Awaking Wonder is like having a cup of tea with your most encouraging friend who reminds you of the vision and mission God has for you and your family, and then encourages you to apply that vision within your own unique strengths and gifts. It is not a formulaic, follow these steps handbook. It is a beautifully encouraging reminder that we already have what it takes to build wonder and imagination into our daily rhythms, for ourselves and our family.

"I realized that shaping my children called me to become my best self. It required me to grow, to be an active learner, to be enthusiastic about the subjects we studied. When I treasure loveliness of values, greatness of thoughts, civility of life, and honor in my treatment of others, people who come into contact with me will draw from the beauty I have invested there." -Sally Clarkson

Sally Clarkson is the mentor, Titus 2 woman that I have always wanted in my life. One of the greatest things I have learned from her is to stop waiting for someone to invite me into a community and to build the community that I want to be a part of.

Awaking Wonder is the rejuvenating breath of inspiration that all of us parents need at this time. Rather than asking how do I encourage the right traits in my children, we are challenged to cultivate ourselves into the model we want to see in our children.

Sally Clarkson seeks to inspire parents to do more than just pick the "right" school or curriculum. She desires for children to have the freedom to explore great beauty that leads them to a world of wonder.

During a time when we as a people are asking the significance of our actions, what if we valued character above gifting? What if we thought differently about the people we wanted our children to be? What do we want the future to look like? What do we wish we could have explored ourselves?

I've always wanted my kids to be life-long learners, and I think most parents probably feel the same way. Awaking Wonder focuses on mentoring your children, which I think is a key concept in that pursuit, though I'd never quite thought of it in those words.

I like the format of the book -- discussing a concept and then giving some practical ideas, scripture, and resources that relate to it. Even if your kids are older (like mine) it doesn't mean that you've missed your chance to mentor them well, so don't pass up this book because you're afraid that it's "too late". I'll wrap this up with my favorite (and the most convicting!) quote from the book:

"A Christian home is not defined by what the children are doing, but by what the parents are doing.... In other words, it is not about having a 'Christianized' home, but about making a home where Christ is living because His Spirit is alive in you."

If you, like me, are a mama with a heart to teach your children In a

way that sparks a lifelong love of learning, who believes there is more to education than tests and worksheets and curriculum, this book is for you. Awaking Wonder explains how author and former homeschooling mama Sally Clarkson journeyed through the years of educating her four unique children in a way that would point them to a creative, loving, good and just God and ignite a lifelong passion for learning and beauty.

This book could not have reached me at a better time, as I set out to educate my almost-6 yr old son and his younger siblings. Sally, in her gentle and gracious way, spoke directly to what my heart was already seeking in educating my own family and gave me courage to follow what God has put in my heart. I will be giving copies of this book to many mama friends and family.

Quotes from the book:

A life of wonder never ends. It provides possibilities of grace, excitement, delight to enjoy every day if it is embraced as a way of life.

Learning should not be limited by twelve years of school. A love of learning is ignited to burn for a lifetime.

(pre-release copy review)

Awaking Wonder is a gem of wisdom and inspiration for parents looking for encouragement on how to guide their children through the world of learning. Throughout Awaking Wonder, Sally Clarkson details and exemplifies how parents can creatively and intentionally weave learning into the ordinary and extraordinary parts of life. Clarkson does not mince words about the thought, time, and energy it takes to teach children; but she provides ample encouragement to spur parents on. Some readers may feel that Awaking Wonder is geared almost completely towards home school situations. Clarkson addresses this early on and acknowledges that, while she writes from experience of home school scenarios, parents can apply the concepts of Awaking Wonder whether their children learn in a traditional school setting or a home school setting. Furthermore, Clarkson emphasizes that learning is to be organic and continual, woven throughout life and not merely limited to the walls and schedules of a classroom.



Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in order to write an honest, unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.