Homeschool Friday - Let's Go for a Drive

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.

Let's Go for a Drive (Elephant & Piggie, # 18) (Biggie 1, # 4)

By: Mo Willems

Publication: October 2, 2012 by Hyperion Books for Children

64 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Level-1, Early Reader, Humor, Picture Books

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
In Let's Go for a Drive Gerald and Piggie want to hit the road. But the best-laid plans of pigs and elephants often go awry.

Let's Go for a Drive is the fourth Elephant and Piggie story included in Biggie 1 even though Goodreads lists it as # 18 in the series. Elephant and Piggie books are books that my then seven-year-old wanted to read. They are lengthy books (64 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so my son didn't feel overwhelmed and can read through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Gerald gets the great idea to go on a drive and asks Piggie to go also. The realize they need a plan and a map. Then they need sunglasses. Piggie is great at getting the things they will need for their drive. Planning ahead means they may need umbrellas. The realize they have a lot to take with them, so they need bags to carry their stuff. Ultimately, they realize they don't have a car.

The illustrations for Let's Go for a Drive make the series and bring the words to life. Any book that can get my son to enjoy any part of the reading process is a win for me. Let's Go for a Drive gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Let's Go for a Drive. What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Facts About Sharks and Whales

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.

Facts About Sharks and Whales

By: Sue Stuever

Publication: January 1, 2023 by The Good and the Beautiful

58 pages

Genre: Children's, Animals, Level-2, Early Reader, Non-fiction, Science

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Young readers will dive into the underwater world of fascinating sharks and wondrous whales in this high-interest book. Real photos of these ocean animals in their natural habitats will excite early readers as they discover new information about life in the sea.

The Good and the Beautiful ranks Facts About Sharks & Whales as a Level-2A. Level 2 starts to get into some longer books, but 58 pages is still longer than a lot of the other level-2 books that we own. I think stretching the child to longer books is a good idea. So I like that this isn't a 30-page book like the level-1s and early level-2 books we own.

As the name suggests, this book is all about various facts concerning sharks and whales. It also includes rays and dolphins. What they eat, how they breathe, their physical bodies, their teeth, whether they lay eggs or have live babies. All of these are facts that are presented in this book. If your child is reading, why not enjoy some books that will teach them some fun topics. I don't know anyone who isn't at least mildly fascinated by sharks and whales.

Facts About Sharks and Whales is a great addition to your level-2 library or reading list. The information is factual. The photographs are beautiful. It's a win-win to work on reading fluency and learn about some of God's amazing creatures at the same time. Facts About Sharks and Whales gets 4.5 Stars. Have you or your child read Facts About Sharks & Whales? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Facts About Frogs and Snakes

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.

Facts About Frogs and Snakes

By: Sue Stuever

Publication: January 1, 2020 by The Good and the Beautiful

62 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2, Early Readers

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--I can read it all by myself! Young readers will be excited to learn about two of their favorite animals in this fun, fact-filled book. Close-up photographs of real frogs and snakes will fascinate young readers as they keep reading to learn about the behaviors, diets, habits, and more of these interesting animals. Facts About Frogs & Snakes is just right for children reading at Level 2. Five challenge words will help them stretch their skills.

The Good and the Beautiful ranks Facts About Frogs & Snakes as a Level-2A. Level 2 starts to get into some longer books, but 62 pages is still longer than a lot of the other level-2 books that we own. I think stretching the child to longer books is a good idea. So I like that this isn't a 30-page book like the level-1s and early level-2 books we own.

As the name suggests, this book is all about various facts concerning frogs and snakes. What they eat, their physical bodies, where they live, and more are facts that are presented in this book. If your child is reading, why not enjoy some books that will teach them some fun topics. Frogs and snakes both freak me out a little but learning more about how God created them takes a little of the fear out.

Facts About Frogs and Snakes is a great addition to your level-2 library or reading list. The information is factual. The photographs are beautiful--if you can stand looking at pictures of snakes and frogs. It's a win-win to work on reading fluency and learn about some of God's amazing creatures at the same time. Facts About Frogs and Snakes gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Facts About Frogs & Snakes? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Spooky Sound

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 Spooky Sound (Disney/Pixar Cars)

By: Melissa Lagonegro

Illustrated By: Ron Cohee

Publication: July 13, 2010 by RH/Disney

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2, Early Readers

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--CAfter Mater and Lightning McQueen hear a mysterious sound one night, they decide to investigate. But when they can't figure out where it's coming from, Radiator Springs suddenly becomes very spooky!

Disney•Pixar's Cars fans will love this all-new Step 2 reader featuring all of their favorite characters.

The Spooky Sound is one of our Level-2 readers. This one was given to us and not one that I bought. Lightning McQueen and Mater like telling scary stories. But they aren't scared. Yet they are. They see a variety of spooky shadows and shapes on their way home. But then each of these scary things is revealed to be something not scary at all. I liked the play on how often the things we get worked up and scared about, especially as a kid, all have unscary truths behind them. However, sometimes just telling scary stories can get us scared over nothing. The yo-yo of not scared, scared, not scared, scared was actually funny for my level-2 reader.

