Why We Built Hearth & Story Around a Thematic Series for Each Year

by Lindsey Sodano

At Hearth & Story, we believe stories have the power to transform us. They entertain, challenge, inspire, and open up new perspectives. That’s why, when we set out to create our homeschool language arts curriculum, we knew it had to be more than just an assortment of age-appropriate books. We wanted to craft a curriculum that not only deepens a child's love for reading but also helps them make meaningful connections between the stories they read and the world around them. That’s why we offer a thematic series for each year of study.

Why Thematic Series?

When students read books that are connected by a central theme, it unlocks a whole new level of learning. Instead of jumping from one story to the next without a common thread, thematic series allow students to immerse themselves in one powerful idea, exploring it from different angles through multiple characters, settings, and plots. It’s a way to tie their learning together, helping them think more deeply about the subjects they encounter in the novels.

And, of course, it’s fun! Students get to explore an exciting new theme each year, sparking conversations about how the stories they read relate to their own lives and the world around them.

Here’s a look at the thematic series we’ve created for each grade:

3rd Grade: Talk of the Town

Pitching in Instead of Sitting Out

"Talk of the Town" invites students into four lively stories where something unusual is happening, and everyone seems to know about it. Whispers spread, questions pile up, and entire communities find themselves caught up in problems they can’t ignore. As excitement builds, young heroes step forward to listen closely, think carefully, and help everyone move forward.

3rd Grade Novels:

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass

The Umbrella Maker's Son by Katrina Leno

Novel #3 To Be Announced!

The Last Last-Day-of-Summer by Lamar Giles

4th Grade: Warmest Welcome

Creating Spaces of Kindness and Compassion

In this series, we invite students to explore the concept of radical hospitality: what it means to extend kindness and create spaces of comfort, even in the most unfamiliar circumstances. Through four novels, students will meet characters who offer help, support, and friendship without expecting anything in return. “Warmest Welcome” encourages students to reflect on how they can bring more compassion into the world through simple acts of kindness.

4th Grade Novels:

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly

Solimar: The Sword of the Monarchs by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

5th Grade: The Stories We Are Told

Questioning the Narratives Around Us

"The Stories We Are Told" challenges students to think critically about the messages they receive from society about identity, class, and history. In this series, students read about young protagonists who question the status quo and the stories they’ve inherited, whether from their families, communities, or cultures. Through these four novels, students will be inspired to think deeply about the stories that shape our world and how they might reimagine them for a better future.

5th Grade Novels

Over the Moon by Natalie Lloyd

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat

The Giver by Lois Lowry

6th Grade: Better Together

More than the Sum of Our Parts

In "Better Together," students will explore stories where teamwork and collaboration are the keys to success. Whether it’s overcoming challenges, embarking on adventures, or building a new society, the characters in these three novels discover that they are stronger together than they ever could be alone. This theme encourages students to reflect on the importance of community, cooperation, and the value of working toward a common goal.

6th Grade Novels:

Double Dutch by Sharon Draper

Starry River of the Sky by Grace Lin

Watership Down by Richard Adams

7th-8th Grade: The Power We Hold

Exploring Power and Its Impact

In our combined seventh and eighth-grade thematic series, "The Power We Hold," students will grapple with different forms of power: personal, social, and even the power of storytelling. Through a range of compelling narratives, they’ll see how power is gained, used, and challenged, and they’ll reflect on how they, too, can use their strengths to create positive change in the world. This series asks students to think about how power can unite or divide, inspire or control, and how it evolves over time.

Level 7-8 Novels:

A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The Power of Change (novel/play to movie adaptation guide)

The Impact of Themes in Learning

By focusing on a thematic approach, we aim to help students make meaningful connections between the books they read and the bigger ideas shaping their lives. This encourages deeper thinking, sparks curiosity, and builds skills that will stay with them far beyond their language arts class.

Each thematic series at Hearth & Story is crafted with care to foster reflection, growth, and a love of learning. We believe that when students are invited to see literature through the lens of a central theme, it opens the door to exciting discussions, creative thinking, and a richer understanding of themselves and the world around them.