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children's books

charlotte mason homeschool

August 20, 2022 · In: For Moms, How to Start Homeschooling, Living Books

Book Lists for Children

Want to know where to find high quality children’s book lists for read alouds or independent reading? I’ve compiled some of my favorite go-to book lists for children’s literature. Where…

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Meet Trisha

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Hi, I'm Trisha! I am a homeschool mom of 3, and have a passion for cultivating a Gospel-centered, Charlotte Mason inspired, literature and arts-based learning environment.

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As my kids grow in their independence, I am taking As my kids grow in their independence, I am taking on a bit more work, and the timing couldn’t be better.

If you’re a working mom, check out this beautiful 2025-2026 Work Planner from @passionatepennypincher (gifted). It is not only pretty, but so functional as I have been using one diligently for the last 2 years.

My rookie tip is having it sit next to you as you work and/or homeschool to quickly jot down ideas and reminders as they pop into your head during a read aloud. It happens so often! 

Comment “work planner” if you’d like a closer view of this one!

#workplanner #passionatepennypincher #workingmom #homeschoolmom #plannerlove #plannercommunity
Wrapping up one homeschool year and dreaming up th Wrapping up one homeschool year and dreaming up the next - anyone else feeling all the things? 👋🏽

In the midst of it all, one shop that always helps me stay grounded is @christianbook. From curriculum by subject + grade to inspiring reads for the whole family, they make planning feel a little more peaceful.

I’ve gathered my very favorites from their site into one easy-to-browse list - and now for the really fun part. I’ve teamed up with Christianbook for a GIVEAWAY! 🎉 One winner will receive a $100 gift card to shop their site!

Here’s how to enter:
✨ Comment “christianbook” to get the link to my favorites
✨ Follow @christianbook, @homeschoolcompass, and @juiceboxhomeschool
✨ Tag a friend (each tag = another entry, so bring the whole crew!)

That’s it! 🥳 Giveaway ends on Friday, May 9 (my birthday!) at 3pm PST, and the randomly selected winner will be contacted by @juiceboxhomeschool only. This giveaway is not affiliated in any way with Meta. 

Let’s celebrate the end of one chapter and the start of another with a little help from Christianbook.

#homeschoolgiveaway #homeschoolplanning #christianbookpartner #homeschoolcurriculum #readalouds #chapterbooks #homeschoolmom
A simple yet effective practice we aim for over al A simple yet effective practice we aim for over all these years is SHORT LESSONS.

It may seem easy, but if you have children asking for “one more chapter,” or who love to do lessons in those early elementary years of innate wonder, it is tempting to let lessons linger. However, I have had to stop myself from reading on in order to build the habit of attention and cover a breadth of subjects with a positive attitude.

“Not the number of subjects but the hours of work bring fatigue to the scholar.”

The meaning of short lessons can vary depending on the age and temperament of your children. I have value in committing to short lessons because of the effect it has on my kids’ love of learning. 

Does this practice give you a feeling of challenge or a feeling of relief? 

More on #cmmshortlessons from the #charlottemasonmondays crew this week:

@hannahs.healthyhabits
@thesewildknights

Comfy slides gifted from @myrslides 

#charlottemasoninspired #charlottemasoneducation #homeschoolmom #homeschooltip #homeschoolhelp
In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a few st In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a few stories with mom figures we adore! Let me know yours in a comment below.

🌻 All-of-a-Kind-Family: Cilly Brenner, aka Mama, was written after the author’s own mother, and the series is based on her childhood experiences on New York City’s Lower East Side. 
🌻 Heartwood Hotel, Home Again: Mona’s mother is a figure from the past who is revealed to have been a talented cook, similar to Mona’s new friend, Strawberry. 
🌻 The Vanderbeekers to the Rescue: Mama is a professional pastry chef who bakes from their Harlem brownstone with her 5 children.
🌻 Kisses from Katie: Katie Majors’ story revolves around her adoption of 14 Ugandan girls and her work as the director of a non-profit organization that provides support to hundreds of other children. 
🌻 Star of Light: Kinza’s mother, Zohra, and a caring nurse work hard to protect Zohra’s blind daughter.
🌻 A Place to Hang the Moon: A friendly librarian makes the world of a difference to 3 young orphans fleeing London during WWII.