My son read this book with a little less reluctance than some other books. I don't think there were any words he struggled with. He wanted to see what each of the spooky things Lightning and Mater were afraid of actually were. The Spooky Sound gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read The Spooky Sound? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Coat of Many Colors

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.

Coat of Many Colors

By: Dolly Parton

Illustrated By: Brooke Boynton Hughes

Publication: October 18, 2016 by Grosset & Dunlap

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2, Music, Poetry, Family

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Dolly Parton lends the lyrics of her classic song "Coat of Many Colors" to this heartfelt picture book for young readers.

Country music legend Dolly Parton's rural upbringing in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee provides the backdrop for this special picture book. Using lyrics from her classic song "Coat of Many Colors," the book tells the story of a young girl in need of a warm winter coat. When her mother sews her a coat made of rags, the girl is mocked by classmates for being poor. But Parton's trademark positivity carries through to the end as the girl realizes that her coat was made with love "in every stitch." Beautiful illustrations pair with Parton's poetic lyrics in this heartfelt picture book sure to speak to all young readers.

We've had Coat of Many Colors for many years. But when I was going through our collection to find level-2 books for my son to read, this one was on the list. He read it recently, and there were a few words he needed a little prompting with, but overall, he read this book without any issues. I was surprised when he picked this one to read, as I don't think of it as being a "boy" book. But I find that when I give him free rein to choose as he will, sometimes he will surprise me. But doing so always makes for less tension. Forcing him to read daily has shown dividends in reading progress. He's reading quicker, more confidently, and overall better in only a few weeks' time.

Coat of Many Colors is a book based upon Dolly Parton's song of the same name. It's the story of a coat her mother made her out of pieces of rags they were given. Her family was poor, and she needed a coat. A neighbor gave them a box of rags, and her mother sewed a coat for her out of the rags. While she was sewing, her mother told her the Biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors that his father gave to him as well. Dolly felt loved and rich in her coat. Yet when it was time to go to school, other kids made fun of her homemade coat. In the book and song, Dolly says that it didn't faze her. She couldn't understand why others would think she was poor when she loved her coat and knew that her mother sewed it with love. Yet in the author's note at the end of the book, she talks about how vividly she remembers the bullying from other kids about her coat and that she doesn't think she healed from the pain until writing the song. She writes that she hopes this story helps one child feel less alone and others to see how bullying is hurtful.

I talk frequently in these reviews about how I appreciate a story with a moral. This story is a great one. It shows that we can feel loved, rich, and happy despite what others may say about us. It shows that bullies are missing some key points. It shows that we can choose happiness and joy despite how others treat us. Coat of Many Colors gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Coat of Many Colors? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Lucky Goes to School

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.

Lucky Goes to School

By: Gail Herman

Illustrated By: Norman Gorbaty

Publication: July 9, 2001 by Penguin Young Readers

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--When Lucky's owner goes to school, where will Lucky go? Who will he meet? Find out in this fun-filled Level 2 reader.

Lucky Goes to School is one of our Level-2 readers. This one was given to us and not one that I bought. Lucky wakes up one morning, and his boy has to go off to school. Lucky is worried he will be bored all day without his boy. He walks his boy to school and meets many other dogs. They go to the park and play together, doing various doggie things. And then it's time to go back and pick up Lucky's boy. Then they go home happy because tomorrow is another day of school.

Sometimes as a homeschool mom, I'm sad when books build up typical school. Of course, these books are written for the kids that are going to traditional school rather than homeschooled kids. I think it can make my children feel like they're missing out. But that's life. Someone is always missing out on an experience. Traditionally schooled kids are missing out on the homeschool experience. It's opportunity costs. But I've dived off into the weeds on this one.

My son read this book just fine. I don't think there were any words he struggled with. He didn't dread reading it, but he wasn't excited about it either. There wasn't a specific moral for him to take away, either. Lucky Goes to School! gets 3 Stars. Have you or your child read Lucky Goes to School? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Mater's Birthday Surprise

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.

Mater's Birthday Suprirse

By: Melissa Lagonegro

Publication: January 10, 2012 by RH/Disney

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Mater thinks all his friends in Radiator Springs have forgotten his birthday—until they throw him the best surprise party ever! This Step 2 reader starring Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the rest of the cars from Disney/Pixar Cars and Cars 2 will make a perfect birthday gift for children ages 4 to 6. Step 2 readers use basic vocabulary and short sentences to tell simple stories. For children who recognize familiar words and can sound out new words with help.

Finding books that my child wants to read isn't always easy. We have a stack of early readers that was passed down to us from friends, and then we have ones that I've purchased as well. Our copy of this book has seen better days. A dog has chewed on it. Someone's taken scissors to several of the pages. Yet, this book is one that my child enjoyed reading more than many of the others he's read recently.

The characters from Disney's Cars are getting together to plan a surprise birthday party for Mater. However, Mater is hiding on almost every page peeping things out and spoiling the surprise. All of the aspects of a birthday party are present, and Mater is observing them all. My son had a great time spotting Mater on each page. There were some challenging words, as several of the characters' names were difficult.

