Living Education Library

05/27/2026

Purple House Press reprints excellent books from the past, giving these books new life to new readers!

All but 3 of these books are available in the Living Education Library, and I will have to remedy that problem when the sale starts on Friday!

If you do not live near a living book lending library, this sale is a lovely way to add to your family’s home library 📚❤️📚❤️.

08/05/2025

I was sitting in the audience when this talk was recorded, soaking in all the lovely thoughts that Leah shared about the power of biography to inspire us and our children. Now you, too, can listen in!

Thousands of biographies are on the shelves here, just waiting to fall into the hands of some young mind. If you are local and have been curious about membership, now is a great time to visit and see if membership will bless your family this school year! 📚♥️

Leah Boden explains the powerful role of biography in a Charlotte Mason education. Recorded live at the 2025 Living Education Retreat.

07/16/2025

“We don’t read biographies just to find out what happened. We read them to find out what might happen in us.” Leah Boden

Pictured is a sampling of the goodness I shared during a Small Talk on Living Biography Series last weekend. It was such a privilege to share about something so dear to me at the Living Education Retreat, which never fails to produce a wealth of ideas and beauty. This year, Leah Boden’s plenary reminded us of the vital importance of biography in a living education, bringing forth ideas to our children that cultivate character, provide perspective on the world in which they live, and give them hope as they aspire to use their God-given gifts in their own community.

Whether you are a member of the Living Education Library, a home educating family, or your children attend traditional school, sharing living biographies with your children is a gift not to be missed 📚♥️.

03/31/2025

The Mistmantle Series has been in the Living Education Library for years, but I had never read it myself. I just finished the first book, Urchin of the Rising Stars, and wish I had read it aloud to my children when they were younger! An exciting, heroic tale, for middle grade adventure lovers.

While these books will be available in print-on-demand copies from Purple House Press, right now there is a Kickstarter for heirloom quality, hardcover boxed sets, with lovely extras and stretch goals! Sets will be printed and delivered in time to be Christmas gifts. While this Kickstarter is already fully funded, it would be great to hit the Mistmantle Mug Stretch Goal!

Just 13 days to go! Click the link in the first comment for more information!

01/24/2025

I have been fairly quiet on this page recently, but the library and all the lovely books are still here! I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Carole Joy Seid on her podcast about living book lending libraries…what they are, why they exist, and where to find one! Please click through to listen in!

Podcast Episode · Homeschool Made Simple · 01/22/2025 · 28m

06/13/2024

A lovely day seeing S. D. Smith: Author of The Green Ember speak truth into the lives of young people, along with my sweet friends Sara Plumfield Library and Amy Harbach!

On the way I listened to the audiobook of Jack Zulu and the Waylander’s Key, only to find proof that Sam is a big fan of living book libraries…

“Every book in the shop (obviously Sam made an error here and meant library) seemed as ancient as the old stone bridge. These modest-looking volumes held endless adventures inside and fascinating imagined histories of far-flung, enchanted worlds.”

We have plenty of Sam’s books in the Living Education Library! See the second photo for a sampling of his books 📚❤️.

12/11/2023

I have read The Snowy Day aloud so many times I may have it memorized! A book filled with such wonder and joy in the moment. ❤️ It is available for check out from the Library!

❄️ It's the perfect time bring out your wintertime favorite—THE SNOWY DAY by Ezra Jack Keats!

10/30/2023

Look what is new in the Living Education Library!

Last week my daughter and I were blessed to attend a presentation by Barbara Joosse and Renée Graef Illustration about Death’s Door, their latest collaborative children’s book about people who experienced difficult events while living near the remote, northern shores of Lake Michigan. To hear the research, detail, and care they took while bringing these tales from Wisconsin’s past to new life was inspiring.

The last picture is a fun ‘throwback’ from over 10 years ago when my oldest daughter and I saw Renee speak at the Sterling North Book Festival on her process of illustrating the My First Little House books. Always fascinating!!

This book is now in the library, and available for checkout on Wednesday!