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The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien

Book cover: 'The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien'
Author(s): 
Humphrey Carpenter (ed.)
This book is not a "must read", but it is an enlightening read (best for high school and up). I have not read any other compilation of letters like this, so even the concept was new to me. There isn't a format, a thesis or an argument to unify the book. Rather, it is the life, work and times of Tolkien which generate the letters. He writes to his wife, his children, fans of his work, his publishers and various friends. The book is a subset of his letters (edited with the help of his son Christopher).

Fahrenheit 451

Book cover: 'Fahrenheit 451'
Author(s): 
Ray Bradbury
Fahrenheit 451 is on the reading list of almost every high school in America, and with good reason. It is thought provoking and hip. There are reasons to love this book and reasons to worry about it. It is Bradbury's reaction against censorship and the blossoming of television. Some of the things he writes about have come true in our time, which makes his story all the more intriguing. First the story: it is in the future, but not too far off, with global war looming. The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a fireman.

Rosary Reflections for Kids Tablet

Book cover: Rosary Reflections for Kids Tablet
Author(s): 
Joe Oka

Last night during family rosary, I gave my 7 year old son and 5 year old daughter one sheet each from the Rosary Reflections drawing pad, and the ziplock bag of colored pencils. The children immediately and enthusiastically began drawing the mysteries while we prayed the rosary. This instantly solved a problem for us: How to keep the little ones engaged and close to the rest of the family (mom, dad and two older daughters) while we pray together, instead of watching them dramatically flop over on the floor or wander off to find a toy.

Catholic Heritage Curricula Lesson Plans: Third Grade - Supplements

Book cover: 'Catholic Heritage Curricula Lesson Plans: Third Grade - Supplements'

The supplements are carefully woven into the third grade lesson assignments, but for those who prefer not to use the lesson plans the supplements alone could easily be used for enrichment and would make purchasing the plans worthwhile. For example the book report supplements contain clear guidelines for helping young students write book reports, a checklist to help the student in their efforts, creative ideas for written reports or oral reports and hands-on project reporting.

Amata Means Beloved

Book cover: 'Amata Means Beloved'
Author(s): 
Sister Mary Catharine Perry, O.P.
Sister has given us a beautiful look behind the closed doors of a cloistered convent in this little gem set in post 9-11 America. It is the story of a young woman who feels called to religious life but struggles to understand God's workings. This woman had been discerning her vocation to religious life when her life is shattered by the death of her brother, a seminarian, who is killed by terrorists. She has been unable to get over the loss of this beloved brother and although she wants to, cannot forgive the men that killed him.

Rosary Reflections

Book cover: 'Rosary Reflections: Help Your Children Contemplate the Mysteries of the Rosary through Drawing'
Author(s): 
Joseph J. Oka

This simple booklet offers a new idea in helping children learn to meditate upon the Rosary. After six pages introducing the prayers and mysteries of the Rosary (including the Luminous mysteries), there are 26 coloring sheets with a rosary in the center and five segments where children can draw their own pictures of each of the mysteries. Each coloring sheet lists all 20 mysteries of the Rosary.

Building the Family Cookbook

Book cover: Building the Family Cookbook
Author(s): 
Suzanne Fowler
Ruth Catherine Fowler
Building the Family Cookbook by Suzanne Fowler is not your typical cookbook. Although the layout is similar to most church cookbooks with a comb binding that allows it to lay flat for reading, the contents include much more than recipes.

Typing Tutor 10

Book cover: 'Typing Tutor 10'

CD ROM for Windows 95/98 and Power Macintosh Used on Windows ME and Windows XP systems for this review

In the era of the personal computer, good typing skills are essential. Children will benefit tremendously from learning to type while they're still in grade school, and Typing Tutor 10 is all you'll need to teach this valuable skill.