LOVE2LEARN BLOG

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2012-01-24T08:38:00.003-06:00

Irena's Jars of Secrets by Marcia Vaughan, illustrated by Ron Mazellan, 2011 Lee& Low Books.

I first heard about Irena Sendler from my sister Marta, but the film starring Anna Paquin is still to become available on Netflix. Then I picked up a children's book about her, and now here is another one. It is beautiful, and the courageous story is beautifully told and illustrated. Irena, singlehandedly, and courageously, saved the life of hundreds of Jewish children in Poland during WWII. You can read a little about her here.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2012-01-13T15:04:00.002-06:00

The Fabulous Flying Machines of Alberto Santos-Dumont by Victoria Griffith, illustrated by Eva Montanari, 2011 Abram Books for Young Readers.

I couldn't believe my eyes when I found this title as I perused the new non-fiction books at Main Library last night. I have mentioned Alberto Santos-Dumont before on my blog.

If you read this book to your children, or to yourself, skip to author's note right away: there you will understand how the story of the "Father of Flight", as Santos-Dumont is known in Europe and South America, is finally being told to the American children. The familiar anecdote the author tells is so very much the same as our own family anecdote! In our case it is this Brazilian wife, not the husband (in the book's case it was the author's husband) that has exclaimed, again and again, about how wrong Americans are to think the Wright Brothers--of whom I had never heard growing up in Brazil--who take that claim. No! It was Alberto Santos-Dumont, a clever, inventive and fashionable Brazilian living in Paris, who was the first one to build, and take off, and fly, and land, in an aeroplane!! Why, any child in South American knows that! (The Wrights brothers, I tell my kids, didn't take off--their aeroplane was thrown down a cliff! To what my engineer-minded son retorts, "No, Mom, he was pushed down a ramp". Same thing). I have looked for anything printed for kids in the USA about him and have come up empty handed every time! We have visited his museum in Petropolis, Brazil, as the author surely has, and believe me, it wasn't only the airplane he invented! Kudos to Victoria Griffith for writing this wonderful book and may Santos-Dumont enter the American milieu full-force!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-12-08T07:56:00.001-06:00

Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature, by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Beth Krommes,Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011.

A nice find at the library! I love picture books that bring forth mathematics concepts to children in beautiful ways. This is a very nice picture book for young readers that explore the concept of spirals present in the natural world. Wonderfully illustrated, and written in simple, poetic language. On the two last pages the author offers more information on the subject and explains the basic mathematics behind each one. This will be very useful for an elementary school child who will be attracted by the book and want to know a little more.

Great news from Catholic Digest

2011-11-29T14:01:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Danielle Bean! I am planning on showing my enthusiasm for this great news by subscribing. :)

PRESS RELEASE FROM BAYARD, INC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Bayard, Inc. Announces Catholic Digest Re-launch

NEW LONDON, CT (November 29, 2011) - Bayard, Inc. announces a new direction for its landmark publication, Catholic Digest. With the March 2012 issue, Catholic Digest will relaunch with an updated format and a fresh focus, under the direction of new editor-in-chief, Danielle Bean.

Bean, an award-winning author, blogger, and editor of Faith & Family, brings a new voice and an updated look to the publication. “I am thrilled about the new direction we are taking with Catholic Digest and can’t wait to share it with our readers,” said Bean.

Bret D. Thomas, president and CEO of Bayard, Inc., said, “As our new editor-in-chief, Danielle is committed to making the all-new Catholic Digest inspiring, relevant, faithful, and fun. With the relaunch, Catholic Digest will publish in a larger size, with a fresh look and a contemporary focus.”

With this change, Dan Connors, former editor-in-chief of Catholic Digest, will take a larger role in editing Living with Christ, for which he has served as editorial director. He also remains editorial director for Bayard, Inc., including Catholic Digest and continues his work with the book division of Twenty-Third Publications, a division of Bayard Inc.

Visit us at catholicdigest.com.

Love2learn Festival

2011-11-23T13:59:00.001-06:00

Because of the death of the Google Reader sidebar widget, our Love2learn Festival has been inactive for several weeks. Thanks to the wonders of del.icio.us, we are up and running once again. You can find the Love2learn Festival (a collection of articles, posts, etc. of interest to Catholic homeschoolers) in the right-hand sidebar of this Love2learn Blog and the sidebar of the Love2learn.net site or you can follow the festival via the RSS feed at the following link: http://feeds.delicious.com/v2/rss/alivanmom/festival

Love2learn.net also has a brand new page up on Google+. Please follow us there for regular updates!

Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving!

Schiller Math: Kit 1 for 4-8 Year Olds

2011-11-22T13:36:00.001-06:00

This is an impressive, complete, scripted, Montessori-based Math program. Though it's not 100% purist Montessori (for example, some of the manipulatives will provide changes in color and shape at the same time, where Montessori was very fussy about only working with one attribute at a time), I think it does a really nice job of incorporating her most critical ideas. I think it's a perfect fit for those who want to start with something really well-organized (such as those who appreciate Saxon's completeness), but wish to aim for a more holistic approach or are working with a child that might be struggling with learning challenges or unconventional learning styles. I was particularly impressed with how the materials helps the parent determine how much the child will need to work in each area. Note: The scripted lines are included in the workbooks.

The books are workbook in format, but carefully make use of (and include explanations of) the Montessori philosophy throughout.

The kit includes workbooks, answer guides and manipulatives for grades K-4. The manipulatives are quite nice for "inexpensive" products (in comparison with those you can purchase for starting up a Montessori school). The bulk of the expense of the kit is for the books. Some of the manipulatives are inexpensive and readily available at teacher supply stores, where others are custom made for Schiller, like the "numbers bank", a lovely set of numbers in a wooden box (with sliding lid) that helps teach place value (my kids have really enjoyed using this!).

Scripted programs are not for everyone. They tell you exactly what to say at each point, which are helpful for some parents and annoying to others.

The best way to more thoroughly understand the program offered here is to visit their website where you can view pdfs of all the materials included, sample pages and more: SchillerMath.com
While this particular kit is intended for grades K-3, Schiller also has Math materials available for grades 4-7.

The K-3 kit is quite expensive (about $500), but includes a large box of books and materials (including a CD of math songs to accompany the program), plus 5 years of free downloads of consumables - to cover younger siblings. Keep an eye on their website for discounts and sales which seem to come up frequently.

Maureen's Picture Book of the Week?

2011-11-19T10:19:00.005-06:00

I know this is Ana's territory but I don't think she'll mind if I pop in here to give a recommendation.

Chickens to the Rescue, by John Himmelman [Henry Holt and Company]

This is just a plain fun book. I mean, come on, when aren't crazy chickens fun?

Chickens to the Rescue is for the very young and the very young at heart. The illustrations are colorful and will most certainly make you smile.

I won't give away the intricate plot (that's a little picture book sarcasm) other than to say that the chickens save the farm day after day from the crazy mayhem of the family. Well, except for Sunday. Sunday is a day for rest even for super hero chickens.

Make sure to put Chickens to the Rescue on your list for the next trip to the public library. Enjoy!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-11-19T10:02:00.001-06:00

A friend for Einstein : the smallest stallion, by Charlie Cantrell and Rachel Wagner.

Suryia & Roscoe : the true story of an unlikely friendship, by Bhagavan "Doc" Antle with Thea Feldman ; photographs by Barry Bland.

The girls and I enjoyed reading these two real-life new books from the library on animal friendships. Both are illustrated with great photos and tell stories of unusual animals that have formed playful relationships with friendly dogs. Fun and interesting reading!

Paper Saints Craft for All Saints' Day!

2011-10-31T07:06:00.002-05:00

Print the pattern and have fun celebrating tomorrow's great feast day! I will post later today a picture of the two saints we are making today: Blessed Sister Dulce of Brazil, and Blessed John Paul II! Also look at accessories I posted last year... And more ideas here. Below are the original paper saints we made five years ago!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-10-15T11:05:00.001-05:00

Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses
by Amy Cordoba and Eugene Gollogly

I don't usually post books with which I may have some quibbles, but this one is a worthy one. This a very nice retelling of the famous, true story of Our Lady of Guadalupe, found by my friend Caitilin at our public library. I recommend the book but must list a couple of quibbles: the bishop of Mexico City at the time is historically documented to have been very kind and generous towards the poor and ignorant Juan Diego, and this book paints a slightly different story. The second one is found in the Afterword by Eugene Gollogly, which is almost entirely accurate but for the unfortunate linkage of Our Lady's protection and the dissenter Liberation Theology movement, opposed by the Church. If you skip these minor points, enjoy the lovely book!

The Lily Trilogy

2011-09-29T20:06:00.000-05:00

This summer I had the opportunity to read the Lily Trilogy by Catholic author Sherry Boas.    The trilogy portrays the life of Lily, a Down Syndrome child whose story as she grows into adulthood is entwined with the lives of her aunt, adoptive sister, and niece.

I happen to have a 12 year old son, my sixth-born, who had a major stroke soon after birth and is moderately developmentally delayed because of this.   In spite of his challenges, and some medical crises and worries during his early years, he has been a joy to our family and has brought many graces.   Though Aidan is a different person than Lily, and my life is very different from the lives of the characters in the books, I felt many twinges of recognition as I read.

The first book, Until Lily, tells about Bev, an old lady in a nursing home. We find out through flashbacks that she was a career woman who chose to be childless, but had motherhood thrust upon her when her sister dies of cancer, leaving her with her own three children. The youngest, still a preschooler, is Lily, who has Down Syndrome. Bev does not want Lily, but reluctantly, like Simon of Cyrene, shoulders the cross because it was her sister's dying plea.

Because of the way the story unfolds, we see how in her later life, the very burden she often resented has become a great blessing to her. Lily is a faithful visitor to the nursing home, a friend to many of the other occupants, one of the last solaces in her aunt's life. Bev fully realizes the irony, that the child she wanted her sister to abort has become the great comfort of her life, and she tells about her dependence on Lily with wry, unsentimental terseness.

In the two subsequent books of the trilogy, Wherever Lily Goes and Life Entwined with Lily's, we become part of the lives of Lily's older sister Terry, who like Lily was adopted by Bev in childhood after the death of her mother, and then of Terry's daughter, Beth. Terry is feeling trapped and bored by a stagnant marriage, but indirectly through Lily her faith and love for her husband take on a new lease of life, literally. Beth is battling some difficult issues from her past. Through the intertwining of their lives with Lily's, we are able to see the small, subtle touches of grace that end up having decisive impacts on their lives.

Lily is a strong, funny, and unique character in her own right, but she also becomes somewhat of a symbol, of the ordinariness and humility of grace in the lives of others.

The books are told in first person, present tense, which seems well suited to this particular trio of stories.    Present events recall moments from the past, which allows for a flexibility that adds significance to everything that happens. Theis brings out the significance of little things, epiphanies that would otherwise slide by, and often seem to do in our daily lives.   Again and again I was reminded of how small things, small decisions, small acts of love, can have a ripple effect on the lives of other people, even though we are not always around to see the whole picture.

Perhaps because of her own experience mothering a Down Syndrome child, Sherry Boas manages to be realistic in an understated, vivid way about the small but piercing aggravations as well as the small, ordinary graces. She also manages, by showing the influence of Lily's life across three generations of women, to show the big picture that is not always evident when you are chasing down a toilet-resistant six year old, or worrying about a mentally disabled adult who is late arriving and never remembers to bring her cell phone on the bus with her.

