Hand that Rocks the Cradle

There's something rather touching about this tribute to a mom's reading program. When a young man (Nathaniel Bluedorn) who has spent years listening to family read-alouds takes the time to gather those books into a useful resource for other homeschooling families, one has to respect the impact one mom/family has had. If that's not enough to convince you of the value of family read-alouds, he now starts the book in its expanded and revised 5th edition by addressing the topics "Why Read?" and "How to Read Aloud."

Classifying 400 Classic Books for Children, the arrangement is alphabetical by authors with a "by subject" cross reference in the back. Nathaniel notes that family conservatism is the reason some authors did not make the list. Icons denote the time and geographical setting of the story and the publication date of the book. In addition to a short summarization of the plot, the books are also rated according to reading level (language and plot) easy (all ages), more complex (ages 10+), and more mature (ages 13+). Occasional cartoons punctuate the listings, and the book's handy size (4.5" x 9") means it can be easily slipped into a purse or car storage pocket so it will be available for library trips or potential garage sale purchases. ~ Janice