Book Archives - Josie's Bookshelf

Tuttle Twins’ Books Dare to Teach Concepts No Longer Taught in Public Schools

During my work in public libraries, some of the questions I was asked most often was what are some good books that my kids can read. The Tuttle Twin series covers concepts that are essential to learn and the approach is family friendly. I highly recommend these and enjoy reading the entire series. All of these books are timely as they cover problems that plague the free market.

Tuttle Twins Series

Author: Connor Boyack

Illustrator: Elijah Stanfield

Every book has a workbook and audiobook also available for purchase.

Books reading level: ages 5-10

Tuttle Twins Learn About The Law

When true laws exist and are respected, people work hard to improve their lives and work peacefully with others.

Concepts explained in book: legal plunder, rights, conscience, stealing, contract, law, wisdom

Book 1 is dedicated to: Frédérick Bastiat

The Law e-book and audiobook.

The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil

Mrs. Miner, the twins’ teacher, taught them that an economy is a fancy word for lots of people working together to buy and sell things.

Concepts explained in book: spontaneous order, division of labor, central planning, competition, economy

Book 2 is dedicated to: Leonard Reed

I, Pencil e-book

The Tuttle Twins and the Creature from Jekyll Island

Money is something that is used to trade with somebody for things we want, and the twins can use money to get things they want.

Concepts explained in book: medium of exchange, bartering, economy, inflation, fiat currency, central bank

Book 3 is dedicated to: G. Edward Griffin

The Creature from Jekyll Island e-book and audiobook

The Tuttle Twins and the Food Truck Fiasco

A restaurant uses protectionist laws to beat his competition. Without competition, a restaurant owner can sell lower quality food at higher prices, and people wouldn’t have much of a choice.

Concepts explained in book: protectionism, capital, competition, regulation, profit

Book 4 is dedicated to: Ralph Smeed

The Tuttle Twins and the Road to Surfdom

Individualism is when people are free to run their own lives as they wish.

Concepts explained in book: unintended consequences of central planning, collectivism, eminent domain, individualism, omniscience

Book 5 is dedicated to: Charles Koch

Charles Koch’s newest book – Believe in People e-book

The Tuttle Twins and the Golden Rule

An Indian Chief taught the twins to stop the cycle of revenge and walk a better path in life.

Concepts explained in book: non-aggression principle, the Golden Rule, revenge, blowback, collaborating, justice

Book 6 is dedicated to: Sir John Templeton

The Templeton Plan e-book

The Tuttle Twins and the Search for Atlas

Each of us is free to enjoy the rewards of our labor, but also suffer the consequences if we are foolish or lazy.

Concepts explained in book: work ethic, consume, demand, supply, incentive, personal responsibility, produce, socialism, victim

Book 7 is dedicated to: Ayn Rand

Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged was made into 3 movies. I only liked Part I. It’s worth watching for fans of liberty and is free on Amazon Prime.

e-book and audiobook

The Tuttle Twins and Their Spectacular Show Business

You either need to improve on something that already exists – like make a product that is cheaper or better than the alternative – or provide something that isn’t already available.

Concepts explained in book: benefits of competition, budget, business plan, entrepreneur, equity, expense, investment, monopoly, network, profit margin

Book 8 is dedicated to: John Pestana

The Tuttle Twins and the Fate of the Future

We want to read something that makes us think really hard about how to make the future better.

The book their neighbor recommended is Anatomy of the State by Murray Rothbard.

Concepts explained in book: peaceful cooperation, coercion, dystopia, government, jurisdiction, persuasion, polycentric law, society, state

Book 9 is dedicated to: Lew Rockwell

Anatomy of the State e-book and audiobook

Against the State by Lew Rockwell e-book

The Tuttle Twins and the Education Vacation

John Taylor Gatto explains that he used to think of improvements for the current education system but now admits he was wrong. He explains why compulsory education can harm children and why it cannot be fixed.

Concepts explained in book: free will, compulsory education, conformity, conveyor belt, curriculum, propaganda, social engineering

Book 10 is dedicated to: John Taylor Gatto

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling e-book

The Tuttle Twins and the Messed Up Market

Small loans are often a huge help to microenterprises (small business involving one or a few people).

