A Cry from Egypt

I am an avid reader, as are many of my children.  As a general rule, we are not big readers of Bible-based fiction.  So, we began reading A Cry from Egypt with some trepidation.  The usual complaints of “that didn’t happen in the Bible account” and “that wouldn’t have happened in Bible times” never materialized when reading Hope Auer’s book!  I have been pleasantly surprised and we have greatly enjoyed this read.

     Hope Auer, the author of A Cry from Egypt, is a young lady with a passion for writing historically and biblically accurate, yet interesting – no, captivating, stories.  She is a homeschool graduate and, based on her bio on her blog, is a vey busy woman.  Not only has she completed A Cry from Egypt, she also has a series on her blog about writing.  It is a great series for writers in any genre.  She is very encouraging and shares about struggles as well as successes.  Her book, A Cry from Egypt, is the first book in The Promised Land series.

     We started out using A Cry from Egypt as a read aloud.  This had to stop because I never read fast enough to satisfy the information needs of my kids.  They want to read to themselves.  Ah, the joys of having older children!  I guess I’ll have to wait for grandchildren to sit and let me read to them some day.  But, I digress.  I hate reviews that spoil the plot of a book, so I promise I will not do that; but, I do want to give you a few teasers to pique your interest.

     The basic plot of A Cry from Egypt is actually a simple premise.  Readers are seeing the account of the Hebrew slavery in Egypt and the ensuing plagues when Pharoah refuses to release the Hebrews.  All of this is seen through the eyes of a 12-year old Hebrew slave named Jarah.  Readers experience action, intrigue, love, and faith as they are taken through this frightening time in history.  Jarah’s family interactions are portrayed in such a true-to-life manner that, at times, you feel like a part of the family and the story.  We see struggles they have as they feel pressured to leave their faith in Yahweh and worship the gods of the Egyptians. We see the struggles and uncertainties they face as they wonder if they will ever be freed from their bondage.  As we were reading this, we encountered literary license, as expected, because this is a fictional story based on biblical fact; however, the literary license never taints the truth of the biblical facts. 

     We have enjoyed A Cry from Egypt so much.  Unfortunately, the second book in the series isn’t out yet!  We are such ‘series junkies’ around here that we love to delve into the next book of a great series as soon as we finish the first one!  I will be stalking Hope’s blog and Facebook to see when the next book comes out.  This book was written for kids 8 and older.  My young teens have really enjoyed it, as have I.  Really, I didn’t think that a book with a twelve-year-old for the main character would hold any of our interest, but it definitely did!  Amazingly, this book held the interest of both my boys and my girls.  Hope, you have written something that is sure to become a classic!

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been reading A Cry from Egypt as well as another book published by Great Waters Press by Hal and Melanie Young and the Raising Real Men website.  To read their reviews, just visit our main crew blog.  To purchase A Cry from Egypt, visit the store on the Raising Real Men website.  The paperback version is only available now in limited quantities as advance reader copies for $12.50, but it should be in full publication soon.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the above mentioned product at no cost to me in exchange for this honest review.  No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are mine or my family’s.”

Getting our Family Fit

OUCH!  I have learned a few things over the past several weeks.  Number 1, I am getting old and I am out of shape.  Number 2, my kids are out of shape. Number 3, getting in shape can be fun – but painful.  When we found out that we were going to get to use and review Family Time Fitness, Fitness 4 Homeschool Curriculum, I wasn’t exactly sure how intense this program was going to be.  I have never actually taught physical fitness / exercise to my kids.  We have always had either a co-op or gym membership or sports activities to fill that need.  With the ever-sinking economy, we had to cancel our gym membership several months ago.  The kids were not interested in playing a sport this year, and the phys. ed. teacher at our co-op was not someone they wanted to take a class from. So, in a very short time, we had all become ‘couch potatoes.’

