There’s something so special about gathering children together to discuss a good story — and this one in particular was filled with courage, storms, and love! This month, our homeschool book club met in our barn to discuss the classic novel Thunder from the Sea by Joan Hiatt Harlow — and it turned out to be another memorable afternoon! Keep scrolling below to see our Thunder from the Sea Book Club meetup!
About Thunder from the Sea
The setting of our story takes place on the rugged coast of Newfoundland in 1929. Thunder from the Sea tells the story of Tom, an orphaned boy who’s taken in by Enoch and his wife, Anna. In the story, we learn that life by the sea is full of hard work and danger. Everything changes when Tom rescues a Newfoundland puppy he names Thunder. The bond between them grows deep. Throughout the book, Tom learns the true meaning of courage, loyalty, and family.
The book gave us so much to talk about — as there were important themes of bravery, belonging, and faithfulness. Many of our kids had really wonderful insights to share!
Book Club Discussion Questions
Here are a few questions that helped to guide our group discussion:
- What makes Tom brave, and how does he show courage even when he’s afraid?
- How does Thunder help Tom grow as a person?
- What do you think Enoch and Anna teach Tom about family and love?
- What role does the sea play in the story?
- Have you ever experienced a “storm” in your own life that helped you grow stronger?
Thunder from the Sea Presentation Time
After our discussion time, many of the children gave short presentations that they had prepared: from character sketches, to model ships! It’s such a joy to watch them learning how to speak in front of each other (learning valuable life skills of public speaking!) and with confidence about what they’ve created. It’s so cool as a parent to watch how all the kids have interpreted the story in their own way through their unique presentations! Below are some of our very talented kids’ creations!
Message in a Bottle Activity & Northern Lights Pastels
We had two creative projects for this month’s gathering:
- Message in a Bottle – Each child came prepared with a meaningful quote, Bible verse, or a few words that were important to them to tuck inside a small glass bottle. They were encouraged to keep it for themselves or to share it with a friend!
Click HERE to see instructions on how to make one! - Northern Lights Pastel Art – Inspired by the Newfoundland setting, we made soft pastel drawings of the Northern Lights. So easy but also really beautiful!
Click HERE to see the tutorial for this art activity!
One of my absolute favorite parts of the day was watching some of our older girls in book club take the lead in helping the younger children with these crafts. Seeing them step up, encouraging the younger kids, and sharing their skills was incredible — and in my opinion, real-life learning at its best! They did so well I think we may have to pass off the Book Club to them a lot more often in the future!
Transforming Our Barn into a Nautical Setting
Transforming our barn into a nautical book club setting was definitely a creative challenge! Thankfully, between our family’s years of living in Florida and South Carolina, we’ve gathered a few ocean-inspired décor pieces that fit the theme perfectly: rope, driftwood, shells, and a few old lanterns. It helped to give the space a cozy, seaside feel.
The forecast that morning actually called for some storms, which felt extremely fitting for the story! We prepared to host everything inside the barn, expecting some rain. fortunately by the time the children started arriving, the clouds parted and the weather remained calm for our time together.
A Fisherman’s Spread: Simple, Seaside-Inspired Snacks
Our snack table had a hearty and coastal theme to it. Here’s what we served:
- Duff Pudding (a traditional Newfoundland dessert)
- Cheese and crackers
- Biscuits with blackberry jam
- A fisherman’s spread of smoked salmon and rustic bread
- Apple cider — perfect for Fall
Until the next book one!
Each and every book club meetup reminds me what a blessing it is to watch children of all ages coming together to learn, create, and grow. The older ones end up helping the younger ones, and everyone leaves feeling encouraged and inspired! It’s just the sweetest glimpse of community – all centered around the love of story.
Check out all of our past Book Clubs right HERE!
For ideas on how you can start your own book club community, click HERE!
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