Leave it to Beany Author(s): Lenora Mattingly Weber Fifteen year old Beany is a practical and competent high school sophomore. She knows just how to make the grocery budget stretch just right. She looks out for ways of making people feel more comfortable. From the moment she heard about her long lost cousin, 18 year old Sheila McBride, she pictured a desolate and helpless soul needing a mother hen to make her feel welcome and give her an easier time of things after the difficult life she's led. But from the moment Sheila arrives, everything seems to go wrong. Sheila isn't very talkative and is fond of her gaudy clothes. Read more about Leave it to Beany
Make a Wish for Me Author(s): Lenora Mattingly Weber Beany now sixteen, is a junior and busy with the school paper. More than anything else she wants the editor to pick her to go the school paper convention. Norbett Rhodes has moved to Ohio and suggested that Beany could date others. Devastated at first, Beany has made friends with Andy Kern who thoughtfully likes to keep things light (in the dating department). After promising her nice mother, Beany reluctantly befriends a new girl at school, Dulcie, who is a showoff and very flirtatious with the boys. Read more about Make a Wish for Me
Miracles on Maple Hill Author(s): Virginia Eggertsen SorensenIllustrator(s): Beth and Joe Krush Marly and Joe (ages 10 and 12) are two siblings who have always lived in the city. They and their mother had endured the apparent loss of their father during wartime (unclear which war – perhaps Korean) only to discover that he had been a prisoner of war. The family is finally reunited, but their father has changed; he is bitter, touchy, angry, always tired. Read more about Miracles on Maple Hill
Homer Price Author(s): Robert McCloskey These clever and humorous stories of the adventures of a brainy, problem-solving small-town boy make great reading for grade-schoolers (especially boys) or a terrific read-aloud. This is suitable for rolling-on-the-floor type laughing (not terribly well-suited to bedtime!). A real classic! The sequel, Centerberg Tales is just as good. Older children may also appreciate allusions to liberal naming of townspeople after characters from the Iliad. Read more about Homer Price
Beany Malone Author(s): Lenora Mattingly Weber In this second book of the series, 16 year old Beany struggles with the tendency of her family to "stick their necks out" for others at the risk of disappointment, emotional stress and failure. Johnny is busy trying to help an older, forgetful man write a book he's always wanted to write, but may not live to finish. Mary Fred is struggling with the fickle sorority girls in college and Elizabeth anxiously awaits her husband's return from the war. Read more about Beany Malone
Old Sam, Dakota Trotter Author(s): Don Alonzo Taylor This Bethlehem Budget Book contains two books in one softcover volume: Old Sam, Thoroughbred Trotter (copyright 1955) and Old Sam and the Horse Thieves (copyright 1967). Read more about Old Sam, Dakota Trotter
Catholic Geography Bee Author(s): Kerry and Nancy MacArthur This new two-book set on United States Geography provides everything you need for a homeschool Geography Bee or an interesting U.S. Geography supplement for a wide age range. Read more about Catholic Geography Bee
The Outlaws of Ravenhurst Author(s): Sr. M. Imelda Wallace, S.L. This is a lovely and engaging story set in early 17th Century Scotland and Colonial America. A mysterious "gray-cloaked" stranger leaves a toddler to be found by a passing priest. A young boy notices that he looks surprisingly unlike his "twin." It is a story of a boy being suddenly thrust into great challenges to faith and life. Secret passages, mysteriously changing identities and subtleties of who you can trust surround a story that stirs the blood to stand up for the faith – inspired by true stories of long ago. Read more about The Outlaws of Ravenhurst
The Educated Child Author(s): William J. BennettChester E. FinnJohn T.E. Cribb This book is designed to assist parents in choosing and judging good schools and how well their children are doing there. Brief "scope and sequence" lists (based on the Core Knowledge Curriculum) and some suggested resources are included. Although it is not specifically aimed at homeschoolers, homeschoolers are favorably addressed in several portions and will find much useful advice and ideas in the book. Read more about The Educated Child
Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor Author(s): Sue GuthridgeIllustrator(s): Wallace Wood This is a fascinating and often humorous story of one of the most renowned inventors of all time. As a boy, Edison was fascinated by the world around him and full of questions about everything. Although he had many mentors as a boy, his first grade teacher reacted so negatively to his natural curiosity that his mother took him out of school and taught him at home. His adventures involving chemistry, trains and printing newspapers make for enjoyable and interesting reading. Read more about Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor
