Here is a bibliography of current and choice books on homeschooling first prepared for the Minnesota Homeschoolers Alliance and a seminar at the Minnesota Library Association annual meeting in October 1996. New books about homeschooling are published very frequently these days, more than three times a month. The books listed below are some of the books I've encountered that other readers have recommended as good overviews of the variety and diversity in approaches of homeschooling, or as good how-to resources. A few books I've found myself that seem to be worthy replacements for books formerly listed here are listed on my own recommendation. If you have other recommendations, please let me know. These are all fine books, but I'm sure new homeschooling books will keep coming out, so tell me about new books you see and recommend. I was writing a book about homeschooling myself, trying to cover issues not already covered by these other books, although recently my new work in Taiwan has put that project on hold for a time. I'm sure you'll find these books helpful and interesting.
Creative Homeschooling for Gifted Children: A Resource Guide
by Lisa Rivero (Scottsdale, AZ: Great Potential Press, 2002) (ISBN 0-910707-48-0).
US$26.00, xiv and 401 pages; references, index.
The new, comprehensive, first place to turn for information about homeschooling gifted children,
and about giftedness and homeschooling in general.
KMBowns
edited by Nancy Lande
(Bozeman, Montana: WindyCreek Press, 2000)
(ISBN 0-9651303-1-2).
US$19.95, xii and 497 pages; foreword by Susan Richman, illustrated by drawings and black-and-white photographs.
Collection of interviews with fifty-five homeschooling families in which the families describe, in their own words, their experience of homeschooling.
An update of Lande's earlier beguiling book Homeschooling: A Patchwork of Days,
including follow-up information on many of the thirty families featured in that book.
Multiple countries and multiple lifestyles are represented.
A well-rounded "patchwork quilt" portrait of homeschooling and a great read.
KMBowns
Bill Waring and Diane Waring editors, with contributions by Michael Card
(Emerald Books: 1999)
(ISBN 1-88300242-7).
US$12.99,
A look back on what they learned along the way by veteran homeschooling parents of varying approaches.
Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
(New York: W. W. Norton, 1999)
(ISBN 0-393-04752-0).
US$35.00, 764 pages; selected bibliography, index.
Thought-provoking, almost frightening, description of a thorough course of classical education based on the Western trivium.
An inspiration to many homeschoolers with high aspirations for their children.
Loaded with detailed descriptions of resources.
KMBowns
The Complete Home Learning Sourcebook: The Essential Resource Guide for Homeschoolers, Parents, and Educators Covering Every Subject from Arithmetic to Zoology
Rebecca Rupp
(New York: Three Rivers Press, 1998)
(ISBN 0-609-80109-0).
US$29.95, xiii and 865 pages; index.
Bulky, comprehensive list of learning resources, organized by subject,
a fitting sequel to the author's well-liked The Good Stuff.
KMBowns
Mary Pride
(1999)
(ISBN 0-740300-07-5).
US$25.00
One volume of enormous four-volume successor to Mrs. Pride's earlier one-volume
Big Book of Home Learning and
Next Big Book of Home Learning, and the previous
four-volume Big Book of Home Learning
drawing on her years of reviewing homeschooling materials--with help from her large homeschooled family.
KMBowns(previous editions)
Mary Pride
(1999)
(ISBN 0-740300-08-3).
US$25.00
One volume of enormous four-volume successor to Mrs. Pride's earlier one-volume
Big Book of Home Learning and
Next Big Book of Home Learning, and the previous
four-volume Big Book of Home Learning
drawing on her years of reviewing homeschooling materials--with help from her large homeschooled family.
KMBowns(previous editions)
Cafi Cohen
(Roseville, CA: Prima Publishing, 2000)
(ISBN 0-7615-2754-0).
US$16.95, x and 321 pages.
Detailed information complied by homeschooling mom of two children who got into selective colleges of their choice,
including tell-it-like-it-is quotations from other parents,
with much how-to information about the college admissions process, good for anyone, homeschooler or not.
KMBowns
Linda Dobson
(Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1998)
(ISBN 0-7615-1377-9).
US$15.95.
Collected answers to common questions about homeschooling from thirty persons familiar with homeschooling.
KMBowns
Mary Griffith
(Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, revised 2nd edition 1999)
(ISBN 0-7615-1727-8).
