Without daily assignments, deadlines, and schedules, kids have the opportunity to explore new ideas, discover favorite authors, and develop a lifelong love of reading. Yet for many families, keeping that momentum going throughout the summer can be a challenge.

One of the best ways to encourage summer reading is to turn it into an adventure.

That's exactly why we created the Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge.

Inspired by one of America's most famous highways, this free challenge transforms summer reading into a cross-country road trip. As children read books of their choice, they'll travel from Chicago to Santa Monica, tracking their progress along Route 66 and celebrating each milestone along the way. The best part? Any book counts.

Whether your child loves historical fiction, mysteries, biographies, graphic novels, nonfiction, audiobooks, or family read-alouds, every page helps move them farther down the road.

Along the way, they'll visit destinations inspired by real places along Route 66, discover interesting facts about American history, and complete activities that make the journey even more memorable. You can read any books that you want to complete the challenge. If you're looking for books about the stops along Route 66, we've created a short list for each city.

• Chicago
• St. Louis
• Tulsa
• Amarillo
• Sante Fe
• Flagstaff
• Barstow
• Santa Monica

Summer Reading: Why Books Are the Best Way to Travel

At Sonlight, we believe books are the most powerful vehicles ever invented.

They can transport readers to different times, places, and perspectives without ever leaving home. Through books, children can explore unfamiliar cultures, meet remarkable people, and discover places they may never have the opportunity to visit in person.

That's one reason we love summer reading. Every book opens a new door, sparks curiosity, and encourages children to see the world in a different way.

The Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge builds on that spirit of discovery.

Each stop along the route introduces children to a different piece of America's story. From the bustling immigrant communities of Chicago and the westward journeys that passed through St. Louis to the Dust Bowl, the Grand Canyon, and the Pacific Coast, every destination offers an opportunity to learn something new about the people, places, and events that helped shape our nation.

That's what makes Route 66 such a fitting backdrop for a summer reading adventure. It's more than a highway. It's a journey through American history, geography, and culture.

This summer, your family can experience that journey one stop at a time while building memories and a love of reading that will last long after summer ends.

Join the Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge

Let books take your family on the journey. Read your way across Route 66, spark meaningful conversations, and make memories together as you discover the history and wonder waiting along the open road.

Want to Explore Further? 

The Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge works with any books your family enjoys. 

But some children may want to learn more about the people, places, and historical events featured at each stop along the route. The books below provide optional opportunities to dive deeper into America's story, helping curious readers connect their summer reading with history, geography, culture, and the people who shaped our nation. 

Books About Route 66

Use these recommendations as inspiration, mix them with your own favorites, or simply enjoy discovering something new at every destination. 

Every great road trip starts with a little anticipation. Before you pull out of the driveway, these books will get your family excited for the adventure ahead — introducing the legendary highway, its colorful history, and the many wonders waiting along the way.

• ABC, What Do You See? Rolling Along Route 66, Annette Murray (Ages: Baby-7): A cheerful alphabet book that introduces the youngest travelers to the sights and sounds of Route 66, from roadside diners to desert landscapes.
• Annie Mouse's Route 66 Family Vacation, Anne Maro Slanina (Ages: 5-12): Follow Annie Mouse and her family as they road trip the entire length of Route 66, stopping at real landmarks along the way. A fun and fact-filled introduction to the Mother Road for the whole family.
• The Illustrated Route 66 Historical Atlas, Jim Hinckley (12+): A fun visual reference packed with maps, photographs, and history that traces Route 66 from its origins to today.

*NOTE: Some books included in this list and article may include references to heavy historical topics as well as topics you may not agree with. We encourage you to review the books and either skip certain sections or use them as opportunities to discuss your family's beliefs with your child. Sonlight books also do not always shy away from hard topics or history, and reading about tough topics can be a great learning opportunity.

Chicago: Big City Beginnings

Route 66 begins in one of America's most iconic cities. Chicago was one of the fastest-growing cities in the country during the late 1800s and early 1900s, drawing waves of immigrants from around the world who came seeking new opportunities. That blend of cultures shaped the city's rich traditions in music, architecture, and industry. Before heading west, spend some time exploring the city where it all begins.

• Muddy: The Story of Blues Legend Muddy Waters, Michael Mahin (Ages: 4-8): The story of how a boy from the Mississippi Delta became one of the most influential musicians in American history, eventually making his way to Chicago where he helped create the electric blues. A beautifully illustrated celebration of music, perseverance, and finding your voice.
• Nineteenth Century Migration to America, John Bliss (Ages: 8-10): Learn more about the waves of immigrants who came to America in the 1800s, where they came from, why they left, and what they found when they arrived. Ideal for helping children understand the forces that shaped cities like Chicago.
• Kid’s Guide to Chicago, Eileen Ognitz (Ages: 9-12): A practical and fun guide to one of America's greatest cities, written with kids in mind. Covers everything from Navy Pier to deep-dish pizza to the city's fascinating neighborhoods and history.
• Chicago History for Kids: Triumphs and Tragedies of the Windy City, Owen Hurd (Ages: 9+): From the Great Chicago Fire to the 1893 World's Fair, this book digs into the dramatic moments that shaped the city. A great choice for history-loving kids who want to understand what made Chicago one of the most dynamic cities in the country.

• A Long Way from Chicago, Richard Peck (Ages: 13-15): Included in Sonlight's Ninth Grade All-Subjects Package, this story is a warm and witty novel following two siblings who spend summers with their larger-than-life grandmother in a small Illinois town during the Great Depression era. A beloved classic that captures Midwestern life with humor and heart.

St. Louis: Books That Begin Your Journey West  

Leaving Chicago and heading southwest, Route 66 rolls into St. Louis, a city that has long served as the gateway to the American West. Sitting alongside the mighty Mississippi River, St. Louis connected trade routes, river travel, and growing railroad systems that carried explorers, settlers, and dreamers into unknown territory.

Today, the soaring Gateway Arch stands as a powerful reminder of all those who passed through in search of new beginnings. These books help children understand why St. Louis became such an important crossroads in American history.

• To the Top!, Amanda Doyle (Ages: 6-8): A kid-friendly introduction to the Gateway Arch that follows young visitors as they ride to the top and discover what makes this monument so special.
• Gateway Arch, Lori Dittemer (Ages: 6-8): This nonfiction title digs into the history and engineering behind one of America's most recognizable structures, exploring how and why it was built and what it symbolizes about the American spirit of exploration.
• Mike’s Unforgettable St. Louis History, For Kids, Mike Kleckner (Ages: 1-12): A wide-ranging and engaging look at St. Louis history told in a way that speaks directly to young readers. Covers everything from Lewis and Clark to baseball to the city's unique place in American culture.

• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain (Ages: 13-15): Mark Twain's classic tale of a mischievous boy growing up along the Mississippi River is essential reading for this stretch of the journey. Full of adventure, humor, and a vivid sense of what life on the great river once looked like. Included in Sonlight's Ninth Grade All-Subjects Package.

• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain (Ages: 17+): Escaping his abusive father, young Huck Finn fakes his own death and sets off down the Mississippi River on a raft. Alongside Jim, a runaway slave seeking freedom, Huck must navigate a series of wild adventures and confront his own conscience about what is truly right. Included in Sonlight's 12th Grade All-Subjects Package.

Books Exploring Tulsa Stories of Struggle & Resistance

Traveling through Oklahoma opens the door to some of the most sobering and important chapters in American history. During the 1930s, severe drought and years of poor farming practices turned fertile land into dust, triggering catastrophic storms that buried homes and crops across the Great Plains. Thousands of families were forced to abandon everything and head west in search of survival — their story a defining moment in the American experience.

But the Dust Bowl wasn't the only tragedy to unfold in this region. Tulsa was also the site of one of the deadliest acts of racial violence in U.S. history. These books give children an honest, age-appropriate look at both events and the resilience of the people who lived through them.

• A Kids Book About the Tulsa Race Massacre, Carlos Moreno (Ages: 5-9): A thoughtful and age-appropriate introduction to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, designed to help young children begin to understand what happened and why it matters. Honest, clear, and compassionate in its approach.
• The Dust Bowl, Michelle Jabes Corpora (Ages: 8-12): Discover what caused the Dust Bowl, what life was like for families caught in its path, and how the disaster ultimately changed American farming and policy. Accessible and well-illustrated for middle-grade readers.
• I Survived the Dust Bowl, 1935, Lauren Tarshis (Ages: 8-10): Part of the beloved I Survived series, this gripping story puts readers in the middle of one of history's most terrifying natural disasters.
• Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre, Carole Boston Weatherford (Ages: 7-12): Told through powerful verse and stunning illustrations, this award-winning book recounts the destruction of Tulsa's Greenwood District — known as Black Wall Street — and honors the community that was lost.

