How to Turn a Middle-Grade Novel into a Homeschool Family Adventure (with Llamas, Tamales, and Hope!)

Audio By Carbonatix

By Tricia Goyer

There’s something magical about watching a story come alive in your homeschool. A book can spark curiosity, build connection, and open doors to learning far beyond the page. Recently, I discovered Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix by author and teacher Mindy Baker—a middle-grade adventure full of heart, healing, and one especially lovable llama named Sury.

It reminded me why I love weaving stories into learning: books have the power to draw families together while nurturing courage, curiosity, and faith.

Homeschooling works best when stories spill beyond the page and into everyday life.

1. Start with Storytime (and a Sense of Wonder)

There’s something sacred about reading together. Whether it’s your living room couch, the backyard hammock, or the dining table between math lessons—storytime builds connection.

When starting a new family read-aloud, make it a special occasion. Light a candle. Pass around cocoa mugs. Give each child a personalized bookmark.

Here’s how to make the most of reading Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix or any middle-grade story together:

• Pause for heart questions: “What do you think Soledad felt when she had to leave her family?” or “Have you ever felt scared but chose to be brave anyway?”
  
• Talk about names and meanings: In the story, Soledad’s name means “loneliness,” and she later discovers the word esperanza—which means hope. Ask, “What name would you want God to give you if He renamed you for who you’re becoming?��
  
• Notice patterns and Scripture echoes: When Soledad stands beside a healing waterfall, think about Psalm 23—“He leads me beside still waters.” When she faces the phoenix, talk about Ephesians 6 and the armor of God.
  

As Leslie Nunnery, co-founder of Teach Them Diligently, reminds us,

Stories create shared space for faith conversations that stay with our children long after the book closes.

2. Make It Multisensory (aka: Hands-On Homeschool Fun!)

Every homeschool parent knows: the best learning doesn’t just happen at a desk—it happens when kids use all their senses. This book gives you the perfect opportunity to explore culture, creation, and creativity through themed learning activities.

Llama Learning Lab

The lovable llama sidekick, Sury, is the heart of the story—and a wonderful excuse for some science and fun!

• Animal Science: Research llamas and alpacas. What’s the difference between them? What do they eat? Why do farmers keep them?
  
• Watch Real Llamas: Search YouTube for “llama jumping competition” or check out the Chicken Scratch Books Explorer Course where Mindy visits a real llama farm in Indiana. (Yes, llama high-jumping is a thing!)

• Math Connection: Measure and graph llama heights or compare their weights to other animals.
  
• Creative Writing Prompt: Imagine you’re Sury the llama—what would your journal entry sound like after a day of adventuring with Soledad?
  

Cultural Connections: Explore Peru and Beyond

Even though the world in Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix is fictional, it’s inspired by Peru and Mesoamerican cultures. Use that as your gateway to geography and culture studies:

• Find Peru on a map. Discuss the Andes Mountains and Amazon Basin.
  
• Research traditional Peruvian clothing and textiles—bright colors, woven patterns, and pom-poms galore!
  
• Listen to traditional Andean music. Panpipes and flutes play an important role in the story’s symbolism—try finding a short clip online.
  
• Look up famous landmarks like Machu Picchu and discuss what ruins might tell us about ancient civilizations.
  

You can even create a simple “passport” and stamp it as your kids learn about each new cultural element.

Creative Projects for Every Age

You don’t need fancy supplies—just imagination! Here are a few creative ways to turn your reading week into an art-filled adventure:

• Make an Esperanza Rock: Find a smooth stone and paint the word HOPE on it. Talk about Revelation 2:17 and how God gives us new names.
  
• Create a Book Cover: Have each child draw their favorite scene from the story.
  
• Design a Flute or Phoenix: Using paper towel tubes or clay, design your own magical flute or fiery bird.
  
• Llama Craft Day: Try a simple llama paper puppet or make a “Llama Lineup” family portrait—each person turns themselves into a cartoon llama and writes their “llama superpower” underneath.
  