I am very glad I got the chance to read these books; beyond my identification with the circumstances and themes of the trilogy, I found them to be a well-written, deeply Catholic take on some of the issues and difficulties of our modern times. The books deal with situations from adoption to single motherhood to abortion to troubled marriages; not with a view to pat answers, but with an eye for realistic detail and grace in the little things.

I think a non-Christian could read them and get a better understanding of the value of every life, and I think Catholics with some doubts about the tricky issues could get much good out of them.   I would also recommend them to anyone looking for thoughtful, interesting Catholic fiction, and particularly for parents dealing with special needs.   I think older teenagers and college students would enjoy these books, as well.

You can find out more, including information on author Sherry Boas and on how to get the books here.

Angels Feast Day Craft!

2011-09-29T07:05:00.002-05:00

Happy Feast of the Holy Archangels! It is my tradition to post this simple, cute pattern... have fun with it!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-09-28T07:10:00.002-05:00

A Filth of Starlings and A Drove of Bullocks by Patrick George, May 2011

I loved Portuguese collective nouns as a child in Brazil, and have been intrigued and amused by them in English. These two new pictures books I found at the library offer a fun array of animal collective nouns! These books bring the fun of words and the visual satisfaction of art all in one package. The clever, imaginative illustrations reveal words as visual puns: the dolphins in a "pod" of dolphins are listening to their iPods, and the the hogs in their "parcel" are... wrapped as parcels and ready to ship!

Don't miss them!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-09-19T23:42:00.002-05:00

Out of Sight by Pitaus & Gervais, 2011 Chronicle Books

Number Seven has enjoyed this new title from the library immensely, opening the creative windows and learning all sorts of interesting new animal information. Large format, great art, a winner!

Review: Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last

2011-08-31T18:53:00.003-05:00

I truly enjoy discovering new authors and new books. I just finished reading Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last by Paolo A. Belzoni (Kindle version). Belisarius is published by the small, yet wonderful, Catholic press Arx Publishing.

In a nutshell, I loved it. This is a great one to read yourself, especially if you like historical fiction. You can also give it to just about any high school student. You could give it to a middle school student as well but please know ahead of time that there are graphic war scenes and it does touch on the fact that some characters, well, lack character. That is to say some of the males are womanizers and some of the females have a past.

However, a book written with only perfect characters is worthless. How do we learn from their mistakes if they don't make them? How do we learn that we too can be heroes if the book's hero is too far beyond our grasp?

Belisarius does possess great humility and piety with just a few stumbles. However, he is not without trials. He gets into far too many scraps as a youngster but learns self control and to use his fighting skill for good. He rises up from a simple farm boy to a great general in the Roman army. He meets failure on the battle field but perseveres and learns from his mistakes. He is met with temptation, yet stands strong. He is a model for us and for our children that with tenacity, hard work and dedication combined with strong Catholic principles you can achieve greatness for the Kingdom.

In addition to being a good, uplifting story, Belisarius can be tied into your history studies. The story begins in 504 AD as the Roman Empire is struggling with the Barbarians on one front and the Persians attacking on another. We follow Belisarius from childhood to manhood and we see how he changes history through his skill and dedication. He is considered by historians to be one of "The Last of the Romans".

We're studying the Middle Ages this upcoming school year. We'll begin in September with the 6th Century. We plan to read a large variety of historical fiction to accompany our studies and Belisarius: The First Shall Be Last is, fittingly enough by it's title, first on the reading list.

I did have one quibble and it wasn't even about the story. The cover of the book is quite lovely but to me it says, "This is a book for younger children." In my opinion, this is a book for high school to adult. Other than that, and a few minor editing errors, I truly loved this book. It's a story worth reading. Now, if it was available on audio that would be really sweet!

Note that this is the first in a series of three books so you don't get a nice clean ending. The third in the series is currently being written. I hope to get to Belisarius--Book II: Glory of the Romans soon. Very soon.

Cross post from: Maureen Wittmann

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-08-30T11:48:00.001-05:00

Here are a few new picture books we picked up from the library this late summer season and that were chosen family favorites:

A Butterfly is Patient by Diana Aston

Hardcover, 40 pages, Chronicle books, May 2011

I have been waiting for the next installment of this lovely seriesand this one doesn't disappoint! The pictures alone are just wonderful! We love butterflies and acreage living has only made us appreciate these creatures all

the more. A gorgeous boo with plenty of interesting, curious and scientific information for kids of all ages!

Energy Island by Allan Drummond

Hardcover, 40 pages, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, March 2011

Environmental complexities aside, I have loved Alan Drummond's books and found this one very interesting. We can all be more responsible about using natural resources and the true story of Energy Island is inspiring! (Watch here Number Three reading aloud Alan Drummond's adaptation of Moby Dick in speech class).

The Bravest Woman in America by Marissa Moss

Tricycle Press, July 2011

Our 12 year old chose this title among some other biographical accounts we have at home, as she, like me, loves true stories of courage and inspiration. I asked her about the book and she said, "This girl worked in a lighthouse and saved people's lives!". So there.

Statue of Liberty by Elizabeth Mann

Mikaya Press, April 2011

OK, so there are lots of books for kids about the Statue of Liberty, but this one, as with the rest of the books in the new series, is especially informative and interesting. The whole process is well documented and written in engaging language. As it is, we found many new facts we did not know before--such as the fundraiser tours and dinners offered inside different parts of the statue in Paris during its construction! Check it out!

Brother Sun, Sister Moonby Catherine Paterson and illustrated by Pamela Dalton

Chronicle Books, June 2011

This is one beautifully illustrated book! The text is from Saint Francis' Canticle of Creation, and the illustrations are done by paper cutting using an old German tradition. Do visit the look-inside feature on its Amazon page it is worth it! I have also pre-ordered the illustrator's next publication to my amazon cart! I am thinking this will be a marvelous Christmas gift for a young godchild!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-07-19T15:06:00.001-05:00

Irena Sendler and the Children of the Warsaw Ghetto by Susan Goldman Rubin, illustrated by Bill Farnsworth, 2011 Holiday House, NY.

Among the new books we picked up at the library last week, there is this gem. I had heard about her story from my sister who watched the film starring Anna Paquin, but this film is yet to be available on Netflix. The book has wonderful illustrations and tells the story of the courageous Catholic nurse who was able to use creativity and courage to save hundreds of Jewish children from the sub-human conditions of life in the Warsaw ghetto. A story of charity and courage changing the life of so many! A must read!

Prayer Request

2011-06-23T18:58:00.004-05:00

Dear Friends,

Please join in this novena for the little daughter of a good friend of mine. Imelda had chicken pox and got some blisters apparently inside her eyelids, which then got infected. She is currently in the pediatric ICU at a local hospital and it's all quite scary. The infection seems to have spread over at least one side of her face. There's a lot of swelling also, and redness has spread over the side of her face, her neck and upper back. She's heavily medicated right now. Because of the proximity of the eyes to the brain, there is a possibility that the infection could spread to the brain. Also lots of other nasty possibles. Her baby brother (#10 in this Catholic homeschool family) is due in a week or so ... much stress for the mom, my dear friend Lisa.

Please pray for them, and for the doctors and nurses involved in her care that all should be done the best possible way.

Thank you, & God bless you,
Suchi

UPDATE on Imelda:
Amazing things have been happening, thanks to everyone's prayers!

The doctors had thought that she would need to stay in the hospital 7-10 days and that there was a serious possibility of eye or even brain damage. But she is now HOME - wow, just amazed and thanking the Lord!

She is still on medications but off the IVs and she can see with both eyes (for a while she could not see at all because of the swelling around the "good" eye too).

From Lisa:

Once again we are blown away at the power of our prayer family. We are extremely pleased that the doctor felt like Imelda "just looks too good to be here anymore" . We will continue her antibiotics orally and have follow up work to do with the doctors but they felt like her best treatment now was to be home with family and she was thrilled to see them all. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. It is awesome to see God's hand at work in all of you.

Please continue to pray because it does look like there's damage to her eyelid on the infected eye, and she's not nearly finished healing yet. Thank you!!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-06-14T13:08:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to have found out this fascinating story of the first Japanese citizen ever in American soil... his being stranded in an island at 14, then rescued by a whaling ship... at the same time Melville was going around in a whaler and taking copious notes of that adventurous life, which later became part of his masterwork Moby Dick.

The book describes Manjiro's arrival in Hawaii and Massachusetts after that, his eventual return to Japan,his imprisonment and then his being named a Samurai, and finally his role in the opening of Japan to the rest of the world. A true story with so many incredible chapters! The illustrations are all very interesting as well! This is lenghthy picture book, and excellent!

Using inter-library loan I also borrowed Manjiro by Emily Arnold

McCully which is also excellent if a bit shorter, but brings new facts into the story.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-05-20T13:54:00.002-05:00

The Secret Cave, Discovering Lascaux, by Emily Arnold McCully, 2010 FarrarStraus Giroux, NY.

Emily Arnold McCully's books, both written and illustrated by her, tell fascinating true stories that are appealing to readers of any age. This one tells the story of the boys who found the famous cave paintings at Lascaux, France.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-04-28T08:20:00.003-05:00

Flora's Very Windy Day, by Jeanne Birdsall, illustrated by MattPhelan, 2010 Clarion Books.

Jeanne Birdsall is the award-winning author of our dear Penderwicks series, the story of the widower professor, his Latin exclamations, and his four daughters. This week we have her picture book at home, and as expected it has the right balance of contemporary and traditional flavors... The illustrations are adorable and you can see some of the illustrator's work in the Amazon page.

Flora is a big sister, in charge of her little brother... and an afternoon windy day whimsical whirl reminds her of how much she really loves him. This book has the repetitive poetics little children love... it makes me wish I had a little toddler still around, begging for a read-aloud!

In our house, we are literally counting the days for the publishing of the next Penderwicks book...

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-04-15T07:15:00.001-05:00

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow, retold by Robert D. San Souci and illustrated by E. B. Lewis, 201o Orchard Books

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow retells the classic story of Robin Hood and his men in the Sherwood Forest... the oversize format and colorful watercolors bring the well-known story to life, adding some details from the original sources. The Author's Note at the end of the book explains little about the origins and sources of the classic tale.

Shadow by Suzy Lee, 2010 Chronicle Books

Who hasn't had fun with shadow play as a child? When my parents projected slides my siblings and I loved the 'blank' breaks--it was time for shadow play! This wordless book can take you back to when your imagination could run free... until dinner time that is.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-03-23T09:50:00.002-05:00

The girls and I spent a long time admiring each stitch on each page in this adorable new book yesterday:

Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes, by Salley Mavor, 2010 Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

The entire book was stitched and photographed, and it is one delightful page after another! Enjoy the amazon page as it offers many inside views plus a lot of interesting photos on the making of the book, posted by the author!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-03-17T08:09:00.001-05:00

Akimbo and the Elephants, Akimbo and the Lions, Akimbo and the Crocodile Man, Akimbo and the Snakes, Akimbo and the Baboons, by Alexander McCall Smith, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, Bloomsbury USA Childrens' Books, 2005-2008

This series for young readers, written by my favorite contemporary author, has all Husband and I look for in a children's book:

-excellent writing
-interesting story
-active, forward pace
-realistic character development and a setting that is foreign and fascinating
-and finally a virtuous protagonist

During a recent illness my ten-year-old and I spent a fair amount of time on the couch, and we took turns reading aloud three volumes of this series. I just requested the two others from our Inter Library Loan. A children's book is a winner when the teens and adults in the house stop to listen to the story. No juvenile fluff here, but interesting plots that appeal to anyone. Akimbo is the sweet, but courageous and clever young son of an African park ranger. Helping his dad, and armed with his noble soul and courage and determination, he is able to find adventure and ways to help others in each of the stories.

