Bøger udgivet af Living Library Press

Cardboard Modelling by William Heaton was the second book that Charlotte Mason used in training her students in the discipline of Sloyd, the Swedish discipline used to teach students how to follow precise directions and learn eye-hand coordination. Like the more elementary book, Paper Modelling, this volume was virtually lost for years and has been out of print even longer. Brittney McGann found a very rare copy and has worked with the publisher to bring it back into print with a new chapter that more fully explains Sloyd and how it is used. The projects in the book are listed according to increasing difficulty and are meant to be a continuation of the skills learned in Paper Modelling. The publisher has included, for historical purposes, the original preface adn introduction that alludes to supplies giving the 1895 prices, which would be inaccurate in today's market. However, the reader can substitute alternative supplies and materials in craft stores or on the internet. The publisher has printed Cardboard Modelling to be a companion to Paper Modelling, although it can be used as a stand alone volume.

Nature study has become an important part of a child's education, especially for the home schooled student and field guides are often the staple of such study. However, they usually are individually dedicated to trees, birds, reptiles, flowers, etc. and not found in a simple and comprehensive format. Clarence J. Hylander wrote and illustrated this classic field guide, first published in 1932. It is timeless in its beauty, accuracy, and detail. While it does not utilize the color plates that are so common today, The Year Round is organized by season, which allows the student to look for and find subjects and specimens throughout the year. In his preface, Dr. Hylander states that the purpose of the book is to assist not only the student, but the parent or teacher who does not possess a thorough and complete knowledge of nature to be able to help the child identify what they have seen in the out-of-doors. However, the book is sufficiently simple that the child can also use it by themselves. While the author has aimed the book at the northeast United States, many of the specimens are common throughout the country in other regions as well. The pen and ink drawings have been re-produced and are amazing in their clarity and usefulness.

Paper Modelling by M. Swannell was the actual book Charlotte Mason used in training her students in the discipline of Sloyd, the Swedish discipline used to teach students how to follow precise directions and learn eye-hand coordination. This volume was virtually lost for years and has been out of print even longer. Brittney McGann found a copy of volume 4 after researching Sloyd in the PNEU archives and the publisher asked her to write an introduction that more fully explains sloyd and how it is used. The projects in the book are listed according to increasing difficulty and are models of furniture and toys that the student will enjoy making.

The First Book of Machines, first published in 1962, is a timeless work that explains the history of machines up to modern devices that assist mankind do its work. While we think of modern technology as being greatly different from what our forbears had at their disposal, Walter Buehr demonstrates that all machinery is based on six simple machines: the inclined plane, the wedge, the lever, the wheel and axle, the screw, and the pulley. Some machines are combined to become complex machines. Buehr discusses manufacturing and how some machines are used to make other machines. He delineates machines that are used in daily life as well as a breakdown of other uses, such as those used in construction, farming, transportation, household, office and business. He introduces the concept of automation and computers, although that world of technology has seen astounding development in the half century since the book was originally written. The book is illustrated throughout with pictures by the author. Although intended for an elementary audience, the material contained in The First Book of Machines is accurate and informative, and may inspire young readers with an interest in engineering.

In the 1950's and early 60's, Franklin Watts published a series of science books for upper elementary/middle school; students. These were "living books" that captured the interest and imagination of the children who read them. The First Book of Sound, written and illustrated by David C. Knight is one such book. Its principles are timely, even though technology has progressed beyond some of the examples found in the book. Nevertheless, the science of sound is made very understandable to the young reader. The author begins with a definition of sound and progresses to how humans hear it. He breaks the topic down into sound waves and their characteristics. A discussion of pitch, loudness, and quality follows. He discusses music and how instruments differ in their sound. He concludes with modern applications, such as supersonic flight and the atomic bomb. A thorough Table of Contents and Index is included. Illustrations include actual photographs and drawings of the subjects discussed. The book concludes with several simple experiments that the student can do to demonstrate sound and its characteristics.

Old Testament History Volume 1: From The Creation to the Crossing of the Red Sea, is the first in a five volume set of commentaries specifically written for younger audiences. The series utilizes the Authorized Version (KJV) of the Bible and was used by Charlotte Mason and her school of education for Bible training of students. One notable characteristic is that given the ages of the audience, the authors omitted references to specific passages that involved graphic content more suitable to older audiences.

A republication of the 1958 book by Irene Sevrey with illustrations by Mildred Waltrip, The First Book of the Earth is an elementary level natural history book that was written during a time when children's books held a student's interest and imagination because they were "living" rather than simply based on factoids and vivid pictures. It is a wonderful introduction to the subject of geology and covers the earth as a planet in the solar system and the physics of how it circles the sun, thereby defining our days and years. It then moves on to describing the earth's origin as scientists understand it and takes up the topics of the earth's composition, its structure, molecular makeup, rock families, minerals, volcanoes and earthquakes, mountains and their formation, and how glaciers and rivers affect the shaping of the earth's surface. The book ends by briefly discussing dinosaurs and the possible aging techniques used to date the earth's age in terms of epochs or periods.