• Out of the Dust, Karen Hesse (Ages: 13-15): Included in Sonlight's Ninth Grade All-Subjects Package, this Newbery Medal-winning novel tells the story of a young girl surviving the Dust Bowl through spare, haunting poetry. One of the most emotionally resonant books ever written about this period in American history.

Books for Your Route 66 Stop in Amarillo

The road flattens out as Route 66 sweeps across the Texas Panhandle, and Amarillo puts you squarely in the heart of cowboy country. This stretch of America was once defined by sprawling cattle ranches, open ranges, and the hardworking men and women who drove herds across the plains. It's a world of rodeos, dusty trails, and wide-open skies, and it's as fascinating as it sounds. These books let children saddle up and explore the legends and landscapes that shaped life on the range.

• Cowboys and Cowgirls: Yippee-Yay!, Gail Gibbons (Ages: 4-8) A lively and colorful look at the real lives of cowboys and cowgirls on the American frontier— the work, the gear, the animals, and the wide-open land they called home.
• The Armadillo from Amarillo, Lynne Cherry (Ages: 6-9): An adventurous armadillo sets off to discover where in the world he lives, traveling through the Texas landscape and beyond. This clever picture book blends geography and science in a way that sparks curiosity about the natural world.
• Amarillo: The Yellow Rose of Texas, Sarah Heintz Williamson (Ages: 8-9): A charming introduction to the city of Amarillo that explores its history, geography, and unique Texas character.

Summer Reading in Sante Fe

A slight detour from the main route leads to one of the most culturally rich cities in the country. Santa Fe sits at the crossroads of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican influences that have shaped the art, architecture, and traditions of the American Southwest for centuries. Adobe buildings, vibrant markets, and ancient Pueblo history make this stop unlike any other on the route. These books introduce children to the diverse people and cultures that call the Southwest home.

• Arrow to the Sun: A Pueblo Indian Tale, Gerald McDermott (Ages: 3-7): A Caldecott Medal-winning retelling of a traditional Pueblo story about a boy's journey to find his father, the Lord of the Sun. The bold, geometric illustrations are inspired by Pueblo art and make this a visually stunning read-aloud for young children.

• Explore Native American Cultures, Anita Yasuda (Ages: 6-9): This hands-on book introduces children to the traditions, art, food, and history of Native American cultures through 25 engaging activities. A wonderful way to bring learning off the page and into your home.

• Traveling the Sante Fe Trail, Linda Thompson (Ages: 9-11): A well-researched look at the historic Santa Fe Trail, the trade route that connected Missouri to New Mexico long before Route 66 existed. Helps children understand the deep roots of westward travel in this part of the country.
• Children’s Guide to Sante Fe, Anne Hilerman (Ages: 4-12): A friendly and fact-filled guide to one of the Southwest's most beloved cities, covering its art, history, food, and culture in a way that speaks directly to young readers and curious families.

Books Exploring Flagstaff & Its Natural Wonders

Few stops on Route 66 rival the sheer natural drama surrounding Flagstaff, Arizona. Nestled among ponderosa pine forests at more than 7,000 feet elevation, Flagstaff sits just an hour from one of the most breathtaking landscapes on earth—the Grand Canyon.

Carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, the canyon stretches more than 270 miles and plunges more than a mile deep. It's the kind of place that makes even the most seasoned traveler stop and stare. These books capture the wonder of this remarkable corner of the American Southwest.

• The Lucky Hat, Matthew Henry Hall (Ages: 4-8): A sweet story set against the backdrop of the American Southwest that weaves together themes of adventure, family, and the magic of the natural world.
• Alice and Jack Hike the Grand Canyon, Amy Graves (Ages: 4-9): Follow two young hikers as they explore the trails and wildlife of the Grand Canyon in this engaging picture book. A great introduction to the canyon's scale and beauty for children who haven't yet had the chance to see it themselves.
• G Is for Grand Canyon, Barbara Gowan (Ages: 8-10): This alphabet book takes readers through the natural wonders, wildlife, and history of the Grand Canyon from A to Z. Packed with fascinating facts that will impress even kids who think they already know the canyon well.
• Needle in a Haystack: How Clyde W. Tombaugh Found an Awesome New World, Diana Phelps Budden (Ages: 8-12): Learn about the discovery of the 9th planet in our solar system and how the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff played a key role!

Our Summer Reading Stop in Barstow

As Route 66 pushes through the Mojave Desert toward California, Barstow served as a critical resting point for weary travelers. This sun-baked outpost on the edge of the desert became one of the most well-known stops on the highway — famous for its sprawling open landscape, its proximity to the otherworldly terrain of Death Valley, and even a one-of-a-kind McDonald's built inside a historic water tower. The desert here is harsh and beautiful in equal measure, full of surprising life and ancient stories. These books help children appreciate the rugged wonder of this often-overlooked landscape.

• The Mojave Desert, Molly Aloian (Ages: 10-13): Explore one of North America's most fascinating ecosystems, covering the plants, animals, climate, and geology that make the Mojave unlike anywhere else on earth.
• Mojave, Diane Siebert (Ages: 4-8): Written in lyrical verse and paired with sweeping illustrations, this picture book brings the voice of the Mojave Desert to life in a way that is both poetic and scientifically rich. A beautiful read-aloud for the whole family.
• Death Valley: California, 1849, Kathleen Duey (Ages: 8-12): Stranded in the Mojave Desert during the 1849 Gold Rush, siblings Will and Jess must leave their broken wagon and ailing father behind to seek help on foot. They face a desperate battle for survival against brutal wilderness perils and a suffocating thirst that threatens to break their resolve.

The End of the Road: Books for the Last Stop in Santa Monica

All great adventures must come to an end, and what an ending it is! Route 66 ends at the edge of the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, California, where a famous pier stretches out over the water and the horizon seems to go on forever. After thousands of miles of plains, deserts, mountains, and cities, travelers arrived here to dip their toes in the Pacific and breathe in the salt air. It's a moment worth savoring. These books celebrate the wild, beautiful coastline waiting at the finish line.

• West Coast Wild at Low Tide,Deborah Hodge (Ages: 3-6): A gentle and beautifully illustrated introduction to the fascinating world revealed when the tide goes out along the Pacific Coast.
• Let's Explore the Beach! A Young Naturalist’s Guide to Pacific Coastal Wildlife, Karen DeWitz (Ages: 8-12): A wonderful field-guide-style book that introduces children to the remarkable creatures and ecosystems found along the Pacific Coast.

• The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck (Ages: 17+): Set against the hardships of the Great Depression, The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joad family as they flee the Oklahoma Dust Bowl for California, embarking on a desperate journey for survival, dignity, and a better life in a land that tests their resilience. Included in Sonlight's 12th Grade All-Subjects Package.

Join Sonlight’s Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge

This summer, challenge your family to read your way from Chicago to Santa Monica and discover the history, culture, and wonders of one of America's most iconic roads.

The Route 66 Summer Reading Challenge runs June 1 through August 31, 2026. Read books from any stop along the route, track your progress, and when you complete the challenge, submit a photo to claim your prize.

Every family that completes the challenge and submits a photo will receive a coupon for a free a pair of Sonlight-branded sunglasses*, the perfect souvenir for any road trip adventurer. Three lucky families chosen at random will also receive a $50 Sonlight coupon to use toward a future purchase. Winners will be notified by September 15, 2026.

Pack your books, gather your family, and get ready to discover America one page at a time. The open road is calling.

*Shipping not included

The post Travel Along Route 66 with These Reads appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Although your new school year may be months away, I believe the best time to buy your curriculum is in early Spring. Here are seven reasons we think earlier is better when it comes to getting your new homeschool curriculum purchases squared away.

1. You Are Still in the Midst of Homeschooling

Because you are currently doing school, you know exactly what your children are working on and probably have some idea of what you’d like to do next. You know which subjects are really flowing, what your students are struggling with, and which brands you are really enjoying. You won’t have to scramble after a few months off to remember what you need —you’ll know precisely which things you would like to adjust while it’s fresh.

Buying your homeschool curriculum during the second semester is easy because you’re already thinking about school. So, end on a high note, and be ready for next year.

2. Your Children Might Have Stronger Opinions Now

While your children are in the midst of the school year, working hard, they might have clearer thoughts on what they would like to change for next year. After a summer at camp and after days at poolside, they might not remember in as much detail.

3. You Can Enjoy a Decision-Free, Stress-Free Summer

One of the quirks of the human brain is that it keeps returning to unclosed loops until you close them. Have you noticed this? You’re almost done checking off the boxes in your Sonlight IG, but that one unfinished assignment keeps popping up in your mind until you check it off.

Or when you’ve already purchased next season’s clothes for your children, you don’t have to keep thinking, “How many pairs of shorts do the kids need? What if the weather suddenly turns warm and they don't have shorts that fit?"

