Please remember in your prayers my sister-in-law's father, Rick Ellis, who died early this morning. He and his wife ran Saint Raphael Press, a Catholic bookstore and small publishing company, for many years as well as running the California office of Seton Home Study.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Review: What Catholics Really Believe
Note: This is a preliminary review and will be polished up and added to after we're finished watching the entire series. I wanted to provide some basic info right now because this excellent series will be airing on EWTN beginning June 4th.
What Catholics Really Believe with Dr. Ray Guarendi and Rev. Kevin Fete
2002/2006, Nineveh's Crossing, 13 - 1/2 hour episodes on DVD, Catholic
This is a DVD apologetics series produced in 13 half-hour segments. Dr. Ray Guarendi and Rev. Kevin Fete discuss major issues of Catholic belief which are often misunderstood by Protestants and others - with an emphasis on support for Catholic belief from Scripture and from the Early Church Fathers. It's a lively discussion (Dr. Ray often breaks into "devil's advocate" mode!) with substantial but very accessible content. Basic topics covered are the following: Jesus, the Bible, Scripture and Tradition, Eucharist (2 episodes), Baptism, Morality, Confession, Mary (2 episodes), St. Peter, Papacy and Purgatory.
This is a quality production with numerous quotes from the discussion shown on the screen (makes it a lot easier to follow!).
My older children have really enjoyed watching the series. We just watched and discussed two episodes with the teen catechism discussion group that I lead. They found it informative and engaging - definitely the sort of thing that makes you want to dig deeper and learn even more. It's quite a good starting point for studying and discussing different topics relating to apologetics for both teens and adults. It could also be used as a "spine" to tie together a substantial religion course that included readings from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
A detailed study guide is available for free online.
Click here to watch a segment of this series online.
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (5-31-07)
Available from Adoremus Books
What Catholics Really Believe with Dr. Ray Guarendi and Rev. Kevin Fete2002/2006, Nineveh's Crossing, 13 - 1/2 hour episodes on DVD, Catholic
This is a DVD apologetics series produced in 13 half-hour segments. Dr. Ray Guarendi and Rev. Kevin Fete discuss major issues of Catholic belief which are often misunderstood by Protestants and others - with an emphasis on support for Catholic belief from Scripture and from the Early Church Fathers. It's a lively discussion (Dr. Ray often breaks into "devil's advocate" mode!) with substantial but very accessible content. Basic topics covered are the following: Jesus, the Bible, Scripture and Tradition, Eucharist (2 episodes), Baptism, Morality, Confession, Mary (2 episodes), St. Peter, Papacy and Purgatory.
This is a quality production with numerous quotes from the discussion shown on the screen (makes it a lot easier to follow!).
My older children have really enjoyed watching the series. We just watched and discussed two episodes with the teen catechism discussion group that I lead. They found it informative and engaging - definitely the sort of thing that makes you want to dig deeper and learn even more. It's quite a good starting point for studying and discussing different topics relating to apologetics for both teens and adults. It could also be used as a "spine" to tie together a substantial religion course that included readings from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
A detailed study guide is available for free online.
Click here to watch a segment of this series online.
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (5-31-07)
Available from Adoremus Books
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Reading List - Asia
This is another brand new list - we need suggestions to get things moving. :)General Resources
The Silk Route: 7000 Years of History by John Major
China
The Empty Pot by Demi
The Five Chinese Brothers
The Great Wall by Elizabeth Mann
Growing Up in Ancient China by Ken Teague
The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain
The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
Tikki-Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
What's in a Chinese Character? by Tan Huay Peng
India
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas
Japan
Count Your Way Through Japan by James Haskins
Hokusai: The Man Who Painted a Mountain by Deborah Kogan Ray
Japanese Fairy Tales (Japan)
Movies: Ikiru and others by Akira Kurosawa
Korea
Malaysia
Mongolia
Nepal
Taiwan
Thailand
Anna and the King (movie - high school/adult)
Tibet
Seven Years in Tibet (movie - high school)
Reading Lists
I've put together a set of links to each book list in the sidebar (right below the welcome message) in order to make collaboration (not to mention navigation!) a little easier.
If anyone is prepared to make recommendations for Africa and Oceania, I'd be very happy to start lists for those too. It would be most helpful to have the locations in individual countries so they can be well-organized.
If anyone is prepared to make recommendations for Africa and Oceania, I'd be very happy to start lists for those too. It would be most helpful to have the locations in individual countries so they can be well-organized.
Reading List - Central and South America
This is a brand-new list (don't even have all the countries listed yet), so I'm depending on all of you to help fill in the blanks. I appreciate all the enthusiasm for contributing to these lists - it does seem like a good time of year to do some clean-up and planning.Central America/Caribbean:
Bahamas
Costa Rica
The Umbrella by Jan Brett
Cuba
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Nicaragua
Panama
South America:
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Jaguar by Roland Smith
Chile
Colombia
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Francis Solano: Wonder-Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Saint John Masias: Marvelous Dominican Gatekeeper of Lima, Peru by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
The Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark
Secrets of Lost Empires: Inca (NOVA-DVD)
Uruguay
Venezuela
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Reading List of Mexico
Picture Books:Count Your Way Through Mexico by Jim Haskins
The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie de Paola
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie de Paola
The Night of Las Posadas by Tomie de Paola
Grade School:
Jose Finds the King: A Blessed Miguel Pro Story by Ann Ball
Miracle in Mexico: The Story of Juan Diego by Lon Tinkle
Nacar, The White Deer by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
High School or Adult:
Blessed Miguel Pro by Ann Ball
My Heart Lies South: The Story of My Mexican Marriage by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene (best for older teens and adults)
Please share your own suggestions in the comment box.
Review: From Sea to Shining Sea
From Sea to Shining Sea: the Story of America, by Catholic Schools Textbook Project2003, Ignatius Press, 360 pages, hardcover
Companion volume: From Sea to Shining Sea Teacher's Edition, Beta edition by Catholic Schools Textbook Project
2003, Ignatius Press, 178 pages, spiral bound softcover
We just finished a great history year, my two middle-schoolers and I. We tackled American History and used as our textbook Catholic School Textbook Project's From Sea to Shining Sea. I divide our school year into four quarters, so we had exactly five chapters per quarter. Every Wednesday afternoon we sat down in the sunny, bright living room and I would begin reading a chapter aloud. My two middle-schoolers would then each a take turn reading and we would have the chapter read in just over an hour. They used an atlas to find and trace the historical routes covered that session.
After the usual discussion, during which I would blurt out questions such as “Imagine if they had never made it there…” and when they would wonder about such things as “How could they do that?”, we would move on to the quizzes and tests in the teachers’ manual. We did those orally and I would have them take turns answering the questions. If one could not answer the other could
We learned much about American History this year thanks to this book. Better yet, they loved it! Each week they looked forward to history. It was our three-way time together. Between the two elementary schooler and two high schoolers at home, the middle-schoolers enjoyed having mom all for themselves on Wednesday afternoons. So they could expand their history study a bit further, each week I used the local library online to select and put on hold materials about about the historical characters we were studying. During our weekly trip to the library we picked up these books and left them out in our library pile in the living room. I would see them reading the books for pleasure before nightly family prayer.
The book offered, we thought, the right amount of information. More would have been too much; less, too little. The chapters were meaty and long, but with one devoted afternoon we did not have trouble reading the whole thing. We stopped the reading occasionally to comment on what was going on, and the “yellow blurbs” as we called them, always offered some food for extra discussions as they provide glimpses of life or special people or events in that time period of American History.
The twenty chapters follow the history of the United States from the Pre-Columbian travels of St. Brendan the Navigator and the Vikings, and continue chronologically until the last chapter entitled “Catholics in America”, which discusses figures such as Dorothy Day and J. F. Kennedy. The paper is glossy, the layout attractive and colorful, and the illustrations are generous and interesting. Each chapter offers Summary, a Chapter Checkpoint, Activities and “The American Larder” with interesting facts about things culinary of that specific time period. The companion volume, still in beta version at the time of the this review, offers more summary paragraphs, answer to the chapters’ questions and sample quizzes and tests to each chapter. I used it consistently throughout the year.
The list of contributors is impressive with such names as Professor
Both volumes available from Ignatius Press.
Reviewed by Ana Braga-Henebry, M.A.
Children's Reading List of Europe by Country
This is a very incomplete list I compiled a few years ago. Please add suggestions in the comment box - I'll be adding some more of my own over time as well. It's rather shocking to ME that I don't have any titles for Greece (now corrected) or Portugal yet. LOL I also know that I don't have all of the countries listed yet. I'll add more countries as I add more books.
Austria
The Story of the Trapp Family Sings by Maria Augusta Trapp
The Two Trumpeters of Vienna by Hertha Pauli
The World of the Trapp Family by William T. Anderson
Denmark
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
France
Cathedral by David Macaulay
The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola
Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge
Marguerite Makes a Book
The Red Keep by Allen French
Saint Joan: Girl Soldier by Louis de Wohl
Saint Therese and the Roses by Helen Walker Homan
The Song at the Scaffold by Gertrud von Le Fort (high school)
That Girl of Pierre's
Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
Vincent de Paul: Saint of Charity by Margaret Ann Hubbard (Vision Series)
Germany
The Shadow of His Wings by Fr. Gereon Goldmann (high school)
The Story of Pope Benedict XVI for Young People
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Greece
Black Ships Before Troy and the Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Stories from Herodotus by Glanville Downey
The Story of the Greeks by H.A. Guerber
String Straightedge and Shadow: The Story of Geometry by Julia Diggins
The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (high school)
Hungary
The Good Master and The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy
Philomena by Kate Seredy
Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Ireland
Celtic Heritage Saints by Marian Keaney
The Cottage at Bantry Bay Series by Hilda Van Stockum
Fingal's Quest by Madeleine Polland
The King of Ireland's Son by Padraic Colum
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie de Paola
Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal by Robert T. Reilly
Italy
Francis and Clare: Saints of Assisi by Helen Walker Homan
Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie de Paola
He Went with Marco Polo by Louise Andrews Kent
Helena by Evelyn Waugh (High School)
The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica by Kathleen Norris
North to Freedom by Ann Holm
Saint Benedict: Hero of the Hills by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (Vision Series)
Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio by Catherine Beebe
Saint Pius X: The Farm Boy Who Became Pope by Walter Diethelm
Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars by by Brendan Larnen, O.P. and Milton Lomask (Vision Series - Out of Print - also Germany and France)
The Small War of Sergeant Donkey by Maureen Daly
The Way of the Cross: A Story of Padre Pio by Claire Jordan Mohan
Luxembourg
The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso
The Netherlands
A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic by Hilda Van Stockum
Andries by Hilda Van Stockum
The Borrowed House by Hilda Van Stockum (high school)
The Diary of Anne Frank (high school)
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands by Louise Borden
The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum
Norway
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Poland
The Cats of Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse
Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serralier
Helen's Special Picture: A Children's Story of Sister Faustina by David Prevatelli
Saint Hyacinth of Poland by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
St. Maximillian Kolbe: The Story of Two Crowns by Claire Jordan Mohan
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric Kelly
The Young Life of Pope John Paul II by Claire Jordan Mohan
The Young Life of Sister Faustina by Claire Jordan Mohan
Portugal
Our Lady Came to Fatima
Saint Anthony and the Christ Child
Spain
The Flying Ensign, Green Coats Against Napoleon by Showell Styles
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
Isabella of Spain by William Thomas Walsh (high school)
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus by August Derleth
United Kingdom
England
Augustine Came to Kent by Barbara Willard
The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton (high school)
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
Edmund Campion, Hero of God's Underground by Harold P. Gardiner
Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery
Father Brown Mysteries by G.K. Chesterton
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanore Jewett
If All the Swords in England by Barbara Willard
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Midshipman Quinn Collection by Showell Styles (also France and various parts of the Mediterranean)
Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Pride and Prejudice and others by Jane Austen (high school)
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Saint Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh (high school)
Saint Thomas More of London by Elizabeth Ince
Scotland
"The Martha Years" Little House Books by Melissa Wiley
The Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister M. Imelda Wallace
Austria
The Story of the Trapp Family Sings by Maria Augusta Trapp
The Two Trumpeters of Vienna by Hertha Pauli
The World of the Trapp Family by William T. Anderson
Denmark
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
France
Cathedral by David Macaulay
The Clown of God by Tomie de Paola
Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
The Little Duke by Charlotte Yonge
Marguerite Makes a Book
The Red Keep by Allen French
Saint Joan: Girl Soldier by Louis de Wohl
Saint Therese and the Roses by Helen Walker Homan
The Song at the Scaffold by Gertrud von Le Fort (high school)
That Girl of Pierre's
Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop
Vincent de Paul: Saint of Charity by Margaret Ann Hubbard (Vision Series)
Germany
The Shadow of His Wings by Fr. Gereon Goldmann (high school)
The Story of Pope Benedict XVI for Young People
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Greece
Black Ships Before Troy and the Wanderings of Odysseus by Rosemary Sutcliff
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths
Stories from Herodotus by Glanville Downey
The Story of the Greeks by H.A. Guerber
String Straightedge and Shadow: The Story of Geometry by Julia Diggins
The Tale of Troy by Roger Lancelyn Green
Tales of the Greek Heroes by Roger Lancelyn Green
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey (high school)
Hungary
The Good Master and The Singing Tree by Kate Seredy
Philomena by Kate Seredy
Saint Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Ireland
Celtic Heritage Saints by Marian Keaney
The Cottage at Bantry Bay Series by Hilda Van Stockum
Fingal's Quest by Madeleine Polland
The King of Ireland's Son by Padraic Colum
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie de Paola
Red Hugh, Prince of Donegal by Robert T. Reilly
Italy
Francis and Clare: Saints of Assisi by Helen Walker Homan
Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi by Tomie de Paola
He Went with Marco Polo by Louise Andrews Kent
Helena by Evelyn Waugh (High School)
The Holy Twins: Benedict and Scholastica by Kathleen Norris
North to Freedom by Ann Holm
Saint Benedict: Hero of the Hills by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (Vision Series)
Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio by Catherine Beebe
Saint Pius X: The Farm Boy Who Became Pope by Walter Diethelm
Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars by by Brendan Larnen, O.P. and Milton Lomask (Vision Series - Out of Print - also Germany and France)
The Small War of Sergeant Donkey by Maureen Daly
The Way of the Cross: A Story of Padre Pio by Claire Jordan Mohan
Luxembourg
The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith by Josephine Nobisso
The Netherlands
A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic by Hilda Van Stockum
Andries by Hilda Van Stockum
The Borrowed House by Hilda Van Stockum (high school)
The Diary of Anne Frank (high school)
Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge
The Greatest Skating Race: A World War II Story from the Netherlands by Louise Borden
The Wheel on the School by Meindert DeJong
The Winged Watchman by Hilda Van Stockum
Norway
Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan
Poland
The Cats of Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse
Escape from Warsaw by Ian Serralier
Helen's Special Picture: A Children's Story of Sister Faustina by David Prevatelli
Saint Hyacinth of Poland by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
St. Maximillian Kolbe: The Story of Two Crowns by Claire Jordan Mohan
The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric Kelly
The Young Life of Pope John Paul II by Claire Jordan Mohan
The Young Life of Sister Faustina by Claire Jordan Mohan
Portugal
Our Lady Came to Fatima
Saint Anthony and the Christ Child
Spain
The Flying Ensign, Green Coats Against Napoleon by Showell Styles
I, Juan de Pareja by Elizabeth Borton De Trevino
Isabella of Spain by William Thomas Walsh (high school)
Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus by August Derleth
United Kingdom
England
Augustine Came to Kent by Barbara Willard
The Ballad of the White Horse by G.K. Chesterton (high school)
The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli
Edmund Campion, Hero of God's Underground by Harold P. Gardiner
Enemy Brothers by Constance Savery
Father Brown Mysteries by G.K. Chesterton
The Hidden Treasure of Glaston by Eleanore Jewett
If All the Swords in England by Barbara Willard
Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Midshipman Quinn Collection by Showell Styles (also France and various parts of the Mediterranean)
Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot
Pride and Prejudice and others by Jane Austen (high school)
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Saint Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh (high school)
Saint Thomas More of London by Elizabeth Ince
Scotland
"The Martha Years" Little House Books by Melissa Wiley
The Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister M. Imelda Wallace
Reading List for Canada
See previous post for details on how we're compiling these lists. Please add your own suggestions in the comments box.
