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$75 to spend on books...  

post #1 of 15
8/4/08 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 
I have a $75 gift certificate for the book store, and am looking to spend it on fabulous resources for a homeschooling family. My kids are almost 6 yrs and 3 yrs. I'm wide open on what type of materials to get - basically anything that you'd want on hand for repeated reference, rather than turning to the library for a one-off.

What would you recommend as some of your top favourites that you refer to again and again?

Thanks in advance!
post #2 of 15
8/4/08 at 8:49pm
Hey Melanie,

What topics would you want to cover? My boys love the Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History. (We have it in paperback - cheaper and easier to sit and read on the couch.) We also really like The D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. (The boys love all kinds of legends, myths, and "why" type of stories.)

~Brit
post #3 of 15
8/4/08 at 8:51pm
if i had $75 i would load up on crafts while it's "back to school" time. i'd get paint, paint brushes, construction paper of 2 sizes, plain paper, glue, glue sticks, glitter, shaving cream (for practicing writing), play dough, clay, colored pipe cleaners, pens, pencils, colored file folders (for lapbooking), crayons, markers, etc. if i still had money, i'd purchase board games. then for curriculum i'd use all the free sites available. anyway, you may be looking for a different answer - but that's what i'd do.
post #4 of 15
8/4/08 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders View Post
Hey Melanie,

What topics would you want to cover? My boys love the Usborne Internet Linked Encyclopedia of World History. (We have it in paperback - cheaper and easier to sit and read on the couch.) We also really like The D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. (The boys love all kinds of legends, myths, and "why" type of stories.)

~Brit
Awesome suggestions, Brit! Thank you! Chapters appears to be out of stock for the Usborne World History book at the moment, but I've added the D'Aulaires to my shopping basket!

As to what topics I want to cover... no clue! I really am totally open on this one. I thought of putting some parameters in my OP, but realized if I left it open the right suggestions would come my way! And they are!

Quote:
Originally Posted by elizawill View Post
if i had $75 i would load up on crafts while it's "back to school" time. i'd get paint, paint brushes, construction paper of 2 sizes, plain paper, glue, glue sticks, glitter, shaving cream (for practicing writing), play dough, clay, colored pipe cleaners, pens, pencils, colored file folders (for lapbooking), crayons, markers, etc. if i still had money, i'd purchase board games. then for curriculum i'd use all the free sites available. anyway, you may be looking for a different answer - but that's what i'd do.
Yes, this is always top of my list for money allocation as well! But this time I have a gift certificate for a store that sells books, a small selection of toys, and some music. So books will have to be the way to go this time. We did just do a craft/office supply store run for about everything you listed there though! Except shaving cream... my kids would *love* that! Thanks for the suggestions!
post #5 of 15
8/4/08 at 9:31pm
What about books on CD? Mine love listening to stories at night (if they aren't too scary). Jim Weiss is a great book reader. Beatrix Potter on CD would be wonderful. Dr. Seuss on CD is a favorite around here. Next I want to get Winnie the Pooh (the original) on CD. Oh, and another recommendation would be a good poetry book like A Child's Garden of Verses (I think that's the title and dh is wanting to get going to pick up his glasses so I'm out of time; I'll confirm that one when we get back).

PS: I'm going to email you tonight.
post #6 of 15
8/4/08 at 9:44pm
oh i'm sorry. you clearly said that and i somehow missed it. in that case, there is an encyclopedia set i've seen recommended here and other forums or yahoo groups. i can't think of the name right now, but it's a specific set for children. i'm going to put my dd to bed and try to think of the name ... and i'll post back. but that's what i would buy with $75
post #7 of 15
8/4/08 at 9:49pm
AHA!: i remembered! it's the childcraft set of encyclopedias for children.
post #8 of 15
8/4/08 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
What about books on CD? Mine love listening to stories at night (if they aren't too scary). Jim Weiss is a great book reader. Beatrix Potter on CD would be wonderful. Dr. Seuss on CD is a favorite around here. Next I want to get Winnie the Pooh (the original) on CD. Oh, and another recommendation would be a good poetry book like A Child's Garden of Verses (I think that's the title and dh is wanting to get going to pick up his glasses so I'm out of time; I'll confirm that one when we get back).
I love Jim Weiss! I just reserved a couple of his CDs at the library. : And I don't know why, but I hadn't considered looking to get Dr. Seuss on CD. I'm going to look for that, too!

