You don’t always need a costly curriculum. There’s so much learning to be done with just a library card and a pile of picture books.
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Best Math Picture Books for Your Homeschool
Picture books are a great way to make math fun and meaningful for your kids. Here are some our family has enjoyed: What math picture books has your family enjoyed? Are there any others we should add to our list? We hope these book recommendations are a blessing to your […]
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What Is a Living Book?
If you’re diving into the world of homeschooling, you’ve probably heard the phrase living book a time or two. We’re here to help demystify this term, and give you some questions to ask yourself as you assess the books you’re using in your homeschool. The term living book comes from […]
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Our Favorite Picture Books About Shapes and Colors for Preschoolers
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! The preschool years are a great time to help your child begin to recognize and name basic shapes and colors. You can do this quite naturally as you go throughout your day just by pointing out and discussing […]
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Ideas for Teaching Homeschool History (The Middle Ages)
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! History is one of my favorite subjects to teach, and the Middle Ages contain so much delight for you and your children to discover together. This time period is full of fascinating historical figures, rich literature, and lots […]
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Our Favorite Books About Fatherhood (for Father’s Day and Every Day)
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Whether you need a gift for a Dad in your life or a book that you can cuddle up and read with your own kids, these stories all celebrate the gifts of fatherhood. From board books for little […]
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100 Books Every Homeschool Preschooler Should Know
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Finding worthy picture books to place before your preschooler can sometimes feel like wading through a garbage heap looking for a few precious pearls. We have endless options available to us, but not all books for the 5 […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books for Fall
When fall is in the air, nothing is more inviting than cuddling up with your little ones to enjoy a great picture book together. Here are some of our favorite titles that will get you in an autumn mood. The Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall This classic book follows a […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books for Summer
Summer is finally here! When you need a break from the beach or the pool, these picture books are just right for slowing down and savoring the magic that is summer. The Raft by Jim LaMarche Nicky isn’t looking forward to spending the summer with his quirky grandmother in her […]
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Around the World Read Alouds for Your Homeschool
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting the Homeschool Compass by shopping through our page! Reading aloud is a great way to introduce your children to the cultures and customs of the world around them. That’s why we’ve put together this list of our favorite books featuring stories of children from every part […]
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5 Favorite Picture Books for Memorial Day
Memorial Day is an American holiday that honors those who lost their lives in military service to the United States. These heartfelt picture books bring Memorial Day to life and help kids understand the great service that these men and women gave. The Wall by Eve Bunting This restrained yet […]
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20 Favorite Picture Books about Farms
Do your kids love learning about animals and nature? If so, these endearing farm picture books are perfect for your homeschool. Baby Farm Animals by Garth Williams Simple, humorous text identifies each fuzzy, furry, or feathery farm animal capering about the farm. This longtime favorite has been reissued for a […]
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7 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Family Read-Aloud Time
1. Start Small, but Read Often! Establishing a routine is key to read aloud success with little ones. If your kids are young, or haven’t had much read-aloud experience, keep it short. Ten to fifteen minutes is a great place to start. Set apart a consistent time in your day […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books About Trees
Nurture your child’s love of nature and their appreciation of the fascinating world of trees with these endearing stories and accessible guide books. Little Tree by Loren Long Your preschoolers will fall in love with Little Tree, who resists the changing of the seasons and clings tightly to his leaves. […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books for Spring
With the days getting longer and sunnier, we’ve got a wonderful list of spring themed picture books for you. These books are perfect for reading under a shady tree, packing with a picnic for a stroll through the garden, or cuddling up with on the couch after a morning out […]
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10 Favorite St. Patrick’s Day Picture Books for Your Homeschool
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and there are some great picture books to help you introduce this holiday to your young children or build on your big kids’ understanding of the history and the significance of this day. Here are 10 of our favorites! Saint Patrick by […]
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5 Fun Ways to Learn About the Human Body in Your Homeschool
