The Invisible Child: On Reading and Writing Books for Children ~ Katherine Paterson

(5)  Non-fiction   (book)   

I purposely wanted to sip read this so I could pause and ponder over the thoughts Katherine had originally crafted as acceptance speeches and were then gathered together as a collection to form this book.  I don’t think I would have enjoyed the speeches in a few solid reading sessions, one speech crammed in on top of the last four speeches would be a little bit like eating too many chocolate eclairs in one go.     I’ve unscored portions and jotted my own thoughts down throughout the book;  I’ll definitely be rereading The Invisible Child.  I’ve gained a greater understanding to the background of what birthed the thoughts behind Katherine's books which gives me a grudging respect for some of the titles that I have definitely had mixed feelings about …. maybe time for me to take a re-read of a few of those from a different vantage point. 

Rethinking School ~ Susan Bauer

Narrated by Christina Moore   N/F  Education (3)

Despite the fact that I’m not the target audience for this book - we’re nearing the end of our home educating; and, are not US-based - Rethinking School was an easy and engaging listen.  Understandably, portions of this book are American,  K-12 grade schooling, centric.  Chapter 21 was of the most interest to me, especially since Ds is taking a road less travelled after highschool, which does not include University.

There are some help filled suggestions in this book which would make it an excellent read for someone newer to home educating, or whose children are younger or pre-teen, or those who are wrestling with their child’s brick and mortar schooling or in their own homeschooling journey.  Sometimes we can get stuck in a rut, that the route we are taking is the only one,  and can not see the wood for the trees: to have someone who is further ahead of us in the educate-the-children journey offer some concrete suggestions can be a game-changer.