“The secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.” -Mark Twain
Interest Level: K-2
Review and Comments:
Dragons Love Tacos is about a young boy who learns a few interesting and little known facts about dragons. The knowledge however comes with an earnest warning that the boy soon learns is quite serious. Continue reading Salsa Picante!: A Review of ‘Dragons Love Tacos’
“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”– Luke 2:40
Review and Comments:
When Jesus Was a Little Boy is a story that describes what Jesus might have done as a child. Each page shows Jesus actively participating in chores around the house, learning lessons, taking care of animals, and always doing his best. There are also examples of Jesus being a true and loving friend while interacting with other children. All of these activities are perfect examples of “little acts of holiness” as St. Therese of Lisieux called them, which children can imitate to become more like Jesus. This story shows how the holy family, the model for all families, exemplifies how to love and respect others. Continue reading He Advanced in Wisdom and Age: A Review of ‘When Jesus Was a Little Boy’
“For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
AR Level: 3.0
Review and Comments:
This is a story about two beasts who describe the same experience in their lives from very different perspectives. Continue reading Try to Look at it From My Perspective: A Review of ‘A Tale of Two Beasts’
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” – John Paul II
Review and Comments:
Saint John Paul II: Be Not Afraid is a biography that allows a new generation of young children to understand what made Karol Wojtyla the man and Pope the world grew to love. It faithfully tells the story of his life through his sorrows, trials, talents, and the people who influenced him. The reader will begin to understand that every experience taught him a true love of life and prepared him for his ultimate mission. Continue reading Totally Yours: A Review of ‘Saint John Paul II: Be Not Afraid’
Interest Level: Ages 2-5
EVERYBODY HAS A BODY, GOD MADE BOYS AND GIRLS
“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.” -Psalm 139:14
Everybody Has a Body is a book that helps very young children begin to understand God’s plan for his sons and daughters. The story explains very simply that our bodies are created alike in many ways and yet God created boys and girls to be different in special ways. God loves us the way he created us, and we love ourselves and others as special creations of God. Continue reading Created in His Image: Three Books That Introduce Theology of the Body for Tots
“A small body of determined spirits fired by unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Grade 4-5 [according to common core]
Grade 3.2 [according to Scholastic]
Grade 4 [AR level]
Interest Level:
Grades 3-5
Review and Comments:
Stone Fox is a story about courage and determination. It is a story about a young boy’s love for his grandfather and his dog that will touch the heart of the reader. Continue reading A Determined Spirit: A Review of ‘Stone Fox’
“Every person’s life is a fairy tale written by God’s fingers.” –Hans Christian Anderson
Grade 5 [The text could likely be read independently by a student whose reading skills are at the level of a typical fifth grader.]
Interest Level:
Grades of 3-8
Review and Comments:
The Wishing Spell is a story about a brother and sister named Alex and Connor Bailey, twins who are individually quite unique. Alex is an intelligent and resourceful girl who spends a great deal of time reading alone and isolating herself from those who consider her different. Connor, on the other hand, is a very popular boy who finds school a challenge and sometimes feels that no matter how hard he tries he just doesn’t measure up. He has trouble staying awake in school because, well, most lessons are just not interesting or relevant. The twins do share two very important things in common however. They love fairy tales. Their father and grandmother have been telling them fairy tales since they were very young. Those family times are some of their best memories. Alex even wonders what it would be like to live in a fairy tale of her imagination. The twins also share a great sorrow. Their dad was killed in an accident and even though it was a year ago they still grieve so much that “sometimes they expect their sadness to swell out of their bodies”. Continue reading Venture Forth: A Review of ‘The Wishing Spell’ (Land of Stories #1)
I can’t believe it’s been a year since we started our tiny blog. Our hope was to review wonderful books parents could read with their kids and suggest great Catholic lessons to go along with them. We also hoped to provide a place for parents to look for help with determining if books were healthy for their older kids. Hopefully we are doing what we set out to do and we are incredibly grateful for those of you who have read us and shared us and supported us!
A lot has changed in our lives over the last year and we thank you for standing by us as we worked through some kinks and built our base of reviews. We absolutely love being able to share our thoughts with you and we are grateful that we have been given this forum. We hope you stay with us as we continue to grow and learn.
In honor of our first year, here are our top shared reviews! If you missed them, be sure to check them out…and maybe add them to your summer reading list! Click on any picture for more information! Continue reading One Year with Lit By the Tree! Thank you !
“As soon as I saw you, I knew a grand adventure was about to happen.” – Winnie the Pooh
K – Grade 3 [approximately]
Grade Level Equivalent:
3.4 [The text could likely be read independently by a student whose reading skills are at the level of a typical third grader during the fourth month of school.]
Review and Comments:
‘Finding Winnie’ is a fascinating and true prequel to Winnie-the-Pooh and his familiar adventures. It is a story within a story that begins when a young boy named Cole asks his mother to tell him a true story about a bear – the authentic story of Winnie-the-Pooh. Continue reading A Friend of the Heart: A Review of ‘Finding Winnie, the True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear’
“Where we love is home – home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes
3.9 [according to Scholastic – reflects the grade level at which a student reading on grade could read the book independently]
Interest Level:
K – 2
Review and Comments:
Little House was lovingly built for family – generations of family. She was very content watching the family grow and the changing seasons from her small hilltop. As time passed, Little House also saw further transformations of the landscape. There was an increase in traffic so bigger roads were built through the beautiful countryside, and more and more people followed those roads right up to her little world. After awhile the ever-expanding and consuming city grew. Little House was in the middle of that crowded city with feelings that she was abandoned by the family who loved her. She was alone, boarded up and shabby, yearning for the life she used to have. Continue reading A Most Enduring Home: A Review of ‘The Little House’