     Family Time Fitness is a complete fitness program for kids in grades k-8.  It is designed to be used as a family fitness program, complete with all sorts of neat extras like a daily food diary, grocery list, meal planner, nutrition log, tracking calendar, and assessment tool. Packed with 260 daily lesson plans, Family Time Fitness is a thorough program with more than enough information and activities to get a family not only through a school year, but also through a lifetime.  Lessons are laid out in 2 ways.  First of all, after downloading the lesson files to either a computer or portable device like a tablet, you will need to read the introduction.  This set of 13 pages gives you suggestions for how to use the program, links to the assessment tool and the other extras listed above, and a list of the basic equipment needed for the program. Unlike other fitness programs that require expensive equipment, Family Time Fitness uses common equipment that most families will already have around the house.  Equipment like bean bags, tennis balls, music, playground balls, cones, and hula hoops are some examples of the equipment needed.  Also, there are many times when you can substitute things for the suggested equipment.  For example, one of the activities in Lesson 21 is the Hot Potato Toss.  This activity requires tossing a bean bag back and forth.  We misplaced our bean bags, so we used a rolled up pair of socks. 

     I think one of the most valuable aspects of Family Time Fitness, for me, is that in each lesson links are provided to demonstration videos of the activities / exercises.  Sometimes, just reading the instructions for an activity isn’t enough for me.  If I can see the activity being completed, however, I can implement it.   I found that going through the lesson plans and demo videos in advance, then printing the one page lesson summaries, was a good system for me.  The lesson summaries contain just enough information to jog my memory of what the activities need to be.  Lessons for each day, including optional outside activities, will total approximately 60 minutes.  It is recommended to complete 5 lessons per week, although you can customize the program and use it as many days per week as fits into your school schedule.  Activities include movements to teach mobility, coordination, rhythm, strength, flexibility, agility, and balance just to name a few.  Some of our favorite activities have been “Cross the River” and “Hopscotch.”  I think the hands down least favorite (and most sore muscle producing)  activity for us has been “Squat Jumps.”  Just picture doing 30 frog jumps starting with your hands on the ground then extending up and jumping.  I thought my thighs would fall off! 

      One fun part of Family Time Fitness has been the entertainment factor.  When I have been exercising with the kids, they have definitely been entertained.  It’s not often you get to see a 47 year old lady doing a bear crawl!  More times than I care to mention, our fitness sessions erupted in uncontrollable giggles and many pictures taken of mom doing the workout (none of which will ever be seen by human eye!).  I have taken some video of the kids working out – and as soon as I figure out how to actually download, upload, whatever load the video – it is going to be posted.  (Sometimes, you just need some teenagers to help with this pesky electronic stuff!) I won’t say that a fitness program has been their favorite curriculum of all time, but, this one does rank right up at the top.  It has gotten them moving in a, most of the time, fun way.  They have taken some of the games and played them with their friends – not realizing they were getting in shape while doing it.  I am seeing less couch time and more active time.  I feel better overall and I can tell they do.

     Family Time Fitness is available for a one-time cost of $57 for the entire program.  This price absolutely floored me!  We paid more than this for one month at the gym and didn’t get nearly all of the benefits.  For value, thoroughness, flexibility, and fun, Family Time Fitness is number one in our home.  We will be using this for many years to come.

     To read other reviews of Family Time Fitness, visit our Schoolhouse Review Crew blog page.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received Family Time Fitness at no cost to me for purposes of review.  No compensation was received. 

The History of the Oregon Trail and the Pony Express

“Fifty-four forty or fight!”  This is the slogan heard nationwide as James K. Polk ran for the office of president in 1844.  What significance does this slogan hold?  If you are studying the western expansion of the United States, particularly the Oregon Trail, you know this was the campaign slogan for Polk in his run for office.  More specifically, this phrase represents the northern-most boundary of the Oregon territory – the boundary that had been controlled jointly by the United States and the United Kingdom since 1818.  Joint control was not ideal, so our two countries were negotiating to divide the territory.  However, Polk ran on the premise of the U.S. taking the whole of the Oregon Territory and was prepared to go to war with Britain over said territory. Treks to the Oregon territory had begun in earnest around 1830, and by 1844 American settlers formed the bulk of the population.

      What was it like for settlers from the eastern portion of the United States to forge the trail for the bulk of 6 months?  Why did families and businesses pull up stakes and head west?  What type of hardships did these travelers encounter? These are all questions answered in The History of the Oregon Trail video distributed by Marshall Publishing.  On the same DVD, a companion story of The History of the Pony Express can be found.  Totaling 51 minutes between the two videos, these documentaries detail the experiences of travel on the Oregon Trail and the establishment and subsequent demise of the Pony Express.

