We will soon begin Year 2; our first with TOG. At this time I am not able to purchase any books and can only pull from my library. Usually my library has the books I need but this time 3 main books are not available.

The Middle Ages by Mary Quigley

The Usborne Internet linked Medieval book

Trial and Triumph

Can anyone recommend good substitutions for these? I could get them through ILL but can't guarentee when I would get them and it is doubtful I could have them for 5 weeks.

Thanks so much!

SharonB,

I would suggest that if you can get Trial and Triumph through ILL go ahead and do it. Renew if you can and just finish the readings while you have the book, if you can't keep it the whole time. It is church history written at a child's level and hard to substitute for.

The others you can usually substitute with any books your library has on the topic of the week. Talk to your library's children's librarian. She or he can be a great source of help. It may mean a little more work for you, but I have found I can substitute for most of the history readings this way.

Inter-library loan can be a blessing, if you are flexible, because they don't always arrive on time. I have found that I can keep a book for 6 weeks, if I renew twice and nobody else requests it. If it is really enjoyable for my kids I hurry up and finish it to return and substitute as needed for the remaining weeks. Sometimes I have one of my kids request it on there card if I am at the end of my renewals and we still need it.

I am not relying on the Mary Quigley book (only a couple of copies in the whole state) but found an old copy of Charles Dickens Child's History of England" I am going to read-aloud.

Hope this helps,
Sharon

For the Mary Quigley book, you might check at the website of the book's publisher Yesterday's Classics. They have many of their books online.

However, you may be able to use Story of the World (V2) to substitute in for this book. You might even find it on the alternatives page.

I wasn't enthralled with this book and found it a bit dull.

On the other hand The Awakening Europe book used in the next couple of units is well worth the cost.

I agree that Trial and Triumph is a good book and you may wish to purchase it, but you may also find a book of early Christian "saints" would work okay as a substitute.

For the Usborne book, just look for a similar sort of book about the time period, DK for instance.