Why Real Books?
“I just wanted to say ‘Thanks’ for all those books you gave me. It would be an understatement to say they have been a popular addition to my classroom. They really do make history come alive for the students (as corny as that may sound). The first thing they want to do when they finish an assignment or a test is borrow one of my books to read. They have their own library books that they are supposed to be reading, but they would rather read mine. Again, thanks a bunch for helping to make my history class a little more fun.”
Why go to the trouble of buying or borrowing 50 plus books for a year of art and history when one or two textbooks would cover the same topics? The reasons are many, and exemplify the difference between a typical education and a great education.
The books we have chosen are Real Books.
Real books are books that have been written by real children’s book authors not a panel of textbook editors.
Real Books are more fun.
Real Books must compete in the real world. Children’s books are above all designed to appeal to children. If children don’t enjoy the books, they don’t sell. In addition, most of the books on this list have been tested by my students for the enjoyment factor. Every week I sent home bags of books and every week I heard what was good and what wasn’t.
Real Books save time.
Children’s book authors have hundreds of hours of research and writing invested in each book on our list. Each book on our lists represents hundreds of hours of research, writing, and illustrating. Multiply that by the 50 plus books on the list and this list contains 5000 plus hours of preparation, more than any parent or teacher could provide in a years worth of lectures. So picking up a book and reading it to your child is giving them the best introduction available to any given topic.
Where Do I Find Companion Books?
My book, Serious Fun: Homeschooling with Real Books, has a complete list.