When you go ahead and mark those tasks off the to-do list (whether on paper or mentally), you can move into your next season with confidence. You’ve got what you need, and you are ready to start the next phase of life. When you buy your curriculum early in the year, you have maximum flexibility for the summer ahead and a school start when you want.

When you buy your homeschool curriculum early in the year, your brain can move from wondering, “What are we going to do for school next year?” to more productive topics.

4. You Get Special Offers

The best way to know about Sonlight's special sales and offers are to:

• subscribe to and open Sonlight's emails or text messages.
• bookmark and visit the Sale page.

While following on social media is great, it's not the most effective way to always know what's going on because algorithms control what appears in your feed. But if you are on the email list, you have an open line of communication with Sonlight and will absolutely get the messages.

5. You Have Time to Get Your Questions Answered Early

While you can contact a Sonlight Advisor at any point during the year, it makes sense to get it done sooner rather than later. Your Advisor can work with you on your educational plan while you have plenty of time and before the crush of last-minute frantic calls from other families.

6. You Have Your Materials Before You Need Them

With more and more people turning—and returning—to homeschooling every day, we recommended getting your new homeschool curriculum purchases squared away as early as possible.

Families who order early—in late winter and early spring—have their materials in hand the soonest. The early bird truly does get the worm when it comes to ordering online!

Avoid delays, bypass backorders, and get the upper hand with shipping delays by ordering as early as you can for your upcoming homeschool year.

When you order early, you have your materials already at hand when you need them. You can enjoy your upcoming break with the knowledge you’ve already taken care of business and can start school again when you're ready.

Additionally, you have ample time to do any prep you might like to do—setting up at your own pace, reading ahead, or cutting out timeline figures. If you go to garage sales or thrift stores over the summer, you can be on the lookout for the specific items you might need—like book bins, crates, or other cute storage tools. Or you can watch back-to-school sales for rolling carts or school supplies, with a good sense of what you might need.

7. You Can Do All Your Organizing in One Fell Swoop

With your school materials already in house, when you’re ready to organize, file, and close out your current year, your new materials are ready to take their place. This allows you to have one big in-with-the-new-out-with-the-old event, instead of an end-of-the-year event and a beginning-of-the-next-year event.

In a nutshell, earlier is definitely better when it comes to ordering your new homeschool curriculum. Enjoy clearer thinking, less stress, relaxed preparation . . . and, of course, Sonlight bonuses like a payment plan, Sonlight Cares, and the help of Advisors.

The post 7 Reasons to Buy Your Curriculum in Early Spring appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

When the first day of spring is right around the corner, there’s a good chance your homeschool family—like mine—is feeling a bit of spring fever. My yard may still have puddles and leafless trees, and we have several weeks left before we can pack away our Instructor's Guides for summer break, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pause to enjoy the changing of the seasons.

In fact, a short break from our regular routine to focus on a season that’s all about life, growth, and renewal may be the perfect way to rest and rejuvenate before tackling the end of our school year.

Whether we scatter a few activities over the course of a couple weeks or dedicate one whole day to seasonal fun, the following ideas are a starting point for my family as we decide how we want to mark the first day of spring.   

1. Get Outside to Enjoy Spring Nature

The best way to see how nature is changing is to be in it, so we’ll definitely be walking out the front door. Weather and schedules will dictate what we end up doing, but here are some options we’ll consider:

• Walk through our neighborhood or go on a hike. Pay attention to bulbs in bloom, blossoms on trees, and nests in trees.
• Visit a farm to see the baby animals.
• Plant some seeds or flowers. If the weather is uncooperative, make a plan for what we’ll plant and where it will go.

2. Savor Books About Spring or Poetry

Whether we want to read something overtly educational or choose something more for pleasure, there’s no shortage of ways that reading can be part of our celebration.

• Pull The Year at Maple Hill Farm from the shelf and read it over breakfast.
• Hop on your public library’s website and reserve both fiction and non-fiction books about spring and the changing of seasons.
• Look through A Treasury of Poetry for Young People, A Child’s Introduction to Poetry, The Llama Who Had No Pajama, A Child’s Anthology of Poetry, or whatever book of poetry we have on hand to find poems about the season of spring itself or anything we can tie into it. Have each of us share one poem with the rest of the family.

3. Create Beautiful Things

I’m definitely not the kind of mom who does arts and crafts, but that doesn’t mean my family can’t make things to celebrate the season. Whether we choose things that are to be enjoyed purely for their beauty, serve a more practical purpose, or are a combination of those goals, we’ll find something to create.

• Dry and press flowers from our walk or hike. Then use them for making bookmarks with contact paper or for adorning blank cards which we can mail out to friends.
• Prepare a meal that highlights spring produce or bake some distinctly spring-themed desserts. Then invite friends or family over to eat with us or deliver the food to homes or workplaces.
• Let each person select the artistic method they prefer—writing a poem, painting a picture, or carving a wood figurine—to create something that represents spring to them.

Whether you get outside, open books, create things, or do something entirely different, I hope you’ll join me in taking some time to savor the beginning of spring before we move forward to complete our school year.

Spring is also a perfect time for considering your curriculum for the fall. Request a Sonlight catalog and start planning your programs.

The post 3 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Homeschool as You Celebrate Spring appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Why Teach Our Children about Biblical Love

In society, love as a word and action is often oversimplified or misused. Understanding the biblical concept of love in its various forms can deeply enrich your children’s spiritual growth and relationships.

Helping your children understand that love isn’t just a feeling but a multifaceted expression of God’s character allows them to become better equipped to:

• Develop deeper relationships with God and others
• Navigate different types of relationships
• Understand God’s love for them more fully
• Make wise choices in different types of relationships
• Show Christ-like love to others  

The Seven Types of Love in the Bible

Love is mentioned in the Bible hundreds and hundreds of times. While it’s not the most used word in the Bible, love is a key theme and a driving principle that we see throughout scripture. So, how do you teach your child about biblical love?

Start by looking at the different types of love we see in scripture:

Agape: Unconditional, Perfect Love

Agape is the highest form of love described in scripture—God’s perfect, unconditional love for humanity. This love led God to give us His only son (John 3:16) and led Jesus to sacrifice Himself for our sins (Romans 5:8). Agape encompasses sacrifice, selflessness, and unconditional love shown to others and goes beyond a feeling as it is an action and commitment.

You can see this love exhibited throughout scripture:

• Loving our enemies (Matthew 5:43-46)  
• The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
• The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:13)

Philia: Friendship or Brotherly Love

Philia represents the deep bonds of friendship and love between the body of Christ. Mutual care and loyalty are at the heart of this type of love.

Examples of philia in the scripture include:

• David and Jonathan’s friendship (1 Samuel 18:1-3)
• The early church’s fellowship (Acts 2:42-47)
• Jesus’ friendship with His disciples (John 15:13-15)

Storge: Familial Love

Storge is the natural affection found in families. It’s the instinctive love parents have for their children and the bonds between family members. While the word storge is not explicitly mentioned in the scripture, the opposite of the word (astoragos) is used in Romans and 2 Timothy.

We also see many examples of familial love throughout scripture, including:

• Mary’s love for Jesus
• Ruth’s devotion to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17)
• Mary and Martha’s love for Lazarus

Philauia: Self-Love and Self-Compassion

This type of love refers to self-love. There is a healthy, God-honoring self-love rooted in the understanding that we are made in God's image (Genesis 1:27) and deeply valued by Him. Then there is an unhealthy self-love that becomes pride, self-absorption, and idolatry of self (2 Timothy 3:2).

Philauia is important because of its tie to how we love others; Jesus commands us to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:39), which reminds us that our love for ourself impacts the love we show others. When you talk with your kids about this love, you can point to these examples in scripture:

• Knowing we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
• Receiving God's forgiveness and extending it to ourselves (1 John 1:9)
• Caring for our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Ludus: Playful Love

Described as lighthearted and joyful, Ludus is the type of love found in moments of laughter and celebration. God created us for joy, and playful love reflects this gladness to others. We see this type of love in:

• Children playing in the streets (Zechariah 8:5)
• Our rejoicing and thankfulness (Philippians 4:4-7)
• Our shared joy at celebrations and feasts (Nehemiah 8:10)

Eros: Romantic Love

Eros represents the love between spouses, designed by God to be expressed within marriage. While the term eros isn’t directly used in the Bible, this type of love is evident in the scripture, as shown through Isaac and Rebekah’s relationship (Genesis 24-27) and throughout Song of Solomon.

Pragma: Enduring, Committed Love

Pragma is mature, steadfast love that grows and deepens over time through choice and commitment. It is the love that perseveres.  In marriage, in friendship, and in our walk with God, pragma represents love that chooses to stay.

Scripture is full of examples of this enduring love:

• The persevering love described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
• Boaz's loyal, committed care for Ruth (Ruth 2-4)
• God's steadfast, covenant love for His people throughout the Old Testament

Teaching Kids to Love Like Jesus

Through the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus tells us that loving our neighbors means caring for others who may pass by, looking past societal differences, and going out of our way for others without expectation of reciprocation. And, when asked what the most important commandment is, Jesus said it was to first love “God with all your heart,” soul, mind, and strength, and second to love “your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:30-31).