The illustrations are wonderful! We stopped at each illustrated page and made comments about how good they were. I am including one here that shows the amount of expression on young Akimbo's face as he tells the head ranger of what he just discovered...

Alexander McCall Smith, the author, grew up in Africa and returns there each year. He knows what he is writing about, and you can sense from his writing that in his heart there lives a deep love and admiration for Africa. I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a good children's series!

Jesus of Nazareth: Part 2

2011-03-02T14:52:00.001-06:00

(cross-posted from Chez VH)

I am so thrilled to be in the process of reading the Holy Father's new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week from the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection. The book is published by Ignatius Press and will be released on Thursday, March 10th.

I loved the first book, Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration, which I reviewed on Love2learn.net. I led a discussion group on the book with some homeschooled teens that proceeded slowly through the book over the course of many months. I wrote a number of blog posts about the book and the discussion on my old blog. We also own the first book on audio, purchased especially for my teenage son, who plugs through complex material rather well when it's in audio format. I like to keep this audio on my iPod and re-listen to chapters here and there. It's that good. (Note: The second volume is also being released in an audio edition.)

I want to make very clear that the teens in my group and I as their leader all got a lot out of the book, but didn't pretend, or even really attempt, to understand everything in the book. We studied one chapter per week and tended to focus on the additional significance and meaning that Pope Benedict brought out of each of the Gospel stories. There were some tough vocabulary words here and there, but the process of understanding became easier as we encountered the words multiple times (words like eschatology) and were also aided by a very handy glossary in back (this second book also includes a glossary).

I just received my soft-review-copy of this new book yesterday, so I've just made it to the first segment that I'm permitted to talk about before the release of the book: Chapter 3, Section 4 on "the Mystery of the Betrayer" (in the midst of a chapter on the Last Supper). There are two things that caught my eye in this segment that I thought I'd share here. The first is that the pope interprets Jesus' words regarding his betrayer as something that also applies to some in the Church in the future.

So the psalm verse casts a prophetic shadow over the Church of the evangelist's own day, in which the Eucharist was celebrated, and indeed over the Church of all times: Judas' betrayal was not the last breach of fidelity that Jesus would suffer. "Even my bosom friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me' (Ps 41:9). The breach of friendship extends into the sacramental community of the Church, where people continue to take 'his bread' and to betray him.

Jesus' agony, his struggle against death, continues until the end of the world, as Blaise Paschal said on the basis of similar considerations. We could also put it the other way around: at this hour, Jesus took upon himself the betrayal of all ages, the pain caused by betrayal in every era, and he endured the anguish of history to the bitter end.

I'm always amazed at how reading Pope Benedict's writings (both before and after he became pope) challenge me - not only in forcing me to put in the effort to understanding, but also, in a more philosophical way, to expand the way I look at my faith and at the world through the lens of my faith.
The second piece that struck me is the concept of Judas' second tragedy and the idea of a wrong kind of remorse:

His second tragedy - after the betrayal - is that he can no longer believe in forgiveness. His remorse turns into despair. Now he sees only himself and his darkness; he no longer sees the light of Jesus, which can illumine and overcome the darkness. He shows us the wrong type of remorse: the type that is unable to hope, that sees only its own darkness, the type that is destructive and in no way authentic. Genuine remorse is marked by the certainty of hope born of faith in the superior power of the light that was made flesh in Jesus.

Powerful stuff! I think both of these passages help illustrate how much we should look on the Gospels, and an illuminative study of the Gospels, as something comprehensively relevant to our lives today.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-02-16T14:46:00.002-06:00

I know, I know, it has been a while since I posted one! But we have been bringing new gems from the library nevertheless! The girls now are the ones reminding me to post about them. I selected, among their favorites, two picture books connected by the fact that they all retell true stories!

Come See the Earth Turn, The Story of Leon Foucault, by Lori Mortensen, illustrations by Raul Allen, 2010 Tricycle Press.

The kids remember admiring the Foucault Pendulum when we visited Thomas Aquinas College, and this picture book tells the story of the dedicated scientist! TAC is one of the few places that has one, in their gorgeous Albertus Magnus Science Hall, and Wikipedia has an interesting list of all of the Foucault pendulums in the world.

Calico Dorsey, Mail Dog of the Mining Caps by Susan Lendroth with illustrations by Adam Gustavson , 2010 Tricycle Press.

The illustrations of Dorsey alone are worth the book! What a cute, good dog! Our history studies just covered the California gold rush so this book came to enrich our homework! I am not sure there was ever another official US Mail dog, but if you read this book you too will fall in love with this good dog!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2011-01-04T09:19:00.000-06:00

This was one of our Christmas gifts to the children: I found out Herge's books for younger children are published in Englishand we gave them the first volume which is a combined binding of the the two first volumes. Expect the same delightful art, and world-geography adventures, this time led by a pair of siblings and their cute pets!

Advent Quote of the Day 16

2010-12-13T18:03:00.000-06:00

Because the Pope is a witness of Christ and a minister of the Good News, he is a man of joy and a man of hope, a man of the fundamental affirmation of the value of existence, the value of creation and of hope in the future life. Naturally, this is neither a naive joy, nor a vain hope. The joy of victory over evil does not obfuscate - it actually intensifies - the realistic awareness of the existence of evil in the world and in every man. The Gospel teaches us to call good and evil by name, but it also teaches: "Do not be conquered by evil but conquer evil with good."

- Pope John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope

Advent Quote of the Day 15

2010-12-12T06:12:00.000-06:00

What is Advent? Many answers can be given. We can grumble and say that it is nothing but a pretext for hectic activity and commercialism, prettified with sentimental cliches in which people stopped believing ages ago. In many cases this may be true, but it is not the whole picture.

We can say the reverse, that Advent is a time when, in the midst of an unbelieving world, something of the luminous quality of this lost faith is still perceptible, like a visual echo. Just as stars are visible long after they have become extinct, since their erstwhile light is still on its way to us, so this mystery frequently offers some warmth and hope even to those who are no longer able to believe in it.

We can also say that Advent is a time when a kindness that is otherwise almost entirely forgotten is mobilized; namely, the willingness to think of others and give them a token of kindness. Finally we can say that Advent is a time when old customs live again, for instance, in the singing of carols which takes place all over the country. In the melodies and the words of these carols, something of the simplicity, imagination and glad strength of the faith of our forefathers makes itself heard in our age, bringing consolation and encouraging us perhaps to have another go at that faith which could make people so glad in such hard times.

This latter kind of experience of Advent brings us quite close to what the Christian tradition has in mind with this season. It has expressed its view of Advent in the bible texts which it took as the season's signposts. I will mention just one of them, a few verses from Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome. There he says, '...it is full time now for you to wake from sleep... the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ...' So Advent means getting up, being awake, emerging out of sleep and darkness.

- Cardinal Ratzinger, Seek That Which is Above

Advent Quote of the Day 14

2010-12-11T07:18:00.000-06:00

To have Christian hope means to know about evil and yet to go to meet the future with confidence. The core of faith rests upon accepting being loved by God, and therefore to believe is to say Yes, not only to him, but to creation, to creatures, above all, to men, to try to see the image of God in each person and thereby to become a lover. That’s not easy, but the basic Yes, the conviction that God has created men, that he stands behind them, that they aren’t simply negative, gives love a reference point that enables it to ground hope on the basis of faith. - Cardinal Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth

Advent Quote of the Day 13

2010-12-10T06:56:00.000-06:00

Love tends to become like the one loved; in fact, it even wishes to become one with the one loved. God loved unworthy man. He willed to become one with him, and that was the Incarnation.

- Archbishop Fulton Sheen, The Quotable Fulton Sheen

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-12-09T08:20:00.002-06:00

I found this at the library quite accidentally and it is a very nice little book! We are still finishing up Little Women on audio and have also been watching film versons--favorite one is the 1949 one with June Allison! I have never, never enjoyed this wonderful book so much as this time!

The Cookbook has excerpts from Luisa May Alcott's text when food is mentioned, followed by nicely illustrated recipes! We will try some as Advent progresses and school work is put away for the Christmas holidays!

First Approved Marian Apparition in the United States

2010-12-09T08:11:00.001-06:00

(cross-posted from Chez VH - the post is from December 8th)

Exciting news out today from our neighbors to the north! The apparition took place 150 years ago a few miles from Green Bay, Wisconsin. You can learn all about the shrine and apparition on the official website here: Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.

Some friends of ours gave us a DVD about Our Lady of Good Help a few months ago (the one advertised on the website) and I'm afraid it has sat on the shelf un-watched until today. It's an amazing story (though a somewhat cheezy video production) that includes the miraculous safety of a number of people who fled to the chapel during the infamous Peshtigo Fire of 1871 (which took place the same day as the Great Chicago Fire and is lesser known, though it was far more destructive).

Related stuff around the web:

About Our Lady of Good Help (Relevant Radio)

America Gets Its 1st Approved Apparition (Jimmy Akin)

Most Highly Favored Lady (Whispers in the Loggia)

Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help (Diocese of Green Bay Website)

Advent Quote of the Day 12

2010-12-09T08:05:00.000-06:00

All this indescribable thing that we call the Christmas atmosphere only hangs in the air as something like a lingering fragrance or fading vapour from the exultant explosion of that one hour in the Judean hills nearly two thousand years ago. But the savour is still unmistakable, and it is something too subtle or too solitary to be covered by our use of the word peace. By the very nature of the story the rejoicings in the cavern were rejoicings in a fortress or an outlaw's den; properly understood it is not unduly flippant to say they were rejoicings in a dug-out. It is not only true that such a subterranean chamber was a hiding-place from enemies; and that the enemies were already scouring the stony plain that lay above it like a sky. It is not only that the very horse-hoofs of Herod might in that sense have passed like thunder over the sunken head of Christ. It is also that there is in that image a true idea of an outpost, of a piercing through the rock and an entrance into an enemy territory. There is in this buried divinity an idea of undermining the world; of shaking the towers and palaces from below; even as Herod the great king felt that earthquake under him and swayed with his swaying palace.

- G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Advent Quote of the Day 11

2010-12-08T05:11:00.000-06:00

Do we know Jesus? Only if we recognize in him the presence and the logic of absolute divine love. This love can refine whatever in us does not oppose the flame of love, but whatever refuses to bring forth love's fruit will be let wither, dug up and burned.

Jesus interprets God in the language of a human life. For God, the humanity of Jesus is not an inert, mechanical alphabet simply used to put the absolute into words. The interpreter himself speaks with his whole existence of flesh and blood. The picture, the parable which the man Jesus is, does not face, since the eternal prototype radiates in him, is perfected in him. It can do this because, in God, the eternal Son always was the eternal Father's self-offering and self-interpretation. To understand Jesus' word, which coincides with his existence, is to have access (and there is no other!) to the eternal trinitarian mystery of love. This is only possible in the Holy Spirit.

-Hans Urs von Balthasar, Does Jesus Know Us? Do We Know Him?

Advent Quote of the Day 10

2010-12-08T05:05:00.001-06:00

And as Jesus prepares for the messianic entry into the city which will kill him as it has killed all the prophets, he bursts into tears - surely the most moving scene in the Gospel, eternal love being forced to weep over the strength of human rejection: "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."

- Hans Urs von Balthasar, Does Jesus Know Us? Do We Know Him?