British Columbia
Mary of Mile 18 by Ann Blades
I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Margaret Craven
Alberta
Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
Saskatchewan
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
Manitoba
Ontario
Paddle to the Sea by Holling Clancy Holling
Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker
Olden Day Coat, Lawrence
One Hundred Shining Candles by Janet Lunn
Quebec
Blessed Marie of New France: The Story of the First Missionary Sisters in Canada by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Canadian Summer by Hilda Van Stockum
Friendly Gables by Hilda Van Stockum
The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier
The King's Daughter by Suzanne Martel
Madeline Takes Command
Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hemon
Kateri Tekakwitha (Vision) (also New York State)
With Pipe, Paddle and Song by Elizabeth Yates
Newfoundland
New Brunswick
Charlotte by Janet Lunn
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
Evangeline
Yukon Territory
Northwest Territory
Dangerous River by R. Patterson
Nunavut
British Columbia
Mary of Mile 18 by Ann Blades
I Heard the Owl Call my Name by Margaret Craven
Alberta
Mrs. Mike by Benedict and Nancy Freedman
Saskatchewan
Owls in the Family by Farley Mowat
Manitoba
Ontario
Paddle to the Sea by Holling Clancy Holling
Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker
Olden Day Coat, Lawrence
One Hundred Shining Candles by Janet Lunn
Quebec
Blessed Marie of New France: The Story of the First Missionary Sisters in Canada by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Canadian Summer by Hilda Van Stockum
Friendly Gables by Hilda Van Stockum
The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier
The King's Daughter by Suzanne Martel
Madeline Takes Command
Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hemon
Kateri Tekakwitha (Vision) (also New York State)
With Pipe, Paddle and Song by Elizabeth Yates
Newfoundland
New Brunswick
Charlotte by Janet Lunn
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
Anne of Green Gables Series by L.M. Montgomery
Evangeline
Yukon Territory
Northwest Territory
Dangerous River by R. Patterson
Nunavut
State-by-State Reading List
This list covers a wide variety of ages and genres. All were recommended by Catholic homeschoolers, but parents should be aware that there are different opinions regarding the choosing of books within the Catholic homeschool world. Please help us fill in the gaps by sharing additional suggestions in the comment box.
Alabama
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (high school)
Alaska
Balto, the Bravest Dog Ever
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (also Canada)
This Old House by Joanne Wild
Water Sky by Jean Craighead George
Arizona
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
We Live in the Southwest by Lois Lenski
Arkansas
Cotton in My Sack by Lois Lenski
California
By the Great Horn Spoon by Paul Fleischman
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
Vallejo and the Four Flags by Esther J. Comstock
Blue Willow by Doris Gates
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (picture book) also covers Japan
The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp by Barry Denenberg
The Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
Wait for Me, Life of Father Junipero Serra Sister Mary Helen Wallace, FSP
Westward the Bells (biography of Junipero Serra) Marion F. Sullivan
California Missions edited by Ralph B. Wright
The Decoration of the California Missions Norman Neuerburg
Saints of the California Missions by Norman Neuerburg
San Francisco Boy by Lois Lenski
Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel Laurgaard
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
The Story of The Pony Express by R. Conrad Stein
The Miner Was a Bishop The Pioneer Years of Patrick Manogue William Breault S.J.
Winter of Entrapment A New Look at the Donner Party Joseph A. King
Colorado
Beany Malone series by Lenora Mattingly Weber
Little Britches by Ralph Moody
The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody
Connecticut
26 Fairmount Avenue Series by Tomie de Paola
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
Flight into Spring by Bianca Bradbury
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Delaware
Florida
The Cross in the Sand by Michael Gannon
Secret Agents Four by Donald Sobol
Strawberry by Lois Lenski
The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings
Georgia
The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis
Hawaii
Father Damien and the Bells by Arthur and Elizabeth Sheehan
The Quiet Light: Mother Marianne of Molokai by Eva K. Betz (Catholic Treasury Series)
Idaho
Year Walk Ann Nolan Clark
Bonanza Girl Patricia Beatty
Louly Carol Ryrie Brink
Illinois
From Slave to Priest: A Biography of Reverend Augustine Tolton, First Black American Priest of the United States by Sister Caroline Hemesath (high school)
Molly American Girl Stories
Indiana
Turn Homeward, Hannalee Patricia Beatty (also Georgia )
Floating House Scott Sanders (also Ohio ) – picture book
Laddie, Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Porter Stratton
Iowa
Kansas
Climbing Kansas Mountains by George Shannon (picture book)
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Kentucky
The Happy Little Family and the rest of the Fairchild Family Series by Rebecca Caudill
Louisiana
Bayou Suzette by Lois Lenski
The Louisiana Purchase (Landmark)
Mother Cabrini: Missionary to the World by Frances Parkinson Keyes
Maine
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
The Secret of Pooduck Island by Alfred Noyes
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
The Sea Chest by Toni Buzzeo
L is for Lobster by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds
Keep the Lights Burning Abbie by Peter Roop and Connie Roop
Birdie's Lighthouse by Deborah Hopkinson
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Island Boy by Barbara Cooney
A Penny for a Hundred Ethel Pochocki
Maryland
Charles Carroll and the American Revolution by Milton Lomask
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity (Vision)
The Story of the Star Spangled Banner, (Cornerstones of Freedom) by
Natalie Miller
Kate Finds A Friend, a Mother Seton Story by Joan Stromberg
Captain Kate by Carolyn Reeder
Massachusetts
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (also New Hampshire)
And then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Puritan Adventure by Lois Lenski
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jean Lee Latham
Downright Dency Caroline Snedeker
"The Charlotte Years" Little House Books by Melissa Wiley
Michigan
Thomas Edison: Young Inventor by Sue Guthridge (CFA)
We Live in the North by Lois Lenski
Minnesota
Betsy-Tacy Series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Kirsten American Girl Stories
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Mississippi
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Mildred D. Taylor
Let the Circle be Unbroken Mildred D. Taylor
Missouri
Katie John Series by Mary Calhoun
Little House on Rocky Ridge by Roger Lea MacBride
Little Farm in the Ozarks by Roger Lea MacBride
In the Land of the Big Red Apple by Roger Lea MacBride
Montana
San Domingo: the Medicine Hat Stallion Marguerite Henry
To Yellowstone : A Journey Home Robert McKinnon
Nebraska
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
Nevada
Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry
New Hampshire
The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet
George the Drummer Boy by Nathaniel Benchley
The Great Stone Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne
New Jersey
Cheaper by the Dozen by Gilbreth
The Edison Mystery by Dan Gutman
Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi
The Story of Baseball by Lawrence A. Ritter
Abigail Takes the Wheel by Avi
The First Air Voyage in the United States: the story of Jean Pierre Blauchard by Alexandra Wallner
New Jersey Timeline: a chronology by Marsh
Priest on Horseback by Eva K Betz
Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S. by Collen
The Village: Life in Colonial Times by Knight
New Mexico
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (high school)
Josefina American Girl Stories
Tree in the Trail by Holling Clancy Holling
We Live in the Southwest by Lois Lenski
New York
Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz
The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
High-Rise Secret by Lois Lenski
Karen by Marie Killilea
St. Isaac and the Indians
The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
New York City
The Copper Lady by Alice Rosee and Kent Ross
Lou Gehrig: One of Baseball's Greatest by Guernsey Van Riper
The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegard H. Swift and
Lynd Ward (picture book)
Samantha American Girl Stories
Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night by Regina Doman
The Story of the Statue of Liberty (Cornerstones of Freedom Series)
Lily and Miss Liberty
The Orphans Find a Home: A St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Story by Joan Stromberg
A Cricket in Times' Square
North Carolina
Blue Ridge Billy by Lois Lenski
They Loved to Laugh Kathryn Worth
North Dakota
Ohio
Homer Price and Centerberg Tales by Robert McCloskey
Kit American Girl Stories
Lentil by Robert McCloskey (picture book)
Oklahoma
Boom Town Boy by Lois Lenski
Where the Red Fern Grows Wilson Rawls
Oregon
Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
To Be a Logger by Lois Lenski
Year of the Black Pony
Pennsylvania
Addy American Girl Stories
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin by James Cross Giblin
The Battle of Gettysburg by Bruce Catton
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia (Landmark).
Brady by Jean Fritz
The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
Gettysburg by MacKinlay Kantor
Katie: The Young Life of St. Katherine Drexel by Claire Mohun Jordan
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (high school)
The Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin by Mary Pope Osborne
Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorenson
A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler
The Riddle of Penncroft Farm by Dorothea Jensen
Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz
Shoo-fly Girl by Lois Lenski
Silver for General Washington by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft
The Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli
The Story of the Declaration of Independence by N. Richards
The Story of William Pennby Aliki
Thee Hannah! by Marguerite de Angeli
Thunder at Gettysburg by Patricia Gauch
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
The Winter at Valley Forge by VanWyck Mason
Rhode Island
South Carolina
The Swamp Fox of the Revolution by Stewart H. Holbrook (Landmark)
South Dakota
Prairie School by Lois Lenski
Little Sioux Girl by Lois Lenski
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Old Sam: Dakota Trotter by Don Alonzo Taylor
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tennessee
Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla (easy reader)
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
White Bird by Clyde Robert Bulla
Texas
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Savage Sam by Fred Gipson
Texas Tomboy by Lois Lenski
Wilderness Pioneer by Carol Hoff
The Wind Blows Free
Utah
The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald
Vermont
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Virginia
Felicity American Girl Stories
George Washington by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
The Story of George Washington
Misty by Marguerite Henry
Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Washington State
Young Mac of Fort Vancouver by Mary Jane Carr
Washington D.C.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory by Hilda Van Stockum
West Virginia
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills (picture book)
Coal Camp Girl by Lois Lenski
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant (picture book)
Wisconsin
First Farm in the Valley: Anna's Story by Anne Pellowski and others in the Polish American Girls Series
Caddie Woodlawn and Magical Melons by Carol Ryrie Brink
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Rascal by Sterling North
Father Marquette and the Great Rivers by August Derleth (also Illinois, Michigan et al.)
