Billy & Blaze

Please note that a brief synopsis of many of the books included here are provided in our Library Builders section. Study guides for the same book are often available from several publishers, so we found it more efficient to give a description of the book only once.

In the classical education model, a grammar student should be able to show reading comprehension on a literal and inferential level, demonstrate an increasing vocabulary, and identify various styles of literature as well as basic biblical values. These literature guides from Veritas Press are carefully constructed to train students in those skills. Encouraging oral reading and requiring questions to be answered in complete sentences, these worktexts are attractively illustrated (black & white) and easy to use with complete answer keys included (worksheets are reproducible for family use only). There are some basic similarities among the various titles. For instance, all have who/what/where/why/when questions for the student to answer. However, there's considerable variety as well. Alice in Wonderland, a third grade guide, includes recipes, several cut and paste projects, memory work, and some writing assignments (adding silly stanzas to a song). The fourth grade guide for The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow includes (among others) vocabulary exercises, drawing assignments, a relationship web, a cause & effect worksheet, and several writing assignments (paragraphs, cinquain, and limerick). Author information and a short story writing assignment are included in Where the Red Fern Grows, a fifth grade guide.

As is typical with classical education material, the assigned grade levels often seem challenging. Don't let that discourage you from using an otherwise excellent resource – simply adjust the grade level to suit your student (guides are unlabeled). ~ Janice

By Veritas Press, these comprehension guides are for beginning readers. Each guide covers fourteen favorite children's books, like Madeline, Miss Nelson is Missing, A New Coat for Anna, Amelia Bedelia, Caps for Sale, Billy and Blaze, Frog and Toad, and more. It is recommended to spend at least three or four days on each book, with the child reading it to you at least twice and completing the comprehension activities. After a "to the teacher" page, the rest of the book is simply packed with the activity worksheets. These include comprehension questions, comprehension activities, art activities, and handwriting exercises. There are around 5-10 activities for each book covered. Each activity centers on material from the book to help children retain what they've read. The books are arranged in order of difficulty, but you can work through them in order you want. The books are 148 and 170 pgs respectively. Reproducible. An additional volume in this series covers 8 more books for youngsters: Danny and the Dinosaur, Mouse Soup>, My Father's Dragon, Now We are Six, Encyclopedia Brown: Boy Detective, Hundred Dresses, Owls in the Family, and Sarah Plain and Tall. The format is similar to the other two volumes, though the length of each activity section ranges from 3 to 16 pages. - Melissa