In addition to discussing the kinds of love in the Bible and the lives of those in scripture, you can teach children about biblical love by living out that love and:

• Sharing stories about when you’ve felt or shown love.
• Discussing how you and your spouse met and fell in love.
• Creating activities that point to the characteristics of Godly love.
• Looking for opportunities to talk about you and your child’s need for unconditional love and forgiveness.
• Praying for others, including those with whom your child may have had a disagreement.
• Affirming them when they show love or kindness unprompted.
• Modeling love and grace to your child even when offering them correction.
• Making vocal praise, singing worship songs together, pr using scripture-memory albums that focus on God’s heart and His kindness toward us.
• Encouraging them to show God their love through actions and obedience.
• Setting aside time to complete acts of kindness for loved ones and strangers alike.

By integrating stories that highlight compassion, friendship, and sacrificial love, Sonlight's curriculum not only educates but also shapes the character of young readers. Through these narratives, children develop a deeper understanding of biblical love and are inspired to reflect Christ-like love in their interactions, thereby fostering a lifelong commitment to empathy and service.

Looking for specific ways to explore the different types of love in the Bible? Download our FREE, printable love-centered activity guide, Cover the World with Love.

The post Love like Jesus: Teaching Children the Types of Love in the Bible appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Absolutely!

A literature-based approach introduces a feast of discovery, allowing elementary- and middle-school students to uncover a wide range of wild and wondrous scientific concepts.

Each Science level from A (grades K-2) to H (grades 7-9) integrates multiple facets:

• different disciplines
• hands-on experiments
• a spiral approach
• the scientific method

Science A, for example, introduces young children to the themes of biology, botany, and physics; Science D revisits biology, and adds in taxonomy and anatomy.  And when Levels A-H are completed, Sonlight offers phenomenal college-prep level lab science courses for high school, too.

Accessibility Through a Literature-Based Science Approach

Using real-life books for science education sends the message to kids that science isn’t something esoteric, found only in textbooks and laboratories; far from it! Science is everywhere, every day. In reading snippets from living books, encyclopedias, and biographies, while also:

• creating projects from household materials,
• devising experiments,
• following the scientific method, and
• practicing powers of observation,

we show kids they can glean gems of scientific delight from the pages of books, as well as from our own backyards. Science is for everyone, not just highly specialized experts.

And Sonlight's literature-based science offers multi-sensory learning, too. Literature-based doesn’t mean books only. In Science A through E, DVD tutorials guide you through how to conduct hands-on experiments. And in Science D and F, students sing through kingdoms, classifications, and anatomy with cleverly arranged Lyrical Life Science songs.

A Literature-Based Approach Teaches Kids to Think Critically and Develop a Worldview

Textbook authors wrap up chapters in neat summaries, providing suggested conclusions. This is necessary in college-prep lab courses, but before higher-level studies, spreading a study of science through multiple titles teaches kids to:

• engage with the material connected,
• recognize connections between diverse topics,
• see common themes presented in different ways,
• discern scientific fact from scientific theory, and
• sort through multiple perspectives.

When kids begin noticing the same principles and ideas presented in the lesson’s encyclopedia reading, a biography, and a selection from an additional assignment, they begin to see the thread of purpose woven throughout all of science. That perspective is so valuable! The skills of discernment and critical thinking will help students long after their days as students are over.

And I always appreciate Sonlight’s willingness to take on controversial topics—like origins—by allowing families to tackle the subjects head-on with the same kinds of books kids will encounter in the real world, rather than teaching these through rewritten, filtered resources. (Each Instructor’s Guide offers helpful notes, discussion suggestions, and general guidance to aid parents in talking through tough points, too.)

But Sonlight Science Jumps Around Too Much!

From time to time, I encounter curious questions about the multi-disciplinary format of Sonlight's literature-based science. Most of us are accustomed to the model typically used in high school and college classrooms: focusing on one discipline—in depth—for an entire year.

Because of this, we sometimes expect elementary and middle-school science programs to follow the same approach. While there is a place for such focused study, there’s also much to be said for a multi-genre method, especially in the years before high school.

The most obvious benefit is exposure. Following the Sonlight Science scope and sequence, kids will gain familiarity with an astronomical (pun intended) number of different scientific subject areas prior to high school:

• biology,
• botany,
• physics,
• zoology,
• astronomy,
• geology,
• meteorology,
• mechanical technology,
• taxonomy,
• human anatomy,
• electricity,
• magnetism,
• health,
• medicine,
• origins,
• conservation,
• robotics, and
• technology.

While my daughter has a special affinity for pill bugs and the human digestive system, the delightful array of topics in Sonlight Science also helped her uncover a previously-untapped love for carnivorous plants (Science A), the planet Mars (Science B), and those hilariously powerful birds, cassowaries (Science C.)

Tackling more than one science genre in a single course of study also allows for an excellent application of the spiral approach, wherein additional layers of detail are added on each time a topic resurfaces.

A Literature-Based Science Approach Allows for “the Joy of Discovery”

It’s worth noting, too, the discrepancy between our collective push for literacy compared to our attitude toward scientific literacy. Why is it that being well-read is celebrated in literary circles, while branching out into numerous areas of scientific study at a young age is seen as prematurely “jumping around”?

One would rarely hear the following complaint in a reading or literature class:

“My student was forced to read a short story, a sonnet, a novel, an autobiography, and a work of historical fiction. This is tackling too many literary genres! This literature class jumps around too much.”

And yet, that’s precisely what we tend to say when looking at science curriculum—we expect it to narrow in on one specific specialty, with no diversification.

But for young children, our goal in science is not necessarily to have them master any given discipline, but to introduce them to the nearly infinite world of scientific discovery, and encourage what the Science D Instructor’s Guide calls “the joy of discovery.”

Perhaps we can adjust our expectations of what primary- and middle-years science education looks like, and allow our children the freedom to enjoy as much variety in scientific discipline as we allow in our explorations of literature.

What delights will your children discover this year? Switch to Sonlight and reinvigorate your child's joy for learning and discovery with our literature-based science approach.

The post A Literature-Based Science Approach to Homeschooling appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

That’s why we created the Sonlight College Scholarship. Since the program began, we've awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships to Sonlight graduates pursuing their God-given callings. These awards recognize students for their academic achievements as well as their gifts in service, ministry, leadership, and the arts.

Today, we are honored to introduce our 2026 scholarship recipients. Learn about all nine students, awarded scholarships ranging from $4,000 to $20,000.

Meet Our $20,000 Winner

Christian R. (Ian), of Beavercreek, OH

The youngest of eight children, all homeschooled from an early age with Sonlight, Ian loves that homeschooling with Sonlight has given him a firm foundation for thinking about and entering the world as a light of Christ. Wherever God may place him, Ian desires to be a steady rock that points others to the true Rock of Christ.

His favorite part of homeschooling with Sonlight has been reading the many books and materials Sonlight assigns, not only because he loves reading them, but also because they bring the histories, philosophies, cultures, and accomplishments of people and places all over the world, right to his favorite recliner.

He has also enjoyed homeschooling because it has given him the flexibility to pursue many extracurricular activities, such as co-owning a lawncare company established in 2010 that serves over 25 customers. In addition to co-owning a business, Ian also:

• plays the French horn for a youth orchestra,
• loves sports, as he is on the Varsity soccer and track team, and enjoys disc golf and running,
• enjoys entertaining people with unicycle and juggling routines.

Homeschooling has also given him the flexibility to travel the world with his family, going on 3 multi-week trips and visiting 5 countries.

Ian loves using the gifts God has given him to bless and encourage others and make people smile. He is recognized as:   

• A sought-after handyman who can often be found in the workshop building or fixing things for someone.
• A very experienced cook, as he cooks for large groups to help his family, while they host around 45 college students on many Sundays.
• A creative who loves making beauty out of ordinary things, whether that be plating and garnishing his food, picking flowers from his garden, decorating his desk, or creating art and woodworking projects.

Ian is excited to attend Cedarville University, where he hopes to study industrial and innovative design and to participate in the honors program. He believes that this is the best way to use the gifts God has given him to glorify God and bless those around him.

Meet This Year’s $10,000 Winners

Each of the following students will receive a $10,000 scholarship ($2,500 per year).

Daniel B., of Poy Sippi, WI

Having grown up as a missionary kid in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Daniel has not only been exposed to multiple languages and cultures, but also knows a lot about flexibility and how to share his faith. Speaking four languages and having already visited 20 countries, he feels at home almost anywhere in the world. In addition to his flexibility and love for travel and adventure, he:

• plays multiple instruments,
• writes and records his own music,
• plays hockey as a goalie,
• takes photos while traveling, and
• enjoys just about anything to do with the outdoors.