Sometimes, entertaining wins out over a deep or beautiful moral to a story in the eyes of a seven-year-old boy. Mater's Birthday Surprise gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read Mater's Birthday Surprise? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Great Toy Escape

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 Great Toy Escape

By: Kitty Richards

Publication: May 4, 2010 by RH/Disney

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Level-2

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Sunnyside Daycare appears to be a toy's dream come true. But when Buzz, Woody, and the rest of Andy's toys arrive, they discover that it's actually a toy's nightmare. Now they have to escape—and it's up to Woody to lead the way!

So lately my Homeschool Friday posts have been featuring books with high moral character and lessons to be learned. Those are all well and good. As matter of fact, I love those types of books, and I especially love when that content can be implemented into lower level readers. However, sometimes you just need to read a book for fun. My son needed a break from a level-2 chapter book we were reading, and he chose this one for his daily reading.

The Great Toy Escape isn't going to win any awards. It was good. It was fine. The story was similar to the movie, of course, he did point out where things were different. But he enjoyed that he already knew the basics of the story since he's seen the Disney movie. The words weren't challenging for him in that he didn't stumble on any of them, yet you can tell this is a step up from Level-1 readers.

The Great Toy Escape gets 3 Stars. There's nothing wrong with it. The story and difficulty level was what he needed at the time. Sometimes you just need a quick win under your belt, a fast read that you can enjoy for entertainment purposes only. Have you or your child read The Great Toy Escape? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Caspian Crashes the Party

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.

Caspian Crashes the Party (Good News for Little Hearts)

Edited By: Edward T Welch

Illustrated By: Joe Hox

Publication: September 21, 2020 by New Growth Press

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Christian

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--This colorful, beautifully illustrated children's book invites children ages three through eight into Caspian Squirrel's world to learn alongside him how to bring his jealousy to Jesus.

Caspian's brother, Jax, is having a birthday party, and Caspian is jealous of all the attention and presents Jax is getting. One thing leads to another until Caspian crashes into the tent his parents set up for Jax's birthday, bringing the whole party down with him. Caspian's parents talk with him about jealousy and its bad effects, and eventually peace is restored.

Parents and children will learn concrete, grace-based ways to deal with jealousy. Edited by Edward T. Welch, Caspian Crashes the Party ends with a special section that guides Christian parents in teaching their children to respond with faith when jealousy takes hold in their hearts.

Caspian Crashes the Party is part of the Good News for Little Hearts series, bringing gospel help and biblical counsel to families. Based on CCEF's model of hope and help, each story focuses on an animal family's real-life issues, encouraging young readers toward a growing relationship with Jesus Christ in the midst of challenging circumstances. Each individual story guides parents toward meaningful conversations with their kids, based on what Christian scripture has to say about living by faith in everyday life.

By providing biblical help and hope to issues every child faces through vivid illustrations and a story based on a different animal family, even the youngest child will be engaged. Each story offers practical ways to follow Jesus in difficult situations. Instead of a moralistic message, young readers are encouraged to develop a real relationship with the God who cares for them.

Caspian Crashes the Party, along with all of the Good News for Little Hearts books, will become a lifelong gift for parents and children, as well as teachers, biblical counselors, and anyone hoping to provide concrete, grace-based help for young children. Caspian Crashes the Party is illustrated by Joe Hox and edited by Edward T. Welch

Good News for Little Hearts is a series that I absolutely adore. Caspian Crashes the Party is a book about being jealous. Jax is planning his birthday party. Caspian has already had a birthday party but it seems like his parents are doing more for his little brother's birthday party than they did for his. Everything about Jax's party Caspian compares to his. "I don't remember having this much stuff for my party." "I didn't have this many friends at my party." "My cake only had white icing with brown sprinkles." "I didn't get that many gifts..." And on and on he compared his party to his brother's, and in his mind, his party always came up short. Caspian even went so far as to unhook the air hose from the bounce house. Caspian's heart was hard. His father told him that he had no reason to be jealous and that he should apologize to his brother. But Caspian didn't want to apologize. And he didn't want to go to church.

But Caspian's ears perked up when the pastor talked about Paul knowing the secret to being content. Through hearing the message about Jesus's love being better than anything else, Caspian's heart softened, and he prayed to Jesus for help. The pastor went on to talk about how we can fight jealousy by running to God for help, or we can choose to hold tight to our anger and bitterness. "God helps us to love others and to want what's best for them." Caspian realized that he only wanted what was best for himself, not his brother. He asked for forgiveness and prayed for help to apologize to his brother.

Even though this book is only 32 pages, like many other children's books, the content is longer per page and opening. So it does feel like a much longer book when reading it. Of course, I couldn't find these books on AR Book Finder, which is the site I often use as a guide for reading level in my homeschool. So I can't guide you much on when your child might be able to read this book without you. I'd probably give it a Level 3 or Level 4 rating, just comparing it to some of the Berenstain Bears books in content. I love that the book starts with a Scripture where you often find a dedication. And then this book includes a large section for tips on helping your child with jealousy. My copy of the book also includes some "Back Pocket Bible Verses" intended to be torn out and carried around with the child or parent for quick Scriptural help in this topic. I also happen to love the illustration style. So often, I find with children's books that the illustrations aren't really to my liking, but I love these. Plus the hardcover copy with dust jacket that I have just feels like exceptional quality. The paper is thick and smooth. The binding is nice. The hardcover itself is great. And I love the patterned paper that covers the inside of the binding and opening.

