Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide to Six Shalespeare Plays

February 28th, 2008

brightest-heaven-invention.gifby Peter Leithart $35.00

Shakespeare was “a great observer,” able to see and depict patterns of events and character. He understood how politics is shaped by the clash of men with various colourings of self-interest and idealism, how violence breeds violence, how fragile human beings create masks and disguises for protection, how schemers do the same for advancement, how love can grow out of hate and hate out of love. Dare anyone say that these insights are irrelevant to living in the real world?

Literature abstracts from the complex events of life (just as we all do in everyday life) and can reveal patterns that are like the patterns of events in the real world. Studying Literature can give us sensitivity to those patterns.

Peter Leithart’s book is a must for any Christian family studying Shakespeare. Glorified as Shakespeare is, it is good to analyse his works in light of biblical thought. This book includes studies for two plays in each of 3 genres. History: HenryV & Julius Caesar; Tragedy: Hamlet & Macbeth; Comedy: The Taming of the Shrew & Much Ado About Nothing. A great resource! Age 12+ 286p, 400g.

A good companion to this guide is Tales From Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb.

Evidence Not Seen: A Woman’s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II

February 28th, 2008

evidence-not-seen.gifby Darlene Rose $18.00

“‘As an American spy, you are worthy of death. ‘ With that, he drew his finger across his throat then slapped the hilt of the sword at his side. All time froze around me…In terror I watched the man’s hand fold around the iilt of the sword…” This is the true story of a young American missionary woman’s courage and triumph of faith in the jungles of New Guinea and her four years in a notorious Japanese prison camp. Never to see her husband again, she was forced to sign a confession to a crime she did not commit and face the executioner’s sword only to be miraculously spared. Age 14+.  240p, 200g.

King Arthur and His Knights

February 28th, 2008

king-arthur.gifby Maude Radford Warren $19.00

Twenty-one stories from the Arthurian legends specially selected and adapted for children and told in simple well-written prose. The stirring tales of these chivalrous knights awaken the reader’s admiration for courage and gentleness and high sense of honor essential in all ages. 224p. Ages 9-12.

In the Days of Alfred the Great

February 28th, 2008

alfred-the-great.gifby Eva March Tappan $20.00

Story of the life of Alfred the Great, how at twenty-two he inherited a land overrun by savage pirates, -a restless ignorant, defenseless land, and how he fought the Danes and restored the country to a condition of peace and safety. When he inherited his kingdom at twenty-two, the king was not safe in his palace, the priest in his church. There was little opportunity for agriculture; laws were not executed; schools had disappeared, the very wish to learn had disappeared; the whole land was rapidly sinking into ignorance and barbarism, and was exhausted by its sickening dread of the horrors that the next moment might bring. To restore a land in such a condition to peace and quiet and safety and freedom from fear of harm, to establish churches and schools, to make just laws, and see to it that they were justly executed-a man might well have been proud to have succeeded in doing any one of these things; and for the man who brought about all these good results, no praise can be too high. To him who, in the midst of all the fighting and the weariness and the anxiety and the temptation and the responsibility, lived a calm, simple, unselfish, blameless life, to him of all the sovereigns of England who have served their country well, may the title, “The Great,” most justly be given. 244 p. Ages 11-15. 

Otto of the Silver Hand

February 28th, 2008

otto-of-silver-hand.gifby Howard Pyle $18.00

A stirring tale of medieval Germany in the days of robber barons and deadly feuds. The kidnapping of Otto, his adventures among the rough soldiers, and his daring rescue, make for a spirited and thrilling story. The author says of his tale that it “is of a little boy who lived and suffered in those dark middle ages; of how he saw both the good and the bad of men, and of how, by gentleness and love and not by strife and hatred, he came at last to stand above other men and to be looked up to by all.” Vigorous illustrations by the author add much to the interest of the book. Suitable for ages 11 and up. 160p; 300g.

The Nature Study Idea Book

February 27th, 2008

naturestudyideabook.jpgby Mary Woodis $33.00

After always having enjoyed doing nature studies together, as your older children inch their way towards “high school”, do you worry that maybe they would have to buckle down and do some boring, bland textbook for science? Not so! Mary shows you in this easy-to-read book exactly how to build a science curriculum around nature study - even for your highschoolers!
The Nature Study Idea Book for all ages. 

An Honorable Boy

February 27th, 2008

anhonorableboy1.jpg

by Michelle Zoppa

What does it mean to be “honorable?” There are many boys and men mentioned throughout the Bible with character
traits we’d all like our boys to develop over the course of their boyhood.

What made the character of these boys and men so desirable? Many things. But one thing is common to them all. They were honorable.

This study, for boys ages 6 - 12, will take your sons through a study of God’s Word, focusing on the character traits that make an honorable boy. Through the lives of many different men and boys mentioned in the Bible, your son will learn what made these men so pleasing to God, as well as how they can obtain the same character traits possessed by these men by implementing what they learn in their own lives. A consumable study, your sons will each need a copy of this guide, a dictionary, and a Bible. 

A Virtuous Girl

February 27th, 2008

virtuouscover2.jpg

A Bible Study by Michelle Zoppa $28.00

What does it mean to be “virtuous”? This study for young girls is based on Proverbs 31, but goes much deeper that than, examining the lives of many different women of virtue found throughout the Bible. Find out what character qualities were in these women that made them worthy of mention in God’s Word. A wonderful study for girls and moms together, for Sunday School or girls’ groups, or alone. Consumable. Age 6-12yrs.

Language Lessons for Little Ones Vol. 1

February 27th, 2008

lang__lessons_little_ones.jpgby Sandi Queen $35.00

Language Lessons for Little Ones by Sandi Queen
This sweet collection of lessons for preschoolers (ages 3-5) introduces the young child to the Charlotte Mason method of language arts with a simple, child-friendly feel. 180 daily lessons guide a child through picture study of full-color paintings, narration, introduction to the letters of the alphabet (capital and lowercase), copywork of letters, writing their name, poetry and story appreciation, creative expression, and more. Lessons are the perfect length - about 5 to 10 minutes per day on average, and give a nice variety along with a sequential review of concepts. Large consumable perfect bound paperback, full color.

View sample pages here.

Language Lessons for Little Ones Vol. 2

February 27th, 2008

lll02front.jpgby Sandi Queen $35.00

Taking up where volume 1 leaves off, volume two in this level adds phonics instruction to the pleasant practices of picture study, poetry appreciation, narration, and simple copywork (once the child is reading a bit). Nice, large print to copy and large line spaces for the beginningreader/writer. Consumable.

View sample pages here.