Le Mis for the whole Family...or... There's More to Audio Drama than Odyssey and Jonathan Park

Did you know that Focus on The Family Audio Theatre recorded an amazing production of Le Miserables?  I was given a copy of it to review and in my mind I was half expecting it to be a cheap imitation of the movie that was based on the Broadway musical.  Boy was I wrong.

This audio theatre production comes directly from the book and includes many parts that are not in the movie.  It is presented in such a way that the listener feels like they are right there seeing the action even though there are no visuals.  The actors they used are very talented.  The storyline is vivid. 

 While none of the horror of what happens in the story is taken out, it is shown in such a way that I believe you can even invite your youngest children to listen in.   My whole family (including my husband who never reads stories) was enthralled as we listened to these CD's in the car. With 6 hours of drama this presentation is great for road trips.

I highly recommend Le Miserables by Focus on the Family Audio Theatre to not only homeschooling families, but all families.  Whether buying it for your own family or as a gift, you can't go wrong.

And The Winners Are....

Congratulations to the Winners of our first ever giveaway on Homeschool-Rock.

$25 American Express Gift Card -goes to Gigi

The Money Saving Mom's Budget (paperback) -goes to Anna Pry

I will contact the winners by email to confirm mailing addresses.

If you didn't win stay tuned we have specific plans for future giveaways here, and within the next month we will be hosting another multiprize giveaway on my other blog www.readgreatfiction.com.




Another Giveaway directly from Money Saving Mom
To celebrate the release of the audio edition from Oasis Audio, Cyrstal Paine is giving away an iPad2 and hosting the a Live Money Saving Mom Webcast event on 4/5! Click to enter and for details: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13457557/moneysavingmom.

The Money Saving Mom's (audio) Budget --win a book and a $25 American Express Gift Card

Anyone who thinks homeschoolers lead quiet, uneventful lives has never homeschooled.  Homeschool families are among the busiest out there and it can be hard to keep up with all the stuff we do while keeping up with the things we need to do--like keeping our home organized and staying on a budget.

Crystal Paine, creator of the popular website moneysavingmom, knows what it's like.  As both a homeschool graduate and homeschooling mom who runs her own business, Crystal has experienced the busy homeschooling life.  Her blog is one of the top personal finance blogs on the web, averaging over four million pageviews per month.

Using principals that are similar in scope to Dave Ramsey's approach, Crystal shows how each one of us can learn to budget both in the area of finances and with our time.  While teaching us how to make every dollar count, she shows us how to live simply and encourages us to choose contentment.

So, what could be better for busy homeschool moms than reading this book?   The answer is listening to it on audiobook.

 Since homeschool moms are always on the go whether it be running around the house trying to keep up with household responsibilities, or running to and from co-op and other activities, the audiobook is an excellent addition to this wonderful book. It includes downloadable worksheets to help you put what you learn into practice.  You can purchase the audiobook (or any version of the book) here.

The coolest thing about this book is that Crystal is donating all of the proceeds to fund a Compassion International Child Survival Program site in the Dominican republic.  You can read about the details in her blog.

Now for the giveaway: There will be 2 winners for these items.  One person will receive a paper copy of The Money Saving Mom's Budget, and the other will win a $25 American Express Gift Card.  Enter today, then come back each day of the contest to snag more entries.

Want to Win Homeschool Curriculum?

Bright ideas Press is giving away your choice of one of the Kids Explore Science series.  The multi-level curriculum for 4th-8th and 3rd-6th grade students explore Chemistry, Physics, Biology, and Earth & Space.

In addition to the book of their choice, the winner will also get the student activity book download that is a wonderful enhancement to this awesome curriculum! 


 Earn up to 5 entries.  Click here to enter.

Hurry, the winner will be drawn on 3/16/12.  

Awesome Book for 9-12 Year Old Boys (or those on that reading level)

With a plethora of dumbed-down/junky books available for boys in the 9-12 year old reading level, No Place Like Holmes  by Jason Lethcoe is a refreshing breath of fresh air.

I really enjoyed reading this book out loud to all of my kids as part of our homeschool day.  It is straightforward and wholesome, yet has enough mystery and anticipation to keep everyone hooked--even my 7th and 10th grader wanted to know what happened.

The story is NOT a twist on the old Sherlock Holmes tales.  Instead, it is a story of young boy named Griffin who's bumbling detective uncle lives in the apartment next to the famous detective.

