Awaking Wonder: Opening Your Child's Heart to the Beauty of Learning

by Sally Clarkson

Sally, what is your secret? For years, parents worldwide have asked beloved author Sally Clarkson how she and her husband have ignited a love for learning and a deep faith in their children. They want to know how the Clarksons launched their children to live such vibrant, flourishing lives as adults. Awaking Wonder is Sally's answer to those questions. This book is thirty-six years in the making and provides a deep dive into Sally's most profound nurturing and guiding her four children into a wonder-filled life. If you are idealistic and hopeful about the process of raising your children to be healthy and vibrant, you will find encouragement through the Clarksons' story. If you are exhausted, confused, ill equipped, or unsupported in your journey as a parent, you will find relief through the countless ideas in this book. Awaking Wonder will inspire you, delight you, provide laughter, and bring tears through the heartfelt stories of four lively children and the wondrous life they grew up in together.  Journey with Sally toward· cultivating wonder all around you, alongside your children· understanding how to open your children's hearts and minds to the grand design, beauty, and goodness scattered throughout the universe · laying a foundation for spiritual formation and a robust faith in God· nurturing your children to live into their capacity in intellect, faith, and relationships If you long for a holistic, spiritually foundational approach to parenting and education, this is the book you've been waiting for. The companion guide, The Awaking Wonder Experience, will help you apply Sally's principles in life-changing ways.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education, Christian, Audiobook, Family, Faith

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2020

About the author

From working on college campuses, to sharing the Gospel behind the Iron Curtain as a missionary, traveling around the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia to speak on discipleship, Sally Clarkson has tenaciously sought after God's kingdom, and has used her ministry to encourage others to do the same. From her best-selling books such as Own Your Life, Desperate (with Sarah Mae), and her latest, The Lifegiving Home, Sally has shared from her heart and home about the value of motherhood and the potential for home to cultivate life, love, and faith. In 1995, She and her husband Clay founded Whole Heart Ministries, which has encouraged thousands of families around the world in discipling their children

Reviews

[Aubrey Schlue · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I didn’t actually finish the book. I got about halfway through before I quit, and it was hard for me to admit defeat and give it up. I was so excited to read this- I preordered it and counted down the days, so it pains me to say that I couldn’t finish the book. It made me feel like a failure and like I’d never measure up to Sally’s idyllic life, which is set up as a standard to strive for. I can tell that this book is written by a mother looking back fondly on her kids’ childhood. She is not in the trenches, guys, and it shows.

[Becca Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was introduced to Sally Clarkson a few years ago and I feel like she's become a sort of spiritual godmother, encouraging and inspiring me as I run this race of motherhood. Part of me wondered if I would find anything new in Awaking Wonder as I've already read so much by Sally and listened to almost every podcast episode she's produced. 🤭 This book has indeed spoken old truth in new ways and it's just what I needed to read as I start a new school year. What I love about Sally's example of following Christ is that she neither dumbs down nor sets the bar too high as we strive to be like Jesus. She speaks truth. "The influence you have on [your children] will come directly from the maturity you display in relationships, how you handle responsibility, and how you live out your faith in Christ everyday. You must be the kind of disciple you want them to become." Later she says, "you must first be loving God with your mind and strengthening your mental muscles." It's not enough for me to have a list of principles to follow to make my kids better people. It starts with MOM sitting at the feet of Jesus and then pouring out with the overflow. Oh, Sally, thank you for continuing to point me towards the narrow, old path that leads to righteousness!

Re-read 2022: This is one I periodically return to for wisdom and assurance that this way of life we've chosen for our family is right. I appreciated that Sally points out that it is the rhythms more than the curriculum that formed the foundation for their family. Curriculum is a big decision but the rhythms we put in place are just crucial. Any family (homeschooled or otherwise) can create rhythms that awaken wonder and form lifelong bonds.

[Jess Ankney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaking Wonder has woken me up to the deep desires I have for homeschooling my child. Sally has a way of putting into words and practice these desires that I never thought possible to execute. The more I read, the more excited I get to spend time with and build relationships with my children. Awaking Wonder has inspired me to rethink my educational ideals and the structure and lifestyle of our home. We now cultivate a home of curiosity and wonder, following the spark of interest and welcoming spontaneity

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Prefacing this by saying, I love Sally's other books, I listen to her podcasts, and follow her avidly on social media. I wanted to love this book and part of me feels guilty for giving it a bad review. Yet, I'm halfway through it and I simply cannot finish it right now.

