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Pocketful of Pinecones: Nature Study With the Gentle Art of Learning : A Story for Mother Culture
Karen Andreola's Pocketful of Pinecones This unique book actually has a two-fold purpose. It's a story written especially for moms who get discouraged and feel like giving up on homeschooling, as well as a guide to nature study. It's written as the diary of one mother's year of teaching her children at home. In it she pours out her hopes, disappointments, and joy. In the course of caring for her many responsibilities, she is frequently ... Full description
272 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
94 people are currently reading
1515 people want to read
About the author
Karen Andreola
17 books135 followersKaren Andreola is the author of Mother Culture®: For a Happy Homeschool; A Charlotte Mason Companion; Pocketful of Pinecones; Lessons at Blackberry Inn; and Story Starters. She home educated her 3 children K-12.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
October 6, 2012
Written as a fictional tale set in the 1930s, this book explores nature study as advocated by Charlotte Mason. The author's introduction stated that it could be applied to our modern times.
Too bad it's about being a mother who never shows upset, a wife who submits, and a person who is always perfectly polite. Also? Coincidentally, the little girl was the sweet, meek, cautious one while the little boy was the assertive, active, rambunctious one.
I read 84 pages entirely, but did not finish beyond that. There were moments of sweet nature observation. Mostly, though, I didn't especially connect with the time era. It ended up with writing like this: "I was silent. Don gave me a quick, sly look -- a look that meant he knew the answer to the mystery but was, again, giving Emily the joy of guessing. It was a small gesture of kindness but one that any mother would be proud to make note of in her diary because it was a mark of true gentlemanly thoughtfulness."
Glancing ahead, I stumbled upon this gem, a conversation between husband and wife:
"You really shouldn't worry about it," he told me. Brief though it was, it was a command and he was serious. He knows how an anxious woman can affect the home atmosphere. His own mother was a worrier. (...) I knew what Christ's message was, and felt a pang of conviction. Because he is a gentleman it is not Michael's way to prolong a moment of admonishment. (end quote)
Seriously? I know Charlotte Mason was Christian so I expected some aspects of the book to reflect that. I'm not religious, but I figured I could still get something from the nature study / educational aspects. Very disappointed that it's teaching this agenda of creating / being passive women. That's outdated and dangerous for any belief system. Unfortunately, that overshadowed the nature study for me.
One point that I did like, though:
"Presently I aim to give the children three opportunities in our little homeschool every day as I am able: 1) something or someone to love, 2)something to do, and 3) something to think about."
Too bad it's about being a mother who never shows upset, a wife who submits, and a person who is always perfectly polite. Also? Coincidentally, the little girl was the sweet, meek, cautious one while the little boy was the assertive, active, rambunctious one.
I read 84 pages entirely, but did not finish beyond that. There were moments of sweet nature observation. Mostly, though, I didn't especially connect with the time era. It ended up with writing like this: "I was silent. Don gave me a quick, sly look -- a look that meant he knew the answer to the mystery but was, again, giving Emily the joy of guessing. It was a small gesture of kindness but one that any mother would be proud to make note of in her diary because it was a mark of true gentlemanly thoughtfulness."
Glancing ahead, I stumbled upon this gem, a conversation between husband and wife:
"You really shouldn't worry about it," he told me. Brief though it was, it was a command and he was serious. He knows how an anxious woman can affect the home atmosphere. His own mother was a worrier. (...) I knew what Christ's message was, and felt a pang of conviction. Because he is a gentleman it is not Michael's way to prolong a moment of admonishment. (end quote)
Seriously? I know Charlotte Mason was Christian so I expected some aspects of the book to reflect that. I'm not religious, but I figured I could still get something from the nature study / educational aspects. Very disappointed that it's teaching this agenda of creating / being passive women. That's outdated and dangerous for any belief system. Unfortunately, that overshadowed the nature study for me.
One point that I did like, though:
"Presently I aim to give the children three opportunities in our little homeschool every day as I am able: 1) something or someone to love, 2)something to do, and 3) something to think about."
