I have had a lot of requests for recommendations for homeschool books for boys. I recently did a video highlighting a number of my favorites, and here is the promised blog post with lists and links.
First of all, I would like to reiterate the basic criteria for what I look for in a boy’s book:
- Encourages good character and godliness.
- Inspires.
- Includes action and purpose.
- Is interesting and well-written.
Now here is the list with links (where possible):
Rosegate Harbor Robinson Curriculum Lists
Heritage History–loads and loads of great books to read online, on a Kindle, or print and bind yourself
The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Roald Dahl
The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog #1 (there are loads more where this one comes from!)
The Coral Island, R. M. Ballantyne (it seems it is hard to find his books new) Here is a link to a list of Ballantyne books on the Project Gutenberg site.
Yesterday’s Classics Legends, Myths, and Hero Tales (please note: I do not personally suggest my children read things such as the Greek god/goddess myths, although we touch on them so that they understand the basics of what they are and where they came from when they come across them in their reading and conversations).
YWAM biographies available from ChristianBook.com
Beowulf, Seamus Heaney
Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan
Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe
Swiss Family Robinson, Johann Wyss
Ben Hur, Tale of the Christ, Lew Wallace
The Robe, Lloyd Douglas
Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens
The Story of Rolf and the Viking Bow, Allen French (from Bethlehem Books)
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston, Eleanore M. Jewett (also from Bethlehem Books)
Voices of Young Heroes and Voices of Ordinary Heroes, Kelly Milner Halls
The Chronicles of Narnia, C. S. Lewis
G.A. Henty from Rainbow Resource Center
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
The Story of LaFayette (Signature Books) Hazel Hutchins Wilson
The Cross and the Switchblade, David Wilkerson
God’s Smuggler, Brother Andrew
I hope this list and these links help. I actually have a post about homeschooling books that includes a printable guide with a detailed book list which you can find here:
Homeschool for Cheap or Free Mega Post With Loads of Links and Printables
Now here is the video:
Thanks for this wonderful list. You are a living, breathing library of knowledge!
You’re so welcome–glad I could be of help 🙂
You said you don’t have your children read the Greek god/goddess stories. Does this include the Greek stories like the Odyssey/Trojan War? Or do you just stay away from the Greek stories of Hercules, Perseus, etc.?
Thanks for this list and all you share!
Best,
Kayla
Just to follow up, I actually am not very familiar with Greek mythology myself as I only studied it briefly in middle school/high school. I believe there’s some overlap of the Greek gods/goddesses in the Trojan War story? Anyways, if you would elaborate on how you approached this subject, it would be very helpful!
We have lightly brushed over the stories you mentioned just to acquaint ourselves with them, perhaps reading a quick overview, but not delving any more deeply than that. While I want my children to be familiar when such things come up in conversation, I feel there is so little time to disciple them that we concentrate on useful, edifying things with our precious years we have together, and if they feel so inclined they can pursue such things in depth later on. Hope this answers your questions!
Thank you for this fantastic list. You are a thriving, dynamic repository of information!
So happy this blessed you!
This is a beautiful list of uplifting books! Thank you so much!
I can add a book of clean, family-friendly jokes to the mix:
JD Mellon’s The Joke Book: For English learners & their friends is a lovely way to engage young readers and bring smiles and laughter to your family.
https://www.amazon.com/Joke-Book-English-learners-friends/dp/B0C1J5GRCM/
Thanks for the suggestion!
Have you ever used the books by Joseph Altsheler? Good American history books for boys.
They sound good, thanks for the recommendation!