literature ideas I forgot to mention...

(sara): I forgot to mention one other helpful literature resource: Sonlight catalog. This is a home school curriculum built around "great books." It is distinctively Protestant, which is why some Catholics choose to not use it for religion or history. They sell packages for each age group which are very enticing: a big box full of great children's books can arrive on your doorstep next week! Hey, forget combing the library! Of course, you can find all those books cheaper at Amazon. I recommend asking for one of their catalogs just for the book lists. I haven't been impressed with ALL of the selections we've gotten so far based on their recommendations, but some are very good. One thing I've found helpful is that it has helped me get an idea of what grade-level C. is reading at. [The 2nd grade books are no problem for him, some 3rd grade books are fine, but some are too long for right now.]

Kolbe Academy has a home-school program I've been interested in, and they have some good children's book ideas on their webpage here.

More on literature "theory": (1) Years back, I borrowed the book Honey for a Child's Heart. I think this one is worth browsing, although I personally found the book lists too extensive to be helpful... where do you start?! From the author, however, I learned to look for original versions of books - the original Pooh, for example, instead of the nauseatingly dumbed-downed Disney versions. (2) The other book that really changed the way I view children's literature was A Landscape With Dragons by Michael O'Brien, an author whose fiction I enjoy. He writes about the evolution of symbolism and how to choose Christian literature as opposed to media which is anti-Christian, but so disguised as to appear acceptable. Well worth reading, for moms & dads both.