Maybe it's because I'm pregnant, have a 2 year old, and a four year old and I'm exhausted, and we turn on the tv to pre-approved shows so I can nap in the afternoons. Maybe it's because due to speech issues, one of my children is behind with speech and therefore wouldn't "measure up" to the perfect world Sally is describing here. Maybe it's because *I* won't measure up to this role of idyllic motherhood and it was quite frankly depressing to me. I'm not sure.

What I do know is that I read several chapters, eagerly, underlined some beautiful portions, but ultimately felt so discouraged that I couldn't measure up and that my kids couldn't either. My kids are clever, smart, and I want to cultivate wonder in their lives. There are parts of this book that I felt were really strong, but I was very distracted, and perhaps even annoyed by the personal stories. Nobody talks the way they talk in the book. Write, perhaps, but talk, especially as four year old Joy talked? Nope.

I'll end this by saying, I love her other books, I'm living internationally with my family and we're teaching at home. I should fit the audience for this book, but ultimately I can only read so much before feeling like I'm not measuring up before it's not worth it.

I may try to finish this book at another time, when the kids are older and daily life doesn't feel so difficult and near-impossible. It's going to sit on my shelf until then, but I sadly can't recommend it.

2.5/5 stars

[Karen (Living Unabridged) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered while reading this that I much prefer Sally Clarkson's books she's written by herself (as opposed to with her children). Her authorial tone is kind and encouraging, if a bit idealized at times.

This is not a book written by a mom "in the trenches" but by a loving mother looking back and telling us, "Yes, it can be done. Don't quit."

This book will work best if you understand this perspective of looking back over a lifetime of choices. Because it is not possible to stay home building a comfy nest every day, following a fairly strict routine, while simultaneously attending every cultural opportunity offered. Reading aloud for hours at time does not generally happen when you have babies and toddlers underfoot. The Clarksons seem to all engage in some selective memories at times (their meals are described as simple but other times extravagant / indulgent, which to be fair, is probably accurate. Mostly simple, punctuated by "french toast with whipped cream and maple pecans" occasions.). The relationship between Clay and Sally is glossed over a LOT. (But as this was not particularly a book about how to homeschool while having a strong marriage, I will save that talking point for another time.)

Anyway, I think this works as long term encouragement. I truly appreciated the reminders to love, like, and enjoy our children. It presents a pleasant contrast to so much of what passes as "Christian parenting advice."

[Annaliisa White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaking wonder could not have come at a better time for me and my family. With our five-year-old son, we are beginning of our education journey and as such I have spent more than a few sleepless nights overthinking, over-analyzing and praying God would show me which of our education options is right for us. Sally’s story in Awaking Wonder comes through like a breath of fresh air truly setting my anxious mind and heart at ease. Her long-term perspective, wise insights, tried-and-tested ideas, and thriving, creative, Christ-loving adult children are all proof that it’s more about our vision and day-to day-rhythms that shape the hearts, minds and intellects of our children. I love her quote that says:

"To give a child the gift of time to imagine, to dream, to create, to engage, and to wonder is to allow time and space for his heart to be touched by the beauty surrounding him, for his mind to have room to grow strong on the feast laid out for his imagination, and for his emotions to bathe in the tranquility of a peaceful life in an unhurried rhythm. Then we offer a feast of theology, math, story, literature, virtue, faith, science, nature, art, music and culture upon which to apply his wondering and wonderful mind. To lay this foundation is to give our children beauty and strength of imagination and the strong pleasure of learning and acquiring knowledge over a lifetime. Wonder is the catalyst in shaping a powerful, engaged intellect."

I highly recommend this book to ALL parents, teachers and anyone else who works with children. It's a refreshing counterpoint to the message of our current culture saying we need to do the long list of 'all the things & activities' in order properly educate and prepare our kids for this world. I love Sally's message that, it goes back to whole-hearted parenting AND making space and time in our lives to just BE and to intentionally set a feast of the best ideas, art, nature and spiritual formation for our children to take in, examine and enjoy together! What a beautiful approach....I'm so thankful for this book and its message--it is certainly shaping our ideas and choices for education and life from here on out.

