Dice, Decks, and Boards: Qwirkle

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Sometimes, there is a game that has been on your wishlist for so long that when you finally buy it, you worry if the game will actually be worth the wait. Qwirkle was the game on our wishlist for a long time. It was totally worth the wait!

What is Qwirkle?

Qwirkle is a fun game that will challenge your critical thinking skills. Yes, it is about matching shapes and colors, but you need to think and plan ahead to ensure that you will be able to score the most points. It is easy to learn but difficult to master! 

While you are looking to place your tiles or blocks, you need to make note of colors and shapes and make sure there are no duplicates in the row. So you can place a red circle in a row with a green circle and a blue circle, but not if there is already a red circle in that row. Since you connect the blocks in a way similar to a cross between Dominoes and Scrabble, you need to think ahead of the current move, too. 

Players score points by adding up how many tiles or blocks are in the row where they played their last block or blocks. If they are able to complete a row of six, they then score a "Qwirkle" and gain bonus points. So, it can be easy for the leadership board to change as people play their tiles. 

The game is designed for two to four players, ages 6 and up, with an average playtime of 30+ minutes. 

How else can you use the game?

The wooden tiles can help your younger children work on patterns and color recognition. Even if your little ones can't play Qwirkle, they can still use the brightly colored wooden blocks or tiles. 

• Place only one set of colors in the drawstring bag. Have your child pull out one block or tile and name the shape depicted. Or have them draw the shape shown on the block matching the color when they draw it. 
• Place only one set of shapes in the drawstring bag. Have your child pull out one block or tile at a time and identify the color. 
• With all the blocks or tiles in the bag, have your child draw one at a time. Ask them to identify both the color and the shape. 
• With all the blocks or tiles in the bag, have your child draw one at a time. Have them find an object in the house that matches the color or the shape. Or have objects or cards ready for them to match at the table. 
• Use them as building blocks to practice fine motor skills. 

Games in Your Homeschool 

Including games in your homeschool day can bring such joy and fun! When you are able to include games that encourage critical thinking skills, you are building those skills as well as communication skills, good sportsmanship, patience, and more. 

Read more about games that foster critical thinking skills in my reviews of Zig Zag Puzzler and Bugzzle. Click on the images below to visit the reviews!

Book Club: Book Review of Voice of the Ancient

 

I received a COMPLIMENTARY copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. This post contains affiliate links. Please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page for more information. Thank you.

Weaving together Biblical events and historical fiction is one of Connilyn Cossette's talents. In reading Voice of the Ancient to review, I was able to see the early years of Saul as king come to life. Cossette introduces readers to a beautiful land with harsh conditions. She also brings back the boys from Between the Wild Branches for another adventure. 

About the Book 

Voice of the Ancient is the first book in The King's Men series by Connilyn Cossette. She sets her story during the years that Saul sat on the throne of Israel. According to the author's note, Cossette feels that many gloss over the years Saul was king, but he was still chosen by God to unite Israel under one banner.

The early chapters of the book bring us into a battle with the Ammonites. Cossette has been fighting her own battles. For those who don't know, she shares in the book that she has battled cancer, which caused upheaval and deadlines that were pushed back. I think the extra time spent walking that path has brought something special to Voice of the Ancients.

The story focuses upon Avidan, the eldest son of a Levite and a Philistine, and Keziah, the daughter of a powerful clan chief. Both end up in the same area—near an invading force—and come to rely upon each other. 

Avidan leaves his home to join his cousins and friends to answer Saul's call to repeal the Ammonite invasion, while Keziah is on the road to escape a marriage to an evil man. The novel moves between each of these characters, allowing them each time to share their own viewpoint. 

My Thoughts 

First, let me share that I haven't finished reading Voice of the Ancient, but as I will be offline for over a week, I wanted to share my review now. The book was published in August, so I do not want to wait too much longer to share my thoughts about the book. I will be updating this post when I have finished reading it. 

Both of the main characters have drawn me into the story. By alternating the viewpoint between Avidan and Keziah, I am ready to keep reading well past bedtime because I want to know what has happened to both individuals. Their stories are compelling. 

I appreciate that Avidan wishes to try and forge a life for himself. As a member of the Levite bloodline, he is supposed to remain with his tribe. His family legacy is to share the stories of their ancestors but he wants something more. This leads him to join his cousins to fight the invading force. His experience with his first battle is very jarring and wonderfully written. 

Keziah's family is located very near the area the Ammonites have invaded. Her father is afraid for his land and people so he brokers a marriage with another powerful man between his daughter, Keziah, and that man. This man turns about to be very cruel so Keziah's maid intervenes. This leads Keziah to run away from her home where she meets Avidan. 