I really and truly have zero complaints about Caspian Crashes the Party. I love everything from the story to the illustrations. I love the moral and the Scripture included in the text. And I love that everything in this story and book points back to Jesus. Caspian Crashes the Party gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read Caspian Crashes the Party? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The God Contest

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 God Contest (Tales that Tell the Truth)

By: Carl Laferton

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: January 1, 2021 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Christian, Non-fiction

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Teach children about two extraordinary events in history when the God of the Bible proved himself to be the one true God.

Kids today are faced with a huge range of different views on who God is (or isn’t). How can they be sure who’s got it right?

This beautifully illustrated hardback storybook for children aged 3-6 is written by the team behind The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross. It retells two extraordinary events in history when the God of the Bible proved himself to be the one true God.

First it takes children back to Elijah’s time and the gripping “God contest” between the God of the Bible, Yahweh, and the false god Baal. Then it fast-forwards to a different mountain and another “God contest” at an empty tomb.

Once the evidence is examined, it invites kids, in a world of so many options, to decide with confidence to join Team Jesus.

The God Contest tells the story of 1 Kings 18:16-40, where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a "God contest" on Mount Carmel. It starts in a way that kids can relate to by showing various kinds of contests someone might participate in. Then we have a little backstory about Ahab and Jezebel who worshiped Baal. And then in contrast we have Elijah who knew that Yahweh was the real God. Then it goes into the details of the God Contest that Elijah set up.

If you aren't familiar with the story, Elijah set up an equal opportunity contest where the followers of Baal could chop some wood and build an altar to Baal. And he would do the same but for Yahweh. Then they would call on their God and see which one could set the altar on fire. Team Baal went first with 450 people shouting and crying out to Baal. They danced, and yet nothing happened. Elijah made jokes like "Maybe he's on the toilet." (My kids thought that was particularly funny.) "Maybe he's asleep." Nothing happened.

Then it was Elijah's turn. And he dug a trench and had water poured on the altar until the altar, the wood, and the trench were filled with water, and everything was wet. Then Elijah prayed to Yahweh and asked Him to make the answer clear to all the people that He is the only real God. And fire came down from heaven and consumed the bull, the wood, and the water. Yahweh had won the contest.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel didn't like that and decided to keep on following Baal anyway. For hundreds of years, not many people followed Yahweh. And now the authors of The God Contest point out that it was time for another God contest. This time God did something even more amazing. He didn't send fire. He sent a human. Jesus. And they go on to show how Jesus claimed to be Yahweh. He showed he was Yahweh through His miracles. And yet people weren't sure. So Jesus explained the rules of a new God contest. He will come back to life after He has died. And so Jesus let people kill Him, bury Him, and for three days...nothing. But then Jesus rose back to life. The God contest was over. Now lots of people know Jesus as the real God, the only God. And everyone has to make up their minds. Will you join Team Jesus?

I absolutely love the way the authors break these stories into easy to understand concepts for kids. And more than anything, I love the connection back to Jesus, because it is all about Him anyway. I love the comparison and contrast between God answering Elijah with the fire and with Jesus's life. Those two pages were great. I love the note added in on page 4 about the name Yahweh. I love the Tales that Tell the Truth note at the end of the book that tells about where the facts of this story come from. So many wins for this book and this series. I can give The God Contest no less than 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The God Contest? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - A Tiger in the Tall Grass

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.

A Tiger in the Tall Grass (Animal Adventures)

By: Heather Horn

Illustrated By: Victoria Skakandi

Publication: January 1, 2024 by The Good and the Beautiful, Level-2

68 pages

Genre: Children's, Picture Book, Christian, Educational, Early Chapter Book

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--Adventure is always a step away for young tiger cubs Kash, Reva, and Lata. Their curiosity keeps their mother, Tara, on her feet! What will the cubs discover as they explore the tall grass, splash in the water, and wander a little too far from their mother? Follow the tiger cubs as they escape danger and learn to hunt in the tall grasses of India.

A Tiger in the Tall Grass is listed as a Level-2A reader by The Good and the Beautiful. We get a lot of homeschool curriculum and books from The Good and the Beautiful. My seven-year-old son is a reluctant reader. He can read, but I'm pretty sure he has ADHD and is easily distracted while reading. He is always easily overwhelmed when he sees either a lot of words on one page or many pages in between his starting and stopping point. So I love that this is a chapter book. Early chapter books for this reading level get the child accustomed to reading in chapters without feeling like he has to complete the entire book. A Tiger in the Tall Grass also has pictures included for every page or opening.

A Tiger in the Tall Grass is an informational book that follows a female tiger who gives birth to cubs and her journey to raise her cubs. The tigers are given names, so in that way it is a fictional story. But it focuses more on the life of a tiger and not just a fictional story. The goal of the book is to present information about tigers in a way that kids will easily absorb and be interested in the story.

