School Days: By The Way Book Series ~ Ireland

Books are a huge part of our family's world, as you'll notice if you've taken a look through my posts here. We love a great many varieties and genres, whether it's an exciting fiction novel, biography, historical account, and so on. I still adore children's literature, and there are titles in my personal collection that I never want to give away. A good story appeals to all ages. I've said many times, a trip to the library or bookstore is equal to a visit to the toy store for my daughters, and it really doesn't require any arm twisting on my part either. Suffice it to say, we love books.

Having shared that, it will come as no surprise to you when I say that we were happy to have an opportunity to review the book, Ireland ~ By The Way, from the By The Way Book Series from the company By The Way . This enchanting book is one in a series written by author Joy Budensiek. We had our choice of titles, and I was drawn to Ireland, as it makes up a large portion of my family heritage. Also because, I love the color green, it's a picture of serenity to me, and when I think of Ireland, I think of green.

With close to fifty pages overflowing with brilliantly colored photos of monuments, wildlife, and scenery from the Emerald Isle, this is a beautiful book for its aesthetic appeal alone. But there is so much more than gorgeous images. Illustrator Stephanie Robledo has sprinkled sweet illustrations of the fictional characters Alex, Lexi, and their family. It adds significant interest and visual appeal. Most importantly, the theme of this book, and the series for that matter, is God Himself, and the many ways that he displays His majesty throughout creation. From the very first page, you'll find Scripture quotes that relate to the theme.

So, what is this book about, and how should you use it? Great question! The first page is written to parents, encouraging them in their quest to teach the future generations about the Lord. The author includes the verse from Deuteronomy 6:7 ( I happen to have that as my verse on my blog too , up at the top) ~ "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

"By the way"...I guess we know where the name of this series originated from. So, as you make your way through this story, you'll find the following:

* Details, information, and just a plethora of cool facts about Ireland

* Science, geography, and history of beautiful Ireland

* Scripture, and how it applies to our daily lives

* Beautiful images of God's creation

Now, on to the general storyline. Alex and Lexi are over the moon to be taking a trip to Ireland. Their mother had received an email from someone who turns out to be a distant relative. So they are off to the trip of a lifetime to visit Aunt Fiona and Uncle Finn, and cousins Kyle and Kayla. They even get acquainted with the family's Irish Terrier, Dingo, who has the distinct honor of being of the lineage of a family of dogs that served in World War I, by carrying messages between the troops. The travelers are fascinated with the similarities between both families, as well as the differences. For example, they find it amazing that in Ireland, motorists drive on the left side of the road, while in America, the right side is used. That is only the beginning, as a most amazing tour commences.

Along their journey they:

* Learn about the wildlife of Ireland, including foxes, whales, kingfishers, puffins, otters, and more.

* How the Irish travel, kilometers versus miles, and what's a roundabout?

* History, so much history! Did you know that Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed at Ellis Island at just fifteen years old? Or that over 10% of Americans claim Irish ancestry (more than the population of Ireland today) Or that Ireland was the last stop that the Titanic made before its fateful maiden voyage in 1912? That's a mere sample of the fascinating facts you'll read about.

* How about the legend of the Blarney Stone, and the gift of eloquent speech that will be gifted to the ones that dare to bend over backwards (literally), and kiss it?

* Don't you dare forget about the legend of the lucky four leaf clovers, and leprechauns, and finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

* Of course, we could never leave out the gorgeous castles, and the rich history behind the construction of each of them.

* And we could not leave Ireland without studying the life of faithful St. Patrick, who obeyed the call of His God, and preached Jesus to the Irish.

I haven't even begun to tell you of the amount of information that you'll read in this book. What will appeal to kids is the way that it is presented, in a story format, through the eyes of children. What a great way to incorporate science, history, geography, social studies into your lives. This is a book that will be loved by multiple ages. Preschoolers will love the colorful photos of animals, monuments, and people, while older children and even adults will appreciate the rich culture of Ireland. Everyone will benefit from the Word of God being read and meditated upon.

My twelve year old daughter and I have read through this book several times, and we love it. I'm afraid that I won't be letting this one go, in fact, we'll be collecting the other titles featuring, Indiana, Alaska, and New York City. I can say, though, that in this book, and the series, I've found at least some of my holiday gifts for the littles in my life.