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Carole P. Roman Books {Crew Review}

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Carole P. Roman is one of our absolute favorite authors.  We were introduced to the amazingly wonderful Carole P. Roman Books and Collections many years ago through the Homeschool Review Crew.  Every single book we’ve been blessed to read from Carole has been absolutely outstanding!
For this review, we were allowed to choose three of her many books.  I always try to choose things that go along with what we’re learning about or are specifically for Laycie and Jack since they are our youngest children.  This go round, I chose the following:
I chose If You Were Me And Lived In Scotland because I have been searching for titles that specifically teach about Scotland.  I have found that most books focus on Great Britain or Ireland but I wasn’t able to find as many as I hoped on Scotland specifically.   Recently, while tracing our family tree, I have found that we are heavily Scot on both my father’s and my mother’s sides so for me it’s very important that my children learn about this culture so they can learn more about the history of their ancestors.  I love relating our history to our real history.
We were not unfamiliar with the If You Were Me And Lived In series because we reviewed this series from Carole when she first developed and released the series several years ago.  I knew this series was simply awesome and would teach the kids a lot about Scotland and it’s people.  It didn’t let me down.
Through the book, we learned what we may have been named had we been born in Scotland.  We learned that Unicorns are the official animal of Scotland.  We learned a bit about Nessie and Loch Ness.  We learned about traditional foods served in Scotland, some of which we actually tried during the week of St. Patrick’s Day.  Golf was developed in Scotland and the Highland Games.  We look forward to visiting our local Scottish Festival this summer and will briefly review this book before we go.
We learned so much from If You Were Me And Lived In Scotland.  It was perfect for our short study on the culture.  Carole never let’s me down with this series.
Last year we reviewed Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles.  Jack absolutely LOVED Fribbet and his story so I knew this year I wanted to review another of Carole’s amazing Captain No Beard series.  I chose Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience because sometimes Jack has a little trouble with being patient.  As the baby of the family, you can bet he’s the most spoiled and loved little boy there is, so I thought this book would provide a great lesson for him.  And it has.
A few weeks before we received this book for review, Jack decided he wanted to makeover his bed with a Pirate theme.  I purchased a wooden wheel, a spy glass in a box, a large pirate flag and an a wooden anchor which we painted and hung with a rope on his bed frame.  I also got him his very own Parrot.  Jack loves it!  And he loved reading Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience while snuggling in his pirate bed with his Parrot.
Captain No Beard is the captain of the Flying Dragon.  He has one crazy crew of all kinds of characters that help him out, including Fribbet the Frog and his cousin, Hallie.  In this book, Captain No Beard adds Pepper to his crew, making Pepper the crew’s cook.  Maybe that wasn’t such a good idea considering the Parrot is named Pepper.  But maybe Pepper has her name for another reason.
Pepper has quite the temper.  She’s actually a little fire cracker and that temper isn’t the greatest thing ever.  But with the crew’s help, Pepper realizes she doesn’t need to get upset or angry and she can learn to have patience just like everyone else.
This story was so adorable.  Jack truly loved it and he talks about the characters all the time.  We look forward to reading more Captain No Beard stories like Pepper Parrot’s Problem with Patience in the future.

Oh Susannah is a relatively new series from Carole P. Roman.  Last year, Laycie and I read Oh Susannah: It’s In The Bag and we fell in love with Susannah and her crazy life.  Susannah is someone Laycie can really relate to so when this review came up, I knew I’d choose another book from this series for Laycie and I to read.
Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump was just as silly and fun as the first book we read from the series.  Susannah is always having a rough time, usually of her own making.  This time around, Susannah is invited to a dear friend’s house for the friend’s birthday.  Susannah really wants to go but she’s afraid.  She just knows that her friend’s house is haunted.  Her friend’s little brother has told her so.  Susannah isn’t too sure she wants to see a ghost!
Susannah some how finds the courage to face her fear and finds that she has the BEST time at her friend’s house.  Friendship helps her overcome her fears and Susannah learns not to be afraid.  She also learns that little brothers are sometimes annoying and sometimes great.
Oh Susannah: Things That Go Bump is a new favorite of mine and Laycie’s.  She and I enjoyed reading this one together.  We look forward to reading more from this series.
Carole P. Roman is one of the best children’s authors I have reviewed for.  She truly loves the work she does and it shows greatly.  She’s an inspiration and blessing to all who know her.

The cost of these books is in a range between $5 and $10.  Nothing too expensive.  They are also available in Kindle versions.

