June Book Reviews
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Preschool Math at Home: Simple Activities to Build the Best Possible Foundation for Your Child by Kate Snow ★★★★★
This book was written by a former math teacher-turned stay-at-home-mom who used all the activities from her book with her preschool child. They are all play-based (rather than using any worksheets) and include manipulative (toys, snacks, other small objects) commonly found in your home, so they're free and incredibly simple to implement. Snow organizes the book in a step-wise approach, with the first chapter focusing on helping your preschooler count to five using a variety of games, like counting five cards in a a line, then mixing them up into a scattered group and re-counting them, using fingers to count, and introducing the concept of zero. The next chapter focuses on counting to ten. Each chapter builds on the previous chapter, so in later chapters, children work through recognizing the numerals and matching them with the correct amount of manipulative, understanding the concept or more and less, and subitizing (recognizing small quantities without needing to count them each time, like recognizing that your hand will always have five fingers or being able to recognize two toys in a pile without needing to physically count them). Each activity/game can take as little as five minutes, takes even less time to set up, and is easy to start and stop depending on child's interest or abilities. I have gone through about half of the book with my 2 year old and he loves all the activities we've done and now counts everything. It's a whole new world to him knowing he can count things; it's been very fun to see him excited when he counts to ten. I think most of the activities are geared more towards 3-4 year olds, so I never forced anything and had very low expectations, but his interest propelled us to keep going through the book.
Content rating: G
Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years by Elizabeth G. Hainstock ★★★☆☆
I enjoy implementing a good amount of Montessori to our daily life and specifically our homeschool preschool activities, so I was curious about what activities were included in this book, which focuses on traditionally-aged preschoolers (3-5 years). Originally published in 1968, it was most recently updated in 1997, so it is definitely outdated, and a lot of the activities have been mentioned in other books I have read (like The Montessori Home and The Montessori Toddler), so there wasn't a ton of new material for me. I liked the large section of activities that were clearly explained, and found a few I could implement, but most of them were already on my radar. I enjoyed reading a Montessori book that was so old since it gave me a perspective on how long many of these Montessori activities have been used. But I will be looking at Youtube videos (like Haps Family) and the aforementioned books rather than referring to this book for these activities since they're more accessible and current with materials we use today. Content rating: G
Through the Gates of Splendor: The Event that Shocked the World, Changed a People, and Inspired a Nation by Elisabeth Elliot ★★★★★ (audiobook)
I have heard some of the details of Jim Elliot's death at the hands of the savage Ecuadorian jungle tribe, but it was great to hear the whole story, including information about all five men and what compelled them to leave the comfort of their American lives and move to remove villages underdeveloped Ecuador to share the gospel of Jesus. The book also includes an epilogue about Elisabeth's experience living with the Auca tribe and meeting the men who killed her husband. I was challenged by the men and their wive's willingness to to surrender everything for God, their ability to trust God in the hardest circumstances, and the wives' willingness to forgive their husbands' murderers and remain in Ecuador with their young children to continue to missionary work without their husbands. This book brought up great questions for book club about missionary work, both abroad and right here in our backyard, as well as the willingness to forgive and to be open to be used by God in challenging ways. This is a fantastic book, though understandably heartbreaking and challenging as well.Content rating: PG (no gory details, but it mentions how the men were killed)
Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler: Tackling These Crazy Awesome Years -- No Time-Outs Needed by Jamie Glowacki ★★★★☆ (audiobook and physical book)
I enjoyed Oh Crap! Potty Training and was curious about this follow-up, which is about toddler behavior in general. A big, BIG caveat: There is a TON of cussing in this book. It's filled with great info, but I would be remiss not to mention this since she drops F-bombs like crazy. She has a laid-back, casual writing approach that appeals to a lot of parents, so I guess it has been working for her. But it may detract some away from her writing since it can go overboard at times. That said, I DID appreciate the book's content. It is structured in two parts, first literally titled "The Parent Part of the Book" (chapters on boundaries, parenting philosophies, connection, parent's self-care, time management, parental anxiety, and how to avoid reactionary parenting). Then the book moves to "The Kid Part of the Book", which is further organized by several chapters in the Engaging the Toddler Mind section (chapters on focusing on learning rather than formal education, what is executive functioning and why toddlers don't yet have it fully, why we should stop talking so much to toddlers when giving instructions, and cultivating creativity), Working with the Toddler Body (proprioception and vestibular movement during toddler years, free play vs structured play, why sleep is pivotal, and validating feelings). Lastly, a section called Understanding Toddler Behavior focuses on discipline and why time-outs suck, why "they just don't listen", transitions and preparing the child, and the impact of food on behavior. This was a very broad book with seemingly tangential information that all ended up coming together well. There is a lot I want to try to implement and some stuff that I already have implemented from other resources. Content rating: PG-13 for language. Nothing obscene or crass; just lots of expletives to get her point across.
To Be Where You Are by Jan Karon (Mitford #14) ★★★★★ (audiobook)
I knew the day would come when I would read the last Mitford book. This sweet end to the cozy yet still thought-provoking series was sad (I wish there were more books) yet also felt right to end this way. The idyllic atmosphere of the mountain town of Mitford, with it's simple, old world charm of friendly neighbors who know each other well, wholesome storylines with redemption and forgiveness as big themes throughout the series, and the picturesque descriptions of the surrounding countryside such as the Meadow Gate Farm, all warmed my heart with every book. Now in this last book, the characters are all at least two decades older than in the first novel when Father Tim, the lovable Episcopal priest, was first introduced. Though retired, he still manages to get roped into some community service (this time, working at the local grocery store while the owner is gravely sick). His adopted son and his new wife and their own adopted child take center stage in this last novel, with the highs and lows of running a country vet practice. The Christian themes are beautifully penned without being preachy. I cannot say enough good things about the series as a whole. It is a gentle series without fast-pace or gripping plots, but the slower pace, the focus on the relationships between the townspeople, and the overall character growth and redemption that is woven into many of the storylines, makes it such a positive, feel-good series that is not fluffy or saccharine. It deals with real-life hardships (one ongoing storyline follows the story of a woman who was formerly a drug abuser and lost custody to her children) but does it in a hopeful way that reminds the reader that God can change even the coldest hearts that others may deem a lost cause. Content rating: G
Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter ★★★★☆(audiobook)
I have enjoyed all the books read by this wonderful author who I would compare (in the highest regard) to L.M. Montgomery (for the wholesome plots, protagonists you want to cheer for, and the atmospheric nature writing). This classic is loosely based on her childhood and has a narration device that I am always a fan of: a child narrator, who I believe remained nameless throughout the whole story, unless I totally missed it. She is the youngest of twelve children living on a thriving Indiana farm. She adores one of her older brothers, for whom the book is titled. He is the perfect embodiment of what a man should be in her eyes, and he truly does no harm in this book. He shows wisdom, virtue, a warm heart towards his sister, and even humor. She tells of his budding romance with a mysterious new young British girl who everyone has nicknamed Princess because of her beauty and grace. The young sister also narrates daily happenings on the farm, from romances of two of her sisters, to her unfair mistreatment at school by the new village teacher, to hilarious hijinks of her and another brother. It's a long, slow-moving novel filled with nature descriptions of their farm and surrounding landscapes, so it's definitely not for everyone, but I enjoyed this gentle story of a loving family with parents who are involved in their education, spiritual upbringing, and overall positive influences and supportive parents. Content rating: G
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