A Gift

Keeping our heritage alive is one of the reasons we homeschool.  While our kids are very American in the way they talk, act, think, they also have kept a lot of their Filipino-ness, we believe because we kept them home with us.  They have time to observe and absorb and appreciate what makes us unique as Filipinos. 

This book is about learning about, keeping in touch with, and appreciating one's heritage.  It's a book about family, distance, coping, and the good that can come out when families continue to care about each other even when they are apart. 

Little Oh

Oh, so charming!!  A lovely gem of a book.  Read it aloud while munching on some mochi and sipping some matcha.  Maybe work on  some origami after?

The Seven Silly Eaters

Silly, silly, silly, in this case, also means fun, fun, fun and true, true, true.  I love this book!  I should prescribe this to myself for whenever I am having a down day and thinking too seriously about our life, our clutter, esp. in our kitchen, and our food allergies!

Waiting for Noel: An Advent Story

What a find! Our Yena celebrated her 5th birthday on the 22nd, and this was one of the books we read at bedtime.

The Rag Coat

This book tells about a girl who lost her father.   When I first read this it was at a time when we were reading much about poverty and my first thought was, "Wouldn't this depress the kids?"  However, poverty is a constant, universal issue -- it exists because we as a people have not done what we need to do to eradicate it.  In this story the community does what it can to help out this needy family.  There are also themes of dealing with ridicule, developing a positive outlook and being able to communicate effectively with those who criticize you.  The artwork is exceptional and well-suited to the story.  Because of the subject matter, though, you might want to preview it before you read it to your kids. 

Fancy Nancy

Talk about not judging a book by its cover.  The word "fancy" totally threw me.  I IMMEDIATELY thought -- surely *this* is twaddle and not worth reading to the kids.  Was I glad to be wrong!  I almost didn't borrow it!  I loved it too -- very cleverly written -- the plot, the words, the pictures... we love Fancy Nancy and want to read more about her and her family!

Rattletrap Car

Tell me, how can a book that reads, "Flippita fluppita, fizzelly sizzelly, wappity bappity, lumpety bumpety, clinkety clankety, bing bang pop!" not be fun?  Littles will love it, and the bigger kids will love reading it to them. 

Beatrice's Goat

This is the story of a little girl in Uganda whose life is changed because of a gift made through Heifer Project International.  Great book to read when you're thinking of what to do/give as a family to those suffering in poverty around the world.  Also an appropriate read around Advent or Lent when we need to reflect on the abundance that is available to us here in the US, and see where we can take steps to maybe live simpler, live with less, and give more to our brothers and sisters who live in difficult conditions.

One Hundred Shining Candles

Lovely book about siblings helping each other to make Christmas a little lovelier. Sacrifices are made, mistakes are made, humility is learned, but overall there is a theme of giving up things for the good of others.