Tiny Sprites, Big Ideas: A Homeschool Parent’s Secret Weapon

Audio By Carbonatix

If you’ve ever stood in a library aisle thinking, “I just need a clean, captivating story my middle grader will devour…and maybe something I can build a lesson around…”

Hi, friend—that’s my world, too.

Recently on the podcast, I chatted with Catherine Witzaney, a homeschooled author whose Wingless Cycle is winning awards and middle-grade hearts (ages 9–14). The first book is Wingless. Her world is full of tiny warrior sprites—feather sprites, bat sprites, hornet sprites—each with unique gifts and cultures. 

The hero, Asher, is born without wings in a society where nearly everyone has them. His first mission? Save his sister. His bigger mission? Learn courage, humility, forgiveness, and how to question his own assumptions.

But this post isn’t just, “Go read the book.” It’s about why stories like this are gold for homeschoolers and how to turn one great read into weeks of learning—without more busywork.

Why Middle-Grade Fantasy Works (Especially for Homeschoolers)

It’s a safe distance for big ideas.
Sometimes the hardest truths are best explored through a bit of make-believe. When children encounter themes like prejudice, division, and forgiveness through sprites instead of schoolmates, the emotional weight feels lighter—but the lessons sink deeper. 

A story world gives kids room to wrestle with right and wrong without feeling personally exposed or defensive. As Catherine Witzaney shared, her Wingless world allows readers to safely navigate complex moral questions—like judging others too quickly or learning to forgive—inside an adventure that sparks curiosity instead of anxiety.

Built-in engagement.
Let’s be honest—some days it feels like you’d need a miracle (or a cookie) to get your child to read another chapter. But when you hand them a story with creatures, clans, and quests, motivation takes care of itself. Kids lean in because the world feels alive. They want to know what happens next, who wins the battle, and how the main character will get out of trouble. You don’t have to assign reading; they’ll pick it up on their own.

Perfect for mixed ages.
Every homeschool family knows the juggling act: one book that works for everyone. Middle-grade fantasy is that sweet spot. Older kids pick up on the deeper themes and symbolism, while younger listeners are swept away by the action, humor, and imagination. Add the audiobook version—narrated beautifully by the author herself—and you’ve got the perfect carschooling companion. One story, one drive, everyone engaged.

Character growth > lectures.
Asher, the wingless sprite at the heart of Wingless, isn’t perfect—and that’s exactly why he’s so relatable. He makes mistakes, learns humility, and changes for the better. Kids see what responsibility looks like in motion, not as a rule but as a journey. They begin to understand that real strength isn’t about perfection—it’s about repentance, forgiveness, and trying again. Stories like this build internal motivation that no lecture ever could.

Values without preaching.
Catherine writes with the heart of Tolkien: timeless truth wrapped in a world of wonder. There’s no sermon, no overt agenda—just light shining naturally through story. Kids pick up on courage, compassion, and unity because those values are woven into the choices characters make. For parents who want stories that align with their faith and family values—but don’t want every page to feel like a lesson—Wingless strikes that balance beautifully.

Stories do the heavy lifting—parents simply guide the conversation.

How to Turn One Book into a Whole Learning Plan

Here’s a no-worksheet approach you can start this week:

1) 10-Minute Daily Rhythm

• Day 1–2: Read aloud a chapter (or listen to the audiobook while folding laundry—zero shame).
  
• After reading: Ask one deeper question (pick from the list below). Jot your child’s answer in a notebook.
  
• Quick vocab: Let your child choose two “cool words” from the chapter to define and sketch.
  
• Habit of attention: “Tell me the most important thing Asher realized today.”
  

2) Discussion Prompts That Actually Spark Conversation

• Assumptions: What does Asher think about the bat sprites at first? What changed his mind?
  
• Courage: What’s the bravest choice today—and what made it hard?
  
• Responsibility: When we mess up, what’s the first step toward making it right?
  
• Belonging: What makes someone “part of a clan” in the story? What makes us part of a family?
  
• Gifts & limits: Asher doesn’t have wings. Where does that hold him back? Where might it help him see differently?
  

We don’t grow out of mistakes—we grow through them.

3) Cross-Curriculum Connections (1–2 short activities a week)

• History (Social Studies): Catherine loosely modeled the bat sprites on ancient Sparta—discipline, training, warrior culture. Watch a kid-friendly video on Sparta and make a T-chart: Where does the bat-sprite culture seem similar? Where different?
  
