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We are currently doing Bigger, but my oldest could easily fit skill-wise into CtC next year for her 5th grade year. She is quite sensitive, though, so I'm wondering how "tough" the reading is in CtC...not in terms of ability but in terms of emotions. Does this make sense? In particular, I'm wondering about the history readings and read-alouds.
I'm considering having each child do their own program (well...I'm considering alot of options) but lining up our read-alouds with what they are studying in co-op, which will be ancient history next year. We might do a combination of Preparing and CtC read-alouds with dc who would be ages 7/8, 9 and 10/11 next year. Are any of the history focused CtC read-alouds to be avoided, knowing that I'd be reading to one sensitive child and one younger one?
To clarify, this is especially an issue for her with movies and pictures. As far as books...she likes adventurous books, but I think anything really disturbing (like horrific sacrifices to false gods) would be hard for her until she's a little older. I got to thinking about this when looking at the catalog description of the History Interest Storytime pack for CtC ("Please note, in keeping with the ancient time period, the History Set does contain some violent content.") I'm trying to find out more details Thanks!

threegreatkids,

I would say that the warnings are mainly for the Extension Pack books in CTC, which are targeted for 6th and 7th graders. Since your daughter is in 5th grade, the extension books wouldn't apply to her. The read-aloud, Basic Package, books have less content issues related to them and are easy to watch (as you'll be reading them aloud). We do give warnings for the read-alouds within the guide too.

God King is one of the books that has some noted passages mentioned in the guide to watch or omit, and The Accidental Voyage has a couple parts flagged in the guide as well. As long as you're reading these selections aloud to your child, I would think she'd be fine. We strive to include God-honoring books within the curriculum and work to stay away from overly graphic content. This particular time period is tougher in that respect, hence the warnings. If you deeply desire to read history related books, then I'd go with the History Interest Set as a read-aloud. If you aren't so focused on history-related books, then you may wish to opt for the Girl Interest Read-aloud set instead, as they are wonderful books too!

As far as Preparing Hearts goes, Hillyer has a few parts and a couple of the other books have some parts with a brief warning too, but overall they are all very solid.

Hope that helps! If you have other questions, ask away.

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie,
Thanks so much- that is exactly what I needed to know, and also the answer I was hoping for Even if I still combine my girls in Preparing next year we will have the CtC manual for oldest right side, so I can look up the notes on those particular books. What a blessing that you give us a "heads up" about these things!
Really, the only problem is that with so many wonderful HOD book packs, how can I order just one?
Thanks again-

Oh, one more question on a similar note. If I decide instead to combine for left side Preparing and wanted oldest to use the extention pack, would there be content issues to be aware of? I don't see a warning in the catalog, but this would be the same sensitive to-be-5th-grade girl. I seem to recall someone else asking this awhile back but I can't remember the answer.

We had a problem with The Golden Bull, which is the very first scheduled read-aloud for history. It contains a lot of *detail* of how they worshiped their false gods, and there was even a "Goddess of Beer" which I never knew about until we saw it in that book.

Agreeing that the book The Golden Bull has worship of false gods in it, however since the original question was asking about the intensity of the books within CTC rather than about the worship of false gods, I didn't mention The Golden Bull. I'm glad you brought it up though, so we can explain our reasons for choosing it.

We chose The Golden Bull because it does give a full picture of Ur during the ancient time period and does show the worship of pagan gods in a negative way, demonstrating that the people are in bondage to the moon god and live in poverty and in fear of the god, while the moon god does nothing for their plight. Those who worship the moon god are also seen in a negative, domineering light and do not reflect any love but rather rule by fear. It was one of the few books that shows the pagan gods in this way, rather than glorifying the god(s) as an "interesting" myth or legend where the god is seen as a hero (like the Greek myths for example) and was also one of the few books for this time period that did not include human sacrifice or graphic content. We felt it was an important book for showing the pagan state of Ur as kiddos would be reading about God calling Abraham out of Ur in their history spine at the same time as The Golden Bull would be read aloud. It was interesting to me, personally, to get a feel for Ur at the time of Abraham and made Abraham's answer to God's call seem all the more amazing to me. Knowing its content, we scheduled it to be a read-aloud allowing for discussion with your kiddos about it.