One complaint that I had is that the tiger names were probably chosen so as to be authentic to cultural names that might be used in the area where tigers naturally inhabit. This is a guess on my part, but the names were ones that could have been interpreted with more than one pronunciation. I would prefer names with more clear-cut pronunciations when dealing with early readers. I'm not even sure if Reva is Re-va or Rev-a. Tara and Lata are the same.

Now for our personal experience while reading this book: My son was fine with starting the book, but he put it down for a week or so, and when I basically forced him to finish it, he wasn't happy about it. I don't know if that's the book's fault or because my son has some oppositional behaviors and doesn't like being forced to do anything.

A Tiger in the Tall Grass was a good level-2 chapter reader. It's educational while also presenting information about tigers in a story format. My son wasn't happy about finishing this book, but I don't imagine he'll enjoy every book he reads. He mostly doesn't enjoy reading at this stage. From my perspective, A Tiger in the Tall Grass gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read A Tiger in the Tall Grass? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Children's Book of Virtues

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 Children's Book of Virtues

Edited By: William J. Bennett

Illustrated By: Michael Hague

Publication: October 1, 1995 by Simon & Schuster

112 pages

Genre: Children's, Classics, Philosophy, Short Stories, Picture Book

Source: Personal Library

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Goodreads description--The perfect companion to William J. Bennett's number-one bestseller; The Book of Virtues, The Children's Book of Virtues is the ideal storybook for parents and children to enjoy together:

With selections from The Book of Virtues, from Aesop and Robert Frost to George Washington's life as well as Native American and African folklore, The Children's Book of Virtues brings together timeless stories and poems from around the world.

The stories have been chosen especially for a young audience to help parents introduce to their children the essentials of good character: Courage, Perseverance, Responsibility, Work, Self-discipline, Compassion, Faith, Honesty, Loyalty, and Friendship.

Lavishly illustrated by the well-known artist Michael Hague, these wonderful stories and the virtues they illustrate come to life on these pages.

The Children's Book of Virtues is an enduring treasury of literature and art that will help lead young minds toward what is noble and gentle and fine.

I decided that my children needed a course on manners, and since we homeschool, I could easily incorporate manners into our daily study time. I pieced together my own "unit" on the subject. And even though we're *one week shy of finishing the school year, I still plan to incorporate manners study into our next year as well. This might end up being an ongoing unit. The unit that never ends. All of that to say, I got The Children's Book of Virtues to go with our manners unit in our homeschool.

This is a book that includes various stories on topics covering courage and perseverance, responsibility, work and self-discipline, compassion and faith, and honesty, loyalty, and friendship. The selections are pulled from Aesop, Robert Frost, George Washington's life, and even Native American and African folklore. The stories and poems included are all informative about the good character we all need to develop. Many of these stories are familiar to me from my childhood as well.

And so often we learn so much from stories. Including good stories with good moral character and moral lessons helps to build us up and strengthen our ethics. Reading these types of stories to your children will pay dividends down the road.

The Children's Book of Virtues almost feels like a staple for any library of a family with young children. Including stories with good morals and life lessons into our children's daily life will help them grow in these areas as they see from outside themselves. The Children's Book of Virtues gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Children's Book of Virtues? What did you think? Let me know!

*This review was written in May 2025, but not posted on my blog until later.

Homeschool Friday - The Storm that Stopped

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 Storm That Stopped

By: Alison Mitchell

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: February 1, 2016 by The Good Book Company

32 pages

Genre: Children's, Non-fiction, Christian, History, Picture Book

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Third in the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series comes The Storm that Stopped!

Based on the account of Jesus calming the storm from Mark chapter 4, this dramatic storybook will teach children about who Jesus really is, as they witness his power over nature.

Stunningly illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, author and illustrator of several bestselling children's books as well as the first two storybooks from the 'Tales that Tell the Truth' series: The Christmas Promise and The One O'Clock Miracle.

Written by Alison Mitchell, author of The Christmas Promise and several of our children's tracts.

The Storm that Stopped covers the New Testament story of when Jesus calmed the storm while in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. The story starts with Jesus teaching a multitude of people all day, and then he decides to go with his apostles across the sea. He fell asleep in the boat on the way, and suddenly a storm arose. The wind and the waves are so big and strong that the boat is taking on water, and the apostles fear they are going to drown. Jesus sleeps through this all until they wake him.

I appreciated the illustrations included. The beauty of contrast from the light pages to the darker, stormy pages was jarring in the perfect way. I liked the page with the wind o'meter, wave o'meter, sink o'meter, and panic o'meter. My children thought those were particularly funny.

I also liked that when Jesus calms the sea, the book focuses on what he doesn't do. He doesn't help bail the water out of the boat, he doesn't help row, he speaks, but not to the apostles. He speaks to the wind and the waves.

The book (as well as the Biblical story) then focuses on who Jesus is that he could possibly have control over the wind and the waves. He was teaching His disciples that He is God. Like Jesus and the Lions' Den, this book includes a "how do we know about the storm that stopped" section at the end. I love that they include this.

