summer reads

“One benefit of Summer was that each day 

we had more light to read by.”

~Jeannette Walls

Each summer, my kiddos participate in the library's summer reading program. They get to fill out little sheets, full of stickers, and once complete, turn those in for a patch, a book of their choice, a packet of coupons for things like ice cream and ice skating. Their heads full of adventures and new words and (because I ask for it), practice reading out loud. They love it. I love it.

But something that had slipped away over the past few years was summer reading for me. Anytime reading for me, really. My brain is full of all we are doing and need to do and the muddle in there hasn't slowed down to savor very many books. So this summer I made a short list. And I am reading it. Sometimes one book at a time, sometimes alternating several books, but the mental engagement has been fulfilling and the satisfaction of completion reassures me that I do still have some will to follow-through.

Here is my list (so far). Some I am done with, some I am in the middle of. Some I have yet to pick up.

Slow Family Living by Bernadette Noll

The Writer’s Jungle by Julie Bogart

Essentialism (at least a summary guide)

Let’s Play Math by Denise Gaskins

Spelling by Hand by Jeremy Hermann

A Little History of the World by E.H. Gombrich

Homeschool guides; Christopherus overview, Christopherus Rough Guides for 6th and 7th; Waldorf Essentials 4th, Rhythms of Learning, and a skim through some of the other subject guides I have, for ideas to make note of.

And re-reads, if I have time, that always bring me calm and insight:

A Gift from the Sea

Simplicity Parenting

Last Child in the Wood

What are you reading?