Our new book, Shovelhorns and Black Bruin, is selling like hotcakes! I think more and more parents are realizing that the classic books are the best; these novels by Clarence Hawkes (circa 1908-9) are definitely classics. With two classic novels in one book, it’s also a great deal.
To celebrate, we’re giving away a hot-off-the-press copy to a lucky winner, and it could be you! Just leave a comment here answering this question:
How do your children benefit from reading classic books?
By commenting, you’ll be automatically entered in the drawing for this giveaway. Deadline for entries is midnight, August 19, 2010. Don’t miss out: comment now!
8-20-10 Please note: contest is now closed.
Excellent writing! That is what comes to the top of my head after reading the chapter in the Little House in The Big Woods about the dance. The description that Ingalls uses to describe Grandma and Uncle George jigging is priceless!
Other ways they benefit…wholesome values, historical perspectives, and refreshing get-aways from the here and now.
I’m excited. Put my name in the hat!
My children benefit from classic books by seeing what it is like in the old days. And seeing God’s hand working in other peoplse’s lives and what they went through and how much easier we have it now technologically but spiritually we are in a wasteland.
I think that reading classic traditional stories helps young boys to grow up into solid well rounded men. They gain role models in the characters they read about. When those characters are fine upstanding and moral men and boys they learn what being a man means.
I would love to read these stories and have my son read them too.
They love being read too! They learn and grow in imagination, vocabulary and how to think …we love reading out loud!
Classic literature tends to teach good character, too. These books use a wider vocabulary than is common and are very well written! I have a 13-year-old son and would love to have a copy of these stories.
I just love, love, love all the classic stories. The characters are wise, funny, loving and teach great morals to all. No swearing, and inappropriate behavior at all!! It is great that my son loves reading as much as I do!!
Hope we win!!
Children benefit from reading classic books in many, many ways. I would have to say the biggest way is through moral values. Most characters in these books learn good character lessons. Those that have a poor character qualities usually have that trait ‘refined’ or changed by the end- or they suffer real consequences along the way.
Wonderful teaching tool! Exciting, too!
I would love to have this for my youngest (DS10) to read! He loves animals and animal stories. This sounds right up his alley.
My children benefit in numerous ways from reading classic books: rich vocabulary, God-honoring values, and interesting stories are just a few benefits. My 3 boys (and 4 girls!) would love this book.
The language, sentence structure and vocabulary that comes out after the children have been reading good literature (usually classics) reminds me how shallow modern language tends to be. There is a richness that is not comon in newer writing. When the children were younger the classics fed their imagination and gave them such material for imaginary play. Thanks for this opportunity to get hold of these stories Barbara.
Classics and other favorites were a staple when our kids were younger. Can’t imagine what we’d have done without them! What a great giveaway, thanks for doing this.
Blessings,
Karen
My children benefit from the classics through the rich vocabulary, deep story plot and illustrative descriptions that paint pictures in their minds. They are always inspired by the classics and I love them, too!
These books look wonderful for my four sons. {And their Mom, too!}
I think kids benefit from classic stories in several ways: the language is good, often better than current day stories laced with slang, and often the characters are more solid and moral than you find in current day stories. My boys love animals and I bet they would really enjoy these two stories.
The benefit of reading classic books to our children is:
1. Real family and or Christian values,
2. They are not dummed down,
3. They always seem richer somehow.
4 They learn bigger words. (That probably falls under not dummed down.)
I know there are more benefits, but thats all I can think of right now.
Classic literature is a feast for the ears and lends itself well to read-alouds. A larger vocabulary and historical perspectives are another benefit. What is offered today in children’s literature is a mere shadow of the classics, and most can not be compared it is so shallow.
I’d love to be entered! Thank you
My children benefit from reading these classic novels by having the opportunity to expand their vocabulary, to envision the pictures in their minds because of the words used by the author. Also, it helps comprehension skills, and gives the reader/listener a connected feeling to characters who have depth. Another thing about classic books is that they often provide an opportunity to teach about past events or just how things used to be.
We also enjoy using that time to spend together, sense my boys are both too young to read on their own yet.
Oh, how we love to read to our boys….the details in classic stories really hold their attention….they beg for me to read the next chapter!! I’m excited for this one, Barbara!
I am not yet into the classics. But these two books being about wildlife would be perfect for my children. All three children love wildlife.
My children learn more about history and usually from a Christian perspective, in the classics, not so much fluff or trendy nonsense as the modern books. My boys favorites are the G. A. Henty historical fiction books.
I think children benefit from reading classic books by learning beautiful language written and stretching their comprehension way above the twaddle that some kids read today. My daughter is always coming out with beautiful language in everday conversation because of her exposure to the old classics. Thanks.
Looks like a great read 🙂
Having 3 boys ages 12, 9 & 9, classic books help provide positive character, morals training and strong vocabulary. Most books that kids are reading today are so dumbed down that they do nothing to enhance their minds or thoughts. Also, Classic literature typically has strong male characters that young boys can learn from and typically look up to, unlike how the World is today where men and boys are in constant battles, spiritually & emotionally to try to figure out there place. (One more reason to Homeschool)
Classic literature stretches the minds of my children, expands their vocabulary, and teaches them to enjoy wonderful books! This looks like a read that my animal-loving children will enjoy! Thank you!
