We used Sonlight science this year, and I liked it alright, but I want to look for something else.  Anyone using a successful program?  Can you suggest a book that is wonderful?  I appreciate any suggestions...

If you want a chrisitan based science then I just have to say I love Apologia!  There is a single textbook for each subject area (but you can supplement if you want) and there are plenty of opportunities to do experements and journal (we made our own), as well as the abiltiy to take at your own pace- we like doing it 2-3x a week rather than every day.

  I likeed the Sonlight Sciecne but it drove me nuts all the jumping around from book to book.....Noeo does the same thing.  Lots of great books but hard to keep organized and prepared.  We are finishing up Astronomy for 1st grade and then planning to do Botany.  There are several texts for the grade school age and they don't necessarily have to be done in any order....although there are suggestions :)  Good luck.

We are using ACE and Apologia :-)

My most successful second grade science years were spent using a little kid friendly topical encyclopedia as our spine. Something like a First Encyclopedia of the Human Body from Usborne or Kingfisher is perfect. We read the section and maybe another book on that particular topic, made a notebook paper, added a craft/project/experiment, and perhaps a Magic School Bus video. For those extras, the $1 Scholastic downloads (watch for the sales), Janice VanCleave experiment books, 501 Science Experiments, or internet freebies worked fabulously.

This is what I will be doing with my rising second grader this fall; she'll be my fourth child to homeschool for this grade. She will be doing science with her fourth grade brother, so the earth science spine we'll use is a little above her, but I think she'll do okay. This kid lives for the extra crafts and experiments, and will absorb the most from those anyway.

I've only used Apologia at the highschool level, but have looked through the younger books and they look like good quality.

My daughter who graduated 4.0 from college in a science field told me most of what she learned about science was from Magic School Bus, (books and videos).  They really make the subject come alive, also Bill Nye the science guy really holds their interest also.

Apologiia is good but if money is tight  books from the library on the subject of interest work well. 

Whatever you do have fun at that age. It passes so quickly. (My youngest is 20)  Give them a love for the world around them and they'll be more likely to want to delve into these subjects on a more in-depth level as thety get older.

Thanks for the recommendations.  I found a few books on PBS that I think will work.  My little mad scientist would do experiments all day if I let him, of course he does not want to clean up after! :)