The Storm that Stopped is about as good as a children's picture book can get for me. The illustrations are striking. There's a little humor. The content is Biblical, which I appreciate. And the teaching goes beyond the surface. The Storm that Stopped is a great addition to any home library. The Storm that Stopped gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read The Storm that Stopped? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Courageous World Changers

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

Courageous World Changers: 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God

By: Shirley Raye Redmond

Publication: January 7, 2020 by Harvest Kids

112 pages

Genre: Children's, Biography, Non-fiction, Christian, History

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--WINNER OF CHRISTIANITY TODAY'S 2021 BOOK AWARD FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH

Women of Fearless Faith

Meet women who have used their God-given talents to live out their faith to the fullest. They come from a variety of backgrounds, eras, and ethnicities, but each one has answered the Lord’s call on their life in bold and innovative ways.

Children of all ages will be inspired by the stories of These and the 45 other female spiritual role models featured in this book have made a profound impact on the world around them, and in many cases changed the course of history. Strong, smart, and sometimes outspoken, these women are tremendous examples of God’s love in action.

These inspiring profiles will captivate kids’ imaginations and encourage them to discover their own gifts and how they can use them to glorify God.

Courageous World Changers showcases 50 women throughout history (some still alive today) who have done amazing things in their lives, careers, missions, and the world for Christ. I liked that this list included historical figures that are quite well-known--a few of these people we've recently studied in school. But I also appreciate modern-day people still alive were featured because it reminds us that you don't have to be dead to be great. Or you might have the misconception that these important people only lived in the past. These stories remind us that anyone can be a world-changer.

Each person has a bio description of their past and their deeds for Christ and an illustrated portrait. I do wish for a photograph versus illustrations because that would have added to the idea that these were/are real people. But, some of these people may never have been photographed.

I don't remember needing to edit any theology, but I can't remember. I do have the most recently release: Courageous and Bold Bible Heroes: 50 True Stories of Daring Men and Women of God that we will read at the start of the next school year beginning in the fall.

Courageous World Changers is a great book to provide a summary of the lives of women who, throughout history, have made a big difference for Christ all over the world. This book will help inspire many that it's possible to make a difference for Christ today. Courageous World Changers gets 5 Stars. Have you read Courageous World Changers? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Jesus and the Lions' Den

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

Jesus and the Lions' Den

By: Alison Mitchell

Illustrated By: Catalina Echeverri

Publication: September 1, 2019 by The Good Book Company

31 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Books, Christian

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--An illustrated retelling of Daniel and the lions' den that helps children to see Jesus in the story of Daniel.

We've all heard of Daniel and the lions' den. But many probably haven't heard of Jesus and the lions' den. This book tells the Biblical story of Daniel as an Israelite captive in Babylon, where he has gained favor from King Darius. Yet many would love to see Daniel brought low. The beginning of the book talks about how we can often spot "Jesus moments" in the Bible, specifically the Old Testament stories. So it warns readers to look out for a specific symbol to be found throughout the story, where a character is behaving like Jesus or a situation is similar to one Jesus faced.

Next, the book details Daniel's habit of prayer and how nothing could be found about Daniel to bring to the king against him, except his faithful prayer habit. Because the law of the Medes and Persians could not be changed once made, Darius had to enforce the law he was tricked into making, that no one could pray to anyone but him for 30 days. Daniel would be thrown into the lions' den. Even though Darius could not find a way to save Daniel himself, he hoped that Daniel's God would be able to. The next morning, Darius rushed to the lions' den and found Daniel safe. God had saved him. King Darius made a new law that Daniel's God would be recognized as the real king of all people.

The book then directs the reader to stop and make sure they have located all four symbols for Jesus moments in the story. And then proceeds to point out each moment and what those moments mean.

I love that after the story, there is a section dedicated to "how do we know about Daniel and the Lions' Den." It focuses on Biblical truths along with historical information. And it directs the reader to other Old Testament stories that also have Jesus moments in them. Truly, the entire Bible is about Jesus and His redemption of man.

Jesus and the Lions' Den is about as good as you can get for a children's picture book in my opinion. I love bringing in picture books that focus on Biblical stories. Kids really remember the pictures that go with the stories. My kids all love this book. And I love that the Biblical teaching isn't just surface-level. There is depth here as well. Jesus and the Lions' Den gets 5 Stars. Have you or your child read Jesus and the Lions' Den? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Go and Do Likewise

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

Go and Do Likewise

By: John Hendrix

Publication: February 2, 2021 by Abrams Books for Young Readers

40 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Books, Christian

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--The parables and teachings of Jesus are brought to life in this stunning picture book from award-winning author and illustrator John Hendrix

But Jesus was going somewhere.
His journey to find those most in need of him began anew each morning.
Jesus walked . . . and ever since, people have followed him.

Through parables of the good Samaritan and the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the beatitudes, Jesus taught his disciples the redeeming power of sacrificial love and showed mercy to everyone around him—especially the sick, the poor, and the downtrodden.

In this inspirational and richly illustrated book, John Hendrix brings to life the wisdom of Jesus. Interweaving hand lettering with his signature, award-winning art style, Hendrix captures the spirit of Jesus’s timeless message that will resonate with readers of any Christian faith.