Reading classic literature stretches the mind of my son but also exposes him to many new things which helps him learn to enjoy many wonderful books. Thanks for this opportunity.
Reading classic literature exposes our sons to rich vocabulary, exotic locations and excellent stories. It also expands their imaginations. My husband and I love to hear them discussing the stories that we’ve read. Thank you!
Each child gets something different out of what they read. The good things about the classics that they all get is strong character and moral building traits without them even realizing it. I love the fact that the vocabulary or wording (if you prefer to call it) is rather pleasing compared to some of the books published today. I feel that every child should have a taste of the classics because it is part of our history and heritage. Thanks!
This book sounds perfect for my ds (10) who is really starting to like to do outdoor stuff with his dad. Dad just recently returned from deployment and the boys love having him home to do the “guy” stuff with! Sure this book would give them lots of great ideas! Thanks!!
I just love to see the excitment in my children eyes every time we have a new story , we do a lot of read aloud and I became a child again. It is so much richness in values, vocabulary and it is priceless the wonderful time that we enjoy together
My children benefit in that their minds are stretched while their imaginations are allowed to run free! I’d have it no other way!
good morals and deeper thinking.
Classic books have helped my sons develop their own love of reading. We read together and they can’t wait to find out what happens next. I’ve even caught my formerly unmotivated reader staying up late with a book.
Love good books and my kids read them over and over! Thanks for such a blessing!
Even though these are classic stories for boys…I have a 10-year-old daughter who would love these books. She loves everything about the animals and the outdoors. She has her heart set on being a vet someday! I think the classics such as these are great for girls too as it teaches them good character and great morals. So we would like to be entered in the giveaway too if you don’t mind!
We purposely choose classic literature because of the Biblical principles that are usually evident in the writing. The older books are especially good for boys, because instead of just having action and a macho main character as in most modern books, you can find godly, masculine men who fulfill their roles as providers, protectors & priests.
I would love to get my son to read more and away from electronic gadgets!!Could this possibly entice him??Books are so amazing to me but he doesn’t really like to read.
I homeschool 4 children, and am always looking for good books that will benefit our family with mind stretching and thinking skills.
These two books sound great. My boys would love them.
I’ve got three boys, ages 7, 9, 11. These books look like they would appeal to all of them. Yay!
Oh, my children have benefitted from our reading of the classics in so many ways! The rich vocabulary has increased their own vocabularies and made the stories come alive. The quality of the writing has not only helped them to see that reading is a joy but has also transported them to the time period and customs in which the story was written and they have lived along side the characters in their minds. When we are reading a classic out loud, they beg for another chapter and are excited when I pull out the book ~ some of the well written, but not as good, books of today are considered favorites but the love is not the same. With these books, they enjoy them but would really rather do something else and the next chapter…well… can’t it wait until tomorrow? I personally have benefitted from reading these classics as well. It makes me smile to remember the kid’s expressions and conversation while reading “The Bronze Bow.” And to think that I had never even heard of that book! What on earth were my public school teachers thinking? Every child should be encouraged to read “The Bronze Bow,” “Where the Red Fern Grows,” “Little Women,” “Heidi”, etc. instead of the nonsense I spent my school years reading and writing book reports about.
I do appreciate your publishing “Shovelhorns and Black Bruin.” It is such a challenge for me to find books that will engage my no-nonsense young son. He claims to not like reading (though he loves being read to); mostly because he just can’t find books of his interest that aren’t twaddly junk! He loves outside, dirt, nature, hunting, dirt, animals, farming, dirt, bikes, arrow head hunting, dirt, rocks, go-carts, and did I mention…dirt? Oh yeah, he also likes mud! I think this book would fall nicely into his interests and therefore, I would love to win a copy.
Thanks!
My boys are 11, 10, and 3…with 3 sisters between the 10- and 3-year-olds. 🙂 Would love to read these with them!
I would love to have a copy!
This sounds great. Reading aloud is the best time we have together!!! Thanks for the chance to win (and I’ll probably buy it if I do not win!!)
I am blessed to have read classics to my children and now am looking forward to sharing them with my grandchildren. Thanks for making these classics available for the benefit of young minds. Blessings.
I love to read with my children. The books like this it would be a great fit for our homeschool.
My children benefit from hearing and reading a larger vocabulary, the descriptive language that helps you to see it in your mind, and from the exposure to more complicated relationships and issues that they can then apply to their lives.
Any book my sons might like is a worth a try from me!
Children benefit from classic stories by learning a sense of purity from the characters in those stories. Only a few books today are written with that level of purity. It opens their minds to qualities our culture no longer supports.
This book sounds wonderful! Every year I set a goal to read a few classic books to my boys. (I have 2 boys) They have told me recently that they do NOT want me to read them stories about GIRLS though! “We are BOYS MOM!! We want to hear stories about BOYS!” They crack me up….but I have to agree with them!!
My boy, who is ALL boy, would love this book!