Wyoming
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Alabama
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (high school)
Alaska
Balto, the Bravest Dog Ever
The Call of the Wild by Jack London (also Canada)
This Old House by Joanne Wild
Water Sky by Jean Craighead George
Arizona
Brighty of the Grand Canyon by Marguerite Henry
We Live in the Southwest by Lois Lenski
Arkansas
Cotton in My Sack by Lois Lenski
California
By the Great Horn Spoon by Paul Fleischman
The Red Pony by John Steinbeck
Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
Vallejo and the Four Flags by Esther J. Comstock
Blue Willow by Doris Gates
Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say (picture book) also covers Japan
The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559, Mirror Lake Internment Camp by Barry Denenberg
The Song of the Swallows by Leo Politi
Wait for Me, Life of Father Junipero Serra Sister Mary Helen Wallace, FSP
Westward the Bells (biography of Junipero Serra) Marion F. Sullivan
California Missions edited by Ralph B. Wright
The Decoration of the California Missions Norman Neuerburg
Saints of the California Missions by Norman Neuerburg
San Francisco Boy by Lois Lenski
Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel Laurgaard
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
The Story of The Pony Express by R. Conrad Stein
The Miner Was a Bishop The Pioneer Years of Patrick Manogue William Breault S.J.
Winter of Entrapment A New Look at the Donner Party Joseph A. King
Colorado
Beany Malone series by Lenora Mattingly Weber
Little Britches by Ralph Moody
The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody
Connecticut
26 Fairmount Avenue Series by Tomie de Paola
The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
Flight into Spring by Bianca Bradbury
Rabbit Hill by Robert Lawson
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Delaware
Florida
The Cross in the Sand by Michael Gannon
Secret Agents Four by Donald Sobol
Strawberry by Lois Lenski
The Yearling by Marjorie Rawlings
Georgia
The Hundred Penny Box by Sharon Bell Mathis
Hawaii
Father Damien and the Bells by Arthur and Elizabeth Sheehan
The Quiet Light: Mother Marianne of Molokai by Eva K. Betz (Catholic Treasury Series)
Idaho
Year Walk Ann Nolan Clark
Bonanza Girl Patricia Beatty
Louly Carol Ryrie Brink
Illinois
From Slave to Priest: A Biography of Reverend Augustine Tolton, First Black American Priest of the United States by Sister Caroline Hemesath (high school)
Molly American Girl Stories
Indiana
Turn Homeward, Hannalee Patricia Beatty (also Georgia )
Floating House Scott Sanders (also Ohio ) – picture book
Laddie, Freckles, Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Porter Stratton
Iowa
Kansas
Climbing Kansas Mountains by George Shannon (picture book)
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Kentucky
The Happy Little Family and the rest of the Fairchild Family Series by Rebecca Caudill
Louisiana
Bayou Suzette by Lois Lenski
The Louisiana Purchase (Landmark)
Mother Cabrini: Missionary to the World by Frances Parkinson Keyes
Maine
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Calico Bush by Rachel Field
One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey
The Secret of Pooduck Island by Alfred Noyes
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Time of Wonder by Robert McCloskey
The Sea Chest by Toni Buzzeo
L is for Lobster by Cynthia Furlong Reynolds
Keep the Lights Burning Abbie by Peter Roop and Connie Roop
Birdie's Lighthouse by Deborah Hopkinson
Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
Island Boy by Barbara Cooney
A Penny for a Hundred Ethel Pochocki
Maryland
Charles Carroll and the American Revolution by Milton Lomask
Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity (Vision)
The Story of the Star Spangled Banner, (Cornerstones of Freedom) by
Natalie Miller
Kate Finds A Friend, a Mother Seton Story by Joan Stromberg
Captain Kate by Carolyn Reeder
Massachusetts
Amos Fortune, Free Man by Elizabeth Yates (also New Hampshire)
And then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
The Wild Horses of Sweetbriar by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock
Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Puritan Adventure by Lois Lenski
Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jean Lee Latham
Downright Dency Caroline Snedeker
"The Charlotte Years" Little House Books by Melissa Wiley
Michigan
Thomas Edison: Young Inventor by Sue Guthridge (CFA)
We Live in the North by Lois Lenski
Minnesota
Betsy-Tacy Series by Maud Hart Lovelace
Kirsten American Girl Stories
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Mississippi
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry Mildred D. Taylor
Let the Circle be Unbroken Mildred D. Taylor
Missouri
Katie John Series by Mary Calhoun
Little House on Rocky Ridge by Roger Lea MacBride
Little Farm in the Ozarks by Roger Lea MacBride
In the Land of the Big Red Apple by Roger Lea MacBride
Montana
San Domingo: the Medicine Hat Stallion Marguerite Henry
To Yellowstone : A Journey Home Robert McKinnon
Nebraska
A Lantern in Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
Nevada
Mustang, Wild Spirit of the West by Marguerite Henry
New Hampshire
The Devil and Daniel Webster by Stephen Vincent Benet
George the Drummer Boy by Nathaniel Benchley
The Great Stone Face by Nathaniel Hawthorne
New Jersey
Cheaper by the Dozen by Gilbreth
The Edison Mystery by Dan Gutman
Time Enough for Drums by Ann Rinaldi
The Story of Baseball by Lawrence A. Ritter
Abigail Takes the Wheel by Avi
The First Air Voyage in the United States: the story of Jean Pierre Blauchard by Alexandra Wallner
New Jersey Timeline: a chronology by Marsh
Priest on Horseback by Eva K Betz
Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the U.S. by Collen
The Village: Life in Colonial Times by Knight
New Mexico
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (high school)
Josefina American Girl Stories
Tree in the Trail by Holling Clancy Holling
We Live in the Southwest by Lois Lenski
New York
Bully for You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz
The Deerslayer by James Fenimore Cooper
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
High-Rise Secret by Lois Lenski
Karen by Marie Killilea
St. Isaac and the Indians
The Moffats by Eleanor Estes
New York City
The Copper Lady by Alice Rosee and Kent Ross
Lou Gehrig: One of Baseball's Greatest by Guernsey Van Riper
The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright
In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson by Bette Bao Lord
All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge by Hildegard H. Swift and
Lynd Ward (picture book)
Samantha American Girl Stories
Shadow of the Bear and Black as Night by Regina Doman
The Story of the Statue of Liberty (Cornerstones of Freedom Series)
Lily and Miss Liberty
The Orphans Find a Home: A St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Story by Joan Stromberg
A Cricket in Times' Square
North Carolina
Blue Ridge Billy by Lois Lenski
They Loved to Laugh Kathryn Worth
North Dakota
Ohio
Homer Price and Centerberg Tales by Robert McCloskey
Kit American Girl Stories
Lentil by Robert McCloskey (picture book)
Oklahoma
Boom Town Boy by Lois Lenski
Where the Red Fern Grows Wilson Rawls
Oregon
Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly Cleary
To Be a Logger by Lois Lenski
Year of the Black Pony
Pennsylvania
Addy American Girl Stories
The Amazing Life of Benjamin Franklin by James Cross Giblin
The Battle of Gettysburg by Bruce Catton
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia (Landmark).
Brady by Jean Fritz
The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz
Gettysburg by MacKinlay Kantor
Katie: The Young Life of St. Katherine Drexel by Claire Mohun Jordan
Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (high school)
The Many Lives of Benjamin Franklin by Mary Pope Osborne
Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorenson
A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David A. Adler
The Riddle of Penncroft Farm by Dorothea Jensen
Shh! We're Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz
Shoo-fly Girl by Lois Lenski
Silver for General Washington by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft
The Skippack School by Marguerite de Angeli
The Story of the Declaration of Independence by N. Richards
The Story of William Pennby Aliki
Thee Hannah! by Marguerite de Angeli
Thunder at Gettysburg by Patricia Gauch
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
The Winter at Valley Forge by VanWyck Mason
Rhode Island
South Carolina
The Swamp Fox of the Revolution by Stewart H. Holbrook (Landmark)
South Dakota
Prairie School by Lois Lenski
Little Sioux Girl by Lois Lenski
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Old Sam: Dakota Trotter by Don Alonzo Taylor
These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tennessee
Daniel's Duck by Clyde Robert Bulla (easy reader)
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills
White Bird by Clyde Robert Bulla
Texas
Old Yeller by Fred Gipson
Savage Sam by Fred Gipson
Texas Tomboy by Lois Lenski
Wilderness Pioneer by Carol Hoff
The Wind Blows Free
Utah
The Great Brain by John Fitzgerald
Vermont
Justin Morgan Had a Horse by Marguerite Henry
The Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
Understood Betsy by Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Virginia
Felicity American Girl Stories
George Washington by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
The Story of George Washington
Misty by Marguerite Henry
Sea Star, Orphan of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Washington State
Young Mac of Fort Vancouver by Mary Jane Carr
Washington D.C.
The Mitchells: Five for Victory by Hilda Van Stockum
West Virginia
The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills (picture book)
Coal Camp Girl by Lois Lenski
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant (picture book)
Wisconsin
First Farm in the Valley: Anna's Story by Anne Pellowski and others in the Polish American Girls Series
Caddie Woodlawn and Magical Melons by Carol Ryrie Brink
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Rascal by Sterling North
Father Marquette and the Great Rivers by August Derleth (also Illinois, Michigan et al.)
Wyoming
My Friend Flicka by Mary O'Hara
Monday, May 28, 2007
The Vision Book Series
Vision Books are a series of Catholic Books - mostly Saint stories - dating from the 1950's. The stories are engaging and designed for children ages nine to fifteen. My children have enjoyed them as read-alouds as early as Kindergarten age and I have often found them enjoyable and uplifting even as adult reading. An asterisk * indicates titles which have been reprinted by Ignatius Press. Please note that where appropriate, I have attempted to favor the newer title given to reprinted books over the older titles (which occasionally will vary slightly).
*St. John Bosco and The Children's Saint, Dominic Savio by Catherine Beebe
*St. Therese and the Roses by Helene Homan
*Father Marquette and the Great Rivers by August Derleth
*St. Francis of the Seven Seas by Albert Nevins
*Bernadette and the Lady by Hertha Pauli
*St. Isaac and the Indians by Milton Lomask
Fighting Father Duffy by Virginia Bishop and Jim Bishop
*St Pius X by Walter Diethelm
*St. Ignatius and the Company of Jesus by August Derleth
John Carroll: Bishop and Patriot by Milton Lomask
*St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe
The Cross in the West by Mark Boesch
My Eskimos: A Priest in the Arctic by Roger Bullock
Champions in Sport and Spirit by Ed Fitzgerald
*Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi by Helen Walker Homan
Christmas and the Saints by Hertha Pauli
*Edmund Campion, Hero of God's Underground by Harold P. Gardiner
Modern Crusaders by John Travers Moore and Rosemarian V. Staudacher
*Our Lady Came to Fatima by Ruth Fox Hume
The Bible Story by Catherine Beebe
St. Augustine and His Search for Faith by Milton Lomask
*St. Joan: The Girl Soldier by Louis de Wohl
*St. Thomas More of London by Elizabeth M. Ince
*Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity by Alma Powers-Waters
*St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars by Brendan Larnen
*Father Damien and the Bells by Arthur and Elizabeth Sheehan
Columbus and the New World by August Derleth
*St. Philip of the Joyous Heart by Francis X. Connelly
Lydia Longley, the First American Nun by Helen A. McCarthy
*St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan
*St. Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson
*Katherine Drexel, Friend of the Neglected by Ellen Tarry
St. Louis and the Last Crusade by Margaret Anne Hubbard
*Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk Maid by Evelyn M. Brown
*St. Benedict, Hero of the Hills by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
*The Cure of Ars by Milton Lomask
St. Helena and the True Cross by Louis De Wohl
Catholic Campuses by Rosemarian Staudecher
Governor Al Smith by James Farley and James Conniff
Kit Carson of the Old West by Mark Boesch
Rose Hawthorne by Arthur and Elizabeth O'Dell
The Ursulines by Harnett T. Kane
*Mother Cabrini by Francis Parkinson Keyes
More Champions in Sport and Spirit by Ed Fitzgerald
St. Margaret Mary by Ruth Fox Hume
When Saints Were Young by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Frances Warde and the First Sisters of Mercy by Sister Marie Christopher
*St.Vincent De Paul by Margaret Hubbard
Florence Nightingale's Nuns by Emmeline Garnet
Pope Pius XII by Louis De Wohl
St. Jerome and the Bible by George Sanderling
Saints of the Byzantine World by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Chaplains in Action by Rosemarian Staudacher
*St. Catherine Laboure by Alma Powers-Waters
Mother Barat's Vineyard by Margaret Ann Hubbard
Charles V. Foucald, Adventurer of the Desert by Emmeline Garnett
Martin De Porres, Saint of the New World by Ellen Tarry
Margaret Bourgeoys, Pioneer Teacher by Sister St. Mary Genevieve
Father and Priest to the Pimas by Ann Nolan Clark
Children Welcome: Villages for Boys and Girls by Rosemarian Staudacher
St. Gregory the Great: Consul of God by George Sanderlin
Peter and Paul: The Rock and the Sword by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Irish Saints by Robert T. Reilly
Dear Philippine: The Mission of Mother Duchesne by Margaret Ann Hubbard
Peter Claver, Saint Among Slaves by Ann Roos
John Neumann, The Children's Bishop by Elizabeth Odell Sheehan
St. Francis de Sales by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Sarah Peter: The Dream and the Harvest by Alma Power-Waters
Good Pope John by Elizabeth Odell Sheehan.