[Misty Krasawski · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful painting of vision for the life of a child! (Actually, for all of us!)
In this latest offering, Sally Clarkson offers us all a glimpse into the whys of her family's philosophy of education at home. Full of their own stories so we know "what it looked like," this book invites the reader to rethink our own reasons for choosing this path, as well as opening our eyes to what is really possible as we set goals and arrange our homes and lives in a new trajectory.
"Wonder was already sown deeply into our psyches by the One who made us. The drive to ponder, to imagine, to ask questions, to be curious, to ask “How? Why?” To open our hearts, hands, souls and to know was a part of our soul’s delight." ~ Chapter 1
Whether you need direction as you begin a brand new chapter of your family life, or perhaps a reset for a journey you've been on a long time, this book is an oasis, compass, sail ... basically all the metaphors for a wonderful inspiration along the way. You may even find yourself--just imagine--learning something new, and re-educating yourself! Highly recommended.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equal parts inspiring and terrifying for me. The home and educational environment she describes is basically what I grew up with and having it all written out with the reasons and value of it all made a huge impact on my already widening appreciation of my mother and also intimidates me more than ever that I will ever be able to pull off something remotely similar.
It took me months to read this because I would get overwhelmed or have to process/grieve some of the parts of my children's childhoods that have already passed or that it's now "too late" to implement some of the ideas - reading the book was definitely a struggle fighting the feelings of failure.
But also, this book is so full of encouragement and good ideas and things I still DO have time to do, and it is emphasized that there isn't a one-size-fits-all formula that guarantees your kids will "turn out"...yet every small moment and decision to show up in faithfulness and commitment to your relationship with your kids builds on each other small moment and decision to a powerful force for their good and their understanding of the love of God and his beautiful, wondrous world.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not homeschool my children yet I enjoyed this very much. I still need to see myself as their greatest teacher and I can determine our ideals and life goals.
Sally is rather hard on classroom instruction -a little unfairly IMO. But I kept listening and it got better.
I must embody what I want my students to become.
I must be faithful year after year, be intentional, be zealous after their hearts. Awaking my children’s minds to the wonder of God’s beautiful world and design and lifelong purpose for them takes a lifetime to teach and is A LOT of work, but is 1000x worth it!❤️

[Christy Whitsell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the chance to read a pre-release copy of this. I found it to be overall very encouraging, though I felt it had a slow start. I enjoyed hearing more about how the Clarksons raised their children and their approach to homeschooling. I’ve been reading up on Charlotte Mason’s approach and this is similar. I appreciate Sally’s openness and insights.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a parent, but I was interested in reading this book because I've spent many years as an educator, not to mention older sister and aunt. Shepherding the children in my life is one of my passions. Though I'd never read Sally Clarkson before, I heard a lot of buzz about this book before it released, and when I had the chance to review it I jumped on board.

Sally casts a vision for raising wholehearted children who receive a well-rounded education through non-traditional, immersive methods. Although she educated her children at home, she asserts her methods can work no matter what education model fits your family. As she says in Chapter 6: "Children who grow up in a home that is alive with the Spirit of God and whose spirits are nurtured and fed are more likely to become life-living and lifegiving adults. It's all about nurture."

She talks about the approaches she took to raising her children and shaping their hearts through education and spiritual formation. Like every parent, they faced a multitude of challenges while bringing their vision to life. Yet each of her four children have turned out to be adults who give into the world through writing, podcasts, music, and film.

Though I thought this book was full of good ideas, I had a few misgivings about it, which of course are shaped from my own personal perceptions and experiences. As noted, I am not a parent, but my own upbringing was nothing like the author described, which made me feel a little sad and wistful. Additionally, having seen literally hundreds of families in my time as a teacher, I can tell you not all parents are able to provide the kind of home Sally describes. There are legitimate issues (including but not limited to personality disorders and abusive situations) which would make this approach detrimental to certain families. Also I felt since Sally is looking back on the years when her children were in her home, she really skimmed over the difficulties she faced in living out her vision, especially in the first half of the book. It is quite idealistic and not exactly in-the-trenches encouragement. I could see it being more of a discouragement from some moms who might be feeling overwhelmed with the daily work of motherhood.

