An Old Gem: My Book House Books

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On my latest trip to the thrift store I came upon a complete collection of the 12 books of My Book House for Children books. In perfect condition. For $30. And even though I already have the full set, I bought it. I could not leave it there when I knew so many friends could benefit from it. And sure enough it found a great home at my friend Jenn’s house. So this is a little bit for her as well as for the rest of you. If you ever come across these books: get them! Do not hesitate! Just get them, especially if they are decently priced.  Why? Do you ask, well, let me tell you…

Background

The My Book House books series were published between 1920 and 1971 by Olive Beaupre Miller, a stay at home mom turned book publisher. Olive Beaupre Miller was on a quest to find the best literature for her little girl. In that quest, and with her husband’s support and encouragement, she created one of the most beautiful collections of children’s literature. The My Book House books are a lovely collection of nursery rhymes, poems, short stories and lore. They are arranged by age appropriateness and each book is a wonderful treasure. By 1971 the collection included 12 books ranging from toddlerhood to high school content.

Bonus book

In 1943 an addition to the collection was added: In Your Hand the Parents’ Guide Book. If you can get your hands on that one, I highly recommend it! Although it was originally written assuming that parents would automatically send their children to school, it is a treasure trove of common sense parenting. I love it! Some of it makes me chuckle but there is a lot of wisdom in this volume. And the best part? At the end there is a WHOLE chapter titled: Calendar of Events for the Twelve Months of the Year with Referenced to Appropriate Material Contained in My Book House Plan.

Calendar of Events for the Twelve Months of the Year

What does this chapter contain? Something that might sound a little familiar. It contains the birthdays of authors and poets, artists, musicians, other famous people and special events! This totally validates me, lol! And yes, that is exactly what it sounds like, but instead of picture books, it provides the volume and page of My Book House collection where a story, poem, etc.. about or from the person, can be found! It’s A Daily Picture Book, 1940s edition! And honestly that is saving me a lot of time trying to do exactly that (which, blush, I had started to do when I found out about this 13th precious volume.) So, yes get the Parents’ Guide Book, you won’t regret it!

The value of this set

This set, as it has been out of print since the early 80s, can be very pricey but it is also often found at yard sales, second hand bookstores and thrift stores. My daughters are on a quest to build their own collections, one book at a time, with the oldest editions they can possibly find, lol! Not sure who taught them such nonsense! They are progressing quite well. But the greater value is in the content itself. Andrew Kern of the Circe Institute once said: “The child who read these 12 volumes by, say, sixth grade, received a junior liberal education. I highly encourage its use as the “Core Curriculum” for the grammar stage.” I cannot find the link to this reference, but I found this reference in an article written by the very trustworthy Pam Barnhill. This is enough approval for me! And I am on a quest to accomplish just that with my youngest.

How we are using these books

Right now my youngest (5) and I are simply reading a story a day, first thing in the morning, while lingering in bed. Her siblings often join us, of course. It has been a treasured “morning time” for us. She will say her morning prayers and then we read one story, we are in the middle of Volume 5: Over the Hills. We have been sidetracked by reading the actual book of Charlotte’s Web, by E.B. White and we are deep in The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne, at the moment. The excerpts from these books found in My Book House volumes tickled her interest and we decided to read the actual book. What a wonderful way to develop a love of literature! I am not requiring any narration from her, but she often volunteers one. I just ask if she remembers what we read the day before as we get ready to start reading. And most times she does. If she doesn’t then I will quickly summarize then dive in.

What more we could do

The possibilities that these books afford are absolutely endless! Pam Barnhill has some wonderful suggestions in her article. (She also has many free resources to become familiar with these volumes). Truly they can be used in many, many ways. I have really been enjoying the cuddle time with my baby over the last couple of years that they have afforded us. And I am really delighted by her questions and her desire to read the “whole entire book”. And I really do not mind obliging.

The illustrations

So many wonderful vintage illustrations! Oh my stars! They are so delightful and whimsical! Many artists contributed their talents to this collection and it is really a pleasure for the eyes. Most of the story excerpts are accompanied by their original illustrations which helps make a great transition to the “whole entire book”. Some are in black and white, some in color and some are two toned. The diversity of art is quite lovely.

More by Olive Beaupre Miller

My son found an exquisite edition of Tales Told in Holland for my birthday last year, which earned him the title of favorite son for the year (he is also my only son, lol). It is a wonderful, wonderful book on which one could base a whole unit study of this small country rich in tales and traditions. She also wrote for France and Japan, that I am patiently trying to find in thrift stores. Again, stunning illustrations accompany the wonderful stories. And of course for this coming year I would love to get my hands on Heroes, Outlaws and Funny Fellows of American Popular Tales!

I hope you can find this wonderful set, even if it is just one book at a time. It is absolutely worth the quest and the time to collect each book, unless you’re lucky, like my friend Jenn, and can get the whole set at once. It should be a staple in every home education library and the Parents’ Guide a permanent addition to an educating mama’s desk. I also apologize if I have created a new, potentially expensive, desire, but not really! Great books are worth it!
Love,
Mattie