we love books!

Despite society's continual march towards replacing printed media with electronic options, we homeschoolers still love our books!  This weekend, thousands of homeschooling parents will converge on the Phoenix Convention Center to learn, encourage, connect, and spend!  So what will be THE thing that most of us are still spending money on?  Books----printed books!  Even with providing materials for the mentoring program, while electronic resources and options are appreciated, the physical manual is still the one that is most requested!

In 2012 the American Association of Publishers reported that e-Book sales in the U.S. book industry increased by 46%; representing 1/5 of the entire market.  One fifth is an incredibly huge number, but four fifths of us are still buying the printed books. 

Maybe it is the aroma of the ink or the sound of turning a page that no one else has turned before.  Perhaps it is the feel of the cover or the excitement of the design.  The ability to dog-ear, highlight, and pepper with "post-it" notes also cannot be minimized.  It is a security blanket that allows us to feel that real value has been obtained and that even just holding the sleekly bound text will place us in a mind frame of newness, potential, and acquisition.  No matter what the reason, we are definitely not a paperless society yet!

So as you open, review, feel, consider, and smell the books you will evaluate this weekend, know that you will rarely find every single thing that is on your list to buy.  If you find yourself in this situation, then, please consider sourcing the balance of your needed curriculum and materials through our site next week.  You may do so by entering CBD through our weblink.  Proceeds from these purchases go to support the Evan C. Gary Memorial Scholarship. 
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So as you ponder curriculum and resources that come at you from every direction, what is the ONE book that you simply have to tackle this summer!  For me, it is "The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling Teens" by Debra Bell; refreshing and relevant!  We are also enjoying "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls as a family re-aloud.  It is a hoot and a great read; especially if you have just been studying the late 1800's time period and have boys. 

​Happy shopping!