When Griffin is sent to stay with his uncle whom he has never met and sees the address 221 Baker Street, he is excited to think that Sherlock Holmes is his uncle.  He is in for a bit of disappointment when he finds out his uncle lives in apartment a of the same address (Holmes address is apartment b).

Soon, Griffin has stumbled upon a woman in search of Sherlock Holmes, but when he brings her to the detective, Holmes has no interest in her case.  So Griffin brings the woman to his uncle and they try to find out what really happened to the lady's husband--because no one really believes he was eaten by the loch-ness monster like the witnesses claim.

Throughout the story, Griffin learns that being famous does not make you a great man (Holmes is portrayed as less than nice) and that God can use young boys to show grown men what it means to have strong faith.

I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series...um, I mean reading it to my kids (wink-wink).

I received this book from the publisher as part of the blogging for books program.  All opinions rendered are my own.

Why America is Free

The best history book I ever used was one I got for free. 

A few years ago HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) offered a gift certificate to their online store with membership renewal.  It was there I found this amazing book with a breathtaking perspective on American History.

Why America is Free is suggested for grades 4-8, but even I learned some new things.  It's impact on our family is second to none as far as history books go.

The book, written by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association,  weaves a fictional tale into the story of our country's birth.  The main character is a boy who lives on a farm, grows up to fight in the revolutionary war, and eventually becomes one of the VA delegates in the ratification of the U.S. constitution.

Because the reader is invested in the life of this boy, the circumstances around him seem more real.  It was hard to put the book down each time I would begin to read it, but we had to, there was just so much to absorb.

Don't think for a minute that because there is this story woven into the book that somehow the book lacks substance as a history text.  If anything, the details given in the 202 page book far surpass other school texts.  What you don't find, is a sanitized dumbed-down bare-bones selection that gives a brief overview of our country's past.

I was conversing with Michael Farris (Chairman of HSLDA and Chancellor at Patrick Henry College) on Facebook in late January, and mentioned how much we enjoyed this book.  Check out his response.

Kristen Brandsema Lowery ‎Michael Farris, I used why America is Free as a history text for my kids a few years ago. It is by far the history book that is the favorite in our home and has had the most impact on how my kids look at history. 

Michael Farris I was on an airplane when I first read that book Kristen. I was visibly crying when I came to the story of George Washington resigning his commission.

Remember this response is coming from someone who has argued cases in front of the U.S. Supreme court. 


I must admit, there were times when I was reading this book aloud to my kids that I became choked up with emotion  to the point where I had to stop and compose myself.  


The content is so meaningful that the information stuck in my kids minds, and has continued to influence how they view their country. 

As far as textbooks go, this one is very fairly priced.  It is available on HSLDA's website for only $15 as of the time of this post.  


It took us about 3 months to go through the book as a family.  My kids were grade 1-8 at the time we went through it and it kept all of their attention.  


Although it is not enough to be considered a high school history course, a high school student would probably still enjoy using the book as part of a larger course.  


If you are looking for a better way to teach the story of our country's foundations, then I suggest you give this book serious consideration.  


It is well worth your time.

A Tale of Two Months

It is the best of (homeschooling) times, it is the worst of (homeschooling) times.  The months of February and March, that is.

With the homeschooling convention I attend (CHAP) coming up on Mother's Day weekend, I am beginning to sort my way through all of the piles of curriculum I could choose for next year. 

 I really like doing that.  It gives me something to look forward to on these bleak late-winter days. 

 The possibilities of all the wonderful things I can teach my children next year astound me.  It's like I can take all the mistakes I've made this year and wipe the slate clean--because next year will go perfectly, right?  

Unused curriculum without dog-ears, doodles, and messy handwriting are a beautiful thing.  I love the anticipation of new things to come.

This is also the worst time of year for me.  I typically finish the school year right around the time I go to convention.  So that means we have about three more months of school to get through.  

That means three more months of working in the books that are dog-eared, filled with doodles, and full of messy handwriting.  That means three more months of dealing with how off track I have gotten from my original plans for the year. 

 And of course there are those bleak late-winter days.  I just want to send my kids outside without them coming in muddy ten minutes later telling me it's too chilly to play.  

So as I wake up each day these months, I remind myself that I am one day closer to spring and completion of yet another school year. I am one day closer to the Homeschool Convention.  Most importantly, I remind myself that I am right where God wants me to be whether I "feel" like doing school today, or not.  

And I press on.