A popular quote about books is: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” This quote, often attributed to Dr. Seuss, highlights the fun and power of reading to expand knowledge and open up new possibilities.

I am huge believer in this myself. We have books piled up on the floors around the bookcases. There’s always one in the process of being read in the bedroom, another in the bathroom, and normally a separate one in the car in case I get stuck. My dyslexic son who finds reading almost impossible has audio books! A different one on the go for a relaxing bath, another for the shower, bedroom and car!

But how do you choose? What books would you have on your bookshelf? Would it be the same as mine? My youngest would have Shakespeare on his and yet my eldest would firmly have those at the back of the pile!

So what should every home education parent have on theirs?

We’ll try to put aside the bog standard text books though and classics but I’m not making any promises…

Recipe Books

My favourites have to be recipe books! I love them, I have old ones from the 1930’s through to today but they are used almost weekly whether or not it’s a case of teaching life skills to my teen, trying to explain why herbs and spices are two separate things or, like this week, using making ice cream in a plastic bag for science studies.

So first up for me is:

The Kitchen Science Cookbook! Full of recipes from edible slime and unicorn spaghetti, it has instant ice cream which my eldest used in his a level studies. Each page has the science behind the recipe and also how to explore that particular topic further! ITS AMAZING!!

My other is an old favourite which has no simple science explanations but is just good to cook from and the kids are often amazed by the ingredients Harry Eastwood Red Velvet Heartache – absolutely full of bakes none of which use fat but actually use fruit and vegetables all mixed up so you cannot tell! I have not yet failed a single of these recipes and it feels like an old friend when I hook it off the shelf.

If you fancy more “educational” recipe books I can highly recommend “Eat your science homework” though you may have to search through ebay for this!

Home Education Books

Now obviously I could just fill up this section with John Holt books! Who hasn’t read one of his books and fallen in love with home ed all over again? But these are recommended everywhere so for something a little different try:

For people considering home ed then – Changing Our Minds: How children can take control of their own learning by Dr Naomi Fisher.

I read this book after realising the school system did not work for my youngest and really having no idea what to do. It helps you see the alternatives and is full or research, people’s personal experiences and gentle advice.

The Call of the Wild & Free – Ainsley Arment. I discovered this actually after another home education mum recommend her podcast. It is full of amazing quotes and advice “children are born with all the wonder they will ever need. Our job is not to take it away” A book basically about how to let the world be classroom, how to learn in the streets, the fields, everywhere and trusting them to follow their passion. As someone who started by trying to home educate with books, worksheets and lessons this was a real eye opener and changed our whole direction.

History Books

Our shelves are full of history books as the kids adore this subject and can barely last a day without digging some old knowledge facts up. But if you set aside the diaries of Pepys and Anne Frank (I can ignore the first here but do do read the second) there is a huge world of fun ad incredible history books which we regularly dive into.

Terry Deary – Not just the brains behind the Horrible History books but also he wrote

A History of Britain in Ten Enemies – This one we indulged in on audiobooks as a whole family with my husband refusing to let us continue it without him in the car. It is full of humour and facts and is the result of our summer holiday changing countries!

Again back to horrible history’s and the fact checker of the TV show – Greg Jenner is amazing! Hilarious and historian behind You’re Dead to Me podcast he has written a whole range of childrens history books – Totally Chaotic history of…” But he has also wrote:

Ask A Historian & Dead Famous. Ask a historian though is by far our favourite as it is filled with all the unusual facts about history you might want to know – How old is Curry or How did knights in full armour satisfy their need to go to the toilet? Gregs a natural storyteller and the books just draw you in without realising it. Superb when the kids are claiming their bored or you have twenty minutes to kill between heading out places.

Fiction

Ok I couldn’t help myself; this was supposed to be full of non-fiction books to dive into but!!! So my top fiction books to have are:

Lord of the Rings – I loved the films, but they are rubbish compared to the actual books! So much more of this glorious word and JRR Tolkien’s incredible brain! PS if you have younger children, I highly recommend his Letters to Father Christmas

A Christmas Carol – Obviously nothing beats a Muppets Christmas Carol but this is actually a really good book in its own right and can lead on to many discussions surrounding how life has changed and why.

Going Solo (& Boy) By Roald Dahl. While some of his beliefs are old fashioned these two stand-alone books of his childhood and youth are not to be missed! Full of mischief and incredibly story telling they are dived into nearly every year by the whole family.

So please do share either in the comments here or on our Facebook group. What are the must have you other home educators have on your bookshelves?!