Below are some of the books I’ve been reading this month; note that the following may contain spoilers:

Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Published as the second book in the Little House series and sometimes billed as the third, I suggest reading this one second as there are many similarities between Little House in the Big Woods and Farmer Boy. It focuses on Almanzo Wilder’s life between the ages of eight and ten, and because of this I would encourage it be read between the ages of six and ten. A great read aloud, I suggest reading it alone first to make sure any littles are ready for the more difficult themes, such as bullying and fighting.

Little House on the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder – Published as the third book in the Little House series and sometimes billed as the second, I suggest reading this one third. Because the first chapter starts off with the Ingalls family leaving their home in the Big Woods, I was hesitant at first to continue reading and had to put it down for a few weeks; I had so enjoyed learning about their cozy home! However, I finally picked up the book again and could not put it down. Many themes are introduced (loss of a pet, robbery, racism, and others) so that the world becomes much larger for Laura and the reader. It is a great read aloud, but if you are planning on reading this aloud to children, I suggest reading it alone first to make sure any littles are ready for the more difficult themes.

Own Your Life, by Sally Clarkson – A few years ago I was introduced to the podcast Life with Sally and have since enjoyed reading her family’s books. I was hesitant to read this book at first due to the title because I wasn’t sure how much it would actually focus on God but I need not have hesitated. Throughout the book the author continually encourages the reader to offer their life to the Lord for His use, to seek His will, and to read and memorise Scripture. The title simply reflects the idea that we have a choice to make: we can allow the cares of the world to guide our lives and our attitudes or we can allow God to do so.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis – The second chronologically but the first in publication order of The Chronicles of Narnia, this story is probably the most well-known of the series and follows some of the adventures of siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy in the land of Narnia. This is a great read aloud.