A Walk Through the Glen: Kingsley’s Lessons in Earth Lore, Volume 1

by Anne E. White, Charles Kingsley

What was the unique value of Madam How and Lady Why that made it a staple of Charlotte Mason’s classrooms, long after its lessons on earthquakes and volcanoes seemed out of date? Through a father’s conversations with his son, Charles Kingsley connects the small, concrete things in front of us with the processes that have shaped and are shaping our planet. Can we come back from a walk with our minds (if not our pockets) full of wonders? This guide, written especially for young students and their parents/teachers, contains an edited and updated version of the first half of Kingsley’s book, plus lesson notes for one year’s work.

Genres: School

136 pages, Paperback

First published December 28, 2019

Reviews

[Summer]

2025:2nd time through.

2023:I didn’t know about this book prior to some AO moms sharing about it on IG, and I’m so glad they did. It’s the companion book to volume one of Madam How and Lady Why. It has all the readings but with all the help that Anne E. White famously gives in her Plutarch guides. It was lovely and beautiful and I loved all the extra quotes and resources she put in throughout to make it come alive for today. I would highly recommend them to anyone using Madam How Lady Why for school. As always it is such a joy to have God included in the sciences. I thrill everyday I can teach in such a manner. Really looking forward to diving into the second volume next year.

[Laura Simpson]

Madam How and Lady Why is an excellent science book - not because it provides excellent facts (in fact, some of these facts are outdated - a great opportunity to show how science changes) but because it helps us stop and really wonder about the world around us, to appreciate its magnitude and our minuteness, and to marvel at nature.

Anne White’s helpful introductions, vocab, and narration questions provided an excellent open-and-go option, and our family has a much deeper relationship with this book and the natural world because of her work.

[Tricia]

“Madam How & Lady Why” is a beautiful, living idea that my Y4 student & I really connected to. Anne White’s notes, definitions, & applications are indispensable! 4 stars because I was annoyed & bogged down through the earthquake/volcano sections because I spent a lot of time correcting info & we had already done our own research before our Hawaii trip.

[Kristiana]

This was probably our least favorite book of fourth grade, but we persevered together, and we were definitely stretched and challenged in our thinking and understanding. So grateful for Anne White's handholding in this guide!

[Jacquelyn]

The notes, narration prompts and do-it challenges were immensely helpful.

[Brit Chhangur]

“Truth, the wise men tell us, is stranger than fiction.” Thankful for Anne White’s work on these books, helping us to enjoy them so much more than we would on our own!

2023-read with Annie (year 4)
2026-read again with Lucy (year 4) and Calvin (year 6)

[Jess]

Five stars for Anne’s work! We appreciate you!

[Amanda Mills]

Read alongside S for AOY4. Had to drop the original and use this, it was extremely helpful.

[Alysia Townsend]

2.5 stars - overall didn't care for this book but there were a couple interesting sections.

[Holland]

A fine guide to Madame How and Lady why.

[Leah]

“Seas will roll where we stand now, and new lands will rise where seas now roll. For all things on this earth, from the tiniest flower to the tallest mountain, change and change all day long. Every atom of matter moves perpetually; and nothing "continues in one stay." The solid-seeming earth on which you stand is but a heaving bubble, bursting ever and anon in this place and in that. Only above all, and through all, and with all, is One who does not move nor change, but is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And on Him, and not on this bubble of an earth, do you and I, and all of us, depend.”

[Kayla]

Beautiful book, one of my 10yo’s favorites for the school year!

Be sure that no-one can ever fancy anything strange, unexpected, and curious, without finding if he had eyes to see, a hundred things around his feet more strange, more unexpected, more curious, actually ready-made already by God. As your eyes open to the true fairytale which Madam How can tell you all day long, you may discover that novels and story-books are scarcely worth your reading, as long as you can read the great green book, of which every bud is a letter, and every tree a page.
Wonder if you will. You cannot wonder too much. So that you might wonder all your life long, God put you into this wondrous world, and gave you that faculty of wonder which is at once the mother of sound science, and a pledge of immortality in a world more wondrous even than this. But wonder at the right thing, not at the wrong; at the real miracles and prodigies, not at the sham. Wonder not at the world of man. Waste not your admiration, interest, hope on it, it’s pretty toys and fashions, fine clothes, tawdry luxuries, silly amusements.
Wonder at the works of God. Wonder where wonder is due, and worship where worship is due.”

[Lauren Fee]

Read a few years ago with my firstborn son, but just read and recorded this book all in a few sittings for my second student and I really enjoyed the sweeping view better than I remembered appreciating this book the first time around. Also fun to enjoy the Volcano section again after having visited Volcanoes National Park this summer.

[Ellieee Gracee]

Great book 📖 lots of col things to learn about🥰

[Hailey White]

While I might rate the book this guide is based on a 3.5/4 star, it was this guide that helped us to enjoy the book more deeply and understand.

[Eliza Fitzgerald]

Read aloud for AO year 4. The notes in here are great. They really make this book accessible. I bought volume 2 for next year too. I just wish it had pictures.