Book of the Week - Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare

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Shakespeare was a wonderful writer who instructed with delight and amusement. His writings are full of wisdom, proverbs, and witty little gems. It is easily argued that his works are the highest esteemed of English Classical literature, aside from the Bible. And that Shakespeare was the world's greatest dramatist of all time.

A few months ago I shared Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb.

Recently we found another version of Shakespeare stories written for children by Edith Nesbit.

Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare was written in a simple style, easily understood by children, yet still retains the wittiness and wisdom that delights and entertains so many.

I downloaded this version for my family to listen to on our road trip to Colorado while on vacation. We listened to this most of the way there, and my girls enjoyed it immensely.
So far our favourite Shakespeare story is "As You Like It".

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An audio version is available Librivox.org. You can go to the Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare archive page for the chapter by chapter playlist or MP3 download. Or click play below to hear Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare from the beginning.



You may also download the Ebook version for you to print out, or read on ereader, at the Project Gutenburg Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare page.

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Book of the Week - Raggedy Ann Stories

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Raggedy Ann Stories by John B. Gruelle

Almost every grown up girl remembers having their very own rag doll. If not, then it is very possible that they are living a little vicariously through their own little daughters, or little nieces.
Whether it's having tea party, dress up, doctor and nurse, tomboyish romps through the fields, or pretending to be little mommies, most little girls have a little doll friend to accompany them.
The stories in Raggedy Ann strike a semblance in every little girls childhood. Whether it's playing tea party, dress up, doctor and nurse, tomboyish romps through the fields, or pretending to be little mommies. It's a good chance that you can identify with at least one chapter within this book.

If you haven't ever read Raggedy Ann, it's time that you do. If you've never had a little rag doll, relive a second childhood just a bit and find yourself a little rag doll friend.

An audio version is available Librivox.org. You can go to the Raggedy Ann Stories internet archive page for the chapter by chapter playlist or MP3 download. Or click play below to hear Raggedy Ann Stories from the beginning



You may download the book version for your E-reader or to print out here at Project Gutenberg Raggedy Ann Stories Page

Book of the Week - Tales from Shakespeare

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Tales from Shakepeare - by Charles and Mary Lamb

Shakespeare was a brilliant writer who brought contributed greatly to English culture. His plays, poems, and sonnets are to this day seen as the most brilliant literature works in English History.

When we were forced to read Shakespeare in my Public School days, it was boring to me and I did not understand it. I really believe that I've had no introduction to Shakespeare's works before that time. I had no knowledge of any of the stories, and little knowledge of the background surrounding the plays.

Later, now as a home school mother, I am quickly falling in love with Shakespeare. This past winter I found a copy of Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb at a local used book store and read it myself.

My now 10yo daughter saw I was reading it, picked up the book, and has read several stories herself. During her free reading time this is her current book of choice, and it's been seen in the car quite frequently.

The stories are charming, written in a way that are easy to understand, even for children, yet accurately telling the stories keeping the wit and morals intact.

No, this is not the same as reading Shakespeare's original works. These stories are considered heavily abridged versions of his works. But they make for a great introduction for a younger child to Shakespeare. My thought is if my daughters are introduced to the plays in this way now, reading the original plays later in her school career will be less daunting and more enjoyable for them.

I highly suggest this to any mom who has been dreading reading Shakepeare as a mom time read. This would be an enjoyable family read aloud during a longer evening story time in the winter, with a family size bowl of popcorn and cider.

I have given you the link to the Googlebook version above. A preview of the GoogleBook is below You can download and print out the book, or download the book to an Ereader. This book can also be found used at Amazon.com and Half.com, or maybe as a lucky find at a local used book store.

An audio version is available Librivox.org. You can go to the Tales from Shakespeare internet archive page for the chapter by chapter playlist or MP3 download. Or click play below to hear Tales from Shakespeare from the beginning.







Be blessed and enjoy!

Book of the Week - Little Women

Little Women - By Louisa May Alcott

I have to admit I have never read this book up to this point in my life. I honestly think that I was a little intimidated by size of the book when I would look at it on the shelf, whether abridged or unabridged.

But I bought myself a small MP3 player that has E Book capability in .txt format. So I have downloaded this book in .txt format from Gutenberg.com and MP3 format and loaded it on my player.

I am really enjoying reading this book. The more I read it, the more I think that Jo March and I could be sisters, and the more I want to be like Marmee (Mrs. March). There are several wonderful examples each of the girls facing personal character shortcomings and Mrs. March encouraging her children to look to their Helper and Heavenly Father whenever they need help or strength.


I am currently in Chapter Ten and so far I have laughed out loud in almost every chapter, and cried a few times as well.

So far this is my favourite quote, from Chapter Nine, "Meg Goes to Vanity Fair."

"I want my daughters to be beautiful, accomplished, and good. To be admired, loved, and respected. To have a happy youth, to be well and wisely married, and to lead useful, pleasant lives, with as little care and sorrow to try them as God sees fit to send. To be loved and chosen by a good man is the best and sweetest thing which can happen to a woman, and I sincerely hope my girls may know this beautiful experience. It is natural to think of it, Meg, right to hope and wait for it, and wise to prepare for it, so that when the happy time comes, you may feel ready for the duties and worthy of the joy. My dear girls, I am ambitious for you, but not to have you make a dash in the world, marry rich men merely because they are rich, or have splendid houses, which are not homes because love is wanting. Money is a needful and precious thing, and when well used, a noble thing, but I never want you to think it is the first or only prize to strive for. I'd rather see you poor men's wives, if you were happy, beloved, contented, than queens on thrones, without self-respect and peace."

This resonates deeply within my heart and so easily describes what I want for my own girls. I will be copying this into my journal and into my Homeschooling mission statement.

I hope to read this aloud to my girls myself and have put it on our "Must Read Together" list.

But this week we will listen to this during our quiet activity time throughout the week.

If you have not yet read this book, I highly encourage you to! And I am quickly starting to believe that every girl must read this book at least once in their life, and every mother and daughter must read this together at least once.

You may download this book for free at Gutenberg.org. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott etext.

Go to the Librivox.org Little Women archive page for the chapter by chapter playlist, download in MP3 format, or click play below to hear Little Women from the beginning.