Have you read any of these? What literary mom comes to find as one of your family’s favorites?

More from #livingbooklegacy here:

@blessedwithmotherhood
@playinghomeschool
@alearningwewillgo

#livingbooks #readaloudfamily #homeschoolreadalouds #homeschooling #morningbasket #juiceboxreads
I remember thinking Sally Clarkson’s words in Th I remember thinking Sally Clarkson’s words in The Life-Giving. Home sounded so far away. My kids were still in the single digits and the thought of focusing education on an atmosphere, discipline, and a life felt big. Here I was trying to survive.

Now that all my kids are in the double digits, I feel the urge to re-read her book. Asking yourself how do you want your children to think back on their childhood definitely deserves its moment. We have now, and are not guaranteed much more.

The intentionality of how we set our home life to be provides a direction for our next steps. The simplest  practices and habits can change the tone and attitude toward learning and family life. For today, that means putting down my inbox and pulling out the ice cream after lunch. 😋

Resource: @lily_and_thistle 

#charlottemasonmondays
#cmmprinciple5
@arrowsforchrist
@notebookingwithdelight

#charlottemasoninspired #sallyclarkson #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolhighschool #homeschoolmiddleschool #homeschoollife #lifegivinghome #watercolor
Balancing parenting and teaching is tricky in ever Balancing parenting and teaching is tricky in every season as a homeschool mom, but the teen years bring a whole new layer.

Because now, at least for me, it’s not just about lesson plans and corrected math problems. It’s a temptation to fire hose spray all the life lessons - how to manage time, how to cope with overwhelm, how to avoid the trap of people-pleasing, how to fail and not fall apart.

Oftentimes, I say too much. Other times, I say nothing and wonder if I missed a moment. It’s this quiet wrestle of discerning when to speak and when to wait - when to guide and when to let them come to you.

It’s not easy. It is an art that I have much to learn. There are days I second-guess if I’m doing enough or doing too much. But what’s helping me is learning that the long game matters more than the quick fix. That listening is often more powerful than lecturing. And that connection doesn’t involve constant correction.

If you’re navigating the teen years and figuring out how to wear both the parent and mentor hat, I’m right here with you.

I’d love to know - how do you decide when to lean in and when to pull back with your teens? Share some wisdom in the comments.

More on this #homestretchhomeschooling topic:
@redefiningschool
@delightfullyfeasting
@rootedinrest

#homeschoolteens #homeschoolmomlife #homeschoolhighschool #parentingteens #homeschoolfordiscipleship #homeschooldays
Homeschooling the middle school years has a very s Homeschooling the middle school years has a very special place in my heart. I recall being in 7th grade and telling myself to NEVER become a middle school teacher because I thought the kids were so naughty.

However, now that I have indeed become a teacher to middle schoolers, I realize what a crucial opportunity we have. Such impressionable minds and eager hearts to grapple with their growth and independence. 

This book bundle is designed for the middle school years and includes stories of faith, courage, compassion, and more. I am excited to read them in our mornings (they are suitable for the range of ages of all my kids).

One thing I appreciate about these is that they have been re-published by @generations.ministries in original form and content. Take a closer look at this bundle by commenting “middle school” and I will send you the site!

More middle school book suggestions from #livingbooklegacy here:

@treasuredhourbookshop
@thesewildknights 
@brave.little.learners
@brittsbookbin
@livingbrighthomeschool
@agoodbookhunt
@blessedwithmotherhood
@thisnewday_

#juiceboxreads #readaloudfamily #homeschoolmiddleschool #generationscurriculum #homeschoolfordiscipleship
I’ll never forget the moment one of my kids inte I’ll never forget the moment one of my kids interjected during a history read-aloud book to say, “Wait, is this a true story?”

That’s the beauty of using living books as a tool in your homeschool, especially for history. Instead of skimming over names and dates, we enter into a story. We have walked through ancient cities, eavesdropped on world changers, and felt the weight of big decisions made by real people (or at least in real settings).

For my soon-to-be 5th and 8th graders, we’re using a rich, literature-based history curriculum next year, and I’m already swooning over the book list. It’s the kind of resource that sparks conversations at lunch and lingers in their thoughts long after we close the book.