Advent Quote of the Day 9

2010-12-06T09:20:00.000-06:00

For those without faith in a loving God it is impossible to realize that suffering can be understood as a gift of God, and it would be impossible to experience that inner joy and peace that absolute trust in God’s providential love alone can bring us, no matter in what situation we find ourselves. It is only with faith in Jesus as the Son of God, who has shared our suffering that we are able to find meaning in suffering. I have often reflected on what the famous dramatist and diplomat of France, Paul Claudel, said with such wisdom and faith: “Jesus did not come to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence.” Often it is only long after the suffering has passed, that we begin to understand more fully God’s loving hand in our lives even at that time.

- Bishop John Steinbock of Fresno, who died of cancer yesterday

Advent Quote of the Day 8

2010-12-06T06:18:00.000-06:00

We can try to limit suffering, to fight against it, but we cannot eliminate it. It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love.

- Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi

Advent Quote of the Day 7

2010-12-04T11:43:00.000-06:00

A mass of legend and literature, which increases and will never end, has repeated and rung the changes on that single paradox; that the hands that had made the sun and stars were too small to reach the huge heads of the cattle. Upon this paradox, we might almost say upon this jest, all the literature of our faith is founded...

I mean that all the eyes of wonder and worship which had been turned outwards to the largest thing were now turned inward to the smallest...

It is true that the spiritual spiral henceforward works inwards instead of outwards, and in that sense is centripical and not centrifugal. The faith becomes, in more ways than one, a religion of little things.

- G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Advent Quote of the Day 6

2010-12-03T08:01:00.000-06:00

This text from the Letter to the Philippians introduces us into the mystery of Christ's kenosis. To express this mystery the apostle uses first of all the words "emptied himself," which refers especially to the reality of the Incarnation. "The Word became flesh" (Jn 1:14). God the Son assumed human nature, humanity, and became true man, while remaining God! The truth about Christ as man must always be considered in relation to God the Son. This permanent reference itself is indicated by St. Paul's text. "He emptied himself" does not in any way mean that he ceased to be God; that would be absurd! It means rather, as the apostle perceptively expressed it, that "he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped," but "though he was in the form of God" (in forma Dei), as the true Son of God, he assumed a human nature deprived of glory, subject to suffering and death, in which he could live in obedience to the Father, even to the ultimate sacrifice.

Pope John Paul II, "Jesus Christ Emptied Himself", General Audience, Feb 17, 1988

Advent Quote of the Day 5

2010-12-02T06:01:00.000-06:00

The Christian faith brings us exactly that consolation, that God is so great that he can become small. And that is actually for me the unexpected and previously inconceivable greatness of God, that he is able to bow down so low. That he himself really enters into a man, no longer merely disguises himself in him so that he can later put him aside and put on another garment, but that he becomes this man. It is just in this that we actually see the truly infinite nature of God, for this is more powerful, more inconceivable than anything else, and at the same time more saving.

- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, God and the World: A Conversation with Peter Seewald

Advent Quote of the Day 4

2010-12-01T06:18:00.000-06:00

Many women, if they were expecting a child, would refuse to hurry over the hills on a visit of pure kindness. They would say they had a duty to themselves and to their unborn child which came before anything or anyone else.

The Mother of God considered no such thing. Elizabeth was going to have a child, too, and although Mary's own child was God, she could not forget Elizabeth's need - almost incredible to us, but characteristic of her.

She greeted her cousin Elizabeth, and at the sound of her voice, John quickened in his mother's womb and leapt for joy.

"I am come," said Christ, "that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly." Even before He was born His presence gave life.

With what piercing shoots of joy does this story of Christ unfold! First, the conception of a child in a child's heart, and then this first salutation, an infant leaping for joy in his mother's womb, knowing the hidden Christ and leaping into life.

How did Elizabeth herself know what had happened to Our Lady? What made her realise that this little cousin who was so familiar to her was the mother of her God?

She knew it by the child within herself, by the quickening into life which was a leap of joy.

If we practice this contemplation taught and shown to us by Our Lady, we will find that our experience is like hers.

If Christ is growing in us, if we are at peace, recollected, because we know that however insignificant our life seems to be, from it He is forming Himself; if we go with eager wills, "in haste," to wherever our circumstances compel us, because we believe that He desires to be in that place, we shall find that we are driven more and more to act on the impulse of His love.

-Caryll Houselander, The Reed of God

Advent Quote of the Day 3

2010-11-30T08:02:00.002-06:00

It is commonly in a somewhat cynical sense that men have said, "Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall not be disappointed." It was in a wholly happy and enthusiastic sense that Saint Francis said, "Blessed is he that expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything." It was by this deliberate idea of starting from zero, from the dark nothingness of his own deserts, that he did come to enjoy them.

- G.K. Chesterton, St. Francis of Assisi as quoted in Advent and Christmas Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton

Reminder: Today is the first day of the St. Andrew/Christmas Novena. It is said 15 times each day from today (the feast of St. Andrew) thru Christmas Eve. You can find it in the sidebar of O Night Divine, a blog about celebrating Advent and Christmas.

Homeschool Connections Discount!

2010-11-29T17:36:00.001-06:00

I am having my teens each choose one...

Anyone else?

Here is the site: http://homeschoolconnectionsonline.com/online-catholic-course-catalog/

And info on the discount: Don't forget to register for spring classes today to get the Cyber Monday Deal! When you register look for Apply Coupon and paste in y5wy5c. Worth $20 off as many classes as you like. You can use for summer camps too to get a mind blowing deal with the additional Early Enrollment Discount.

Advent Quote of the Day 2

2010-11-29T09:45:00.001-06:00

Man's creaturely condition sets the standard for his activity in the world. However, creation sets in motion a story of love and freedom. This entails a risk: "As the arena of love [the world] is also the playground of freedom and also incurs the risk of evil." Man is created with freedom, which implies that he is capable of sinning. At the very heart of sin is the refusal to accept one's creatureliness, and the standards and limitations implicit in it...

[Those] who consider dependence on the highest love as slavery and who try to deny the truth about themselves, which is their creatureliness, do not free themselves; they destroy truth and love. They do not make themselves gods, which in fact they cannot do, but rather caricatures, pseudo-gods, slaves of their own abilities, which then drag them down...

Jesus' obedience, which is the standard for creatureliness, is the context for our freedom. Dependence on God, which creatureliness implies, is not an imposition, but the condition for true freedom and true joy.

- Msgr. Joseph Murphy, Christ Our Joy: The Theological Vision of Pope Benedict XVI

Advent Quote of the Day

2010-11-28T11:00:00.000-06:00

When we reflect on such things, we shall simply no longer be able to divide history into ages of salvation and of iniquity. If we then extend our vision and look at what Christians (that is, those people we call 'redeemed') achieved in the world by way of iniquity and devastation, in our own century and the previous centuries, then we will be equally incapable of dividing the peoples of the world into those who are saved and those who are not. If we are honest, we will no longer be able to paint things black and white, dividing up both history and maps into zones of salvation and iniquity. History as a whole, and mankind as a whole, will appear to us rather as a mass of gray, in which time and again there appear flickers of that goodness which can never quite be extinguished, in which, time and again, men set out toward something better, but in which also, time and again, collapses occur into all the horrors of evil.

Yet when we reflect like this, it becomes plain that Advent is not (as might perhaps have been said in earlier ages) a sacred game of the liturgy, in which, so to speak, it leads us once more along the paths of the past, gives us once more a vivid picture of the way things once were, so that we may all the more joyfully and happily enjoy today's salvation. We should have to admit, rather, that Advent is not just a matter of remembrance and playing at what is past - Advent is our present, our reality: the Church is not just playing at something here; rather, she is referring us to something that also represents the reality of our Christian life. It is through the meaning of the season of Advent in the Church's year that she revives our awareness of this. She should make us face these facts, and make us admit the extend of being unredeemed, which is not something that lay over the world at one time, and perhaps somewhere still does, but is a fact in our own lives and in the midst of the Church.

Cardinal Ratzinger, What it Means to be a Christian (a book of Advent sermons)

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-11-21T17:02:00.001-06:00

Claude Monet, The Painter Who Stopped the Trains by P. I. Malbie and illustrated by Jos Smith, 2010 Abrams Books for Young Readers.

The illustrator is the same wonderful one of the picture book on Mendel I mentioned a while back. This title tells the partly fictional story on how Monet came to accomplish his famous train paintings. We all enjoyed reading it, including my husband!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-11-11T13:57:00.001-06:00

The Bible for Young Children by Marie-Hélène Delval, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2010.

I found this in the library and it is lovely. The very young will enjoy the chief stories from Sacred Scripture, and the adults will enjoy the sweet illustrations.

Children's Picture Books in German

2010-10-28T05:43:00.006-05:00

I've always been fascinated by books written in another language. When studying Latin, how can you forgo owning Cat in the Hat written in Latin? Years ago when the children were little and studying French for a year, I found children's stories on audio at Barnes & Noble and knew that would be a really fun way to implement our lessons.

This all leads me to tell you about a new discovery this week. Alecia Rolling is currently writing a series of blog posts reviewing German children's books. Alecia teaches Latin and German for Homeschool Connections. Also, German is the primary language spoken in her home. Another fascinating thing to me -- her children are growing up in a bilingual home.

So, if you're learning German in your homeschool, or are planning it in the future, you absolutely must click over to Alecia's blog.

You may be able to find some of the books she reviews through inter-library loan at your public library but it would be nice to own a few for your home library too. Alecia has set up a German bookstore for your convenience. She's even put in a Euro-Dollar converter at the bottom of the blog page.

So, go check it out and see what German literary treasures you may discover.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-10-19T08:08:00.001-05:00

The first one, The Road the Bethlehem by Elizabeth Laird, is from the ancient Christian traditions inEthiopia. The pictures are exactly like the ones Husband brought from his two trips to that country! Next is a fable-like tale from India, Cloud-Tea Monkeysby Mal Peet and Elspeth Graham, and beautifully illustrated. The last one,Biblioburro, a True Story from Colombia by Jeannette Winter, tells of a still-current story of a man who volunteers to bring culture to remote places in Colombia. All delightful and telling us about the richness and the universal values of goodness, beauty and justice in far away cultures...

Easy Games for Beginning Latin

2010-10-14T17:13:00.000-05:00

(cross posted from Chez VH)

I brought these ideas up at park day last week when a mom asked about when she could start working on Latin with her young children, which made me think some of you might like to hear about them too.

“The Slapping Game”

Get a set of English from the Roots Up Cards (there are two sets available). Or you can make your own (with help from a website listing Greek and Latin roots like this one). Root word is on the front (a color can be used to identify whether it’s Greek or Latin), English translation and possibly derivatives on the back. My kids (and their friends when we’ve done it as part of a class) love what has come to be known as “The Slapping Game”.

Lay out about six cards at a time with the root word facing up. You call out the English translation and the kids try to be the first one to slap the correct card (they should keep their hand on the card until you tell them which one is right – sometimes there are two correct answers if you have the Greek and Latin versions of the same word out at the same time). To make the game more smoothly I have a rule that they can’t talk during the game unless they raise their hand. If they do talk, they have to give up one of their cards. We’ve had a lot of fun with this game and found it very motivating for the kids to study the words at home on their own.

Root-Word Certamen

Certamen is kind of a team game show played by Latin scholars in Junior Classical League competitions and such. (You can read more about Certamen on the hand-dandy Wikipedia page.) The game consists of 15 or 20 questions on a wide variety of topics. These “toss-up” questions are worth 10 points each. If your team answers a toss-up question correctly, they also get a chance to answer two bonus questions, worth 5 points each.

