How and when did you get started homeschooling? What drew you to it?

Well, we have been homeschooling since my oldest was born almost 11 years ago.  Even before we accepted Islam, my husband and I decided that we would homeschool any children that we may be blessed with after I taught for several years in the public school system.   We decided our children would receive a better, more individualized education at home.

What did you teach in the public schools? How has your teaching background influenced your homeschooling?

My first year in public school was teaching high school biology and earth science. I also tutored reading and math for a private company within a public middle school and high school.

The public school experience, as well as my student teaching experience, has greatly influenced the way we homeschool. I had a unique and unusual opportunity to be placed in an environmental science class as part of my student teaching assignment. The curriculum of this environmental upper high school level course was completely created by the instructor. The curriculum wasn’t based on a textbook, but almost completely hands-on and obviously the students loved it. I was able to attend as well as lead weekly field trips with the class to the local mountains, streams and other outdoor places to assist the instructor in sharing knowledge of our enviroment. The highlight of my student teaching came during a weekend trip to an island in the Chesapeake Bay off of the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I was truly blessed to be able to take part in this amazing excursion. I truly believe that my one-of-a-kind student teaching experience in particular has inflenced the way I guide my own children in our homeschool.

How did you decide to do eccletic?

Our children have diverse learning styles and the eclectic method allows for accommodating individual needs.    After realizing that a boxed curriculum was not going to fit any of my children’s needs, I then started pulling curriculum resources from anywhere and everywhere.  Our curriculum resources include library sources, the Internet, books, magazines, museums, parks, videos, and community resources just to name a few. Sometimes, we may use a ready made curriculum for a particular subject, but I always used it in a way that would  meet our family’s needs.

I saw in a recent post how you have trained your older children to help with the younger ones. How has this helped you during your day as a homeschooling mom to six children?

I can’t emphasize enough how much of a humongous help it is to have my older children help with the younger ones.  It frees me up to get a few chores done as well as some organization before we get started on our homeschooling day.

How does your Islamic faith affect your homeschooling? I know there are many support groups for Christian homeschoolers. As a Muslim, what type of support do you have?

Just as homeschooling is a lifestyle, practicing Islam is a way of life as well.  Islam affects all aspects of  our homeschool. Every resource we use, book we read, and activity in which we choose to participate are carefully considered to be sure they are within the bounds of our Islamic beliefs.  Our day is also scheduled around the five mandatory prayers.

Even though there aren’t any support groups were we live, there are numerous online support groups as well as Islamic homeschooling forums such as the ISHAN forum which offers encouragement, support, and commaraderie for Muslim homeschoolers.  Additionally, when I began the blogging adventure about a year ago, I discovered that there was a welcoming, close knit family of Muslim bloggers who act as pillars for one another.

Do you have any local homeschooling friends you get together with, or do you mostly do it on your own?

We do get together with other homeschooling friends from time to time at the local homeschool park day and for play dates. Our children are very social, so they tend to make friends with other children wherever we go.

How much time do you spend a day homeschooling?

For us, homeschooling is truly a lifestyle and can’t be quantified.  We live, breathe, eat, and sleep homeschooling.  I have to admit though it has taken me years to fully understand and step out of the school mindset.   Recently, I have fully embraced the concept that every single venture that my family and I undertake is part of our life education.

How do you keep the younger children busy while working with the older ones?

Admittedly, keeping the younger children busy is sometimes a challenge, but we have different strategies that are successful.  My favorite plan of action is to work with the older children when my husband is at home and available to keep the little ones occupied.   I do try to include them in hands-on activities such as science experiments and math by giving them math manipulatives of their own. Having all the children in the same room while we are reading on the sofa helps prevent the little ones from wondering around and getting into trouble. Also, they have age appropriate activities that are set out for them to play with if they are interested.  If the weather is warm, I may send them outside with their big brother.

What do you like to do with your children when you’re not hitting the books?

We love being outside. So, any activity that has to do with the outdoors is right up our alley.  Recently, we have taken up canoeing and kayaking. The older children began horseback riding lessons this year, as well. This summer, we hope to take some bike trips together.  The children and I visit the library, museum, nature centers, state parks, and botanical gardens on a regular basis. The girls love arts and crafts and are fond of participating in weekend programs at the local art museum and visual arts center. Also, we enjoy performing community service. My son knits for charity as well as his family. He also volunteers with my husband at a local late 1800s working farm.

