Manatee Summer by Evan Griffith is a story about friendship, conservation, and navigating the difficulties in life. This realistic fiction book was the foundation of some great discussions about theme in my online book club for kids. The main character felt relatable to many of them and they loved the inclusion of a manatee. I am so glad I chose this title for my Online Middle School Monthly Fiction Book Club in April 2024. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure. Manatee Summer Evan Griffith Genre: Realistic Fiction Length: 288 pages First Published: 2023 View on Amazon ..read more

Reading poems by these creative and delightful children’s poets is a surefire way to introduce your kids to the world of poetry so they will want to return again and again. Introduce one author at a time or dig into several at once. The children’s poets are the favorites in our family and I know your family is sure to find new favorites to return to time and time again. {{This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure.}} 10 Fantastic Children’s Poets This collection of children’s poets includes my absolute favorite poets who I have enjoyed with my own children over the years. We ..read more

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich is a historical fiction book for kids that follows the life of a young Ojibwe girl and her family in the mid-19th century. The novel vividly portrays the daily struggles and joys of Ojibwe life and is a great addition to your history study. This title does include death and sadness but the valuable content is why we read it in my online School Year Book Clubs for ages 8-10 in 2024. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure. The Birchbark House Louis Erdrich Genre: Historical Fiction Length: 272 pages First Published: 2021 View ..read more

Let’s face it activities for teens aren’t the same as when they were kids. The reality is that “playtime” changes when our kids become tweens and teens. Gone are the days of playground dates and exciting afternoons spent building with lincoln logs and magnetic blocks. But the days of play aren’t gone. They have just changed. Playtime with older kids looks more like getting out of the house; seeing friends; and spending time with parents who are willing to listen, talk, and enter their world. We must continue to make space for playtime with our older kids. Though it is probably time to stop cal ..read more

It will come as no surprise to everyone that I love to read. Yes. I love a good fiction book, but as a homeschooling mom, I also love to read books that inspire and encourage me on my homeschooling journey. This weekend, I sat down with TEACH: Creating Independently Responsible Learners by Dennis DiNoia and it gave me some much-needed “let’s do this well” energy so I can make it to the end of the year. This sponsored post also included a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. You can read my full disclosure here. TEACH as Homeschooling Inspiration A good book about homeschooling ca ..read more

A good action book for kids will keep a child turning the pages until the book ends. As a child, I remember sitting in my bed late at night reading books like Nancy Drew because I just could. not. stop. The action and suspense in the story drew me in and I couldn’t stop reading until I knew if Nancy and her friends solved the mystery. Of course, they always solved the problem, but the ride getting there was always worth it. My own love of action books for kids inspired this fantastic list of books. Finding Books That Make Reading Fun If you have reluctant readers, or kids who feel like most bo ..read more

Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo is a story about family, growing up, and being your unique self. The illustrations are vivid and the story is fun. It’s a great story to discuss with kids and tweens which is why I chose Miss Quinces for my kid’s graphic novel online book club in 2024. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure. Miss Quinces Kat Fajardo Genre: Fiction, Graphic Novel Length: 256 pages First Published: 2022 View on Amazon | View on Goodreads Publisher’s Description: Miss Quinces “Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her ..read more

The Very Very Far North by Dan Bar-El is a fun winter-themed chapter book for kids. Without a doubt, this is a gentle read for readers of all age with sweet characters and fun adventures. This title was a fun and popular read in my online School Year Book Clubs for ages 8-10 in 2024. We had a great discussion about the delightful adventures of the main characters in this fantastic story. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure. The Very Very Far North Dan Bar-El Genre: Fiction Length: 288 pages First Published: 2020 View on Amazon | View on Goodreads The Very Very Far Nor ..read more

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen is a suspenseful historical fiction book that takes place in East Germany when the Berlin Wall was built. This book immerses the reader in the dangerous realities of this period in a suspenseful and believable way. This historical fiction book was appealing to my book club students, even the readers who aren’t typically fans of this genre. I think the suspenseful storytelling made this one a hit! I am so glad I chose this title for my Online Middle School Monthly Fiction Book Club in February 2024. This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure ..read more

Reading The Hunger Games series with my teen offered a great opportunity for some fun with this series. We both loved The Hunger Games and it was a ton of fun to dive into this dystopic world a little bit deeper. Studying The Hunger Games Book Series In Our Homeschool When we read The Hunger Games series, I knew it would make a fantastic homeschool study. The world created by Suzanna Collins is such an incredible one to explore through discussion and adventure. I immediately added it to my daughter’s book club list and we immersed ourselves into a Hunger Games Book Club, complete with themed d ..read more