Karen's Books
Karen's Books
A Charlotte Mason Companion
Personal Reflections on The Gentle Art of Learning
by Karen AndreolaAdd to Amazon Cart
You can realize the home school of your dreams. Here are the tools to create an extraordinary learning experience. Karen’s book is brimming with practical “how to’s” and the inspiration to see them through. Topics include: selecting good books, heroes in history, poetry, art and music appreciation, nature study, the atmosphere of home, the formation of habit, and keeping up enthusiasm. Companion is one of the most trusted and referred to books in the home school world. Discover the secret of a happy homeschool - without breaking your piggy bank. Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. ---Dean Read More...
Story Starters
Helping Children Write Like They've Never Written Before
by Karen AndreolaAdd to Amazon Cart
Expand your child’s literary powers with the practice of creative narration. Here is your child’s opportunity to rescue those in danger, comfort the sick, cheer the lonely, laugh with the ridiculous, tame the wild, and do battle for good. A story starter suspends a student in the middle of a predicament. He is then faced with the question, “What happen next?” This is his cue to expand and embellish the story however he wishes. He learns to write freely, with imagination and zest – like he has never written before. The action-packed stories are especially appealing to boys. To spark even more curiosity, each story is illustrated with engaging 19th century pictures.---Dean Read More...
Pocketful of Pinecones
Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning
by Karen AndreolaAdd to Amazon Cart
Pocketufl of Pinecones is a kind of teacher’s guide in the form of a soothing and uplifting story. Interested in Charlotte Mason’s ideas, Carol (a 1930s homemaker) takes nature walks with her children. She guides them in creating Nature Notebooks. Throughout the four seasons she and her children observe more than 200 living things together. You will find Carol to be busy but not rushed. She loves her husband, home teaches, cooks healthy meals, and understands “make-do and mend” frugality. ---Karen Read More...
Lessons at Blackberry Inn
Adventures with the Gentle Art of Learning
by Karen Andreola Add To Amazon Cart
“Does Carol have her baby?” Readers of Pocketful of Pinecones want to know. This sequel follows Carol as she adjusts to living at Blackberry Inn. She tries some new subjects with her children: Picture Study and Music Appreciation. Drop by the Inn on days of canning, baking, knitting, sewing and hospitality to revive your enthusiasm for homemaking. All the while you will read how Carol teaches her children with “the gentle art of learning.” ---Karen Read More
Simply Grammar
An Illustrated Primer
by Karen Andreola Add To Amazon Cart
Some teaching methods are timeless. In this revised and expanded edition of First Grammar Lessons by Charlotte Mason, you will discover one of them – the simple method of narration that focuses on conversation as a natural means of teaching grammar to your fourth to eight graders. A large and curious illustration accompanies each lesson. ---Karen Read More...
I so enjoy all of your books. This is the time of year when I take Pocketful of Pinecones off the shelf and reread it. Something about autumn and your books just go together. When I feel myself getting stressed, rereading provides reassurance that I am on the best path for my children.
ReplyDeleteWill you ever write the next book that comes after blackberry inn? I would love to know what happens next!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to hear that you like my books and stories, ladies. Thank you very much for telling me.
DeleteA sequel with Carol's family dances in my head but I haven't yet begun threshing out the many details that a story deserves. If it is written it will be published as an e-book. -Karen A.
I hope there will be a sequel to Blackberry Inn as well. I just finished rereading it again as I have been suffering with the effects of a concussion. Being reminded of Charlotte Mason's principles and those of Godly home schooling mother were just what I needed. I logged on this site to see if anything was in the works!
DeleteI wish you a thorough healing as you get well. Thank you for your vote of confidence. I still have no sequel in the works. But I am happy to hear that you returned to Blackberry Inn for a second read.
DeleteI, too, crave a third book! If you are not writing anything soon, do you have suggestions on this type of book I can read in the meantime? I have read and re-read your books and just adore them. They feed my soul and heart and mind immensely - and in practical and lovely ways. Thank you for writing the books and sharing your world with us!
