No name

The Penderwicks

A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy
Author(s): 
Jeanne Birdsall
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
2005
ISBN: 
0375831436
Publisher: 
Knopf Books for Young Readers
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
It may have been the old fashioned cover with all those happy children, or the subtitle, but the fact is, I grabbed a copy of the Penderwicks from the library even though it’s a 2005 copyright: our read-aloud selections are almost never beyond 1950! It took me a while, however, and some research online, before I inserted the CD into the van’s stereo, and not without some trepidation. Needless to say my personal experience with contemporary children’s materials has been… bumpy at best. But this one promised to be different. By the second chapter, we were hooked. Four sisters and a dog? My girls loved that. A professor dad? With lots of Latin phrases? I loved that. I found pro life themes all over, in references to their loving, deceased mother and other positive references to large families. The story revolves around the family's summer spell in a rented cottage located in a wealthy estate with breathtaking, manicured gardens. The sisters' personalities emerge real and believable: in our conversations about the book we discussed things such as Skye's decision to learn Algebra over the summer, or our desire to read Jane's Sabrina Star stories. I am delighted to recommend The Penderwicks for family reading. Jane Birdsall’s writing will undoubtedly improve your young readers’, or listeners’ as in our case, writing. It’s like if someone, while captivating them with a simple yet profound story of family and friendship, is able to exemplify to them all of the good writing skills we’ve been trying to instill in them for years! We can't wait for the sequel, coming out next month. And I just love the fact that the author, 42, had never written anything until this. Her writing, to us, had a crystalline quality. And a National Book Award to boot! The CD audio version was read carefully and with very well-done character voices.
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-25-2008

The Phantom Tollbooth

Book cover: 'The Phantom Tollbooth'
Author(s): 
Norton Juster
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
1961
Publisher: 
Yearling
Binding: 
Softcover
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
This rather ordinary-looking book is a genuine treasure! It is the story of a bored little boy who has a mysterious tollbooth suddenly appear in his bedroom one day. He goes through the tollbooth, mostly because there is nothing better to do at that present moment. Well, a thoroughly entertaining adventure awaits our young friend, Milo. The novel is a romp through the lands of numbers and letters, the former ruled by the Mathemagician, of course! The plot is Milo's quest to rescue the princesses of Rhyme and Reason, but the fun and enjoyment is in reading about Milo's adventures along the way. This book is sure to captivate readers of all ages, from five years old to adult. It is a wonderful family read-aloud. Highly recommended. Look for it at your local library, or consider purchasing a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth. It's a classic that is sure to be re-read.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Book cover: 'The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt'
Author(s): 
Elizabeth Payne
Number of pages: 
180 pages
Copyright: 
1964
Publisher: 
Random House
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a fascinating and very readable history of Ancient Egypt - suitable for family reading or independent reading from mid-grade school and up. The first chapter describes the rediscovery of Ancient Egypt in the late 18th and early 19th century. This is a particularly fascinating account because it describes the amazement of the first Europeans (at the time of Napoleon) to view the great monoliths. The author briefly relates the history of the deciphering of Egyptian Hieroglyphics which, of course, have provided the text of the history of Egypt which comprises the rest of this book. We found the tale engaging and fascinating.

The only disappointment we had was that there is no mention of the Bible, of Moses, or of the Hebrews enslavement in Egypt. This may be simply because this is a secular text, but it must be partly because the details of how (and when) exactly the Hebrews fit into Ancient Egyptian history is not precisely known.

Perspective: 
secular
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1-19-01

The Phonetic Zoo

A Self-Teaching Spelling Program (Advanced level)
Book cover: 'The Phonetic Zoo: A Self-Teaching Spelling Program (Advanced level)'
Author(s): 
James Webster
Andrew Pudewa
Publisher: 
Institute for Excellence in Writing
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
The Phonetic Zoo is an auditory (CD) based spelling program that includes at each level 5 Audio CD's (540 rule-based spelling words), 47 5 ½"x 8 ½" flashcards teaching the most important spelling rules and similar set of 2 �" x 3 5/8" (illustrated) zoo cards, an introductory DVD, and a pamphlet that explains the basics of the program.

Each lesson begins with the speaker reading the rule followed by a 15 word list that includes the speaker repeating the rule every three words. After each word is presented, the student is given enough time to write down the word without feeling rushed. The word list is repeated along with the correct spelling. The student writes the correct spelling next to his word as an accuracy check, noting which words he misspelled. He then studies those words and listens to the same list (CD track) on subsequent days until he correctly spells all list words two times.