Studying the human body with our children is a great way to point them toward the wonder of God’s intricate design. As we learn about the loving care and attention to detail with which our bodies are purposefully put together, our hearts are drawn to worship our incredible Creator. Here […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books for Valentine’s Day
With February 14th coming up, we wanted to share our favorite Valentine’s Day picture books that you and your kids will love. The Berenstain Bears’ Valentine Blessings by Mike Berenstain Sister Bear finds out that Brother Bear has a secret admirer on Valentine’s Day! Papa Bear tells the cubs a […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books for Winter
In the cold days of winter, there’s nothing like cozying up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa. Here are some of our favorite winter themed picture books you and your family will love. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the […]
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10 Picture Book Biographies About Women Who Changed the World
We strongly believe you’re never too old for a good picture book! In this booklist you’ll find stories of courage and perseverance from some of the world’s most inspiring women. 50 True Stories of Daring Women of God: Courageous World Changers by Shirley Raye Redmond This is illustrated reference book […]
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Picture Books for Everyone: Why You Should Keep Reading Picture Books Even After Your Child Learns To Read
Sometimes as homeschool parents we can unwittingly value our kids’ reading for themselves as more important than them being read to. Sometimes when we emphasize kids reading independently we can unwittingly devalue the importance of reading enjoyable stories together. We spend so many hours on letter sounds and sight words […]
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10 Favorite Picture Books (and One Chapter Book Read Aloud) for Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. We’re putting in our library requests and checking our bookshelves to pull together a nice stack of Thanksgiving books to share with our children. These are a few of my favorite Thanksgiving picture books, along with one longer read-aloud that’s great for enjoying with […]
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Summer Learning Activities for Your Baseball Fan
It’s the season for America’s favorite pastime, the staple of many summers – baseball! If you’ve got a baseball lover, these activities are sure to keep them learning and having fun all summer long. We’ve got free printable activities and a list of great baseball picture books just for you […]
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Favorite Easter Books for Kids
Whether you’re looking for a book to show your children the true meaning of Easter or you want a silly story to tuck in their Easter baskets, we’ve got you covered. Here are some titles your kids are sure to love! You can download this book list in printable form […]
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9 Ways To Enjoy Language Arts Together with Limited Resources
Many of us find ourselves home with our kids even more than usual due to the COVID-19 situation. With libraries closed, co-op classes on hold, and friends and family kept at a distance, you may feel like you don’t have enough books and resources to really be able to teach […]
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7 Rewards of Read-Alouds
I recently spoke with my older children about our read-aloud days of homeschooling. I spoke with my oldest (who is now a college student) along with four of my other daughters whose ages range from 9 – 18. I collected these ideas from our homeschool days and would like to […]
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20 Great Books for Black History Month
Every February we set aside some time to commemorate the African-American community and celebrate the impact they have had on our nation. Reading books together as a family is a wonderful way to learn more about these great Americans and the important contributions they have made to our society. Here’s […]
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10 Picture Book Biographies about World-Changing Girls
As you parent your girls to chase their dreams, fuel their creativity and inspiration with these picture books. You’ll read about ground-breaking women in the fields of math, science, literature, art, and more. What they all have in common is a drive to succeed and a determination to never give […]
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Read to Me Forever: The Joys of Family Reading
When our kids are small, it’s a special joy to snuggle up with them on the couch or the bed or the big, comfy chair and read to them. We look at the pictures together, learn the rhymes together, and our hearts say, Yes. This is good. Good for them. Good […]
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Introducing a Foreign Language Through Picture Books (Even If You Don’t Speak the Language)
Exposure to a foreign language deepens a child’s academic and emotional development in many meaningful ways, and sharing foreign language picture books is a wonderful way introduce a new language to your little ones. Reading aloud in a foreign language offers all the same benefits as reading aloud in your […]
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How to Raise a Reader: 10 Tips to Promote Literacy at Home
There are many ways you as a parent can support your child’s growing literacy. Here are some strategies you can use with your family to help your kids see themselves as readers. Read every single day. You can start when your children are infants. Create special times of day that […]
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