20 September 2011

A Mother’s Basket

It hasn’t been long since the last homeschooling meme. But if you are a book loving mother and would like to join in with another… Read on…

 

Imogen and Charlotte decided to fill the gaps in Sophie’s education by filling a basket for her, with books they consider essential reading for a ten year old girl. They also put together a basket of books for Gemma-Rose. Then Imogen thought she’d hunt out all her favourite books for Charlotte to share. And I have promised to search the shelves for all my own favourites to pop in a basket for Imogen. 

There is something very special about introducing someone to a favourite book. I wonder: Will she like it as much as I do? Will I discover we are kindred spirit book lovers?

All this talk of books made me think: What would I put in my basket of favourite novels?  Perhaps I might include some of the following children’s and adult’s books:

Favourite books of my childhood

All books by Noel Streatfeild especially Ballet Shoes and the Gemma series

The Drina ballet series by Jean Estoril

Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery

Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

 

Favourite books I have enjoyed reading aloud to my children

Benjamin by John O’Neill (I cried! It was difficult to finish reading this one out loud, but the story was worth the tears.)

I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino 

Huckleberry Finn and others by Mark Twain

The Switherby Pilgrims and others by Eleanor Spence

The Horse Who Bit a Bushranger and others by Jackie French (I have had to modify certain parts of some of these books as I’ve been reading aloud, but great stories anyway.)

READ  Unschool Reading: A Slow Learner

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

The Penderwick series by Jeanne Birdswell

 

Books I am reading aloud at the moment

The Collected Tales of Nurse Matilda by Christianna Brand

White Boots by Noel Streatfeild

The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

 

Favourite novels I’ve read

The Power and the Glory and

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

The Number One Lady Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

All books by Elizabeth Goudge

Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden

Emily’s Hope and

In Name Only by Ellen Gable Hrkach

 

Novels I have recently enjoyed

Persuasion by Jane Austen

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable Hrkach

 

Novels I am currently reading

Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

 

Novels I’d like to read

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden

The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

 

There are so many other books I could include on my lists. This is only a sample. I wonder if you will find some of your old favourites here. Perhaps you will find something new you’d like to read.

Or perhaps you’d like to write your own lists and I will come and visit and share. Perhaps we will discover we are kindred spirits book lovers.

 

Sue Elvis

I'm an Australian blogger, podcaster, and Youtuber. I write and speak about unschooling, parenting and family life. I'm also the author of the unschooling books 'Curious Unschoolers', 'Radical Unschool Love' and ‘The Unschool Challenge’. You'll find them on Amazon!

13 Comments

  1. Vicky,

    I had trouble at first remembering all the good books I'd read. Then once I got going, my list got longer and longer. I had to choose a selection in the end. I hope that happens to you! I can't wait to see what books you have enjoyed.

  2. Sue- My post is up! It was a lot harder than I thought to remember all the great books I've read (and then to track down the names of all the authors) but it was well worth the time since I now have a ready list for book suggestions whenever anyone asks! Thanks again for inviting me, and for all your support and advice in deciding what is best for my family. It is an ongoing discernment process so who knows where I may end up! In the meantime, I will keep praying about it and keep looking to your blog for ideas and reassurance. 🙂

  3. Kari,

    Thank you for joining in. I really enjoyed your list of favourite books. As there were so many books I haven't read, I am going to print off your list and look up all the titles.

    I am so pleased we can share our blogs and homeschooling ideas, Kari. We all homeschool a little differently but that can be good- I like coming across new ideas and thoughts. Thank you for sharing yours.

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