Principle #13 “In devising a SYLLABUS for a normal child, of whatever social class, three points must be considered:
(a) He requires much knowledge, for the mind needs sufficient food as much as does the body.
(b) The knowledge should be various, for sameness in mental diet does not create appetite (i.e., curiosity).
(c) Knowledge should be communicated in well-chosen language, because his attention responds naturally to what is conveyed in literary form.” (Vol. 6)
Our pastor and his wife came over for supper the other night and my children proceeded to pull out some of their favorite books to show them. They were enthusiastic to share the weird, unusual and interesting ideas they’d come into contact with through our home library. My 7-year-old daughter shared about the Pink River Dolphin of the Amazon, my 12-year-old son relayed his World War II knowledge and my 9-year-old son told an animated tale about the turtle submarine used during the Revolutionary War - which, it turns out, our guests had seen a replica in person. High five, Pastor Chuck.
I enjoyed watching my children erupt with excitement to share all they’d learned. Their curiosity propelled them to dig out the information for themselves. Then they gloried in sharing what they’d learned with the kind man who was willing to listen with interest. These are the moments we aspire for as homeschooling moms. A little taste of self-educating heaven warms the heart and propels us beyond the mundane routine and into hope.
Ms. Mason encourages us when she says, “I think we owe it to children to let them dig their knowledge, of whatever subject, for themselves out of the fit book…” (School Ed pg 177)
And so today, we will look at putting “fit books” in the way of children through the intentional curation of the home library.
What is a Living Book?
A living book is one that brings the enthusiasm and love of the subject from the author to the reader. This is the sort of book that you can enjoy as a child and revisit as an adult and pull new ideas and truths from its pages each time. The book is alive because the author was inspired, excited and curious about the topic at hand. He had original thoughts about the topic and then shared these ideas through the book. Another thing to note is that the content of the book will hit on something that is common to all mankind. It will be engaging because it brings us outside of ourselves. Living books are essential for children to begin the process of learning for themselves.
Organizing a Home Library: A Feast of Ideas
With so many books to read and only one childhood to be lived, Mason helps us by creating categories to guide us and offer our children a wide range of topics each school year. It is a discipline to set out a program for a year and work through it line by line, day by day. The books for the syllabus are selected and organized in the CM Homeschool are sorted into the following categories: Knowledge of God, Knowledge of Man, and Knowledge of the Universe.
1. Knowledge of God
We are learning about God through the primary source: The Bible. Reading through and memorizing scripture directly brings children in touch with the Living God through His word that is eternal, infallible and beautiful. The storybook Bibles can serve its purpose, but not without reading from an actual Bible translation. We want children to be at home with the language, phrases and even the hard words that come from reading a solid translation of scripture. Knowledge of God can also involve reading through a Bible commentary and going through a catechism. These are helpful tools for parents looking to redeem their own theological education.
As we introduce children to their Creator through scripture formally, it’s good to keep in mind their life and habits that also nourish them. These means of grace are a part of the common everyday parts of life AND they are very much a part of our children's education. We are formed by what we do. Attending church each Sunday, praying before meals, at bedtime, singing hymns and songs all contribute to their growth of knowledge and shape their affections toward our Lord. You may do it when you rise, when you walk along the road and again when you go to bed- yeah, all the time - it’s the air we breathe.
As we look at the next two categories, Knowledge of Man and Universe, we are actually learning about God through discovering how He ordered the world and works through humanity to reveal himself to us. Each subject and interest points back to Him, illuminates a new facet of His character and helps us love what we ought and bring glory to His name. Keep in mind that these might not be subjects that you are interested in… yet! Just remember there is NO part of creation that Christ himself does not lay a claim to. All of it is His. He is over all and in all and through all. He’s even in history, literature and poetry…
2. Knowledge of Man
These books include biographies, literature, poetry, citizenship, writing composition, grammar and languages. Here, we learn about what men have done throughout history and how God works in man’s story. Children come into direct contact with tales that have inspired mankind over the ages. We meet the poets who can shine the light on a truth or a common thing and make it easier to understand and more beautiful. We see by example what it means to be a good citizen. We practice using language so that we can think more clearly and communicate more effectively. The easiest place to start is books about the lives of real men and women from ages past.
Biographies inspire a virtuous life. It is through meeting men and women, boys and girls who have lived in times past that children begin to understand their place in the story of history and how God works through all of it. Then they will thrill as they follow Alexander the Great as he rides his famous horse for the first time, mourn with Joan of Arc as she is sentenced in court, imagine what it must have been like to grow up in the musical Bach family and follow Jim Elliot as he brings the gospel into Ecuador. These stories become a part of us and shape our family culture.