You can learn more about Adeela and her family at their blog, River City Homeschoolers. Thanks, Adeela for sharing a bit of your life with us.

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How did you start homeschooling?

It seems you have lots of crafty bits in your room. How do you go about storing them– what made you decide to store them this way? (Also…what’s in the awesome glass containers?) We DO have lots and lots of crafty bits…We have those red and green bins on the shelves, mainly because the bins would add color to the room, and were inexpensive.  As the room was designed to be a living room/dining room area, there was no storage at all.  So we added shelves, and lots and lots of drawers.  The bins hold things like tissue paper, bubble wrap, paper mache items, vintage small toys, etc.  My mother is a collage artist, so she has lots and lots of tiny items in the small drawers.  And the Ikea cabinets (the red ones that look like lockers) house fabrics and vintage books for collaging with…Oh!  And the glass jars just hold colorful stuff that’s fun to look at and play with:  homemade pom-poms, sharpies, crayons, wooden spinning tops from Etsy, and a hanging elephant game!

Where do you hide all your schooly stuff? Drawers.  And that big armoire (the black one) at the end of the room hides a multitude of sins… But we put lots and lots of plastic drawers underneath that huge table and most of the stuff, school-wise, goes there.  It’s not always “Martha Stewart” pretty, but it works.  My main thing is to contain clutter, or I can’t be happy…With two kids, that’s where a large part of my time ends up going, like most moms, I guess.

So, what’s up with the hands and aprons? They’re pretty neat! The hands are just something I love, and I think they are striking and fun as a group.  They just make me happy, I don’t know why.  And the mannequins are ones we ordered from ebay, for a very inexpensive price, just for fun.  I thought they would be fun to dress up and they have been dressed at various times in all sorts of things.  Right now, they are in aprons that my dear friend made, because they look crafty and colorful.

What’s your favorite part of the room? Although I love it all, I’d have to say my favorite part is the umbrella lights, because they are unexpected, colorful, and fun, and useful, all at the same time.  I’m also extremely fond of the small skeleton on a stand that we recently found in the trash.  He only has 1 1/2 arms, but he’s very engaging.

A huge thanks to Amy to opening her home to us. Make sure you check out her beautiful blog at Sweet Sweet Life!

Have you ever considered having your child study at a university for the summer?

A weenie roast at the campfire these summer programs are not– think more of an intro to college program than several weeks of juvenile craziness. While the price tags for these are not cheap (they run in the thousands), they do offer your child a chance to explore university life while living in a dorm and to try out a prospective major through university classes– and, depending on which program you choose– earn university credit.

Here’s a non-exhaustive list of some of the schools that offer summer programs for high school students:

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

Stanford University, Stanford, California

George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado

Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee

Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts

Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida

University of California– Riverside, Riverside, California

University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

(Photo courtesy of Theogeo!)

That simple idea started my family on a global adventure, one we were able to take without ever leaving the couch!

First, we printed out the passport templates, which I found via Satori Smiles (one of my favorite blogs). To make the passport look more official, you can enter the child’s information and photo on your computer before printing. I then placed the outside logo (I printed in black and white) on a piece of construction paper and had it laminated at a teacher supply store.

I have a feeling we own the only pink passport in the world!

After you’ve assembled the passports, you’re ready to travel! First, I printed out a map of the world online that my children could color. After that, I started picking which countries we would learn about, trying to space them out across the globe so that we weren’t studying Spain one day and then Portugal the next.

And then…we got to the reading! So far, we’ve studied China and France. Up next is Kenya. I found an invaluable resource in Disney’s Small World Library. My mother-in-law was able to find the entire set at a garage sale. They were in perfect condition– I’m not even sure they’ve ever been used! (You can find the sets online and also at library used book sales!)

We start with the Disney books and then move on from there. For China, we read:

• The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack
• Boy Dumplings by Ying Chang Compestine
• Miss Frizzle’s Adventures: Imperial China by Joanna Cole.