We do a simplified version of this, also with the English from the Roots Up Cards. I hold up a card that everyone gets a chance to translate. The team with the correct translation gets 10 points. Then they are invited (for a possible 5 points each) to identify English derivatives of the word.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-10-11T14:23:00.001-05:00

*John Mary Vianney: The Holy Cure of Ars b**y Sophie De Mullenheim*, 2010 Ignatius Press, Hardcover.

This book deserves a best-of-the-year award! I purchased it for a Christmas gift and was enchanted by both text and pictures! The Cure of Ars, born and raised in poverty during a post-revolution France, became well known in all of France still in his lifetime because of his holiness and his ability to bring souls to repentance and to God. The life of the humble and saintly priest who changed a whole town and the hearts of so many is all there, and in wonderful illustrations as well. Thank you Ignatius Press for publishing high quality children Catholic picture books!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-10-02T11:46:00.001-05:00

Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow by Eric Kimmel, Holiday House, NY, 2003

I found this while looking for more Brendan the Navigator stories for history class. It is a delightful book about animals and saints stories.

This Amazon customer review says it very well:

Saint Francis' "Sermon to the Birds" precedes the stories. Though we are not birds, in a way it prepares us, the readers, for the wonder and mystery that is to follow. The stories are quite interesting. Each tale ends with an informative tidbit about the Saint. For example, "Saint Notburga is the patron saint of poor
farmers and hired servants. Her feast day is September 14. Her emblem is the sickle."
John Winch has made two types of illustrations in this book. Before each tale there is an intriguing representation of an artifact representing the Saint. One looks like a painting on wood, one looks like a small statue, another looks like a coin. These gray illustrations also mention the country and rough dates that the Saint lived. I like these symbolic illustrations even more than the colorful acrylic folk paintings that plainly detail the stories.
The verso mentions that "The author's principal source for this book is Butler's Lives of the Saints (New York: P.J. Kennedy & Sons, 1956)."
The author's note is brief and explains what makes a person a saint and the canonization process. The author concludes, "This process does not make a person a saint. Only God can do that. Through canonization, the church recognizes what God has already done."

Angels simple craft pattern

2010-09-27T13:58:00.002-05:00

To celebrate our holy angels with the kids! Go to Ana's Blog for a printable free pattern!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-09-23T11:07:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the concerned librarian had to break it to me that I had more than the limit allotted of books at home. I had to smile. My response was, how could it be any other way when I have all of these homeschooled kids and each is learning a different thing?

The introductory remark above was just to make the point that we have been browsing through many good books, but it has also been a very busy beginning of the school year! Yet near the many youth biographies we have been checking out to go along with our History studies, I bumped into this new beautiful book on the natural world:

The Buffalo are Back by Jean Craighead George, 2010 Dutton Juvenile.

This wonderful picture book tells the whole story of what happened to the grass in the American Prairie--and to the Buffaloes. I loved the same author's The Wolves Are Back and love this one even more. My husband has worked in a tallgrass prairie preserve in Kansas where the Buffalo roamed so this book hits home too. The story of destruction and sad lack of vision is told, but the book stays away from useless finger pointing or a hopeless, gloomy message. Indeed, much the opposite way, after reading it to your child you feel as if there is much hope for us and for the natural world as we learn about it! Kudos to the author and to the illustrator who did more than justice to the text. Absolutely gorgeous paintings!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-09-01T11:14:00.003-05:00

We love the Picture Book of... series. We have a few and pick titles we do not own from the library from time to time. This week I picked up the one on Benjamin Franklin close our vacation study of the great man's life. We listened to his autobiography on audio in the car on the way to Texas, and on the way back we listened toModern Scholar lectures on his life. The teens will do IEW'sAmerican Literature volume this year and Benjamin's Franklin Autobiography is their first book, so we are all preparing for the school year!

The college professor in the CD player, going through Franklin's life, commented at one point on how he owned slaves although he was a virtuous man in many ways. He added that people didn't think anything of owning slaves then, although for today's sensibilities for people to own other human beings as slaves is such an atrocious concept.

That got me thinking. I envisioned our society one or two hundred years from today saying the same thing about the pro-life issue. A college professor may be explaining to his students in, say 2150 AD, that "back in the twentieth century, in a time when people still needed cars for transportation, believe it or not, in some developed societies, people had strayed so much from a sense of right and wrong, that taking innocent human life by abortion was accepted, even promoted by some politicians!"

I pray that for the good of our human race my vision will one day come to be!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-08-09T08:40:00.001-05:00

Saints and Their Stories by Maria Loretta Giraldo, illustrated by Nicoletta Bertelle. Hardcover, 2010 Pauline Books & Media, ISBN: 0-8198-7134-6, 168 pages.

This is the translation of a lovely Italian book for children. I love the uniqueness of the style and illustrations. The stories are filled with anecdotes and details of the saints' lives not found in other books about saints for children. Truly a gem-- we will read it aloud during Religion this Fall. Do visit the Publisher's site as they have a neat flip-the-pages "look-inside" feature.

From the Publisher:

This sumptuously illustrated collection of biographies introduces young readers, ages 7–10, to eighteen popular saints. Historical and biographical information is enriched by cultural and artistic traditions,—and even a few legends. Saints and Their Storiesincludes:

Saint Ann

Saint Joseph

Saint John the Baptist

Saint Peter

Saint Paul

Saint Cecilia

Saint Helen the Empress

Saint Lucy

Saint Ambrose

Saint Augustine

Saint Benedict

Saint Francis

Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Catherine

Saint Rita

Saint John Bosco

Saint Bernadette

The Archangel Gabriel

Includes a presentation page, making it an ideal gift for First Communion, birthdays, and favorite saints’ feast days

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-07-31T09:54:00.001-05:00

The Beautiful Story of Jesus by Maite Roche, translated by Marianne Lorraine Trouve', 2010 Pauline kids

This is the second book by the French author Maite Roche I review forLove2Learn. Her illustrations are simply wonderful: simple, colorful, kid-friendly, warm, adorable, and yet with plenty of detail! In this volume she is able to retell the life of Our Lord for children and readers will find there most of the important events of His life on this world. From the Annunciation to Pentecost, the text will lead the child to all of the highlights of Jesus' life. The main events of His life are there, and also the Sermon on the Mount, the Multiplication the Bread, and more. This super nice book will make a wonderful gift!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-07-16T11:22:00.002-05:00

Summer Birds, The Butterflies of Maria Merian by Margarita Engle, pictures by Julie Paschkis, 2010 Henry Holt, NY.

If the cover of this sweet book reminds you of another illustrated picture book featured here, you are correct. The delightful book on the architecture of Gaudi entitled Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi was illustrated by the same Julie Paschkis. This book is about a girl whom I had never heard about. Read about her and discover a young, hard working and artistic scientific mind! And a world traveler too, in a time when few went beyond the village parish church.

Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson, illustrated by Sonia Lynn Sadler, 2010 Lee & Low Books, NY.

Another book I'd like to mention today is Seeds of Change, the third picture book I mention hereabout the Nobel Prize winner, and Benedictine College graduate, who started a huge tree-planting movement in Kenya, her homeland.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-07-09T07:08:00.002-05:00

Bag in the Wind by Ted Kooser, illustrated by Barry Root, 2010 Candlewick Press

If someone could grab a plastic bag flying in the wind and turn it into a nice picture book, that would be United States Poet Laureate (2004-2006) Ted Kooser. He takes the readers along the plastic bag's many reuses showing some human generosity and creativity in the process. Ted Kooser's poetry has been enjoyed by our family since our Nebraska days and his prose for children is equally charming.

Don Matteo, priest-detective TV series on DVD

2010-06-17T11:01:00.001-05:00

Don Matteo, Italian production for television, 1999-2000. Read about it on Ignatius Press page and the positive customer reviews on Amazon.

Does anyone remember the Trinity movies? My family loved those when I was a teenager... I remember Mother laughing so much. Terence Hill was the main actor of those Western films, and he is back as a good Catholic priest in Don Matteo. Our whole family has been watching one episode at a time and we love it!

The priest has a funny housekeeper, and two policemen-sidekicks who make my kids laugh out loud! Together, and with Don Matteo's loving heart, good Catholic morals and excellent detective skills, they solve various interesting murder mysteries. Last night we watched Murder in the Library, where Don Matteo is called to Rome to solve a murder of a scripture scholar, all filmed in the Vatican!

This is an Italian production and it is not dubbed, but the subtitles are well-done and my kids can handle them well. We were all saying Italian expressions by the end of the show! Enjoy! Available from Ignatius Press, Amazon or Netflix.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-06-08T23:27:00.001-05:00

Off Like the Wind, The First Ride of The Pony Express by Michael P. Spradlin, paintings by Layne Johnson, 2010 Walker & Co. NY.

The Pony Express is a fascinating chapter of our history, and this book makes it very interesting indeed. Journal-like text, historically accurate information, illustrated with wonderful full-page paintings. This book is for anyone! I loved it, the young girls loved it and I caught my 16 1/2 yr old reading it as well!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-05-31T06:26:00.000-05:00

For Good Measure: The Ways We Say How Much, How Far, How Heavy, How Big, How Old by Ken Robbins, Roaring Book Press, New York, 2o10

Do you know why a pound is abbreviated lb? Or how long is a fathom? Or a furlong? Where do their names come from? What about how many acres does a section cover? How about how heavy is a dram? Or how long does an eon last?

Our eleven year old loved this interesting and clever new picture book, and so did I. It is illustrated with very nice photographs.

Also, it does talk about that international system Americans have become allergic to, and purposely ignore, and yet will eventually have to come terms with: the Metric System. But only briefly, since an explanation of the metric is, to the customary system, as the distance from the earth to the moon is when compared to the distance from the earth to the sun.

Just had to say that. The Brazilian (and metric) side of me.

Review: Tale of Manaeth

2010-05-12T09:39:00.002-05:00

When I speak or write on the topic of literature, the one comment I always get is, "I need book ideas for boys!" I've written on this topic countless times and still people ask me, "What are good books for boys?" So, when my friend Phillip Campbell gave his new book to me, Tale of Manaeth, I just knew it would be one to share with my fellow Catholic homeschoolers. If you have boys, I recommend this book. Gosh, if you have girls, I recommend this book. The boys will love the blood, guts, and gory war scenes. The girls will love the fact that the hero is a girl.

First, about the author. I know Phillip through our Catholic homeschool group. He's a homeschool father who also provides tutoring services for local homeschoolers. Phillip is an Ave Maria University grad and currently a Madonna education graduate student. He is also the Director of Religious Education for a terrific parish in Ann Arbor.

While Phillip's book is not overtly Catholic, Tale of Manaeth was written by a dedicated and faithful Catholic. I like that. I get weary reading kid lit and weeding out the trash.

As the Curt Jester, popular Catholic blogger, wrote, "Tale of Manaeth is an old school fantasy epic written in the narrative style like the Iliad or Tolkien’s Silmarillion." When Phillip first handed the book to me he mentioned that he was concerned that the writing style might be hard on modern ears, but he had nothing to worry about. It's refreshing to immerse oneself in language that excites the soul, that makes you think about the words themselves.

Yet, it is not the writing style that puts this book at the top of my list. It's the heroine. She is a princess, living the good life, when suddenly she is thrust into a life or death situation. Not just her own life, but the lives of her royal subjects. Our heroine is Manaeth whose name is changed to Manissa. After all, she is no longer the same person. Manaeth was a young, naive girl. Manissa is a warrior queen. Unexpected, unplanned. She didn't ask for the job of warrior queen. She didn't necessarily want it. Yet, she rose to the occasion when called upon and saved the world with her wisdom, tenacity, and moral compass.