First off, the illustrations of Go and Do Likewise aren't my favorite. Well, some of the pages I really like, and others I don't like at all. This isn't my preferred art style. I do like words being incorporated into art. I find it hard to describe the things I don't like. I'm not an artist at all, so I don't have the vocabulary to describe what I dislike.

This book is about the parables that Jesus taught. Of course, it doesn't cover all of the parables, only a few. He includes the good Samaritan, the Sermon on the Mount, the wise & foolish builder, the shepherd who left the 99, and the prodigal son, to name a few.

I appreciated the author's note at the end that told why the author loves parables so much and his personal connection between the parables of Jesus and his art. I also appreciated the section at the end on "retelling vs. translating." It should be noted (and is in this section) that this book isn't exactly a translation but a retelling. Retellings allow the author to use poetic license to adjust or add to the story to fit a modern reader or situational adjustments. These have been created for young audiences. I don't like the recommendation to read The Message as a translation. I'm not a fan of it and prefer to read one of the more literal translations of the Bible myself.

All in, Go and Do Likewise is another way of getting Biblical content in front of our children. Whether you're a believer or not, there's no teaching of Jesus that would harm your life. You can use all of His teachings to become better people for yourself and those around you. And I appreciate picture books that reinforce His teachings for my children. Go and Do Likewise gets 4.5 Stars from me. Have you or your child read Go and Do Likewise? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Lewis and Clark Go West

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

Lewis and Clark Go West

By: McKay Pierce

Illustrated By: Kateryna Rohotova

Publication: January 1, 2022 by The Good and the Beautiful, LLC

47 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Christian, Level-1

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads )

Goodreads description--Have you ever heard of Lewis and Clark? Long ago, they took a trip to see the land, animals, and people in the West. Look inside to learn more about what they saw and who they met!

Most of the Level-1 readers we have are from publishers like Random House and Scholastics. But we use a homeschool curriculum company called The Good and the Beautiful for a lot of our curriculum. The Good and the Beautiful has its own books written by several authors. Jenny Phillips, the company's creator, writes many of the books herself. And the company emphasizes good and beautiful literature that has strong moral values. I cannot appreciate this more. Most of the "normal" level-1 reader books are about 32 pages long with one or two short sentences per page or opening. Lewis and Clark Go West is a little longer with 47 pages and usually, one or two sentences per opening.

Lewis and Clark Go West begins with a challenging words page that includes 9 words used in the book that might be a little beyond the child's reading level, but I like that this is included at the beginning of the book so that you can go over these words with your child before they come to them in the book. This way maybe they will already recognize the words and be able to read them from memory already. Or if they get to one of these words while reading and can't sound it out phonetically or remember it, they will at least not be surprised and feel discouraged for not being able to read a challenging word.

Lewis and Clark Go West is exactly what you would think it is--a level-1 version of the events of Merriwether Lewis and William Clark's journey west to map the country and claim the territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean for America. The book talks about Sacagawea and her help as some things they saw along the way.

Lewis and Clark Go West is a 5-Star level-1 book. (The Good and the Beautiful technically rates this book as a level 1A.) The morals and messages often included in the books by The Good and the Beautiful weren't as present. But what makes this book a 5 Star book is the brief bits of history a child can get. Level-1 readers don't always have be entertaining only. We need more companies that focus on making quality content for young kids. Have you or your child read Lewis and Clark Go West? What did you think? Let me know!

*Note: Lewis and Clark Go West is no longer available for purchase through The Good and the Beautiful's website.

Homeschool Friday - Jane and the King

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

Jane and the Kinge (Gold Tales)

By: Jenny Phillips

Illustrated By: Ekaterina Kolesnikova

Publication: The Good and the Beautiful

51 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Christian, Level-1

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | The Good and the Beautiful )

Goodreads description--Level 1B: What can you give a king who already has all that money can buy? Perhaps something he does not yet know to treasure. Jane and the King, a beautifully written and illustrated tale, reminds us that it is often the simple joys in life that are the most profound and rewarding—especially when shared with those we love. Join young Jane as she helps a wealthy, discontented king find true happiness in unexpected ways.

Most of the Level-1 readers we have are from publishers like Random House and Scholastics. But we use a homeschool curriculum company called The Good and the Beautiful for a lot of our curriculum. The Good and the Beautiful has its own books written by several authors. Jenny Phillips, the company's creator, writes many of the books herself. And the company emphasizes good and beautiful literature that has strong moral values. I cannot appreciate this more. Most of the "normal" level-1 reader books are about 32 pages long with one or two short sentences per page or opening. Jane and the King is a good bit longer with 51 pages and usually, one or two sentences per opening.

Jane and the King begins with a challenging words page that includes 5 words used in the book that might be a little beyond the child's reading level, but I like that this is included at the beginning of the book so that you can go over these words with your child before they come to them in the book. This way maybe they will already recognize the words and be able to read them from memory already. Or if they get to one of these words while reading and can't sound it out phonetically or remember it, they will at least not be surprised and feel discouraged for not being able to read a challenging word.

