Mom Heart Resources #4: Logic, Geography and Puberty

This week's Mom Heart Meeting had some great suggestions and referrals.  First up, games.  (All images are links to the product.)

Games

An ideal game for the car or waiting room

A fun way to practice multiplication tables

Geography

Black Line Maps 

For geography work, or recording titles of books read about a country or region

Top Secret Adventures

You can also order directly from Highlights.

(Watch for these on homeschool buyers co-ops as well.)

History

Knotgrass Curriculum

America the Beautiful

One of our moms used this and highly recommended it.

Scripture and Character Training

24 Family Ways

From my favorites, the Clarksons

Puberty

Is it that time already??  Blink and they're grown!

A sensitive book explaining human reproduction

Bibles

Do you have any favorite resources in any of these areas?  We'd love to hear them!

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Book Review: The Story for Kids

The Story for Kids: Discover the Bible from Beginning to End is the Bible written in story form.  It is written to be similar to the version for adults. (The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People).


Description from the publisher:

" Now God’s great love story is told in a format for kids ages 9-12. The Story for Kids parallels the adult and teen edition of the book and can be used as part of The Story campaign or on its own.

The adventure, humor, and drama found in The Story for Kids compel kids to see the Bible as relevant and transformational. It’s the perfect resource for parents, grandparents, and teachers to use to introduce their children to the Bible as a complete story—one that tells about God’s great love for his people.

Features:
-Characters, events, and teachings of the Bible arranged chronologically
-Interior line art to engage the imagination
-Transitional paragraphs set off in italics guide you through the stories
-Discussion questions for small group or book clubs
-Includes Scripture portions from the easy-to-read text of the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)"

I love this concept.  We have several children's story Bibles that we adore.  (The Child's Story Bible and The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name are our very favorites.)  Having read the version of The Story written for adults, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in this children's version.  Though this would make a nice silent reading book for a child, the language is mediocre and the sentences are so short as to make the paragraphs feel choppy.  I wish the quality of the writing were a bit more literary.  

To be fair, I understand that the intention was to make a Bible that a child really could read to himself.  That has been accomplished.  I will certainly make this available to my children to read to themselves.  

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
Amazon affiliate links may be used in posts, which means making purchases through them helps support our homeschool at no extra cost to you.

Book Review: Adventure Bible, NKJV

Adventure Bible, NKJVfollows the excellent format and content of prior Adventure Bibles.  This Bible is filled with short, succinct notes and encouragement to the reader throughout.  In our family, this Bible is a great place to start once your child is ready for something more mature than a storybook Bible.

This is a complete translation, not abridged or changed.  The font is a good size to be a bit less intimidating for a young person.  This version of the Adventure Bible contains full color trivia, illustrations and fun facts.

If you know a young person that is ready to read or follow along in a "real" Bible, this one is a great place to start.

The only draw back from the version that I reviewed is the cartoonish cover.  If I were purchasing this for my child, I would choose the version that has a faux leather cover in order to take this Bible further into young adulthood.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
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Book Review: Keepers of the Covenant

Have you ever read any of Lynn Austin's books?  She is a writer capable of bringing flesh and blood to long forgotten history.  Having read her series Chronicles of the Kings, I eagerly anticipated that Keepers of the Covenantwould do the same.  I was not disappointed.

Keepers of the Covenant (The Restoration Chronicles)is a biblically accurate account, fleshed out through fictional characters, of the second wave of Jewish settlers returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity.  Through a close study of scripture and imagining how the lives of individual people may have been lived, the author does a great job of drawing the reader into the historical drama.  It is a rare novel that causes me to search my Bible in understanding of the actual events.  Due to the graphic content in parts, I would recommend this book to high-school aged and above, for anyone interested in one author's interpretation of this portion of scripture.

In one life-changing moment, the lives of the exiles in Babylon are thrown into despair when a decree from the king's palace calls for the annihilation of every Jewish man, woman, and child throughout the empire in less than one year.

Ezra, a quiet but brilliant scholar, soon finds himself called upon to become the leader of his people. Forced to rally an army when all his training has been in the Torah, he struggles to bring hope in a time of utter despair, when dreams of the future--of family and love--seem impossible.  (description from the publisher.)

For the story of the first wave of Jews returning to their homeland, read Lynn Austin's Return to Me (The Restoration Chronicles) (Volume 1).  The story of Zechariah's return to Jerusalem and the people that surrounded him is a fascinating precursor to Keepers of the Covenant.

I really enjoy historical fiction, especially when it's based on the true accounts in scripture,  I do hope Ms. Austin continues to research and write more books of this type.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.
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Jer 6:16

This is my new favorite verse.

"Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths. Ask where the good way is and walk in it and you will find rest for your souls."

It's such a nice reminder to me that women have been homemakers, homeschoolers, wives and mothers for thousands of years. Sometimes less is more. (Now, don't think I have any plans to give up my dishwasher or clothes washer - because I don't!). But sometimes, we can choose the "ancient path," for instance, giving away some of the huge kitchen appliances that we rarely use that take up precious space. For me, that was an electric wok and a steamer. I also moved the other hardly used appliances (that my husband isn't yet willing to part with) up high so that I can utilize the space that I can reach.

"Stand at the crossroads and look." Before making decisions, pause and think, What would God have me do here? What is best for my family, my energy level, my sanity?

Prov 11:25b

"He who waters will be watered himself."

This is such a great verse and encouraging to those of us that are pouring into our husbands and kids. It's an assurance that we will get "watered" by the One who holds Life.

Great Verse

I was praying about "understanding my human limits" (something Nora suggested I try to get a grasp on) and I found this verse... very applicable to me and my life. I need to know my limits and what I can reasonable do and feel in a day. and not "busy myself in vain." New Living says "all our busy rushing ends in nothing." Isn't THAT the truth???!!

Psa 39:4 - 6
"LORD, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.
Surely every man walks about like a shadow;
Surely they busy themselves in vain;