June 16, 2019
This was my third time reading this book. I’m thankful that my children’s education, though not a CM education described in the book, has had many similar aspects of it along the way. Between what we did together before they were school aged, and continued to do overs summers and on weekends when they did reach school age, and the hands on nature with an appreciation for nature of their Montessori schooling, I was reminded of how this book inspired me over the years to incorporate what I could from this method.
September 16, 2016
What an encouraging book! This is excellent for the mother wanting to start nature study but not knowing what that looks like. I really liked the format, although at times I found myself skipping some of the story dialog, but would force myself to go back and finish. My favorite parts were the questions she posed to you as the mother at the end of each chapter, as well as the appendix with all the Charlotte mason excerpts. I am also inspired and no longer dreading nature study. My own ignorance has held us all back. I don't think I would read it again, but I'm glad I read it.
August 7, 2022
A sweet, simple introduction to some of Charlotte Mason's educational principles via a fictional diary. This book would be good for someone who is unfamiliar with Charlotte Mason's ideas but would like to learn more--it's a good dipping-ones-toes-in-the-water sort of book.
April 8, 2020
A very picturesque view of nature study. I will come back to this when I need to be inspired to pick up our nature study game!
August 3, 2025
I read Michael’s Gentle Wife by Karen Andreola before I read Pocketful of Pinecones, so I felt like I was going back in time a bit when I picked up this lovely book. Michael’s Gentle Wife is my favorite historical fiction novel, and is the third book in this series (although all these books could be a standalone). Set in the 1930's, this book is about a family starting out their Charlotte Mason homeschooling journey and has a focus on nature notebooking. Andreola's two books, Blackberry Inn and Michael's Gentle Wife, are about the same family.
I read and review books for Christian publishers as a hobby. Reading brings me great joy! I’ve noticed a pattern in most Christian books today. We see our main character face a trial, they say “I must trust God”, say a little prayer, and then claim their faith is strengthened when everything wraps up with a bow in the final chapter. God is rarely mentioned in any other part of the book (and much less, Jesus). This is most Christian publishing today. I would bill most of these books as clean fiction rather than Christian fiction. The faith of most characters are shallow, with little growth. The stories can be fascinating, but the faith elements are at best mediocre.
On the flip side, we have Karen Andreola and her books. This, my friends, is what a Christian book should look like. In our main character, Carol, we see Christ shining through. We see a woman dedicated to her husband, her children, and most of all, her God. She clings to her faith during trials. She treats friends and family with kindness and hospitality. She dedicates her days to homeschooling her children and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We see Carol and her husband working together to solve problems, but putting their faith in the Lord every step of the way. We see Carol lovingly take care of family members when there is a need. We even see Carol trusting her husband and biblically submitting to him for some decisions along the way (don’t want to give spoilers!). Andreola has written a character who loves her role as a wife, mother, and homemaker who has a strong faith that keeps building as the months go by. This is how you write a Christian character.
This book has taught me many things about nature notebooking, which I’ll be starting with my son this year in homeschooling. It’s like a living book for me, as a mother. I learned fascinating things about nature walks, animals, plants, weather, insects, and more while I read along. This book will teach you much about nature note booking if you’re new to the concept.
Don’t miss the Appendices in the back of the book! There’s many things in there that will be helpful for you. There are many book suggestions that you might want to jot down! I have a few in my Amazon cart. The Afterward is a great read, too. I loved getting the back story on one of my favorite characters, Emma Cook.
This book is a treasure for the Christian mom! Even if you don’t homeschool, you’ll love this one.
I read and review books for Christian publishers as a hobby. Reading brings me great joy! I’ve noticed a pattern in most Christian books today. We see our main character face a trial, they say “I must trust God”, say a little prayer, and then claim their faith is strengthened when everything wraps up with a bow in the final chapter. God is rarely mentioned in any other part of the book (and much less, Jesus). This is most Christian publishing today. I would bill most of these books as clean fiction rather than Christian fiction. The faith of most characters are shallow, with little growth. The stories can be fascinating, but the faith elements are at best mediocre.
