Great for Children and Adults!

by Carla
(Noblesville, IN, USA)

Product: Beautiful Feet
Subject: History
Levels Used: Elementary
Dates Used: 2008-2009

Likes: For lower elementary, nothing is better in history than biographies - learning about people, not dates.

We used the Ingri and Edgar d'Aulaire books about different historical figures to enhance our American History unit studies. Another group of books with Beautiful Feet are the Genevieve Foster books. These not only tell the life story of the historical figure but also what has happened during their lifetimes.

These are for older children, but honestly, I enjoy reading them, too, and they're excellent read-alouds for American History. From what I can tell, they cover American History (as well as World History) from the 1400s to the Civil War as well as another book for the life of Augustus Caesar.

Dislikes: My mouth gets dry reading the Genevieve Foster books to my children--but I want to read more!

Beautiful Feet Books

by Penny
(Louisiana)

Beautiful Feet has some really nice books. We enjoyed all the books that we read.

I have used the book A Literature Approach to Geography, History and Science Using the Holling Clancy Holling Books. I have also used the Early American and World History for Junior High book.

The Geography book uses Paddle-to-the Sea (which my youngest daughter absolutely loved), Minn of the Mississippi, Tree in the Trail and Seabird. The lessons tell you what to read, give you some research ideas, vocabulary and map skills.

In the history book, mentioned above, the books used are: The World of Columbus and Sons, The World of Captain John Smith, Poor Richard, Johnny Tremain, George Washington's World, Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, Of Courage Undaunted, The Great Little Madison and Abraham Lincoln's World. Lessons give you study notes, questions, vocabulary, essay topics and research projects. All answers are located in the back of the book. They also carry all the books requested in their guides.

The biography books are really great. They have books on Pocahontas, Benjamin Franklin and others. These are written as story books, so they keep the children interested. They aren't written as a history text. There are lots of colored pictures in each book. We read all the books that were listed for Ambleside Online's Year 1 and some of the older history books.

Geography

by Lisa B.
(Embden, ME USA)

Product: Beautiful Feet Geography - using the Holling C. Holling books

Subject: Geography
Levels Used: about grades 2 & up
Dates Used: 2008

Likes: If you have never seen the Holling C. Holling books (Tree in the Trail, Minn of the Mississippi, Seabird, & Paddle-to-the Sea), I would highly recommend just reading those. This guide, however, does a wonderful job of turning each book into a little unit study. You do need the books listed above to use & the supplemental maps are highly recommended. My 11 year old son really enjoyed using this guide.

Dislikes: A minor typo was found in the guide (Portland, ME was listed as the capital of ME which in actuality it's Augusta). There is a lot of coloring in some spots on the maps. That may be hard for some children.