Category: Living Books

Literature, Living Books

Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress – Illustrated

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Today we are featuring “The Pilgrim’s Progress” — like you’ve never seen it before. This is just awesome.

Laurie Bluedorn of Trivium Pursuit combined the unforgettable text of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress with hundreds of magnificent illustrations from dozens of editions of this book over the past two centuries, and created an truly enchanting version of this classic book for children of all ages. When the book describes such scenes as Christian wounding Apollyon, or trapped in the net of the Flatterer; or Faithful before Lord Hate-good in Vanity Fair; or Hopeful languishing in Giant Despair’s dungeon; or Atheist laughing at Christian, you will have dozens of imaginative illustrations to enhance the experience.

The full book contains 525 illustrations, many in color, chosen from dozens of sources over the span of 250 years. (This freebie sample edition contains the text of the first five chapters of the book, with the accompanying illustrations.)

The text of The Pilgrim’s Progress used is in modern English while preserving John Bunyan’s original meaning, his doctrine, and his quaint, charming, and most memorable style of expression.

Pilgrim’s Progress is regarded as one of the most significant works of religious English literature, and has been cited as the first novel written in English. This version with all its amazing illustrations (even including versions from several different cultures!) has our HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION for anyone who wants to introduce or re-introduce this true classic to their family!

To download this 120 page sampler ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key then click the link and save to your Mac.

If you like this sampler, click here to purchase the full ebook (over 600 pages with 525 illustrations!) from the Trivium Pursuit website. (It is also available for kindle on Amazon.)

Just for Fun, Living Books, Math

The Arithmetic Fairy (Audio story)

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The Arithmetic Fairy by E. Nesbit (MP3 audiobook reading)

Today we have a DELIGHTFUL Audiobook reading of this  fairy tale written by English writer E. Nesbit (author of “The Railway Children”, “Five Childen and It”), which comes from her 1901 book “Nine Unlikely Tales for Children”.

Young Edwin is an English schoolboy who deplores his daily mathematics class assignment.  He wishes he could easily solve the problems he faces each day… and quite to his surprise, finds his wish is answered by the “Arithmetic Fairy”.  However, as he soon finds out, these correct answers come at a very frustrating – and hilarious – price.

This delightful story will appeal to any student who has struggled with math… or loves a good “fairy tale”. A great audiobook reading by Cori Samuels! (23 minutes)

To download this mp3 audio story, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key, then click the link and save to your mac.
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Living Books, Sewing

The Mary Frances Sewing Book

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THE MARY FRANCES SEWING BOOK – Adventures Among the Thimble People by Jane Eayre Fryer (PDF ebook)

She’s BACK! This week we’re bringing back one of the most beloved & popular children’s book characters from the early 1900s — Jane Eayre Fryer’s delightfully imaginative and educational heroine, Mary Frances!

In this part “fairy tale” and part “instruction book” various sewing implements come to life for Mary Frances, and they teach her how to sew – beginning with outfitting a sewing basket, then learning 10 or so basic stitches, then progressing to a sampler, and then on to doll clothes. The wonderful illustrations sprinkled throughout the book are very reminiscent of the L. Frank Baum Oz series.

This fun book can be enjoyed just as a delightful fairy story, or you can use it as the basis of a hand-sewing curriculum. Don’t miss it!

To download this PDF ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key, then click the link and save to your mac.

Audio, Living Books

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Audio Dramatization & Audiobook!)

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Washington Irving was an American short story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories “Rip Van Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” published in 1819.

In “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, you’ll hear his famous story of a mean spirited, dim-witted schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane and the events leading up to his meeting with the headless you know who. Oooo! Great fun! (28 minutes)

Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Click the above link to play the story online, or right-click and “save” to download it.

Next, here’s a link to the unabridged audiobook version of Washington Irving’s story.

It’s only 1.5 hours in length, and the reader is great! If you like the above dramatization, be sure to have your kids listen to this excellent reading of the original!

 

Audio, Literature, Living Books

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill (Audiobook)

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Today we have the third audiobook in the wonderful Betsy-Tacy series, read by Kara Shallenberg. Here’s her description of this volume:

Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill: the third book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The series is based on the author’s life; her family and friends have been renamed, but they really were just like the the people in the books! In this book, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib all turn ten years old, and they’re obsessed with Kings and Queens.

Click here to go to the download page for this audiobook!

