Books We Read to Our Children in 2022 // Charlotte Mason Living Books (Screen Free Family 2023)

[@homeschoolmom779]

Please do this again at the end of the year 2023. Loved it. We are currently reading The motorcycle and the mouse 🐁

[@colombia2009ish]

Just wanting to know how you found these titles/knew how to find good books that fit into the CM perspective?

[@creativereindeer]

Really interesting! I remember loving Laura Ingals Wilder as a kid!! Thanks for sharing.

[@rachelaholt7379]

I love this list! I have 7, 5 and 2 year old daughters. We are a CM/Classical homeschool family so we have read MANY books over the years. This year, I added another reading time from 4 - 4:30 when I read out loud and they fold our daily load of laundry. They have actually cheered when I've said, "time to fold clothes!" We discovered the Moody Family Series by Sarah Maxwell this year. It's a book about a Christian homeschool family and it is full of positive sibling interactions, cheerful/helping attitudes and scripture quoted right in the text. We are on the 3rd book and it's been a joy to read at lunch.

[@TheBonneyBunch]

We LOVED Swiss Family Robinson!

[@FeelingFarmie]

Have you guys checked out Lamplighter Publishing yet? They are AMAZING. Definitely worth checking out.

[@briannedostaler9671]

I hit subscribe when you were talking about not dumbing down old English, and that you read aloud from the King James. We have 5 boys we are homeschooling, and are seemingly very similar ☺️

[@hilary6520]

So great! ❤

[@jeannetteortiz2374]

You are so great! Thank you so much.

[@homeschoolmom779]

I love that you read from KJV 🙌

[@nika...]

“A package worth unwrapping” such a lovely way of putting it.

[@xbriannaxbananax]

Thank you so much for sharing this list! I feel I can trust these because I know you are very careful with what you bring into your home. You have literally saved me hours upon hours of vetting books myself.

[@Natalie-qx4zy]

You are so so amazing family!!!!!

[@Creative2xmom]

There is a Young Pilgrim's Progress that we loved. Read it with my upper elementary kiddos and and it made the whole thing more excessable for me as well.

[@trishateague3401]

I just stumbled upon your channel a few weeks ago and am enjoying your new content, its fun to see you learn about charlotte mason and implement that in your family with your kids at such a young age. I have 5 kiddos 9,8,7,7,6. If you are looking into homeschool cirriculums, I just want to suggest Ambleside Online. It is a charlotte mason cirriculum and a lot of these books you mention are included in the cirriculum along with many other great living books as well. Such a wonderful rich cirriculum that also includes art, music (hymn and folksongs), nature study, poetry, Shakespeare, and plutarch when they are older. Everything is free. All you buy are the books. Just a suggestion since all you are doing reminds me of our own homeschool. We have been using AO for 3 years and absolutely love it.

[@deniselavigne6876]

Thanks for sharing! Wondering what classical homeschool curriculum you are using?

[@MommaLoo]

I’ve added some of these books to my wish list! Good to know about the illustrated versions of some of these like Swiss Family Robinson. I am about halfway through There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather recommended in a previous video and I’m loving it so thank you for all the lists/recommendations!

[@calebandannalenz8358]

We love so many of these! When my husband was younger, he loved Dangerous Journey and he remembered a video of someone reading the book with the illustrations (it’s not animated) and we found it on KZbin. It adds hilarious depth to the voices and also more intensity to some of the scenes. It’s one of the only videos we watch.

[@Taylorsquaredify]

Love what you are doing!

[@Mariellen_]

Love this video! Reading aloud is my favorite family activity.

[@angelicagallegos3397]

This was awesome! I so love what you’re doing.. definitely checking those out. You are a blessing.

[@iwillforeverpraisethee]

Great book list! If you haven't already read George Muller by Christian Heroes Then and Now, it is beautiful! One of our favorites! ❤️

[@boomboombelle]

Really inspired me!