    Watching this DVD was rather nostalgic for me.  The video quality and narration are reminiscent of the movies I watched when I was in school.  The narration comes from journal entries and diaries as well as other historical sources.  The video is comprised of a combination of live re-enactments, antique photographs, maps, and clips of sights along the trail.  I found both DVD’s very interesting and enlightening.  I had no idea that a great number of people migrated to The Great Salt Lake for religious freedom.  I also had no idea that 90% of those migrating cross country to Oregon actually survived the journey. That is phenomenal to me!  My kids weren’t quite as enthralled with these videos as I was.  Unfortunately, I think they have become so accustomed to the digital videos and constant action of videos today that they were a little bored by the low-key approach of both videos.  However, a funny thing happened as I was writing this review.  My fifteen year old came up to me and said:  “Hey mom, did you know that Nebraska got it’s name from the Indians?”  Wow!  He did remember something from watching The History of the Oregon Trail.  Sometimes you just never know what kids will remember!

     I think we will be watching both of these videos again as we delve deeper into our study of American History.  They are full of so much historical information that it is impossible to catch it all in one sitting.  On the Marshall Publishing website, there is a brief synopsis and a brief teacher resource for each portion of the video.  The questions and suggested activities really add to the video experience.

     This 2 program DVD is available from Marshall Publishing currently for $19.95.  They are also offering free shipping by using the code TOS27.  The DVD normally sells for $24.95.  This is a family friendly, any age appropriate DVD.  I would use it with older elementary – middle school kids; but, it could definitely be used with high schoolers to enhance a study of western expansion.  Younger elementary / preschool may not be able to sit through the videos, just because their attention spans aren’t as developed yet and they would not necessarily understand the narration.  I recommend this for any educator – homeschool, private school, public school – who needs a great supplement to his/her American History curriculum.

     My friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been viewing and reviewing this DVD as well as many others from Marshall Publishing.  To read their reviews, visit the main crew blog post.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the above mentioned DVD at no cost to me in exchange for this honest review.  No compensation was received.**

Speekee TV

Hola! ¿Qué tal? Muy bien, gracias! ¿Y tú?

Meet Speekee.  This quirky little puppet, along with his puppet friends, Dino and Lupi, and their many human friends, serve as the characters in the Speekee TV Spanish instructional video series.  Geared towards kids ages 2-10, Speekee TV is a conversational-style Spanish program that it, frankly, addicting.  As my daughter and I watch the Speekee videos, I am reminded of the many years I have had as a mom of six when my kids would watch a video over and over again and would sing the songs and repeat the lines all throughout the day.  Although my daughter is a little over the age range suggested, she still loves the Speekee videos. 

       Caitlyn has been using Speekee TV for the past several weeks in two ways.  First of all, she took an introductory Spanish class this past year at a co-op; however, she really didn’t retain much because all her teacher focused on was grammar.  So, Caitlyn has been learning new Spanish vocabulary words through Speekee. She has become very familiar with counting, colors, and names of common objects (like fruit, etc…). Secondly, since her class contained very little conversational Spanish, Speekee TV has been fabulous for her.  Caitlyn has been able to watch actual Spanish conversations and observe how the conversations should flow.  I have noticed a change for the better in her accent and in her cadence.  Whereas she was very choppy in her Spanish conversation, thinking about every word and whether or not her grammar was correct, now she is speaking more naturally. She is a very imaginative young lady and loves to ‘play school’ with all of her stuffed animals; and, I have caught her many times in the past several weeks teaching Speekee Spanish to her ‘class.’  **One of her favorite episodes is ‘La Clase’ because she learned classroom words.** She uses those words frequently when teaching her ‘class.’ Those instances just make my heart smile!  I think it is truly the mark of an effective curriculum that a child takes it and extends the curriculum into his/her imaginative play.  It is so fun to watch!  She even uses the inflections and praise words when her pretend students do well.  I love it! I have a massive mental block with Spanish, but I have been able to pick up words and phrases along with her.  I’m not quite ready for a trip to Spain, but at least I have seen that I can learn Spanish.

