Always Learning Books

The Educating Parent Plot Twisters and Thought Sifters Short Stories

stories where homeschooling children see themselves

Stories that honour homeschooling as a valid, vibrant way of life and give children the gift of recognition: seeing themselves on the page.

Beverley Paine writes stories about ordinary homeschooled children living ordinary lives playing games, exploring outdoors, solving problems, making mistakes, asking questions and learning together: stories designed to spark conversation, encouraging children to think, wonder, create and connect.

Beverley home educated her three children between 1986-2004, and they’re now homeschooling theirs! Stories about everyday children living life without school are hard to find, and Beverley firmly believes that homeschooled kids need to see themselves and their lives represented in children’s fiction, so that’s what she writes!

Subscribe to THE EDUCATING PARENT free newsletter to start receiving PLOT TWISTERS AND THOUGHT SIFTERS short stories.

How this works: New short stories, only a couple of pages long and designed to be read aloud and shared with your children, are emailed to your inbox or within the Substack app for FREE every week or so. Each story comes with a link to a set of Plot Twister and Thought Sifter Conversation Cards you can use as part of your homeschool English curriculum. Suitable for ages 5-12 years.

pencil sketch of four young children children clambering over a boulder in a pine forest

pencil sketch of an upset girl sitting on the floor of her bedroom hugging her knees, her belongings strewn all over the floor and bed

a pencil sketch showing four children sitting on the floor next to a coffee table playing a game of Uno while two mums sit behind them drinking coffees and talking

a pencil sketch showing two young girls rescuing a stray kitten beside a creek

a pencil sketch of a twin boys and their older sister creating a tower using marshmallows and spaghetti for a science challenge experiment

pencil sketch illustration showing a group of six children standing beside a camp kitchen bench looking dismayed because one of them has dropped a carton of eggs onto the floor

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COMING SOON!

Homeschooling children are rarely reflected in fiction, and yet their lives are rich with curiosity, freedom, friendship, and real-world learning. This Adventure Club children’s book series was written specifically for them.

Each story follows a group of homeschooling kids as they live and learn outside of school — exploring, questioning, and growing through everyday experiences and shared adventures.

Alongside each story is an optional, age-appropriate literature unit study, thoughtfully aligned with curriculum outcomes. These unit studies are designed to support families who want to extend the learning — adapt them to suit your child, your rhythm, and your approach to learning. Read the stories for enjoyment. Use the unit studies for inspiration. Or do both.

Tahlia Takes to the Sky
Tahlia, 9, wants to be a pilot. She spends her homeschool days reading about Amelia Earhart, sketching flying machines, and watching planes take off from the local airstrip. When she enters an Australia-wide STEM challenge for girls in aviation, she ropes in her homeschool friends for help with the design. Win or lose, the experience changes her, and opens the skies to more than just her dreams.
$4.85, © 2025, A5 e-book, includes literature study unit

FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY

Bookcover Levi and the Town of Treasures

Levi and the Town of Treasures
Levi, 10, is obsessed with architecture and design. For his homeschool project, he decides to create a model of their entire small town using recycled materials. As he interviews townsfolk and learns about local landmarks and hidden histories, he begins to see his sleepy town in a whole new light. The project soon draws the attention of the local council, and inspires a movement to preserve the town's heritage.
$4.85, © 2025, A5 e-book, includes literature study unit

FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY

bookcover Adventure Club and the Lost Map

Adventure Club and the Lost Map
After a busy homeschool co-op morning activity, the Adventure Club kids head into the conservation park behind Zara's house for an impromptu exploration of Wombat Hollow. Led by curiosity and Zoe's adventurous spirit, they stray from the marked path and discover a hidden cave sparkling with mystery.
$4.85, © 2025, A5 e-book, includes literature study unit

FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY

Adam and the Truce Treehouse
When Adam arrives at the homeschool co-op meeting in the forest, he struggles to fit in. After destroying the cubby the kids had been building, he fears he'll never be accepted. But through patience, friendship, and teamwork—especially with Max's kindness—Adam finds his place. A heart-warming chapter book about friendship, resilience, and the joy of creating something real together in nature.
$4.85, © 2025, A5 e-book, 48p, includes literature study unit

DOWNLOAD FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY

Ruby and the Reef Explorers
For eight-year-old Ruby, a perfect day means testing out her new wet shoes, exploring Lady Bay reef with her family and co-op friends. But when a favourite rock pool begins to dry up in the sunshine, their reef ramble turns into a race against the tide.
Dive into a realistic, fun-filled story about a group of homeschooling friends who team up to protect the ocean creatures they love.
$4.85, © 2025, A5 e-book,12p, includes literature study unit

DOWNLOAD FREE LITERATURE UNIT STUDY

The Chimaera Conspiracy

Beverley's first novel, YA Science Fiction, published by Greater Glider, 2002

Aquadome, an underwater colony is shrouded in mystery, hiding controversial genetic research and treacherous secrets. Psychic links draw teenagers Katya and Coen into an international conspiracy which threatens their very existence.

ISBN 978-1-876651-57-2, 2011, paperback, $9.95 (includes postage within Australia)

Download FREE Literature Unit Study

"I borrowed and read this twice before buying my own copy." Bookel

"The action is swift, tautly written, and pulls no punches. Despite the breakneck pace of this novel, there is plenty to think about. Genetic engineering, cloning, cross-species communication, ethics, nature versus nurture, and the true meaning of family all form part of the story; death, redemption and identity are also part of the blend. The background information is blended seamlessly into the narrative; there are no awkward chunks of exposition, nor is the reader kept unnecessarily in the dark. This adventurous thriller is Beverley Paine's first published book, and a very accomplished debut it is!" Sally Odgers

We know what it’s like to have doubts, to make mistakes, spend money we don’t have buying resources we never used. We know we all start in more or less the same space and how it feels to leave mainstream education to embark on this awesome adventure. Scary, right? But you’re not alone. Let Beverley help you.

Subscribe to The Educating Parent for $8 a month or $80 a year and start receiving her regular newsletter, plus homeschooling templates, guides, checklists, unit studies and more.