The Search for Good Literature for Children

I don't know about your kids but my kids love to read. I mean LOVE to read.  So, it's been a challenge being in a country without a library.  That's why we love our Kindles!

It's been harder to find quality books that are not junk.  I thought I would share some good ones we've read.

Viking Adventure Series

This is a great Christian book series.  My kids really liked these books and thought they were really exciting.

http://www.lwjbooks.com/books/viking-quest-series/

My daughter really likes the "Humphrey" series which are books whose main character is a hamster.  Often there is a lesson to be learned.

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck was another book recommended by my daughter.

The Case of the Purloined Professor by Judy Cox is another cute book about mice.

The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson is a really good book written by someone who went through the Holocaust himself.  Depending on how sensitive your children are, you may want to read this with them.  It really is an inspiring book about how people can persevere through the most difficult times.

Russia Study

We're enjoying our study on Russia.  Honestly, I did not know much about Russia so I'm learning along with my kids!

My husband has been reading books at night to the kids before they go to bed.  For our study on Russia, we read Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.

Wow...it's been a while since I've read a book like that.  I really transports to that era.  You can't help but read it in one sitting.  Once you finish, you have to just sit and ponder for a while. It's that powerful.  I also found this website that gives more background about the setting of the book.  http://www.eugeneyelchinbooks.com/breakingstalinsnose/index.php

After we read that, we had to read another book by Eugene Yelchin so we read his next book, Archady's Goal.  It's another excellent book.  Very emotionally stirring.  Yelchin illustrated both books himself and the pictures itself are worth a thousand words.

I found loads of websites with activities on Russia.  There's a lot to study.  I like this website:  http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/russia.shtml

Another website that was helpful was http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/russia-crafts .  There's a lot of great crafts and note booking pages.  My son did research on wikipedia and then wrote a report on the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.