Upon first listening to the CDs I thought the program moved too slowly and that my children would find it boring. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was wrong. In retrospect realize that I found it slow and boring because I already knew the words, but for a student just learning the rules and word spelling it moved at just the right pace.

Phonetic Zoo provides different rules from Spelling Power that were quickly learned by our oldest child (who is not naturally a good speller.) At the beginning of eighth grade (after completing Level H in Spelling Power) he worked through the entire Phonetic Zoo high school level in 3 months and was able to apply the spelling rules in his essays. We did a follow up test to the effectiveness of Phonetic Zoo by using the final Spelling Power lists. He missed less then 5% of all words on the last two levels of Spelling Power, and the words missed were rated as being college level. For our family Phonetic Zoo is an ideal program for older students who are yearning for independence and are anxious to "be done" with spelling lessons. This review is of the "Advanced" level of Phonetic Zoo. The IEW website contains an auditory placement test that is accurate in determining which level to purchase.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
12-3-01

The Power of the Cross

Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life
Book cover: The Power of the Cross
Author(s): 
Michael Dubruiel
Number of pages: 
272 pages
Copyright: 
2004
ISBN: 
9781592761005
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Review: 

This is a meditative book, divided into a six week program of daily readings and meditation ideas, based on the Passion of Christ. Ideally, and Dubruiel suggests this, this book would fit in perfectly with a Lenten reading plan. However, the book can really be started any time. In addition to individual use, the book is well suited for a small group, as it contains discussion questions at the end of each section. These questions could be used individually, to help you get as much out of the reading and meditation as possible, or in a group.

As a busy mother, I really like books that I can read a little bit at one sitting and then put it down. I tend to get snatches of time, rather than long bits, and so the length of these chapters and the amount of material covered was just right for me.

If you are looking for a book to help you meditate on the cross, if you need something to help you work on some particular suffering you are dealing with, or if you just simply want to enter into the passion more deeply with Christ, than I think this would be an excellent book for you.

The book covers:

  • God's unique purpose and mission for you.
  • How to overcome the evil that you have suffered at the hands of others.
  • To find God's presence in difficult times.
  • The keys to unleashing the power of the cross in your life.
Click here to download a free study guide on the publisher's website.
Perspective: 
Catholic
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Priests

Author(s): 
Fr. Eugene O'Hagan
Fr. Martin O'Hagan
Fr. David Delargy
Copyright: 
2008
Publisher: 
RCA Records
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Call it an impulse buy. I was standing in line to buy some CDs for Christmas when I caught the title of The Priests out of the corner of my eye. Not the typical CD title in a music store. After reading the selections on the back, I thought I would give it a try. It is the best impulse buy I've ever made. I am not alone in calling this CD wonderful. After a few short weeks, over 300,000 copies were sold, making it platinum, and that was a few months ago. What is incredible is who they are and what they sing. The Priests are a group of three priests from Ireland, two tenors and one baritone, who have sung together for 34 years. Considering how young they look, they must have started singing together when they were very young. The cover of the CD matches perfectly to the quality of their sound, simple and elegant, giving full credit to the music while never being ostentatious. You won’t hear any slipping, sliding or crooning, just singing as it is meant to be, in other words, in pitch with superbly blended harmonies. It is a delight to the ear to hear the purity of their voices singing beautiful music. The soothing quality of their richly blended voices is spiritually uplifting and not in the least bit muzak. The CD spans a wide range of musical styles: popular, classical, folk, and modern. It includes a lovely combination of popular as wells as lesser known Latin hymns from Ave Maria and Panis Angelicus to Domine Fili Unigente; classical pieces like Haydn’s Mit Wurd and modern pieces like Pie Jesu. For spice and interest, they sing in more than one language and the songs come from several countries. This variety holds the listener’s attention. Their music has created quite a surprising sensation. They have made several television appearances and received rave reviews in several major publications. You may have read an interview with them in the National Catholic Register. Not just classical music or religious music, their music inspires and uplifts and brings joy to the heart.
Additional notes: 

You can here short snippets of their music at Aquinas and More.