On the flip side, we have Karen Andreola and her books. This, my friends, is what a Christian book should look like. In our main character, Carol, we see Christ shining through. We see a woman dedicated to her husband, her children, and most of all, her God. She clings to her faith during trials. She treats friends and family with kindness and hospitality. She dedicates her days to homeschooling her children and bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We see Carol and her husband working together to solve problems, but putting their faith in the Lord every step of the way. We see Carol lovingly take care of family members when there is a need. We even see Carol trusting her husband and biblically submitting to him for some decisions along the way (don’t want to give spoilers!). Andreola has written a character who loves her role as a wife, mother, and homemaker who has a strong faith that keeps building as the months go by. This is how you write a Christian character.
This book has taught me many things about nature notebooking, which I’ll be starting with my son this year in homeschooling. It’s like a living book for me, as a mother. I learned fascinating things about nature walks, animals, plants, weather, insects, and more while I read along. This book will teach you much about nature note booking if you’re new to the concept.
Don’t miss the Appendices in the back of the book! There’s many things in there that will be helpful for you. There are many book suggestions that you might want to jot down! I have a few in my Amazon cart. The Afterward is a great read, too. I loved getting the back story on one of my favorite characters, Emma Cook.
This book is a treasure for the Christian mom! Even if you don’t homeschool, you’ll love this one.
February 2, 2025
2.5 🌟
I didn't dislike this book, and I can definitely understand what the author was trying to accomplish. This is a story about a family in 1930 who decides to homeschool "the Charlotte Mason way", encounter difficulties in life, and ultimately overcome them. It's meant to be inspiring, encouraging, and to draw a picture of what nature-based-homeschooling can look like.
That being said, it did feel a little forced, a little moralizing, and a lot idealistic. Though the family encounters some major hardships (job loss, for one), the solutions are so utterly unrealistic as to be laughable (not just anyone gets "adopted" by the lonely widow inn-owner in the countryside and then invited to live with her and share her career). However, I will admit that this wasn't necessarily INTENDED to be realistic, but inspiring, modeling a prayerful and intentional life.
The morals and values were great, and the picture of homeschooling was lovely. But again, I feel it missed its mark a bit, as I'm "in the trenches" of homeschooling and am struggling to teach multiple children how to read, to help them understand why math matters, and to facilitate healthy social lives and balance extracurriculars for them-none of which was addressed in this book.
Instead, she waxes elegant on the beauty of spending hours outside each day and how keeping a nature journal and doing a read aloud can be sufficient for most of their education. I simply don't think that's enough, certainly for my children. Then again, maybe I'm just not a Charlotte-Masoner. And I guess that's okay.
I would recommend this book to those who are new to homeschooling and want inspiration, or to those who adhere more closely to Charlotte Mason's teachings. However, I, personally, will not be rereading this one.
I didn't dislike this book, and I can definitely understand what the author was trying to accomplish. This is a story about a family in 1930 who decides to homeschool "the Charlotte Mason way", encounter difficulties in life, and ultimately overcome them. It's meant to be inspiring, encouraging, and to draw a picture of what nature-based-homeschooling can look like.
That being said, it did feel a little forced, a little moralizing, and a lot idealistic. Though the family encounters some major hardships (job loss, for one), the solutions are so utterly unrealistic as to be laughable (not just anyone gets "adopted" by the lonely widow inn-owner in the countryside and then invited to live with her and share her career). However, I will admit that this wasn't necessarily INTENDED to be realistic, but inspiring, modeling a prayerful and intentional life.
The morals and values were great, and the picture of homeschooling was lovely. But again, I feel it missed its mark a bit, as I'm "in the trenches" of homeschooling and am struggling to teach multiple children how to read, to help them understand why math matters, and to facilitate healthy social lives and balance extracurriculars for them-none of which was addressed in this book.
Instead, she waxes elegant on the beauty of spending hours outside each day and how keeping a nature journal and doing a read aloud can be sufficient for most of their education. I simply don't think that's enough, certainly for my children. Then again, maybe I'm just not a Charlotte-Masoner. And I guess that's okay.
I would recommend this book to those who are new to homeschooling and want inspiration, or to those who adhere more closely to Charlotte Mason's teachings. However, I, personally, will not be rereading this one.