In American Vineyards by Rosemarian Staudacher
Brother Andre of Montreal by Ann Nolan Clark
Edel Quinn by Evelyn Brown
California's Father Serra by Ann Roos
St. Martin of Tours by George Sanderlin
[Note: A long-time Vision book fan who helped me fine-tune the list believes that the final two books in the list were never actually printed. Please let me know if you have any additional information.]
*St. John Bosco and The Children's Saint, Dominic Savio by Catherine Beebe
*St. Therese and the Roses by Helene Homan
*Father Marquette and the Great Rivers by August Derleth
*St. Francis of the Seven Seas by Albert Nevins
*Bernadette and the Lady by Hertha Pauli
*St. Isaac and the Indians by Milton Lomask
Fighting Father Duffy by Virginia Bishop and Jim Bishop
*St Pius X by Walter Diethelm
*St. Ignatius and the Company of Jesus by August Derleth
John Carroll: Bishop and Patriot by Milton Lomask
*St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe
The Cross in the West by Mark Boesch
My Eskimos: A Priest in the Arctic by Roger Bullock
Champions in Sport and Spirit by Ed Fitzgerald
*Francis and Clare, Saints of Assisi by Helen Walker Homan
Christmas and the Saints by Hertha Pauli
*Edmund Campion, Hero of God's Underground by Harold P. Gardiner
Modern Crusaders by John Travers Moore and Rosemarian V. Staudacher
*Our Lady Came to Fatima by Ruth Fox Hume
The Bible Story by Catherine Beebe
St. Augustine and His Search for Faith by Milton Lomask
*St. Joan: The Girl Soldier by Louis de Wohl
*St. Thomas More of London by Elizabeth M. Ince
*Mother Seton and the Sisters of Charity by Alma Powers-Waters
*St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars by Brendan Larnen
*Father Damien and the Bells by Arthur and Elizabeth Sheehan
Columbus and the New World by August Derleth
*St. Philip of the Joyous Heart by Francis X. Connelly
Lydia Longley, the First American Nun by Helen A. McCarthy
*St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan
*St. Elizabeth's Three Crowns by Blanche Jennings Thompson
*Katherine Drexel, Friend of the Neglected by Ellen Tarry
St. Louis and the Last Crusade by Margaret Anne Hubbard
*Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk Maid by Evelyn M. Brown
*St. Benedict, Hero of the Hills by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
*The Cure of Ars by Milton Lomask
St. Helena and the True Cross by Louis De Wohl
Catholic Campuses by Rosemarian Staudecher
Governor Al Smith by James Farley and James Conniff
Kit Carson of the Old West by Mark Boesch
Rose Hawthorne by Arthur and Elizabeth O'Dell
The Ursulines by Harnett T. Kane
*Mother Cabrini by Francis Parkinson Keyes
More Champions in Sport and Spirit by Ed Fitzgerald
St. Margaret Mary by Ruth Fox Hume
When Saints Were Young by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Frances Warde and the First Sisters of Mercy by Sister Marie Christopher
*St.Vincent De Paul by Margaret Hubbard
Florence Nightingale's Nuns by Emmeline Garnet
Pope Pius XII by Louis De Wohl
St. Jerome and the Bible by George Sanderling
Saints of the Byzantine World by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Chaplains in Action by Rosemarian Staudacher
*St. Catherine Laboure by Alma Powers-Waters
Mother Barat's Vineyard by Margaret Ann Hubbard
Charles V. Foucald, Adventurer of the Desert by Emmeline Garnett
Martin De Porres, Saint of the New World by Ellen Tarry
Margaret Bourgeoys, Pioneer Teacher by Sister St. Mary Genevieve
Father and Priest to the Pimas by Ann Nolan Clark
Children Welcome: Villages for Boys and Girls by Rosemarian Staudacher
St. Gregory the Great: Consul of God by George Sanderlin
Peter and Paul: The Rock and the Sword by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Irish Saints by Robert T. Reilly
Dear Philippine: The Mission of Mother Duchesne by Margaret Ann Hubbard
Peter Claver, Saint Among Slaves by Ann Roos
John Neumann, The Children's Bishop by Elizabeth Odell Sheehan
St. Francis de Sales by Blanche Jennings Thompson
Sarah Peter: The Dream and the Harvest by Alma Power-Waters
Good Pope John by Elizabeth Odell Sheehan.
In American Vineyards by Rosemarian Staudacher
Brother Andre of Montreal by Ann Nolan Clark
Edel Quinn by Evelyn Brown
California's Father Serra by Ann Roos
St. Martin of Tours by George Sanderlin
[Note: A long-time Vision book fan who helped me fine-tune the list believes that the final two books in the list were never actually printed. Please let me know if you have any additional information.]
Resources for the Blind
I made up this page about six years ago and haven't touched it since. Some of it may be terribly out-of-date. I'm placing it here during our "construction" project over on love2learn.net
It's a great time to let me know about any updates or changes (or additions!) in the comments box...
I have noticed in my educational excursions around the Internet, that there isn't a lot of information (if any) for Catholic parents on educating a blind child at home. Although I have not taught a blind child myself, I have had some experience with the blind through a close relative who is blind and have received additional information and insight from my brother and sister-in-law who are very active in raising guide dogs for the blind. Many years ago my father was involved with the Library of Congress audio tape program for the blind.
Most Catholic homeschool parents have the luxury today of being very picky about their materials and companies they support in their homeschooling endeavors simply because there are so many options. This is not the case with materials for the blind, and so, I am including as many resources as I think will be helpful, even if they carry problematic materials as well. I believe it is much better to pick through materials from a secular correspondence school for the blind than be forced to send your child to a public institution.
If you are just looking into homeschooling a blind child (particularly one who is still young), I would encourage you to think creatively and in terms of looking for materials that are designed to be multisensory. At a young age, encourage them to develop their other senses (listen to music, read stories aloud, play games involving sounds and words, etc.) I have also successfully used the Math-U-See blocks to discuss Math concepts with my blind relative.
Although I have used a slate and stylus to write braille letters and cards (using a simple braille alphabet on a bookmark I was given) I have no experience teaching a child to read Braille. I'm sure this would be a real challenge and that the parents (or perhaps an enthusiastic older sibling or other relative) would have to learn along with their child. I know that some people, particularly those who lost their sight as adults (such as a blind student who graduated from Thomas Aquinas College), never learn Braille, but instead depend on audio tapes. (In the case of the blind student who graduated from Thomas Aquinas College - he was in the first graduating class - fellow students took turns reading the assignments onto audio cassette for him).
Catholic Materials for the Blind
:
As far as I know there is no such thing as a Catholic correspondence program or homeschool program for the blind. The following companies do provide some Catholic educational materials:
Xavier Society for the Blind
154 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
(800) 637-9193 (toll-free)
(212) 473-7800
(212) 473-7801 Fax
Xavier provides Catholic Braille books at no charge (some you may keep, and some you will return later). They also offer some Catholic magazines in Braille. Lots of good material, but not all of their materials are recommended - choose carefully! Catalogs are available in Braille, large print or on audio cassette.
Ignatius Press http://www.ignatius.com
This major Catholic publisher has many materials available on audio tape - particularly in the clearance section of their website.
Regina Martyrum Productions
2941 S. Topeka Avenue #251
Topeka, KS 66611
1-800-565-3123
Regina Martyrum is a Catholic company which produces theatrical productions on audio tapes in the fashion of old time radio shows - complete with a whole cast (in contrast to books on tape), music and sound effects. Their selection includes stories from the Bible, lives of the Saints, one of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown Mysteries and a dramatization of Longfellow's Evangeline (A Tale of Acadia). Many of their titles are also available from Dumb Ox Press. You can order their tapes online from Catholic Shopper.
This offer is available to anyone interested (not limited to the blind):
The Saint Philomena Foundation (www.saintphilomena.com), has just released a children's audio book called King of the Golden City, on two full-length cassettes. Originally written by a nun and published decades ago, it's an enchanting fable that teaches children about Christ as our King. Order from the site and the cost is only $5.00 (free will donation) or order mail and receive it for free (donations accepted)
The Saint Philomena Foundation
157774 South LaGrange Road
Orland Park, IL 60462
Or online ordering:
https://server9000.net/saintphilomena/online.htm
Other Books on Tape:
Recorded Books, Inc.
270 Skipjack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
1 (800) 638-1304
Unabridged books on audio cassette including many classics. (Probably lots of crummy stuff too - I haven't seen their catalog, but we have a lot of their books on tape at our local libary). They also have a rental-by-mail program.
Correspondence Schools for the Blind:
Hadley School for the Blind http://www.hadley-school.org
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-0299
1 (800) 323-4238
Hadley is a secular correspondence school for the blind. They offer courses in every subject (from basic Math and English, to foreign languages, business and computer classes and other classes that help blind people deal with everyday life). They also offer correspondence programs for parents of blind children to attain a 2nd grade level of Braille literacy. This might be helpful for parents attempting to teach Braille to their children, but I haven't seen the materials myself.
Educational Products for Blind Children:
abc Blocks with "carved-out" lower case letters and corresponding Braille cells and number blocks of a similar nature are available from Michael Olaf.
Miscellaneous Materials for the Blind:
American Foundation for the Blind http://www.afb.org
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
AFB offers a Consumer Products catalog with items such as: talking or Braille watches, Braille games such as Monopoly and Othello (can be played by non-Braille readers as well), Tactile maps, balls with a bell inside them, specially designed kitchen instruments and more.
The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind:
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02172
(617) 924-3490
Braille slates (devices to hold the thick braille paper with openings to punch the braille letters into the device with a "stylus"), Braillers (what amounts to a Braille typewriter), "Drawing Supplies" (special compass, jumbo tracing wheel, freehand drawing stylus, etc.), Braille measuring devices, playing cards and dominoes.
Guide Dogs:
Guide Dogs of America http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org
13445 Glenoaks Boulevard
Sylmar, California 91342
For ages 16 and older, 28 day training program required - lots of details at their website. My sister-in-law highly recommends their program, even over larger and more well-known schools.
It's a great time to let me know about any updates or changes (or additions!) in the comments box...
I have noticed in my educational excursions around the Internet, that there isn't a lot of information (if any) for Catholic parents on educating a blind child at home. Although I have not taught a blind child myself, I have had some experience with the blind through a close relative who is blind and have received additional information and insight from my brother and sister-in-law who are very active in raising guide dogs for the blind. Many years ago my father was involved with the Library of Congress audio tape program for the blind.
Most Catholic homeschool parents have the luxury today of being very picky about their materials and companies they support in their homeschooling endeavors simply because there are so many options. This is not the case with materials for the blind, and so, I am including as many resources as I think will be helpful, even if they carry problematic materials as well. I believe it is much better to pick through materials from a secular correspondence school for the blind than be forced to send your child to a public institution.
If you are just looking into homeschooling a blind child (particularly one who is still young), I would encourage you to think creatively and in terms of looking for materials that are designed to be multisensory. At a young age, encourage them to develop their other senses (listen to music, read stories aloud, play games involving sounds and words, etc.) I have also successfully used the Math-U-See blocks to discuss Math concepts with my blind relative.
Although I have used a slate and stylus to write braille letters and cards (using a simple braille alphabet on a bookmark I was given) I have no experience teaching a child to read Braille. I'm sure this would be a real challenge and that the parents (or perhaps an enthusiastic older sibling or other relative) would have to learn along with their child. I know that some people, particularly those who lost their sight as adults (such as a blind student who graduated from Thomas Aquinas College), never learn Braille, but instead depend on audio tapes. (In the case of the blind student who graduated from Thomas Aquinas College - he was in the first graduating class - fellow students took turns reading the assignments onto audio cassette for him).
Catholic Materials for the Blind
:
As far as I know there is no such thing as a Catholic correspondence program or homeschool program for the blind. The following companies do provide some Catholic educational materials:
Xavier Society for the Blind
154 East 23rd Street
New York, NY 10010
(800) 637-9193 (toll-free)
(212) 473-7800
(212) 473-7801 Fax
Xavier provides Catholic Braille books at no charge (some you may keep, and some you will return later). They also offer some Catholic magazines in Braille. Lots of good material, but not all of their materials are recommended - choose carefully! Catalogs are available in Braille, large print or on audio cassette.
Ignatius Press http://www.ignatius.com
This major Catholic publisher has many materials available on audio tape - particularly in the clearance section of their website.
Regina Martyrum Productions
2941 S. Topeka Avenue #251
Topeka, KS 66611
1-800-565-3123
Regina Martyrum is a Catholic company which produces theatrical productions on audio tapes in the fashion of old time radio shows - complete with a whole cast (in contrast to books on tape), music and sound effects. Their selection includes stories from the Bible, lives of the Saints, one of G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown Mysteries and a dramatization of Longfellow's Evangeline (A Tale of Acadia). Many of their titles are also available from Dumb Ox Press. You can order their tapes online from Catholic Shopper.
