It is a nice problem to have

My children read like I would like to read: voraciously and continually. If my son doesn't have a book in hand there is something seriously wrong with his world! My daughter has been a little of a reluctant reader, but is doing so well this year that she also begs for book time before bed. I think it has something to do with genetics because there is little else I would rather do than get utterly lost in a wonderful story. There are too many other things to do, and other interests that I want to make time for so I don't even allow myself to pick up a book unless I can devour it.
The challenging thing about children who also devour books is finding appropriate titles for them! My son is reading ahead of his grade level, but is getting to an age that there are topics in the juvenile fiction section of the library that I would rather him not read about right now. So I'm always keeping an ear open for recommendations and reviews of books that may pique his interest.
I just read Wendy's post on Homeschooling for Life reviewing some Christian fantasy and Christian Sci-Fi books. On her site there are also reviews of many more books. (And I'm interested in finding out more about her planner that is an e-book). I'll be revisiting that helpful site often!

On a greener note, we've planted three kinds of tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, two kinds of squash, lettuce, dill, cilantro, chives in our friend's backyard, and here at the apartment we have planters with thyme, mint and lavender sitting near a sunny window. Sigh.

Looking Back

I took out my planner and school calendar from last year. I was pleased to find that we had 138 days of formal schooling. That was an accomplishment because of the two major disruptors that happened: Hurricane Ike and the 9th month of my pregnancy (because mommy was severely unmotivated!). That is also not to mention all the other stuff that happens around here like chipping in to help with keeping house, helping dad build bunk beds and the Lego loft, cooking with mom as well as endless discussions about how babies grow and what a baby will be like when he gets here.
After the Hurricane we didn't have power for two weeks, but that didn't stop the learning when the tadpoles we'd been caring for sprouted legs. After the storm we also headed north for a much needed visit to family and friends. We tried to do school on the road and at Grandma's but there were just too many distractions, along with the fact that morning sickness kicked in full force.

I'd thought all along that a year-round schedule would work for us and we are still trying that out, trying to rotate through a few subjects a week, but getting math in every day. There are the obligatory endless hours in a pool and a much more lax bedtime schedule. Besides, what would summer be like without a good book to enjoy in a cool house when the temperatures outside are soaring? Charlie has loved the Warrior series by Erin Hunter. Now he's reading Eragon by Chris Paolini. We're reading Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls aloud together. Kaity and I are going to start Missouri Bound, A little house chapter book, by Roger Lea MacBride along with the picture books that she and I will be reading to Jeremiah.
I've been reading a new favorite author, Karen Hancock. She writes Christian fantasy and Christian scifi books. I recommend all of her books, even those I have yet to devour. Earlier in May I also devoured The Circle series by Ted Dekker. I love fiction that has analogy to our Christian walk.

I'm making reading lists for the coming school year when we kick it in gear in the fall. What are some favorites of your kids? Do you have a reluctant reader like Kaity is? What motivates them to read?