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

( Goodreads | The Good and the Beautiful )

*Note: The above link to The Good and the Beautiful is NOT an affiliate link.

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!

The Little Wild Library: Elder - Review

The Little Wild Library: Elder: Simple things to do with the plants around you.

By: Clare Gogerty

Publication: September 16, 2025 by David & Charles

128 pages

Genre: Non-Fiction, Plants, Nature, Science

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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Goodreads description--A favourite of foragers, the Elder tree is the very essence of summer, with frothy blooms emerging in the late spring and filling the hedges and pathways with a glorious fragrance. As the seasons turn, the elderberry comes into its own, a delicious food for humans and animals alike, bursting with vitality and an excellent source of vitamin c.

In The Little Wild Elder, discover how to make the most of this beautiful tree, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year. Once you’ve found your favourite elder, come back as the seasons change and find new things to do with your foraged treasure – from edible treats to useful tinctures. Beginner-friendly, the elder is the perfect plant for those new to foraging to get to know – with easy-to-follow recipes for favourite makes such as the delicate and romantic elderflower champagne.

Learn how to identify the elder amidst its hedgerow friends from the comprehensive botanical information included, and take this pocket-sized book out on foraging adventures to help spot the elder blossom bursting forth in the spring sunshine – though you’ll be sure to catch its heavenly scent before you see it! As fall arrives, return to your favourite elder and gather the elderberries that shine brightly from its branches. Through the book, learn about the history of the elder, and discover some of the myths, legends, and folklore attached to this beautiful plant.

The perfect beginner's guide to foraging, in a handy pocket-sized format, The Little Wild Elder will reveal the secrets of the hedgerow and inspire those new to foraging to experiment and explore the beautiful plants around them.

I don't know exactly what I was expecting from this book. I was thrown off by the inclusion of folklore. I suppose it was interesting tidbits. Mostly, I'm interested in the elderberry cough syrup. This book didn't include a specific recipe labeled cough syrup. But there were two recipes listed with uses as cough remedies. I wasn't expecting to find elderberry facial balm or elder flower facial steam recipes. But I'm here for them.

I haven't had a chance to use any of these recipes yet, so I can't really include that in my review. We have elderberries planted on our property, and it is now September. Perhaps I will be able to harvest and make something soon. That's one of the reasons I wanted to get this book for review.

I will say that this wasn't formatted very well for my Kindle. It was probably the egalley version that I got. Hopefully, all of that will be cleaned up for the actual Kindle release.

The Little Wild Library: Elder was a quick read. It's easy to reference the recipes listed. I liked that the book wasn't overdone with recipes. Like, this isn't an extensive list of elderberry recipes. I'm giving this a 3.5 Star rating. My rating might increase after I try a recipe or two. The formatting wasn't great, and the folklore included threw me off. Have you read The Little Wild Library: Elder? If so, what did you think? Let me know!

Homeschool Friday - The Wonder of Creation

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.

The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotions About God and Science

By: Louie Giglio

Publication: November 16, 2021 by Tommy Nelson

208 pages

Genre: Children's, Christian, Devotion, Science

Source: Personal Library

( Goodreads | Amazon **Currently on sale** )

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

Goodreads description--In this captivating follow-up to the bestselling kids' devotionals Indescribable and How Great Is Our God, founder of the Passion movement Louie Giglio offers more mind-blowing, faith-building scientific facts and biblical truths about the wonder of God's creation.

In this book, children will find new delight in God's creativity with 100 devotions that explore:

Animals: from honeyguide birds to flying snakes to white rhinos
Space: from black holes to volcanic moons to gamma-ray bursts
People: from optical illusions to brain freezes to our immune systems
Earth: from rainbow rivers to blue lava to flowing glaciers
And much, much more!

Like the other books, Indescribable and How Great Is Our God, The Wonder of Creation has a Scripture, a scientific topic which is in turn related back to God, a short prayer, and a related fact concerning the topic. The topics are related to space, Earth, people, and animals. When I finished The Wonder of Creation, I thought there were fewer real photographs used in comparison with How Great is Our God. I didn't go back to count them, but The Wonder of Creation does include a mix of real photographs and unrealistic graphics. My kids asked to see the photo a few times on a topic, but one wasn't always included. So, it's not necessarily a bad thing, yet still noticeable.

My kids are ages 9, 7, and 3 at the time of writing this review. The three-year-old didn't usually read this with us, but we typically read one of the topics every other night before bed. Some days, my kids were so excited to hear the topic, and other days, not very much. But we've been doing a devotion at bedtime for so long that there's no real complaining about it. The kids just know that's what we're going to do.

As always, theology is something that concerns me when looking for devotions. I don't have time to create lessons and devotions from scratch, but I want to ensure I'm teaching truth to them directly from the Bible. The Wonder of Creation had only one topic that I can remember which I edited while reading. And that wasn't anything wrong, I just added in a piece that often gets left out of the watered-down message of believing only. So as for theology, I highly recommend this book.

Similar to our experience with the previous two books, what we might be going through in life is occasionally related to the topic from The Wonder of Creation. But this only happened a few times. I can't credit or blame the book for that. God deserves the credit for that any time it occurs.

The Wonder of Creation is a great option for doing devotions with your child(ren). The topics are short enough not to lose a child's attention, but I love how the content always brings things back to God and our relationship with Him. I continue to see the fruit of regular conversation about God creating the world and how He works in our daily lives, in my children, and in my home. The Wonder of Creation gets 5 Stars. Have you read The Wonder of Creation? What did you think? Let me know!

