If there is no note from me, either I forgot already, didn't find the book, or something else.
Year 0 Books
Winnie the Pooh series by AA Milne and Ernest H. Shepard (Winnie-The-Pooh, The House at Pooh Corner,When We Were Very Young, Now We Are Six). Accept no substitutes for the original stories! - Meh, Punk is rather fond of them, Twins prefer I tell them the stories
Beatrix Potter series (Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, etc,) - we have the 'complete works, including notes about her writing and her. Quite cool.
The Little House by Virginia Burton - Long but good
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack -eh
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper - not sure I found this version, but the story is timeless
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey - We now own this one, the twins love it
Ferdinand by Munro Leaf - silly flower sniffing bull, cute
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney -cute
The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman - no idea which version I borrowed, but the kids were very fond of the story
Brer Rabbit books by Joel Chandler Harris, - Never liked the way they spoke as a kid. I did always like the concepts though, similar concepts can be found in regular English with Anasasi stories.
A good collection including classic stories and folktales such as The Little Red Hen, The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff. - these are the stories we tell in cars, and anytime we are not able to read. Book not needed.
A good collection of Aesop's Fables, such as the one illustrated by Milo Winter - again reading in year one, why repeat? though I happen to own a copy that is an easy reader, so we tend to read.
A nice Mother Goose collection, such as The Real Mother Goose -eh
Illustrated classic poetry such as Poems for Young Children compiled by Caroline Royds A good collection of classic children's poetry such as A Child's Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa; The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry selected by Louis Untermeyer; The Oxford Book of Children's Verse edited by Peter Opie -never found em, don't like poetry
Beatrix Potter series (Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, etc,) - we have the 'complete works, including notes about her writing and her. Quite cool.
The Little House by Virginia Burton - Long but good
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack -eh
The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper - not sure I found this version, but the story is timeless
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey - We now own this one, the twins love it
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey -
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey - ehFerdinand by Munro Leaf - silly flower sniffing bull, cute
Ox-Cart Man by Barbara Cooney -
Stone Soup and other folk tale retellings by Marcia Brown - priceless story, can't recall if I found this version or not.Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney -cute
The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman - no idea which version I borrowed, but the kids were very fond of the story
Brer Rabbit books by Joel Chandler Harris, - Never liked the way they spoke as a kid. I did always like the concepts though, similar concepts can be found in regular English with Anasasi stories.
Poems and Prayers for the Very Young by Martha Alexander -
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson - The kids currently call this 'the pretty poetry book' (our version has large pages and pretty pictures)A good collection including classic stories and folktales such as The Little Red Hen, The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Billy Goats Gruff. - these are the stories we tell in cars, and anytime we are not able to read. Book not needed.
A good collection of Aesop's Fables, such as the one illustrated by Milo Winter - again reading in year one, why repeat? though I happen to own a copy that is an easy reader, so we tend to read.
A nice Mother Goose collection, such as The Real Mother Goose -eh
Illustrated classic poetry such as Poems for Young Children compiled by Caroline Royds A good collection of classic children's poetry such as A Child's Book of Poems by Gyo Fujikawa; The Golden Books Family Treasury of Poetry selected by Louis Untermeyer; The Oxford Book of Children's Verse edited by Peter Opie -never found em, don't like poetry
Advisory Favorites
The Church Mice and others in this series by Graham Oakley. These are delightful. - ????
Hiawatha by Longfellow, illustrated by Susan Jeffers -meh
Paul Revere's Ride by Longfellow, illustrated by Ted Rand -
My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Ted Rand -
Picture books depicting Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling, such as The Elephant's Child -reading em in year one, why repeat?Roxaboxen by Barbara Cooney -cute
The Tale of Three Trees illustrated by Angela Elwell Hunt -cute
Wynken, Blynken and Nod illustrated by either Susan Jeffers or Barbara Cooney -eh
This is a personal note about year one, since I will have to do it again, I want to keep track of what I liked, and what I would do differently.
