I live in a pretty open part of the country. I’ve been out and about doing things for months. But none of those activities compared to last week’s FPEA convention. To be among so many people with similar values in one place fired me up. Children talked to anyone who would listen because they were no longer stifled by masks. Adults gathered in clumps to talk about homeschool, curriculum, and so much more. I loved the energy and camaraderie. My extrovert cup overflowed.

Because I was behind the vendor booth for the first time, I didn’t get to explore the exhibit floor like I normally would. In my brief excursions, I found a few things to supplement Peck’s learning this fall.

Pajama Jones

So, this book isn’t for Peck. I bought it for my grandson, who’s on the way. The bright illustrations and the story would captivate any young child. Check Pajama Jones by Juanita Bompart.

The Happy Hollisters

Peck reads above grade level, but he’s not the type to pick up a book and just read. I’ve tried all kinds of novels to peak his interest: Pokemon, Bionicle, Minecraft, and the list goes on. None of these appealed him. So imagine my surprise when he thoroughly enjoyed The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner. After some discussions, I gleaned that he like the children’s independence and the illustrations.

When I found this booth, I had to check it out. This series of books were written by the same author (under a pseudonym) as many Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins mysteries. The books feature independent children and pictures like Boxcar. I bought the first one to see if it was up Peck’s alley. To learn more or order, go to the Happy Hollisters website.

The Dead Sea Squirrels

Last year for the first time, Peck asked to skip school so that he could finish a book. In this family of eaters and readers, that is a cause for celebration. The book was Fizz and the Police Dog Tryouts by Lesley Gibbes. As before, I probed to find out what he liked about the book. The appeal in this case was pictures (I’m smelling a theme) and humor. When I stumbled across this series containing humor and illustrations at the convention, I knew it would be Peck’s taste. Sorella bought him the first three, and he’s already well into book two. Score one for reading! I truly feel it doesn’t matter what a child reads as long as they read. Here’s the link to The Dead Sea Squirrels website.

The Wild Brothers

In the gap between Tech and Peck, The Wild Brothers appeared on the homeschool scene. When I set up my booth next to them, I had no idea who they were. However, many convention goers oohed over them like they were the Christian Jonas Brothers. Sorella and I found them to be sweet, grounded missionaries. Their zeal for Jesus was inspiring. I bought their first DVD series Growing Up Wild based on their family’s mission efforts in Papua Indonesia. The videos come with an activity guide to supplement learning. I plan to use it with social studies in the fall, but we’ve already blown through 6 episodes. To order DVDs and learn more about what the brothers do, go here.