We start with the classic book, unabridged, and split it into smaller portions to create small wins! Especially for less confident readers.
Black Beauty Annotated to Teach Kids Old Fashioned LIFE SKILLS
đLearn Old-Fashioned Life Skills with Black Beauty by Anna Sewell!đ
I love the simple life weâve created from the chickens in the yard to the cake on the counter. There is one thing I REALLY REGRET though! đą
Thatâs not learning these skills earlier! I would have loved to have created memories like the ones Iâm making now, with my family as a child!
Our Black Beauty series is the classic book split into five parts and FILLED fun DIYs that teach kids life skills like...
How to Start a Vegetable Garden
How to Raise Chickens
How to Harvest & Cook Apples at Camp
How to Sew Embroidery Stitches
How to Forecast and Navigate in Storms
How a Horse's Body Workss
How to Care for the Sick
And SO MUCH MORE!
đ and more!
(View full syllabus below!)
Don't miss out on using your 20% off your first purchase discount code!
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How do the books work?
1. The Classic Story
2. The Life Skills
Every other story chapter, we insert a skills chapter that matches what the character is doing. For example: In the chapter where Aunt Polly talks to Pollyanna about sewing lessons, the following chapter has a real sewing lesson for kids!
3. The Results
Children and Families who read our books experience a stronger connection with each other, reduced anxiety, and increased confidence and capability!
The Syllabus: What Each Book Teaches Families
Click the drop down sections below to view the syllabus for each book.
Book 1:Â Black Beauty & His First Home
Black Beauty & His First Home
Chapter One
My Early Home (Story Chapter)
Chapter Two
How to Make & Can Blackberry Jelly
A Little Preserving Book for a Little Girl, by Amy L. Waterman, (1920).
Blackberry Jam
Blackberry Jelly
Spiced Blackberry Jelly
Chapter Three
The Hunt (Story Chapter)
Chapter Four
How to Trap & Cook Rabbit & Hare
How to Cook in Casserole Dishes, by Marion Harris Neil M.C.A.
Camp Life in the Woods & the Tricks of Trapping & Trap Making, by W. Hamilton Gibson.
Rabbit En Casserole
How to Trap Rabbits & Hares
The âTwitch-Up.â
Chapter Five
My Breaking In (Story Chapter)
Chapter Six
Birtwick Park (Story Chapter)
Chapter Seven
How to Be a Good Horseman (or Woman!)
Horsemanship for Women, by Theodore H. Mead, (1887).
Riding & Driving, by Edward L. Anderson, (1905).
A Few Terms to Know
How to Place the Double Bridle Upon the Horse
How to Mount & Dismount
The SeatâGeneral Horsemanship
How to Find your Seat
Chapter Eight
A Fair Start (Story Chapter)
Chapter Nine
How Stables are Designed
Practical Farm Buildings Plans & Suggestions, by A. F. Hunter, (1817).
A Combined Horse & Cow Stable
A Plank-Frame Barn
Chapter Ten
Liberty
Chapter Eleven
Ginger
Chapter Twelve
How to Bake Ginger Cookies & Breads
Cookery for Little Girls, by Olive Hyde Foster, (1910).
Ginger Cookies
Warm Gingerbread
Chapter Thirteen
Gingerâs Story Continued (Story Chapter)
Chapter Fourteen
Merrylegs (Story Chapter)
Chapter Fifteen
How to Be Gentle & Kind
Story Lessons on Character-Building (Morals) & Manners, by Lois Bates, (1900).
The Horse & the Child
The Overturned Fruit Stall
Book 2: Black Beauty & His Great Rescue
Black Beauty & His Great Rescue
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Chapter One
A Talk in the Orchard (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Two
How to Harvest & Cook Apples at Camp
The Harvest of the Apple-Tree
Apple Recipes to Make at Camp
Brown Betty (Baked)
Baked Apple Pudding
Baked Apple Dumplings - Â
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Chapter Three
Plain Speaking (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Four
A Stormy Day (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Five
How to Forecast & Navigate in Storms
Clouds
Rain
The Winds
Barometers
Direction of Wind
Forecasting the Weather
Points of Compass
Plant Barometers
How to Navigate in Bad Weather - Â
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Chapter Six
The Devilâs Trade Mark (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Seven
How to be Kind: Part 2
Manners Lesson
The Lesson
âLook at her.â - Â
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Chapter Eight
James Howard (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Nine
The Old Hostler (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Ten
The Fire (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Eleven
John Manlyâs Talk (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Twelve
How to Sew Embroidery Stitches
Blanket Stitch
A. To Finish the Edge of Flannel or Heavy Cloth
B. For Embroidering an EdgeâStraight, Scalloped or Irregular
C. The blanket stitch is also used for working the loop and the buttonhole bar
D. See Couching, below
E. See Lazy Daisy or Star Stitch
Chain Stitch
Couching
Feather Stitch
French Knot
Hemstitching
Herringbone Stitch
Kensington Outline Stitch
Lazy Daisy or Star Stitch - Â
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Chapter Thirteen
Going for the Doctor (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Fourteen
Only Ignorance (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Fifteen
Joe Green
Chapter Sixteen
The Parting - Chapter Seventeen
How to Help an Ill Patient
Ventilation & Warming - Without Chill
Open Windows
What Kind of Warmth Desirable
Foul Bedrooms
Carefully Looking to Warmth
Cold Air Not Ventilation, Nor Fresh Air a Method of Chill
Night Air
Air From Outside
Smoke
Airing Damp Things
Effluvia From Excreta
Chamber Utensils Without Lids
Abolish Slop-Pails
Fumigations
Book 3:Â Black Beauty & His Journey Away from Home
Black Beauty & His Journey Away from Home
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Chapter One
Earlshall (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Two
How to Dress with Style in the Victorian Era - Â
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Chapter Three
A Strike for Liberty (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Four
The Lady Anne, or a Runaway Horse (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Five
How to do Basic First Aid - The Official Handbook for Boys, Boy Scouts of America, (1911).
