An Assortment of Audio Treasures

“Mommy, can you put it on now?” one child asks before we even get the coats, the hats, and the littlest one all out the door.

“Just a minute, I can’t even think about that yet.” I answer as I grab the toddler running by without her shoes.

“I already got it ready!” the eight year old yells from the back as I dump the diaper bag on the seat beside me in the van.

“Just let me get going,” I growl.

“Don’t ask again,” the ten year old whispers to everybody. Finally, we’re on the interstate, my swirling thoughts settling like the snow that was here last week.

I reach for the button and I hear, “She’s doing it.  She’s putting it on.”

And the story begins.  Most assuredly, it was one of these:

Radios Dramas by Focus on the Family Radio Theater

Once my eldest began listening to this series, she’s never again been satisfied with one person narrating a book on cd. For the past few years, these have been the main request for her Christmas list. Thoughtful story selection, great acting and writing, and a dramatic sound and musical score blended together into a compelling story. We have the entire Narnia Series(listened to repeatedly both in the car and at home) and The Secret Garden. We’ve listened to Squanto and hope to add it to our collection soon. On Christmas Day, Anne of Green Gables and George MacDonald’s At The Back of the Northwind will find a new audience.

Your Story Hour

These volumes are a great way to dive into history as a family.  There a many, many volumes and they’re told in a dramatic format like the Focus on the Family series.  We’ve entered the life of slave with Sojourner Truth, grown up with Eleanor Roosevelt, and journeyed to a famous hymn with John Newtown.  Though these don’t match the top notch quality of the Focus on the Family Series, they’ve still engaged our whole family.  They have another series that chronicles the life of Jesus. My only word of caution is that occasionally one of the historical stories will include content  a bit questionable for our younger kids.  I’ve found that this series is a mixed bag, we find a volume in which every story is great and appropriate and then with another we might skip a few stories and I might silently wish the acting was a little better.  We have not found these are the library, but you can buy them online and look for good deals at your local homeschool convention.

Classical Kids

We don’t own these cd’s but they’ve always been on my “To Purhchase” list.  Dramatic, well-written, musically inspired stories about great composers.  We just finished Mozart’s Magnficient Journey this morning on the way home.  I didn’t let them bring it inside this week to listen, because I didn’t want to miss any of the story.  If only they would make more of these.

And finally, Seeds Family Worship:

Okay, so these cd’s are not story collections, they are a collection of even more important words.  I can’t help but mention these Bible verses put to music, delightfully not dumbed down either in words or music, for the whole family.  Many times these verses have stirred in my heart at just the right moment. Seeds in my heart.  There are six volumes and they are all available for listening free online OR, if you purchase the a cd, you get a second cd free to give away.  Seeds of Courage and Seeds of Encouragement are two of our favorites.