This offer is available to anyone interested (not limited to the blind):
The Saint Philomena Foundation (www.saintphilomena.com), has just released a children's audio book called King of the Golden City, on two full-length cassettes. Originally written by a nun and published decades ago, it's an enchanting fable that teaches children about Christ as our King. Order from the site and the cost is only $5.00 (free will donation) or order mail and receive it for free (donations accepted)
The Saint Philomena Foundation
157774 South LaGrange Road
Orland Park, IL 60462
Or online ordering:
https://server9000.net/saintphilomena/online.htm
Other Books on Tape:
Recorded Books, Inc.
270 Skipjack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
1 (800) 638-1304
Unabridged books on audio cassette including many classics. (Probably lots of crummy stuff too - I haven't seen their catalog, but we have a lot of their books on tape at our local libary). They also have a rental-by-mail program.
Correspondence Schools for the Blind:
Hadley School for the Blind http://www.hadley-school.org
700 Elm Street
Winnetka, IL 60093-0299
1 (800) 323-4238
Hadley is a secular correspondence school for the blind. They offer courses in every subject (from basic Math and English, to foreign languages, business and computer classes and other classes that help blind people deal with everyday life). They also offer correspondence programs for parents of blind children to attain a 2nd grade level of Braille literacy. This might be helpful for parents attempting to teach Braille to their children, but I haven't seen the materials myself.
Educational Products for Blind Children:
abc Blocks with "carved-out" lower case letters and corresponding Braille cells and number blocks of a similar nature are available from Michael Olaf.
Miscellaneous Materials for the Blind:
American Foundation for the Blind http://www.afb.org
15 West 16th Street
New York, NY 10011
AFB offers a Consumer Products catalog with items such as: talking or Braille watches, Braille games such as Monopoly and Othello (can be played by non-Braille readers as well), Tactile maps, balls with a bell inside them, specially designed kitchen instruments and more.
The Howe Press of Perkins School for the Blind:
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02172
(617) 924-3490
Braille slates (devices to hold the thick braille paper with openings to punch the braille letters into the device with a "stylus"), Braillers (what amounts to a Braille typewriter), "Drawing Supplies" (special compass, jumbo tracing wheel, freehand drawing stylus, etc.), Braille measuring devices, playing cards and dominoes.
Guide Dogs:
Guide Dogs of America http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org
13445 Glenoaks Boulevard
Sylmar, California 91342
For ages 16 and older, 28 day training program required - lots of details at their website. My sister-in-law highly recommends their program, even over larger and more well-known schools.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"What is Classical" by Mary Daly
The word "classical" has perhaps seven meanings. It is natural for a word to undergo certain kinds of shifts in meaning, each one an extension of the earlier one, but it is important to state exactly which meaning is operative in a particular discussion.
1) Upper class. Classical seems originally to have meant upper class, as opposed to proletarian, which is low class.
2) Greek and Roman. And what do the upper classes do that the proletarians do not? They go to school and are able to study the foundations of Western culture, the writings of the Greeks and Romans. So Classical means the study of Greek and Roman writings, only the best of course (see def 1). And the "Classical languages" are Greek and Latin. Protestant classicists are more likely to study Greek; Catholics, Latin. Families engaged in classical education often teach the Greek and Roman myths at an early age (see below).
3) The foundation and model of Western culture. Having studied the Greeks and Romans, other ancient authors produced wonderful works. Even aside from these, from a Christian perspective, the Bible (though originally Hebrew) and the Church Fathers are classical, not only because these documents come to us in Greek and Latin, but even more because they are the substantial foundation of Western culture. St. Augustine's Confessions is a classic work. And St. Thomas Aquinas himself, at the height of scholasticism, which means the Schools (see definition one) was a Latin writer whose works are foundational in Catholic theology.
3 a) Foundation and model. For that matter, we may consider that there are other cultures. The great Hindu "classic" is the Baghavad Gita. It was originally Sanskrit, and is the foundation of Hinduism. Sanskrit, like Latin, is a language no longer spoken. It is the classical language of India. Similarly, the writings of Confucius are Chinese classics. Cultures without writing cannot have classical authors, of course.
4) Characterized by clarity, reason, balance, harmony, and symmetry; free of overwhelming emotion. The Greek ideal of beauty has nothing wild in it, though in fact there were highly unbalanced, Dionysian elements in Greek culture. Still, any work of art that has these characteristics of reason and harmony may be called classical. Especially when we speak of music, we never mean Greek music. We mean Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart and whoever fits with their measured ideals. We do not mean Wagner, in whose works intensity of feeling is the overwhelms characteristic.
Note: families with a classical curriculum often teach the Greek and Roman myths. Some of these myths are pretty violent and wild. Are they appropriate to small children? They fit definition 2, but not this definition of classical; yet many other classical works refer to them, so that at some point you need the information as a point of reference. Milo Winter's classic presentation (old, back in print; see definitions #5 and #6 below) is fairly charming and may encourage children to think about meanings and values without too much wildness or despair.
5) Old, having withstood the test of time. Of course the foundations of any culture will be old, compared to the general culture. The Greek and Roman writings are old. And it often happens that what is old becomes lost unless somebody thinks it worthwhile, year after year. So classical comes to mean old, and having withstood the test of time. Still, every generation has its share of fools, and this definition of classical may include things that are arguably not very valuable. It is the weakest definition. By this definition, Wagner's work is a musical classic. The I Ching is a very old Chinese work which many people value. It is, however, Gnostic, compared to Confucius. It refers, not to reason and balance, but to unverifiable interiorities with a flavor of snobbery for those who attend to them. Is it a classic? What is your definition? It is old and lots of people have read it and been influenced by it. It doesn't fit definitions #1 to 4.
6) Model, standard. This use of the word classic will appear in clothing catalogs. Certain styles have been accepted so long and so fully that they are the standard by which others are naturally judged. Classic Coke follows this definition. It is the standard against which all other soft drinks are implicitly compared, even 7-Up, the "uncola". Again, Greek and Roman works are the standard of literature - but so is Shakespeare, who has handily survived his contemporaries' criticism that he was uneducated (in the university approach to Greek and Roman classics.) Classical education sometimes refers to an education that is careful to look beyond fads to what has endured.
7) Excellent, the best, of perennial value. What is the use of limiting one's education to what is old? Surely if one is educated, one should be able to recognize what is the best right now, even if it is new. Would you not be ashamed to think you might have lived in the time of Shakespeare and refused to let your students attend the Globe theater merely because it was contemporary? If we have understood the earlier definitions, we will be alert to the modern classics, recognizing or at least trying to recognize what is excellent and what is of lasting value in our culture right now. I would assert that Tolkein is a classic in this sense. Being an English work, less than 60 years on the open market, he cannot fit any of the above definitions except #5, but he is excellent by all the standards that make it worthwhile to study the Greeks, the Romans, and the Bible, long after the (human) authors of those works have died. His work is rich in wisdom and culture, linguistically beautiful, thoughtful. It will outlive everything else on the open market today.
What should be considered by Catholic homeschoolers? I think we should have an eye on the entire progression, which is a natural linguistic development, and on all the materials which are foundational or excellent -- or both -- within the culture which developed from Greece, Rome, and Israel right up to 21st century Catholicism.
April 26, 2001
1) Upper class. Classical seems originally to have meant upper class, as opposed to proletarian, which is low class.
2) Greek and Roman. And what do the upper classes do that the proletarians do not? They go to school and are able to study the foundations of Western culture, the writings of the Greeks and Romans. So Classical means the study of Greek and Roman writings, only the best of course (see def 1). And the "Classical languages" are Greek and Latin. Protestant classicists are more likely to study Greek; Catholics, Latin. Families engaged in classical education often teach the Greek and Roman myths at an early age (see below).
3) The foundation and model of Western culture. Having studied the Greeks and Romans, other ancient authors produced wonderful works. Even aside from these, from a Christian perspective, the Bible (though originally Hebrew) and the Church Fathers are classical, not only because these documents come to us in Greek and Latin, but even more because they are the substantial foundation of Western culture. St. Augustine's Confessions is a classic work. And St. Thomas Aquinas himself, at the height of scholasticism, which means the Schools (see definition one) was a Latin writer whose works are foundational in Catholic theology.
3 a) Foundation and model. For that matter, we may consider that there are other cultures. The great Hindu "classic" is the Baghavad Gita. It was originally Sanskrit, and is the foundation of Hinduism. Sanskrit, like Latin, is a language no longer spoken. It is the classical language of India. Similarly, the writings of Confucius are Chinese classics. Cultures without writing cannot have classical authors, of course.
4) Characterized by clarity, reason, balance, harmony, and symmetry; free of overwhelming emotion. The Greek ideal of beauty has nothing wild in it, though in fact there were highly unbalanced, Dionysian elements in Greek culture. Still, any work of art that has these characteristics of reason and harmony may be called classical. Especially when we speak of music, we never mean Greek music. We mean Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart and whoever fits with their measured ideals. We do not mean Wagner, in whose works intensity of feeling is the overwhelms characteristic.
Note: families with a classical curriculum often teach the Greek and Roman myths. Some of these myths are pretty violent and wild. Are they appropriate to small children? They fit definition 2, but not this definition of classical; yet many other classical works refer to them, so that at some point you need the information as a point of reference. Milo Winter's classic presentation (old, back in print; see definitions #5 and #6 below) is fairly charming and may encourage children to think about meanings and values without too much wildness or despair.
5) Old, having withstood the test of time. Of course the foundations of any culture will be old, compared to the general culture. The Greek and Roman writings are old. And it often happens that what is old becomes lost unless somebody thinks it worthwhile, year after year. So classical comes to mean old, and having withstood the test of time. Still, every generation has its share of fools, and this definition of classical may include things that are arguably not very valuable. It is the weakest definition. By this definition, Wagner's work is a musical classic. The I Ching is a very old Chinese work which many people value. It is, however, Gnostic, compared to Confucius. It refers, not to reason and balance, but to unverifiable interiorities with a flavor of snobbery for those who attend to them. Is it a classic? What is your definition? It is old and lots of people have read it and been influenced by it. It doesn't fit definitions #1 to 4.
6) Model, standard. This use of the word classic will appear in clothing catalogs. Certain styles have been accepted so long and so fully that they are the standard by which others are naturally judged. Classic Coke follows this definition. It is the standard against which all other soft drinks are implicitly compared, even 7-Up, the "uncola". Again, Greek and Roman works are the standard of literature - but so is Shakespeare, who has handily survived his contemporaries' criticism that he was uneducated (in the university approach to Greek and Roman classics.) Classical education sometimes refers to an education that is careful to look beyond fads to what has endured.
7) Excellent, the best, of perennial value. What is the use of limiting one's education to what is old? Surely if one is educated, one should be able to recognize what is the best right now, even if it is new. Would you not be ashamed to think you might have lived in the time of Shakespeare and refused to let your students attend the Globe theater merely because it was contemporary? If we have understood the earlier definitions, we will be alert to the modern classics, recognizing or at least trying to recognize what is excellent and what is of lasting value in our culture right now. I would assert that Tolkein is a classic in this sense. Being an English work, less than 60 years on the open market, he cannot fit any of the above definitions except #5, but he is excellent by all the standards that make it worthwhile to study the Greeks, the Romans, and the Bible, long after the (human) authors of those works have died. His work is rich in wisdom and culture, linguistically beautiful, thoughtful. It will outlive everything else on the open market today.
What should be considered by Catholic homeschoolers? I think we should have an eye on the entire progression, which is a natural linguistic development, and on all the materials which are foundational or excellent -- or both -- within the culture which developed from Greece, Rome, and Israel right up to 21st century Catholicism.
April 26, 2001
High School Summer Programs at Catholic Colleges
High school summer programs at good Catholic colleges can be an excellent experience, especially for homeschooled teens, for several reasons including: motivation to attend college and valuable classroom and group-discussion experience.
Magdalen College gives young people between the ages of 14-18 a two-week experience of living on a Catholic college campus for study, prayer, sports, and recreation. Through the daily activities and close interaction with the counselors, the participants can learn and live the Catholic faith, acquire new skills in music, drama, and sports, and grow in wholesome friendships with others their age. The summer program provides an excellent opportunity for the participants to experience the spirit that animates Magdalen College.
Thomas Aquinas College offers a two-week high school summer program on their beautiful campus in Southern California. It provides an excellent opportunity to get a taste of their Catholic liberal arts program and the seminar style classes. Many summer program participants attend the college after graduation from high school.
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts For thirty-two years the Collegiate Summer Program for High-School Students has introduced participants to the same spirit of liberal arts education that animates the College. Each summer, the college offers two-week sessions that include course in literature, philosophy, the American political tradition, and apologetics. Readings include Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Plato, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis and Guardini.
Note: This is a fairly old list from love2learn (clean-up will be going on for some time), but I did update the links. Please let me know ( in the comment box) of other programs that should be added to the list.
Magdalen College gives young people between the ages of 14-18 a two-week experience of living on a Catholic college campus for study, prayer, sports, and recreation. Through the daily activities and close interaction with the counselors, the participants can learn and live the Catholic faith, acquire new skills in music, drama, and sports, and grow in wholesome friendships with others their age. The summer program provides an excellent opportunity for the participants to experience the spirit that animates Magdalen College.
Thomas Aquinas College offers a two-week high school summer program on their beautiful campus in Southern California. It provides an excellent opportunity to get a taste of their Catholic liberal arts program and the seminar style classes. Many summer program participants attend the college after graduation from high school.
