What are living books and why use them?

When it comes to textbooks and resources, it can sometimes be hard to find ones that grab our children. I mean, who likes to sit and read textbooks for fun? (Ok, so I *might* but that also has something to do with me loving to learn. I still want them to be interesting and engaging.) Have you heard of Living Books? These are books that Charlotte Mason recommended, and are still used in homeschooling and schools based on Charlotte Mason’s philosophy.

Who was Charlotte Mason? Charlotte Mason was an educator from England at the turn of the 20th century. She firmly believed that a child is a person and we must educate the whole person, not just the mind. Today the Charlotte Mason philosophy is more widely adopted in homeschool settings, though there are Charlotte Mason schools throughout the world and they are growing in number in the US, both as private schools and public charter schools. 

If you would like to know more about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, check out this video I did.

I love this quote by Charlotte Mason:

“Why in the world should we not give children, while they are at school, the sort of books they can live upon; books alive with thought and feeling, and delight in knowledge, instead of the miserable cram-books on which they are starved?”

WHAT ARE LIVING BOOKS?

Charlotte Mason defines living books as “whole books, firsthand sources, classics, books that display imagination, originality, and those having the ‘human touch.’ Living books are books that are engaging, often conversational, and inspiring for  imagination. They are “alive” or “living” in the sense that children are engaged by them and want to keep reading or know what is going to happen. 

It is always best not to read living books quickly. They should provide opportunities to think about what has been read and look at any pictures before moving on. Discussion is encouraged. 

KEY POINTS ABOUT LIVING BOOKS:

• Often written in a narrative style (as in tell a story), even for non-fiction
• Written by someone who is passionate about the topic
• Language is rich and not “dumbed down” 
• Characters in story books are dynamic
• They should present ideas and not just facts
• Are great for read alouds 
• They are engaging and should transport you into the narrative 
• Your children should WANT to read them

EXAMPLES OF LIVING BOOKS

Preschool:

• Paddington Bear 
• If you give a mouse a cookie
• Curious George
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar
• Harold and the Purple Crayon

For elementary:

• Pippi Longstocking
• Charlotte’s Web
• Just So Stories
• A Little Princess
• Sarah, Plain and Tall

For history: ** this will depend on what era you are studying

You can ABSOLUTELY use novels for studying history. Really, you should.

• The Whipping Boy by Sid Fleischman
• Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
• The Civil War: A Living History by Ray Raphael
• The American Civil Rights Movement: A Living History by David J. Garrow

For science: **This will depend on what aspect of science you are studying

Again, you should be using fiction alongside non-fiction when learning science.

• Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing the Trees
• Rocks in his head
• Germs make me sick

WHAT ARE LIVING BOOKS NOT?

• They are not textbooks or workbooks
• They are not just storybooks

You are not going to be reading living books to learn a bunch of facts and information. When engaging in living books you are not concerned about testing your children. The goal is engagement and interaction.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO USE THEM?

I personally feel that, if you are homeschooling, or even if you want to enrich your child’s learning at home, you want to use living books. It is from here that your children will be engaged and hopefully love to learn. I don’t know about you, but when I have finished reading a book that I have truly engaged with, I end up with what I call “Book World Hangover”. I find myself sad that the book is done. When I feel that way I know that it has been a great read. 

I want this for my girls – whether reading fiction or non-fiction – to engage in the book and draw out interesting information for them. 

AM I DISSING TEXTBOOKS?

No, I am not. I know that there is a place for them and they contain great information. It ultimately comes down to your goals and aims for your child’s education.