We have seen the truth of Sonlight's claim that children learn history better when they learn it in the form of a story. Because of Sonlight's Readers and Read-Alouds, our kids have a better grasp and wider knowledge base of historical events at the end of middle school than their parents did at the end of college (due to our [non-Sonlight] textbook-style memorization of facts – facts that were soon forgotten or muddled because they weren't part of a story). Vashti (14) mentioned that some of her friends hate studying history. She said, 'If only they could learn history the Sonlight way, they'd love it like I do!' In her eigthth year of Sonlight, Vashti devours a biography from Core H that brings the Iron Curtain era to life.

No one but Sonlight offered a curriculum that gave such a wonderful overview of the Eastern Hemisphere countries and cultures! The books helped our children understand what they would experience before we went to South Africa for two months. Reading 'A Journey to Jo'burg' aloud on the porch of our house outside Jo'burg [Johannesburg] had an incredibly powerful impact and helped all of us (parents included) understand the depth of apartheid and the healing South Africa is going through. And as their father continues to travel the world with his job, our five kids have a window into those faraway places through the wonderful books in Core F. Thirteen-year-old William got a big special kiss during his family's adventure. This was their first year of Sonlight.

We all love Sonlight for so many reasons, but one of the main reasons is that our kids have time to be KIDS! I'm so thankful that with the carefully laid-out schedule and quality Christ-based education, we can get a solid education and still have time for unstructured, creative play. Not only do they have time for academics, but they also have time to explore God's creation firsthand, not just in a book between overscheduled activities. Here, Steven (7, Core B) and Megan (4, Core A) do just that!