He also actively joins his family in their mission work:

• leading music for church,
• translating,
• helping at youth and children’s camps,
• teaching Sunday school, and
• sharing the Gospel with friends.

Now, during his senior year of high school, Daniel works at a local recreation center run by Christian Norwegians, where he previously volunteered for 200+ hours. This has enabled him to get his own work visa, allowing him to stay in Mongolia and continue helping his parents until graduation. Throughout his whole life as a missionary kid, Daniel has come to see that across the world, “mission work remains the same: a loving group of family and friends reaching out and sharing Christ’s love through everyday interactions and connections with all they meet.”

In addition to his family’s strong faith and focus on Jesus, his homeschooling curriculum—including 12 cores of Sonlight—has helped create a firm foundation for his faith by encouraging him to ask critical questions and not be afraid to share with others what he knows and believes.

Because of this, he has decided to follow God’s calling to become a pastor and will start that journey by studying Biblical languages and theology at Concordia University in Saint Paul Minnesota. “I am ready to follow wherever [Jesus] leads,” says Daniel, “and I would not be surprised at all if that is right back to Central Asia.”

Brinley G., of Poy Oceanside, CA

While Brinley’s mom once claimed she would never homeschool, God had other plans. Brinley graduated in 2025 as a lifelong homeschooler who used Sonlight for 11 years. Thanks to Sonlight, she has been an avid reader from a young age.

While she can’t choose a favorite book from Sonlight, she’s loved reading missionary stories, historical fiction, and classic novels. She also enjoys history, writing, traveling, and having deep conversations with her family around the dinner table.

Brinley became a Christian at a young age, and throughout her life, she has been deeply involved in her local church:

• serving in children’s ministry,
• playing piano for the high school worship team, and
• founding and co-leading multiple Bible studies among her peers.

For a long time, she didn’t know whether to go to college, but after much consideration, she felt God leading her into the realm of Christian counseling. She is now a freshman in her second semester at California Baptist University, pursuing a double major in psychology and Christian behavioral science to become a marriage and family therapist. Her hope is to use her giftings and values to bridge gaps in mental health care and to offer Christ-centered counseling that brings hope and restoration to those who are hurting.

She loves college and enjoys learning in classroom settings, and she is deeply grateful for the strong Christian community surrounding her. She is involved in several on-campus Bible studies that focus on both being disciples and making disciples. She also has the incredible opportunity to go on a three-week mission trip this summer through her university. Her team will focus on ministering to the Deaf, one of the most unreached people groups in the world, and she is learning ASL and is an active member of her school’s ASL club to raise awareness of Deaf culture.

Brinley is thankful for the ways homeschooling through Sonlight equipped her to thrive in college with a strong biblical foundation and a love of learning, and she looks forward to seeing how God will continue to use her in the years to come.

Bethany R., of Almond, NY

Bethany has been homeschooled since pre-school and has grown up listening to her mom read Sonlight books aloud before bed, a memory that sparked a lifelong love of literature!

The flexibility of homeschooling has allowed her to invest in a variety of extracurricular activities like voice-over, ballet, and theatre. Many of these she has participated in through Family Life Ministries, a Christian radio and outreach ministry committed to spreading the message of hope found in Jesus Christ.

She has participated in many of their musicals and worship concerts, as well as being a member of their original Saturday-morning kids’ radio show. Being involved in this ministry has allowed her to develop her talents while sharing the gospel through the performing arts, an opportunity she is incredibly blessed to have.

Another of Bethany’s favorite pastimes is music. She started playing the piano at age six and has continued ever since. She has performed in many recitals and competitions, as well as accompanying choral groups from local high schools, colleges, and at church. She has served on her church’s worship team since she was 10 years old, and continues to play on lead piano, guitar, voice, or wherever they need her!

When she is not practicing or performing, you can find Bethany:

• baking,
• crocheting,
• reading, or
• styling her hair.

Despite her many talents, Bethany has found that her true passion is to help others. While she has been blessed with a sharp mind and a desire to achieve excellence in her work, she rarely feels more satisfied than when making others feel confident and valued. It is her desire to find a college and career that will equip her to use this passion, along with her many talents, to share the character and love of Christ with others.

Currently, she plans to attend Grove City College, majoring in business administration with a minor in musical theatre. However, her heart remains open for whatever the Lord has planned.

Meet This Year’s $4,000 Winners

Each of the following students will receive $4,000 ($1,000 per year).

Trevor R., of Beavercreek, OH

Trevor grew up in a military family with five siblings and has used Sonlight since he was eight. He has a love of history and devours his favorite literature with enthusiasm. Some of his favorite Sonlight novels include Hero of the Empire, A Night Divided, and The Case for Christ.

Trevor is an avid Boy Scout, earning his Eagle Scout with a project that honored fallen heroes at the Los Angeles National Cemetery. During his time in the Boy Scouts, Trevor backpacked at Philmont, where he served as Crew Lead for a group of boys hiking 70 miles over 12 days.

He enjoys participating in multiple Bible studies, including leading one online with friends in California. Trevor excels in several sports, including:

• baseball,
• ultimate frisbee,
• track, and
• soccer.

His favorite sport is soccer, and he was privileged to start as a winger on a local Christian varsity soccer team.

Trevor has a great sense of humor and loves to play complex board games. He has learned a variety of different skills while helping fix a multitude of maintenance issues at his church. This included:  

• filling a sinkhole (in 105-degree temperatures!),
• repairing a water well, and
• repaving the parking lot with gravel.

He also worked as an intern for his uncle, where he welded and learned stone veneer work while making industrial-grade signs.

After taking a graphic design class with his co-op, Trevor realized that God had given him a talent for designing. Trevor marvels at the creativity with which God has designed the universe and sees his own inclination towards the beautiful as a reflection of God.

He plans to attend Cedarville University this fall to study industrial design. Trevor is excited about how industrial design combines art and beauty with helping people solve problems; the two things that he enjoys most. He is excited to grow in his faith through the Christian community, the Bible minor, and faculty who will hone his current skills, teach him new ones, and do so while recognizing that his most creative endeavors magnify the ultimate Creator.

Luis M., of São Paulo, Brazil

Luis is grateful for all that homeschooling has provided for his life. The many years of homeschooling shaped his love for reading and writing, allowing him to explore ideas deeply and think critically. Most importantly, it gave him a thirst for learning that continues to guide his academic and personal growth.

Because he was born and raised in a Christian family, he was always involved with church activities. As his understanding of the importance of a healthy community grew, he began to participate more passionately by joining the worship team and using music to serve others.

He also assisted the A/V team before the service, learning responsibility and teamwork. Sonlight’s faith-driven curriculum also encouraged him to take part in two mission trips in Brazil, where he lives. Helping the organization, Athletes in Action, reach out to the poor in spirit deepened his relationship with Christ and strengthened his desire to serve with humility.

The adaptability of the curriculum has allowed him to experience many new activities and to develop different skills. He participated in two plays with his homeschooling community, which created many lasting memories and boosted his confidence in public speaking. His love for sports was also cherished, with practices and tournaments that taught discipline, perseverance, and leadership.

All these opportunities led him to Mackenzie Presbyterian University. There, he started an economics course, hoping to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. He is excited to meet new people, grow intellectually and spiritually, and prays that he can make a difference wherever God places him.

Geneva S., of Dayton, OH  

Genevea has spent her childhood in the Middle East and has been using Sonlight since 1st grade. She is extremely grateful to have had that privilege even overseas. The three things that have been consistent throughout all the transitions in her life include:

• God’s faithfulness,
• her spectacular family, and
• Sonlight books.

Sonlight’s treasure trove of books has instilled in Geneva a love for not only reading, but learning in general. She loves diving deeper into her favorite school subjects, including calculus, physics, chemistry, and economics. She is also constantly engaged in an assortment of hobbies. She has spent hours cultivating skills in baking, crocheting, playing music, programming, and swimming.

Geneva plays piano and violin and has been blessed with many opportunities to use those gifts to serve fellow missionary families in the Middle East, her church, a nursing home, and in her own home. She also plays in a youth orchestra and is extremely thankful for the experience and growth she has cultivated in her years there.

With seven younger siblings, Geneva has been blessed with a lot of firsthand experience caring for young children. After moving back to America a few years ago, Geneva returned to the Middle East for 3 months to serve as a nanny for a missionary family who had recently moved there. She cared for the three little boys during the day while the parents were in language school.

As she looks forward to the years ahead, she is encouraged by God’s righteousness and care. Lord willing, she will study engineering at Cedarville University in the fall.

At some point, she hopes to get married and have children of her own to homeschool. One way she hopes to serve, as she moves forward, is by ministering to international people, whether in other countries or here, in America. As a TCK, she is especially encouraged by interacting with people from other countries and learning about their cultures. She knows the Lord has given her this desire, and she looks forward to the opportunities He will set before her.

