How to Choose {Excellent} Living Picture Books
As a Charlotte Mason-inspired homeschooler, I do a LOT of reading with our kids. The spine of everything we do is literature. Well-written, Living Books are the name of the game in our home. And this includes everything from picture books to poetry to fables, fairy tales, famous stories retold, Shakespeare, non-fiction, novels… with one thing in common – I’m seeking LIVING BOOKS.
I often talk to moms who are new to homeschooling and new to Charlotte Mason homeschooling. There are two things I usually encourage them to do.
First, I have some favorite Charlotte Mason books I recommend reading to gain at least a good foundational understanding of Charlotte’s philosophies. Second, I encourage them to just start by focusing on reading lots of wonderful living books with their children. And when they are toddlers, preschoolers, and early- to mid-elementary aged, Living Picture Books are wonderful. Start there.
But the more I talk to new homeschoolers, the more I’ve realized that so many have the same question I had when I started with Charlotte Mason – How do you choose a great ‘Living Picture Book’? I mean, what is a LIVING BOOK, anyway?
6 Comments
Megan Russell
What a great explanation of living books. As my family journeys toward a Charlotte Mason lifestyle, I am striving to buy plenty of living books and weed out the twaddle!
Cassandra
Thanks, Megan! 🙂
Megan Russell
Also, could I link to this post on my blog?
Cassandra
Sure, of course!
Prairie + Sky
So many beautiful books in those photos! I listened to a lesson Sonya from SCM presented where she read a living book and then also a text book. They really are just two completely different worlds. I wish I had been introduced to living books as a child. I would have loved history and so many other subjects much sooner. Excellent post 🙂
Cassandra
Thank you so much! Yes, love Sonya's wisdom!