Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
One of my favorite parts of homeschooling is our daily read aloud.
The girls and I start our day with Bible, then we move to reviewing our classical co-op memory work for the week, followed by about 30-40 minutes of math. By that time, we are all ready for a break. We love to grab a snack and cuddle up on our porch swing or the couch and then I read aloud from a chapter book.
The one book that I think the girls and I could re-read over and over again is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott.
If you’re not familiar with Little Women, (or it’s been a while), this is a book written about the March’s, a family of girls whose father has gone off to fight during the Civil War in America. The book is loosely based on the author’s life. The character of Jo is said to be the sister who most closely resembles the author herself.
I couldn’t help but compare my little girls to the ones in the book. There were many mornings when I was wiping away tears while reading because I got a glimpse of my future in the stories of the March sisters, with a house full of teenaged girls and all of the blessing and heartache that comes with it. My girls are pretty used to that, especially when I read them classic literature.
“My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.”
Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
What we loved:
Little Women is one of my all-time favorites, made even sweeter by reading it aloud to my girls. There are great moral lessons in this book, along with references to loving God and loving neighbors well.
The characters in this book are so well developed. Marmee (the mom) has wonderful advice and the sisters themselves have such relatable arguments and such endearing love for one another, that you just can’t help but fall in love with the March family.
Who should read it
If you’re looking for a great read aloud for pretty much any school aged kid, I would highly recommend Little Women. This would be an especially good book to read during Christmas time as there are several sweet Christmas-y scenes that would match the season. The vocabulary is a little challenging, so I would save it for a middle-school or even high school level reader to tackle on their own.
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