Jane and the King is about a king in a far away land who has many possessions. Yet he was still sad. He thought having his subjects bring him a gift would make him happy. Jane lives in the land, and she liked to smile, bake, and sing. She didn't have many possessions and what she had wasn't very nice. But she was very happy. Jane was able to appreciate all the little things around her with joy. Jane struggles with coming up with a gift to give the king. The subjects of the kingdom brought all kinds of gifts to the king. But Jane ended up bringing two gifts. The first gift was a tree and a note from Jane telling the king that the tree actually needs him. She tells him that she will give him his second gift next year. The king goes about cultivating the tree. Over time with his efforts to take care of the tree he slowly began to appreciate the little things. Jane's second gift was teaching the king how to sing. The king grew older and his family grew as well. The king realized the tree was the best gift he had ever been given. Jane's family also grew and she taught her kids to appreciate all of the good gifts that God gives to each one of us.

Jane and the King is a 5-Star level-1 book for sure. (The Good and the Beautiful technically rates this book as a level 1B.) The morals and messages included in this book make this book what it is. We need more companies that focus on the messages we're sending to young kids. I also like that this is longer than a typical level-1 reader so that my son can get accustomed to reading longer books even though there aren't as many words on one page. Jane and the King is broken down into three chapters so your child doesn't have to read the entire book in one sitting. And this helps to get them accustomed to reading "chapter" books. Have you or your child read Jane and the King? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - Jack and the Lost Maze

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

Jack and the Lost Maze (Gold Tales)

By: Jenny Phillips

Publication: The Good and the Beautiful

58 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Christian, Level-1

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | The Good and the Beautiful )

Goodreads description--Jack has always been interested in the story about an old, hidden maze in the beautiful, mysterious hills around his home. One day, while tending his flock of sheep, Jack chases a sheep under a bush and finds himself in a lost maze! He cannot find his way out and wonders if he will ever get back home. Jack’s faith in God and his love of music and animals work together in this enchanting tale.

Most of the Level-1 readers we have are from publishers like Random House and Scholastics. But we use a homeschool curriculum company called The Good and the Beautiful for a lot of our curriculum. The Good and the Beautiful has its own books written by several authors. Jenny Phillips, the company's creator, writes many of the books herself. And the company emphasizes good and beautiful literature that has strong moral values. I cannot appreciate this more. Most of the "normal" level-1 reader books are about 32 pages long with one or two short sentences per page or opening. Jack and the Lost Maze is a good bit longer with 58 pages and usually, one or two sentences per opening.

Jack and the Lost Maze begins with a challenging words page that includes 4 words used in the book that might be a little beyond the child's reading level, but I like that this is included at the beginning of the book so that you can go over these words with your child before they come to them in the book. This way maybe they will already recognize the words and be able to read them from memory already. Or if they get to one of these words while reading and can't sound it out phonetically or remember it, they will at least not be surprised and feel discouraged for not being able to read a challenging word.

Jack and the Lost Maze is about a boy and his family. Many areas of the land they lived in were not safe. Jack read about a maze hidden deep in the hills that was thirty miles long. Jack cared for his family's sheep. Jack loved all the wildlife in the area. One day a foggy mist came in that made it hard for Jack to see. He found himself inside the maze. Jack realizes that his mom would tell him to pray. So he did. And God helped him. (I won't spoil how.) When he got home, he told all the people how God helped him. Jack ended up leading the men in his town/village to the maze, and together they explored and mapped the maze. But even as he grew older, he still told the story of how God helped him out of the maze.

Jack and the Lost Maze is a 5-Star level-1 book. (The Good and the Beautiful technically rates this book as a level 1B.) The morals and messages included in this book are what make this book a 5 Star book for me. We need more companies that focus on the messages we're sending to young kids. I also like that this is longer than a typical level-1 reader so that my son can get accustomed to reading longer books even though there aren't as many words on one page. Have you or your child read Jack and the Lost Maze? What did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - I Really Like Slop

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

I Really Like Slop (Elephant & Piggie, # 24)

By: Mo Willems

Publication: October 27, 2015 by Hyperion Books for Children

64 pages

Genre: Children, Picture Book, Humor, Level-1

Source: Own/Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In I Really Like Slop!, Piggie invites Gerald to try her favorite food . . . slop. But Gerald is not so sure he's going to like it. At all.

I Really Like Slop is the fifth and final Elephant and Piggie story included in Biggie 1 even though Goodreads lists it as # 24 in the series. Elephant and Piggie books are books that my seven-year-old wants to read. They are lengthy books (64 pages) for this reading level. I love this. Most pages only have a sentence or two at most, so my son doesn't feel overwhelmed and can read through the books quickly. These are all AR Level 1 (a couple of them are 0.5 and 0.6) so the words aren't complex or difficult.

Piggie is about to eat the slop he's just made. Gerald is traumatized. Piggie tries to educate Gerald on slop, but Gerald's rejection makes Piggie sad. Gerald decides to try it. No surprise, he doesn't like it. All of the Elephant and Piggie books have some kind of sweet moment which I appreciate.

The illustrations for I Really Like Slop make the story and bring the words to life. Any book that can get my son to enjoy any part of the reading process is a win for me. I Really Like Slop gets 4 Stars. Have you or your child read I Really Like Slop? What did you think? Let me know!