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts For thirty-two years the Collegiate Summer Program for High-School Students has introduced participants to the same spirit of liberal arts education that animates the College. Each summer, the college offers two-week sessions that include course in literature, philosophy, the American political tradition, and apologetics. Readings include Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor, Plato, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Federalist Papers, Thomas Aquinas, C.S. Lewis and Guardini.
Note: This is a fairly old list from love2learn (clean-up will be going on for some time), but I did update the links. Please let me know ( in the comment box) of other programs that should be added to the list.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Catholic Homeschool E-mail Lists (and more)
E-mail lists (also known as listserves or listservs) allow groups of people to discuss particular topics via e-mail. A moderator determines who belongs to the list and has some control over message content. Each member will receive copies of everyone's messages sent to their e-mail address. You may not want to sign up for more than one list at a time as the quantity of mail can sometimes be overwhelming. For information about starting our own e-mail list, visit the YahooGroups website.
I have no control over content or moderation of any of these lists. To the best of my knowledge, each is run by a Catholic homeschooler.
CathSwap. List for buying and selling used curricula and other items related to Catholic homeschooling.
Catholic Charlotte Mason Living books, nature study, narration, etc. from a Catholic perspective.
Catholic Classical Education (CCE) Discussions relating to materials and implementation of Classical education from a Catholic perspective - especially appropriate for those trying to implement ideas Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist, the programs of Kolbe Academy or St. Thomas Aquinas and/or The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy Sayers.
Catholichh Incorporating the liturgical year into daily lives as homeschool families.
College4CathHS Homeschooling high schoolers and handling college admissions.
The History Place. This is a place to discuss teaching and learning history in your Catholic homeschool.
Homeschool Library Connection. Moderator Nancy Brown is the only one to post to this list. Just one email per week, Nancy promotes getting homeschooling books in to public libraries.
Homeschool Widows Catholic operated but (because of the focused nature of the group) membership is open to non-Catholics as well - emphasis on practical side of coping with children and homeschooling as a widowed parent.
Literature Alive! Moderated by Cay Gibson, this is a discussion group for those who love literature and use real books in their homeschools.
Little Saints Discussions relating to teaching Catholic preschoolers at home - especially for those using the "Little Saints" program.
Sonlight Catholic A Catholic support group for homeschoolers using the Protestant, literature-based Sonlight program (members aren't required to be signed up for the entire program, many sign up for one or two subjects) and adjusting and substituting to form a Catholic curriculum. The Sonlight program makes a deliberate attempt to avoid anti-Catholic materials in their program, but there are very few overtly Catholic books included.
The Thrifty Homeschooler. Moderator Maureen Wittmann is the only one to post to this list. Never more than one email per day, the goal is to support homeschooling families who are living on a limited income. Tips, ideas, and support.
Unschooling Catholics "We are a welcoming and supportive discusssion list of Catholic families sharing how unschooling works in different families in different ways. Our goal is to share information, ideas, thoughts and experiences and be a place for resources, inquiry, discussion and support, with charity at the forefront. Some families may be 'pure unschoolers' while others are dipping in and we respect all members as they find what is best for their families and the education and growth of their children. Some primary influences for Catholic Unschooling are Pope JPII, St. John Bosco."
Other Catholic E-mail Lists of Interest:
Pope St. Nicholas V. As featured in This Rock. Moderator Ana Braga-Henebry is the only one to post to this list. Just one email per week, this list's goal is to get great Catholic books into public libraries.
Special Kids Moms. For Catholic moms with special needs children. Many homeschoolers on this list.
Other E-mail Lists of Interest:
Moms Who Blog
Please let me know of additional lists (or information about any defunct lists) in the comments below.
I have no control over content or moderation of any of these lists. To the best of my knowledge, each is run by a Catholic homeschooler.
CathSwap. List for buying and selling used curricula and other items related to Catholic homeschooling.
Catholic Charlotte Mason Living books, nature study, narration, etc. from a Catholic perspective.
Catholic Classical Education (CCE) Discussions relating to materials and implementation of Classical education from a Catholic perspective - especially appropriate for those trying to implement ideas Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum by Laura Berquist, the programs of Kolbe Academy or St. Thomas Aquinas and/or The Lost Tools of Learning by Dorothy Sayers.
Catholichh Incorporating the liturgical year into daily lives as homeschool families.
College4CathHS Homeschooling high schoolers and handling college admissions.
The History Place. This is a place to discuss teaching and learning history in your Catholic homeschool.
Homeschool Library Connection. Moderator Nancy Brown is the only one to post to this list. Just one email per week, Nancy promotes getting homeschooling books in to public libraries.
Homeschool Widows Catholic operated but (because of the focused nature of the group) membership is open to non-Catholics as well - emphasis on practical side of coping with children and homeschooling as a widowed parent.
Literature Alive! Moderated by Cay Gibson, this is a discussion group for those who love literature and use real books in their homeschools.
Little Saints Discussions relating to teaching Catholic preschoolers at home - especially for those using the "Little Saints" program.
Sonlight Catholic A Catholic support group for homeschoolers using the Protestant, literature-based Sonlight program (members aren't required to be signed up for the entire program, many sign up for one or two subjects) and adjusting and substituting to form a Catholic curriculum. The Sonlight program makes a deliberate attempt to avoid anti-Catholic materials in their program, but there are very few overtly Catholic books included.
The Thrifty Homeschooler. Moderator Maureen Wittmann is the only one to post to this list. Never more than one email per day, the goal is to support homeschooling families who are living on a limited income. Tips, ideas, and support.
Unschooling Catholics "We are a welcoming and supportive discusssion list of Catholic families sharing how unschooling works in different families in different ways. Our goal is to share information, ideas, thoughts and experiences and be a place for resources, inquiry, discussion and support, with charity at the forefront. Some families may be 'pure unschoolers' while others are dipping in and we respect all members as they find what is best for their families and the education and growth of their children. Some primary influences for Catholic Unschooling are Pope JPII, St. John Bosco."
Other Catholic E-mail Lists of Interest:
Pope St. Nicholas V. As featured in This Rock. Moderator Ana Braga-Henebry is the only one to post to this list. Just one email per week, this list's goal is to get great Catholic books into public libraries.
Special Kids Moms. For Catholic moms with special needs children. Many homeschoolers on this list.
Other E-mail Lists of Interest:
Moms Who Blog
Please let me know of additional lists (or information about any defunct lists) in the comments below.
Pre-Reading Skills
This is a very old page from love2learn.net for working with preschoolers based on some Montessori ideas. I'm bumping it here for now until I figure out what I can put where when we get our new automated system up and running. It may need some editing too...
When preparing their preschool age children for later reading, parents usually think of teaching them their ABCs. Inadequate development in other areas can make learning to read much more difficult. Rather than starting in on formal school too early, try some of these suggestions to put your children on the right path early on....
1. Learning the Names of Things
Often before a child begins to talk, around the age of 18 months, they are working on mastering the language by recognizing words and associating them with appropriate people, places and things. While most of this learning can take place quite naturally and without much deliberation on the part of the parents, there are some activities which can enhance this learning. These activities will tend to be fun for little ones and they may enjoy having their own special "school time" each day.
Materials:
Any or all of the following three types of materials will be useful for this stage.
a) "small objects" - You can find many useful items around the house or at garage sales for this purpose. It should be fairly easy to collect a key, a button, a nail, a bead, small plastic animals and perhaps some dollhouse furniture. for this purpose.
b) flash cards - simple pictures, preferably photographs without excess background (which can be confusing and distracting) work quite well. The Dorling Kindersley flash cards are especially nice because they are simple photographs with a plain white background. Look for pictures of household items, people, animals, plants, buildings, etc. Magazine pictures attached to index cards (double-sided tape is best because it doesn't wrinkle the picture or the card) and covered with contact paper work quite well too.
c) Picture/Word Books - Books with simple pictures or photos of everyday objects (words a small child is likely to encounter) work quite well too. Some examples include Baby's Book of Animals (Dorling Kindersley), My First Word Book (Dorling Kindersley) and Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever.
Activity: This activity has three parts. There may be many months between the time you start the first part and the time your child is ready to participate in the third part. Part One: Begin by showing the child one picture at a time and saying the name. If they are able, you may encourage them to repeat the name after you. Part Two: Present several pictures to your child which are easy to distinguish from each other. Say the name of each one (if appropriate). Lay the pictures in a row (3 pictures in row is probably ideal, but you can also work with the pictures on a page of a book) and ask the child to point out a particular one - e.g. "Can you point to the cat?" or "Where is the cat?"Part Three: Show the picture to the child and ask them to identify it. (e.g. "What is this?")
Fine-Motor Skills:
The use of the hands for small, delicate tasks, is very important in developing the muscles and coordination necessary for writing. These skills are developing long before a child begins to write. Some activities that are helpful for this development include - drawing and coloring pictures, sorting small objects (such as beads), playing with Legos or building blocks, playing with puzzles (particularly those with small knobs to hold onto), cleaning household things, playing with playdough, etc.
Concentration/Attention Span:
There’s a lot of talk today about the evils of television/videos and computers for children. Most of this focuses on the overt evil present in all too many movies and computer games. It is well and good to avoid these problem areas, but I think it’s also important to consider what effect even GOOD movies, television shows and computer programs can have on our children, particularly when used in excess and at a very early age. Young children, particularly in the first five or six years of life, are busy developing the important little skills (such as concentration and attention span) that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. If they get in the habit of being entertained and educated mostly by very flashy, colorful, exciting shows and computer programs, it may be more difficult for them to concentrate on more "ordinary" tasks and may inhibit the development of their imagination. It might be a good rule of thumb to balance the amount of time spent on things. One way to look at it would be to sort a child’s ordinary activities into several categories such as:
1. Television, Movies, Computer Games, etc.
2. Listening to Stories (read aloud or on audio tape), coloring pictures, singing with or dancing to music tapes, etc.
Wouldn’t it be better if a child spent more time on activities in the second category each day than those in the first category? Television and computers are not NECESSARY parts of learning (particularly in the early years), so I believe it would be better to do without them entirely than to allow them to inhibit a child’s learning by excessive use.
Reading Comprehension:
Children understand words by having lots of experience with them. Reading aloud to your children, on a regular basis, is probably the best thing you can do to prepare them to read. It will help them to develop a love for and an interest in books. This tends to instill a desire to learn how to read. (What a great start this is for the homeschooling years!) Also, having some practice in understanding words, developing their vocabulary and hearing how proper sentences are put together will all make the task of learning to read easier.
"Learning Their Letters":
There’s a common belief that teaching a child the names of the letters of the alphabet is the beginning of teaching them how to read. Actually it is the sounds that the letters make, and not their names, that are the beginning of reading. The names of the letters are useful for talking about letters and putting things in alphabetical order but do not help with actual reading. It’s great to be proud of your two or three year old being able to say their "ABCs", but it might be more useful to help them connect the appropriate sound(s) with each letter before adding the complication of each letter’s name.
Learning About Words:
An important step in the process of learning to read is recognizing that words are made up of sounds. Playing games that involve identifying the first sound in a word will help to master this concept. We use home-made sandpaper letters to learn the sounds of letters in conjunction with writing them. Our children have enjoyed games involving matching small objects with the sandpaper letter corresponding to the first sound of the word. (see photo at top of page)
Nice Materials for Preschool:
The Red Letter Alphabet Book by Ellen C. Gould
1983, Montessori Services, 56 pages, comb-bound
A very nicely, simply illustrated book that makes the Montessori idea of tracing large textured letters (after the fashion of the classic sandpaper letters) affordable and simplified for home use.The purpose of tracing letters that a child can feel is to encourage fine motor skills in preparation for writing and introduce letters in a multi-sensory way (which more thoroughly involves the child in the learning process and is especially helpful for children with learning disabilities - most obviously for those without the use of one of their senses). This concept (of multi-sensory learning) is highly recommended by Maria Montessori, Romalda Spalding (author of the Writing Road to Reading) and many other fine educators.The large letter on each 2-page spread has a soft red felt-like flocking which is probably more enjoyable for young fingers than the scratchy sandpaper alternatives (such as our old rough home-made ones). The facing page has three classic black-and-white illustrations with a word describing the picture (with the featured letter printed in red). For example, the "k" page has the words basket, king and sink (with corresponding illustrations) with each occurrence of the letter "k" printed in red. The back of the book contains suggestions for how to use the book.
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (4-18-01)
Available from Montessori Services
When preparing their preschool age children for later reading, parents usually think of teaching them their ABCs. Inadequate development in other areas can make learning to read much more difficult. Rather than starting in on formal school too early, try some of these suggestions to put your children on the right path early on....
1. Learning the Names of Things
Often before a child begins to talk, around the age of 18 months, they are working on mastering the language by recognizing words and associating them with appropriate people, places and things. While most of this learning can take place quite naturally and without much deliberation on the part of the parents, there are some activities which can enhance this learning. These activities will tend to be fun for little ones and they may enjoy having their own special "school time" each day.
