Fall in Love with the World While Savoring Great Books
Our second year of homeschooling, I researched resources for studying countries and cultures. I wanted to expose my children to the beauty of the world around them, and I didn't have the budget for world traveling. My extended family is fairly diverse. We have a beautiful blend of nationalities and skin colors, so my children have grown up appreciating differences. Naturally, I wanted to foster a love of the world and it's countries and cultures. We traveled by book.
I would have loved a resource like Jamie Martin's Give Your Child the World: Raising Globally Minded Kids One Book at a Time. It can be challenging to find great books to unlock the mysteries of foreign cultures. Jamie has worked hard to curate a beautiful resource filled with recommendations for different ages and levels.
It's no secret that I love reading books. While they don't compare to actually visiting a foreign country, they're a great place to start in expanding the horizons of young people. My sister met her husband in Russia. Granted she was on a mission trip with a college group, and he happened to be on the same trip, just from another college. You never know what doors God will open with a heart loves the world He created.
Bilbo Baggins, a homebody of a hobbit from J.R.R. Tolken's The Hobbit, thought he could stay in his little hobbit hole and live a peaceful life. However, life in the Shire was going to change whether he stayed or went.
Our children are living in a changing world. We can try to keep them safe by sheltering them within the walls of your home, but safety isn't guaranteed. By exposing them to cultures that differ from their own, we can cultivate globally minded kids that can be world changers.
I'm hosting a massive back-to-school giveaway next week which includes a copy of Give Your Child the World. The basket's value is over $200, and you won't want to miss it!
What are some of your favorite books from around the world?
Betsy Strauss is an unexpected homeschooler, mother of three, who is in a relationship with a sweet man for life. She loves reading books, drinking coffee, and learning anything with her kids.