Anderson's Fairy Tales

In a book for children, Anderson's Fairy Tales brings to life the stories that older generations remember grandmothers and mothers reading before bedtime. In this PDF-formatted book, you can read the text either on your computer or print each story as you need it or would like to read it.

For teacher or more scholarly researchers, you can find a scholarly essay on Mr. Anderson at
Anderson

King, Martin Luther, Jr.

Leader of the civil rights movement, Martin Luther King, Jr. is known for "civil disobedience" as opposed to open rebellion. He is one of three "pillars" of the peaceful resistance movement. The following link compares him to Ghandi and Thoreau. THREE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
The next link will take you to an official link that has many of Dr. King's speeches available online:Martin Luther King, Jr

This last link will take you to a short biography of Dr. King's life: King Biography

Aesop's Fables

Tradition holds that Aesop wrote his original fables in Greek while being held as a slave. You can find his biography at Aesop
His fables can be found at Aesop's Fables

These delightful stories are a great way to teach moral lessons as you entertain young children. Please enjoy time with your child at this delightful site.

Children's Story Hour

There is a great link for those looking for story content for children. It can be found at IPL Story Hour. IPL stands for "Internet Public Library" and has some great resources for adults, too. I hope you enjoy this link!

Bronte, Charlotte/ Jane Eyre

Born in 1816, Charlotee Bronte was the third daughter of the Rev. Patrick Brontë and his wife Maria. Her brother Patrick Branwell was born in 1817, and her sisters Emily and Anne in 1818 and 1820. A biography of her life can be found at the following link. Charlotote Bronte Biography

Her best known work, "Jane Eyre" can be found in its entirety at the following link: Jane Eyre

Bronte/Wuthering Heights/Thomas Jefferson Education

One of the classic novels of all time can be found at Wuthering Heights

Wuthering Heights was not well received when it was first published; Ms. Bronte published it under a pen name. Other than her book of poetry, "Wuthering Heights" was the only work that Ms. Bronte ever published. It wasn't until after her death that her sister published it under the real name of the author.

There were three Bronte sisters, Anne, Charlotte and Emily, each with literary talents. The first published work of the sisters was a combined book of poetry ("Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell") to which each contributed under a pen name. Each eventually published works of their own. The book of poetry may possibly be found at Poems

Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy

The following link will take you to Boethius, author of The Consolation of Philosophy. This is one of the suggested titles for a college level liberal arts library. I hope it is helpful!

Boethius, Consolation

The Lord's Prayer

John Adams, 2nd President and signer of the Declaration of Independence warned: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

In the spirit of freedom and morality, I found this majestic rendition of "The Lord's Prayer" by Andrea Bocelli. I hope that you enjoy this beautiful hymn.

The Lord's Prayer

Miitt Romney Speech

On September 17, 2010, Governor Mitt Romney spoke to the 2010 Values Voter Summit. The following link takes you to his address. While his subject was grave, his humor was quick and sharp. See if you don't find something to chuckle at during his remarks!Mitt Romney

Shakespeare/ No Fear-Hamlet

There is a running debate between students and teachers about the benefits of studying Shakespeare. It is beneficial to study earlier periods and become familiar with their culture but the language can be daunting. I was so excited to find a resolution to this debate. It is at No Fear Shakespeare. Through this site, you can study the original and the modern translation of most of Shakespeare's work. I found it by accident looking for an online version of Hamlet so that I could prepare to go to the theater the other night. I was so excited! See if you aren't, too!

Benson, Ezra Taft "The Proper Role of Government"

Several years ago while I was in college, I took a Political Science class. It was a beginning government class. Our professor made a statement that has impressed my mind deeply. He commented that once a program is in place, very seldom do political folks step back to see how it is working for if they did, they would often find themselves out of a job because in so many cases the program wasn't working.In The Proper Role of Government former Secretary of Agriculture Ezra Taft Benson talks about how men seldom step back to review their choices except in the light of what is currently politically popular. I hope that you enjoy this thought provoking essay, especially in light of our current political climate and the up-coming elections.

Bastiat, Frederic

The focus and emphasis of my blog is finding resources and making them available to those who are seeking literature of an earlier, conservative era. My findings are especially targeted to home schooling families who are seeking resources sometimes found in a school library.

