“God desires from you the least degree of purity of conscience more than all the works you can perform.”
–St. John of the Cross
Interest Level
3-6 years
Review and Comments
Reviewing Good Pictures Bad Pictures was challenging because of the subject matter. The message is meant to introduce children to a “safe and healthy media experience.” I feel the book handles this very serious topic with simple honesty and an effective, valuable plan. We want our children to be safe especially in today’s world, but this grandma’s heart is ever so sad and troubled that very young children must be armed against such an evil reality.
The first half of the book discusses good pictures and where we find them. The second contrasting side of course discusses bad pictures with a message that is clearly and appropriately stated. Along with this information is a plan – the Turn, Run, and Tell Plan. It enables children, with parental guidance, to respond in a positive way if they do see a bad picture. There are also little notes on some pages that parents can choose to include while reading. The word pornography is simply defined on one of those notes.
This story and the section for parents and caregivers at the end of the book should definitely be previewed. The information and guidelines in the parent section includes: How to Use This Book, Why You’re Doing the Right Thing, How to Respond, and How to Help a Child Forget Bad Pictures.
Possible Concerns
Parents will have to determine the appropriateness of the material for their child.
Catholic Resources
Saints of Purity for Boys and Girls:
The Blessed Mother
Saint Joseph
Saint Maria Goretti
Saint Agnes
Saint Aloyisius of Gonzaga
Saint Dominic Savio
Saint Catherine of Sienna
Saint Augustine of Hippo
Guardian Angel Prayer:
[St. Basil, once wrote that “every one of the faithful has an angel at his side as educator and guide, directing his life.”]
Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and to guard, to rule and to guide. Amen.
Guardian Angel Novena
Say a novena to the guardian angels using the prayers found at Pray More Novenas.
CCC 336 From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. “Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.”Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.
CCC 2523 Pornography consists in removing real or simulated sexual acts from the intimacy of the partners, in order to display them deliberately to third parties. It offends against chastity because it perverts the conjugal act, the intimate giving of spouses to each other. It does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public), since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world. It is a grave offense. Civil authorities should prevent the production and distribution of pornographic materials.
Read the following article from Catholic News Agency: “The Harmful Effect of Pornography”