Have you ever worried about what life will be like for your child after being homeschooled? Do you ever wish you could peek into the lives of other homeschool families to see how they operate? Do you want to bend the ear of a veteran homeschool mom or a homeschool graduate? Perhaps you just want some reassurance that you really are doing the right thing. You want your child to get a good education yet also be able to function in the "real" world as an adult.

Natalie Wickham has written an excellent book that will put many of your anxieties or fears to rest. The oldest of six, Natalie graduated from her family's homeschool in 1999. She has since gone on to establish a successful music studio and create a music educator's blog. She is also the current director of the Adventures in Character children's program.

At the end of 2006, Natalie felt burdened to write a book about her family's homeschool journey in order to encourage the hearts of other homeschooling families. She already enjoyed fielding a plethora of questions from moms and dads when they discovered she was a homeschool graduate, so the next step was a natural progression. The words found in Daniel 12:3 motivated her to action and Pajama School was born: "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."

Natalie's story begins when her family started homeschooling in 1990 and progresses through all the ups and downs, joys and trials, of the subsequent years. And this book is certainly a treasure because it is told from the point of view of a little-girl-turned-young-lady who experiences the day-to-day, year-to-year changes that homeschooling brings to the whole family. It also tells about Natalie's choices after graduation and how she made those important decisions. In her own words:

"This is my story. The story of our homeschool family through my eyes. It's not always what I wish it was, and in many ways it is a story that is still being written each day of our lives. But my prayer is that in it God will shine forth brilliantly and beautifully."

I really enjoyed Pajama School, and I think Natalie has done a fine job in providing a glimpse into one family's homeschool journey with a compelling writing style that is both gentle and humorous. As the words on the back cover of Pajama School state, "Natalie goes beyond providing simple answers and shares candidly about the experiences that led her to conclude that education is about much more than academics."

I agree!

Product review by Amy M. O'Quinn, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, January 2010