Concepts explained in book: free markets, human action, delayed gratification, incentive, interest, microenterprise, trade-off, subsidy, risk, praxeology, opportunity cost

Book 11 is dedicated to: Ludwig von Mises

The Best of Ludwig Von Mises e-book

3 Choose Your Consequences Books for Teenagers

The Tuttle Twins and the Hyperinflation Devastation

Concepts covered: inflation, cryptocurrency, communities, being prepared

The Tuttle Twins and the Little Pink House

Concepts covered: eminent domain, zoning conflicts, freedom

The Tuttle Twins and the Case of the Broken Window

Concepts covered: morals, teamwork, kindness

For homeschooling families: weekly curriculum on free market principles. Members receive ongoing support, free Tuttle Twin books and workbooks as they are released (only paying shipping).

Exciting New Tuttle Twins Project:

Animated TV Series: Episode 1-3 coming out soon.

I’d like to share with you an inspiring book that relates to the liberty themes discussed in the Tuttle Twins books. Here’s Lew Rockwell’s introduction to the 65-page book taken from a speech to the United States Congress.

“Ron is the anti-politician. He tells unfashionable truths, educates rather than flatters the public, and stands up for principle even when the whole world is arrayed against him.

It’s Ron’s truth-telling and his urge to educate the public that should inspire us as we carry on into the future.”

Pursue the Cause of Liberty e-book

I am gathering stories to share with you of real people blazing a path. Answer the poll and send an e-mail to josie@josiecavendish.com stating I voted in the poll, and you’ll be entered to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Enter to win a Tuttle Twin book of your choice by indicating you’d like to enter this drawing in the email you send letting me know you voted.

Thank you!

https://www.poll-maker.com/poll3214420x4B884615-99

Ten of the Best Family-Friendly Stories

Are you searching for stories the whole family can read and enjoy? I’ve listed some great imaginative stories that you can enjoy together. I’ve also included a few bonus books that contain plays your family can use to have your own theater night. Summer is a great time to read together.

10. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

9. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

8. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg

7. I Want to Go Home by Gordon Korman

6. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder

5. Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White

4. By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

3. Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild

2. Little Women or Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

1. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Plays:

Cinderella Outgrows the Glass Slipper

Theater for Young Audiences

The BFG: A Set of Plays

Audiobooks:
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

A Wrinkle in Time

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Little House in the Big Woods

The Hobbit

read by Rob Inglis

read by Andy Serkis

Please share this post with a friend that is looking for book ideas for their kids for summer reading fun.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes

I love the Sisterchick series, so I read this one as soon as I could after it was published. Robin Jones Gunn does a great job with this series, and she takes me along with her again as she visits a foreign land. This books is about two friends who have been life-long penpals. Noelle now lives in Holland. Summer finds out she has an abnormal medical test and decides to visit Noelle before having to face more testing.

I want to visit the Corrie Ten Boom house and museum, so it was nice to get to visit with Summer and Noelle. They visited so many great places and had such an adventure one afternoon on an unusual boat. Noelle and her husband treated Summer like an honored guest. Summer was refreshed from the visit and from her quiet time with God every morning. I’m looking forward to traveling again with the next set of sisterchicks!

Get Cozy, Josey

I’ve enjoyed reading this series by Susan May Warren and hope she will continue to write about Josey. Get Cozy, Josey is the third book in the series. The first book, Everything is Coming Up Josey, follows Josey as she moves to Russia as a missionary. The second book, Chill out, Josey!, is about her married life as she continues to live and minister to the people in Russia. The third book continues her story as she moves her family to Siberia, mostly to support her husband. She ends up making many friends and reaching out to the women of the village.

I like Josey because I can identify with her. She is insecure about herself, but trusts God to help her. She is braver than I am, though. I don’t think I would be willing to do without indoor plumbing! I admire her dedication to her husband. She moves to Siberia because he’s excited about it, and when his excitement wanes, Josey encourages him. Josey does have to prove to the town and her husband that’s she’s been faithful, but you’ll have to read to find out why.

Sisterchicks Go Brit!

Well, I’ve taken quite a vacation from this blog. Part of my vacation was time I spent in Prince Edward Island, Canada (2 weeks) and the rest I just haven’t been writing. Speaking of vacations, I did enjoy reading the new Sisterchick novel, Sisterchicks Go Brit! (Sisterchicks Series #7). If you haven’t discovered this series yet, you’re in for a treat. These fun books can be read in any order as each novel has new characters. Robin Jones Gunn is a talented author, and she makes you feel like you are traveling with the sisterchicks (see my Sisterchicks in Gondolas review).