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- General Directions
Shock - Â
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Chapter Six
Reuben Smith (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Seven
How it Ended (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Eight
How a Horseâs Body Works
The Farmerâs Veterinarian; the Framework of the Body, by Charles William Burkett, (1914). - Â
- The Skeleton
The Skull
The Shoulder Girdle
The Pelvic Girdle
Legbones in Farm Animals
Feet
The Nervous System
The Respiratory Organs
The Urinary Organs
The Reproductive Apparatus
Some Physiology you Ought to Know
Meaning of Plant Building
Digestion of the Food
Process of Mastication
Gastric Juice
The Stomach Churn
Absorption of the Nutriment - Â
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Chapter Nine
Ruined & Going Downhill (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Ten
A Job Horse & His Drivers (Story Chapter) -
Chapter Eleven
Cockneys (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Twelve
A Thief (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Thirteen
How to Cook Oats & Oatmeal
Better Meals for Less Money, by Mary Green, (1917).
A Treatise on the Art of Making Good & Wholesome Bread of Wheat; Oats; Rye; Barley; & Other Farinaceous Grain , by Fredrick Accum, (1821). - Â
- Oatmeal Soup
Tomato & Oatmeal Soup
Scotch Oatmeal
Oatmeal Bread
Raised Oatmeal Muffins (Uncooked Oats)
Scotch Scones
Oatmeal Waffles
Oatmeal Macaroons
Oatmeal Cakes - Â
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Chapter Fourteen
A Humbug (Story Chapter)
Book 4: Black Beauty & His New Master Â
Black Beauty & His New Master
- Chapter One
- A Horse Fair (Story Chapter)
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Chapter Two
How to Make Sausage Dumplings & Apple Turnovers -
A Plain Cookery Book for the Working Classes, by Charles Elme Frantcatelli, (1852).
Aunt Sammyâs Radio Recipes , (1976). - Â
- Sausage Dumplings
Apple Turnovers - Â
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Chapter Three
A London Cab Horse (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Four
An Old War Horse (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Five
Jerry Barker (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Six
The Sunday Cab (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Seven
The Golden Rule (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Eight
How to Care for the Sick - American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Care of the Sick, by Jane A. Delano R. N.
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- Application Of Heat, Cold, & Counter-Irritants
Hot Applications
Cold Applications - Â
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Chapter Nine
Dolly & a Real Gentleman (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Ten
How to be Kind: Part 3 - How to Teach Manners in the School-Room, by Mrs. Julia M. Dewey, (1888).
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Chapter Eleven
Seedy Sam (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Twelve
Poor Ginger (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Thirteen
How Prayers Can be Said for the Dying
Morning & Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week, by John Habermann. -
Prayer for the Dying (St. Paulâs Prayer)
Prayer of a Patient
Prayer for a Blessed End
Prayer in the Hour of Death - Â
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Chapter Fourteen
The Butcher (Story Chapter) - Â
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Chapter Fifteen
How to Identify Cuts of Meat
Foods & their Adulteration, by Harvey W. Wiley M.D. Ph.D., (1907). - Â
- Natural Appearance of Cuts of Healthy Beef
Names Applied to the Different Pieces of Edible Animals
The Cuts of Veal
The Cuts of Lamb
The Cuts of Pork
Book 5:Â Black Beauty & His Last Home
Black Beauty & His Last Home
Chapter One
The Election (Story Chapter)
Chapter Two
A Friend in Need (Story Chapter)
Chapter Three
How to Make Meat Pies (Story Chapter)
Pennsylvania Dutch Cooking Traditional Dutch Dishes, (1960).