[@Zinbin15]

These books can all be found at online thrift book stores too! I save so much money buying books that way! Abebooks, thriftbooks, etc.

[@kiras7874]

Great book suggestions. With the Christian Heroes Then and Now Series by YWAM Publishing there is also a version for younger readers with pictures and a shorter storyline that you might be interested in.

[@laurimuse1390]

Record Dad reading the books! 😊

[@garlandofbooks4494]

My husband and I talk about that extended adolescence stage too (13-30+??). I bring up the Abraham Lincoln D’aulaire a lot because I am fascinated by his how he went off down the river on a long, unsupervised, independent job at the early age of maybe 13 or 14, but then it also says he didn’t officially leave home until 21 if I remember correctly. I think of that a lot, and want to consider some of those years more apprenticeship / training years, still honoring and obeying parents, but with recognition that the relationship is changing. I want to avoid the word teenager in our home, but use instead the descriptors “young man” and “young woman”. I remember my dad calling me a young woman, and not only does it sound very nice and refined, it does call to mind the ennobling aspects of growing, rather than the excuses associated with just a teenager / what’d you expect. Sad about Princess and the Goblin! I almost wonder if you have an abridged copy that’s not as good? We had an abridged one first that we got rid of. My husband and I read it last year for the first time with our 5yo then he wanted it again at 6. He loved it, we both loved it - and it wasn’t a nostalgia thing cuz it was a first read as adults. I loved the interesting faith elements. Our boy loved wearing what he called his cloak of sky blue, like in the book.

[@beccaholland3602]

Love yalls wisdom! Thanks for sharing!

[@biancasalas4774]

Love your videos, would love to see a day in the life video ♥️

[@EmilGhiurau]

Started loving your channel.

[@readwithmekids]

lovely🥰

[@amyd4797]

Love that tip about the vocabulary. Great video!

[@SimpleGiftsFarmhouse]

Love these recommendations! We also love all the D'Aulaire books! Princess and the Goblin has actually been one of my children's favorite books as well. Although they were older than your kids when we read it. It is actually part of our homeschool curriculum in about 3rd grade. I think the allegory about trust and faith in it is beautiful.

[@mgama7345]

We also love reading aloud in our home and follow a classical model for our homeschool. Leif the Lucky is on our list to read soon! I’m excited to hear the positive feedback. Our kiddos are very similar ages, and they have loved the Among the People series by Clara Dillingham Pierson (so far Among the Meadow People has been their favorite). Each chapter gives factual information of a different animal through a cute, fictional adventure. For picture books, our boys LOVE The Billy and Blaze series by C.W. Anderson and while our baby girl just turned one, I have been collecting The Princess Parables by Jeanna Young to read with her.

[@amandaburke5662]

Loved these recommendations, Katie and Elisha! Thanks so much! We’ve fallen in love with reading aloud lately (I know we are a bit late to the ballgame 🤪😂) and I’m definitely taking down these titles!

[@hollydegroot6510]

Thank you for so many great recommendations and small summaries. I have 3 boys i4 yes and under so your recommendations are right on point with the season I am in…also your book review/feedback is wonderful and thank you for including some that were not the biggest hits too (and why). A few more books that I would recommend: “Mountain Born” and “A Place for Peter” by Elizabeth Yates, Watermill’s “Just So Stories” and for fun, Oliver Butterworth’s “The Enormous Egg”. Happy reading!

[@geaninarigo]

Can you please recommend literature for girls age 6-9?

[@jmljasmine]

Added a few to our list. I have 2 very sensitive kids that I have to be more careful with so we don't end up awake with nightmares. Less illustration is sometimes better for that.

[@FostersFollowingJesus]

Do you guys use amble side? We are teaching 6th and 4th with a gentle feast and we are thinking about switching we would really love to hear what you use and plan on using with older grades!!

[@azealaroberts4415]

A thought that occurred to me, your daughter hearing all the masculine books will help her to see what character traits she is looking for in a future husband.