Materials:
Any or all of the following three types of materials will be useful for this stage.
a) "small objects" - You can find many useful items around the house or at garage sales for this purpose. It should be fairly easy to collect a key, a button, a nail, a bead, small plastic animals and perhaps some dollhouse furniture. for this purpose.
b) flash cards - simple pictures, preferably photographs without excess background (which can be confusing and distracting) work quite well. The Dorling Kindersley flash cards are especially nice because they are simple photographs with a plain white background. Look for pictures of household items, people, animals, plants, buildings, etc. Magazine pictures attached to index cards (double-sided tape is best because it doesn't wrinkle the picture or the card) and covered with contact paper work quite well too.
c) Picture/Word Books - Books with simple pictures or photos of everyday objects (words a small child is likely to encounter) work quite well too. Some examples include Baby's Book of Animals (Dorling Kindersley), My First Word Book (Dorling Kindersley) and Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever.
Activity: This activity has three parts. There may be many months between the time you start the first part and the time your child is ready to participate in the third part. Part One: Begin by showing the child one picture at a time and saying the name. If they are able, you may encourage them to repeat the name after you. Part Two: Present several pictures to your child which are easy to distinguish from each other. Say the name of each one (if appropriate). Lay the pictures in a row (3 pictures in row is probably ideal, but you can also work with the pictures on a page of a book) and ask the child to point out a particular one - e.g. "Can you point to the cat?" or "Where is the cat?"Part Three: Show the picture to the child and ask them to identify it. (e.g. "What is this?")
Fine-Motor Skills:
The use of the hands for small, delicate tasks, is very important in developing the muscles and coordination necessary for writing. These skills are developing long before a child begins to write. Some activities that are helpful for this development include - drawing and coloring pictures, sorting small objects (such as beads), playing with Legos or building blocks, playing with puzzles (particularly those with small knobs to hold onto), cleaning household things, playing with playdough, etc.
Concentration/Attention Span:
There’s a lot of talk today about the evils of television/videos and computers for children. Most of this focuses on the overt evil present in all too many movies and computer games. It is well and good to avoid these problem areas, but I think it’s also important to consider what effect even GOOD movies, television shows and computer programs can have on our children, particularly when used in excess and at a very early age. Young children, particularly in the first five or six years of life, are busy developing the important little skills (such as concentration and attention span) that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. If they get in the habit of being entertained and educated mostly by very flashy, colorful, exciting shows and computer programs, it may be more difficult for them to concentrate on more "ordinary" tasks and may inhibit the development of their imagination. It might be a good rule of thumb to balance the amount of time spent on things. One way to look at it would be to sort a child’s ordinary activities into several categories such as:
1. Television, Movies, Computer Games, etc.
2. Listening to Stories (read aloud or on audio tape), coloring pictures, singing with or dancing to music tapes, etc.
Wouldn’t it be better if a child spent more time on activities in the second category each day than those in the first category? Television and computers are not NECESSARY parts of learning (particularly in the early years), so I believe it would be better to do without them entirely than to allow them to inhibit a child’s learning by excessive use.
Reading Comprehension:
Children understand words by having lots of experience with them. Reading aloud to your children, on a regular basis, is probably the best thing you can do to prepare them to read. It will help them to develop a love for and an interest in books. This tends to instill a desire to learn how to read. (What a great start this is for the homeschooling years!) Also, having some practice in understanding words, developing their vocabulary and hearing how proper sentences are put together will all make the task of learning to read easier.
"Learning Their Letters":
There’s a common belief that teaching a child the names of the letters of the alphabet is the beginning of teaching them how to read. Actually it is the sounds that the letters make, and not their names, that are the beginning of reading. The names of the letters are useful for talking about letters and putting things in alphabetical order but do not help with actual reading. It’s great to be proud of your two or three year old being able to say their "ABCs", but it might be more useful to help them connect the appropriate sound(s) with each letter before adding the complication of each letter’s name.
Learning About Words:
An important step in the process of learning to read is recognizing that words are made up of sounds. Playing games that involve identifying the first sound in a word will help to master this concept. We use home-made sandpaper letters to learn the sounds of letters in conjunction with writing them. Our children have enjoyed games involving matching small objects with the sandpaper letter corresponding to the first sound of the word. (see photo at top of page)
Nice Materials for Preschool:
The Red Letter Alphabet Book by Ellen C. Gould
1983, Montessori Services, 56 pages, comb-bound
A very nicely, simply illustrated book that makes the Montessori idea of tracing large textured letters (after the fashion of the classic sandpaper letters) affordable and simplified for home use.The purpose of tracing letters that a child can feel is to encourage fine motor skills in preparation for writing and introduce letters in a multi-sensory way (which more thoroughly involves the child in the learning process and is especially helpful for children with learning disabilities - most obviously for those without the use of one of their senses). This concept (of multi-sensory learning) is highly recommended by Maria Montessori, Romalda Spalding (author of the Writing Road to Reading) and many other fine educators.The large letter on each 2-page spread has a soft red felt-like flocking which is probably more enjoyable for young fingers than the scratchy sandpaper alternatives (such as our old rough home-made ones). The facing page has three classic black-and-white illustrations with a word describing the picture (with the featured letter printed in red). For example, the "k" page has the words basket, king and sink (with corresponding illustrations) with each occurrence of the letter "k" printed in red. The back of the book contains suggestions for how to use the book.
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (4-18-01)
Available from Montessori Services
Monday, May 21, 2007
Review: Blood Red Crescent
The Blood Red Crescent by Henry Garnett1960, Lepanto Press, 188 pages, Hardcover
The year is 1570. The Turkish Ottoman Empire has wrested control of the Mediterranean Seas, instilling fear in all who wish to sail there. They have been raiding the coastal towns of Italy, France and Spain, plundering and burning, and kidnapping Christians as slaves. On top of this, the Sultan has been rapidly increasing his fleet of galleys and Corsair pirates have been massacring more and more Christians or kidnapping them as slaves. With this heightened fear of invasion, the Pope issues a plea to form a Holy League (in the book it is called a Catholic League) to unite forces against the impending threat of Turkish forces.
But it is one thing to issue a plea for action and another to carry it out. The Holy League needs ships and men. Who can the Pope count on? Who will lead these forces? Christian Europe is feeling the ill effects of the Reformation and heresies. This takes Germany, France, and England out of the picture. In the end, Spain, Venice, Genoa, the Papal States, and others form a fleet. Here too petty jealousies, intemperance, and hot tempers cause dissension among the men from the various rival countries and republics. How can the Christians ever present a united front when they cannot even get along with one another? Only a miracle through prayer can bring about a victory.
As raids along the coast increase, the people of Venice fear the Turks will invade soon. Incensed at the cruelty of the Turks, Guido dreams of becoming a sailor someday and proving his bravery. His father, on the other hand, wishes to see him safe in a monastery far away and sends him there to learn his Latin. How can Guido change his father’s mind?
But, before Guido can even think of going into battle, he must first learn to use a crossbow and practice the skills he needs to defend himself. At the same time, Guido learns that heroics in battle are not enough. He needs to also learn to place his trust in God. His genuine devotion to the Blessed Mother at crucial points throughout the story is a helpful reminder to boys that praying to the Blessed Mother is not just something that pious, old women do.
The Blood Red Crescent is a fast-paced, swashbuckling drama of the battle of Lepanto that does not shy away from painting a realistic picture of the gruesome and tawdry aspects of war while at the same time highlighting the heroic moments of gallantry and chivalry.
While the story is accurately depicted and places an emphasis on the importance of prayer, confession and the mass, it does miss the important reference to the Pope calling on everyone to pray the rosary for victory. From the outset of forming the League, the Pope urged the faithful to pray and fast and especially pray the Rosary. In fact, “Each Christian in the League’s fleet had been given a rosary before the fleet sailed from Messina” (Chesterton, Lepanto, ed. Dale Ahlquist, Ignatius, 56). Initially the battle of Lepanto would be commemorated with the title of Our Lady of Victory in thanksgiving for God’s mercy in winning the battle, but later the feast was changed to Our Lady of the Rosary.
There is one glaring inconsistency in the book. At the very end of the book, one of the English characters talks about joining the ship of Francis Drake. You may want to discuss the fact that Francis Drake was a pirate and actually did not uphold the same values as the character who wishes to join his ship. This does not detract from the overall merit of the story.
If you would like to read more about the Battle of Lepanto, G. K. Chesterton has written the epic poem, Lepanto. The edition published by Ignatius includes commentaries, explanatory notes, and more.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Yank (5/21/07)
Available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts and Emmanuel Books.
Review: The Rosary is Alive
The Rosary is Alive by Vincent J. Baratta, M.D., AAFP2000, The-Rosary-is-Alive, 60 pages, softcover
ISBN: 0971631549
Also available in Large Print and Spanish Large Print editions.
The premise of this simple volume revolves around the Rosary and only around the Rosary. Designed to be used during prayer, it provides for a very directed praying experience. Introductory pages explain how to use the book and how to pray the Rosary, and final pages offer references and extras such the story of the Rosary. Each double page displays one mystery, with written reflections and five illustrations. I found it interesting to find a clever mirror image sketch of Swiss painter Antonio Ciseri's famous Ecce Homo painting among the Sorrowful mysteries! Two or three oval pictures of Rosary beads are displayed under each illustration, with the letters OF for Our Father or HM for Hail Mary.
The Rosary is Alive may be very helpful for little hands learning to focus on the prayer and reflection of the Rosary mysteries. When praying the Rosary as a family, I noticed that our 6th grader enjoyed following along with this book.
Caveats: the illustrations are of vital important to this volume, since they make up the bulk of its content. Although obviously done by a talented artist, the lack of detail in the illustrations is many times distracting. Also, one wishes one neutral font would have been used throughout the book.
Companion volume:
A Study Book for Catechists and Religion Educators by Dr. Vincent J. Baratta
2005, The-Rosary-is-Alive, 69 pages, softcover
ISBN: 0971631557
As the subtitle on the cover states, the Rosary can be used to teach the Catholic Faith. This companion book to the Rosary is Alive Illustrated Book follows a simple question-and-answer format, covering each mystery of the Rosary in order. Beginning consistently with a question on the application of the study of each mystery to our daily living, each of the 20 mysteries offers 2 or 3 pages of questions and answers revolving around just about any subject related to the Catholic faith one can think of. A helpful three-page index is added at the end.
I believe this book could be used in the Catholic homeschool as a spine for a Unit Study on the Rosary. The questions cover a wide gamut of subjects related to the Rosary and will certainly yield good discussion and learning.
Reviewed by Ana Braga-Henebry, M. A.
Available from The-Rosary-is-Alive
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Review: Where Valor Lies
Where Valor Lies by Adele and Cateau De Leeuw
1959, Lepanto Press, 186 pages, Hardcover
For young Richard, life as a poor Parisian apprentice seems rather grim compared to the glamour of going on a crusade with good King Louis IX. After he hears the impassioned words of a friar preaching in a town square, Richard abandons his unhappy apprenticeship and enthusiastically joins up with King Louis’ Crusade. Little does he realize what he is getting himself into. But, before he runs away to join up, he “instinctively” enters the great cathedral of Notre Dame to pray about his future and a problem that is weighing him down.
How many young men in today’s modern fiction would go inside a church to pray when they feel pressed down by the burdens of the world and in need of consolation and help? Throughout the book there are several glimmers of Richard’s Catholic faith. There are also moments too when he struggles with his conscience. Stealing would make life so much easier, profitable, and comfortable, especially when they are all starving. But would it really? What if he were caught? What about his conscience? What would saintly King Louis think of him?
In Where Valor Lies, we follow the escapades of young Richard and his comrades on the Sixth Crusade with King Louis IX. King Louis IX sets the example of goodness and kindness to those around him, but life is not easy as they face one after another misfortune, including near starvation, devastating plagues, and the threat and immobilizing fear of a brutal enemy. There are moments of exhilarating victory in battle as well. As Richard matures, the heroism of those around him inspires Richard on to greater sanctity. Surprisingly, it is not just in the moments of victory, but also in the moments of defeat when he learns life’s greatest lessons of truth and goodness.
Where Valor Lies includes a colorful cast of characters including Aimar, a father like figure who watches over him, Pierre a dear and close friend, Friar Bernard, whose example of unfailing help to those in need inspires those around him, and the rascal Vincent, an enigma whose generosity ultimately triumphs over his greed.
Where Valor Lies opens with a whirlwind of activity and does not stop until the last page, keeping the reader’s attention riveted throughout. It is a story of personal growth as much as it is an adventure story of an impetuous young man on a quest for great fortune and glory during the Sixth Crusade. What is a man’s true valor? In the end, Richard finds out it is not great victories in battles, but the moral victory over oneself.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Yank (5/15/07)
Available from All Catholic Books
For young Richard, life as a poor Parisian apprentice seems rather grim compared to the glamour of going on a crusade with good King Louis IX. After he hears the impassioned words of a friar preaching in a town square, Richard abandons his unhappy apprenticeship and enthusiastically joins up with King Louis’ Crusade. Little does he realize what he is getting himself into. But, before he runs away to join up, he “instinctively” enters the great cathedral of Notre Dame to pray about his future and a problem that is weighing him down.
How many young men in today’s modern fiction would go inside a church to pray when they feel pressed down by the burdens of the world and in need of consolation and help? Throughout the book there are several glimmers of Richard’s Catholic faith. There are also moments too when he struggles with his conscience. Stealing would make life so much easier, profitable, and comfortable, especially when they are all starving. But would it really? What if he were caught? What about his conscience? What would saintly King Louis think of him?