US$16.00.
Detailed overview of homeschooling with much how-to information, by an author who is a regular participant in on-line discussion of homeschooling.
KMBowns(1st ed.)
Michael Farris
(Washington, DC: Regnery, 1997)
(0-89526-700-4).
US$16.95, xxxi and 224 pages; appendixes (resource guide, list of organizations, list of state laws).
Thoughts on classical education, political involvement, support groups, churches,
school activities, and apprenticeships by the president of Home School Legal Defense Association.
KMBowns
Rebecca Rupp
(New York: Three Rivers Press, 2000)
(0-609-80585-1).
US$14.00; appendixes.
New guide to curriculum planning by experienced homeschooling mother and resource reviewer Rebecca Rupp.
Grace Llewellyn
(1998)
(ISBN 0-96295917-0 [pbk.]).
US$19.00, notes, appendix "International Unschooling Resources for Everyone," bibliography, index.
As John Taylor Gatto, 1991 New York State teacher of the year, wrote in his back cover blurb for the 1991 edition of this book,
"Anyone who follows this clear blueprint is certain to meet the future with courage, enthusiasm, resourcefulness and the abundant love of life that the author has.
She demonstrates brilliantly that school and education are two very different things,
defining the latter precisely and with such a wonderful zest the reader is left dazzled with his own rich possibilities."
Now updated with international information, Internet resources, and much more.
WRITTEN BY A TEACHER.KMBowns(earlier edition), seen_HCO
Edited by Theodore E. Wade, Jr.
(7th edition, 1998)
(ISBN 0-930192-36-2 [pbk]).
Illustrations, appendices (mostly resource guides), forms for keeping records, index.
Latest edition of a compendium of chapters by various authors, with introduction and additional comments by Wade.
Chapters by Virginia Birt Baker,
Ruth Beechick,
Christopher J. Klicka,
Kay Kuzma,
Jonathan Lindvall,
Brian Ray,
Cindy Short,
Sue Welch, and others.
Other contributing authors include Cathy Duffy,
Michael P. Farris,
Gayle Graham,
Gregg Harris,
Jessica Hulcy,
Raymond and Dorothy Moore,
Karl Reed,
J. Michael Smith,
and Jon Wartes.
KMBowns(4th ed.)
Mary Leppert and Michael Leppert
(Rocklin, CA: Prima, 1999)
(ISBN 0-7615-2014-7 [pbk.]).
US$24.95, coupons.
New compendium by the editor of the Link newspaper about homeschooling.
The Right Choice: The Incredible Failure of Public Education and the Rising Hope of Home Schooling
Christopher J. Klicka
(Gresham, OR: Noble Publishing, revised edition 1995)
(ISBN 0-923463-83-6).
462 pages; resource guide.
Broad survey of policy issues related to homeschooling by an attorney for the Home School Legal Defense Association,
with chapters by Gregg Harris.
KMBowns(1st ed.)
Ray Ballmann
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2nd edition, expanded 1995)
(ISBN 0-89107-859-2).
US$ 10.99, xv and 217 pages; appendix, notes, select bibliography.
Thoughtful presentation of the rationale for homeschooling from a Biblical Christian perspective.
KMBowns
The WholeHearted Child Home Education Handbook
Clay Clarkson and Sally Clarkson
(Walnut Springs, TX: WholeHeart Ministries [P.O. Box 228, Walnut Springs, TX 76690], 1994).
150 and 18 pages; appendix (resource guide), planning forms.
Guide to homeschooling based on the views of the late Charlotte Mason.
KMBowns
Mary Potter Kenyon
(Bridgman, MI: Gazelle Publications, 1996)
(ISBN: 0-930192-35-4).
US$10.00, 127 pages; resource guide ("Where to Find What You Need"), index, illustrations.
From-the-heart new book by a mother detailing her process of deciding to homeschool and learning how to homeschool on a tight budget.
Some of the best information on saving money while homeschooling yet published in a homeschooling book.
KMBowns
The Art of Education: Reclaiming Your Family, Community, and Self
Linda Dobson
(Tonasket, Washington: Home Education Press [now distributed by Holt Associates], 1995)
(ISBN 0-945097-26-3).
