Has anyone used the literature guides published by Veritas?  I am specifically thinking of using the one for Misty of Chincoteague.  I didn't find it in a search but if you have this one or another Veritas guide on your shelf, please let me know.  Also, please comment if you've used this guide even if you don't currently have it offered.  Thanks.

I have used VP lit guides in the past though not this particular one.  I think they do a nice job of balancing comprehension questions with projects.  My son enjoyed the Boxcar children very much.  We made  a lapbook out of the questions and did most of the projects.  Although I have another son who prefers to just answer the questions and get it over with and skip the projects.  I was a bit disappointed in the guides that I used that there were not more digging deeper type questions and they do not introduce too much literary analysis at the grammar stage.  It depends on your expectations whether you'll be thrilled or not-so-thrilled with their guides.  The guides I used were light on vocabulary.  But I've used other company's guides that were bogged down with vocabulary.  Finding the right balance for your needs can be tricky. :-)

This next semester I think we're going to try the Elson Readers from Lost Classics.  I've not been inclined to go with "readers" in the past but I haven't found that perfect fit for us yet.  I'll give it a try.  They were originally published during WWI so they are being extolled as much meatier than today's reader.  We'll see :-)

Thanks, Rebecca, that's helpful.  Now for another question.  Can anyone compare the literature guides from the following companies?  Which ones have you used?  Which do you prefer?  Any comments are appreciated?

Veritas Press

Total Language Plus

Progeny Press

I recently bought the Charlotte's Web comp guide by Veritas Press. I stumbled upon it when googling C. Web lit guides and liked the preview/ sample on this one vs other e-book style guides on CurrClick. We will begin using it in about 3 weeks. I liked it because of the comprehension questions -- which we will probably do orally -- and also for the great project ideas. For example, for Chapter 3, there is a project for a paper mache piggy bank I know my son will love. Chapter 19 has an activity on identifying adjectives (terrific, radiant etc.). We normally do literature with oral narration (my son is nearing 6) but I was looking for something different this time and I think the veritas book will fit the unit study-like approach I have in mind. However, this is our first experience with VP comp guides and we haven't actually started using this one yet. HTH somehow!

Warmly

Suji