Audio, Literature, Living Books

Betsy-Tacy and Tib (Audiobook)

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Here’s the second book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace, and read by Kara Shallenberg!  Kara writes about this volume:

Betsy-Tacy and Tib: the second book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The series is based on the author’s life; her family and friends have been renamed, but they really were just like the the people in the books! In this book, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, who are now eight years old, play just as well together as Betsy and Tacy did, and they never quarrel. They get into a little more trouble in this book, though!

If you ever wondered what child life was like in 1900, you’ll love this series. Highly recommended!

Click here to go to the download page for this audiobook!

Audio, Literature, Living Books

Betsy-Tacy (Audiobook)

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Kara Shallenberg, one of our favorite Librivox audiobook readers, recorded the wonderful Betsy – Tacy book series, and this week we are featuring the first three volumes of this delightful series by Maud Hart Lovelace.

Here’s what Kara writes about this first book:

Betsy-Tacy is the first book in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The series is based on the author’s life; her family and friends have been renamed, but they really were just like the the people in the books! The first book starts in 1897, when Betsy and Tacy meet, just before Betsy’s fifth birthday. (The series grows with the characters, so please don’t be put off by the relative simplicity of this first book.)

Give these a listen… they are great!

Click here to go to her listening page!

Audio, History, Literature, Living Books

40 G. A. Henty Audiobooks

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40 G. A. HENTY AUDIOBOOKS!

George Alfred Henty (8 December 1832 – 16 November 1902), was a prolific English novelist best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His books are still read and enjoyed today and are a terrific way to bring pivotal events from history to life for young readers and listeners. Today, we bring you a link from which you can download all these classic unabridged “living history” Henty audiobooks:

Among Malay Pirates
At Agincourt – White Hoods of Paris
Beric the Briton: A Story of the Roman Invation
By Pike and Dyke
The Cat of Bubastes
Dragon and the Raven: or The Days of King Alfred
In Freedom’s Cause
On the Irrawaddy, a Story of the First Burmese War
One of the 28th – a Tale of Waterloo
Saint George for England
St. Bartholomew’s Eve
Through Russian Snows
Through the Fray
The Tiger of Mysore
True to the Old Flag… AND MANY MORE!

Courtesy of Librivox.org, you can download and enjoy these complete, unabridged audio reading of one of Henty’s best historical adventure novels. These are read by different readers and the quality varies from acceptable to truly excellent (By Pike and Dyke, The Tiger of Mysore).

Our link takes you to the Librivox results page for ALL their G. A. Henty audiobooks. Just click on the titles you wish to download, and you’ll be taken to the individual download page for that book.  You’ll be able to download these audiobooks a chapter at a time, or each complete title all at once. Bookmark the page if you need to come back to it later!

Click here!

Tip: The 64K mp3 versions sound just as good as the 128K mp3 versions — and is half the size. These are huge files, so plan accordingly!

History, Horses, Living Books

Horses in Legend and History

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The Horse Fair by James Baldwin (PDF ebook)

In this neat mix of stories, legends and history, Young Philip, resting after his plowing, is surprised by a mysterious gentleman who invites him to a wondrous and magical horse fair at which he sees great horses from literature and history. This is an excellent “living book” by James Baldwin that will appeal to horse lovers, fans of classic “living books”, and history buffs!

To download this PDF ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE and “save link” to your computer. Mac users, press the “control” key then click the link and save to your mac.

Audio, Living Books

Understood Betsy

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UNDERSTOOD BETSY by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (PDF, kindle & nook ebook + mp3 audiobook)

A truly classic children’s book by Dorothy Canfield Fisher that is a real treat especially for homeschooling families. This engaging tale follows the adventures of thin, pale, 9 year old orphan Elizabeth Ann who is whisked away from her sheltered, overprotected city home and is taken to live on a Vermont farm where her cousins, the “dreaded Putneys,” live. However, it turns out that the Putneys are not at all what Elizabeth was told to expect, and under their care she blooms into a capable, independent and confident young lady.

UNDERSTOOD BETSY is a deeply satisfying story with wonderful insights into education and learning for its own sake, your family will love this delightful heroine and her heartwarming story will stay with you for years to come. Highly recommended!

We have the PDF and kindle and nook versions of the story for you, PLUS a link to the unabridged audiobook version! Enjoy!

To download the PDF version of the ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE.

To download the kindle version of the ebook, RIGHT CLICK HERE.

To download the nook (EPUB) version of the book, RIGHT CLICK HERE.

To go to the AUDIOBOOK page, where you can play this audiobook online or download to your computer CLICK HERE!