I love the interaction between Avidan and Keziah. They end up in an area where the people have not heard all the stories of Jacob and Joseph. So, Avidan barters the telling of the stories for dinner. Keziah has not heard these stories, either. In fact, her village doesn't just worship Yahweh but also Asherah as the consort. This seems foreign to Avidan. I appreciate that he tries to carefully explore Keziah's feelings towards Yahweh and the goddess.

I am eager to finish reading Voice of the Ancient to see where Avidan and Keziah end up. Will they find his cousin? Will they find her mother's family? What will become of Avidan's cousins who are still with Saul's army? These are great questions pushing the narrative forward.

Read more about one of Cossette's other books here: Until the Mountains Fall

History Through Music: The Impact of Stephen Collins Foster and Others

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"Old Songs! New Songs! Ev'ry kind of song. I noted them down as I read them along." 

Stephen Collins Foster – well-known for songs such as "Beautiful Dreamer," "Camptown Races," and "Oh! Susanna" – published over 200 songs from the 1840s-1860s that would be hits of the day. Foster, born on July 4, 1826, is often called the "father of American music," but sadly, his life is still shrouded in a bit of mystery as there are conflicting reports about his lifestyle. 

Foster spent his early life in and around Pittsburgh, PA, and was considered a "problem child" by his family. There are gaps in what we know about different periods of his life. It is known that he had financial problems but no specifics as to why. 

He became famous by the 1860s, as his songs were very popular, both in the United States and abroad. While living in 1864 New York, he died, supposedly penniless, before the end of the American Civil War (an event that provided material for some of his songs). Even today, controversy follows Foster and his minstrel songs. There are numerous legends and stories shared about him. 

Whatever is said of Foster – whether he was a loving, kind soul or possibly an alcoholic – his impact on popular and folk music is very important. Foster is a key part of American musical culture. You may not know the original arrangements of his songs as time has brought changes to them. 

"I come from Alabama wid a banjo on my knee...."

From one of his songs – "The Song of All Songs" – published in 1863, we are introduced to a compilation of titles and phrases from popular songs of the day. This novelty song is very interesting to read through and gives a starting point to learn more about additional works of the day.

Let's look at several songs mentioned in "The Song of All Songs."

"Abraham's Daughter"

The music and words of this popular minstrel song were written by Septimus Winner. They provide the basis for a song about joining up to fight in the American Civil War. Winner was probably influenced by the colorful Zouave uniforms of the 114th PA regiment volunteers.

Winner was a loyal Unionist and supporter of General George McClellan. He even wrote a controversial song after President Lincoln removed McClellan from his position – "Give Us Back Our Old Commander: Little Mac, the People's Pride." He was a professional songwriter, and at least one of his songs is still known and sung today—"Der Deitcher's Dog" or "Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone?" 

"Abraham's Daughter" was popular on the minstrel stage. There were printed versions which included dialects attributed to the southern slave states. There were many parodies of the song throughout the country. 

"Weeping Sad and Lonely"

A sentimental song with words written by Charles C. Sawyer and music by Henry Tucker is mentioned using the chorus line of "When this cruel war is over" in "The Song of Songs." The song was popular in both the North and the South during the American Civil War, as peace was something everyone sought. The Cleveland Leader stated the "words touch the popular heart" of the people.

In reality, this song could be sung during any wartime. Many a young man knelt before his loved one before he left for training or to join the men on the battlefield. Homeschoolers could list all the wars in which the United States was involved. Compare the start and end dates and discuss how long it would take for the cruel war to end.   

Although "Weeping Sad and Lonely" was very popular, critics did not understand why. However, if you have a family member who went to war, you may understand why it was so popular. 

"We Are Coming Father Abra'am"

"We leave our plows and workshops, our wives and children dear"

Another song about joining up to fight in the American Civil War says "We are coming, Father Abraham, six hundred thousand more!" The poem of James Sloan Gibbons – a response to Lincoln's call for additional troops – was set to the music. Gibbons was a well-known abolitionist, an associate of Garrison, the Grimke Sisters, and others. His poem was set to music by the Hutchison Family Singers, Stephen Foster, and Luther Orlando Emerson.


This "song of songs" is five stanzas with a short chorus. It contains the names of over fifty songs and phrases from songs to study in order to learn more about the music of the time. Will you find a song that speaks to you? 

References and Resources

Library of Congress: Stephen Collins Foster Biography

Library of Congress: Collection of audio files and sheet music of Stephen Foster