Curious what we’re using? Comment “history curriculum” below and I’ll send you the link!
EDIT: @beautifulfeetbooks offered the code “juicebox2025” for $20 off code on a full literature pack!

For #charlottemasonmondays we are sharing about #cmmhistory today:

@miajewellreads
@raising_arrows_mama
@aroundtheworld_homeschool
@hannahs.healthyhabits

#livingbooks #homeschoolhistory #readaloudfamily #beautifulfeetbooks #homeschoolcurriculum #charlottemasoninspired #homeschooling
I started homeschooling my daughter when she was j I started homeschooling my daughter when she was just 5 years old, with a heart full of hope (and some fear). Not long after, I also had a vision shaped largely by the Charlotte Mason philosophy - one rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty. 

Now she’s halfway through high school, and I find myself grateful for the foundation that’s quietly and steadily been laid over the years:
• Giving her best effort, even when it’s hard
• The habit of attention in both work and wonder
• Family Bible study grounding our days in truth and ongoing inner work
• A genuine love for reading that spills into every part of life
• The stamina to read widely and narrate with thoughtfulness
• Eyes and ears aware of beauty and a heart that appreciates the arts

This journey hasn’t been by-the-book or easy for both of us, but it’s been rich and sanctifying. And what a gift it’s been to be stretched alongside her. 

If you are just behind me or just getting started in your homeschool journey, I encourage you to faithfully move forward each day in the disciplines and good habits. Anything good takes remaining in Him and time to develop and grow. 

Here’s to the second half of high school - and the lifelong learning that continues beyond it. Are you hoping to homeschool in high school too? What are your feelings about it?

Check out this week’s #charlottemasonmondays friend’s posts on #cmmhighschool:

@miajewellreads
@notebookingwithdelight
@hannahs.healthyhabits
@arrowsforchrist
@raising_arrows_mama
@kindlingwild

#charlottemasoneducation #homeschoolhighschool #truthgoodnessbeauty #lifelonglearner #homeschooljourney #charlottemasonhomeschool #livingbooks #homeschoolmomlife
I asked my kids (16, 13, and 10 years old) how our I asked my kids (16, 13, and 10 years old) how our World Watch News subscription has impacted their daily rhythm, and their answers confirmed what I already felt - these 10-minute news videos strike the perfect balance between factual current events and engaging stories around the world.

I love how it fits seamlessly into our day, keeping us informed without feeling overwhelmed. Staying aware of what’s happening in the world with kids has never been easier.

I’m thrilled to partner with @worldwatchnews to offer you 7 days + 3 months FREE to check it out! Want the link? Comment “world watch” below, and I’ll send it your way!

#worldwatchnews #homeschooling #currentevents #newsforkids #homeschoolresources
My youngest helped me select our family favorite b My youngest helped me select our family favorite books about courage. Slowly, but surely, Lucie is taking over all the #livingbooklegacy posts for me. 🥰

📖 Little Pilgrim’s Progress: we really enjoy the @moodypublishers version
📖 Elisabeth Elliot: Living for Christ in the Jungles of Ecuador @voyagesofvalor
📖 The Sign of the Beaver
📖 God’s Smuggler
📖 The Courage of Sarah Noble
📖 Daniel Boone: part of @ywampublishing Heroes of History series
📖 The Hiding Place

Each of these stories display incredible courage! Have you read any of these?

Book flipping inspo from a favorite: @livingbrighthomeschool 🤍 

Check out these accounts for more ideas (I’ll share their posts in stories too):
@thisnewday_
@brittsbookbin
@agoodbookhunt

#livingbooks #chapterbooks #bookstagram #childrensliterature #booksaboutcourage #juiceboxreads
CURRENTLY READING…including books that are read CURRENTLY READING…including books that are read side-by-side with my kids.

📖 For myself: Lift Your Eyes by Whitney Newby, if you’re familiar anything created by @brighterdaypress you already know this is thoughtful, practical, and nourishing to your mom heart.

📖 With my small group: Everyday Evangelism by Preston Perry, an insightful and down-to-earth look at how to make use of your daily norm for the Kingdom.

📖 With all of my kids: Rich Routines by Steve Houghton, this is the first time in a while I’ve selected a non-fiction book to read aloud altogether. It is practical, useful, and timely for us.