For the lesson on France, we read:

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
• Belinda in Paris by Amy Young
• Camille and the Sunflowers by Laurence Anholt

After we read the books, we pull out our art notebooks. They’re small art notebooks I bought at an arts and crafts store for about $3 each. We make a page for each country– I tell my children we are making a postcard to give a picture of what the country looks like. For France, my daughter (who is five) drew the Eiffel Tower.

After we’ve finished everything, I pull out the passports once more. I purchased two sets of the Flag-It World Stickers from Rainbow Resource. I taket the corresponding sticker for the country and, with much fanfare (and a silly voice made by Mom), I announce the child a world traveler and thank them for visiting the country.

Of course, I don’t expect them to retain all the information they learn. I do hope, however, that it gives them an introduction to other countires, peoples and cultures and ignites the fire of learning in them.

In fact, I think it is working. Just the other day, at breafast, my 4-year-old son said it was probably nighttime in China. Mission accomplished!

No. You need to learn for yourself and there’s no better place than the world of books. Here’s a list to help you get started on your journey.

Homeschooling for Excellence by David Colfax: Wondering if it is possible to homeschool your children to the Ivy League? David and Micki Colfax did just that with their three sons. The Colfaxes detail how they started homeschooling and show how their children were able to go from their California ranch all the way to Harvard. An interesting look at homeschool by a family who is out of the trenches.

Homeschoolers Success Stories by Linda Dobson: Want to feel inspired? Homeschoolers Success Stories will make you feel as if anything is possible. What’s great about this book is that success is measured in the homeschoolers growing up to do what they love.

The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewellyn: This isn’t a book for Mom and Dad…it’s a book for the kids! It can be really hard to be a teeanger…now imagine going against everything you’ve known (school) and deciding to homeschool. Sound scary? It doesn’t need to be. This handbook is a bit tongue in cheek at the beginning (throw darts at a picture of your school, if needed!) but offers good advice on how to give yourself a real education during the teen years.

Teach Your Own by John Holt: You can’t write about homeschooling books without mentioning John Holt. Holt, often considered the “grandfather” of homeschooling, writes about how you can teach your own child at home without setting up a mini-school.

The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise: You won’t get far in homeschooling without hearing about Classical Education. This extensive book covers how to classically homeschool your child from Kindergarten through High School. With so many books about unschooling out there, this book is an interesting (and detailed) book on the method many homeschoolers use.

Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp: Often considered the “go-to” book when one has questions about how to do curriculum– cursive in first or second, when do you start algebra– Home Learning Year by Year is an invaluable book to keep on your shelf. It helps make sense of all the different topics you could cover, without overwhelming you.

The Well-Adjusted Child by Rachel Gathercole: This is the question that comes up more than anything else…what about “socialization?” (What about it, really?) Gathercole, a mother of three who homeschooled her children for ten years, helps dispel many of the myths about homeschooled children and social issues.

Radical Unschooling by Dayna Martin: When it comes to homeschooling, there’s about as many different ways to do it as there are homeschoolers. Radical Unschooling is about as far as one can get from “school at home;” this gives an insightful look into this parenting and educational philosophy that one might not otherwise have.

College Without High School by Blake Boles: So sure, you’re wanting to homeschool…but what about high school or college? Can a child really get to college? This inspiring book by Boles, who previously spoke with Everyday Learning, says “yes!”  A great look on finding your passion and using it to get to the school of your choice, with interviews and examples of real kids who did make it to college without spending four years in a high school.

(Photo courtesy of Juhansonin at Flickr! Thanks!)

Kids of Carcassonne: This kids version of the adult game tells the story of the city of Carcassonne in France. On July 14, the city celebrates a national holiday by releasing a variety of animals from their pens. Players get to help catch the animals and return them to their homes. This game is great for younger children who might not understand the concept of adding points to become a winner. Instead, the first person who uses up her points win. Kids not great with numbers? There are no dice and no counting needed– meaning even the youngest family members can play with ease.

Yahtzee! Junior: Yet another kid version of an adult game, this time a classic. There are a variety of different character-themes (Mickey Mouse, Disney Princess, Toy Story) to choose from. While this is a strategy game, it is simple enough for children as young as three to play. Players take turns rolling the dice and then placing their colored tokens on the appropriately numbered piece. There’s a definite winner with this game, but it goes so fast that there’s a chance everyone can win with a few tries.

