Sunshine by Channon: Books

Armchair Cybils

I have always loved reading children's books. The color, playfulness, whimsy, rhyme... fun!

Just a few days ago I came across the Armchair Cybils at Hope Is The Word. Honestly it was the eye catching graphic that grabbed my attention. But, as I started reading about what it really was, I knew I had to participate. It would be a wonderful way for me to get to know authors and illustrators, and a fun way to share them with my kids. One day I would like to put together a study on children's authors and illustrators. This seems like the perfect first step.

Since this is my first year participating, I don't have all the details down yet.

I will let Amy explain it.

"The Armchair Cybils challenge is a challenge hosted by yours truly at Hope Is the Word. I thought it would be really fun to play along and read as many of the Cybils nominated titles as I can during the Cybils judging period, which runs from October 15 (or before, but this is the date the nominations are closed) until February 14, and I'd love for you to join me! For more information about the Cybils, this post explains it better than I ever could." Amy @ Hope Is The Word

Just read as many books as you can and write a blog post about each title, or you can do one post on all of them. See, easy and fun! Don't forget to link up at Hope Is The Word.

Even if you aren't a blogger, join the fun. You can't go wrong reading great children's books.

Are you with me?

Gardening Books by Sharon Lovejoy

Inspiration can come in many forms, and from many places. Recently, I was scrolling through Instagram and caught sight of the book, "Roots Shoots Buckets & Boots." The lady with the picture was commenting that she goes to this book again and again for inspiration. Well....I had to check it out.

I clicked on over to our local library's website and put the book on hold. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Lovejoy also had many more books! I was pleasantly surprised, and put a few more on hold.

It was a happy day when I went to pick them up. What a treasure trove of information, beautiful illustrations, gardening inspiration.....I think you get the idea. I have learned so much. I read a little bit in one book, then read a bit in another. I need to just commit and read one book at a time.

My littlest son Benaiah, and our dog Sophie, accompanied me out back where we took a few pictures for you near my little clump of blooming daises. Fun :) Just so you now, this post does contain affiliate links.

A Blessing of Toads: A Gardener's Guide To Living with Nature

This quote from the forward really puts into words beautifully what this book is about.

'Too often, the voice of experience comes to us in the form of a haughty scold or a boring dissertation: Not so in the case of author Sharon Lovejoy. Playful, modest, and full of fun, Sharon's light hearted essays and whimsical watercolor illustrations combine scientific fact with scholarly observation in a manner that captures our hearts and makes us wiser as if by magic.....For more than ten years, the readers of Country Living Gardener have come to Sharon's "Heart's Ease" column to be entertained. And they have left feeling educated and befriended. For those devoted readers - and for gardeners, backyard biologists and kindred spirits everywhere - we offer this collection of essays, illustrations, and weekend projects." Marjorie Gage

Each essay is a quick read, but is packed with little hints and tidbits. It would be a nice book to keep in your tote as you run errands, sit at soccer practice or wait in line.

Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars: Grandma's Bag of Tricks

OK, I love all these books. But, I especially love this one. The cover of the book really says it all:

"130 Wonder-Filled Grandchild-Friendly Activities!"
"Turn an Hour, a Day, a Weekend into a Lifelong Memory"
"Includes... Firefly Lanterns, Worm Hotel, Pizza Box Solar Oven, Faerie Houses, Memory Boxes, and Peek-a-Boo Planters"

Wow. This book also has recipes, herbs, backyard birding and crafts. Whats not to love? And no...I have not been paid to say any of these things. Sharon Lovejoy doesn't know I exist, but if by chance she ever reads this, "I would love to meet you!" Ahem...sorry about that.

Hollyhock Days: Garden Adventures For The Young At Heart

Fun and simple gardening projects with useful tips. Sayings like: "When the fly's upon the wall, Rain is surely going to fall", are sprinkled throughout the book. She dances through the seasons and introduces us to quiet places. Always with such a lighthearted air.

Roots Shoots Buckets & Boots: Gardening Together with Children

What doesn't this book have. It is wonderful. Whether you garden with children, or just like to act like one sometimes, you must get this book. It gives garden basics, tips for a natural medicine chest, a Top 20 Plants For Kids list and tons of resources. This is such a fun book, I can see why you would want to grab it again and again. I can't help but mentioning that my children have loved looking at these books. Her sweet illustrations are full of detail and really draw you in to look at the details.

Sunflower Houses: A Book For Children and Their Grown-Ups

This book is so much more than just Sunflowers (which would be OK, because I love those, too). The book contains enchanting garden ideas, with lists of flowers to complete them. Her lovely watercolors illustrate the pages and little poems and remembrances are dotted here and there.

I am so glad that I discovered this author and her wonderful books. Even if you aren't a gardener there are a ton of ideas for you to use.

Let me know what you think. Have you read any of these books? Maybe you have read some of her other titles. Do you have an author that you enjoy that is in this same subject matter? Leave me a comment!

Who Was Charlotte Mason

"Charlotte Mason was a British woman of the last century who founded the House of Education in Ambleside, England, in the beautiful Lake District. She was born in 1842, an Anglican woman and a pioneer in educational reform. She founded the Parents National Educational Union (PNEU), perhaps the first homeschool support group ever. She also published the Parent's Review, a periodical written to guide parents who were educating children at home.

She seemed to love mottoes, and her motto for the parents of PNEU was: "Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, and a life."
She wrote volumes about the three educational instruments: the atmosphere of environment, the discipline of habit, and the presentation of living ideas."

The above quote is taken from a book I have been reading, Real Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home by Elizabeth Foss. I am very intrigued by Miss Masons educational philosophy. It really strikes a chord with me, and I have been trying to implement into our daily routines and rhythms.

William Butler Yeats said that "Education is not filling a bucket, but lighting a fire."

What a great way to put it. I think that there is a need for text books and in-depth study. I think there are times when you just need to sit down with your pen and paper and get your lessons done.

But, I find that a lot of times the pushing and prodding that comes with trying to get our children to finish their lessons could be avoided if we implement Miss Masons way of teaching.

When a child feels a part of what their learning, they forget that they are doing "school." Playing 'store' with real money teaches a child math skills that they will need when they are older. How many times do we go to the store to have a sales clerk not be able to count back our change? What good is it if they read it in a book, but have no real knowledge of how to put it into practice?

"I don't consider education from the perspective of filling buckets because I don't consider children from that perspective. When I look at a child, I see a living, breathing person made in God's image, for whom God has a plan". Elizabeth Foss

I know that raising our children is not a one size fits all approach. It can't be. God has entrusted us each individually to raise our children the way we see fit. How awesome is it that there are so many ideas and methods out there! Our children are individuals, and we can pick what works for them.

With that being said, I have 5 little ones under the age of 7. I love that this style of learning goes beyond the subjects we teach. Sally Clarkson calls it "home centered learning." I want our home to have an attitude that learning isn't something we turn on and off like a water spigot.

In future posts I would like to look a bit more in depth at her methods, and share with you how we are incorporating her ideas into our everyday.

I wanted to share a few books with you that have really helped me understand the basics, and have given me a whole lot of inspiration!

One of my favorite authors is Karen Andreola. She has really taken what could have been an overwhelming amount of information and put it into small bits that I could handle and implement easily. All three of these books are wonderful.