There were many things I liked about it, however. One of them was that she offers ideas and gives glimpses into their lives, but stresses that each individual family will be drawn toward living their wholehearted approach to life with their own interests, gifts, and talents. It will and should look differently for each family. My favorite chapters were those on parents as mentors and establishing rhythms and routines in your home.

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s a trend among popular bloggers and podcasters that when they gain a certain amount of popularity, a publisher offers them a book deal based on the theme of their blog/podcast. They have a built-in audience and it’s an easy way for the publisher to make some money. But when the book comes out, it ends up being a rehash of what’s already been discussed on the blog/podcast without going deeper on that theme. I feel like that’s what happened here.

I should say that I do really like and appreciate Sally Clarkson. She influenced me a lot in my early years of motherhood to work towards purposeful and intentional parenting. I’ve found a few of her other books and podcast encouraging. But this book is just an overview of her whole philosophy of family life. If you’ve listened to her podcast or read any of her other books, you’ve already heard everything in this book. There’s no extra depth, not many specifics. It’s very broad and idealistic without getting into the nitty-gritty of actually living this kind of life.

That’s not to say she doesn’t have good points; she does. But this book is probably best for someone who has never heard or read Sally before.

A few other things that bothered me… She says there’s no formula for raising your kids this way but then proceeds to lay out a formula (which includes tea, candles, and Celtic music). Do this and your kids will turn out just like mine! That’s a formula, Sally. She also frequently name-drops her other books and her kids’ books, blogs, CDs, and podcasts, while bragging about how smart and accomplished her kids are. She’s proud of her kids and that’s great. But it came off as using her platform to promote her kids’ projects and to prove that her formula works.

So if you’re already a Sally fan, you can skip this one. But if you’ve never read anything by her or listened to her podcast, you’ll probably get a lot out of this.

[Marin Artiga · Rating 5 out of 5]

With so many families facing the uncertainty of education plans in the age of Covid-19, the release of Awaking Wonder seems providential. Sally Clarkson offers the wisdom and experience she acquired over the years she raised and educated her four children, all of whom have carried a strong faith and love of learning into their adulthood as they each excel in the field of their choosing. This book presents a philosophy of education, whole hearted learning, that addresses the deep desire in each one of us to know that our lives matter and have purpose. Instead of focusing on test scores, grades, and set curriculum she pictured her children’s hearts “as treasure chests where they could gather stories, ideas, ideals, habits, appetites, truth, and knowledge to draw from the rest of their lives...” She did this by filling her home with great books, art, and music, by reading aloud and discussing big ideas, by exploring different cultures, feasting together, spending time in nature, and believing forward into the lives of her children while helping them imagine their lives as a story to tell. As a mom right in the middle of raising four children, this book is such an encouragement and inspiration to me and one that I will go back to again and again!

[Haley Mahurin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Can you imagine how different Christianity would be if the disciples had just been given a book to read and to be tested on at the end of the reading instead of having a personal, in-the-flesh, loving mentor-friend? This begs the questions for us: Are we the people we want our students to become? If your student becomes like you, what will he be like? What would we need to change to be the model of what we hope to nurture them to become?” - Sally Clarkson, Awaking Wonder

As I read through this book, over and over I am challenged to take a peak into my own heart and peel back the layers to see what I am modeling for my children. Awakening a sense of wonder must begin in me. If I am not willing to stretch myself and learn and discover, how can I expect that of my children? Thank you Sally for encouraging me to do the hard work in my own heart so I can overflow into the hearts and minds of my kids.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might come back and change this later. I seem to go back and forth with my feelings on it each time I pick it up.

Every chapter of this book (that I've read so far) feels like an introduction to something that never comes. Even 5 or 6 chapters in, some phrase similar to, "and that is why I decided to write this book" makes it feel like a very long prologue.

I did find a few good snippets. I'm hoping to finish it eventually and feel like I can find something that truly resonates with me. But I also am not a fan of the *perfect, warm, earthy, instagram worthy, I'm sipping warm tea and wrapped in a cozy handmade wool blanket while I write this* kind of tone. Sorry... It just turns me off because of how not real or down to earth it seems. I felt that way with parts of the Call of the Wild and Free book, and even the Wild and Free podcast itself. Maybe I am a little too salty for this sweet and sugary of a book.