One important thing I am glad my children were older when we began. Their 'scout grade' put them at a smidgen too old, and a smidgen too young. For a Mom who hates repeating, and for bright kids it works well. Though if I had to choose an age to begin with only one child I would not choose first grade. Year one does not equate with first grade IMO. More like second after a good prep of K and 1.
History
Trial and Triumph -Nice stories, this was a smidgen beyond Princess. Though it starts out rather painful with martyrs, I honestly think the history is worth it. Though of course it is slanted history (and what history isn't) For Little Man I just handed him the book when he was ten, and he really connected with it - I will wait for the other kids as well.
An Island Story by H.E. Marshall- I loved the librovox recording, but it stopped working on my computer. The story is engaging, simple yet factual enough for history.
Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin- Liked the book so much I asked for it for Christmas
Viking Tales by Jennie Hall -The kids loved this story, Also asked for for Christmas, received an awesome old version. Online format is a PIA
An Island Story by H.E. Marshall- I loved the librovox recording, but it stopped working on my computer. The story is engaging, simple yet factual enough for history.
Fifty Famous Stories Retold by James Baldwin- Liked the book so much I asked for it for Christmas
Viking Tales by Jennie Hall -The kids loved this story, Also asked for for Christmas, received an awesome old version. Online format is a PIA
American History Biography
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri D'Aulaire - never found, so we read other versions
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire -same
George Washington by Ingri D'Aulaire -same
Buffalo Bill by Ingri D'Aulaire - same
Geography
Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling - borrowed from PLCMC, wish we had made a copy of the map in the back to follow along with, maybe a magnet paddle? Borrowed movie from PLCMC as well, one of the old slow kind, but followed the book, fun guessing which part it was in. Excellent book btw. We now own the book, it is very much loved. we never watched the movie again after the first time, didn't seem important.
Natural History/Science
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock, not an easy read for me, not easy to follow 'lessons'. I prefer eyewitness movies and books, plus library finds. Gives me something to enjoy hunting. I might not be getting a true CN nature education out of it, but we enjoy ourselves. (OH and we also do plenty of looking at whatever nature we can find, it just doesn't tend to be much along the AO list. So we read up on AO recommended, and we look at whatever God gives us)
James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot borrowed an audio version from PLCMC, loved the accent, now own a picture book and we all love it.
The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess - no idea which birds are around here. basic knowledge is cool, but I just couldn't keep reading the same basic info. Birds are birds are birds.
Supplements for Bird Study: - maybe this would have broken the monotony?
James Herriot's Treasury for Children by James Herriot borrowed an audio version from PLCMC, loved the accent, now own a picture book and we all love it.
The Burgess Bird Book for Children by Thornton Burgess - no idea which birds are around here. basic knowledge is cool, but I just couldn't keep reading the same basic info. Birds are birds are birds.
Supplements for Bird Study: - maybe this would have broken the monotony?
Poetry
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson; The kids currently call this 'the pretty poetry book' (our version has large pages and pretty pictures)
Now We Are Six/When We Were Very Young by A.A. Milne -not bad-and didn't do any others
Literature
The Aesop for Children by Milo Winter -love these, my book has a lot more and is missing a few, and nothing is in any kind of order - I tried to organize and find the right order, but it was stress with no gain, instead I just marked every one I wanted to read and we read one a day - yeah we are still doing that now.
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by Edith Nesbit -nice version, second time around we just had the little kid listen in on stuff with the older kids - I would summarize or some such as needed - If I wasn't doing older and younger I would prefer the kids version alone.
The Blue Fairy Book -Several stories I do not like and will skip next time around. I did like their version of Beauty and the beast though, also fond of Prince Darling. Here are the ones we will not repeat:
Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by Edith Nesbit -nice version, second time around we just had the little kid listen in on stuff with the older kids - I would summarize or some such as needed - If I wasn't doing older and younger I would prefer the kids version alone.
The Blue Fairy Book -Several stories I do not like and will skip next time around. I did like their version of Beauty and the beast though, also fond of Prince Darling. Here are the ones we will not repeat:
1. Master Maid, convoluted and not worth it, I wouldn't want to marry her after all that.
2. East of Sun West of moon, brings up conversations of bedding I don't really need to get into, and the story isn't worth the effort.