     When we received our Speekee subscription, we signed up for the Fast Track program available through the website.  The Fast Track is a detailed set of lesson plans that takes you through the entire program in 40 weeks.  Included in the Fast Track are segments of each video to watch on specified days, activity suggestions, flash cards to make, craft ideas, worksheets that can be printed, and teaching suggestions.  With my personal Spanish trouble, I really loved the way the Fast Track was laid out.  I receive each week’s Fast Track plan by e-mail, too.  This really keeps me on track.  Since Caitlyn had some Spanish background and was a little older, we have been able to go through the lessons more quickly.  Some weeks we are covering an entire week in a day and then practicing the rest of the weeks.  Other weeks we have done 2 or 3 of the lessons, whatever fit into our schedule.  The flexibility of the Fast Track lesson suggestions is wonderful!  If I had a pre-school – younger elementary age child in my home, we would have done so many of the crafts.  The first craft suggested is to make sock puppets.  I absolutely love making and using puppets! I still may have to go back and make my own Dino and Lupi puppets, because they are so cute!

     Well, enough about how much we are enjoying Speekee and on to some of the nitty gritty facts about this program. Speekee TV subscriptions include:

• 10 episodes of Spanish
• Over 150 minutes of pure Spanish learning
• Learn Spanish from real Spanish children in real Spanish locations
• Features songs, animation, and puppets
• Optional subtitles in Spanish and English
• Free activity sheet downloads
• Great fun and extremely effective
• Created by specialist language teachers
• Free optional curriculum
• Songs you can't stop singing
• Subscriptions are reasonably priced at $7.50 / month or $60 / year, and, the first two weeks of the complete program can be tried for free with no obligation to buy.  Don’t you just love ‘try before you buy’ programs? I think that is so generous.  Be prepared for your kids to be completely entranced by the videos, especially the songs!

     Along with all of the great Spanish learning through the songs, animations, and puppets, there is a real-time Spanish blog that kids can visit to learn more about Spain.  It is really interesting to read!  Also, for the older elementary kids who understand a little more about how to do ‘computer stuff,’ there are points (puntos) that are earned when kids login and those points can be exchanged for things to make their own personal ‘avatar’ type character.  Also, every so often, kids will receive personalized e-mail messages through their Speekee account.  These are just cute little encouragement e—mails that help reinforce things being learned.  I think it is a very neat idea.  Young kids love to be able to read e-mail like mom and dad do. 

     Overall, we have had a great experience with Speekee TV.  I am sending the information to our co-op leader to consider for a kindergarten Spanish class next year because I am so sold on it.  I think it is very effective in a homeschool setting and would be effective in a co-op or classroom setting as well.

     Many of my Schoolhouse Review Crew friends have been using and reviewing Speekee TV, too.  If you would like to read their reviews, just visit the main crew blog.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received a subscription to SpeekeeTV at no cost to me for purposes of review.  No compensation was received and all opinions expressed are the honest opinions of me or my family.**

Math 911–or a Math Rescue

Math is a real nemesis for a couple of my kids.  We are in the Algebra years in our house and that can be very challenging.  We have tried many types of math curricula and there are still topics that the kids have trouble grasping.

     Enter Math911.  This program has been a virtual math rescue for us! Professor Martin Weissman, a math teacher for over 40 years, has developed a no-frills computer based upper math teaching program.  When the disclaimer (pictured at left) says “NO gamelike graphics and NO animation” it means it.  At first glance after installation, I was a little shocked by the look and functionality of this program.  The Math911 website has a similar no-frills look to it, so it gives you a hint as to what the program will look like.  But, I had no idea how it was actually going to operate.

     The Math911 program is almost like a combination of programs we used to use back in the msDos days of computers, and programs we use today on Windows.  It holds true to the disclaimer.  There are definitely no graphics.  The opening screen looks like a chart with assignment topics listed and several choice buttons at the top on either side.  We signed up for the free version first, which is Introductory Algebra.  Once signed up, if you want access to the paid classes, you go through a brief process of paying, receiving access codes, and entering those codes.  Once the codes have been accepted the program opens for all of the classes.  There is no time limit on the classes, kids can operate at their own pace; however, there is a time clock on the screen where the kids are working that shows how long they have been working.

     We have mainly been in Introductory Algebra and Intermediate Algebra.  When my son goes into the program, he selects the lesson he needs to be on and is taken to a page with a problem from that lesson.  He works the problem on paper and enters his answer into the box provided on the screen.  Immediate feedback as to whether or not he was right is given, that is a big plus for him.  Also, on the sidebar is an option for him to see the solution (step by step) or select a new problem.  We have found that if he is confused on a problem, the teaching really comes into play by following the solution through and getting a new problem.  If he gets enough problems right in a level to indicate mastery, he is automatically bumped to the next level for that topic. There are 8 levels for each topic, each progressively more complex.  He doesn’t like the fact that I make him write down his work before he enters an answer; but, I feel it is important for him to know how to write out the process.