DeleteI've read nearly all of the Faireacre series by Miss Read. If you like soothing stories that follow the seasons of the year and are set in a village of quirky (but pleasant) characters you will like Faireacre. How kind of you to tell me that you enjoy my books. It is a joy to know they feed your soul. That was my prayer and my intent.
DeleteKaren, I am so encouraged and blessed by your writing. I am going through The Charlotte Mason Companion for a second time and cannot get enough wisdom from this little book of yours. Your writing is so inspiring, please don't stop using your gift to encourage us younger homeschool moms out there.
ReplyDeleteHeather (Canada)
I've taken your encouragement to heart, Heather. Thank you for sending it my way. After 8 years of writing I am finishing up a book of essays this summer titled "Mother Culture -for a Happy Homeschool." It will be published in 2018. Although it is non-fiction, within its messages are anecdotes that illustrate my main ideas.
DeleteKaren, I can't agree more with all the comments above! Your writing is soothing and inspirational. I am looking forward to Mother Culture - for a Happy Homeschool. I am sure it will provide me with more wisdom and inspiration that I long for. Though I have been homeschooling for 4 yrs I have only in this last year learned of your books and started reading them. I struggle with the balance of this modern world and mother culture. I long for a simpler life like Carol's. I am almost finished with Lesson's at Blackberry Culture that I have been reading slowly as to savor it. I know that may sound corny, but it has been so soothing and inspiring that I don't want it to end! I have taken yoru advice and downloaded on my Kindle "Fairacre" which is available for free if you have Kindle Unlimited. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world!. God Bless! Ellen
ReplyDeleteHello Karen,
ReplyDeleteI have just finished reading a beautiful letter from my daughter Emma (Sr.Martha who is with the Dominican sisters in Nashville)
She has just finished reading For the Children’s Sake ...she is studying to be a teacher (as they are a teaching order) and just loved the book.... remembering her own CM education she begged me to recommend other titles and more!
I wanted to send her my copy of The CM Companion but found postage from Australia so expensive... I instead - from your website was able to purchase it from amazon and have it at her doorstep by Monday next week!
I’m sure she will love it as I have!!
I continue to love it’s wisdom, practicality, and love for God within its pages. I know it’s been years (the 1st copies) since I purchased mine, and yet it is still fresh, still new! Though the pages are well read and almost coming apart....it is still making a difference in my h/s and my daily life.
I am looking forward to your new book... I’ve had open heart surgery recently and need a little tlc- everything you have ever written (or spoken-I have your CD which Emma bought) has spoken to my heart.
I have shed tears, experienced joy and found peace.
Thank You.
God bless you I pray daily for you as you nurture so many, please remember to nurture yourself too, for your family’s sake but especially for you!
Love Annamaria
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ReplyDeleteHello, Karen,
ReplyDeleteI just finished Pocketful of Pinecones last evening and it was such a lovely book to read. I have many plants and things highlight to see if they grow in Washington state. I have two questions . Your book Lessons at Blackberry Inn is currently selling on Amazon for $40. Do you know of a source that might have a better price and/or do you have copies to sell? Also, I am looking to purchase Handbook of Nature Study and the editions sold on Amazon do not have the best reviews. Many of the comments say the printing is faded as are the pictures. Which edition do you recommend and which one do you own.
One book at a time, that is how I want to approach this for myself. Thank you for the books you have written and the guidance you share. You truly are a remarkable woman.
Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
DeletePlease don't buy Blackberry Inn at the $40 price.
Simply Charlotte Mason is selling it for $13.95. Type: Lessons at Blackberry Inn - into their Search Bar and it will pop up. My son created a beautiful new cover for it - not released yet - which will be used either on an upcoming Amazon Kindle edition or (if we decide to keep it in paper) the new print-run - or both.
Miss Comstock's Handbook of Nature Study looks to be a facsimile which may have become faded in subsequent printings. The photographs are a poorer quality than we are used to seeing in modern books because this was the state of things back in the day it was originally put together - but the text is interesting. I just checked eBaby and saw some for very good prices. My copy is a hardcover from Cornell University Press. It's text is clear.
Thank you for your compliments, Kathryn, I admire how you are following your interests.
Karen A.