RAR #79: Qualities of Great Books for Kids, with Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight Curriculum
What should we look for when we’re choosing books for our children?It’s as easy at 7 points, as you’ll hear in this episode with Sarita Holzmann of Sonlight Curriculum.
Sarita is a veteran homeschool mom and book lover.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- how her son went from struggling reader to Valedictorian
- all about her 7-point all-star test for books
- book recommendations that your kids will love and remember long after they leave home
Click the play button below:
Books from this episode:
(All links are affiliate links.)
I loved this podcast! Oh have her back! I’d love to ask her more questions about success in homeschooling, not being able to “do it all “ and choosing, how to read more when u feel like there’s phonics and spelling and math and such to do.. but books are the number one.
I love where the red fern grows! I would reread it. I didn’t understand why the guest wouldn’t.. but it’s a treasure to me!
This episode is my favorite so far! I especially liked number four: intriguing, multi-dimensional plot. That’s like life—things happen that seemingly aren’t connected, but they really all make sense together in God’s overarching plan for us. I love it when I can see that in mini in a book.
And we love Trumpet of the Swan too!
The podcast was great as always, but my eyes teared up when during Let the Kids Speak the little girl who is struggling to read tells about her favorite book and her mom who helps her! That was the sweetest thing ever!
Sarah,
I’m not sure if you shared something similar before, but I’d love to see a list of some of the audio books your son listened to during that time before he was reading independently. Thanks!!
Love these podcasts! Thank you!
Which is the audio story mentioned with the music in it?
Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan. So so good! Definitely get it on audio. :)
Thank you :)
I can’t wait. I am currently on the waiting list at our library. It shouldn’t be long now…….
How fun to hear this podcast with Sarita! We have used Sonlight for many years and enjoyed a lot of the books. One of our very favorites was The Candymakers by Wendy Mass. Also, on a totally different note, every time I listen to a podcast, I’m obsessively checking our library’s app to see if they have the various books you mention. :) I get so many great recommendations from you and your guests — thank you!!!
I very much agree with Sarita Holzmann on Where the Red Fern Grows and its re-readable issue. I think this author’s (Wilson Rawls) book, The Summer of the Monkeys is different! I loved it so much when it was read to me as a child, and my recently-turned-10-year-old son asked for it as a re-read multiple times over the past year, just as his older siblings had when they were young. In my opinion, it is better than the more heard-of Where the Red Fern Grows. The Summer of the Monkeys makes the “re-readable book” list at our house, anyway!
You are doing an amazing job! Many blessings as your spread the love of good books!