[@nowthatimamother]

So true!

[@jeannetteortiz2374]

Yes that's a great point

[@laurimuse1390]

Did the kids like Hinds Feet??? I have heard it’s more for older teens?’I own it too. Wondering

[@dulcea3597]

Can you put down the list of books? Thank you!

[@nowthatimamother]

There is a link in the description box under the video called "Shop My Children's Library" with all the books linked :)

[@HiddenHarvest]

Thanks for sharing!!! I love reading to my kiddos! I now have some new books to get:) You should check out Little Pilgrim's Big Journey! My 4 yr old loves this book and it's not dumbed down at all or over simplified!!! There's a part one and part two and they are both great!

[@Mariellen_]

We just started this and my kids are loving it

[@kristinspirek7616]

Great video! I had never heard of some of these. Added them to my list! Your kids are younger right now, but do you have an idea of how you want read aloud time to go when they are older? Will the whole family always listen or would you have older siblings do the reading sometimes?

[@juliaallred2294]

You mentioned something about getting all the d’Audlaire’s books in a package. Could you give more details about how to purchase them that way please?

[@nowthatimamother]

www.bfbooks.com/DAulaire-Biography-Pack

[@jessiekennis1536]

Beautiful Feet has a sale on these books, I believe, in July every year😊

[@Mariellen_]

@@jessiekennis1536Yes, usually around 4th of July they have a sale each year.

[@WomenLivingTorah]

We’ve read a lot of these same books this past year and loved them! We’re actually finishing up Farmer Boy (probably today or tomorrow based off our pace), and it’s one of our favorite reads this year! Also, we loved Paddle to the Sea and all the books by the d’Aulaires! A great compilation of stories with moral themes in mind is ‘Everyday Graces’ by Karen Santorum. Another book we loved this year was ‘Anne of Green Gables’ condensed and abridged by Cushing & Williams. And… one of our all time favorites that we read every year is ‘All of a Kind Family’ by Sydney Taylor- a wholesome family dynamic story. 😊

[@HiddenHarvest]

We are reading through Farmer Boy right now too!

[@WomenLivingTorah]

@@HiddenHarvest How funny! Are y’all enjoying it?

[@creativereindeer]

Ooh question for you/others in the comments - do you change any of the ideas or phrases as you go if things aren’t suitable/discuss them with your kids/leave it as the author intended. There is a bit if I remember rightly in the Princess and the Goblin where the little child gets into a much older persons bed… which while ‘of its time’ is okay would not be a helpful message (I think) to encourage as ‘normal’ behaviour of a child… safeguarding stuff - any thoughts?

[@laurimuse1390]

Any other amazing book families that tell their kids favorite books??? My son is 11 and I need inspiring engaging stories to hook him into books????? I read aloud but I’ve picked some thst aren’t doing the job lately.

[@livingthefruitfullife654]

Where does your mom shop for clothes?

[@aaliyahabdul-haqq1133]

Sweeeet

[@laurimuse1390]

What books are your picks for 11 year old boy??? 11 year old girl???

[@katrinalamphere5700]

May I ask what your kids do during read aloud time? Do you have them color, play with play dough, Legos, etc? I’m quickly running out of ideas and my kids love to tinker with their hands while I read to them! I think having them actively engaged with something helps them listen better.

[@mrs.jaywojo5426]

My kids color during read alouds... sometimes they use play dough.

[@womanofeternity]

Do you teach about black people in American history?

[@jessicalazarus7524]

Did they say their OLDEST child is 5??? I don’t think my 10 year old could even follow some of these books… never mind my 4 year old… like how on earth?!

[@JessicaChipepo]

If you read for a short time while they are eating or doing something else like play doh you would be surprised how much they understand!

[@justineleigh400]

LOL I did a quick google search for 'Beautiful Feet' but forgot to add 'books' at the end and wound up with a bunch of feet pictures! won't make that mistake again