“Pray and hope. God is merciful and He will hear your prayer.”–Padre Pio
Reading Level:
To be read with children at 5 years old. To be read independently at 8 years and up.
Review and Comments:
As All Saint’s Day approaches, we are reminded of the great opportunity to learn about all of the holy men and women who have modeled their lives after Christ and show us the amazing possibilities in store when we do the same. The really amazing part is that there are all different kinds of saints. Saints who lived quietly, saints who were martyred, and saints who fought in wars are all with Jesus. They simply listened to His call.
My hope is that my young children will find friends in the saints as I did growing up. This is why I am so glad to have found the CTS Children’s Book series on saints for kids. Continue reading Pray and Hope: A Review of ‘Padre Pio: Saint Pius of Pietrelcina’ →
“The saints were not superhuman. They were people who loved God in their hearts, and who shared His love with others.” – Pope Francis
Reading Level: Grades 1-3
Interest Level: 5-9 years
Review and Comments:
Jackie is a pumpkin who very much wants to experience all the activities of Halloween. Other pumpkins in the patch have told her she will actually be able to talk to a child on Halloween night if she is chosen. This is something she yearns for. When she is finally chosen by a little boy named Pablo, she is overjoyed. The match seems perfect because Pablo is just as excited about Halloween and all its promises of candy, fun, and friends. Continue reading Extraordinary Lives: A Review of ‘Jackie’s Special Halloween’ →
“A human life is a story told by God.”–Hans Christian Andersen
Reading Level:
Grade 2
Review and Thoughts
Dia de los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield Thong is a non-fiction book about the Day of the Dead, which is a traditional celebration in Mexico. It is celebrated November 1 and 2. These dates were chosen as a way to intermingle the Aztec and Catholic cultures. November 1 is All Saints’ Day, and November 2 is All Souls’ Day. Continue reading Celebrating the Lives of Loved Ones: A Review of ‘Dia De Los Muertos’ →
In today’s changing world, Halloween has evolved along with society. Costumes aren’t quite as innocent as they used to be, candy is blamed for contributing to childhood obesity, and trick-or-treating has become a concern for some people worried about what could be in candy...or worse, who could be passing it out! Luckily there is also beauty in the holiday for Catholics, in fact, its origins began with us. Innocent celebration can teach our children a special part of our cultural history and create lasting memories for years. Below are thoughts from individual Catholic moms about their feelings toward Halloween. Continue reading Celebrating Halloween (Part One): A Response to Halloween From Four Catholic Moms →
Literature reviews from the Catholic side