In furtherance of that aim, I have found the following link regarding Frederic Bastiat. Mr. Bastiat is a well known French nationalist, economist and author, who developed an interest in the law. His biography can be found at the following link:
Fredric Bastiat

Many of his works, including "The Law" and "What is Seen and Not Seen" can be found at the following link: Works of Bastiat The table of contents listing all of his books can be viewed in the main body of the link. Individual books have buttons on the left that can be clicked on to take you directly to that book.

I recommend Mr. Bastiat as he shows the relationship between the proper role of government, the economy and the free enterprise system. I hope they are helpful to you in your study of those and related subjects.

Good reading!

Rand, Ayn

Published in 1957, Ayn Rand's work "Atlas Shrugged" is a masterful story of society and man's place in it and his responsibility to society. There is a foundation dedicated to Ms Rand's philosophy that can be found at the following site. This is especially interesting to those who are looking for financial aid to further their education. Ms. Rand awards over $80,000 every year to graduating seniors, undergrads and graduate students. The details can be found on her site but the basic requirement is a written essay on one of the prompts regarding any of her novels. For those of you looking for some financial help, this might be a great way to go. Needless to say, in the process, it might open and bend your mind.

Enjoy!
Ayn Rand

Austen, Jane /Pride and Prejudice

Once again we have been blessed with the ease of a key stroke. The following link will take you to a website that is completely devoted to Jane Austen. You can discover the history of the period, the clothing, and several of Miss Austen's works are entirely on line. Please enjoy them and let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Jane Austen

The Impossible Dream

The internet has opened horizons that many of us never dreamed of when we were young. It makes knowledge and information available at the touch of a key. It can bring both happiness and harm. Therefore, I have chosen to use it for happiness.

In the definition of a library, I found the following link that brings world class music into the homes of those who will never be able to travel to the great capitals of the world to hear it. I hope you enjoy!

The Impossible Dream Fabian Robles

This masterful musical is based on the classic "Don Quixote" written by Don Migel de Cervantes. The book can be found in its entirety at
Don Quixote. It is translated from the original Spanish to English.

Core Books

In the educational world, you will often hear the term "core" in association with books, curriculum, standards, etc. As it is used in those circumstances, everything is built around a certain standard or "core" knowledge.

In our personal reading, most of us have "core" books that attract us over and over again. These are the books the touch our hearts each time we read them. They teach us something new or rejuvenate our belief in mankind each time we pick them up. Some of those books can become sacred to us as individuals because they teach so deeply.

We also have books and/or documents that do the same thing for nations. Here in the United States, we have the Holy Bible as one of our core national books. Another core document would be the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution; Patrick Henry's famous quote "Give me liberty or give me death; Martin Luther King's speech "I Have a Dream"; "The Star Spangled Banner" all of these are national books or documents. They make a statement of who we are and what is important to us.

It is also core books that help give us the love of reading--something that will draw us back again and again. As you read, see if you can find your core books. They will be a sustaining influence during your life-time.

Good reading!

The Rain Maker/110 in the Shade

One of my favorite plays has always been The Rain Maker. Only recently I learned about 110 in the Shade. It is the musical adaptation of The Rain Maker. The New York review of the Broadway performance can be found at the following link.

Review-110 in the Shade

For a preview of the music of this catchy theatrical presentation, go to Lizzie's Commin' Home.

Broken, bent, whole and healing books

As I have discovered my own personal reading preferences, I have come to realize why I am attracted to certain types of books. The four types of books discussed by Daniel Taylor has had great significance for me. I have added a short description of his books. I hope it helps you in your reading choices!

There are four types of stories (as discussed in the excellent book The Healing Power of Stories by Daniel Taylor): Bent, Broken, Whole and Healing.
Bent stories portray evil as good and good as evil. Such stories are meant to increase the evil of the reader, such as pornography and many horror books and movies. The best decision regarding Bent stories is to avoid them like the plague.