Elizabeth C., of Sunbury, OH

Having begun her homeschooling journey at age 4, Elizabeth has been homeschooled with Sonlight ever since—a Sonlighter for every grade level! Throughout her years of school, she has gained a deep love for reading, learning, and creativity. She loves spending time with her family and friends and being outside in nature.

One of Elizabeth’s favorite things is being a part of her church community. She has always had a heart for worship, and she loves to:

• play the piano,
• sing, and
• lead worship regularly at her home church.

She also enjoys being a leader at the middle school youth group, and she serves for Sunday morning kids’ classes and as a childcare leader during the week.

Elizabeth has a passion for figure skating and skates competitively throughout the year. She has medaled in several different competitions and loves to be on the ice whenever she can. She also loves learning about different cultures and had the opportunity to serve on a short-term missions trip to Brazil during her senior year. This experience sparked an excitement for traveling and grew her love for God, others, and God’s beautiful creation.

This past year, Elizabeth has held an intern position at her church, working in worship, youth, kids, and administrative areas. She loves the ministry field and is excited to see where God might lead her in the future.

She also has a passion for writing. She is currently writing a children’s book for kids at her church, and you can often find her deeply engrossed in journaling or writing a new story. She plans to pursue a professional writing degree at Cedarville University and looks forward to seeing how God will use it in her future. Above all, she looks forward to continuing to seek the Lord in everything she does.

Abigail B. of Hollandale, MN

Abigail is extremely grateful and blessed to have been homeschooled with Sonlight curriculum from middle school to graduation. Thanks to the Christ-centered material, she has matured and grown not only academically but also spiritually since she started homeschooling. Along with that, she has learned many valuable life skills that she will carry with her into college and beyond.

This fall, Abby looks forward to attending Bethany Lutheran College. Because her favorite Sonlight course is Advanced Biology, she wants to major in exercise science and one day become an athletic trainer. The more she learns about the human body, the more she realizes what an amazing and intricate God she serves. She can’t wait to share her passion and knowledge with others. She is so excited and thankful to see where God leads her in this next part of her life.

Abby is immensely grateful to Sonlight for the impact it has had on her life. Besides academics, if Sonlight has taught her one thing, it is to stand up for her faith. Because of this, Sonlight has helped establish a firm, rooted foundation in her faith, which continues to grow every day. She will strive to be the light of Jesus, spread His love to everyone she meets, and endeavor towards her goals and God’s plans for her life.

Congratulations to Our Winners & All 2026 Graduates

As we applaud these outstanding 2026 Sonlight Scholarship winners, we also want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s graduates and students. Whether your student is finishing high school, middle school, or elementary school, each stage of learning and growth is worth celebrating.

Our prayer for our scholarship winners and all Sonlighters is that God will guide them as they discover their gifts and passions and that they are encouraged to walk confidently in the purposes He has for them. May they continue to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and character, and may they find joy in learning and grace in every season.

To our Sonlight parents and families, we are honored to walk alongside you. Thank you for choosing Sonlight as your partner in your homeschool journey and for answering the call to homeschool. We pray that you recognize how your dedication, sacrifice, and love shape the next generation and have gotten your student to this milestone.

Are you homeschooling a future scholarship winner? Learn more about our scholarship requirements and how to apply in the coming years.

The post The 2026 Sonlight Scholarship Winners appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Each of these books is part of a larger Sonlight curriculum, ranging from elementary levels up to high school. Purchase an entire History / Bible / Literature program, individual titles, or a book collection that includes many of these fabulous biographies, non-fiction titles , and historical fiction novels.

If you love these titles, be sure to see the list of Christian Biographies for Young Readers, too.

1. Black Like Me

by John Howard Griffin

from Sonlight 400: American Government and Economics

In this nonfiction account of life in the South under Jim Crow, a white man darkens his skin to experience the black man's world in 1959.

He trudged southern streets searching for a place where he could eat or rest, looking vainly for a job other than menial labor, feeling the "hate stare." John Griffin crossed the line into a country of hate, fear, and hopelessness—the country of the American Black man. A true and disturbing story. This book includes violence, and due to the themes is appropriate for more mature students.

2. Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

by Russell Freedman

from Sonlight 100: American History

You've heard of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. But who were the rest of the boycotters?

• Why did they summon incredible courage and risk their jobs and personal safety?
• How did they pull off a city-wide boycott that lasted over a year?
• How did they get across town to their jobs every day?
• How did they change history?

Read Freedom Walkers to discover the answers. This gripping Civil Rights book brings a major event in the history of Civil Rights in America to life.

3. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

by Mildred D. Taylor

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E

This award-winning title is set in post-Civil War South. Meet the Logans, one of the few black families to own land: a cause for racial tensions and strife.

This story is one of overcoming unjust opposition. You will fall in love with the characters and more deeply understand the harmful impact of racism as you walk alongside them.

4. Bud, Not Buddy

by Christopher Paul Curtis

from Sonlight 100: American History

Bud, Not Buddy is an educational novel full of laugh-out-loud humor and wonderful characters, hitting the high notes of jazz and sounding the deeper tones of the Great Depression.

It's 1936 in Flint, Michigan. Times may be hard, and ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy who never knew his father, but Bud's got a few things going for him.

One is a collection of flyers for Herman E. Callowy and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression. Bud's got an idea those flyers will lead him to his father, and once he hits the road to find this mystery man, nothing can stop him.

5. King of the Mound

by Wes Tooke

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E

This book of historical fiction introduces children to the incomparable Satchel Paige, a pitcher every American should know about.

When Nick is released from the hospital after suffering from polio, he's sure his father will never look at him in the same way again. Once the best pitcher in youth league, Nick now walks with a limp and is dependent on a heavy leg brace. He isn't sure he'll ever return to the mound. When Nick starts working for Mr. Churchill, owner of a semiprofessional team, he meets Satchel Paige, arguably the best pitcher in the world.

Not allowed into the major leagues because of his skin color, Satchel teaches Nick that some things can be overcome with hard work and dedication, and that just because you're down, you're most certainly not out.

6. In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

by Bette Bao Lord

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E

In this historical fiction novel, meet the amazing Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play on an integrated major league baseball team.

In 1947, a Chinese girl comes to Brooklyn, where she starts to feel at home and to make friends.

After earning the friendship of the toughest girl in class, she is included in the playground stickball games and becomes a loyal fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers. This book is both humorous and thought-provoking.

7. Phoebe the Spy

by Judith Griffin

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature D

This novel tells the dramatic true story of a little black girl, Phoebe, who saved the life of George Washington from an assassination attempt. It's exciting!

8. George Washington Carver

by Janet & Geoff Benge

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E

George Washington Carver, once a kidnapped enslaved child, overcame significant obstacles to become an outstanding scientist. One of his most dramatic findings was how to grow useful crops even on very marginal soil. This scientist biography presents an inspiring African-American role model for all of us.

9. Freedom Train

by Dorothy Sterling

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature E

This biography features Harriet Tubman, who walked enslaved people to freedom at great personal risk. There is hardly a better way to understand the Underground Railroad than to read the true story of The Moses of Her People.

Your children will develop empathy and courage simply by being immersed in her bold life story.

10. Up From Slavery

by Booker T. Washington

from Sonlight 400: American Government and Economics

Up From Slavery is an autobiography that recounts Washington's life from childhood as a slave, through his struggle for education, his founding and presidency of Tuskegee Institute and his rise to national prominence. This simply written, anecdotal life story bears the mark of a man of real courage, talent, and dedication.

Booker T. Washington was a devoutly Christian man who, as a former slave, walked a dangerous middle ground in a time of racial backlash and disfranchisement. He sought to educate and encourage recently freed slaves. As he publicly acquiesced to whites on issues of social equality, he fiercely exhorted blacks to unite and improve their lot.

11. Walk the World’s Rim

by Betty Baker

from Sonlight's History / Bible / Literature D

Watch endurance rise to the challenge of cruel injustice during the earliest days of Europeans in the Americas. A 14-year old Indian joins Cabeza de Vaca's 16th-century expedition through the Southwest.

This vivid portrait of Mexican life and the harsh conditions of a primitive Indian tribe will both teach and touch you.

12. Elijah of Buxton

by Christopher Paul Curtis

from Sonlight 100: American History

This inspiring, coming-of-age story is set in a settlement of runaway slaves who have escaped to Canada.

Eleven-year-old Elijah is the town's first child to be born free. But instead of feeling like a brave beacon for freedom, Elijah just feels like a fra-gile boy who is scared of snakes. When duty calls, however, Elijah embarks on a dangerous journey that might make a hero of him yet. This novel is a powerful story of a boy who grapples with the harsh realities of racial injustice.

See these books and more in the Sonlight catalog.

