Education/Parenting

To Speak of What’s Good: Positive Developments in Children’s Publishing

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 27, 2019

Children's publishing has shown some disturbing trends recently, but there's also much to be thankful for. Recently I (Janie) had the honor of visiting with ...

How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 26, 2019

How to Raise a Reader focuses less on the “Why” and more on the “How” of fostering a love of literature in your own children. ...

Voyages of Discovery, or, How NOT to “Teach Reading”

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 18, 2019

Last Sunday marked the 527th anniversary of the day Christopher Columbus first laid eyes, all unknowingly, on "The New World." That discovery radically changed world ...

Laid-Back Language Arts

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 7, 2019

Do you remember your middle and high school English classes? Did you diagram sentences? Fill in endless worksheets with "S" for sentence or "F" for ...

The Delights of Childcraft, part 2

By Megan Saben | Aug 22, 2019

Yesterday I introduced a set of books that impressed me as a child, and I appreciate them more now as a parent and home educator. ...

The Delights of Childcraft, part 1

By Megan Saben | Aug 21, 2019

I remember the first book that taught me to love poetry as a child. "Antonio, Antonio," by Laura E. Richards, was in the second volume ...

The Money-Smart Family System by Steve Economides

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 11, 2019

"Money smarts" begin at home in this family-oriented guide to teaching wise management. The Money Smart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides. Thomas Nelson, ...

Announcing: The Pilgrim’s Progress Guide from Redeemed Reader!

By Janie Cheaney | May 25, 2019

Over the years, we at Redeemed Reader have been dedicated followers of John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress. Though written to address the conflicts of ...

Are Graphic Novels “Literature”?

By Janie Cheaney | May 24, 2019

When I was a kid, back in the day, “comic books” did not have a great reputation. In fact, in 1949 a book called Seduction ...

The Enchanted Hour by Meghan Cox Gurdon

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 9, 2019

In The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon makes the intellectual, social, and emotional case for reading aloud, at any age, to any age. The Enchanted ...

“Watch Your Expletives!” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 11, 2018

In the twelfth in our series of previously-unpublished posts, Gladys Hunt cautions about "those words" our kids pick up at school, at play--and increasingly in ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 1, 2018

Gladys Hunt shares some tips for encouraging early literacy in young children in this latest post. For more in our Gladys Hunt series, see The Hive. ...

Lively Lists: a Key Part of the New Redeemed Reader Companion!

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 21, 2018

Readers, we've been hinting at our upcoming Redeemed Reader Companion on social media, our newsletter, and, finally, an official post here on the website.... Wait. ...

Redeemed Readers, Rejoice!

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 14, 2018

Announcing a valuable resource for our fellow "Redeemed Readers," and anyone with an interest in quality children's literature. Hard as it is to believe, this ...

“Building a Child’s Personal Library” by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 13, 2018

How do you know which books you just have to own? In her fourth post of our series, Gladys Hunt offers tips on recognizing "the ...

The Continuing Legacy of Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 31, 2018

Announcing a series of NEW posts from Gladys Hunt, author of Honey for a Child's Heart and Honey for a Teen's Heart. Several months ago, ...

Can You Identify the Five Nonfiction Categories?

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 21, 2018

The Juvenile nonfiction designation has exploded, especially since the push for Common Core standards was supposed to increase factual reading. Common Core seems to be ...

Rethinking School by Susan Wise Bauer

By Janie Cheaney | May 19, 2018

In Rethinking School, Susan Wise Bauer offers practical suggestions and background information for crafting the best education for your unique child. Rethinking School: How to ...

The Read-Aloud Family by Sarah Mackenzie

By Megan Saben | Mar 27, 2018

Sarah Mackenzie offers a welcome and updated look at making connections with your family through books in The Read-Aloud Family. The Read-Aloud Family: Making Meaningful and ...

8 Great Smarts by Kathy Koch

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 24, 2018

8 Great Smarts shows parents how to recognize, encourage, and build on their child’s particular kinds of “smart.” 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your ...

The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 10, 2018

U.S. Senator Ben Sasse diagnoses a serious problem with today’s young adults and writes a prescription for restoring the American spirit. The Vanishing American Adult: ...

*Honey for a Teen’s Heart by Gladys Hunt

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 17, 2018

Honey for a Teen’s Heart applies the wisdom of Gladys Hunt’s read-aloud approach to the adolescent years. Adult *Honey for a Teen’s Heart: Using Books ...

Portrait of a Reader: The Nurturer

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 26, 2018

Portrait of a Reader is a new feature in which we try to "unpack" a particular kind of reader. The portraits will overlap; most people will ...

*Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 8, 2017

Honey for a Child's Heart was one of the first books advocating for building a Christian family culture around books. *Honey for a Child's Heart by ...

The Literary Nightstand

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 8, 2017

The Literary Nightstand: Our Professional Reading The Literary Nightstand is a peek into what's on our professional nightstands. Most of us here at Redeemed Reader ...

*The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 28, 2017

Starred review for this book about a tech-wise family that is characterized by 10 commitments reflecting the proper pace of technology in a family's life ...

How to Read Aloud Hard Books: 5 Steps

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 7, 2017

Love to read aloud, but stumble over the hard books? You're not alone. Hard books are hard to read aloud. They just are. Even for ...

Wisdom and Wonder: Linked Reads – Week 1

By Alysha | Jun 13, 2017

This week's theme: Turning to God and Away From Sin To further engage with the theme, here is a list of archived posts that we feel ...

Ask-a-Librarian: Professional Development for Nonprofessional Readers

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 7, 2017

Ask-a-Librarian is an occasional feature in which we answer a reader's question. Feel free to send us questions you think would be good for this space! (Use ...

The New City Catechism Devotional

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 15, 2017

The devotional guide to the Gospel Coalition's New City Catechism is a helpful resource for re-discovering the lost practice of oral instruction and memorization. The ...

Musical Mondays and Theology Thursdays: How to Use Christian Resources with Kids

By Betsy Farquhar | Apr 10, 2017

We love to track down solid biblical resources for you to use with your families, Sunday School classrooms, and Christian school classrooms. Not only do ...

Straight Talk About the Birds and the Bees

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 5, 2017

This is a review specifically for parents; librarians and teachers may benefit as well, but children should ask their parents first before reading further. This is also ...

Go 3D This Year: a Dewey Decimal Dare

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 3, 2017

Remember when you were in elementary school and dutifully learned the Dewey Decimal system? If you're like me, you got to college and promptly forgot ...

Shakespeare Summer: Some General Principles (applied to a difficult play)

By Megan Saben | Jun 13, 2016

Last year we covered A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which is readily available in numerous retellings, picture books, and even coloring pages. We chose this play ...

Help! My Kid is Developing Brain Cavities!

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 21, 2016

Maybe your kids, like mine, have recently read classic novels. Maybe your family, like mine, has been reading a biography of a famous scientist ...

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 3, 2016

The last time I talked to my daughter on the phone, she said, “Guess what Adriel is doing now.” That’s my nine-year-old granddaughter, and of ...

Laid-Back Homeschooling: a Word of Encouragement for the Year Ahead

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 9, 2015

I’m not quite ready to retire to a rocking chair in front of the general store, bending the ear of hapless passers-by: Yessir, it was ...

Hymns for a Kid’s Heart, Vol. 1-4 by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada

By Megan Saben | Jan 5, 2015

Hymns for a Kid’s Heart, Vol. 1-4 by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada. Crossway, 2003-2004. 96 pages. (Audio CD included) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages ...

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 20, 2014

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper. Crossway, 2014,96 pages Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages ...