Language Arts

American Cardinal Readers: Primer

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Primer
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
98 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845525
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

This book is a chapter story about a family that goes to visit the grandparents on the farm. The parents tell stories of Jesus and Mary. Some of the chapters are "Baby's Angel", "The First Christmas", "A Ride to the Farm". There are twenty chapters total. So each chapter is about 5-10 pages. There are black and white pictures with the stories that are lovely. The type is easy to read.

Additional Comments: Unlike the Catholic National Readers, the primer and early grades are not phonetically based. The child will need quite a bit of basic phonics work before starting the primer as they will encounter somewhat advanced words such as "grandmother" and "grandfather" in the first lesson. Apparently, these were designed to be learned as "sight words". (Alicia Van Hecke, 3-24-01)

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 1

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 1
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
177 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845365
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Continuation of family stories from Primer. Twenty-three chapters like "What Father Kelly Told", "The Snowman", and "A Prayer". Also has black and white pictures.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 2

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 2
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
217 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845372
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Book two begins to offer stories and poems that are enjoyable and worthwhile reading in their own right such as The Christ Child by G.K. Chesterton, The Honest Woodman, several Saint stories (Blessed Imelda, St. Teresa the Little Flower, St. Francis and the Wolf) and other short stories, folk tales and fairy stories.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 3

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 3
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
249 pages
Copyright: 
1929
ISBN: 
9780911845389
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

The Third Grade reader includes a total of fifty-two selections which are somewhat coordinated with the seasons of the year. The selections include poetry (about God, country, nature, etc.) and a variety of stories that are both appealing and inspiring - saint stories, fairy tales (with very obvious morals), biographies, stories that teach something about the world around us and others relating examples of devotion and heroism, such as the well-known tale of the little Dutch boy ("The Hero of Haarlem"). A few of the stories are a little "dated", such as the story entitled, Jamie Watt and his Grandmother's Tea Kettle" which treats the concept of steam engines in a rather contemporary fashion. Rather than being problematic, I see this perspective as informative and educational. (Another learning opportunity). The stories are surprisingly "multicultural" (in a good way) for their day; you'll find several very nice stories (and even a poem) involving American Indians and one story about a little boy from China.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 4

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 4
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
282 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845396
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Fifty-three separate stories including two stories of Christopher Columbus, "Three of Our Lord's Miracles", "The Story of Daniel", "The Angel of the Resurrection" by St Teresa of the Child Jesus, "The Children's Hour" by Longfellow and "The Church Underground". A few black and white pictures. Glossary.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 5

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 5
Number of pages: 
337 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845402
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Forty-seven stories including "The Star Spangled Banner", "Our Lord and Our Lady" by Hiilaire Belloc, "St Martin of Tours" and "St Brigid". A few black and white pictures. Includes study suggestions for each story. Glossary.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 6

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book Six
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
390 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845419
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Fifty-nine stories including "Bethlehem 1918", "Daniel Boone" by Teddy Roosevelt, " St Aloysisus", "O Captain! My Captian" by Walt Whitman","St Isaac Jogues", "The Address of the Roman Catholics to George Washington, Esq. President of the United States". Includes study suggestions for each story and a glossary. A few black and white pictures.

In the story "Bethlehem, 1918" on page 88, there is a troubling sentence: "In Jerusalem, in spite of its overwhelming interest, the Catholic pilgrim is distressed by the discord of jarring creeds, by the crowds of Mohammedans and foreign Jews that infest it..." While we certainly can't judge the author's intentions in referring to people as infesting a place, it certainly seems contradictory to Catholic teaching on the value of each human life, regardless of race or religion. I would be anxious to make clear to my children that it is inappropriate to refer to people as infesting a place. While some may choose to skip the story entirely, I think it can be valuable for children to read such things and discuss them with their parents in order to be better prepared to avoid such errors and evils in the future. (A.V.H.)

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 7

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 7
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
452 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845426
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Forty-four stories include: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow", "The High Tide at Gettysburg", "The Martyr of Molokai", "Holy Ireland", and "Malchus the Monk". Includes study suggestions for each story. A few black and white pictures. Includes a glossary and a home reading list.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

American Cardinal Readers: Book 8

Book cover: American Cardinal Readers: Book 8
Author(s): 
Edith M. McLaughlin
Adrian T. Curtis
Number of pages: 
556 pages
Copyright: 
1930
ISBN: 
9780911845433
Publisher: 
Neumann Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Sixty-one stories including "A Christmas Carol" by Dickens, "At High Mass" By Msgr. Benson, "The Names of Our Lady", "The Sign of the Cross" by John Henry Cardinal Newman, and "The New School" by Joyce Kilmer. Includes study suggestions for each story. A few black and white pictures. Includes a glossary and home reading list.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Pages