I love those kinds of heroes. That is the kind of hero a child can relate to and aspire to be. It demonstrates how everyday people living everyday lives can overcome the worst of situations and save the world. Isn't that what we all love about Peter in Narnia and Frodo in LOTR, who do things out of personal conviction, because it's the right thing to do and not out of a quest for fame and fortune?

So, if you're looking for a good read for your older tweens or teens, or gosh for yourself, I recommend Tale of Manaeth. (Make sure to ask the author to autograph for you!)

To order, please visit http://www.taleofmanaeth.com/

Good News from the Catholic Schools Textbook Project!

2010-05-10T12:13:00.001-05:00

Just received the happy news today that their 7th grade history book, Light to the Nations is now shipping:

Catholic Schools Textbook Project is pleased to announce that Light to the Nations has arrived in the warehouse and is shipping to customers.

"The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away."

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-05-08T09:56:00.001-05:00

Blockhead, The Life of Fibonacci, by Joseph d'Agnese, Illustrated by John O'Brien, 2010 Henry Holt.

Biographical picture books are my favorite kind... my friend Nancy picked this up from the Library and handed it to me saying, "It is time for a Picture book of the weeek"! Thanks, Nancy!

Read more about it here!

Spiritual Bouquet for Archbishop José Gomez (extended deadline - May 13th)

2010-04-24T10:46:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine who has a connection to Archbishop Gomez asked if I would help collect a spiritual bouquet for him as he prepares to take on his new role as co-adjutor archbishop of Los Angeles.

José Horacio Gomez was born in Monterrey, Mexico, December 26, 1951. He attended the National University of Mexico where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. In college he joined Opus Dei, an institution founded by Saint Josemaria Escrivá to help people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, serving others and improving society. Opus Dei became a personal prelature in 1982. Archbishop Gomez studied theology in Rome and at the University of Navarre in Spain, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in theology and a doctorate in moral theology. He was ordained a priest of Opus Dei, August 15, 1978, in Torreciudad, Spain.

You can read more about him on the USCCB New Release page.

Please leave your contributions for the spiritual bouquet - such as Masses personally offered for him and for his intentions, rosaries, novenas or other prayers and offerings - in the comment box or e-mail them to me at: love2learnmom at gmail.com (with the words "Archbishop Gomez Spiritual Bouquet" in the subject). These will be collected and presented to him in a few weeks, so we need to have all of the submissions by May 13th. If you like you may include your name and hometown.

Please feel free to pass the information along to anyone who might be interested.

Thank you very much and God Bless!

Florence Nightingale's Nuns

2010-04-15T07:40:00.002-05:00

My daughter has been studying the life of Florence Nightingale for History of Science class at co-op, and we found this great little book! I have known that Florence Nightingale had been trained by Catholic nursing sisters and it is nice to know the whole story from this well-documented book!

Florence Nightingale's Nuns, by Emmeline Garnett,Ignatius Press.

From the publisher:

At the age of 24, Florence Nightingale decided to dedicate herself to the care of the sick, especially those wounded in battle. She worked for nearly a year with the nursing Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Alexandria, Egypt. After that, when she established a hospital to tend the wounded during the Crimean War (1854 - 1856), she welcomed the assistance of thirty-eight women, including a group of Catholic nuns. This Vision Book for youth presents the moving story of those ten heroic nuns, from the Convent of Mercy in Bermondsey, England. The conditions in military hospitals at that time were extremely primitive and often lacked even the most basic necessities for treating the wounded and dying. But these dedicated nurses, especially the devoted nuns who saw Christ in their patients, sought to give them the very best care possible. Their successful struggle to establish higher standards of sanitation and care became widely known after the war, and Florence Nightingale became famous.

Do you know Pope Benedict?

2010-04-07T11:22:00.001-05:00

Summer School and Discounts

2010-04-06T05:50:00.003-05:00

Homeschool Connections is offering online summer camps this school year and they're open for registration. There are classes for middle and high school with some fantastic teachers. If you register before the end of this month (April) you can get a $20 to $30 discount.

I always "school-light" over the summer. My school teacher friends tell me that they spend the first 2 to 3 months each school year just reviewing the lessons from the previous school year. I figure it's easier to do a little bit of school work over the summer than review come September.

Learning is a year-round experience and with online classes you can take your learning just about anywhere. We've had students take classes at the beach on their laptops, on vacation in Peru, and at the library in a visiting city.

Here are the Summer Camps being offered. Simply click on the camp titles to learn more or to register:

Job Search Skills Camp

Class dates: Monday through Thursday, May 24 to May 27
Total classes: 4
Starting time: 8 pm Eastern (7 pm Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $60 for entire 4-class camp. $20 Early Registration Discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Derek Prentice
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 10^th grade to college level

Apologetics Camp

Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 7 to 17, 2010
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $100 for entire 8-class course. $20 early registration discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Gary Michuta
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9^th to 12^th

History Camp: Foundations of Christian Historiography

Class dates: Monday to Thursday, June 14 to June 17
Total classes: 4
Starting time: Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour
Fee: $50 for entire 4-class course. $10 Early Registration Discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Phillip Campbell
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 9^th to 12^th

Latin I Camp: Introductory Level

Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, June 21 to July 1, 2010
Total classes: 8
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: $120 for entire 8-class course. $20 early registration discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Alecia Rolling and Kenneth Rolling
Prerequisite: None
Suggested grade level: 7^th to 12^th

Latin II Camp: Grammar Intensive

Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, July 5 to July 22, 2010
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: $180 for entire 12-class course. $30 early registration discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Alecia Rolling
Prerequisite: The student who wishes to enroll in this camp has at least learned the 1^st through 3^rd noun and adjective declensions as well as the 1^st through 4^th conjugations of the present tense. If the student has not learned this, he or she is encouraged to take Latin I Camp or enroll in Latin II camp with the understanding that it will be difficult and fast-paced.
Suggested grade level: 7^th to 12^th

Latin III Camp: Translation Intensive

Class dates: Mondays through Thursdays, July 26 to August 12, 2010
Total classes: 12
Starting time: 10:00 am Eastern (9:00 am Central)
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Fee: $180 for entire 12-class course. $30 early registration discount before April 30, 2010
Instructor: Alecia Rolling
Prerequisite: The student who wishes to enroll in this camp has at least learned the 1^st through 5^th noun and adjective declensions as well as the 1^st through 4^th verb conjugations in all tenses (active and passive) or has successfully completed Latin Camp II.
Suggested grade level: 7^th to 12^th

Adoremus Books Sale!

2010-04-04T07:51:00.000-05:00

	Easter Celebration
	20% off your entire order! This is our Biggest Sale of the Year! Now through April 12th get 20% off your entire order. This only happens once a year!! Enter Discount Code EASTER10 at Checkout! Hurry!! Sale ends April 12th! Click here to Visit the Store

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-04-01T11:51:00.001-05:00

I have been busy fishing up a wonderful project: a workbook for Sea to Shining Sea of the Catholic textbook Project.

But here are two very recent publications I must post about, picked up at the library last week.

The first one is Mama Miti, by Donna Jo Napoli, a new book about a story that has been told in at least a couple of picture books before. One of them I posted here a while back. Read about a woman responsible for a renaissance of tree-planting in Kenya, aNobel prize winner, and also a graduate of Benedictine college! The illustrator was careful in using a very authentic style!

The second book is The Tree that Time Built, a book of poems selected by Mary Ann Hoberman, U.S. children's Poet Laureate and author of our family's favorite picture book, the Seven Silly Eaters. However you feel about Darwin and his ideas on Evolution, you will love the myriad of poems all revolving on the natural world, many by Hoberman herself.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-02-27T07:30:00.002-06:00

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman is neither a Catholic book, nor does it tell of a saint--it is not even around a religious theme. And yet, it is an all-time favorite in this seven-children Catholic family! The book tells about a family that grows and grows... almost every time we turn the page there is a new baby! The fact that they are silly--or fussy--eaters, which our kids have never been, matters little to us. The illustrations are absolutely captivating and darling, and the rhymes are known by all the kids, who can recite the book from cover to cover. The details of family life, the messy rooms, the bunk beds... and trees outside that grow as the babies arrive and the kids grow! The boy-girl-boy order of their kids is the same as in our family which has delighted the kids all of these years.

I find in The Seven Silly Eaters a strong pro-life, pro large-family book as each child is so openly welcomed even if they don't seem to have much apparent affluent power. If you have never read and enjoyed the illustrations of The Seven Silly eaters, give it a try!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-02-22T09:23:00.000-06:00

Max and Benedict, a Bird's Eye View of the Pope's Daily Life, by Jeanne Perego, illustrated by Donata Dal Molin Casagrande, 2009 Ignatius Press, 52 pages.

Who says picture books are for kids? Everyone in our house enjoys what I bring from the weekly trips to the library. Our 17 yr old son is enjoying this volume as I write this, and his comments include

...the illustrations have such a nice feeling to them

...the author seems to really know what she is talking about

... very insightful!

... the pope plays piano? I didn't know that!

... I like the listing of other birds' behavior around the Vatican

...a cheerful read!

Need say anymore?

This post doubles as a Pope St Nicholas V post as I have requested this book to be purchased by our library system. It was a wonderful feeling each time the library purchases our own suggestions. Give it a try!

Have You Seen This Yet?

2010-02-09T19:57:00.003-06:00

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-02-01T08:27:00.001-06:00

Heidi by Joahana Spryi and Maja Dusikova 2009 NorthSouth Books, 32 pages. ISBN: 0735822271

I chose this book a while back... but January is a busy month for us as the weather seems to make every outing take twice as long! I just renewed it for the second time!

We listened to Heidi last semester, the unabridged version, and then watched at least a couple of different versions of the story on film. So, we know the story well, and we know this picture book offers a very abridged version of the book. And yet, what won our hearts over this book are the illustrations! No book or film version seem to portray Heidi as in the darling illustrations by Maja Dusikova.

Done in watercolor, the illustrations take you to the Alpine mountains and truly reflect the beauty and delight of that region as described in the well-loved book by Johana Spryi! The characters, the mountain huts, life in the city, it is all done so faithfully to the book. I can't help but feel that the talented illustrator must both love this book and know that region very well.

A wonderful way to introduce the classic story to young children!

Prayers and Help for Haiti

2010-01-14T12:30:00.002-06:00

In this video Archbishop Dolan talks about the situation in Haiti and the work that Catholic Relief Services is doing there - amazingly their headquarters is still standing in the middle of all the destruction. Please pray and consider donating to CRS!

(video - hat-tip to OSV Daily Take)

Homeschool Connections Contest

2010-01-08T14:08:00.000-06:00

Homeschool Connections is having a contest to win a 1-year subscription to all their recorded courses.

Maureen writes:

To celebrate our new subscription service we're having a contest! Leave a comment on the fan page in the next 48 hours and you can win a free 1-year subscription to our recorded courses. If you're not already a fan, that's easily fixed. Just scroll down and the link to join is near the end in the sidebar.

More details here

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2010-01-08T11:04:00.002-06:00

The Stars and Find the Constellations, both by H. A. Rey, Second Editions, 2008 Houghton Mifflin, Hardcover.

I was both surprised and pleased when browsing the new materials this week at the library! H. A. Rey's excellent books on the stars and constellations have been published in second, updated, hardcover editions!

So nice to see a "new" sticker on old, favorite classics!

Homeschool Connections

2010-01-06T13:49:00.003-06:00

You may still be trying to organize your spring semester for your high schooler. If so, consider some of the online course offerings provided by Homeschool Connections, including theology, philosophy, literature, science, and history.