August 20, 2019
I found it Very inspiring! Every chapter encouraged me to get my children outside and actually study the beautiful things in the natural world. I frequently wanted to stop reading and start doing.... reading poetry and the handbook of nature study, taking nature walks, and even knitting! An overall restful and encouraging book! I recommend it for all homeschoolers.
July 23, 2024
Comforting, easy read. Gave me a few things to think over as well.
March 18, 2022
I wish I could be like most in the CM world and tell you that this was an amazing book that changed my outlook and was so educational for me...only it wasn't.
Don't get me wrong, the writing isn't at all bad. It was a sweet diary of a mom in bygone days who had just discovered a Charlotte Mason education and had begun to implement it in her family. This book is so often presented as a story version of how to implement nature study, and while there is a smidgen of that in here (she has her children do nature journal entries of what inspires them in nature and she does some reading of her own to be better able to answer their questions) this is more a sweet diary style book. And I think that is why I was so disappointed.
CM nature study is just as presented in this book - find something interesting, observe it, draw it in your journal. You can add some written observations, poems, scripture verses, song lyrics etc. But this was almost 250 pages of a sweet story and not quite what I was hoping it was. (How do I get a child to nature journal that just doesn't want to? How do I get them excited about it? Should I be concerned that they want to speed through it just to get it done?)
Don't get me wrong, the writing isn't at all bad. It was a sweet diary of a mom in bygone days who had just discovered a Charlotte Mason education and had begun to implement it in her family. This book is so often presented as a story version of how to implement nature study, and while there is a smidgen of that in here (she has her children do nature journal entries of what inspires them in nature and she does some reading of her own to be better able to answer their questions) this is more a sweet diary style book. And I think that is why I was so disappointed.
CM nature study is just as presented in this book - find something interesting, observe it, draw it in your journal. You can add some written observations, poems, scripture verses, song lyrics etc. But this was almost 250 pages of a sweet story and not quite what I was hoping it was. (How do I get a child to nature journal that just doesn't want to? How do I get them excited about it? Should I be concerned that they want to speed through it just to get it done?)
July 27, 2017
This book reads like a gentle summer rainstorm in the early evening. Virtually every page makes you want to curl up in a warm blanket. It's more relaxing than any other nonfiction book I've read, and a great reminder of what life was like before smartphones (and clothes dryers). Highly recommend!!!
April 14, 2011
I read this every year for inspiration!
June 29, 2017
CM had such wisdom! I enjoyed reading how this fictional family implemented some of her ideologies in their homeschool.
October 3, 2020
4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. I have always liked the gentle, old-fashioned, homey feel of this book and now as a young woman it speaks to me even more. The “teachey” parts are graceful and not obtrusive; the story is engaging and relaxing; the themes and lessons are very good. Although this is written from the perspective of a wife and mother, I would have no problem letting my 12+ children read it—actually, I would definitely do that if they are relucant Nature Journalers. I definitely recommend this for young women (16+) and those preparing to homeschool.
A Favourite Quote: “It is because my days are so busy that I have kept myself from yielding to the God-can-wait syndrome. I need my heavenly Father and so I seek Him early. Prayers are the wings of the soul. They bear the Christian far from Earth, out of its cares, its woe, and its perplexities, into glorious serenity.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “At that moment a bluebird, on the picket fence, sang a few lovely notes and flew off to an apple tree that was still holding on to the last of its pale pink blossoms.”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “‘Oh, how sweet she looks. She's asleep, isn't she?’ Emily asked. How innocent and naive children are!
“‘I don't think so,’ I said mildly. [...]
“‘It's dead,’ Don divulged bluntly, ‘and it's as light as a feather.’ Candor is another virtue of childhood.”
A Favourite Quote: “It is because my days are so busy that I have kept myself from yielding to the God-can-wait syndrome. I need my heavenly Father and so I seek Him early. Prayers are the wings of the soul. They bear the Christian far from Earth, out of its cares, its woe, and its perplexities, into glorious serenity.”
A Favourite Beautiful Quote: “At that moment a bluebird, on the picket fence, sang a few lovely notes and flew off to an apple tree that was still holding on to the last of its pale pink blossoms.”
