DD8 loves MCT and reading. Because she schools about 75% of the time, we haven't invested in the MUD or APM books yet (seriously, if anyone wants to sell me theirs...) but I'm an English teacher so looking into a text, finding concepts to study, etc comes naturally. And we definitely do read and study texts together. At least some poems (often MCT) or right now she's on a Shakespeare kick. So I might flip through the standards to get ideas to focus on, or browse study guides online, or just recall how I've taught it or been taught, or think of fun activities... There are so many lesson plans out there for classics, and discussion guides for many modern books, provided by publishers often. There are even books at the library like for the secret a Garden and Anne of Green Gables, activities to do, etc... DD has said recently that she loved discussing Romeo and Juliet and realizing it wasn't just a story but there was deeper meaning (we did figurative language, irony, imagery/motifs, themes, courtly love tradition, etc etc). She didn't realize this was analysis because the stories they analyze at school are so simple she thought analysis was summary! So it's been worthwhile and we're doing As You Like It next :) Good luck!

DD just read a great one: The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency. Ada has sensory and interpersonal issues, but she and Mary combine their strengths to stop clever criminals. Adorable, silly, girl-power adaptation of historical figures. My coding and poetry loving DD loved it!

Ah, then Enola is fantastic. I'd add Vesper Holly, too. And The Beekeeper's Apprentice.

But Enola Holmes has some pretty mature themes. Benedict Society is ideal for this age, or at least my 7yo loved them! Matilda?

I got the Island books for a fun supplement for DD when she was five. She adored them. She got the grammar and much of the poetry and ideas about writing, but we didn't DO all the activities/practice. But yes it really can click with a highly verbal child IMO. And now we pull them out to guide us when tackling a writing assignment (she goes to a part time charter) and to review, and for stimulation over the summer etc.

I do love MOTH too. DD is verbally gifted and went through a lit device obsession phase where shed read my college textbooks on it. MOTH is developmentally appropriate but challenging content. That's a hard find! But I just supplement with MCT.

My mom always said The Giver (it was hugely popular right after I stopping reading kid's lit for myself but she worked with kids then so she read it) was like A Wrinkle in Time, but evil wins. I'm not sure about her assessment (when I read it, as I became a teacher, I saw it as open ended) but I always figured AWIT could be a good book instead, and I did just let my just turned 7yo read it. Similar ideas about conformity without quite so much specific death etc.

We just got DD 3A for her seventh birthday. She read through the entire guide last Friday (after finishing her homeschool project.) She went through some of the book again with her dad that night and is looking forward to working through the practice book. I think it's fun and challenging; they make mazes and such. But I love geometry. DD definitely understood it and could answer questions when we asked her, but obviously working through it is going to take all summer (we have a lot of humanities plans already!).

We are using it for after schooling and dd 6yo begs me to read it with her. So we'll do as much as we can before the toddler interferes or she gets restless. But she couldn't wait to read sentence island on her own. She's been rereading parts too. And she loves the poetry book, too.

I've ordered a LOT of books from BWB. You do have to be patient with the shipping--it takes forever. But hey free. When we've gotten books that weren't as described (scribbled on, stickers on the cover of a board book, etc), they sent replacements and told us to keep them all. They have really excellent service making things right. But the shipping is very slow. I've also had stuff not show (well, a ripped open empty mailer showed) from a marketplace seller on amazon and they refunded me right away.

If it is like MY library then it does mean you're first in line, out if four people waiting. Our system also says on the item's page "four holds on first returned of x copies" but on my account page says 1 of 1 holds, or 2 of 5 holds, or 67 of 84 holds.

DD started reading on her own at 1yo. Things like thinking the Gap sign said grapes (which was a word on a page of a fun book about fruit we read). She taught herself to read fluently at 3yo. She is now 6 and has read chunks of Shakespeare on her own, though she mostly likes books in the 3-5AR level range, especially as they are about things she likes, like girl-focused fantasy, and not YA boys/intense issues/etc stuff. She also likes grammar and literary devices. She has gone through long phases of being obsessed and focused, working out whatever topic until she's satisfied. I doubt she'll even out by third, but I'm so looking forward to more kids in her class joining her in the love of reading! There will surely be lots reading Harry Potter by third grade--I see all these tiny kids (but not kindy) carrying around their novels. It's been a bit lonely for her this year!

Half magic, this side of magic, Betsy-Tacy, Daisy Dawson, magic Elements, two Princesses of Bamarre, Mandy, the Fairy Chronicles, the Enchanted Forest series... Forgive phone typing, these are just from memory.

Thank you :D

Thanks, all! DD was really into Midsummer last year, read graphic novel versions and watched the movie repeatedly. We took her to a performance, too. I've been wondering what to do next with Shakespeare for this age, so those resources are great, thank you! I am a high school English teacher in my other life ;) so I can very much discuss poetic devices and grammar analysis with her, I just sometimes think with the toddler a curriculum is handy--and might be inspiring for her, when school is still shooting a bit low. Off to read Shakespeare links!