[Gina Funderburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally paints a picture in your mind's eye as she speaks forward into the potential you, as a God-ordained wonder-awaker, can bring into your "wonder-filled" home. Sally inspires us to live into our potential as parents as we guide our children to live into their God-given potential. The vehicle? Wondering together as a family unit.

[Jenny Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring read. I now feel better prepared to make “finding wonder” the focus of my homeschool for my children. I hope to slowly make some changes in our routines and curriculum to model some of what Sally’s family did.

[Cherie Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books Read in Bed with Pregnancy Sickness, #4.
Just the read I needed heading into homeschooling with Nazarée. It gave me some direction for the desires I have in raising and educating my family and lit a fire that helps teaching not seem nearly as overwhelming.

[Allison Wolff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I see that technically it took me 2 years to read this book, but I read 90% of it in the last 3 or 4 months. Part of the reason it took me so long to get into was that I didn't love Sally's writing style (one example: she employs liberal use of the phrases "live into" and "believe forward" ???) which for me was a distraction from her content.

That content I found to be overall really insightful and encouraging. I have a lot of the book underlined and I'm confident I'll return to it as a reference in the coming years. A few thoughts:
1. This is basically "The Clarkson philosophy of education." It's not a booklist, it's not a parenting book, it's not focused on daily/yearly schooling schedules or how-to's. Later chapters have a more practical breakdown of certain things, but this is not really a manual on how to homeschool your kids.
2. She's writing from the perspective of someone who's finished with the hectic years. She might have rose-colored glasses a bit. The book is pretty idealistic. But why not set high ideals and aim for them, even if things go awry some days, seasons, or years? I don't fault her for this.
3. A lot of what she describes can be incorporated even in families that do not homeschool. I know, because I and my siblings were mostly not homeschooled, and a lot of what she describes was still present in our home. My parents read thousands of pages aloud to us (at bedtime, even into high school). My mom created a beautiful home with real music, meaningful art, family photos, full bookshelves in our rooms. We visited historical sites and museums on vacations. And we certainly had a Clarkson-style "life-giving table." A Chinese exchange student who lived with us one summer wrote in a farewell letter that one of her favorite memories was our "after dinner talking time." So, even for those who don't homeschool at all, or all their kids, or all the way K-12, I think there's a lot of value here for learning how to cultivate a wonder-filled home atmosphere. (Though maybe some of Sally's other books would speak more specifically to some of these things)

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaking Wonder is truly a gift to Christian moms seeking to provide a home that educates and encourages their children to think for themselves and to find wonder in the process of learning and growing. Clarkson writes with the fine balance of confident humility that comes from having served her family for decades. Her voice is calm and encouraging, yet relatable and inspiring. I've read books by other, younger women on this subject and actually came away enraged at how they wrote because they lacked the confidence to just say what they really meant. Sally has that perfect, unapologetic but loving wisdom of a woman who has done a work for a long time. If you don't agree with her, I don't think you're really going to bother her all that much 😉 and I like that. I like when people are confident enough in their decision, that is makes it possible for other people to feel comfortable choosing a different path.

I do think Awaking Wonder *can* be read and enjoyed by non-homeschool moms. I am not a homeschool mom! If you're willing to read with an open, humble heart with the goal of absorbing Clarkson's wisdom and looking for ways to apply it to your unique situation, I believe you will benefit from this book. Yeah, some sentences and phrases might be hard to swallow if you're sore about not homeschooling your kids, but I think there is so much wisdom here that it's worth the discomfort. And I do believe that each child, each school, each mom, each situation is different ❤ and that God's unique blessings and provisions reach to any and all circumstance 🙌

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is coming at such a divine time where we all need to be encouraged on the things that matter most. Sally is a veteran in writing, speaking, and mentoring women as we build our families on the foundation of Christ. She especially frames learning and education for our children in such inspiring language and casts our minds towards fairy tales and wonder.

I am not yet finished reading, but one of the reasons is I find Sally’s writing takes more time to read than other books I read. She spends more time describing what she wants us to grasp. This detail will sit differently with different readers, but for me, it is a stumbling block. I’ve had only short moments to give to reading it, and I feel like I’ve gotten nowhere. Now, if I had more time, if I were reading it with a group or I was the kind of reader who really enjoys a longer amount of time with a concept this may be lovely. So, take this detail as you wish.