• Story Journals: Encourage kids to write their reflections—what they learned about courage, friendship, or forgiveness.
  

Tamale Time: A Cultural Cooking Connection

In one of the Chicken Scratch Explorer Course videos, Mindy visits a family to learn how to make tamales, tying her Spanish-teaching background into the story’s cultural flavor. Why not make your own version?

Tamale Tips for Kids:

• Talk about family traditions—what recipes connect your family to your roots?
  
• Measure ingredients for a math lesson.
  
• Listen to Spanish worship music while you cook!
  

Cooking brings history, culture, and heart to life. Plus, it smells delicious.

3. Build Faith Through Reflection

Each chapter of Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix opens doors for meaningful faith conversations. Use them to cultivate spiritual habits in your homeschool routine.

Try these activities:

• Verse Connection: Read Isaiah 43:2 — “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.” Discuss how Soledad experienced that truth in her story.
  
• Prayer Prompt: After reading about a hard moment, pray for courage to face your own challenges as a family.
  
• Hope Reflection: Keep a “Hope Journal.” Each person writes one sentence a day about where they saw hope, just like Soledad found esperanza.
  
• Family Discussion: Talk about forgiveness—why it’s hard, why it’s healing, and how God models it for us.
  

As Heidi St. John, author of Becoming MomStrong, says,

Homeschooling gives you time to slow down and let Scripture shape hearts, not just minds.

4. Create a Family Reading Experience

You don’t need a classroom to make learning meaningful—just a good story and time together.

Try these fun family-friendly ideas:

• Llama Lounge Night: Wear fuzzy socks, drink hot cocoa, and read a few chapters together. Bonus: snack on popcorn “llama puffs.”
  
• Phoenix Party: When you finish the book, celebrate with fiery-themed treats—red Jell-O, spicy salsa, or paper flames on cupcakes.
  
• Book Discussion Night: Let everyone share their favorite moment, then talk about how it relates to real life.
  
• Movie Connection: After reading, compare the story to a classic fantasy film. Discuss courage, sacrifice, and redemption themes.

The best homeschool lessons often happen after you close the book.

5. Extend the Learning (and the Fun!)

Once your family falls in love with this story world, keep the momentum going:

• Visit your local zoo or petting farm and find the llamas!
  
• Look up how to say animal names in Spanish—llama (yah-ma), zorro (ZOR-oh), caballo (kah-BAH-yoh)—and practice together.
  
• Explore other middle-grade novels from Chicken Scratch Books, all of which are clean, adventure-filled, and trustworthy for families.
  
• Check out author Mindy Baker’s website or Instagram for sneak peeks of her next project (Oliver and the Twelve Dancing Ponies—how fun is that?).
  
• Invite a homeschool friend over for a book club day. Each child can bring one themed snack or craft to share.
  

6. Bonus: Educational Tie-Ins by Subject

As Israel Wayne, author of Education: Does God Have an Opinion?, writes,

Every subject can connect to story. Every lesson can connect to life.

7. Celebrate and Reflect

When you finish, celebrate what you’ve learned. Let your kids plan a Phoenix Finale Party—complete with decorations, snacks, and a short “presentation” where they share what they loved most about the book.

Wrap up the unit with a few reflection prompts:

• What did you learn about courage?
  
• How does forgiveness change people?
  
• What does esperanza (hope) mean to you today?
  

Then pray together, thanking God for the lessons learned through story.

Final Thought

Homeschooling isn’t just about academics. It’s about nurturing hearts, faith, and imagination. Stories like Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix remind us that every family adventure can point us back to God’s creativity and goodness.

When we read aloud, craft, cook, explore, and talk together, we’re not just teaching lessons—we’re building legacies.

So grab a book, a blanket, and maybe a llama plushie or two… and let the learning (and laughter) begin!

References 

Leslie Nunnery, Teach Them Diligently Podcast, Episode “Building a Home Library and Nurturing Faith Through Reading” | 239

Heidi St. John, Becoming MomStrong: How to Fight with All That’s in You for Your Family and Your Faith (Tyndale, 2017)