Knowledge of Man also comes in the forms of literature. The great stories told by Shakespeare, Homer, C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkein, James Herriot, Beatrix Potter and more are brought to children to feed their minds with nourishing ideas. The stories order their hearts and minds to love what they ought to love and to be moved to see a world that is larger than themselves in the safe context of the story. They learn what goodness is by reading about Cinderella and her goodness. In turn, they see what it is to be wicked despite the physical beauty of the stepsisters. The discoveries to be made as we explore humanity are vast and lead us to the discovery of God’s creation.
3. Knowledge of the Universe
These books cover science, nature study, geography and math. Here, we learn about how God ordered the world. Children become intimately familiar with His goodness through creation. “In the beginning”, we read, “God created the heavens and the earth.” This is where we learn God made all things present in the spiritual world and the material world. It is through the study of creation that we explore the material world that God created and through the material creation we can begin to touch on the truths present in the spiritual world.
We are able to study the vast creativity of God by putting children into contact with the great naturalist and insect enthusiast Henri Fabre, for instance, as he tells of the ant and its building, eating and colonizing habits. He learned through careful observation and any of us - if we could harness our own power of attention - could observe for ourselves. He makes the insect world come to life through his lively descriptions. He brings beauty into the common things and certainly brings us before the throne of God in his enthusiasm to discover the habits and movements of these tiny creatures. A teacher such as this, met through a book, sparks joy into the heart of a child.
Cultivating a Love of Learning
A well-stocked library is just the beginning. The real magic happens when children feel free to explore and make connections. I’ve found that a practice as simple as narration—asking my kids to tell back what they’ve read—turns their learning into a joyful habit. Narration helps them internalize what they’ve learned, and it often leads to enthusiastic retellings, like the ones they shared with Pastor Chuck and his wife.
This approach fosters curiosity. When children are surrounded by books that spark wonder, they’re naturally drawn to dig deeper. I’ll often find my kids following a rabbit trail—a book about birds leads to a fascination with migration patterns, which then connects to a geography lesson. Their education becomes a living thing, constantly growing and branching out.
Memories Made Through Books
One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is the shared memories that books create. We’ve listened to the audiobook of Winnie-the-Pooh on repeat for years- making sure that each little one in turn gets to be introduced to Christopher Robin and all the animals in the Hundred Acre Wood. If someone is having a bad day one of us might reply “what’s the trouble, Piglet?” The language from the story has made its way into our family life and become a part of us.
Remember, feeding our children’s souls isn’t just about preparing them for tests or college applications. It’s about giving them a lifelong love of learning, a sense of wonder about the world, and a foundation of faith and character. Through the books we choose, we can invite them to the feast of ideas and watch as their hearts and minds are nourished.
The home library helps to support the learning atmosphere in the homeschool. Home librarian is one of the many hats you will wear. Each year will bring new interests, pursuits and opportunities for digging. Yes, we will plan and organize and assign books to read. And also we will face out books and tidy things up and see what books will grab the attention of our children. We really do want them to come to books with so much interest that they learn for themselves and can’t help but share what they’ve learned.
I’ll leave you with a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson called The Land of Story-books:
These are the hills, these are the woods,
These are my starry solitudes;
And there the river by whose brink
The roaring lions come to drink.
I see the others far away
As if in firelit camp they lay,
And I, like to an Indian scout,
Around their party prowled about.
So, when my nurse comes in for me,
Home I return across the sea,
And go to bed with backward looks
At my dear land of Story-books …
Are the books in my home easily accessible? How can I set up space or face out books to make them more inviting?
Do I need to filter or get rid of books that don’t meet my standards for nourishing my children?
Which category—Knowledge of God, Knowledge of Man, or Knowledge of the Universe—do I feel most confident in providing? Which one might need more attention in our home library?
How can I encourage my children to engage more deeply with the books they read? Can we draw pictures? Act out the stories? Look up details or things described to inform their imaginations?
What books have come into our family culture (for good or ill)? What is the difference between our schoolbooks and leisure books in impacting family culture?
**If you want to be effective with your Nature Study work, check out my Nature Study Hacking Guides at www.naturestudyhacking.com. Learn how to get outside and use those lovely nature journals.**
20 Principles of a Liberating Education:
#2 The Good and Evil Nature of Children
#3 Parents are in Charge and Children Must Obey
#4 Limits to Our Authority as Parents and Educators
#5 Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life| a primer
#9 Feeding the Hungry Mind
#10 From Bucket Heads to Bright Minds| The True Role of Teacher & Learner#11 Drop the Timeline Song| Education is Cultivating Wisdom Through Nourishing Ideas
#13 The Curriculum i.e. The Living Library (You are Here)
Bibliography for further reading:
In Vital Harmony by Karen Glass
Start Here, a Journey through Mason’s 20 Principles by Brandy Vencel
Philosophy of Education by Charlotte Mason
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