US$14.75, 254 pages; foreword by John Taylor Gatto, notes, resource guide, index.
KMBowns
Anyone Can Homeschool; How to Find What Works for You
Terry Dorian and Zan Peters Tyler
(Lafayette, LA: Huntington House Publishers, 1996)
(ISBN: 1-56384-095-2).
US$10.99, 224 pages; appendices, notes.
KMBseen_HCO
Homeschooling the High Schooler volumes I and II
Diana McAlister and Candice Oneschak
(Arlington, WA: FA Publications, 23420 Jordan Road, Arlington, WA 98223, 1995?).
"College prep with classics, not texts," volume I covers adolescent issues, transcripts, college admissions, and financial aid;
volume II covers high school courses and includes bibliography of alternative resources.
How to Home School: A Practical Approach
Gayle Graham
(Hawthorne, FL: Family Learning Center, 1992)
(ISBN 1-880892-40-5).
vi and 169 pages; appendices, reproducible forms.
Comprehensive, detailed advice from veteran homeschooling mom.
Why So Many Christians Are Going Home to School
Llewellyn B. Davis
(Knoxville, TN: Elijah Co., rev. ed. 1991)
(ISBN 1-884098-00-2).
157 pages; bibliography.
Mother's exploration of the great variety of reasons she has to homeschool, with foreword by Samuel Blumenfeld.
KMBowns
You Can Teach Your Child Successfully: Grades 4 to 8
Ruth Beechick
(Pollock Pines, CA: Arrow Press, 2d ed. 1992)
(ISBN 0-940319-05-5; 0-949319-04-7 [pbk.]).
viii and 388 pages.
Helpful hands-on tips for teaching a full curriculum for middle grades at home.
KMBowns(1st edition)
Home Education: Rights and Reasons
John W. Whitehead and Alexis Crow
(Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 1993)
(ISBN 0-89107-655-7).
557 pages; bibliography and index of cases.
Thoroughly researched historical, legal, and educational perspective on homeschooling that is highly recommended by persons from a variety of points of view on homeschooling.
KMBowns
David Guterson
(New York: Harcourt Brace, 1992)
(ISBN 0-15-193097-X; 0-15-630000-1 [pbk.]).
US$10.95, vi and 245 pages.
Parent-oriented, philosophical discussion of homeschooling by an author who is both a homeschooling father and a public school teacher.
WRITTEN BY A TEACHER.KMBowns
The Unit Study [Idea] Book
Valerie Bendt
(Hawthorne, FL: Family Learning Center, 1992 [1993 reprint])
(ISBN 1-880892-43-X).
Resource suggestions for "unit studies," an approach to curriculum planning used by many homeschoolers.
Valerie Bendt also wrote How to Create Your Own Unit Study, which is recommended by many homeschoolers.
KMBowns
Freedom Challenge: African American Homeschoolers
Grace Llewellyn, editor
(Eugene, OR: Lowry House, 1996)
(ISBN 0-9629591-1-1).
316 pages; illustrations, errata slip.
Thought-provoking new book with essays by various authors and interviews with homeschoolers on the how and why of homeschooling among African-Americans.
KMBseen_HCO
Raymond S. Moore et al.
(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1994).
(ISBN 0-78528175-4 [pbk.]).
US$12.99, x and 300 pages.
Revised edition of the authors' earlier Home School Burnout.
KMBseen_HCO
This list is not meant to be as exhaustive as the combined pages of my bibliographies on education issues,
but rather to be a sampling of the newer and better books describing homeschooling.
Please write to me with suggestions for additions, corrections, deletions, or other changes to this list.
A general State education is a mere contrivance for moulding people to be exactly like one another: and as the mould in which it casts them is that which pleases the predominant power in the government, whether this be a monarch, a priesthood, an aristocracy, or the majority of the existing generation in proportion as it is efficient and successful, it establishes a despotism over the mind, leading by a natural tendency to one over the body.
John Stuart Mill On Liberty (1859)
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. These are all fine books, but I'm sure new homeschooling books will keep coming out, so tell me about new books you see and recommend. I was writing a book about homeschooling myself, trying to cover issues not already covered by these other books, although recently my new work in Taiwan has put that project on hold for a time. I'm sure you'll find these books helpful and interesting.