This time around I don't know which all we read or didn't read, but I do know my own tellings of the fairy tales is effected by my readings of the BFB
Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty; -Not to fond of the restraint one about flowers, but did like the others. second time I just didn't have the patience to get through them at all....
This time around I don't know which all we read or didn't read, but I do know my own tellings of the fairy tales is effected by my readings of the BFB
Parables from Nature by Margaret Gatty; -Not to fond of the restraint one about flowers, but did like the others. second time I just didn't have the patience to get through them at all....
King of the Golden River by John Ruskin - nice read, but long, oh so long. I think the author was paid by the word and wrote till even he got bored. The girls liked it better this time around and so did I. The copy I have was cut by chapters this time, not so pretty illustrations but it actually helped with the length not feeling so long.
Peter Pan (or, Peter Pan and Wendy) by James M. Barrie -Nice but not like the movies, old fashioned and a bit to much info assumed readers know on 'thimbles'
Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi - Starts off bad but he learns better. If it weren't so popular for folk to know him I would skip. But not happy with kids only knowing him from Shrek. I read with a lot of personal commentary. This time around we used the pinocchio version in the early reader - I like it much better and I will do that again for the twins
The Red Fairy Book by Andrew Lang -disliked enough of Blue not to bother. checked again, still not bothering
St. George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges - Dude read this version, I read another later with Princess, good story.
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams - we read together before this AO year
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder - also read before this AO
Pocahontas by Ingri D'Aulaire - nice version, not like the movie at all. Though also not pure historical fact.
This is my opinions of the AO year two books. I have younger children who may very well be going through the year 2 list later on, so I wanted to write down what I thought of each book as I read them so I could remember. Some books we will not be repeating, others we prolly would even without younger kids!
I simply cut and pasted the AO list from their webpage. Then I deleted the 'extra info' and added my own thoughts. You can still link to the stories from here if need be. Though in one or two cases, I used mainlesson or a 'paper' version instead of the linked one.
History
An Island Story by HE Marshall -still good
This Country of Ours (TCOO) -borrowed from friend, do not like
A Child's History of the World by Virgil Hillyer, excellent book, we read it all, no skipping for us. Originally borrowed, but found it so good we acquired our own version. Now own a second version because the one copy is falling apart.
This Country of Ours (TCOO) -borrowed from friend, do not like
A Child's History of the World by Virgil Hillyer, excellent book, we read it all, no skipping for us. Originally borrowed, but found it so good we acquired our own version. Now own a second version because the one copy is falling apart.
History Tales and/or Biography
Trial and Triumph -see year one note
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge - much loved story by the kids.
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley -good version, nice note at end how the story was from the transcript of the trials.
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge - much loved story by the kids.
Joan of Arc by Diane Stanley -good version, nice note at end how the story was from the transcript of the trials.
Geography
Tree in the Trail by Holling C. Holling -- map) - good book, wish we owned so we could spend more time on it, and yet years later when considering doing this book again none of my memories are good... so we didn't yet.
Seabird by Holling C. Holling - also good, also wish we owned
Seabird by Holling C. Holling - also good, also wish we owned
Natural History/Science
The Handbook of Nature Study -sorry I can't make myself read this one.
The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess -kids enjoyed very much, I found it less repetitive than the bird one. second time around failed to do this...
Pagoo by Holling C Holling - one of my personal favorites! We own this one, and the kids can enjoy the drawings, we are taking our time and loving it.
The Burgess Animal Book for Children by Thornton Burgess -kids enjoyed very much, I found it less repetitive than the bird one. second time around failed to do this...
Pagoo by Holling C Holling - one of my personal favorites! We own this one, and the kids can enjoy the drawings, we are taking our time and loving it.
Poetry
and James Whitcombe Riley - Cannot stand constant use of country vernacular. We quit after 3, and I wont waste my time trying next time.
