Just when you thought you had seen all my book lists…
Explore our Book Club Reads and Interest Led Book Lists:
Why form a book club?
If you have another book-loving family in your life, you could form a book club! We are on the fourth year of doing this and it has been encouraging and fun to for the kids to experience the same books as their friends.
We moms usually prepare a snack that goes along with the book. Maybe it was mentioned in the book, or matches a historical time period or place. And don’t worry about discussion guides–you can usually find questions by the author or publishing company online. I’ve found just talking about your favorite and least favorite parts, changes in the main character, and alternate endings to the book are enough for a good discussion!
- Book Club for Middle Schoolers: Our Selections 2024-2025
We had a fun second year of our book club for middle schoolers (although we only had two middle schoolers)! Here are all the ideas, links and discussion guides that we used for our meetings! - Book Party Ideas: Our Year In Review with Book Club
We had so much fun celebrating books with our book club last year! With each discussion, we had a “book party.” If you’re new to the idea, read on!
Interest Led Learning
When my child asks questions or tells me they’re interested in learning something, they can anticipate what’s coming: a stack of interesting library books and maybe an activity kit or two. Interest led learning empowers our kids to be self-led learners, teaches them they can learn about anything, and keeps them curious about everything!
- Fun Beginner Books for Emerging Readers
Our favorite chapter beginner books from the series Big Foot and Little Foot, Marvin and James, Mercy Watson, and Deckawoo Drive. - Best Baseball Biographies for Kids
Never did I ever…think I’d become a baseball mom! But I have three who are in the sport and I do what I do best: support them with books! Here is a pretty long list of inspirational and diverse baseball biographies in picture book form. I know there are even more out there! This post… Read more: Best Baseball Biographies for Kids - Lost History of Ukraine: the Holocaust, Holodomor, and Chernobyl
Here are three chapter books that highlight the lost history of Ukraine. They feature the Holodomor, Chernobyl, and the Holocaust. - Interesting Books about JRR Tolkien
Our family fun theme for 2024 was based on Tolkien’s books: . But here is a list of books about JRR Tolkien and the fantasy setting of his books! - Books about Mushrooms and More
This term’s nature study is: mushrooms! I found fun books about mushrooms and added videos and projects. - Books on Fairies and How to Build Fairy Houses
What do we do with all the nature that our kids bring home? (It’s not just my kids, right?) The best stick! A favorite rock! The prettiest leaf! Okay, I’m guilty of it, too. Cue…the building of Fairy Houses. - Kids Books about the Olympics: Ancient and Modern
There are so many inspirational picture book biographies featuring the events of the Summer Olympics! Here are the ones that I managed to nab from the library. We are going to read these picture books about the Olympics in the week leading up to the opening ceremonies. This post may contain Amazon Affiliate Links. I may… Read more: Kids Books about the Olympics: Ancient and Modern - The Best Books about Dragons: from Silly to Scientific
It’s the Year of the Dragon for this Lunar New Year cycle! Here’s a compilation of books about dragons, from scientific to just plain silly. - Booklist of Stories about Trees Around the WorldOur current nature study ~TREES~ is inspired by the many sticks and leaves my children pick up every time we walk a nature trail. We’ll be reading these books about trees around the world in addition to the larger stack about the science of trees and the fascinating ways they communicate. This post may contain Amazon… Read more: Booklist of Stories about Trees Around the World
- Lego Ninjago Birthday Cake and FoodMy son wanted a Lego Ninjago birthday cake and party for his 6th birthday. I made it Japan-themed as well, tying in the Lego ninjago theme to historical ninjas in Japan. Homemade Fortune Cookies Would it surprise you to find out that fortune cookies are Japanese-American and not Chinese? I certainly was! Read about its… Read more: Lego Ninjago Birthday Cake and Food