The post 12 Must-Read Books for Black History Month appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Here are a few ideas to start meaningful Lenten traditions for your family. Following the format that we use when we design a Sonlight Unit Study, these suggestions include literature, crafts, and cooking.

A Devotional Spine for Your Lenten Study

This year I found a resource that I plan to use for my own Lenten devotional time: LENT IN PLAIN SIGHT: A Devotion through Ten Objects by Jill J. Duffield. The author focuses on ten ordinary objects in order to draw meaning from Jesus’s last days. With each object, the author focuses on scriptures that incorporate the object. For example, the week that focuses on bread, you read Exodus 16:4 where it talks about bread from heaven, and on the next day you read Mark 7:8 about the dogs who eat the crumbs under the master’s table.

Although this devotional not written for children, you can benefit from the devotional yourself and then share what you learn with your children, doing simple activities to reinforce what you read and learn.

Sadie’s Favorite Chicken

For example, the week you learn about bread you might bake a homemade no-knead bread. Or the day you read about bread crumbs, make breaded cutlets. My niece loves this chicken recipe so much that we now call it Sadie’s Favorite Chicken. I'm happy to share our recipe with you.

Ingredients

• 4 thinly-sliced chicken breast, pounded even thinner (or however many you need for your family)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup breadcrumbs (my family likes Progresso seasoned Italian breadcrumbs)

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Beat the egg and place it in a dinner plate.
3. Sprinkle the bread crumbs onto a paper towel and place it next to the dish with the egg.
4. Place an empty dinner plate next to the bread crumbs.
5. Dip a chicken cutlet in the egg, coating both sides. Let the egg drip in the dish before moving the chicken to the bread crumbs.
6.  Sprinkle bread crumbs on top of the cutlet and using the blade of your hand, pound the bread crumbs into the chicken. Flip to the other side and repeat the pounding.
7. Place the breaded cutlet in the clean dish. Repeat until all the chicken is coated.
8. Lay the cutlets on the prepared cookie sheet and either spray with olive oil cooking spray or brush olive oil on with a pastry brush.
9. Cook for 10 mins then flip and coat with oil. Cook an additional 5-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Do not overcook or the chicken will be tough.
10. Serve with slices of lemon.

Need more ideas?

The week you focus on oil, you could make an olive oil lamp (do an internet search for ideas) and make ladokouloura (Greek olive oil cookies.) Fasting is one of the practices during Lent. When Greeks fast, they abstain from eating animal products (meat, fish, dairy, eggs). Since these cookies are vegan, they make the perfect sweet treat during nistia (lent).

My family really enjoys cooking and eating, so I would probably find additional traditional Lenten or Easter recipes. For example, what are traditional foods from your heritage? What would your ancestors have made for the season? In Italy, we make chiacchiere (or cenci) for Fat Tuesday (they are fried in oil – very rich!) and pastiera napoletana for Easter.

Here are additional suggestions to consider during the Lenten season.

Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. Shrove comes from the word shrive, which means to give absolution after hearing confession. It was the last day before the period of fasting began so it was an opportunity to use up and not waste those foods that couldn’t be eaten during Lent. This is where the tradition of eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday originates because they included eggs, fat, and milk, which were forbidden foods. In the French-speaking world, the day is known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday and in Italy and Spanish-speaking countries, it is known as Carnevale.

If you are not from a liturgical background but would like to experience some ancient traditions, find a church near you that will have an Imposition of the Ashes service. This is a solemn service where people are marked with ashes in the same manner that they were signed with the Cross in Baptism on the forehead.

5 Spiritual Disciplines for a Beautiful Lent

In celebrating Lent, we hope to foster a deeper spiritual awareness through the practice of disciplines that will allow us to more fully experience the joy of the Resurrection.

For music, listen to Sonlight’s Lenten playlist on Spotify.

1. Self-examination and Repentance

If you are not familiar with the typical disciplines practiced during this season, we begin with self-examination and repentance. (Joel 2:12, Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 139:23-24). Each person should think about how they have fallen short of the glory of God and repent (turn away from) any sin they can name in their lives. They should ask God to reveal any sin that is hidden from themselves.

2. Prayer

If you don’t already make it a practice to spend daily time in prayer, develop a new habit and plan to set aside some time to focus daily on prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7). Brainstorm with your children a list of people you can pray for.

For example

• Monday - family members
• Tuesday - neighbors
• Wednesday - friends
• Thursday - people serving in the armed forces or police
• Friday - people who work in the service industry

You might even reach out to these people before Lent begins and ask for ways you can pray for them. Then check back in after Easter for an update. Record their prayers on 3x5 cards as well as any answers.

3. Fasting and Self-denial

It is tradition to fast and practice self-denial during Lent because Jesus expected his followers to spend some time fasting. Jesus said to his disciples “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16) implying that it will be done. With younger children you might suggest they abstain from a favorite food or activity. Brainstorm together what that might be. It should be reasonable but not easy. It should be something you should notice or miss. Try giving up something that has a stronghold in your life.

4. Bible Reading

Reading and meditating on God’s word is another common Lenten practice. (Joshua 1:8). There are scriptures in the book I mentioned above, or you can read the passages in Amon’s Adventure. Use the questions for reflection.

5. Almsgiving

Lastly, almsgiving or giving something away—the twin to giving something up. (Proverbs 19:17)

You can give away money, your time, or your resources to serve others sacrificially. One idea is to create a giving jar and donate the contents to a favorite charity. Children can deposit a coin for every act of giving they do in the family. Encourage them to think of various ways they can give kindness to their siblings: ask your sister to go first at lunch time, allow your brother to borrow the toy he asked about, tell mom that you will dry the dishes all week even if it isn’t your regular chore. Another idea is to shop for a food pantry. Let the children pick out something they would want to eat.

As you decide what new experiences you want your family to have during this time, start with some simple traditions. Give yourself grace when things don’t go according to plan. Small, meaningful moments will create a home culture focused on Jesus.

May these 40 days (not counting Sundays – they are little Easters) bring renewal to your heart. May you experience joy in your faith and your life as you are spiritually fed and nourished in your disciplines. Declare your dependence on God as you deny your cravings.

The post Simple Ways to Celebrate Lent with Children appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

• Possibly your curriculum isn't a good fit.
• It could be a teaching approach that is causing frustration or boredom.
• Maybe your child's school environment is toxic and causing anxiety.

You know there's a problem. But should you push through and tough it out to the end of the year? Or is it time to try something new—midway through the school year?

If your school experience is more frustrating and less productive than you would like it to be, don’t waste any more time. You can have the homeschool experience you want. Switching to a new curriculum or ending your relationship with the school system doesn’t have to be a painful process even if you are mid-stream in the school year.

Don't let sunk costs in a bad situation keep you stuck. And don't think that you have to wait for a fresh school year to switch. You can make a switch at any point. The sooner the better!

Don't worry about the fact that there's no way you can complete a full year's worth of curriculum in the school year that's left. It's okay! There are three options for dealing with that situation when you make a mid-year switch to homeschooling with Sonlight:

1. Stretch out a History/Bible/Literature program.
2. Focus on advancing skill-based subjects.
3. Complete a portion of a History/Bible/Literature program.

Don’t put off this change any longer. Switch to Sonlight and give your children the education you’ve dreamed of. It’s never too late to switch!

#SONLIGHTSTORIES

"Rosalynne absolutely loves reading, and Sonlight provides her with such a rich combination of books that speak right to the heart. I made the switch to Sonlight with my older children in History / Bible / Literature D, and I haven't had a moment's regret since!"

Lena Q. in Kincheloe, MI

1. Stretch Out a Sonlight HBL

Choose a Sonlight program for you child based on two factors:

• the placement tests for Math, Reading, and Language Arts
• age/grade range for History / Bible / Literature (HBL)

Then begin on Week 1, Day 1 of your HBL Instructor's Guide no matter if you're starting in October or January. Work through the program until your school year is finished in the spring. Stop for the summer wherever you are in your History / Bible / Literature curriculum.

For skill-based subjects like Math, Reading, and Language Arts, finish your programs over the summer.

In the fall, pick up the History / Bible / Literature program wherever you left off before summer break. As far as the skill-based subjects, advance to the next level.

There are variations of this method depending on how much time you have left in your school year and what History / Bible / Literature level you choose. The bottom line is this: Finish the skill-based subjects to keep your child advancing and stretch out the History / Bible / Literature to cover all or part of the next school year.

#SONLIGHTSTORIES

"We have been a homeschooling family for more than 9 years now on the mission field in Madagascar. After three years of working with Dutch schoolbooks and trying to fill in the gaps, we discovered and switched to Sonlight with much thankfulness! Sonlight curriculum reflects what I want for my children, deep in my heart."