However it is written, the content is so so so good. I’m returning to homeschool after trying public school for two years which we tried after five years of homeschooling! To say my head is spinning is an understatement! But Sally is inspiring me and reminding me of the goodness, beauty, and possibility available to my family in this season, and I really need to hear that.

[Holly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have so much respect for Sally and what she was able to do in raising her children, and I love her podcast and feel she’s so encouraging and inspiring there.

I just really struggle with her books for some reason. I think it’s because her writing style is very formal, and she doesn’t share the messy, gritty, hard part of parenting in this book or the one I read before (The Mission of Motherhood). She spends a *lot* of time in this book focusing on the ideals- but doesn’t go into depth with *how* she dealt with fatigue, monotony, push-back from the kids, lack of support, etc. Without sharing those difficult stories, it just comes across as impossibly idealistic and highly unrealistic.

I think if you have a natural inclination and desire to homeschool and want to pursue an organic, classical education for your kids, this will lay out the foundations and ideologies needed to do that. But if you’re a mom with young kids in the thick of whining, messes, tantrums, and lack any kind of support system, this educational model and lifestyle might seem incredibly overwhelming.

[Sarah Fowler Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In a world rampant with secularism and philosophies that negate belief in God, life requires that those of us who live by our belief in God must be focused and intentional in passing on wisdom, reality, foundations, truth, and purpose to our children."

This is one of the most hope-giving, encouraging, and beautifully challenging books I have ever read. I have highlights on almost every page. Sally's experience is wonderfully encouraging, especially to many of us who don't have mentors in our own lives.

She's honest about the hard parts of life and parenting, but firm on staying in the Word, filling your own cup from the Lord so you can keep pouring into your children, and walking so they will see Him in your example every day. There are also great practical ideas about wonder-filled resources, routines for a peaceful home, and building relationships in your family.

I can't recommend this book enough to all parents and future parents.

[I was provided an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.]

[Kristin Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for anyone who wants to encourage a lifestyle of learning for themselves and their children. As someone who has homeschooled for 13 years, this book has been a great for helping me to renew my desire to put down the textbooks and help my children learn through rich, hands-on experiences regardless of their ages. I only wish this book had been available years ago so that I could have started my schooling journey with my children with this desire for learning through wonder at the forefront of all that we do.

[Cynthia M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awaking Wonder contains both creative solutions and winsome encouragement for parents who wish to inspire their children to be lifelong lovers of learning.
This book could not be more timely, no matter the season of education in which you find yourself. Even with five years of homeschooling behind me, I feel artfully mentored and newly energized to offer my children the beauty of learning with Awaking Wonder as my guide!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally is such a treasured mentor in my life, despite the fact that we’ve never met. Much of the content in this book was familiar to me already, especially because a lot of it sounds like something Charlotte Mason would or did say. But it was absolutely worth the read as a refresher and encouragement. Highly recommend, especially to younger parents who are just getting their parenting and educational philosophies sorted out. Lots of practical tips in here as well.

[Allison Gaspar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Sally Clarkson book so far.
11/2024 Reread

[forthefamilyssake Hailey White · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is known for her encouraging words, and this book certainly delivers encouragement, even with the romanticized portions. I’m quite far into my home education journey (my oldest of 6 is in 10th grade) and it just didn’t come at the right time for me. The best audience would be a new mother or one who is dreaming of the future and what her educational philosophy might be. I think I would have loved this book 10 years ago!

One small criticism. She states that all children are miracles. While I understand the sentiment behind it, children do not meet the definition of miracle.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

“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.”

[Elizabeth Santelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in deep burnout when I picked up this book. We have three boys and the vision of the joy that is was gone. All I could see was smelly socks, dirty bathrooms and the process of doing the same repetitive tasks for the next 7-10 years.

In this book Sally reminded me of the beauty that is motherhood. The blessing of cultivating our children’s natural wonder to life.

Rituals of reading, nature, music, hugs, and food not just poop, picking up, weeds, and fights.

Yes, those things are still there, but anything worth accomplishing is hard work!!

The Lifegiving Table is still probably my favorite, but I loved having the same ideas in a smaller package. It was perfect to take as a 2/3 day read instead of paying a few hundred dollars to go to a parenting conference somewhere.

Well worth my time and money!