A Favourite Humourous Quote: “‘Oh, how sweet she looks. She's asleep, isn't she?’ Emily asked. How innocent and naive children are!
“‘I don't think so,’ I said mildly. [...]
“‘It's dead,’ Don divulged bluntly, ‘and it's as light as a feather.’ Candor is another virtue of childhood.”
September 17, 2020
I liked this book. I thought the idea of explaining how to teach nature study in a story with lots of examples was a good idea, although basing it in the 1930s seemed silly to me. Andreola breaks the book up into the four seasons, starting with fall. The winter section takes a much larger focus on the family's story, and "how to teach nature study" takes a backseat, which absolutely infuriated me. I did not buy this book to read about a family in the Great Depression, and I felt like the author and I had extremely different opinion about what this book should be. Eventually, I felt like the focus did get a bit more on track, and overall I liked the book (although I did not care for the miscarriage/pregnancy saga that seemed more like a therapy journal for Andreola, and did not like the cliffhanger about it at the end at all). I think I would recommend this book to someone who was already familiar with Charlotte Mason and committed to trying it, but maybe not as an introduction to her methods.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2021
If you're nervous about starting homeschooling (particularly Charlotte Mason) this book may reassure you. This book is the journal of a fictional mother, chronicling her family's adventures as they embark, somewhat trepidatiously, on the journey of homeschooling during the Great Depression. Though they struggle at first, she and her children find their way, and the mother is rewarded with seeing her children (one labeled 'slow' by the public school, and the other having lost his love of learning in public school) blossom and grow and come to love learning.
However, the manifold blessings heaped upon this fictional family as a seemingly direct result of choosing to homeschool are a bit farfetched. Yes, homeschooling can be a wonderful thing, but it is doubtful that every other family can also expect their infertility, job difficulties, general health, and family disposition to also be solved by the choice to homeschool.
However, the manifold blessings heaped upon this fictional family as a seemingly direct result of choosing to homeschool are a bit farfetched. Yes, homeschooling can be a wonderful thing, but it is doubtful that every other family can also expect their infertility, job difficulties, general health, and family disposition to also be solved by the choice to homeschool.
September 9, 2021
This is not my typical reading by any means, first of all is fiction, and I usually only read fiction to my children, not for myself. I actually purchased it thinking it was a resource for my children for nature journaling. Turns out it was a resource for nature journaling, but just in a different way. While some aspects of the story seem very unrealistic, it was still a pleasant story that did seem provide a gentle way to introduce nature study into ones life, and I actually dog-eared a few pages. I like the resources she shared at the end of the book and the bit about her actual life in the afterward as well. Overall it was a good little story that provided a little bit of an escape but still spoke to the learner in me.
January 15, 2018
Even though we were (and are) a secular homeschooling family I really enjoyed this book. I believe it was set in the 1930's. It's a diary of sorts by woman who decides to homeschool her children. She's definitely one of those gals who believes the man is the head of the family. And the book does reference the bible quite a few times. Even so, I loved the gentleness of the story and the lessons on nature study (based on Charlotte Mason.) I'm not sure my daughter, who was homeschooled and is not homeschooling her soon to be three boys, would enjoy this book but I will pass it along for her to read.
July 3, 2019
I enjoyed this book as a glimpse into the life of a family based in the 1930s. It was a fun and easy read.
Two things that got side-eye from me: the author really loved her thesaurus which made it feel overly wordy in a somewhat cringy way. And the author has some definite views on the superiority of country life over city life, as well as some takes on marriage and home and a rose-colored glasses version of the 1930's that I disagreed with slightly, but that didn't take away from the overall reading experience.
This book is great for moms who would like some inspiration to begin a nature journal or who may be new in the homeschool/Charlotte Mason world.
3.5 ⭐️
Two things that got side-eye from me: the author really loved her thesaurus which made it feel overly wordy in a somewhat cringy way. And the author has some definite views on the superiority of country life over city life, as well as some takes on marriage and home and a rose-colored glasses version of the 1930's that I disagreed with slightly, but that didn't take away from the overall reading experience.
This book is great for moms who would like some inspiration to begin a nature journal or who may be new in the homeschool/Charlotte Mason world.
