewn binding.

So Roald Dahl is not my favorite author, but he is a classic children's fiction author. And I want my kids to be exposed to classic literature of all kinds. They both loved Matilda so I figured I would introduce The BFG next. I've also been trying to find a way to incorporate more books into our day-to-day. I mean we read from a chapter book every other night before bed, my daughter has independent reading to do, but I want to incorporate more family reading. I decided that we'd try listening to audiobooks in the car whenever we're driving around to various places. And I chose The BFG for our first book.

The very first chapter had my big kids on the edge of their literal seats. I knew what was coming, but I happened to look in the rearview mirror to see their jaws dropped and I don't know that my car has ever been that silent except when all three have been asleep. I knew this was the right choice for the first audiobook for them. They went through phases of requesting to listen to the book in the car and phases of asking not to listen. Some chapters hooked them more than others, but of course, towards the end, they were excited to see how things were going to end.

As for me, I'm also glad that I chose to listen to the audio version of The BFG instead of reading it out loud to them. I don't always do well reading aloud nonsense words. And The BFG is full of nonsense or mixed-up words. The audio version made these funny and enjoyable rather than frustrating for me stumbling over them had I been trying to read them aloud. And we had a fun discussion after the book was over about which nonsense BFG words were our favorites.

My kids immediately wanted to watch the movie after we finished the book, and so I think they both enjoyed it. Even my two-year-old asked to listen to the book about the giant. As for me, these stories aren't my favorite. I enjoy anything that's going to help my kids enjoy books and stories, but I'm thankful I didn't have to read it myself. I never read The BFG growing up, so there's no nostalgia for me. The BFG still gets 4 Stars. And I highly recommend the audiobook. Have you read (or listened to) The BFG? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Homeschool Friday is a feature here at Somewhere Only We Know that showcases books my family reads during homeschool and provides a mini-review for each.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants (Captain Underpants, # 1)

By: Dav Pilkey

Publication: September 1, 1997

125 pages

Genre: Children's Fiction, Humor, Graphic Novels, Chapter Books, Comics

Source: Borrowed from the Elibrary

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*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Pilkey plays with words and pictures, providing great entertainment. The story is immediately engaging—two fourth-grade boys who write comic books and love to pull pranks find themselves in big trouble. Mean Mr. Krupp, their principal, videotapes George and Harold setting up their stunts and threatens to expose them. The boys' luck changes when they send for a 3-D Hypno-Ring and hypnotize Krupp, turning him into Captain Underpants, their own superhero creation. Later, Pilkey includes several pages of flip-o-ramas that animate the action. The simple black-and-white illustrations on every page furnish comic-strip appeal. The cover features Captain Underpants, resplendent in white briefs, on top of a tall building. This book will fly off the shelves.

I'm trying my very best to get my 6-year-old son interested in reading. And if there's one thing I know about reading, it's that you just have to find the right book to get a reader interested. I got The Adventures of Captain Underpants on audio because I wanted to let him know that books that he will enjoy are out there. We listened to the entire book on one drive when we were headed to a field trip in another city. Both my daughter (8-years-old) and son were laughing. I do think the paperback version might have been even more interesting assuming it is written in a comic book style or has comic book style pages to reflect the comics written by the two main characters.

George and Harold are best friends. And they love to pull pranks. They also love to write and illustrate comics. But Harold and George are always getting in trouble at school. Specifically, their principal hates their comic books. When their principal catches them on video pulling a prank that will surely lead to their classmates taking revenge, they have to do whatever he says without getting in trouble at school or risk exposure. Only there's a twist, the boys find a ring that hypnotizes their principal turning him into Captain Underpants.

Obviously, this is not my personal brand of humor. But I'm willing to try almost anything--within reason--to get my son interested in reading. The Adventures of Captain Underpants is definitely right up his alley. I can see him coming back for more. The Adventures of Captain Underpants gets 4 Stars for keeping my kiddos entertained and laughing. Have you read (or listened) to The Adventures of Captain Underpants? What did you think? Let me know!