Probably the easiest way to involve my husband in our homeschool over the years has been to provide him with a living book to read aloud to the kids. If I choose a great title, everyone enjoys and shares in the experience. He doesn’t need any prep time, just drop on the couch and pick up where they left off. Easy to do even after a long day at work. A favorite that he read to older boys was Carry On, Mr. Bowditch by Jean Lee Latham
Most recently, he read Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
I chose Brighty because we would be going to the Grand Canyon on our vacation. I remembered hiking the Bright Angel Trail some 35 years ago, but hadn’t read the book back then. When one homeschools, you get to fill in those literature gaps from your childhood. Dh finished reading it by the fire the night before we went to the Grand Canyon.
While in the gift shop, I was dismayed to not see a copy of Brighty. When I asked the clerk, he said that they fly off the shelf and he had more ordered. “Oh, good!” I thought. Actually, I think I told him that. I might have said a few things about the importance of good books, too.
Brighty was based on an actual burro who lived from about 1882-1922. Named after a creek that flows into the Grand Canyon, he spent his days carrying water for tourists. The story is a murder-mystery and guess who holds the key to the answer? Brighty, of course! Mixed in the tale are true sub-stories about Teddy Roosevelt, boys lost in blizzards, and animals on suspension bridges.
All of Marguerite Henry’s books are loved around our house. And the Wesley Dennis illustrations are just classic, aren’t they? If you tell someone who has already read Brighty that you are reading it now, you get the sweetest “Awww…I love Brighty” response. Brighty even has his own facebook page full of interesting Brighty trivia. And for those of you following Ambleside Online, Brighty is a YR2 free read.
From joy to joy,
Nancy
P.S. –
Driving back to Mesa that night, we talked about how we were speechless when we first ran up to the rim and viewed the canyon. Then Marit tried to find words to describe that, while that view was awesome, how much greater God’s beauty and love is. Brennan Manning states this fitting quote in The Rabbi’s Heartbeat 
“The God beside whose beauty the Grand Canyon is only a shadow has called us beloved.”
– B. Manning
Marguerite Henry came to my small, parochial school when I was in fourth grade. I still have my autographed copy of Justin Morgan Had a Horse in its sacred place on my special books shelf. But I have absolutely NO memory of that day whatsoever. No one told me how beautiful Ms. Henry's books were or how I would treasure them as an adult. I didn't even know she was a famous author or why. The next year Zilpha Keatley Snyder came for an author visit, and I remember that visit well because my mother refused to allow me to purchase a book for autographing because the subject matter was witchcraft and the books were frightening (The Changeling/The Witches of Worm). Now that I'm a mom, I am grateful for her attuned eye when it came to spiritual issues but wish she had given other authors the same intense treatment so that I would know why they were great. Thanks for taking me on a trip down memory lane!
Megan
Brighty will always remind me of Minnesota, not Arizona! We lived in St. Cloud when we read it. 🙂
I so enjoyed your Grand Canyon critter/plants photos! I can't wait to read this book to my children…thanks for the mention! 🙂 I just jotted down that excellent CM quote you had a few post down about "slipping our neck out of the noose"…my my…love it.
Amy
Dear Amy,
I liked that one, too, Amy. Thanks for the note.
From joy to joy,
Nancy
Dear Nancy…It is always a joy to visit your special spot. As I end my visit, I tend to dash off to locate a copy of the most recent book. Today it shall be Brighty.
I am delighted that you and your family shared a lovely time at the Grand Canyon…oodles of memories to be treasured surely.
Sending hugs …
Judy
Dear Judy,
And it is always sweet to find a note from you! Yes, lots of great memories – I'm so glad we went.
From joy to joy,
Nancy
yay! it was SO fun to go to the Grand Canyon after having enjoyed with some kids and still enjoying brighty with another!! ALL my kids wanted to see the statue, but it was on the other side of the canyon, and while we would have liked to have made a special trip, it simply was. not. feasible. still, the reassurance that it was in fact still there AND that we DID find not only the book in the gift shop, but the movie too, was very comforting. 🙂
i've pulled that tactic with my beloved as well!! i'm totally gonna ask him again when bowditch comes back around. 😉
love you…
Dear Amy,
We missed the statue, too, as we were also on the other side. We have the movie on order from the library. I am fascinated by the Kolb brothers studio – did you see that museum?
From joy to joy,
Nancy
Hmmm… I was going to read this one myself to the girlies this summer, but I may (or may not, LOL), convince my husband to be the one to do so, even though we are not going to the GC for vacation… yet! It is a place we would love to visit one day.
Dear Silvia,
And we hope to return someday! Thanks for stopping by, friend.
From joy to joy,
Nancy