• Science (Life Science): Quick research on bats vs. birds—wings, echolocation, nocturnal habits. Create a one-page “Sprite Field Guide” illustrating how a bat-sprite wing might work.
  
• Writing (Literature/Composition): “Clan Compare.” Choose two sprite groups. List customs, strengths, blind spots. Write a paragraph on how misunderstandings start—and one way they could build trust.
  
• Art: Design your own sprite with a unique talent. Name, symbol, and clan crest. (Bonus: create a wax-seal look with a crayon rubbing.)
  
• Character Education: Choose a weekly virtue (humility, perseverance, forgiveness). Find one moment in the chapter where a character practiced—or failed—it.
  

4) For Struggling or Reluctant Readers

• Use the audiobook + print together. Many kids read more confidently when they “read while listening.”
  
• Chunk the page. Fold a paper strip into a “reading window” to reduce visual overwhelm.
  
• Choice = buy-in. Let your child pick the virtue, the vocab words, or the art prompt each day.
  

Faith-Friendly Without Being Heavy-Handed

Catherine described writing in the tradition of Tolkien—a bright moral core without overt allegory. For families of faith, this is a sweet spot: a story that honors truth, goodness, and beauty while inviting conversations about forgiveness, identity, and unity. If you want to add a Scripture connection, try:

• “Make allowance for each other’s faults…Forgive anyone who offends you.” (Col. 3:13)
  
• “Search me, O God…point out anything in me that offends you.” (Ps. 139:23–24)
  

Parent tip: Ask, “Where did Asher choose pride? Where did he choose humility?” Then reflect: “Where did we do the same this week?”

Quick Start: One-Week Mini Plan

Day 1 (Reading): Chapters 1–2.
Discuss: What does “wingless” symbolize? Where do you feel “wingless” but brave?
Create: Sketch Asher + one symbol of his courage.

Day 2 (History): Watch a short video on Sparta. T-chart similarities with bat sprites.
Write: 5-sentence compare/contrast.

Day 3 (Character): Virtue focus—Responsibility. Find one decision Asher regrets. What would you do differently?
Family practice: Everyone shares one “oops” + one “next right step.”

Day 4 (Science): Bats vs. birds. Draw labeled wings; one fact each. 
Vocabulary: Choose two words from the chapter—define + doodle.

Day 5 (Synthesis): “Clan Council.” Role-play two sprite groups negotiating a truce. Parent plays moderator.
Reflect: One sentence: “Peace begins when _______.”

Why Wingless Fits Homeschool Life

• Homeschooled author, homeschooled audience. Catherine was that voracious middle-grade reader (and yes, she still bakes bread and teaches piano in Alberta with her baby underfoot).
  
• Layered world-building = sustainable study. Different sprite cultures mean natural spin-offs for history, geography, civics, and art.
  
• Clean adventure with heart. Themes of adoption, sibling love, forgiveness, and taking responsibility resonate across ages.
  
• Built-in supports. Published by Chicken Scratch Books, which serves homeschool families and offers two companion courses: a short virtue course and a deeper literature analysis course (with vocabulary and an end-essay). If you like structured help, it’s there; if you prefer open-ended learning, you can freestyle with the ideas above.
  
• Audio option. The author-narrated audiobook is lively and accessible—great for carschooling or chore time.
  

Make literature the meal; let “subjects” be the seasoning.

Book Club (or Co-op) Ready

• Meeting 1: Chapters 1–6 + “Design Your Crest” activity
  
• Meeting 2: Chapters 7–12 + “Debate: Are the bat sprites villains or misunderstood?”
  
• Meeting 3: Finish + “Restoration Plan”—each student writes how two clans could rebuild trust
  

Snacks Ideas: Butterfly pretzels, “feather” popcorn, and fruit “wing” platters. You’re welcome. 😉

Final Thought to Parents

Our kids don’t need perfect heroes—they need growing ones. Watching Asher stumble, take responsibility, and try again gives your child a mirror and a map. That’s the kind of story that sticks long after the last page.

If you’re looking for a fresh read that’s both fun and formative, add Wingless to your basket, peek at the companion courses if you want more structure, and let the sprites do what good stories always do: grow hearts, stretch minds, and spark wonder.

Bonus: Look for the online course!

Additional Resources

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