Curating Your Homeschool Library: 7 Must-Have Book Types
Building the Perfect Children’s Library: 7 Essential Types of Books Every Catholic Homeschool Needs
One thing most homeschoolers share in common is a penchant for collecting books. Our houses are cluttered with books. Every shelf is filled with them. Typically, stacks will even occupy random corners. We LOVE our books!
But is there any ideal composition for how our home libraries should look? Obviously, a lot of this is up to personal preference, so there’s no hard and fast rule. Still, if we are talking about the composition of children’s libraries in particular, here is a list of seven book categories you can use to create a well-balanced collection for your children’s reading pleasure.
1. Picture Books
Picture books are not only for toddlers! A well-rounded children’s library should have picture books for older children as well, meant to entertain and impress with their lovely art. Thinking back to my own upbringing, these sorts of books were very special to me. When I was 12, my parents gave me a copy of Graeme Base’s The Eleventh Hour. I absolutely love this gorgeously illustrated mystery picture book with rhyming text. Even Where’s Waldo books graced my tween library. In fact, it kept me occupied for hours during long family drives on vacation. I also had a huge book on the art of M.C. Escher that I cherished. Picture books are always wonderful to have around!
2. Chapter Books
Chapter books with stories about brave men and women should form an integral part of your child’s library. They not only expose kids to new vocabulary and concepts, but they also engage the imagination and enrich children’s comprehension by teaching them to follow complex narratives. Choosing chapter books that feature wholesome protagonists who must exercise virtue to overcome obstacles educates children on the importance of character in the moral life.
3. Devotionals
Devotional books are an integral part of any Catholic household. Most of us have more of them lying around than we can ever use! This is a good thing as it reinforces that pious reading should be part of everyday life. Giving children access to various devotional materials that can be read independently or together as a family is a great way to teach them about God and model the piety that befits a Catholic household.
4. Books about Nature
Even if your kids aren’t into natural science, you can still pique their wonder about the world by giving them nature books. These need not be overly educational. In fact, it is best if they have less text and more big, beautiful color pictures. When I was younger, I had a big hardcover book of photographs of the Great Lakes. I still remember how peaceful that book made me feel. The purpose of these kinds of nature books is to arouse a child’s wonder and admiration for the natural world.
5. Biographies
Biographies are an excellent way to engage children in history by reading stories about what life was like for men and women of the past. Elementary-age children, in particular, respond extremely well to history in biography form. The life of a young child is extremely “person-centric.” Parents, siblings, teachers, etc., are the most important constants in their daily experience. Children’s literature and entertainment are very character-driven for this very reason. It is easy for young children to identify with the experiences of a specific person.
6. Books about Foreign Countries
A child’s daily routine is extremely regulated by his or her parents, and most children don’t get the opportunities to travel that adults are afforded. This is why books about foreign countries are so necessary. By introducing kids to faraway lands and cultures, they help children’s imaginations to soar, taking their minds to locales they cannot visit physically. It helps them learn about the world, nurtures curiosity, and builds their desire to travel and have new experiences.
7. Cookbooks
What library would be complete without a healthy collection of cookbooks? Cookbooks are great because of their practicality; they can be translated into real projects in the kitchen that can be prepared and enjoyed together. Cooking together as a family is an excellent way to bond and make beautiful memories.
Conclusion
I’d like to give a special shoutout to the blog and Instagram page Fill Your House With Books, which gave me the inspiration for this post.
What are your thoughts on this topic? I invite you to join other homeschooling parents at the Homeschool Connections Community or Facebook group to continue the discussion!