HABA Animal Upon Animal: Needing a little fine motor skills help? Try Animal Upon Animal– a stacking game where the goal is to find which animal will make it to the top. Younger players can work on keeping steady hands while older children (and adults) can experiment with different ways to stack the pieces.

Max: A Cooperative Game: Have ultra-competitive little ones on your hand? Try Max, a cooperative game where players work together to get several small animals home before Max the Cat catches them. This game helps with problem solving, logic and cooperative skills. Ages three to five.

Orchard: Yet another cooperative game, this time by HABA. In Orchard, the players try to pick all the different fruits in the orchard before the Raven reaches them. This game reinforces colors and recognition skills, as well as working together as a team.

Selecta Viva Topo Game: Sore losers beware– there’s a chance the cat may eat your mouse in this game. Players roll the dice to move their mouse away from Bob the big orange cat. A little bit of luck and some strategy can help you out in this game– a great way to learn that when one way doesn’t work, try something else!

HABA Knuckling Knights: In this 3-D game of chance, knights are “thrown” into the castle. Players roll the dice to find out who will get to open the door of the castle, sending some of the nights into the pit below. Whoever has the most knights at the end wins! Note: This game is best for children who are able to not destruct the 3-D castle!

Once a person has stepped over the threshold into adulthood, it can feel as if we’re stuck with the choices we’ve made in life. Perhaps you wanted to become an architect or learn about the Romans, or perhaps you didn’t get to go to the college of your choice.

While it is easy to get caught up in a game of “what if,” you don’t have to spend your life wishing you had done things differently.

As parents, one of the best lessons we can teach our children doesn’t come from a text book. We need for our kids to see that there’s always hope, that you are never too old to learn something new or even just learn from your mistakes.

That’s exactly what Melia Dicker did. Just a couple years ago, Melia, who is 29, began to feel frustrated with her life choices. Constantly stressed out, this self-proclaimed “overachiever” decided to take a step back from the daily rat race and go back to school.

Her goal? “[To do] education how I wanted to do it from this point forward,” she said. “That meant going back to the beginning and figuring out what happened in school and how I’ve grown to be the way I am, and how I want to be in the future.”

Melia decided to retrace her roots and went back to school, from Kindergarten all the way through college. Not surprisingly, she learned a few things in the process that made her understand how her educational background had truly shaped her.

She started on the first day of Kindergarten and quickly made friends with her fellow students. She tried not to abuse her adult privileges, she says, and chose to abide by the rules that pertained to all children. That means, yes, she had to raise her hand to use the restroom.

Melia called this experiment “reschooling,” which basically means to go about learning the things that really interest you for the sake of learning, not because you are forced to.

So, why go through all the hassle of going back to school? Melia really wanted to learn more about herself and how the educational process shaped her. Always the straight A student who listened to her teachers, she found herself an incredibly stressed-out adult who constantly felt unhappy with the way life was heading.

While most of us don’t have the time to go back and sit in high school biology class, we can take steps to reschool ourselves. Melia became interested in guitar when she and several of her third grade friends took an after-school guitar class together.

“We just sat down with these 8-year-olds and learned some basic chords,” she said of her after school class. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is a lot easier than I thought.” Having some background in music, I just kind of picked it up. The rest, I taught myself. I play now. Not super well, but I can sing with a guitar and it is a joyful part of my life.”

While you might feel quite uncomfortable hanging with the under-ten set to play “Stairway to Heaven,” there’s always Google, You Tube and local musicians to teach you a few chords.

Music not your thing?

“Identify what you want to do in the future and what you want to try out,” Melia suggests. “It doesn’t have to be the end-all. You don’t have to quit your job. Dabble. Take a class in painting, teach yourself to do calligraphy. Just do it. You don’t have to be the best at it.”

The key to reschooling is to find what interests you, as a parent, most. Don’t read Chaucer unless you really feel called to do so. Reschooling is about learning for the love of learning, not because you feel it is the “right” or the “good” thing to do.

What to do once you’ve taught yourself ceramics or woodwork? Share it with others!

Consider joining a homeschool co-op, where you can teach other children a topic you are passionate about. The Thomas Jefferson Education method also is a great way for reschooled parents to share their information. TJED encourages “mom schools,” where the mother (or father, ahem) starts a class about a subject that she finds interesting, be it anything from cooking to Charles Dickens.