You can read our previous reviews on Carole’s other books as well by clicking each of these links:
You can find Carole P. Roman online at:

Read more reviews from the Homeschool Review Crew:

Carole P. Roman books and collections {Carole P. Roman Reviews}
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Unauthorized {Crew Review}

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Chara Games is a Christian based game company that provides great games like Unauthorized for gaming fun.  Chara Games encourages a strong relationship with God through their wonderful games.  They create an opportunity for Christians to learn and to grow in their faith through their great games.
Every day Underground Churches are formed in places where God’s word is NOT welcome.  People must keep their faith hidden so they are not persecuted for their personal beliefs.  These “unauthorized” church parishioners face the challenge of being caught, yet their faith is more important to them than anything else.
Through Unauthorized you can experience the challenges that these folks face daily in believing in something that others do not support.  Through your choices in the game you can grow your church or you can stamp it out.  Your choices make the decision as to what happens, just like in real life.  The outcome is always based on what the players choose.
This game is not an easy one to play.  It takes about 30 minutes and you need at the least 6 to 12 players to play it but it can be adapted and played with just 5 people if that’s all you have.  However, it’s not made for less than 5 people at all.
Every player in this game has a role to play.  They use their unique powers to sway the other players to one side or the other: to build the church or stamp it out.  However, players can change sides during the game so you can never be sure who is one your side and who isn’t.  Much like every day life.
Because the other players positions can change and sway each other as well, the game can really go in any direction.  Those who you think are on your side, are not.  Those who you may question their support may very well be on your side.  It’s all in the cards.
Some of the roles included in the game are the Police, the Pastor, the Merchant, the Thief, among many others.  Each of these roles hold a significant part to the game and each part effects how it’s played.
There are also Experience Cards which help influence the choices made in the game.  Experiences like disease and sickness.  And Experiences of the exact opposite: Joy.  These can either make or break the game.
How We Played It:
Originally, I had planned to play this game with my kids and my best friend’s niece and nephew.  I also planned to play with my husband and I and the kids.  But because we needed to move during the review period, the original plans changed.  So instead we have allowed our children to play the game with their cousins.  That’s a total of 8 kids and they really enjoyed it.  There are so many scenarios that can happen.  The game really never gets boring.  It was interesting to see the differences in choices between our public schooled nieces and nephews and our own children as well.   In the end, the game has worked out well for us to play.

Here is an instructional video on How to Play:

Where You Can Buy It:
Unauthorized is available for purchase on Amazon for $16.66.  It is a card game requiring at least 5 players but 6 to 12 is preferred.

Social Media Links:

  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CharaGames/ 
  • Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/CharaGames/ @Charagames   



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    Unauthorized {Chara Games Reviews}

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    What Homeschooling Is Like For Us {Homeschooling} {Epilepsy Awareness}

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    5 Days of Homeschooling with Epilepsy and Other Issues:
    What Homeschooling Is Like For Us


    One of the BEST things about Homeschooling is that you can make it work for you!  You don’t need to follow anyone else’s schedule.  You don’t need to do Public School at Home.  You simply do what’s best for you and your family.

    Homeschooling for us varies throughout the year.  Because our schedule is usually crazy with appointments at different times of the day, we have had to learn to adapt things to fit around this.  We homeschool year round, which means when the public school kids are at home, we’re usually still having school.

    We’re also pretty eclectic educationally which fits right in with the Homeschool Review Crew since we never know ahead which vendors we will be selected to review and which we won’t.  We’ve been blessed to be selected for many wonderful items over the years while being a part of the crew and these items have easily been adapted to fit our homeschooling because of our personal style.

    We also tend to use materials that allow us to work together as a family instead of individually which can take a ton of time.  Things like Apologia for science, unit studies by Amanda Bennett, Apologia for Biblical Studies and Story of the World for history have helped us to have a well-rounded educational experience while allowing us to adapt to the challenges our health issues present.

    Unit studies have been a huge blessing because it allows us to often work through subjects of interest instead of following a more formal plan.  Many field trips end out our studies to give that hands-on experience my children crave.  This is just a fun bonus for all of us.

    As you’ve probably guessed, we don’t follow a strict schedule.  I feel that learning is most important, not meeting a timeline that my children may not necessarily be ready for.  I enjoy watching their little faces when they truly learn something that speaks loudly to their hearts.  This is the method we’ve used for years and greatly enjoy following.

    This is just a small glimpse into our homeschooling life.  We hope you’ve enjoyed it and look forward to sharing more with you!  Next up is Homeschooling On The Down Days.