Christina Rossetti - so far short and sweet
Literature
Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb - Nice version, see year 1 note
Pilgrim's Progress Book 1 (Christian's Journey) by John Bunyan - I have no idea how I will force myself to finish this one. The fact that the kids like it will help, marginally. second time around I was given a copy of little Pilgrims Progress, we are reading it and the kids enjoy it and I do not dread it. BTW none of the older kids have any good memories of PP.
* Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher -very good, but the ending was not quite up to the rest of the book
** The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame I didn't really like this as a kid, and I still don't. The kids did, but I don't think I will be reading next time. I have an abridged version that I will tolerate - I know it isn't AO and all but tough.
*** Robin Hood by Howard Pyle -very good, but long. The best part is counting how many times they use 'stout' in a paragraph! That and how many times the 'stout Robin' is bested with a quarter staff!
Pilgrim's Progress Book 1 (Christian's Journey) by John Bunyan - I have no idea how I will force myself to finish this one. The fact that the kids like it will help, marginally. second time around I was given a copy of little Pilgrims Progress, we are reading it and the kids enjoy it and I do not dread it. BTW none of the older kids have any good memories of PP.
* Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher -very good, but the ending was not quite up to the rest of the book
** The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame I didn't really like this as a kid, and I still don't. The kids did, but I don't think I will be reading next time. I have an abridged version that I will tolerate - I know it isn't AO and all but tough.
*** Robin Hood by Howard Pyle -very good, but long. The best part is counting how many times they use 'stout' in a paragraph! That and how many times the 'stout Robin' is bested with a quarter staff!
Additional Books for Free Reading - (NO means I didn't find/read it hence No Opinion)
Heidi by Joanna Spyri. -very good book, we listened to an audio version, also we own it now
A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne -NO
Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne -NO
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney -Borrowed on audio, after disk one no one really wanted more, though it wasn't bad, just not better than anything else we had going on.
Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales -borrowed a collection on audio will not be repeating. Nothing that bad, but really nothing worth repeating. Most often at the end the grown ups looked at each other and mouthed what the ????
Pied Piper of Hamlin by Robert Browning -Not sure which version we borrowed, but this was a good story.
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri D'Aulaire-borrowed from a friend, both kids read and enjoyed.
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit -Dude just couldn't get into it, Princess didn't want to try. Little Man and Daddy actually did enjoy it
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder -read last year
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder -read last year
The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting -can't find yet, liked as a kid
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - Book has many more interesting stories than the move, but Mary is not as nice (and quite a bit more vain if that is possible)
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry -NO
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater -very good book, we borrowed on audio, everyone begged for more
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle -NO
Chanticleer and the Fox - Barbara Cooney's is one version -NO
Along Came A Dog by Meindert De Jong -both kids read and enjoyed
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli -Dude read and liked, Princess didn't want to.
Heidi by Joanna Spyri. -very good book, we listened to an audio version, also we own it now
A Wonder Book by Nathaniel Hawthorne -NO
Tanglewood Tales by Nathaniel Hawthorne -NO
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney -Borrowed on audio, after disk one no one really wanted more, though it wasn't bad, just not better than anything else we had going on.
Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales -borrowed a collection on audio will not be repeating. Nothing that bad, but really nothing worth repeating. Most often at the end the grown ups looked at each other and mouthed what the ????
Pied Piper of Hamlin by Robert Browning -Not sure which version we borrowed, but this was a good story.
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri D'Aulaire-borrowed from a friend, both kids read and enjoyed.
Five Children and It by Edith Nesbit -Dude just couldn't get into it, Princess didn't want to try. Little Man and Daddy actually did enjoy it
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder -read last year
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder -read last year
The Story of Doctor Dolittle by Hugh Lofting -can't find yet, liked as a kid
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers - Book has many more interesting stories than the move, but Mary is not as nice (and quite a bit more vain if that is possible)
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry -NO
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater -very good book, we borrowed on audio, everyone begged for more
Otto of the Silver Hand by Howard Pyle -NO
Chanticleer and the Fox - Barbara Cooney's is one version -NO
Along Came A Dog by Meindert De Jong -both kids read and enjoyed
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite De Angeli -Dude read and liked, Princess didn't want to.
