Summer Reading Part II

My book list has changed a bit since I found out I would be teaching 4th grade language arts and reading this year!  I am so excited about the selection of books these kiddos get to read.  They will be submerged into Native American folklore, get lost in the fantastic stories of mythology, time travel back to the American Revolution, and imagine what it would be like to be ruled by a monarchy centuries ago.  I'm sure you'll hear more about that later on!  I did manage to finish one more book for my personal enjoyment:

(For 1-3, click here.)

4.  Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh
I received this book as a part of a wedding gift, and have just now gotten around to reading it.  Anne Lindbergh is the wife of Charles Lindbergh, the famous aviator "Lucky Lindy".  She retreats from her role as a wife and mother for a short period of time to spend time at the ocean, to refresh.  While studying the ways of the sea, especially different types of shells, she compares to them the stages of a woman's life.  Written over 50 years ago, the truths she reflects on still ring true: finding oneself through a creative outlet, being a part of evolving relationships (which aren't necessarily a bad thing), and emptying our lives of unnecessary commitments so our lives can slow down and be more thoroughly enjoyed.  I fell in love with this book because of Lindbergh's love of the sea that I share, the exquisite metaphors she uses, her profound outlook on embracing each stage of life that we enter.  Thank you, Kathy!  I will definitely be rereading this one.

Lazy Hazel

Our pup loves her naps! She chooses some interesting ways to sleep, too.

Summer Reading Part I

It's not just for students!  I'm certainly not finished reading for the summer, but I wanted to give y'all some ideas if you're looking for a good read for a long car ride.

1.  Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank
A mystery.  Besides Nancy Drew, this is the first mystery I believe I've ever read.  This is the second one of a series, and I'd love to read the rest of the series soon!  My mom recommended these books to me.  We love relating to Rose's Southern sayings and way of life.

2.  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings By Maya Angelou
A classic.  When I'm shopping in Barnes and Noble, I tend to pick up classics like this one.  Actually, I have quite a few that look really nice on my shelf, but I haven't read them yet.  I picked this one up this summer after I learned of Angelou's death.  What a beautiful human being she was.  This book is autobiographic, which I didn't realize until after I started reading.  She gave me a vivid picture of what life was like for Southern black people in the 1930s.

3.  One Thousand Gifts By Ann Voskamp
A spiritual read.  I haven't finished this one yet because I am reading it with a group of ladies from church.  We will be discussing chapters one through four soon.  It has such a practical concept that absolutely everyone will benefit from.  Voskamp tells about tragedies she endured as a child, and how she changed her cynical point of view by simply counting her blessings.  She takes her readers through a journey of writing down everything she is thankful for until she literally reaches one thousand.  Along with reading this book, we are keeping our own journals of things we are thankful for.  I love this experience so far!

Next on my list...