📖 With my high school daughter: Answering the Guy Questions by Leslie Ludy, our second book reading together by this author. She resets the standard for the character of young men that young women can seek out. I am also gaining insight for my son while reading this book.

📖 With my middle school son: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Stephen Covey, a favorite of my daughter’s, my son is now enjoying this practical book!

📖 History read alouds with my 7th and 4th graders: Basher Five-Two and Misty of Chincoteague, both are readers suggested by @notgrasshistory curriculum we are working through. We just finished Basher Five-Two today, which was a thrilling account of a pilot whose plane was shot down in Bosnia. We’ll begin Misty tomorrow! 

Have you read any of these? I have to say all of them have been enriching in their own ways. See what #livingbooklegacy is up to, book-wise!

@thesewildknights
@thisnewday_
@letthemlovelearning
@alearningwewillgo
@agoodbookhunt
@playinghomeschool
@livingbrighthomeschool
@brittsbookbin

#currentreads #bookstagram #readaloudfamily #chapterbooks #homeschoolfamily #juiceboxreads #homeschoolmom #morningbasket
✨ Homeschool Books + Curriculum Giveaway (giveaw ✨ Homeschool Books + Curriculum Giveaway (giveaway is now closed)!

I’m thrilled to co-host a $50 Generations gift card giveaway! 🎉 If you love faith-based studies and rich read-alouds, don’t miss this one!

Here’s how to enter:
📚 Follow @juiceboxhomeschool x @generations.ministries
📚 Comment what you’d love to order if you win!
📚 Tag a friend - each tag = extra entry

Giveaway ends 4/4/25 at 5pm PST and is not associated with Meta. Winner will be randomly selected and contacted by @juiceboxhomeschool only. 

Tag away and start browsing for 2025-2026!

#homeschool #readalouds #christianbooks #faithbasedlearning #homeschoolgiveaway #generationsministries #homeschoolcurriculum
So many reasons to be grateful for homeschooling i So many reasons to be grateful for homeschooling in the teen years!✨ While many of these things can be accomplished without homeschooling, for our family, they would be incredibly difficult to execute. 

Back in the early years, when I was exhausted but still reading yet one more picture book or scraping paste and pasta off the table - I never imagined what was waiting on the other side. 

If you’re in the trenches, wondering if homeschooling through the teen years is worth it, let me encourage you: stick it out for the long run. The gift of preserved time together is invaluable, but perhaps one of the greatest blessings has been how the Lord is working *in me* - I never expected that homeschooling my teens would also be a masterclass in humility and growth for me! And for that, I’m deeply grateful. 🤍 

Would love to hear from other homeschool moms - what has surprised you most about the teen years? ⬇️ Or if you’re almost there, what fears do you have?

Encouraging mug: @brighterdaypress 

Visit #homestretchhomeschooling friends for more:
@delightfullyfeasting
@rootedinrest
@redefiningschool

#homeschoolingteens #homeschoolhighschool #homeschoolmiddleschool #homeschoolmom #homeschoolperks #raisingteens
📖 Want to be more consistent in the Word but st 📖 Want to be more consistent in the Word but struggle to make it happen? You’re not alone!

Life is full, but staying anchored in truth doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Often, the simplest and practical strategies can make something that seems far-fetched into an essential daily habit.

Whether you’re in a busy season or just looking for a fresh approach, these tips can help you build consistency.

Can you tell I have read Atomic Habits, Habits of the Household, and Building Spiritual Habits? 😉 

Bonus tip: Find a study you love to sit with (comment “Bible study” for mine that just got restocked!) and pretty highlighters and pens help too.

What’s one way you stay consistent in the Word? Drop your favorite tip in the comments! ⬇️

#biblestudy #thedailygraceco #mrpenchallenge #homeschoolmom #homeschoollife #morninghabits
After years of homeschooling, we’ve explored so After years of homeschooling, we’ve explored so many beautiful books and resources to study Easter! I’ve put together a video sharing all our favorites (including curriculum) to make it easy for you.

Want the link? Just comment ‘Easter,’ and I’ll send it your way! 

More Easter books from #livingbooklegacy:

@brittsbookbin
@alearningwewillgo
@treasuredhourbookshop
@thesewildknights
@agoodbookhunt
@thisnewday_
@homewithmytinies

#booksaboutEaster #kidsbooks #childrensliterature #Easterbooks #homeschooler #picturebooks #bookstagram
The balance of family studies and high school work The balance of family studies and high school work load has been tricky this year.