Freezing Combination Main Dishes; Home & Garden Bulletin No. 40, by U.S. Department of Agriculture, (1959).
How to Make Meat Pie Freezer Meals
Lamb or Beef Pie
Pastry Topping for Lamb or Beef Pie
Ham Turnovers
Chapter Four
Old Captain & His Successor (Story Chapter)
Chapter Five
Jerryâs New Year (Story Chapter)
Chapter Six
How to Create a Cottage Farm
Gardening for Little Girls, by Olive Hyde Foster, (1917).
The Library Of Work & Play Outdoor Work, by Mary Rogers Miller, (1911).
Creating a Vegetable Garden
Vegetable Guide
Apple Tree Seeds & Vinegar
Making Cider Vinegar
A Henhouse & Raising Chickens
Housing
Food & Feeding
Raising Young Chickens
Chapter Seven
Jakes & the Lady (Story Chapter)
Chapter Eight
Hard Times (Story Chapter)
Chapter Nine
Farmer Thoroughgood & His Grandson Willie (Story Chapter)
Chapter Ten
How to Cook & Bake with Carrots
Classic Variations in Cooking with Texas Eggs
The Belgian Cook-Book, Edited by Mrs. Brian Luck, (1915).
Carrot Cake
Carrot Soup
Stuffed Carrots
Chapter Eleven
My Last Home (Story Chapter)
Buy Your Set Now
Look Inside the Books
Watch this video to look inside our books! Life skills, especially wilderness skills increase childrenâs confidence and reduces anxiety! Our Books are full of activities and information to boost your child's capabilty and confidence while introducing them to classic literature!
View Our Sample Chapters of Black Beauty & His First Home
What Parents Are Saying
Parents everywhere love using our books to teach their kids life skills, and enjoy classic literature together!
Are You a Homeschool Family?
Here's an example step-by-step workflow of how we, and many of our readers, use our books to homeschool!
- Overview
- Step One
- Step Two
- Step Three
- Step Four
- Step Five
EXAMPLE WORKFLOW: The Nitty Gritty of Using the Books
Immediate Goal: To help kiddos train their brains to draw connections between stories, life, skills, and learning. To help children learn HOW to learn from books. To connect as a family. To develop old fashioned skills.
Main Goal: The goal with this particular style of learning is to retrain the brain from âschoolâ methods of learning back to how childrenâs brains naturally learn:
1. Curiosity
2. Connections
3. Implementation.
In real life learning, weâll often be talking to a friend, reading a book, watching a movie, going about an everyday task, or experiencing a problem, when we see something that sparks our interest that weâd like to learn more about. Then weâll often research and then try it ourselves.
Examples:
A. Talking to a friend and them mentioning they made bread from scratch, then researching recipes, or requesting hers, and finally trying the recipe yourself.
B. Seeing someone knit a project on TV, then finding videos and instructions on how to knit, and finally knitting your first project.
Now for the Step-by-Step Workflow
Click each tab to view!
Use the table of contents at the beginning of each book to see what is taught. Everything that starts with âHow toâ is a Skills chapter. Take a brief look at those chapters so youâll know whatâs ahead.
Read the book together (starting with a story chapter). As youâre reading, the kiddos can have a notebook in hand ready to jot down anything the characters do or say that sparks their interest that they might want to research later. They could also doodle or draw what is happening in the story.
After reading the story chapter, itâs time to ask questions! Not âtestâ style questions, but conversational questions likeâŠ.
- What was your favorite part about that chapter?
- Was there anything the characters did or say that you thought was interesting?
- Were there any objects or animals that you thought were cool?
- How did they solve the problem they were dealing with in this chapter?
Read the non-fiction/skills portion that corresponds, and voice connections + schedule the activity (opt.)
Example: in Chapter 3 of The Swiss Family Robinson the characters build a raft to get to shore after being shipwrecked. In chapter 4 is instructions from 1931 on different survival rafts and how to build them. Your little one can draw a design of a raft they would build as you discuss the different types, guess which ones would be most useful to the Robinson family etc. Together you can discuss and decide if this is the kind of project theyâd like to try in real life (whether as a miniature or as a full sized project) and if they would, schedule it for the/a weekend.
This gives you a chance to plan, and prepare supplies over the week. It also gives an opportunity to teach kiddos project planning skills as you involve them in the planning process. Sometimes other skills may be added in to that same weekend project as you read. Like having a campfire (Chapter 9) after youâre done building the raft. Or they can research & follow other interests that might have been sparked by the book.
Doing the activity can be exchanged for, or supplemented by, watching a video about it on youtube!
We have some pre-vetted youtube videos that we've watched for you in our Farmhouse Library Membership!