The key is to show your child that learning doesn’t need to stop when the school day is finished. We, as human beings, are always questioning, always learning.

“The whole attitude of reschooling is that you can do what you want at any age,” she says. “We think because of our age or circumstances or money that we’re not able to do it, but there’s always a way.”

Learn more about Reschooling at Melia’s website, Reschool Yourself or visit her newest endeavor, The Institute for Democratic Education in America.

Autumn’s books are sure to not disappoint; now all you have to do is figure out which one you’ll read first.

The Runaway Mummy by Michael Rex: Anyone who has ever set through repeated readings of “The Runaway Bunny” will appreciate this Halloween parady of Margaret Wise Brown’s classic. Rex also wrote the book “Goodnight Goon.” Ages 4 to 8

Mimi and Lulu by Charise Mericle Harper: This is a perfect book for young fans of the hit “Pinkalicious.” Mimi and Lulu are best friends who love cupcakes, princesses and, of course, each other. These three sweet tales discuss the little the little things that make childhood so sweet. Ages 5 and under.

Dark Night by Dorthee De Monfreid: Not to be confused with the Batman movie spelled with a K, this book follows Felix as he walks alone through the forest at night. Beautiful illustrations bring the story of keeping the scary monsters at bay to life. Ages 4 to 8.

Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman: Readers who enjoy folk tales will revel in reading Gaiman’s newest novel based on Norse mythology. It tells the story of boy named Odd, who has had some bad luck of his own. His father died in a Viking expedition, a tree fell on his leg and now he’s met three creatures in the forest. They’ll bring him on an adventure to save the city of the gods from the Frost Giants. Ages 9 to 12.

The Witches Guide to Cooking With Children by Keith McGowan and Yoko Tanaka: Some of the best middle-reader books are fairy tales told in a different light. This one, featuring the witch from Hansel and Gretel, will keep readers on their toes while the protagonists figure out just who their knew neighbor really is. Ages 9 to 12.

The Doom Machine by Mark Teague: Set in a small town in the 1950s, this book by Mark Teague (of “How Do Dinousars…” fame), tells the story of what happens when aliens land and kidnap several residents of Vern Hollow. Ages 9 to 12.

Ruined by Paula Morris: Set in mystic New Orleans, Ruined tells the story of a girl who feels out of place in her new town…until she meets a new friend, who just happens to be a ghost. Will her new friendship help her solve the demons of her own past, or is she also doomed? Teens

Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani: Author Adriana Trigiani (of Big Stone Gap fame) has stepped away from adult fiction to write for teens. Viola has recently enrolled in a boarding school in Indiana, and it seems as if this year is going to be a bust. Soon the New York transplant finds friends in her new roommates– if only she could put her video camera down to experience a life not behind the lens. Teens.

Candor by Pam Bachorz: If your teen always feels as if everyone around her is a little too perfect, she might enjoy reading Candor. Set in a Stepfordesque town in Florida, Oscar Banks is the “It Boy.” But the It Boy has a secret and it involves how everyone in town is so perfect. Then Oscar meets the newest girl in town and he has a tough decision: Keep her there, perfect, or lose her forever? Teens.

Besides her life as a military homeschooling family, Wendy is also a Pagan. The Massachusetts native has practiced witchcraft for about 25 years

Wendy was nice enough to take time out of their studies and adventures to answer questions about their homeschool.

How did you get involved in homeschooling?

I don’t remember exactly when or how I heard the term; I think perhaps I read about it in “The Blessed Bee” or a book on Pagan families.  Anyhow, we decided that if we ever had a child, we would homeschool.  Our reasons are purely secular.  We basically want to offer our son an individualized education with one-on-one attention.

What method do you use? What made you choose it?

I use an eclectic blend of classical through “The Well-Trained Mind” and Charlotte Mason.  I like the way “The Well-Trained Mind” organizes the learning stages, and the periods of history, science and literature.  With Charlotte Mason, I like the emphasis on literature, nature study, and the arts.

How does being Pagan affect homeschooling? Do you do anything different because of that?

Being Pagan does not really make a huge difference.  We fit in well with the secular crowd, since we don’t homeschool for religious reasons.  However, we definitely take certain days off as holidays, such as Halloween, that others might not consider important.  We put greater emphasis on the Pagan origins of the modern holidays as well.

