Who Should We Then Re-read?
The biggest challenge most parents face after teaching their children to read is selecting what their children should read. Unfortunately, there are many objectionable books on public library shelves. The daunting task is to determine which books are worthy of your time. Fortunately, Jan Bloom’s newest book, Who Should We Then Read? Volume 2 (BooksBloom, 2009), offers valuable suggestions for reading selections.
This resource presents 155 authors of excellent books for children of all ages. Rather than list titles by category as in most booklists, this second volume of Who Should We Then Read? focuses on wonderful authors. It includes the titles of all the books each author has written, organized by genre and age level. I find this resource more helpful than other booklists. It is much easier to learn 155 authors’ names than it is to memorize thousands of specific titles, and once a child reads a book he enjoys, he wants to read more by that author.
The authors and their books in this volume are diverse—picture books, adult mysteries, science books, history texts. Boys and girls will find something to suit their individual interests. Perusing this resource will equip parents to recommend good reading for their children, and they will find new books for themselves.
Because ideas really do have consequences, books with godly ideas are crucial to the people our children will become. In the introduction, Bloom states, “Even though not every author . . . lived a life of integrity and outspoken Christianity, their books lined up with biblical values and were worthy of being read.” The past tense in her statement is intentional. Most of the authors are deceased, and the majority of their writings were before 1970. Several are out of print. Thankfully, people are beginning to recognize the worth of books Bloom promotes, and many books are back in print, saved from obscurity.
Who Should We Then Read? Volume 2 gives tips on how to find the great books Bloom endorses. If you have a copy of this wealth of information, you will never again have to ask which books you and your children should read. Find out more at www.homeschooltoday.com/Bonus/09SO.