When choosing books for this time period as read-alouds, we definitely knew there needed to be 3 different read-aloud options to meet the various comfort levels of families who will be teaching through this time period. So, we put together a History Interest Read-aloud set, a Girl Interest Set, and a Boy Interest Set, making sure to fully explain our reasoning for including a choice of 3 sets and including a content warning on the History Interest Set on our website and in our catalog. This leaves the decision to the parent and allows them to be in the driver's seat when choosing the books they feel are most appropriate for their kiddos.

For anyone wavering on what to choose for reading aloud, you may just wish to lean toward the Girl Set or Boy Set as it is definitely safer for a sensitive reader and steers clear of history-related topics from this time period that may make you uncomfortable.

As far as Preparing Hearts extensions go, The Bronze Bow is the most intense and for a sensitive reader, you may want to read along with your child or talk with her about it as she reads. Beorn the Proud has a couple of intense scenes and Journey to America has some separation issues that a sensitive reader may dwell upon. The one to watch the most is The Bronze Bow.

Hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

Carrie, thank you for taking the time to explain why you chose to include The Golden Bull in CtC. I've seen this choice criticized on other boards and have wondered about it. Personally, I think it sounds like a great choice and I can't wait to get to it!

We are in Week 16, and have read through Dinosaurs of Eden, The Golden Bull, The Boy of the Pyramids, Jashub's Journal, and God King. My ds has enjoyed every book immensely. He is not a particularly sensitive child, but I think even if he were he probably would have done fine with these titles. You've already gotten excellent detailed answers here, so I'll just share that we felt transported back to that time period as we read together, and I had the urge more than once to read ahead without him but held off. Thanks, Carrie, for explaining your choices. I am glad you take the time to do so, and I am also glad for the books you've chosen for CTC. My ds's faith is growing by leaps and bounds. The way the history is done in CTC makes it come alive, and makes it clear how amazing the heroes of the Bible were at that time. To follow the Lord in times such as those - well, as we just read in Esther today for history, these people were definitely chosen "for a time such as this". Good question!

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks for explaining, Carrie.

We also have finished the Golden Bull and enjoyed it. I am one that is pretty against in depth study of false gods, mythology and things of that nature. But the truth is that was the culture then so I want them to understand it in terms of how God viewed it and also explaining some of the actions God takes in the OT. We found reading the book aloud really gave us a good chance to discuss all that. I guess there is a difference for us about having it mentioned as part of the story and the culture of the time and really romancing the false worship and mythology etc to where it sounds almost appealing or fact. The book does not do that. I had considered going with a mix of the boy and girl interest set but we are glad we went with the history set. It's great though to have options.

These answers have helped so much!

I must confess that I have a bit of a phobia left from our last experience with ancient history using a well-known curriculum...when my sweet girls were grade K and 1 . It was a disaster, and we stopped after 1/2 of the year. Since then we enjoyed another curriculum for 2 good years, but truly feel we have "come home" with HOD this year. I must remember how much my girls have matured in every way, especially in their faith, these past 3 years. I also feel confident that HOD will lead us into our study of ancient history (both in PH and CtC) in a way that truly glorifies God and continues to grow my children's faith (and mine!)

So thanks again for answering and giving us such wonderful choices, Carrie!!!!

You're welcome! This is a terrific thread ladies, for answering some of the questions any of you may have over the books in both CTC and Preparing Hearts. We enjoy the opportunity to share our reasoning with you as you make decisions for what is best for your children. We pray you will feel the Lord's leading in choosing His best for your family.

Blessings,
Carrie