    Blessings,
    Dana Lambert-Hodge

    This post is a part of the 5 Days of Homeschool… Blog Hop from
    the Homeschool Review Crew!

    5 Days of Homeschool Annual Blog Hop - 2017

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    Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer {Crew Review}

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    What We Received:
    For this review, we were sent the beautiful paperback novel Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer from Peggy Consolver – Author.  Peggy is a wonderful author and sweet Christian lady who felt led to share the story of the Gibeonites with us all.  The story she tells takes us back to a time many of us struggle to understand but she’s able to weave the story so we can see the past we often wonder about.
    About The Book: 
    Have you ever wondered about the historical information that is shared throughout the Bible?  Have you ever wished to know what life was really like for many of the people mentioned?  Have you wondered how they lived, where they trod, even what their flocks were like?  Through Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer, Peggy Consolver has done her best to help us better understand the plight of the Gibeonite people as they lived day to day.
    Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer by Peggy Miracle Consolver tells the story of the Gibeonite people.  The story is centered around a young shepherd boy named Keshub.  Keshub fights hard to keep his flock and his people safe from harm.  He longs for adventure outside of the grazing lands, to be someone more than he is.  He eventually finds the adventure he seeks and becomes a spy who keeps watch over the Hebrews as they move through the Jordan Valley.  
    This book shares many specific details to the time period and the detail of life of the people.  Peggy Consolver did her research thoroughly as she wrote this story.  Though the story of Keshub is fictional, it’s still based in Truth from scripture and archeological research.  This story speaks life to a people who struggled to live.
    Additional Learning:
    Peggy Consolver has shared part of her website to help expand the lessons behind Shepherd, Potter, Spy and Star Namer.  She has created a study guide which can be used with the book to expand on the information within the pages of the book.  She has provided access to maps specifically for the time period discussed in the book.  She has also provided links to information, videos to help expand on the archeological details covered within the book, and more.  This is a great little guide to really help bring the book to life.
    Where You Can Buy This Book:
    Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer is available through Amazon for $10.14 at time of this posting.  It is also available at Barnes and Nobles, Mardel’s Christian Book Stores and “wherever fine books are sold”.

    You Can Find Peggy Consolver on Social Media:
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    Shepherd, Potter, Spy--and the Star Namer {Peggy Consolver Reviews}





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    Jim Hodges Productions: True To The Old Flag {Crew Review}

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    For this review, we were gifted a free copy of Jim Hodges Productions‘ True To The Old Flag by G.A. Henty.  True To The Old Flag is A Tale of the American War of Independence.  This MP3 formated disc is available for purchase for $25 or you can download these files for $18.  Jim Hodges Productions Audio Books are designed to be used with students of all ages.
    G.A. Henty was a sickly child who wasn’t expected to live through his childhood but overcame his illnesses to become one of the greatest writers of his time.  G.A. Henty was an English author and wrote 122 works of historical fiction.  His works cover the time periods from 1867 to 1906.  Henty was born December 8, 1832 and died November 16, 1902.  His works were based on the history he viewed first hand throughout his lifetime.
    True To The Old Flag shares with us the story of the American War of Independence.  This historical piece is set from 1775 to 1783 during the heart of the Revolutionary War.  The viewpoint is from that of the Loyalist side of the war, or the British perspective.  Important events such as the Battle of Concord and the Battle of Lexington are shared through the imaginative writing of Henty and recorded through Jim Hodges Audio Books for this disc.
    We listened to this disc and enjoyed learning a different side to the war.  Growing up in the American South, we often get one side to the American Revolution and that side is strictly Southern.  Living in Georgetown, where much of this war took place, you can imagine the history of the war is extremely one-sided and it is.  This perspective was nice to share with my family, with my children, as we learn more and more of our local American History.  It also lead us to great discussions and a change of pace from our regular American based biased studies.
    In addition to the MP3 disc, we were gifted a copy of the study guide to use along with the program. Study Guide for G.A. Henty’s True To The Old Flag was a great accessory to listening along with the disc.  There are tons of key vocabulary that is shared here for us to expand our lessons.  There are also multiple questions to really help us grasp what we heard in listening.  These questions really got us thinking and questioning what we had heard.
    Additionally, the study guide shared great activities to help expand on our learning.  There were also links to view to help solidify what we had been listening to.  I think these were most enjoyable as they really helped to bring the stories and history to life.