A Child's Garden of Verses - perfect! I just added that to my cart as well!

Quote:
oh i'm sorry. you clearly said that and i somehow missed it. in that case, there is an encyclopedia set i've seen recommended here and other forums or yahoo groups. i can't think of the name right now, but it's a specific set for children. i'm going to put my dd to bed and try to think of the name ... and i'll post back. but that's what i would buy with $75
No need to apologize! Thanks for the recommendation. I think I found it on Amazon. Chapters (where I'm ordering) doesn't have it, but I'm going to check the library and see if I can get a copy to look at. I'll have to search around here for more information as well - thanks!
post #9 of 15
8/4/08 at 11:17pm
Thread Starter 
Here's what I ended up ordering:

D'aulaires Book Of Greek Myths
DK Eyewitness Books: Reptile (daughter's choice)
DK Eyewitness Books: Horse (daughter's choice)
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by Maryann Kohl
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Favorite Poems of Childhood
Hands of Light: A Guide To Healing Through The Human Energy Field by Barbara Brennan (this one's for me, but we will certainly all end up learning from it I'm sure!)

So excited! I just love getting books in the mail! : Thanks again for your help and recommendations!
post #10 of 15
8/5/08 at 12:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KoalaMama View Post
Here's what I ended up ordering:

D'aulaires Book Of Greek Myths
DK Eyewitness Books: Reptile (daughter's choice)
DK Eyewitness Books: Horse (daughter's choice)
Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters by Maryann Kohl
A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson
Favorite Poems of Childhood
Hands of Light: A Guide To Healing Through The Human Energy Field by Barbara Brennan (this one's for me, but we will certainly all end up learning from it I'm sure!)

So excited! I just love getting books in the mail! : Thanks again for your help and recommendations!
Those sound so good!!! I agree, I love getting books in the mail.
post #11 of 15
8/5/08 at 2:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyLittleWonders View Post
What about books on CD? Mine love listening to stories at night (if they aren't too scary). Jim Weiss is a great book reader. Beatrix Potter on CD would be wonderful. Dr. Seuss on CD is a favorite around here. Next I want to get Winnie the Pooh (the original) on CD. Oh, and another recommendation would be a good poetry book like A Child's Garden of Verses (I think that's the title and dh is wanting to get going to pick up his glasses so I'm out of time; I'll confirm that one when we get back).

PS: I'm going to email you tonight.

Before you pay for any of those titles on CD be sure to check out librivox. Many of the books you mentioned are available to download for free!

Child's Garden of Verses

Beatrix Potter Audio Files
post #12 of 15
8/5/08 at 8:45am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seeking Refuge View Post
Before you pay for any of those titles on CD be sure to check out librivox. Many of the books you mentioned are available to download for free!

Child's Garden of Verses

Beatrix Potter Audio Files
Thank you so much! What a fabulous resource!!
post #13 of 15
8/5/08 at 10:01am
You did good. I would have said at those ages, art, music, nature. Where all kids should be.
post #14 of 15
8/5/08 at 6:15pm
Games for Math by Peggy Kaye
Games for Reading by Peggy Kaye
Games for Writing by Peggy Kaye
Games with Books by Peggy Kaye
National Geographic U.S. Atlas for Young Explorers
National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers
post #15 of 15
8/5/08 at 6:15pm
Oops! I just saw you already ordered! You did great! Enjoy.
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