For those of you familiar with Lamplighter books (www.lamplighterpublishing.com), www.libraryanded.com is having an unbelievable sale on their DL Moody Colportage Library Reprints.  THIS OFFER IS EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 20.  You can get all 14 for less than $20 (before shipping and sales tax).  S&H is only $5 and sales tax is MI residents only.  These retail for $5.95 each.  Many of these books have been made into Lamplighter books.  These books are very nice softcovers with glossy covers.  I was very pleased with them.  Here is the list of the books in this series.  I have put a mark by the ones that I know are Lamplighter books:

http://www.libraryanded.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=LES&Product_Code=DLMOO201&Product_Count=&Category_Code=

1.  Alone in London by Hesba Stretton

2.  Nobody Loves Me by O F Walton *

3.  Christy's Old Organ by O F Walton *

4.  Peep Behind the Scenes by O F Walton *

5.  Teddy's Button by Amy Le Feuvre *

6.  Little Faith by O F Walton

7.  Winter's Folly by O F Walton *

8.  Aurie's Wooden Leg by Lionel Hunt

9.  Legend Led by Amy Le Feuvre

10.  Probable Sons by Amy Le Feuvre *

11.  Jessica's First Prayer/ Jessica's Mother by Hesba Stretton *

12.  Anita and the Driftwood House by Margaret Epp

13.  No Place Like Home by Hesba Stretton

14.  Whiter Than Snow and Little Dot by O F Walton

You will need to create an account with them in order to order.  They are a wholesale book dealer, but they are allowed to sell to homeschoolers. 

Blessings, Sue

Thank you for posting this info - I have ordered before with them and have always been pleased.  I enjoy the lamplighter books a great deal - but need to plan purchases with them - to get that collection was great!

I have never read any of these.  I just checked out the website and they look good.  Do your kids really like them? 

I've set up my account.  It looks like a great deal.  I've not read any lamplighter books before but I've heard of them.  I would love to hear more  about them. 

My children do enjoy them and I love the messages that are woven throughout the books.  I appreciate the way in which Scripture is scattered and is built upon in many of the stories.  A warning about Winter's Folly - have plenty of tissues nearby for the end.  When we finished (I like to read the books out loud) - I had one child literally wretching at a certain point, as though someone had ripped her heart out - it was the same day that one of the hermit crabs died - so it was a very emotional day. 

I highly recommend the books - not everything ends perfectly - sometimes a character dies, or goes through trials, but they are wholesome books with inspiring messages.

Thanks for a wonderful review Cynthia.  I was googling around last night to read what people were saying about them.  I read that they are allegories with a strong Christian message in the vein of Pilgrim's Progress.  Are they all that way?  or perhaps that was a review of a particular title.  It was late when I was reading and my brain was probably a little fuzzy. 

My kids just got finished participating in a homeschool production of Pilgrim's Progress and they are all about that.  So I'm thinking these books would be a good fit for them. 

I guess I have a lot of "stuff" left over my Charlotte Mason days.  I think it was she that said children's books shouldn't be moralistic or preachy.  And while I agree that some books in that category just come across as cheesy how could one say that about Pilgrim's Progress which has a definite moral message.  So I'm kind of confused.  I'm not very good at understanding what makes a good book, good or a not-so-good book, not-so-good. LOL!! Does that make any sense?

I didn't find the books preachy - the scripture was woven in to the story as a part of life....

For example... in Winter's Folly  - an old man isolates himself by building a cabin far out of town, no one knows him, though plenty gossip about him.  The main characters are the old man and two twin sisters who befriend him.  One of the sisters, begins leaving him flowers and writes her favorite verses - just to be kind (in response to a devotional time with the mother).  The little girl (about 8 yrs. old) simply wants the old man to feel less lonely.  She and her sister continue these acts of kindness - they do indeed befriend the old man - who will only talk to the girls and no one else in the village.  They end up helping him when he gets ill, he recovers, one of the sisters falls ill.  The old man reveals his tragic story - what led him to lead a desolate life.  He comes to a renewed faith.  The story ends well - I won't ruin the surprise.....

The characters have flaws and their own issues - they aren't moralistic in the sense that the bad characters are only evil and the good characters only perfect.   The language and vocabulary in the older literature are amazing and rich.

I hope this is helpful.....

Most of these books were written in the 1700's to 1800's.  Cynthia did a great job describing the essence of these books.  As Cynthia stated, these books are very wholesome and the Word of God is alive in the lives of many of the characters.  They are not perfect, but they strive to please God with their lives.  I've only read a few to my children since they are still  young (5 and under), but I loan them out to many families in my church and their children love them.  I believe Lamplighter books are wonderful books for your whole family- they are enjoyable and will challenge you to live for Christ.

To answer Rebecca's question, not all Lamplighter books are allegories.   I believe most of them are stories about children trying to live right.

Thanks so much for the wonderful information!  Carrie

Cynthia,

Yes, this is *very* helpful.  Winter's Folly sounds excellent.  I've read the reviews on Amazon for as many as I could find and they *all* sound excellent.  I'm excited about the price and can't wait to place my order. 

Thank you so much!  I just got done placing an order!

Hi all,

I was just looking at their site, and they have extended this deal until March 20th.

Sue