Anita R. in Madagascar

2. Get Ready to Advance with Skill-Based Subjects

If you are close to the end of the school year when you switch to homeschooling with Sonlight, it may not make sense to start a History / Bible / Literature program at all. In that case, choose your Skill-based subjects (Math, Language Arts, and Reading) and complete those before the next school year so that you can advance on time. Without an HBL element, you can fill your days with those skill subjects. Start fresh in the fall with an All-Subjects Package.

#SONLIGHTSTORIES

"We switched to homeschooling last year and were blown away by the difference in my daughter's learning.

Putting together a whole curriculum myself was overwhelming and left me constantly second-guessing if I was doing right by her education. With a 1-year-old running around and another baby on the way, I knew that we need a well-rounded and engaging curriculum for the coming year. Sonlight to the rescue! With the quality of books we received and her initial reaction, I'd say we made the right choice! "

Megan W. in Kokomo, IN

3. Complete Most of the HBL and Call It Good

If you have time to complete most of a year’s worth of History / Bible / Literature, you might decide to simply call it good when its time for your school year to end. Sonlight programs are so rich that you will likely have had a very full year regardless of the number of weeks you’ve finished.

Advance your child to the next level in the fall right on schedule.

Whether you choose one of these ideas or come up with your own unique variation, switching mid-year does not have to mean skipping your summer break or working extra long days just to check every box.

Seize the opportunity to revitalize your child’s education with something fresh. And, as always, our Education Consultants are here to help you find a path forward. If you need help choosing a package or talking through what a mid-year switch would mean for your family, our Consultants are here and ready to help.

The post How to Make a Mid-Year Switch to Homeschooling with Sonlight appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.

Some parents worry that any attention to Christmas magic will distract from Jesus. But it doesn’t have to be either/or. It can be both/and. 

"'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." For generations, Clement Clarke Moore's beloved poem has painted a picture of Christmas Eve wonder—stockings hung by the chimney, visions of sugar plums, and the sound of reindeer hooves on the roof. It's a tradition woven into the fabric of countless family celebrations.

But for Christian parents, the poem raises an important question: How do we balance the enchantment of Santa Claus with the profound truth of Jesus's birth? Is there room for both flying reindeer and shepherds in the fields? Can twinkling lights on the Christmas tree coexist with the Light of the World?

The answer is deeply personal and family-specific. There's no single "right" approach to Christmas traditions. Some families embrace Santa wholeheartedly alongside their celebration of Christ's birth. Others skip Santa entirely, focusing exclusively on the nativity. Some families also enjoy sharing the historical story of Saint Nicholas—a Christian bishop known for generosity—which can help connect cultural traditions to Christian faith and history, while still celebrating Jesus. 

Many find themselves somewhere in the middle, weaving cultural traditions and gospel truth together in ways that reflect their values and their children's needs. Like many matters of Christian freedom (Romans 14), how families approach Santa is ultimately a wisdom issue, not a salvation issue. Faithful Christian parents may arrive at different conclusions while still honoring Christ.

What matters most isn't whether you include Santa in your celebrations—it's whether Jesus remains at the center. The goal isn't to eliminate wonder and delight from Christmas, but to ensure that the greatest wonder of all—God becoming human to save us—captures your family's imagination most fully. Christ alone deserves our worship, and all cultural traditions—if included at all—must remain clearly secondary, never competing with His glory.

Both/And Not Either/Or

You don't have to choose between cultural traditions and gospel truth. You can read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas AND the Christmas story from Luke. You can sing "Jingle Bells" AND "O Come, All Ye Faithful." You can enjoy twinkling lights and decorated trees AND keep your primary focus on the incarnation.

The key is proportion and intentionality. As long as Jesus remains central, as long as your children clearly understand the gospel, as long as wonder at the incarnation exceeds wonder at cultural traditions, you can embrace the beauty of both.

After all, we worship a God who loves celebration, who invented beauty and delight, who designed humans to experience joy. He's not opposed to wonder—He invites it. He just wants that wonder directed toward Himself. For families who choose not to include Santa out of a desire to guard truthfulness or avoid confusion, that choice is both understandable and honorable.

Wonder Isn't the Enemy of Worship

Some parents worry that any attention to Christmas magic will distract from Jesus. But consider this: God Himself designed humans to experience wonder and awe. He created a world full of beauty, mystery, and delight precisely so we would marvel.

The problem isn't wonder—it's misdirected wonder. The goal isn't to eliminate all sense of magic from Christmas but to ensure the greatest wonder is directed toward the incarnation itself. When we speak of “wonder,” we don’t mean mystical power or superstition—we mean the childlike awe and joy God built into us as His creation.

Think about it: God became human. The Creator entered His creation as a helpless infant. Divinity clothed in flesh. The Word who spoke galaxies into existence learned to babble "mama" and "abba." Eternal life subjected Himself to time, hunger, tiredness, and eventually death.

If that doesn't fill you with wonder, you're not paying attention. The incarnation is the most astonishing event in history. It makes flying reindeer look mundane by comparison.

So cultivate wonder in your children. Let them feel the enchantment of candlelight, the mystery of wrapped gifand ts, the anticipation of Christmas morning. But make sure the most wonder-inducing element of Christmas is the gospel story itself. Some families choose to enjoy Santa as a clearly identified story or symbol, while being open with their children about what is pretend and what is true—protecting trust while still allowing room for imagination.

Practical Ways to Keep Christ Central

If you’re looking for ways to balance cultural traditions with gospel truth, consider the following:

• Read the Christmas story (Luke 2) multiple times. Don't just read Luke 2 on Christmas Eve. Read it multiple times throughout December. Let it be as familiar as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Make it the story your children know by heart.
• Create gospel-centered traditions. Advent wreaths, nativity scenes, Jesse trees, and Christmas carol sing-alongs all focus attention on Christ's birth. These traditions create space for conversation about why Jesus came.
• Use Advent to build anticipation. Just as secular culture builds excitement toward Santa's arrival, use Advent to build anticipation for celebrating Jesus's birth. Count down. Talk about how people waited centuries for the Messiah. Let the excitement mount toward Christmas Day.
• Give gifts that point to Jesus. When you give presents, explicitly connect them to God's gift of Jesus. "We give gifts at Christmas because God gave us the best gift. Everything good in our lives comes from Him."
• Serve others. Make service a central part of your Christmas celebration. When you focus on giving to others, you're reflecting the heart of Christmas—God's sacrificial giving to us.
• Attend Christmas services. Worship services keep the focus on Jesus. Even if your children squirm through parts of it, their presence in a gathered community celebrating Christ's birth reinforces what Christmas is truly about.
• Display the Nativity prominently. Your nativity scene should be central in your decorations—not tucked away or competing equally with secular decorations. Let it be clear what holds primary importance.
• Pray together. Throughout the season, pray prayers of thanksgiving for the incarnation. "Thank you, Jesus, that you came to earth as a baby to save us."

Answering Children's Questions

As your children encounter different approaches to Christmas, from purely secular to strictly religious, they'll have questions. Here are some starting points on how you might respond:

• "Why do some families do Santa and others don't?" "Different families make different choices about traditions. What matters most is that all Christians celebrate Jesus's birth. How families include or don't include other traditions is up to each family."
• "Is it wrong to enjoy Santa stories?" "No! Stories can be fun even when they're not true. We can enjoy 'Twas the Night Before Christmas just like we enjoy other fairy tales. But we remember that it's a story, and the real, true story of Christmas is even better."
• "Why do we give presents if it's Jesus's birthday?" "That's a great question! We give gifts to each other because God gave us the gift of Jesus. Our giving reminds us of God's generosity to us."
• "If Jesus is what matters, why do we have a Christmas tree?" "We can enjoy beautiful traditions that make Christmas special without them being the main point. Think of them like decorations at a birthday party—they're fun and make the celebration nice, but they're not the reason for the party. At a birthday party, we celebrate the person whose birthday it is. At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus."

When Cultural Elements Become Too Much

Pay attention to what's capturing your children's imagination and excitement. If they're significantly more interested in what they're getting from Santa than in the story of Jesus's birth, it's time to rebalance.

Some signs you might need to adjust:

• Children can name all of Santa's reindeer, but don't know the Christmas story.
• More energy goes into Santa activities than into worship or service.
• Children are anxious or obsessed with behavior because of "naughty or nice" concerns.
• You realize you've inadvertently taught more about North Pole mythology than about Bethlehem history.

If this happens, don't panic. Simply recalibrate. Scale back secular elements. Increase gospel-focused activities. Have direct conversations about what's real and what's pretend, what's central and what's peripheral. 

In life, it's all about balance. When the balance gets "off," we shift things to bring it back into alignment. And if you are going to be off-balance, err on the side of Jesus. Our goal isn’t perfection but faithfulness in pointing our children toward Christ. 

Looking for books that center Christ in the Christmas story? Sonlight books are the best books because we are so selective when it comes to our collection, including our Christmas books and bundles. 

The post Balancing Christmas Traditions with Gospel Truth  appeared first on Sonlight Homeschooling Blog.