One thing I LOVE about my job as a Sonlight Consultant is that because I want to keep current, I try to read all the new books Sonlight adds to the curriculum.
I am working my way through this year's new books and have to say I am impressed. I just finished
No Children, No Pets, which is an AVYX reprint of a book written in my birth year. [Hint--it was in the 50's]. It has lovely 50 illustrations and a wonderful plot along with nice children who are helpful, smart and pleasant. This book is new to Core A and will not only delight children but the satisfying ending left me with a pleasant sigh on my lips.
I read
Habibi earlier this week and it gave a good overview and picture into live around Jerusalem and the friction between Israel and Palestine and the longing for peace. It was a very realistic story that focuses on one American family who relocates back to the Dad's homeland. Interesting and it seemed authentic to me.
I also read the book
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon where the Author Grace Lin weaves together many Chinese folk tales and wonderful color illustrations to make a compelling story. Before my last convention I read
A Long Walk to Water which is an excellent biographical story about the lost boys of sudan and it weaves two stories together about one of the boys and what he is doing today to help his country. One of my friends adopted one of these boys many years ago, so this story was especially insightful.
Breaking Stalin's Nose is another new book that was a quick read but gives a picture of the life of oppression under Stalin.I think my favorite new Sonlight book that I read this year, though, is
I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade. It left me wishing for more and also with a pleasant sigh and a thought of, "
Sarita has done it again." Set in the time when
Kublai Khan ruled Mongolia this story has interest, intrigue and really takes you to 13th century Mongolia and get a glimpse into the daily life of the people. Wonderful.
Least of All was a sweet story showing how everyone is important and the value of reading. Good Master's Sweet Ladies is an incredible book with over twenty vignettes about life in the Middle Ages.
I still have many books to read but this sampling makes me so thankful that Sarita takes the time to read thousands of books so that she can put the best of the best in Sonlight's Curriculum. Well, gotta go. I am off to read Listening for Lions--it looks like another great pick.
Take care,
Jill
With summer just around the corner I couldn't help thinking of a great summer reading list I helped work on. It is the "Retired Sonlight Book" list. Hundreds of books that used to be in the Sonlight Curriculum programs have been removed for one reason or another. Sometimes a book goes out of print, sometimes a better books becomes available and sometimes I think they just want a bigger variety of authors represented.