Broken stories portray evil as evil and good as good, but evil wins. Something is broken; not right; in need of fixing. Such books are not uplifting, but can be very inspiring. Broken stories can be very good for the reader if they motivate one to heal them, to fix them. The Communist Manifesto is a broken classic, so are Lord of the Flies, and 1984. In each of these, evil wins. But they can be very motivating to heal something broken in the real world.

Whole stories are where good is good and good wins. Most of the classics are in this catagory, and readers should spend most of their time in such works.

Healing stories can be either whole or broken stories where the reader is profoundly moved, changed, significantly improved by their reading experience.

Do you want to travel in time?

As I designed my blog, I wanted to find a background that would catch your interest. I loved this particular one because it takes me to a different time in history. Books can do that, too. They can educate, fascinate, and transport you beyond the confines of your current time. For example, consider the fanciful story of "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle.

A Wrinkle in Time is a book of fantasy. One of the greatest challenges of fantasy writing is being able to create believability for your reader. That is done by creating the rules and then having your characters consistently abide by those rules. Ms. L'Engle did that multiple times as she created the Murray family. Not only is her book believable, there is symbolism to catch your attention if you happen to get bored.

Madeline L'Engle is one of my favorite authors. She has an official website that can be accessed at Madeline L"Engle This amazing woman was a prolific writer, publishing her last book in 2008. It was published after her death in 2007.

Kipling, Rudyard

The Nobel Prize winner in 1907 in the literature class,

Rudyard Kipling has written several memorable children's books. We have all read the enchanting story of Moguli and his friends in the jungle. Perhaps of lessor fame is "Jungle Book 2" and also "Just so Stories".

"Just So Stories" is a series of short stories that are ideal for the attention span of a young child. They are enchanting and teach great moral lessons in a non-preachy way. Please clink the following links to read these books online:

Just So Stories
Jungle Book

Heston, Charleton

One of Hollywood's classic actors has died within the last year. Charlton Heston had a beautiful speaking voice but he was also deeply committed to our country and the freedoms that we enjoy under the Constitution. While browsing the internet, I found the following article that was delivered by Mr. Heston. You can find it at the following link:

Charlton Heston

I hope that you enjoy the commitment of this gallant gentleman.



Happy Reading!

Barclay, Florence/The Rosary

One of my core books is entitled "The Rosary" by Florence Barclay. Garth declares his love to Jane who considers herself very plain and she scorns him. As Jane realizes that Garth was genuine in expressing his feelings, she comes to realize that she loves him, also, but he has been hurt in an accident and she can't openly confess her feelings for him, believing that he would consider it only pity. The book is about resolving the relationship.

It is beautifully written and is a deeply moving story. "The Rosary" was the #1 best selling book of 1911. You can find it completely online at the following link.
The Rosary

The author, Mrs. Florence Barclay is an English novelist. While I generally don't recommend Wikipedia as a completely reliable site, it seems that the following link has the best information on this talented author.
Florence Barclay

Enjoy!

What is a library?

According to the definition at http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/library, it is all of the following:
1. a place set apart to contain books, periodicals, and other material for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference, as a room, set of rooms, or building where books may be read or borrowed.
2. a public body organizing and maintaining such an establishment.
3. a collection of manuscripts, publications, and other materials for reading, viewing, listening, study, or reference.
4. a collection of any materials for study and enjoyment, as films, musical recordings, or maps.

For that reason, I have chosen to include music and entertainment sites on my blog. I hope you enjoy those occasional reviews.

I'd like to introduce myself.

Hi! My name is Catherine Kelsey and I have started this blog to bring together in one place the literature that supports the concepts of a Thomas Jefferson Education.

I have spent the last 2 years as an assistant librarian for a charter school and have discovered that I have a passion for classic literature. I have also discovered that there are some books that are worth reading multiple times and others that aren't worth completing. Just because you start a book doesn't always mean that you have to finish it!

The goal and purpose of this blog is to provide a safe place for families to find and enjoy good uplifting literature. I also hope that there are home-schooling families that are looking for good resources to help their children in the educational experience. As you find literature that is of interest to you, I would hope that you would spend time together as a family sharing those things that you are reading.

If you find something that is virtuous or of good report that you would like to share, please feel free to leave a comment and I will find a link so that others can share in your passion.

Thanks for visiting and good reading!