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My Reading Pile

I seem to collect books and dip here and there which means I actually finish reading very few books. I have set up my reading list - much as I desire my children to do - so that I know what is ahead of me, I have a goal, and I know what I have achieved. I also intend to take notes and/or Notebook these books as a role model for my children.

I have also listed my purpose in reading these books. It is easy to be swept up with reading what everyone else is reading but my family needs are different, my circumstances are different and I need to be intentional and have a purpose for my selections.

Parenting:

Help your Child to Learn by Barbara Pheloung
I bought an exercise programme designed by Barbara Pheloung for Daniel as he has Dyspraxia as well as some learning difficulties. I am struggling to be consistent with the exercises, via the dvd, and I hope to gain a broader understanding by reading the book as well.

Does a Fish Know It’s Wet by Heather McEwan
Quoting what Heather says about this book, ‘Do you think a fish knows that it’s wet? How could it with no comprison? Have you ever wondered how modern values have become so messed up? How did you thinking come so far? …. How do we raise our daughters and our sons to value purity?...”

I am giving myself a period of education on issues of purity and values.

Your Heritage: How to Be Intentional About the Legacy You Leave (Heritage Builders)by J.Otis Ledbetter and Kurt Bruner

• Strengthening your roots by understanding the heritage you were given.
• Breaking the cycle of hurt that may have been caused by negative aspects of your family inheritance
• Charting a new course for the future by building a positive heritage for yourself, your children and coming generations.

I have had this on my list for 18months. Maybe being intentional about a book list will help me get to it!

Homeschooling:

I have listed homeschooling as a separate category than parenting to list the skills based books that I want to read.

How Long Is a Piece of String?: More Hidden Mathematics of Everyday Lifeby Rob Eastaway & Jeremy Wyndham
I am on a search to understand math in its everyday situation. I can do math, I know I use math but I am not so conscience of when I do. I need to be conscience of using math to teach my children the everyday aspect, a lifestyle of math.

The Handbook of Knots by Des Pawson
A practical step-by-step guide to tying and using more than 100 knots. I want Daniel to become familiar with knots – it will be a good activity for him to practice and cover areas of fine motor skills, thinking and planning skills, and focus though these aren’t reasons that will motivate Daniel. I need to discover the various purposes of different knots as that will create the context for Daniel to learn them.

Bible Study/Devotional:

The Power of Simple Prayer: How to Talk with God about Everythingby Joyce Meyer
One of the books that have most impacted me since my mid-teenage years is Bro.Lawrence’s Practicing the Presence of God. When I saw the by-line on Joyce Myers book, How to Talk with God about Everything I thought I would like to give it a read.

15 Steps out by Bob Mumford
This book was also a part of my youth! I did have a copy but it was lost so I have eventually tracked down another 2nd hand copy. I remember this book as a foundational belief book. Though it is good to be reminded of these things ourselves I do have in the back of my mind to do it as a study with my children next year.

Personal – Just for me!

Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needsby Dr.Emerson Eggerichs
So far I have just dipped into this book and it seems simple and true. I look forward to reading it and having my marriage improve by what I learn.

For Better, for Worse and for Lunch by Christina Hindhaugh
I read this book when I was a young married and I laughed and laughed and laughed. I could so relate to the heroine – she had married a farmer and was confronted with the farmers culture. (trust me it exists!!). It has been hidden on my mother’s shelves for a few years to the point that I thought I had lost it. Mum brought it up with her this visit so I have put it on my reading list to see if I still laugh!

Read-Alouds - Family Read Alouds:

The Rat-Catcher’s Son and other Stories by Carolyn London
A collection of short stories told by a wise old grandfather. Each story speaks about some situation which his grandchildren facein daily life. Great parables to initiate discussion in our own family. ( A Sonlight book)

If Animals Could Talkby Werner Gitt
My children are looking for something light to be our next read aloud. This one should be fun.

King Solomon’s Minesby H. Rider Haggard
We have been trying to read books on Africa this year and chose a book on the different Kingdoms/Empires which most of the family found hard going. We have eventually dropped it as it was unmotivating our Read Aloud habits (which is only lightly established in the first place). I am hoping that this book, written as the adventure that it is will reignite our thoughts about Africa.

Adara by Beatrice Gormley
We have enjoyed other novels written about Biblical characters so are hopeful that we will enjoy this one. Adara is the story about the slave girl who encouraged Naaman to go and see Elisha.

Read-Alouds - Reading Aloud to Daniel

One of my goals is to increase my reading time with Daniel. Though he enjoys picture books I want to read him slightly longer stories as well. I am also slowly building a collection of audio stories for him though they have to be of excellent quality for him to be able to hear (he gets confused with too much background noise)

God's Great News for Children by Rick Osborne and Marnie Wooding
Daniel has an understanding of Jesus dying on the Cross - I want to spend some time with him helping him understand these basics of our faith as being the youngest in the family it is easy to presume he knows and is growing in his own faith walk.

The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff
We have had a few attempts at this book. I believe Daniel is ready for a longer story with more complex storyline. We'll give it another shot!

Pilgrims Progress retold by Tim Dowley
Daniel has chosen this book and so far we are about a quarter of the way through it. He has been able to narrate back to me what is going on which confirms his understanding of the story.

A Family Treasury of Little Golden Books selected and edited by Ellen Lewis Buell. This book seems to be out of print though in talking to our local bookstore owner Little Golden Books are back on the top sellers lists which is good news for children everywhere as the old stories are fantastic. We will be working through this treasury, which holds most of the stories I loved as a child, as some of Daniel’s literature units.

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