     Math911 is making an impact on JT’s Algebra skills.  He is preparing for his ACT, and was weak in integer skills.  The first topic he experienced in Math911 was integers.  He has spent a lot of time on that topic.  There are 4 areas of integer skills with 8 levels for each area, so he has gotten a lot of practice.  Once he demonstrated mastery, we moved on to the Intermediate Algebra.  He is working with inequalities on that subject.  I can’t say it has been easy.  The problems he is working are difficult, but he works through them with the help of seeing problems worked out, and he is grasping the concepts.  He will be moving into a review of integer functions and rational / irrational numbers soon.  This will definitely show me how much he is grasping.

      As for parental feedback, this is not a program with a lot of different passwords, logins, and privacy type features.  It is simply a program that is installed on your computer, the kids do their work, and I can get into it anytime I need to and check progress.  I like that I can track progress easily.  I also like the fact that I can choose a topic or level for James to work in if I am seeing something in his regular math work that he needs help on.  We have been using Math911 as a supplement to our regular curriculum and as a help for ACT preparation.  In this capacity, I can say that it has been an extremely useful program.  It is not the fun “bells-and-whistles” type program that kids are used to nowadays, but it is effective.  It is so much a part of our math routine now that I know we will continue to use it.

     The Introductory Algebra course is available for free through the Math911 website.  If you need other courses, you simply download Introductory Algebra and go through the upgrade process.  The price is currently $49, but, as with all things, prices are subject to change, so I recommend checking the Math911 website for current pricing information. The entire program is available as a download, which can be used on one computer, or as a flash drive which can be used on multiple computers. We have been using the download version. It is recommended for kids 12 and up; however, any student who is academically ready for Introductory Algebra can benefit from the program.  I recommend trying the Introductory Algebra course for a few lessons, then making the decision about whether or not to buy.  Honestly, compared to the curriculum my kids use, Introductory Algebra is more along the lines of mid-year Introductory Algebra or even beginning Algebra 1.  It is very thorough, but I would not use it as a stand alone curriculum.  I think it works very well as a tutoring and supplemental program.  For the price, I don’t think I have ever seen as much helpful math tutoring available all in one place.

     Professor Weissman does a great job of helping kids grasp concepts.  This program works well with kids who are “bottom line” types.  The kids who like all of the extra fluff of game-type programs may be bored a bit, but they can learn from it.  I will tell you that Professor Weissman is excellent at responding to e-mails about customer service type issues.  We had a little issue at the beginning of using Math911 and he was quick to respond and quick to post an update to the program on the website.  I love programs that give the updates free to users. Thank you Professor Weissman for helping me teach the ‘unteachable’ to my son!

     Many of my friends on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have also been using Math911 in their homes. To read their reviews, simply visit our crew blog page.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the complete Math911 program free of charge in exchange for this honest review.  No compensation was received.**

Everyday Cooking

     For several months now, I have been part of the writing staff for a monthly household publication called Molly’s Digest.  I love helping folks save money creatively.  Recently, as part of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I have been able to expand that love by being part of the Molly Team.  This team has been put together to use and review products relating to the home.  Our first product review has been wonderful! 

     I am a cookbook junkie.  Yes, I admit it.  I am one of those who has to be dragged away from the cookbook section in bookstores or else I will buy them all.  I love cookbooks.  Funny thing is, I am very particular about what type of cookbook will become a favorite.  I like cookbooks that are practical, family friendly, and easy to use.  It really doesn’t matter to me if a cookbook is gorgeous.  I am interested in the recipes and other information provided.  As a member of the Molly Team, my first product to review has been just such a cookbook.