    True To The Old Flag is a 10 hour MP3 disc or download.  There are 21 chapters to listen to and learn from.  The PDF download of the study guide is 36 pages in length and jam-packed with questions, vocabulary and links to expand the lessons being learned.  True To The Old Flag focuses on the American Revolution and would make a great addition to anyone study this particular time period in history.
    You can find Jim Hodges Productions in the following place online:
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    Diana Waring’s Experience History Through Music {Crew Review}

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    Experience History Through Music from Diana Waring Presents

    If you are in search of a great program to bring life to your American History program, look no further than Diana Waring’s Experience History Through Music collection.  These three amazing books are jam-packed with great songs, stories, and more to be used as an accessory product to any American History curriculum.  Experience History Through Music is like taking a trip back in time.

    Diana Waring is the author of the History Revealed world history curriculum.  Her educational philosophy is that “the key to education is relationship”.  Diana began homeschooling her children in the early 80’s and continued to do so all the way through high school.  While searching for a great history curriculum, she was unable to find a program that suited her family, so she decided to create her own.  Over time she shared this curriculum with others and that eventually led her to publish it so homeschoolers every where could use the programs.

    Diana has an extensive background in music which she has shared with her family.  Her grandfathers on both sides had unique musical talents and passed their love of music on to Diana.  This lead to her learning to play several instruments early on in life: clarinet, oboe, and even guitar.  Her musical talents led to her learning the beautiful folk songs that she shares with her in her Experience History Through Music series.  Her first book was actually an early version of America from this very series.
    Experience History Through Music is not an actual curriculum.  It is instead a supplementary program which can be used as an addition to any curriculum or can stand alone on it’s own.  There is no set schedule for using this program and while using it, you won’t even realize you are learning!  It’s simply a fun way to introduce History to students through music.
    Each of the books in the Experience History Through Music program focuses on a different aspect and time period of American History.  The program contains three print books with CD’s.  Each book is unique to it’s time period.  Inside each book you will find dozens of gorgeous images, stories to connect each of the songs to the piece of history it’s linked to, sheet music and more.  The CD’s are professional recordings of the songs shared within each book.

    America 1750-1890: The Heart of a New Nation
    This book in the series begins by sharing Folk music that dates back to the Revolution and onto through colonial days of early American History.  Beginning with Yankee Doodle, this book shares the background of the song along with an image appropriate to the song’s time period.  The book is formatted to share the stories of the songs, then later share the song’s sheet music and lyrics in the second section of the book.

    America is my favorite of the series set.  This book is filled with some of my favorites from American History and I could listen to it again and again.  I sing a reworded version of Yankee Doodle to Jackson as his song, changing the lyrics to fit to my Jackson-Doodle.  Erie Canal is another favorite that we have found is hard to locate to listen to so we were thrilled to see it included with this curriculum.  She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain is a song I used to sing while waiting for the schoolbus every morning when I attended public school in the late 80’s- early 90’s.  Listening to this CD brings back so many childhood memories!

    Westward Ho!  The Heart of the Old West
    This book covers history from the earliest days of the Old West.  It is formatted in the same form as America and filled with stories and pictures to learn from.  Many of these songs were new to us but we greatly enjoyed them.  Westward Ho! and Home On The Range were childhood favorites of mine which I loved sharing with the kids.  We learned a lot about America’s past from this book!

    Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder
    This book focuses on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder and music from her lifetime.  This book is written by William Anderson who is a biographer for Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Photographs shared within this book come from Leslie A. Kelly, the internationally known Little House photographer.  Many of these songs were also new to me, though some I had heard on the tv series about Mrs. Wilder’s books.  Some of my childhood favorites are Buffalo Gals, Pop! Goes the Weasel and Sweet By and By.  These songs also evoked great memories that I was happy to share with my family.

    Since this book in the series concentrates solely on the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder, this book would make a great accessory to anyone reading her books and learning about this time period of life through history related to Laura.  The book is filled with images and stories about Laura’s life.  It was wonderful to see this beautifully designed book share so much about such an inspiring person!

    We have loved listening and learning from the Experience History Through Music series.  This is something we have played over and over both at home and in the car while traveling.  It’s been enjoyed by every member of our family.  The kids love to look over the great images in the books and we have had many discussions of the stories on the pages within.

    Diana Waring’s Experience History Through Music series can be purchased for $18.99 per book in the set.  If you purchase the set during July (at the time of this posting),  you can bundle the set and purchase it for $50.  This amazing series is worth every penny and can be used again and again in your home!  I am sure your family will enjoy these books just as much as we have in our homes!

    You can find Diana Waring Presents online in the following places:

    Twitter: @DianaWaring

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