There are books every homeschool mom needs to have in her library.

When I finally decided to abandon the ideal of public school, a friend loaned me a bag of books to borrow during our beach vacation.

They were her stash of best homeschooling books for moms. I devoured them on the car ride there, while we were on the beach, and on the car ride home.

I learned SO MUCH from those books. They gave me inspiration, motivation, ideas, encouragement, and just the TOOLS I needed to begin my journey.

I have since invested in many of those same books (plus my friend wound up giving me some of them!) and happily loan them out to my friends. I also re-read these books frequently. I have also added to the books as I hear of new recommendations.

My children are constantly changing, and I constantly need encouragement and ideas.

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Best Books for Homeschool Moms

1. For The Children's Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School

This was the VERY FIRST homeschool book I read, and I still read it each summer. It is full of so much gentle wisdom, inspiration, and advice.

2. A Charlotte Mason Companion: Personal Reflections on the Gentle Art of Learning

This was the SECOND book I read. It was so helpful to me in forming my homeschool philosophy, which ultimately became an Classical/Charlotte Mason/Interest Led mix!

3. The Well Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home

This is the primer on Classical Education. It contains curriculum suggestions, a thorough explanation of the stages of learning, and so much more. I have been reading this book A LOT lately!

4. The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of Classical Education

The Core is another great primer on Classical Education. I read this book last year and it convinced me we needed to join Classical Conversations (which we start in August). Leigh Bortins offers WONDERFUL suggestions if you are interested in educating your child Classically.

5. Educating The Whole Hearted Child

Sally and Clay Clarkson have put together a must have resource for homeschool families. This book is full of encouragement, curriculum suggestions, book suggestions, schedules, chore charts - you name it, they have included it in this homeschool bible of sorts.

6. The Handbook of Nature Study

Normally this book stays in the back of my van, because I love to use it as a reference when we are out and about. If you're like me, you didn't know a lot about nature study when you started homeschooling, and I feel it is such an INTEGRAL part of appreciating God's world.

*Guess what? My friend Barb has an entire blog, The Handbook of Nature Study, devoted to this book. It's a fabulous resource.

7. Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study with the Gentle Art of Learning

This book, actually in story format, inspired me to slow down and enjoy my children. It showed me that we needed to spend time being TOGETHER, not me scheduling "activities" for them to do. It's a sweet read that refreshes tired souls.

8. The Homeschool Experiment

I laughed OUT LOUD while reading this book. It's written by a young homeschool mom who shares her escapades, triumphs, failures, and dreams in story format. I read it in two nights - it was THAT good.

9. Soundbites from Heaven: What God Wants Us To Hear When We Talk to Our Kids

This is a great devotional - and it made me think a lot about how I speak to my children, and what that says about myself and my walk with God. It was a bit painful to read, but I believe it grew me in an area where I needed (and still DO need) work.

10. Weapons of Mass Instruction: A Schoolteacher's Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory Schooling

If there are ever days where I feel tempted to flag down the big yellow bus, I sit and read this book. John Gatto tells the tale (in no uncertain terms) of the effects of compulsory schooling on our culture. While I believe everyone makes their educational choices for different reasons and homeschooling doesn't work for everyone, I FIRMLY believe our current system of compulsory schooling fails our children.

You CAN Homeschool: Encouragement for the the Journey

Another book I think you MUST have (wink) is my free eBook! I wrote this book to encourage and equip homeschooling parents.

Download the book for free -- I hope it blesses you!

You Can Homeschool:  Free eBook for Homeschoolers from Homegrown Learners

Do YOU have a favorite homeschool book that has helped you greatly on your journey? I'd love to know what it is!

You Might Also Like:

10 Reasons You CAN Homeschool

The Importance of Being a Homeschool Ambassador

When I resolved in January to read, I wasn't kidding!

The funny thing about reading is this: once you commit to read more, it becomes a bit of an addiction. I can't wait to finish a book so I can start the next one, and I find myself relishing quiet time to read.

And here's the even BETTER thing about reading: I'm watching my whole family hop on board the reading train, too. There is so much to be said for modeling a behavior you want to see in your children.

(Check out the summer reading list for kids on the blog, too!)

The list of suggestions for this summer include everything from classics to great beach reads, with a few powerful works of nonfiction thrown in, too. And yes, there are 26 books on this list - and I'm doing my best to read ALL OF THEM this summer! (It's good to have goals, right?)

Actually, I am going to be driving my oldest to and from her first job this summer - and I think I might be doing a lot of audiobooks and a lot of waiting and reading.

Here's to a WONDERFUL summer of reading!

Non Fiction

Screens & Teens: Connecting With Our Kids in a Wireless World

Why Can't We Just Play? : What I Did When I Realized My Kids Were Way Too Busy (Put this on the TOP of your list -- I laughed out loud and could see myself in so many parts of this book!)

How Dante Can Save Your Life

The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis--and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance

Consuming Kids: The Hostile Takeover of Childhood

Comfort Detox: Finding Freedom from Habits That Bind You

*Because we have been doing some driving this summer, our Audible subscription has come in quite handy. My husband and I took a trip to the beach for our anniversary and completed How Dante Can Save Your Life -- this is one of our all time favorite books.

Big Summer Reading List for Moms: How Dante Can Save Your Life

Classics

(I just finished Persuasion - what a lovely Jane Austen book it is. Her last book, the title was actually assigned to it by Jane Austen's brother after her death. I think it's a GREAT place to start if you're hesitant to read the classics!)

Persuasion - FREE for Kindle

The Mayor of Casterbridge - FREE for Kindle

Dante's Inferno

The Island of the World

Historical Fiction

Lincoln in the Bardo

A Gentleman in Moscow

Lilac Girls

Before We Were Yours

The Second Mrs. Hockaday

Half Broke Horses

City of Light

Ross Poldark, Poldark #1

Books for Continuing Education for Homeschool Parents

Beauty in the Word: Rethinking the Foundations of Education

The Core: Teaching Your Child the Foundations of a Classical Education

I've been trying to vary what I read - sometimes it's just fun to pick up a book that doesn't make a profound statement and that isn't hard to read. Those are my beach reads, and I must say I'm hooked on Liane Moriarity! In fact, I read Big Little Lies in just one day at the beach recently!