In Where Valor Lies, we follow the escapades of young Richard and his comrades on the Sixth Crusade with King Louis IX. King Louis IX sets the example of goodness and kindness to those around him, but life is not easy as they face one after another misfortune, including near starvation, devastating plagues, and the threat and immobilizing fear of a brutal enemy. There are moments of exhilarating victory in battle as well. As Richard matures, the heroism of those around him inspires Richard on to greater sanctity. Surprisingly, it is not just in the moments of victory, but also in the moments of defeat when he learns life’s greatest lessons of truth and goodness.
Where Valor Lies includes a colorful cast of characters including Aimar, a father like figure who watches over him, Pierre a dear and close friend, Friar Bernard, whose example of unfailing help to those in need inspires those around him, and the rascal Vincent, an enigma whose generosity ultimately triumphs over his greed.
Where Valor Lies opens with a whirlwind of activity and does not stop until the last page, keeping the reader’s attention riveted throughout. It is a story of personal growth as much as it is an adventure story of an impetuous young man on a quest for great fortune and glory during the Sixth Crusade. What is a man’s true valor? In the end, Richard finds out it is not great victories in battles, but the moral victory over oneself.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Yank (5/15/07)
Available from All Catholic Books
Review: No Price Too High
No Price Too High and A Dinner with Alex Jones with Alex Jones2001, St. Joseph Communications, DVD 2 hours, 20 minutes
Alex Jones is a former Pentecostal preacher who converted to the Catholic faith, along with his family and his congregation, in 2001. This presentation is a talk he gave a few months before he was formally received into the Church, in which he first publicly told the story of his conversion. It was his study of the Early Church Fathers, in particular, that brought him into the Church. It is followed by a dinner table conversation, including questions from guests - both Catholic and Protestant. Hosted by Steve Ray.
Alex is a powerful and moving (and often funny!) speaker and it's exciting and inspiring to see this larger-than-life character on fire for the Faith. The flip side is that converting to the Faith cost him a great deal - especially among his friends and colleagues. This is a powerful witness, particularly for us cradle Catholics who might have a tendency to take the Faith for granted at times.
My older children (ages 12 and 14) and I really enjoyed his talk. Conversion stories are so exciting and hopeful - a great place to see the hand of God at work in our world today.
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (5-15-07)
Available from Nineveh's Crossing
Monday, May 14, 2007
Review: Come to Jesus!
Come to Jesus! A Kid’s Book for Eucharistic Adoration
by Anne Flanagan, FSP
2006, Pauline Books and Media, 48 pages, softcover
Cultivating a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic Adoration is an excellent way to keep children Catholic. Those who love Jesus in the Sacrament are less likely to leave Him and will have a lifelong joy in His presence. But, from my own experience taking my children to Adoration, it does take planning and preparation. What is a young child to think, say, and do while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a whole hour? This book gives some practical suggestions in the form of planned outlines for three different Adoration hours.
Each of the 3 outlines has a theme for meditation: We Adore Jesus Who Promises Living Water; We Adore Jesus with His First Followers; We Adore Jesus Who Give Us What is Good. Each outline is divided into 3 parts: Jesus the Way, Jesus the Truth, and Jesus the Life. The hour begins with an opening prayer. In the section “Jesus the Way” there is a scripture reading followed by a quiet time. In “Jesus the Truth,” there is a prayer of repentance and another quiet time. In “Jesus the Life,” there is a litany of praise and prayers of intercession followed by quiet time. Near the end the children are instructed to pray a prayer of spiritual communion.
Intended for groups, this could be adapted for use by a family. The instructions to speak out loud while the children are in quiet time could be modified so as not to be so intrusive. Also, in the “Practical Recommendations for Using this Book with Groups” section at the back of the book, there are explanations of some gestures that the children could use that may not be those in accepted use by individual families, for example, raising hands during intercessory prayer. But the suggestions for a method to move through a holy hour could help a family who wants to start this devotion, but doesn’t know where to begin. It also might be useful for homeschool cooperative groups who want to make a holy hour. For some families, there may not be enough for a whole hour with each outline. We like to add praying the Rosary to our Adoration time. And each child brings his own devotional reading material.
Other resources for encouraging Eucharistic devotion in children include the following: the website of Father Antoine and his book Praying in the Presence of the Lord for Children; the book Eucharistic Texts and Prayers throughout Church History by Daniel Guernsey; Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book by Katherine Sotnik; I THE LORD AM WITH YOU ALWAYS: Prayers and Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration, Compiled by Christine McCarthy; and the Real Presence website.
by Anne Flanagan, FSP
2006, Pauline Books and Media, 48 pages, softcover
Cultivating a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament through Eucharistic Adoration is an excellent way to keep children Catholic. Those who love Jesus in the Sacrament are less likely to leave Him and will have a lifelong joy in His presence. But, from my own experience taking my children to Adoration, it does take planning and preparation. What is a young child to think, say, and do while sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament for a whole hour? This book gives some practical suggestions in the form of planned outlines for three different Adoration hours.
Each of the 3 outlines has a theme for meditation: We Adore Jesus Who Promises Living Water; We Adore Jesus with His First Followers; We Adore Jesus Who Give Us What is Good. Each outline is divided into 3 parts: Jesus the Way, Jesus the Truth, and Jesus the Life. The hour begins with an opening prayer. In the section “Jesus the Way” there is a scripture reading followed by a quiet time. In “Jesus the Truth,” there is a prayer of repentance and another quiet time. In “Jesus the Life,” there is a litany of praise and prayers of intercession followed by quiet time. Near the end the children are instructed to pray a prayer of spiritual communion.
Intended for groups, this could be adapted for use by a family. The instructions to speak out loud while the children are in quiet time could be modified so as not to be so intrusive. Also, in the “Practical Recommendations for Using this Book with Groups” section at the back of the book, there are explanations of some gestures that the children could use that may not be those in accepted use by individual families, for example, raising hands during intercessory prayer. But the suggestions for a method to move through a holy hour could help a family who wants to start this devotion, but doesn’t know where to begin. It also might be useful for homeschool cooperative groups who want to make a holy hour. For some families, there may not be enough for a whole hour with each outline. We like to add praying the Rosary to our Adoration time. And each child brings his own devotional reading material.
Other resources for encouraging Eucharistic devotion in children include the following: the website of Father Antoine and his book Praying in the Presence of the Lord for Children; the book Eucharistic Texts and Prayers throughout Church History by Daniel Guernsey; Eucharistic Adoration Coloring Book by Katherine Sotnik; I THE LORD AM WITH YOU ALWAYS: Prayers and Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration, Compiled by Christine McCarthy; and the Real Presence website.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Review: The Blue Gonfalon
The Blue Gonfalon by Margaret Ann Hubbard1960, Lepanto Press, 187 pages, hardcover
Bennet’s life dream is to become a knight. Not one to sit idly by, he does everything in his power to physically train for such a high position in the hopes of at least becoming a squire someday. But how can his dream ever become a reality when he is just the son of a lowly armorer of the great Lord Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine.
Life, however, takes a sudden turn of events when Peter the Hermit, riding through the region, sets everyone on fire with his preaching to save the holy city of Jerusalem from the hands of the infidels.
Not long after, Pope Urban convenes a meeting with bishops, archbishops, and cardinals to prepare the way for the first crusade. The result is Pope Urban’s challenge to every man, woman, and child to save Jerusalem under the sign of the “blood-red” cross—a crusade. With Pope Urban’s famous words, “God wills it,” the whole of Western Europe is set in motion in a new direction to conquer Jerusalem.
Suddenly, castle life becomes mundane and boring and the idea of traveling to a distant city, and not any city -but the holy city of Jerusalem, where our Lord preached - an exciting and grand adventure. Life has a new purpose with a noble cause worth fighting for.
Lord Godfrey, however, hesitates. Should he go too? At long last, Lord Godfrey reaches a decision that he too will join the crusade, and to Bennet’s great joy, he is asked to be a squire. After many preparations, the long and arduous journey begins across Europe on to the holy land with the blue gonfalon, Lord Godfrey’s standard, leading the way.
There is plenty of tension, uncertainty, and excitement along the way as not everyone is as enthusiastic and supportive of the cause as they are and they have many battles to overcome before they reach the holy city of Jerusalem. Will Bennet reach his dream of becoming a knight someday?
The Blue Gonfalon is a tale of high romance, not the kind of story of boy meets girl, but a true “romance” of a “narrative depicting heroic or marvelous deeds, pageantry . . .”
Those who know and love history will appreciate Hubbard’s accuracy in presenting a fair and balanced account of the characters and events surrounding the First Crusade (1095 AD). In other words, not everyone has the highest motives for going and those who do go are not suddenly changed into angelic beings, but are still fully human and limited by their human frailties. Bennet, however, as well as Lord Godfrey, always strives to do the right thing.
Hubbard’s flowing narrative holds together a complicated tale of true events, heroic deeds, perilous dangers, and adventurous exploits.
Bennet’s life dream is to become a knight. Not one to sit idly by, he does everything in his power to physically train for such a high position in the hopes of at least becoming a squire someday. But how can his dream ever become a reality when he is just the son of a lowly armorer of the great Lord Godfrey of Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine.
Life, however, takes a sudden turn of events when Peter the Hermit, riding through the region, sets everyone on fire with his preaching to save the holy city of Jerusalem from the hands of the infidels.
Not long after, Pope Urban convenes a meeting with bishops, archbishops, and cardinals to prepare the way for the first crusade. The result is Pope Urban’s challenge to every man, woman, and child to save Jerusalem under the sign of the “blood-red” cross—a crusade. With Pope Urban’s famous words, “God wills it,” the whole of Western Europe is set in motion in a new direction to conquer Jerusalem.
Suddenly, castle life becomes mundane and boring and the idea of traveling to a distant city, and not any city -but the holy city of Jerusalem, where our Lord preached - an exciting and grand adventure. Life has a new purpose with a noble cause worth fighting for.
Lord Godfrey, however, hesitates. Should he go too? At long last, Lord Godfrey reaches a decision that he too will join the crusade, and to Bennet’s great joy, he is asked to be a squire. After many preparations, the long and arduous journey begins across Europe on to the holy land with the blue gonfalon, Lord Godfrey’s standard, leading the way.
There is plenty of tension, uncertainty, and excitement along the way as not everyone is as enthusiastic and supportive of the cause as they are and they have many battles to overcome before they reach the holy city of Jerusalem. Will Bennet reach his dream of becoming a knight someday?
The Blue Gonfalon is a tale of high romance, not the kind of story of boy meets girl, but a true “romance” of a “narrative depicting heroic or marvelous deeds, pageantry . . .”
Those who know and love history will appreciate Hubbard’s accuracy in presenting a fair and balanced account of the characters and events surrounding the First Crusade (1095 AD). In other words, not everyone has the highest motives for going and those who do go are not suddenly changed into angelic beings, but are still fully human and limited by their human frailties. Bennet, however, as well as Lord Godfrey, always strives to do the right thing.
Hubbard’s flowing narrative holds together a complicated tale of true events, heroic deeds, perilous dangers, and adventurous exploits.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Yank (5/13/07)
Available from Emmanuel Books, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, and Adoremus Books
Available from Emmanuel Books, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, and Adoremus Books
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education - Academic Retreat for Teachers
- Discuss the profound and practical reflections of great thinkers on education
- Learn with like-minded colleagues in an atmosphere of reflection and devotion
- Return to your classroom with a renewed joy in learning and practical suggestions to share with your academic community
Monday: Christopher Dawson and the History of Western Education
Tuesday: Sr. Miriam Joseph and The Trivium
Wednesday: Euclid, Descartes and the Quadrivium
Thursday: Newton, Democritus and Science
Friday: “Wisdom” Subjects: Literature with Newman, History with Dawson, Theology with JP II
Plus: Seminars on Sophocles and Shakespeare, Lectures on Poetry and Music
Read more here
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Review: Why Be Catholic?
Why Be Catholic? by Dr. Ray Guarendi2006, Nineveh's Crossing, 90 minute DVD plus 2 audio CDs, Catholic
Many people are familiar with Dr. Ray Guarendi - psychologist, father of 10 and expert on family discipline. You may not know that he has a number of apologetics materials available as well.
Dr. Ray, a revert to the Catholic Church after 10 years in Protestantism, explains, in an engaging and often humorous way, the big things that brought him back. There is a particular emphasis on the need for a religious "system" to be logically and morally consistent. He touches on the Early Church, the Eucharist, Contraception, the problem with personal interpretations of Scripture and much more.
This talk was filmed at a men's conference and might be particularly nice for busy homeschool dads who often don't have time to keep up with the spiritual reading and study that goes on at home during the day. Our entire family enjoyed this talk and I'm sure we'll return to it many times.
Watch a sample portion here
Also, there's a free study guide available online.
The DVD also includes his classic talk (half-hour in length) "Catholic Dads Aren't Wimps" - an insightful look at the importance of discipline within the family and some very practical tips for making this happen. This is an abbreviated version of his 95 minute "comedy stand-up routine on parenting" titled "You're a Better Parent Than You think" (also produced by Nineveh's Crossing).
Two audio CDs are included in this package - one for each of the talks (great for taking in the car).
Reviewed by Alicia Van Hecke (5-1-07)
Available from Ignatius Press or Nineveh's Crossing
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