Indescribable - Review

Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science

By: Louie Giglio

Publication: February 5, 2019 by Tommy Nelson

206 pages

Genre: Children's, Christian, Devotion, Science

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--Discover the Wonders of the Universe with the CreatorIt's impossible to out-imagine God. He orchestrates time, creates light, and speaks things into existence--from the largest stars to the smallest starfish. God is a powerful, purposeful, personal, unparalleled Creator.Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made."Indescribable displays the majesty of creation with scientific findings, photography, and original illustrations. These 100 devotions encourage awe at God's creativity with an in-depth look * Space, Galaxies, Planets, and Stars* Earth, Geology, Oceans, and Weather* Animals--from Hummingbirds to Dinosaurs* Our Minds, Bodies, and Imaginations Each devotion features a "Be Amazed" section with fascinating facts, hands-on activities, and a closing prayer. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages "Indescribable" and "How Great Is Our God," 100 Devotions About God & Science will help kids discover the incredible creation of our indescribable God.

We read How Great is Our God before realizing that Indescribable came first in the publication order. So we started this book immediately after How Great Is Our God.

Like the other book, Indescribable has a Scripture, a scientific topic which is in turn related back to God, a short prayer, and a related fact concerning the topic. The topics are related to space and time, Earth and weather, the human body, animals, and plants. I did notice fewer real photographs used in this book compared to How Great is Our God. That wasn't a bad thing exactly, but I did notice it.

My kids are ages 8, 6, and 3. The three-year-old didn't usually read this with us, but we typically read one of the topics every other night before bed. Some days, my kids were so excited to hear the topic, and other days, not very much. We have already started Wonders of Creation, as well.

Theology is something that concerns me when looking for devotions. I don't have time to create my own lessons and devotions from scratch, but I  want to ensure I'm teaching truth to them directly from the Bible. How Great is Our God had about three topics that I edited while reading. But Indescribable had even less than that. As for theology, I highly recommend this book.

Again, similar to our experience with the previous book what we might be going through in life directly related to the topic of the day from Indescribable. But this only happened a few times. I can't credit or blame the book for that, though.

Indescribable is a great option for doing devotions with your child(ren). The topics are short enough not to lose a child's attention, but I love how the content always brings things back to God and our relationship with him. I have seen the fruit of regular conversation about God creating the world and how He works in our daily lives, in my children, and in my home. Indescribable gets 5 Stars. Have you read Indescribable? What did you think? Let me know!

How Great is Our God - Review

How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions about God and Science

By: Louie Giglio (Illustrator: Nicola Anderson)

Publication: November 5, 2019 by Tommy Nelson

206 pages

Genre: Nonfiction, Children, Religion, Devotion, Science

( Goodreads | Amazon )

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

Goodreads description--Invite children to embark on another adventure to discover more about God and His incredible creation. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages about science and the Bible,?How Great Is Our God?shows kids the awe-inspiring connection between the natural world and the God who created it.

The bestselling children's devotional? 100 Devotions for Kids About God and Science?resonated with more than 500,000 kids, parents, and teachers. Now Louie Giglio offers 100 more devotions about God and science that will expand the curiosity of kids ages 6–10. Including amazing scientific facts, beautiful photography, and fun illustrations,?How Great Is Our God?covers numerous

Space and timeEarth and weatherThe human bodyAnimalsPlantsAnd more!John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This mind-bending, not-so-typical devotional will deepen your kids’ awe and appreciation for God's wild imagination and infinitely creative creation, from the pink lake in Senegal to the Earth's trip around the sun to the water-holding frog that can live up to five years without a drink (what?!).

Explore Louie Giglio's other books in the bestselling Indescribable Kids

I started a "daily" devotion with my kids last summer. We did I Am: 40 Reasons to Trust God, and I wanted to continue down the path of learning about who God is for my kids. Yes, the stories are important. What God did in the Bible and through history does show us who God is. But they're getting the basics through Bible class on Sundays. I wanted to take a different approach to my personal teaching with them. So we started with the names of God, and now with How Great is Our God, we're seeing God's character through His creation.

How Great is Our God has a Scripture, a scientific topic which is in turn related back to God, a short prayer, and a related fact concerning the topic. The topics are related to space and time, Earth and weather, the human body, animals, and plants.

My kids are ages 7, 5, and 2. The two year old didn't usually read this with us, but we typically read one of the topics every other night. And once we started homeschool, we incorporated these into our homeschool two days a week. Some days my kids were so excited to hear the topic, and other days they'd sigh and say "awe man." But when they saw I got the two other books, Indescribable and The Wonder of Creation, they were excited.

Theology is where I struggle with going to sources outside of the Bible to teach my children. I want to ensure I'm teaching truth to them. For the most part, How Great is Our God didn't dip into theological areas too much. I did find myself editing somewhere around 3 topics. But this wasn't anything too bad at all. As for theology, I highly recommend this book.

Sometimes when I'm reading a religious book I find that what I'm going through in life will directly relate to what I'm reading about. That didn't happen as much as I expected, but that's probably just the nature of the content. It did happen in one specific topic that stands out in my mind, and I did tear up reading that one. My child I'd been struggling with parenting that particular day did stare at me in wonder when the book addressed the exact thing we'd been discussing earlier that day. The last several topics I found to be the best in the book.

How Great is Our God is a great option for a regular devotion with your child(ren), especially if your children are interested in science at all. The topics are short enough not to lose a child's attention but filled with goodness through and through. How Great is Our God gets 5 Stars. Have you read How Great is Our God ? What did you think? Let me know!