I would especially like to highlight a pair of courses

An Introduction to Logic, which is a six-week online course (Jan. 13- Feb. 24) I'm teaching using Memoria Press's Traditional Logic text book by Martin Cothran.
Fallacies and Paradoxes, a follow-up course taught by Prof. Jean Rioux, of Benedictine College (March 23-April 27).

Note: either course can be taken as a stand-alone.

Other courses being offered include:

Marketing: Jesus and Main Street with Derek Prentice
History: Roots of the Revolt (1417-1560) with Phillip Campbell
History: The Age of the Religious Wars (1560-1648) with Phillip Campbell
Life Skills: Career Search Skills with Derek Prentice
Literature: Chesterton; Man of Letters with Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Literature: Homer's Odyssey: The Soul of Pre-Socratic Wisdom with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
Literature: Virgil's Aeneid: The Founding of Nations in the Will of God with Henry Russell, Ph.D.
Logic: Introduction to Logic with Robert Gotcher, Ph.D.
Philosophy: Fallacies and Paradoxes with Jean Rioux, Ph.D.
Science: Immunity: In Sickness and in Health with Kris Correira, PA
Science: Blood: In Sickness and in Health with Kris Correira, PA
Theology: Social Ethics with Monica Ashour, MTS

Descriptions and registration information can be found here.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-12-08T01:05:00.000-06:00

Tricking the Tallyman, by Jacqueline Davies, illustrated by S. D. Schindler, 2009 Knopf

2010 will be a Census Year and here is a great picture book to read with the kids and learn some of the history of the census! Follow the poor tallyman as he attempts to count the people in a colonial town... only to be tricked again and again. But the tables are turned and in the end it is the town who learns the value of accurate counting! The historical information on the last page adds to the educational aspect of this delightful book.

Another picture book illustrated by the same artist is A Big Cheese for the White House: the True Tale of a Tremendous Cheddar, 2004 Farrar, Strauss and Giroux. Grandma gave us a copy of that one years ago and it has been a beloved one here for years!

Two great historical picture books!

Bethlehem Books is having a Christmas Sale!

2009-12-01T08:16:00.000-06:00

Enjoy shopping with me for excellent books at great prices!

We have loved Bethlehem Books since... for ever! You will not find a
better source for family-friendly books for young people, with no
magic, dark things, cursing etc. Many of these are beautiful reprints
of older books, and the level of culture and literature couldn't be
better! All of my kids, with no exception, have loved the books we
have bought from them.

And they are having a "Christmas Sale!" Enjoy shopping! Explore
their site-- they have many categories such as age brackets and "boys"
or "girls" and also they list the settings and dates for every story.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-11-30T18:18:00.000-06:00

Do Re Mi: If You Can Read Music, Thank Guido D'Arezzo, by Susan Roth, 2007 Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

A dear blog reader recomended this picture book on the life of Guido d'Arezzo, the Benedictine monk who came up with the system for writing music one thousand years ago--the same system we still use today. I requested it via inter library loan since our library does not own the title.

I liked the way the life of the monks is described, but I wonder about the illustrations... in the book the monks look more like Dominicans in white habit... Honestly, my wish is for the book to be re-ilustrated by another artist! Still, a very nice cultural picture book and... you may not mind the style of the illustrations!

Marian Songs for Advent

2009-11-28T18:18:00.003-06:00

It seems to me that it would be appropriate to emphasize Our Lady during Advent and hymns about her fiat and her pregnancy are most appropriate. (I did notice that "Castle of the Immaculate" has a post about a Marian theme for Advent). Here are a few of our favorite songs (still hope to find a few more resources to make these more accessible, I'll add them when/if I find them)...

Maria Walks Amid the Thorn

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.

The Angel Gabriel

Lyrics and a midi file can be found here.

This is the version Sting performed about 20 years ago which re-popularized the song. I like the music, but not so much the video:

A more traditional rendition:

Alma Redemptoris Mater
(Marian antiphon for Advent)

Click to enlarge the music to this chant:
Here's a decent way to learn the traditional chant:

Palestrina's gorgeous polyphonic version:

More about Marian antiphons here

You may find this article from First Things interesting and relevant.

This post is cross-posted from Studeo and revised and updated (particularly with YouTube videos) from they original post in 2006.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-11-14T22:58:00.000-06:00

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Marla Freeze, Beach Lane Books Sept 2009.

Illustrators are so crucial in picture books! If you love our favorite picture book, The Seven Silly Eaters, you will love the illustrations in this one by the same artist. In a good picture book, the illustrations have the power to take you to another world, even if temporarily. Illustrator Marla Freeze's style is captivating, warm, delightful!

Support a Catholic Speaker Month! Mike Aquilina

2009-10-29T08:30:00.009-05:00

Fallible Blogma has put together a wonderful project that I'm very delighted to participate in: Support a Catholic Speaker Month. Here's what the project organizers have to say about it:

The goal is to create a rising Catholic tide on the internet that lifts all boats (websites, speakers, and all those who participate). This giant, sudden influx of Catholic material and interlinking between Catholic websites should get some attention and raise awareness about all of these great Catholic speakers while also promoting the many wonderful Catholic blogs out there that perhaps you haven’t heard of yet either.

I think this is a fabulous idea, in part because we all need to be frequently reminded of what bonds us together - a passion for Christ's truth and a strong desire to share it with others. We need to focus on the truth we hold in common partly because the devil wishes to divide us - and sometimes accomplishes it through the most non-essential differences - like differences of taste or personality (which are gifts from God intended to enrich our lives and the world not divide us and keep us from accomplishing His will). This message of unity is the same message that has been beautifully articulated in a quote I came across many years ago when it was taken on as the motto of Catholic Information Network and which is popularly attributed to St. Augustine:

"In essentials unity, in doubtful matters, liberty, in all things, charity."

I've long been a fan of Mike Aquilina's work - especially through his books and blog - and I think the quote is one he'd heartily agree with. I was privileged to have a chat with him in preparation for this interview and asked him about this unity of truth and charity and how he came to understand it in his own life. He said that studying the Fathers of the Church (and appreciating their differences as well as what they held in common) and having children (he's a homeschool dad of six!) were primary influences.

Mike's blog, the Way of the Fathers, is always a pleasure to read, especially for those who have an interest in history, and I've always enjoyed his quirky sense of humor present there. He's a prolific writer and editor, though we only have a few of his books reviewed here on Love2learn (so far):

The Fathers of the Church
Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols
Love in the Little Things: Tales of Family Life

This last book is a particular favorite of mine and speaks well to his potential as a speaker on parenting and family life in addition to his areas of expertise in history and theology. I think he'd make a great speaker for homeschool conferences as well as ones aimed at wider Catholic audiences. He also speaks on the angels.

He's a big part of an excellent new project for children on Saint Perpetua. The Story of Saint Perpetua (from the Catholic Heroes of the Faith series) is a short animated film on the early Christian martyr and her companions. You can read a detailed review on Love2learn. As mentioned in the review, Mike is also featured in a companion documentary on Saint Perpetua, The Passion of Saint Perpetua: Martyr of the Faith, which is excellent.

Mike has co-hosted a number of EWTN programs with Scott Hahn and is the vice-president of The Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology.

Mike is a passionate and faith-filled speaker with a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm to share with others, as evidenced by the free radio clips and talks available on his website.

You can visit the following websites for more information on Mike Aquilina and his projects and interests:

Mike Aquilina's Website

The Way of the Fathers Blog

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-10-21T17:36:00.002-05:00

Louisa, The Life of Louisa May Alcott by Yona Zeldis McDonough, illustrated by Bethanne Andersen. 2009 Henry Holt, 48 pages.
ISBN: 0805081925

I love picture books and I love biographies... and I love it when both are combined successfully! This warmly illustrated picture book tells of the most beloved American author Louisa May Alcott. Her family was definitely sui generis, holding unusual beliefs and moving often, and Louisa began thinking and writing poetry at a very young age.

This new picture book sheds light on what a noble soul Louisa had, filled of generosity, integrity and character. Highly recommended especially for young readers who love the wonderful Little Women author.

Online Classes: Catholic Spiritual Writers

2009-10-19T10:21:00.003-05:00

Although Homeschool Connections is currently scheduling spring courses there is one fall class still open. It's Catholic Spiritual Writers and it starts November 5, 2009. Dr. Gotcher of Love2Learn is the instructor and his classes are terrific for high school students who Love 2 Learn. They are not only academically challenging but also spiritually uplifting. This course is a terrific opportunity for you to give your high school student credit for literature and theology as well help him or her grow in love with all things Catholic.

Course Title:
Catholic Spiritual Writers
(click on the hyperlink to register)

Course Description:
In this course we will look at the basic principles of Catholic spirituality as they are explained by some of the great spiritual writers, such as St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, Thomas a Kempis, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Therese of Lisieux. We will especially emphasize their application to the life of the young laity.

Homework
The assignment will be to pick one of the great spiritual classics, read the entire book over the six weeks of the course, and keep a journal of reflections as you read.

Fee:
Six-week course for $120.

Dates and Time:
Classes will begin Wednesday, November 4, 2009 and meet every Wednesday through December 16, 2009. The time will begin 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 Central). The class is one hour 15 minutes.

Enrollment Period:
Enrollment is currently open and will close when the class is filled. (Maximum 15 students.)

Course Materials Needed by Students:
The text will be The Classics of Catholic Spirituality by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. (editor of the English language edition of Magnificat magazine). It is very inexpensive ($7). The rest of the texts from the great spiritual writers are available free online.

Equipment requirements:
Because this is a discussion course, students are required to have high-speed internet and a headset with a microphone. If you do not own a headset, you can find them for a reasonable price at Amazon.

Course Access:
All Homeschool Connections courses are recorded and available to registered students for up to six months.

Professor's Biography:
Dr. Robert F. Gotcher most recently served as Associate Professor of Systematic Studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He and his wife, Kathy, are raising their seven children in Franklin, Wisconsin. Dr. Gotcher has been actively involved in the home schooling of his children, especially in the junior high and high school years. He has taught Latin, literature, physics, astronomy, and religion to homeschooled students. He has a special devotion to the classical trivium of grammar, logic and rhetoric, especially as they pertain to the written arts.

Dr. Gotcher graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 with a B.A. in the Program of Liberal Studies. He received his M.A. in Theology of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul in 1991 and his Ph.D. from Marquette University in 2002. In his adult life he has done everything from volunteering with the poor in Appalachia, to religious education and youth ministry, to desktop publishing and computer related responsibilities at a law firm. At the seminary he taught introduction to theology, the doctrine of God, one and three, theological anthropology (creation, sin, redemption, grace, four last things), life principles, and human sexuality and has given public presentations on Vatican II, the encyclicals of the pope, social justice, life issues, human sexuality and the theology of the body. His publications focus on family issues, lay spirituality and issues related to the Second Vatican Council. He is involved in the secular Franciscan order, home schooling, and pro-life activities in the Milwaukee area and nationally.

Dr. Gotcher blogs at Heart, Mind & Strength, Classic Catholic and Love2Learn.

Click here to learn about other homeschool online classes.

If you have questions please email Maureen Wittmann.

All Saints' Craft! New Patterns!

2009-10-14T18:06:00.003-05:00

I just posted a new craft pattern to make these heavenly paper friends! Enjoy!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-10-14T08:04:00.003-05:00

Galileo's Leaning Tower Experiment by Wendy Macdonald, 2009 Charlesbridge Publishing, 32 pages.

World Geography, World History, science... and some creative fictional characters as well! All in a beautiful information Picture Book.