     Everyday Cooking, by Vicki Bentley, is a 100 page cookbook, available in either a spiral-bound print format or an e-book format, that is full of practical, family-friendly recipes.  Vicki is a mom of eight, so she has had a lot of experience with kids in her kitchen.  I have six kids and they have been working in the kitchen with me since they were old enough to sit in their high chair beside me as I cooked.  All of my kids can follow recipes, to a degree, and prepare simple meals.  Everyday Cooking has been, and will continue to be, one of my favorite cookbooks of all time because of several features – one of which is a list of basic cooking skills.  I am working through these and making sure my kids have grasped the basics.  As for the recipes, these are simple no-frills recipes.  Most of the recipes use common ingredients and most recipes use inexpensive ingredients.  I am usually not a measurer when cooking.  I am a pinch and dump cook.  Evidently, Vicki is the same type of cook because on some of her recipes she has a disclaimer that says she never really measures, she just sort of eyeballs the amounts (paraphrased).  I love that she is honest enough in her recipes to let the reader know it is ok to estimate a little and adjust a recipe according to your family’s tastes. 

     Everyday Cooking would be a great cookbook to use with kids of any age as part of a basic home economics study.  It is straightforward and simple to understand.  I would have enjoyed a few pictures, just for fun, but the recipes definitely stand alone.  All in all, for $14.99 for the e-book and $17.99 for the print version, Everyday Cooking is a great value.  I received the e-book version.  I really like this version.  I have it on my IPad and can pull up the recipe I need in a flash.  It is super convenient for me when I go to the store.  I just keep the recipe pulled up and use that for my grocery list. One of our favorite recipes so far is Vicki’s bread recipe.  Unfortunately, we are carb fanatics around our house and bread is one of our big weaknesses.  I love bread recipes – especially whole wheat, and Vicki’s recipe is great!  It doesn’t turn out dry like a lot of wheat bread recipes do.  You can visit the Everyday Cooking page of Vicki’s website and actually follow a link to some sample recipes if you would like to try before you buy. I highly recommend this cookbook.

     Other members of the Molly Team have been using Everyday Cooking as well as another of Vicki’s books, The Everyday Family Chore System.  To read their reviews, simply visit our team blog page.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Molly Team, I received an electronic copy of Everyday Cooking for purposes of review.  All opinions are my own. No compensation was received.**

Let’s Play a Game! Notable Novelists

We are an avid game-playing family.  When we were given the game Notable Novelists to play and review, we were thrilled!  We have only had the game for about a month, and we have played it over and over and over.  Notable Novelists is a card game, for kids 12+,  which helps kids and adults alike learn interesting tidbits of information about some of the most prominent novelists of the 20th century.  The game contains a deck of 54 cards covering 18 authors.  For each author, 3 cards make up a ‘literary set.’ These 3 cards are an author card (name and caricature picture of the author), a bio card (brief bit of biographical information), and a library card (names of some of the author’s most famous works).  The cards are color coded and the name of the author is on each card, so even a young reader can match up the literary sets with ease.  Honestly, the only thing I had to help my daughter with was the pronunciation of some of the author names, and she only needed help once for that.  Playing the game is similar to a ‘Go Fish’ type game. The object is for a player to collect cards in his/her hand to make literary sets.  The player with the most literary sets once all of the cards are used up is the winner.

     At first we had fun just trying to match the cards into literary sets; but, then I noticed that my kids were actually reading the cards and were retaining the tidbits of information on the cards.  Most importantly, in a non-threatening way, they are being exposed to some basic information about some of the finest authors of our time.  The creators of Notable Novelists have chosen to use only deceased authors for the cards, thus making the game timeless.  According to the Notable Novelist website, there are plans to create additional, supplemental literary sets.  Currently, authors such as Virginia Wolfe, James Joyce, D.H. Lawrence, and F.Scott Fitzgerald are among the literary sets.  The caricature pictures are really cute – especially for any adult who has studied classic literature and has seen real pictures of the authors. 

     We are really enjoying Notable Novelists.  I can see we will be playing it for many years to come.  I think it is sparking an interest in probing further into some of the authors who are on the literary cards.  It definitely has prompted some discussions.  The library cards have prompted the most discussion because the kids read titles of famous works and want to know what they are about.  Now, I am old (at least to my kids), and I have my degree in English, but I definitely don’t remember the plot of every work of classic literature that I have ever read.  So, we end up researching or checking out the works in question. I absolutely love games that spark an interest in further learning.

    Notable Novelists is a winner in our family. To purchase for $10.95, visit the Notable Novelists website.   Other members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew have been playing and reviewing Notable Novelists as well as other games.  To read their reviews, visit the main crew blog page.

**Disclaimer:  As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew, I received the Notable Novelists game at no charge to me in exchange for this honest review.  No compensation was received.**