How have you used your move to South Korea in your homeschool studies?

Since we decided not to have a vehicle here, we walk everywhere.  So we are keeping active maps.  We have a map of our immediate area, on which we highlight the streets we have walked and the places we have visited.  We compare that to a map of the country and then of the world itself.  These will make great souveneirs someday!  This has also been a wonderful place to teach compass skills, since we can’t read any of the street signs!

You’re a military family. Do you know any other military families who homeschool? Are there resources in your area?

Fortunately, we have a homeschool group for the military families right here on the base.  The past week has been very active with people organizing field trips to see airplanes and educational opportunities, such as learning how to use the library.  Most military bases overseas have homeschool groups.  I have already checked the base to which we hope to be assigned next year in Europe, and there is a homeschool group there that is just perfect for us.

What is your son currently interested in?

My son would spend his entire day playing and watching “Yu-Gi-Oh!” if I let him.  Besides that, he really enjoys arts and crafts, Egyptian history (probably because of all the references from “Yu-Gi-Oh!”), and math.

He also responds very well to the “Magic School Bus” books and has fun with science.  He recently asked me how come all the frogs of the world looked different.  I responded, “Because the Goddess made them that way.”  The expression on his face told me that I had not satisfied his curiosity!

He is ready for more scientific explanations about the world, apparently, and now I need to be prepared to give them! We are about to delve into evolution and things that lived in ancient times, including dinosaurs.  He told me he is really excited about that.

What do you hope to get from homeschooling?

I definitely hope to get some re-schooling for myself.  It is amazing how little we remember from our grammar school days, and I am enjoying learning right along with my son.  I was the type of child who adored school.  I looked forward to September every year!

One of the things I was never quite able to learn in school was algebra (yet I aced geometry).  I hope to learn with my son. I’m also looking forward to history.  It seems we never really covered ALL of history in school.  Most of my memories, even up through highschool AP U.S. History, go up to the Civil War and Reconstruction.  We didn’t talk about anything after that point.  It would be nice to really study the period from Reconstruction through present times.

Many thanks to Wendy for her answers. You can check out her blog at Zen Witch Mommy.

Part of Everyday Learning’s objective is to make learning FUN! The world is an exciting place and there’s so much we can see, do and learn about during our time here. While it is always fun to go out and see things for yourself, sometimes the closest we can get is through a book.

One of the well-known series regarding science is the Magic Schoolbus Series. Mrs. Frizzle is always doing crazy things, such as turning her bus into a bee,  diving under the sea or exploring the human body. There’s even a television series! You can always count on Mrs. Frizzle to teach you all sorts of interesting things about science.

Two of the problems I have with this series is that the books put in so much information, it really is hard to read aloud to younger children. I often find myself having to skip some of the highly informative information boxes, just because it all adds up to too much. Another issue I’ve heard from homeschooling parents is that these books are about, well, school. A child who has never been to school just might not understand or emphasize with the characters the way a traditionally-schooled student has.

Even if your children do go to school, it is fun to have books that show kids having adventures (and lives) outside the classroom. Hey, Mom and Dad! You’re cool, too…even if your mini-van doesn’t float down the Nile River.

There’s a great series of science books for younger readers that we’ve just discovered…The Adventures of Riley. These books combine photograph and illustrations, giving the reader a real sense of the subject they’re learning about. These books still pack a punch of information, but it is in a much more digestable for younger students way than The Magic Schoolbus.

The premise is that Riley, a young boy, lives a normal life until he gets a letter from his Uncle Max. Uncle Max is always travelling the globe and he invites Riley along with him. Both parents and kids learn a lot of information in these books, without feeling bogged down. We had the chance to check out South Pole Penguins and loved learning tidbits of information about our penguin friends.(Their poop! It is pink!)

My 5-year-old couldn’t stop raving about the cute (and cuddly) penguins in the picture.

If you’re looking for a fun science books for younger readers, check out The Adventures of Riley. It packs an information punch without being overkill.

One lucky reader will win a copy of South Pole Penguins! All you have to do is leave a comment with the ages of your children (make sure you leave a valid email address!) and you’re entered! We’ll close the contest on Saturday, October 3. Thanks for reading and good luck!