The story of the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment by Galileo is brought to life here around the story of a boy, Massimo, who was very clever, and dropped his father's lunch from a bridge everyday in calculating motions... until a passer-by professor named Galileo witnesses it and rethinks the whole Aristotelian notion on the subject!

The pictures are colorful, warm and very pleasant, and some of the angles are taken from delightful perspectives!

A gem. A very nice way to introduce children to Galileo and to some concepts of Physics.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-10-02T06:44:00.003-05:00

Building on Nature, The Life of Antoni Gaudi by Rachel Rodriguez, illustrated by Julie Paschkis, 2009 Henry Holt, 32 pages.

Like most art students and lovers, I have had mixed feelings about the architecture of Gaudi all my life. When our oldes son visited Barcelona and sent pictures of Gaudi buildings, I planned on learning more about him. Now I find this new and remarkable picture book telling children about a man who was perhaps little understood during his lifetime.

What I find in the warmly-illustrated pages is a likeable man! A devout Catholic, a lover of nature and of poverty, married to his life's hard work. Perhaps his art isn't traditional, in any shape or form, but there is a genuine aspect of Gaudi's work that one can't help being attracted to.

This picture book does a good job of bringing his life and work to young children and it is a fun read aloud, written in the present tense, in poetic lines. The author's note adds important biographical information including the fact that he was a very early recycler, using all sort of discarded materials in his buildings. A list of websites is also listed. I found this list of buildings with photos very useful!

Life = Risk

2009-09-29T11:47:00.000-05:00

Meet Our New Priests!

2009-09-22T16:54:00.003-05:00

The USCCB has a beautiful new page with pictures of all our new priests from the class of 2009. Check it out here and keep them in your prayers!

Love2Learn on Facebook

2009-09-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

Love2learn.net on Facebook

College Stuff

2009-09-21T07:41:00.003-05:00

We're starting the college admissions process with my oldest, and there's a lot of good stuff we've been running into of late, so I thought I'd collect some of it here.

Catholic College Month: Homeschool Connections is hosting "Catholic College Month" next month with free webinars hosted by representatives of Catholic Colleges. What a great service! Check out the details at the Homeschool Connections website. I'm really looking forward to these!

Catholic College Guide: The Newman Guide to Choosing a Catholic College has just been released in its new second edition - and is available in its entirety free online (my alma mater is pictured on the front of the print book with their beautiful new chapel). Take a look at the Newman Guide website. The guide offers lots of helpful information on 21 exceptional Catholic colleges in the U.S. and a handful of overseas and online schools.

Another Excellent College Guide: I stumbled upon the Intercollegiate Studies Institute Guide to Choosing the Right College: The Whole Truth About America's Top Schools when I found a copy of their 2008-09 guide at a local thrift store this summer. I am very impressed by the thoroughness and depth of the content. The guide provides helpful and critical information (approximately 7-8 packed pages) on 134 "top" schools in the U.S. You will find the ups and downs of each school's academic quality, political makeup, student culture, safety of campus life and even recommended professors and courses to get a solid liberal arts foundation (and much more). Very honest and very eye-opening! The Intercollegiate Studies Institute is a Catholic-friendly organization dedicated to promoting solid college academics, free of political nonsense. (Their Student's Guides to the Major Disciplines are also highly recommended.) Their College Guide website is also very helpful. There's a lot of free information, including a guide to "Entry Requirements for Homeschool Students", and you can purchase an online version of their college guide for $25.

We've been navigating the waters of standardized testing for college admissions and I thought I'd share a few tidbits here in the hope that they'll be helpful to others.

ACT Test: This is one of the two most common required standardized tests and covers the following subjects: English, mathematics, reading, and science as well as an optional writing segment. I found the website quite easy to navigate and the homeschool options were very clear. Apparently this is the more common admissions test in the Midwest, while the SAT is more common elsewhere. My daughter is taking both.

SAT Test: The SAT Test covers Math, Critical Reading (including Vocabulary) and Writing. We found their website somewhat difficult to navigate. We had a very difficult time finding the "homeschool code" which we finally got from a friend. (The code is 970000). Also, if you sign up for the SAT test first, it won't show you the options for the SAT Subject test on the same day (since you can't take them on the same day), so you should probably schedule your Subject tests first - especially if you're taking a Latin or World History Subject tests which are only made available twice a year (in December and June).

SAT Subject Tests: A few colleges (a very few as I understand it) require these, particularly for homeschoolers, as an objective assessment of subjects not covered, or not covered as thoroughly, by the SAT and ACT tests themselves. SAT Subject Tests are available in five basic subjects: English (Literature), History (U.S. or World), Mathematics (Level 1 or Level 2), Science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics), and Languages (Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Hebrew, Italian, Latin, Japanese, or Korean). You can take up to three Subject tests in one day (though not on the same day as the SAT itself, and taking three on one day is the most cost-effective way to do it).

You also may want to sign up for the free SAT Question of the Day on the SAT website.
Test Preparation: Finally, Ana recommended the Princeton Review Guides for test preparation. We picked up a few of these and I'm very impressed so far. I particularly like how they have you take a test and then explain a little about all the choices (these are multiple choice tests) and why the correct answer made the most sense even if you didn't quite know what it was.

Also see on Love2learn:

Homeschooling High Schoolers Section
Homeschool-Friendly Catholic Colleges

I'm sure there are other helpful resources out there. What have you found helpful in the college admissions process for homeschool students? Please feel free to share in the comments section.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-09-19T11:22:00.001-05:00

I confess that, with garden produce processing and the beginning of the school year, I have a growing pile of great new titles from the library sittign here, all worthy of picture-book-of-the week status. Our youngest, an 8-year old animal lover extraordinaire, voted for this one.

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau by Dan Yaccarino, 2009 Knopf Books for Young Readers, ISBN 0375855734

Like many parents our age, I grew up with Jacques Cousteau, the Frenchman who brought the life below the water level to everyone's homes via TV and films. Here is a colorful, friendly picture book about his life and accomplishments. Curious episodes of his life and his conservation efforts are explained in simple language. Also, beautiful, direct quotes from him are found throughout the colorful book, such as:

If we were logical, the future would be bleak indeed. But we are more than logical. We are human beings, and we faith, and we have hope.

The art is reminiscent of illustrations from the 60s and very pleasant. We read this aloud and some of the facts of his life listed on the last page. We also found plenty on You Tube including longer films of his adventures on his ship, the Calypso.

Together with another picture book about Jacques Cousteau entitled Manfish by Jennifer Berne, this book can bring alive the life of a great man and his work to any young student .

Note: An interesting piece in the NYT about these books on the "red-capped" ocean explorer is worth reading!

Coupon for Online Courses

2009-09-03T08:17:00.006-05:00

Dr. Robert Gotcher who is a Love 2 Learn contributor is going to be teaching some excellent online classes this semester for Catholic high school students.

These courses are in the evening as a number of homeschool students requested evening classes. These would also be good for non-homeschooled students to supplement their day studies. Gosh, anytime you can offer a teenager the opportunity to learn more about the Catholic Mass and the Catholic faith, it's a great thing!

Make sure to check out these links to learn more or to register.

Oh, one more thing. If you like to save money, here is a coupon code for $15. This is good until Sept. 8, 2009 and for any (or all) of Dr. Gotcher's courses: k2w3sc. You just plug in the code when you register, before putting in your credit card information. If you prefer to pay by check, or have other questions, please email me.

Please feel free to share these links and the coupon code with others.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-08-26T10:05:00.001-05:00

Black? White! Day? Night! A Book of Opposites by Laura Vaccaro Seeger, illustrated by the author, 2006 Roaring Brook Press. ISBN: 978-1-59643-185-0

Here's a clever picture book about opposites! We loved it so much, the kids told me this had to be a picture book of the week.

Each page has a one-work question, such as "alike?" Each page has one or more cut-out windows, showing a picture--in this case, several "alike" diamonds. Flip the page and the picture of an opposite concept is shown: the little "alike" diamonds were actually all part of several very differently-shaped snowflakes!

Have fun with his colorful and imaginative book of opposites!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-08-15T20:47:00.001-05:00

Pippo the Fool, by Tracey E. Fern, illustrated by Pau Estrada 2009 Charlesbridge Publishing; 48 pages. ISBN: 1570916551

I heard this story long ago... most certainly from my story-telling aunt, who had the power to do exactly what this phenomenal books does: to turn real life stories into a delightful tale for children! But while my good auntie illustrated her stories with words in a way only she could do, this new publication is illustrated by lines and color in a way that will captivate young and old alike. One would be reminded of Tomie De Paola, but a Tomie de Paola turned-to-life with much more realistic, rich-in-detail full page spreads.

The story is one of big dreams, inventiveness, and great doses of courage and perseverance. Half a millennium ago in Florence, the great cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was all built, but for the dome... and a contest was announced for the building of an architectural feat never done before. Little Pippo, called the fool by the people, a goldsmith, dreamed of a plan... and had to undergo quite a bit to accomplish it!

Pictures books are such integral part of our family life... and books such as Pippo the Fool come to entertain, to educate and to delight. Hats off to writer and illustrator. Do not miss this gem!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

2009-08-05T07:45:00.002-05:00

Mozart, the Wonder Child, A Puppet Show in Three Acts by Diane Stanley, 2009 Harper Collins.

No need to introduce young Mozart or kids biographer extraordinaire Diane Stanley, but this brand new biography has a new twist: she wrote the whole book as a marionette play! The pictures look as if his whole life is a show, with characters suspended on strings. Expect the usual detail-rich, high level writing that comes with her wonderful biographies.

Another innovative aspect is the medium she chose for the paintings for this book: the 500-year old method of egg-tempera. On the interior of the back jacket she explains about this medium and directs readers to the Society of Tempera Painters at www.eggtempera.com. For this art teacher, this definitely sparks my curiosity... potential projects abound in my head!

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Jesus of Nazareth: Part 2

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

I know, I know, it has been a while since I posted one! But we have been bringing new gems from the library nevertheless! The girls now are the ones reminding me to post about them. I selected, among their favorites, two picture books connected by the fact that they all retell true stories!

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Advent Quote of the Day 16

Advent Quote of the Day 15

Advent Quote of the Day 14

Advent Quote of the Day 13

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

First Approved Marian Apparition in the United States

Advent Quote of the Day 12

Advent Quote of the Day 11

Advent Quote of the Day 10

Advent Quote of the Day 9

Advent Quote of the Day 8

Advent Quote of the Day 7

Advent Quote of the Day 6

Advent Quote of the Day 5

Advent Quote of the Day 4

Advent Quote of the Day 3

Homeschool Connections Discount!

Advent Quote of the Day 2

Advent Quote of the Day

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Children's Picture Books in German

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Easy Games for Beginning Latin

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

John Mary Vianney: The Holy Cure of Ars by Sophie De Mullenheim, 2010 Ignatius Press, Hardcover.

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Angels simple craft pattern

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Don Matteo, priest-detective TV series on DVD

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Review: Tale of Manaeth

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Ana's Picture Book of the Week

Spiritual Bouquet for Archbishop José Gomez (extended deadline - May 13th)

Florence Nightingale's Nuns

Do you know Pope Benedict?

Summer School and Discounts

Job Search Skills Camp

Apologetics Camp

History Camp: Foundations of Christian Historiography

Latin I Camp: Introductory Level

Latin II Camp: Grammar Intensive

Latin III Camp: Translation Intensive

Adoremus Books Sale!

*John Mary Vianney: The Holy Cure of Ars b**y Sophie De Mullenheim*, 2010 Ignatius Press, Hardcover.