Incentive was high today to get through the basics quickly. It was raining and that is cause for celebrating here in the desert! Late morning, we piled into the car with our umbrellas in tow. As we headed out to the mountain range near our home to hike, the rain picked up. With the streets starting to flood, I realized that hiking was out of the question.
We made a quick detour to the library. With a stack of fresh books in hand, we settled in for the rest of the day!
Based on our enjoyment of the biography of Johannes Kepler that I wrote about a few weeks ago, I made the trek up to “Oma’s library” this morning and retrieved this engaging biography about Isaac Newton. We are hooked. It is so fun to watch my kids become wrapped up in the story and learn some great science in the process. We’ve been eating apples and jumping off chairs to test the limits of gravity this week!
:warning: soap box rant ahead
We live in such a sex-crazed culture and it grieves me that it has infiltrated our children’s books. I think we’ve lost touch with what is appropriate for children and what isn’t. In my opinion, discussing a person’s sexual orientation, in the context of one’s scientific achievements is irrelevant. This is especially true in a children’s book. There is a time and a place to discuss the ways of our fallen world, but this is not the context and this is not the time. And besides, wouldn’t we much rather our children hear about the beauty of marital love before they understand the ins and outs surrounding how it has become twisted? Maybe I’m alone in this – and that’s ok, but I would prefer to protect my children at this age and discuss these topics on my terms and in the timing that I deem appropriate if possible.
I’m thankful that there are options and that I have the freedom and opportunity to select books that are not only rich from a literary standpoint {another one of my soap boxes}, but also that steers clear of inappropriate content.
Yup, we’ll stick to the Sower Series whenever possible for biographies! And at the rate that libraries are ditching good books, I’ll probably start buying books that we find especially delightful. Maybe someday, my grandkids will get to benefit from ‘my’ library just like my kids get to now.
We did find a few good books at our library on various astronomers including: Nicolaus Copernicus: the Earth is a Planet, I Galileo, Galileo’s Journal.
Oh, no, you are certainly not alone. It is inappropriate!
I agree with you Heather. It is such a blessing to be able to home educate and teach our children from God’s Word those things that need to be taught…at the appropriate time in the appropriate way. What a wonderful thing it is that the LORD promises to give us wisdom as we seek Him for it! (James 1:5)
Blessings to you!
Camille
P.S. LOL…rain is something to rejoice over? SUN is what we get excited about. 🙂
You’re very right, Heather… Authors and libraries are losing touch with what’s appropriate for kids. I find that I have to preview EVERYTHING that comes home from the library, and some books go right back. Sexuality, disrespect for authority, “potty humor,” etc. It’s sad, especially as the libraries really are ditching the good stuff and keeping the “twaddle.” It’s so sad to watch it happen!
Love the blog, as always!
Diana
Good for you sweet mama! One of the duties of a sheperd(ess) is to go out and remove the nettles before the sheep go out to graze. The wise shepherd knows that the sharp nettles will tear the mouths of the young sheep. You are wisely providing healthy nutritious reading to your little lambs.