Your Homeschool Needs These Book Lists (Some are free!)
Feel free to scroll down past these next few introductory paragraphs to get to the links with those lists. I intend to keep updating that section with more links as often as necessary.
In a recent post I discussed how little Protestants know about Catholicism, and how their misplaced prejudices and wrong assumptions about the true Church erroneously shape their worldview, specifically when it comes to both homeschooling and to creating educational materials for families, as is the case with Korrie Johnson over at Good Book Mom.
I don’t doubt Korrie’s a nice lady, but words can’t effectively express my disdain and the yucky feeling I get for those who go on spreading such obvious lies while pretending they’re right. Unfortunately, Korrie elicits such feelings. (I wrote about a disappointing exchange I had with her earlier this year.)
OK, maybe I took it too far but hopefully you catch my drift.
See, I’ve bought Carole Joy Seid‘s seminars, and in her and her son JJ’s discussion on history and literature being the foundation of their program, they’ve brought up the Reformation and referred to Luther’s 95 Theses as its “battle cry,” which I thought was endearing.. Wrong but endearing, like when a child mispronounces a word and you let him/her continue to do it because it’s cute and you don’t want them to grow up too quickly. (I discuss this more below under “A long note or warning for Catholics re:Homeschool Made Simple.”) Carole and her podcast co-host Rachel have also interviewed follow-worthy traditional Catholic Leila Marie-Lawler and actually praised her work!
Heck, Charlie Kirk even praised the Virgin Mary! Did you know that many Protestants out there not only believe she didn’t stay a virgin the rest of her life.. but that she also shouldn’t be venerated as God’s mom?
Silly Protestants.
All that was to say that I’m aware of Protestants who respect Catholics and who therefore don’t dare to speak out of turn because they KNOW they’re not informed enough. The Homeschool Made Simple team doesn’t go that far, thankfully, but Korrie never got the memo. And this is why I don’t think you should pay for her services or her book lists.
Some PAID book lists are more than worthwhile (see below), but you should instead try to first stay with the free lists out there.
Without Further Ado: The Lists!
Webpages
- Will Rascals Defend Our Civilization? And What Books Will They Read? – Scroll toward the end for the list.
- Read-Aloud Revival Booklists – Sarah McKenzie’s a Catholic but her lists often feature secular books. (Religious, faith-based book suggestions are rare, which I think appeals more to the masses.) Her membership program and premium podcast definitely lean more Christian, as do the books suggested therein.
- Good Books for Catholic Kids
- Mater Amabilis – A FREE, Catholic Charlotte-Mason-inspired curriculum.
- You can find book lists under each grade’s curriculum.
- Ambleside Online – A FREE, Protestant (or rather non-denominational) Charlotte-Mason-inspired curriculum.
- You can find book lists under each grade’s curriculum OR on the program’s Master Book List.
- Homeschool Made Simple* – This one’s a free introductory list and these paid seminars include even more lists organized by age/grade level.
- I highly recommend her HMS Essentials Bundle if you want to get started with her method.
*A long note or warning for Catholics re:Homeschool Made Simple: Although Carole sometimes interviews and brings attention to Catholics who are making a difference to homeschoolers and homemakers (which is how I started following both Leila Marie Lawler’s work and the Well-Read Mom program), the Homeschool Made Simple Podcast and method are still very Protestant. I wouldn’t say it’s anti-Catholic, but it still has a strong Protestant point of view:
Some ads highlight Protestant authors and stories, some emails encourage families to find their nearest Protestant church (“Bible-believing” was the term used, IIRC, as though Catholics didn’t believe in the Bible even though it was us who compiled it), and when teaching parents about the importance of having kids draw timelines for History and Church History, Carole and her son greatly emphasize the Reformation (and Luther’s 95 Theses as “its Battle Cry”) while ignoring the key Catholic elements that truly and wonderfully shaped the history of the world and this great nation. (Because you know who invented the modern calendar and universities, for starters? Not a Protestant. Who founded the first settlement in the US? Not the Protestants!)
I enjoy and support 99% of the HMS mission and work but cringe a bit when they credit Protestants (more than anyone should). I therefore encourage you to proceed with caution, and to discern what to replace if you decide to take on the HMS program for your homeschool.
Books
- Who Can We Then Read? – We have this one and more than recommend it. She even signed our copy!
- “The first of two volumes, this is a wonderful, extensive list of over 150 authors, a short biography of each, and all the rich books that they wrote. A great guide to take to the library with you, and a treasure to have on your bookshelf! Jan’s books will save busy readers (including parents) time and effort since Jan has done the work of choosing trustworthy authors whose books reflect a Christian [ahem, Protestant] worldview.” –Cornerstone Curriculum
- A Mother’s List of Books – “I highly recommend this list — Theresa has gone to great trouble (which clearly I am not willing to do and why should I, when we have her) to collect all the wonderful literature that your child could and should be reading just for pleasure. As a mother of eight intelligent and well educated children, she knows what she is talking about.” – Leila Marie Lawler, Like Mother Like Daughter
