mr. ninja's picks

It's easy to spot a homeschooling family in the library.  The tell-tale clue that virtually always gives them away is the armload of books you'll see them carrying up to the checkout desk.  Our family has been no exception to this rule over the past ten years of our homeschooling experience and in most instances the boys' voracious appetites for books have been welcomed with a smile from the librarian or a kind comment here and there.  Only once did I have a librarian express with panic in his voice, after he'd checked out the seventy-fourth book, that each book had a twenty-five cent late fee.  His anxiety successfully transferred on to me and within only a few short minutes of leaving the library, I resolutely informed the boys that we would NOT be checking out seventy-four books on our next visit- that we'd be keeping the count under twenty-five-which seemed to be a reasonable enough request at the time.

To be fair, the boys aren't the only ones who piled on the books at the checkout counter.  In the search for interesting books to augment their homeschooling curriculum, I have always had a difficult time resisting the temptation to take home whatever book caught my eye. Some of the books were treasures- like the ones that made us howl with laughter until our cheeks hurt from smiling, or the sweet and tender ones, that swelled our eyes with tears-much to the boys' chagrin. It wasn't until just recently, that I realized that many of these books had been forgotten as the busyness of life placed us on a different homeschooling course than it had in the years before.  

However, as of late, I've been volunteering once a week at our favorite library in Hershey, and the task I've been asked to perform has been to shelve the books in the children's section.  In order to keep myself happy with what might otherwise be considered a mundane hour in which to spend my time (and sometimes a dizzying one at that) I've been watching for those discarded books on my cart just begging to be rescued.  When one looks interesting, I set it aside and continue shelving the remainder of the books until closing.  Then later that night or the following day, Mr. Ninja (who is currently in his magical seventh year) gets to play my guinea pig as I share these books with him.  So far, he's enjoyed this opportunity to take a break from his own reading and listen to me read to him for a change.  Which once again reminded me of all of the years that regular story time was such an integral part of our homeschooling days, and how somehow over the past two years, we had lost a part of that.

From time to time I'll be sharing our finds with you and I'll look forward to hearing your take on them.  Some might be new books that peak your own curiosity to discover them, as well.  While others we share might be old familiar ones that bring back favorite memories and experiences you once enjoyed when reading them for the first time- or over and over again.   You'll find a selection of recommended books under "mr. ninja's picks" over there in my side bar on the right.  Feel free to browse.  Later this week, I'll be sharing the works of one author we just discovered from my recent volunteering adventure.  Which now that I think of it, really is an adventure, after all.  I mean, how common is it to stumble upon carousel horses flying through the air or monster mamas scaring away bullies?

I'll keep you posted.  Promise.