One thing that has helped is having a loop schedule of subjects we enjoy studying together. This reel is a sample, but not totally accurate picture since every week varies.

Some subjects we are studying together in a daily rotation are the book of Proverbs, music appreciation, spanish, slang words, worship songs, art, and character studies.

Flexibility is key over the past couple of years. That is the benefit of a loop schedule because if you need to skip a day, you just do the next thing tomorrow. It’s been a season of releasing rigidity and embracing the time we do have together.

Do you use a loop schedule for your family studies or for extra curricular subjects? Let me know what you’re studying! It is so inspiring to hear the range of topics covered in a loop.

#charlottemasonmondays #cmmloopschedules
@notebookingwithdelight
@kindlingwild

#homeschoolschedule #homeschoolrhythm #homeschoolplanning #homeschoolmom #homeschoolroutine #charlottemasoninspired
Homeschool and motherhood highlights from the past Homeschool and motherhood highlights from the past month or so...

- Fresh flowers given at a ministry meeting make the room brighter!
- Organizing donations for the victims of the LA Wildfires.
- A @storeypub book about the honey makers that my daughter is obsessed with .
- Baked cookies for a friend’s birthday.
- Pretty impressed by my discipline recently (it’s not always this way) with the Christ in all of Scripture Study from @thedailygraceco
- Finishing up read alouds that go along with our history curriculum
- New pastel kicks for my girl from @wilding.shoes (gifted) that she says she can feel the earth with 😊
 - Young Mom’s ministry craft night (I’m not one of the young moms, but enjoy serving there!)
- Science labs regularly are still going strong!
- Personal reading + getting thoughts on paper for 2025-2026.

The highlights are important for motivation and encouragement. What are some of yours latest wins? Have I told you lately that I love this job?

#homeschoollately #homeschoollife #homeschooldays #thatwildfeeling #wildingshoes #minimalshoes #homeschoolmom
I wanted to take Lift Your Eyes by @brighterdaypre I wanted to take Lift Your Eyes by @brighterdaypress slow, but here I am, already 25% in (according to @goodreads) - soaking up the practical wisdom and strategies to keep the narrow path.

This devotional is a gift—especially for young moms navigating the beautiful, exhausting, joy-filled days - but also for an oldie like me. 😉

Whitney’s words are truthful, soothing, and deeply relatable. No fluff, just solid encouragement to keep our eyes on Him in every season. If you need a reset, a refocus, or a reminder of what truly matters, this is the book to pick up.

Bonus: the book is filled with her beautifully fitting watercolor art. 🤩 Great addition @harvesthousepublishing!

This resonated with me today:
“While I believe rest, boundaries, and even time away to recharge are essential in demanding seasons of motherhood, I have found that my empty cup is the holy place where my great need and God’s lavish grace meet.” 🤍 

Comment “lift your eyes” for the pre-order sale link sent to you!

#lifeyoureyes #devotionalformoms #homeschoolmom #juiceboxreads #motherhoodencouragement #brighterdaypress
Ready for a spring book refresh? Here are some fav Ready for a spring book refresh? Here are some favorites on our shelves picked out by my 10 year old daughter:

📖 What Goes on Inside a Beaver Pond?
📖 Easter on the Farm
📖 Discovering Plants and Flowers
📖 Among the Meadow People (get the supplemental guide from @cmsimplestudies)
📖 The Gift of Animals: Poems of Love, Loss, and Connection
📖 On the Banks of Plum Creek
📖 The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden
📖 Charlotte’s Web
📖 The Wind in the Willow
📖 Heartwood Hotel: Better Together

Thank you to @storeypub for sending some of these gems! The fact that my daughter personally selected them as her favorites says a lot.

More spring book refreshment from #livingbooklegacy here:
@playinghomeschool
@thesewildknights
@brittsbookbin
@thisnewday_
@agoodbookhunt
@alearningwewillgo
@letthemlovelearning
@livingbrighthomeschool

#booksaboutspring #springbooks #childrensliterature #bookpicks #bookstagram #chapterbooks #readalouds #storeyambassador #picturebooksreview #homeschool
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