3.5 ⭐️
August 9, 2020
I really enjoyed parts of this book. I liked that it gave a good peek into a family's nature study and all of the wonder and enjoyment that can come from it. Our family has done nature study for the past year, and I love seeing my kids' wonder as they explore. However, I didn't like the way that the author spoke negatively about city living. Yes, there are some great benefits for people living in the country, but there are also benefits for people living in the city. I don't agree that one is inherently better than the other - it is just a preference.
June 15, 2024
3.5 stars really. Sweet story from a simpler time. Whenever I get too weary of the fast pace of 21st-century life, I enjoy a re-read of this lovely book. It features a happy, functional marriage; a mother enjoying her children; the beauty of nature; simple entertainment; love for the Lord. There are lovely black and white illustrations and a good-sized section of supplemental resources to help implement the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education. Encouraging, inspiring read, especially for those who desire to get away from the institutional-style education of their children.
February 23, 2025
A fictional story of how Carol, a wife and mother in the 1930s, begins to homeschool her children through the teachings of Charlotte Mason. She begins largely by having the children record in their nature notebooks observations from their everyday lives. The chapters contain a variety of plants, flowers, and animals they observe. I loved the layout of this book starting in the Fall and sectioned out through the seasons of one year. This is a great example of gentle learning even if you have no intention of homeschooling and can provide encouragement to help your kids notice and enjoy nature.
June 11, 2025
I will always contend that Mrs. Andreola is likely a time traveler from the Victorian era. There’s just something about her…
She very picturesquely captures the imagination with what nature study can be. Simple, interesting, lovely. If you are looking for big family logistics in trying to make it actually happen…this probably isn’t the book for you. BUT for a little inspiration and encouragement, plus a few reminders of what Charlotte Mason has to say about education, this is a lovely story.
She very picturesquely captures the imagination with what nature study can be. Simple, interesting, lovely. If you are looking for big family logistics in trying to make it actually happen…this probably isn’t the book for you. BUT for a little inspiration and encouragement, plus a few reminders of what Charlotte Mason has to say about education, this is a lovely story.
November 30, 2021
It was a heartwarming book, but too heartwarming for me. I like that the idea of creating a story that helps plant applicable ideas for the nature studies but I found myself questioning the believability of the story. This distracted me from fully appreciating the Latin names, study questions, and sweet poems at the end of each chapter. I know it’s a loved book, so maybe just not my style.
May 30, 2022
3/3.5 - A good story. I would have liked to hear about the author's personal story maybe more than this one she wrote, but it was still good. Nothing spectacular. I was looking at books on nature journalling and found this one. While it isn't a direct approach like I was looking for, it was a good starting point for me.
July 26, 2025
This is a sweet gentle book I really love incorporating some Charlotte Mason nature study ideas in a narrative about a homeschool mom. Maybe some would say it’s corny or unrealistic but I really loved it and find it so interesting to read a book on this homeschool life doing Charlotte Mason ideas naturally and intentionally!
November 16, 2025
I loved this charming and realistic story written by Karen Andreola. She is one of my favorite homeschool writers and this book was another gem, chock full of wisdom, humor, encouragement for the mother, and inspiration for homeschooling and parenting. A story of a family told through the lens of home education and incorporating nature study in their daily life. Such a great book!
March 26, 2018
A very refreshing take on homeschool. The method she uses is like a breath of fresh air this time of year, for me. We homeschool very traditionally and often experience burnout. I will definitely be using some of these tips. I may even purchase this book to reread periodically. Loved it!
July 2, 2018
A story set in the 1930s about how a first time homeschooling mom of a 4th grader and a 2nd grader incorporates nature study into their weekly lessons
The diary format makes it easy to read.
She shows several different settings for seeing nature -- backyard, park, farm, and pond.
The diary format makes it easy to read.
She shows several different settings for seeing nature -- backyard, park, farm, and pond.
July 29, 2020
This was a sweet fictional story about a mother in her first year homeschooling, specifically looking at nature study. Some of the story was a little too phony for me, but I liked the "look" into nature study in this mother's teaching.
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