I have been to London, England once, so it was nice to read about some of the places I visited in 2001. Kellie and Liz are given airline tickets to visit England by Opal. Kellie, who is trying to start an interior design business, offers to decorate Opal’s apartment. Liz helps Kellie and mentions that she has always wanted to visit England. Opal wants to return to Olney, England to visit her sister so she gives Kellie and Liz the tickets as payment. Kellie and Liz do spend some time in Olney when they first arrive, but after a few days leave to explore England on their own. Liz just can’t wait to see Big Ben. The plans don’t quite go as expected, but Liz and Kellie see that God has other plans for their vacation. I like the way Kellie and Liz allow events to happen and aren’t too uptight about their vacation plans changing. They explore Oxford and Exeter College as well as London. They were able to see more than they had planned. On the way to Windsor castle, they met a young lady from France, Annette, who was traveling alone. They invited her to join them and immediately connected. After spending the day together, Annette invited them both to visit her in France.

The story flows well and puts you in the mood to have an adventure of your own. I’m glad I read it before going on my trip! We made friends with a couple the first time Sean and I visited Prince Edward Island. It was an instant connection like Robin Jones Gunn described when they met Annette. We have kept in touch over the years. They have discussed coming to visit us sometime, too. I felt like God did guide our trip, too. I was wishing we could see the talented fiddle player that we saw on our first visit to PEI in 1995. He went on to travel and play all over the world. We have been listening to his CDs, but haven’t seen Richard Wood in person since that first island visit. He was going to be playing before we arrived and after we left the island. We were strolling through the Charottetown area with our friends, and a couple of guys were playing music on small stage. One of the gentlemen starts playing on a fiddle and our friend says, “That’s Richard Wood.” I felt so blessed to be able to hear him play again.

I would love to hear about your vacation. Did you feel God directing your vacation? Did you instantly connect and make a new friend or friends?

Deadly Exposure

I read the Steeple Hill Love Inspired series often, and naturally, I like their suspense line of stories. They release four a month. These books are good for a fast, interesting read. I just finished reading one of the books for May 2008. Cara Putnam kindly sent me her book to read and review.

Deadly Exposure (Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense #102) starts with a murder at a theater. News reporter Dani Richards happened to be at the theater that night with her aunt. While trying to deal with her distress at finding a college student she knows dead, Dani also finds herself being questioned by her ex-boyfriend and police officer Caleb Jamison. He broke her heart years ago and hadn’t heard from him in ten years. Dani does some investigating of her own against the wishes of Caleb, who is trying his best to protect her from threatening phone calls and damage to her car and home.

Both of the main characters are easy to like. Caleb’s persistence in trying to solve the case and protect Dani shows his true devotion to Dani even though he treated her poorly in the past. Dani struggles with her past and searches for God while she also tries to solve the case. I appreciate the way that Cara Putnam resolves the problems of this frustrated couple.

Christian Fiction books made into movies

This week I have been reading, but not reading Christian fiction. I thought I would share some thoughts on the movies that are based on Christian fiction books. I watched the newest movie of the Love Comes Softly series by Michael Landon Jr., Love’s Unfolding Dream. I appreciate the fact that the first movie, Love Comes Softly, did stick with Janette Oke’s story line. The other 4 movies have not been as faithful, but are still enjoyable movies. Love’s Unfolding Dream focuses on Missy’s adopted daughter, Belinda, as she follows her dream to be a doctor. The acting isn’t the best, but if you are a fan of the movies, you will enjoy the story.

The other movies have been fair, but I wish someone would try to keep the story closer to the book, like Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I did enjoy The Nativity Story, but the book by Angela Hunt was written based on the movie screenplay. If you haven’t seen it, it’s worth watching. I didn’t expect to like it, but the acting was excellent and so was the story.

I am waiting for the 3 movies based on Karen Kingsbury’s books to come out – Like Dandelion Dust, A Thousand Tomorrows, and Gideon’s Gift. Here’s a list of movies based on Christian fiction books that I have seen with a rating (A – D).

Love Comes Softly (A-)
Love’s Enduring Promise (A-)
Love’s Long Journey(A)
Love’s Abiding Joy(B)
Love’s Unending Legacy(B-)
Love’s Unfolding Dream(A-)

I enjoyed these movies:

Amish Grace

The Convenient Groom

Denise Hunter’s book turned into a movie.

Audiobooks

Love Comes Softly

Love’s Enduring Promise

Love’s Long Journey