First reviewed: 
3-29-2009

The Prince of Egypt

Book cover: 'The Prince of Egypt'
Copyright: 
1999
Publisher: 
Dreamworks
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Three Other Reasons to See Prince of Egypt: racially truthful, stealthily pro-life, realistic portrayal of sin
I admit, our family went to see The Prince of Egypt because of William Donahoe's recommendation. The Catholic League plugged the newly-released animated picture on the story of Moses in its newsletter as well as in an Internet message. So we joined my family at Christmas in a rare trip to the theater, along with my dad (who was going to see it because Chuck Colson had recommended it).

When we emerged from the theater, all of us agreed that there was more reason to like this film than the facts that a.) it was completely clean b.) and it was not by Disney.

I had been told of the technical perfection of the animation and special effects. This is true - the film is stylistically executed by DreamWorks with the perfection of any Disney movie. The parting of the Red Sea is spectacular. It has its share of chases, escapes, and comic moments, with strong female characters and funny animals. The story is simple to follow - so clear that my toddler son burst into tears when baby Moses had to leave his mommy to be adopted by a strange lady. I had expected all these things.

But I wasn't expecting any more than an exercise in clean filming of a token Biblical story to please the Christian market. Prince was more than that. Here's three reasons to go see the film that have nothing to do with the political battle over children's movies.

First, Prince is racially truthful. This is the first Biblical movie I have seen in which none of the characters - none - were Caucasian. Personally I am tired of depictions of our Biblical fathers and mothers that insist on giving them fair skin and sometimes blue eyes. Both the Hebrews and the Egyptians in Prince have the bone structure and skin color of their races, which I found refreshingly (not politically) correct. Aren't the Jews and Africans sometimes right when they accuse American Christians of making the Gospel into "a white man's story?" Certainly these are the images we usually give our children. Prince was a definite step in the right direction.

The filmmaker's choice to tap the heritage of the black community in using a music style inspired by Gospel spirituals was wise and effective. For its audience of children, it provided a further link between the Biblical characters and the African heritage. The Hebrew songs - particularly the children's hymn which heralds the day of Israel's freedom - were wonderful touches. My personal favorite was "Through Heaven's Eyes," the song of Jethro, Moses' future father-in-law, done in Arabian style.

Second, there was the undercurrent of a pro-life message. The catalyst of Moses' transformation from a selfish prince of Egypt who never looks twice at his servants to the deliverer of Israel is when he discovers that his "father," the Pharaoh, commanded the slaughter of the infant Hebrew boys. His father justifies this as population control: "the Hebrews were too numerous." Moses, who can't imagine being related to slaves, begins to feel compassion first for these countless baby victims, whom he narrowly escaped joining. A sense of the enormity of the crime is overwhelming in different parts of the film. While not explicit, a pro-life message comes through. The last line of the film "Deliver us!" became for me a personal prayer for an end to our nation's holocaust.

Third, the movie shows clearly the effects of the most deadly of sins - pride. This film underscores the fact that the bulk of the plagues upon Egypt were the result of one man's selfishness and unwillingness to change - the Pharaoh Rameses. What makes this moral tale so believable is that the film explores the character of the hard-hearted Pharaoh in his boyhood friendship with Moses. "Don't be the weak link in the chain," Rameses' father tells him, unfairly punishing him for things he didn't do. The fact that Moses truly loves his foster brother and has compassion for his internal struggle even as the two face off as adults raises the caliber of the storyline. Moses begs Pharaoh to yield for the sake of the Egyptians suffering from the plagues, but Rameses, tormented by the sores and pests of the plagues himself, remains bitter and unyielding. He has lost the ability to feel compassion for anyone else. When he announces that the slaughter of Hebrew children will begin again, he brings down the plague of the death of the first-born upon himself. Faced with unwittingly causing the death of his young son, he temporarily agrees to let the Hebrews go. The stark portrayal of the effects of mortal sin has probably never been rendered to this depth in cartoon form before.

Having seen the movie, I would nominate it for an Academy Award. And along with William Donahoe and other Christian leaders, I can now say that I certainly hope that the movie industry makes more movies like Prince of Egypt (how about a sequel?). If you go to see Prince of Egypt, you'll "send a message to Hollywood," but you and your family will enjoy yourself as well.

Additional notes: 

Rated PG, 99 minutes

Executive Producer: Jeffrey Katzenberg

Director: Brenda Chapman, Steve Hickner and Simon Wells

Featuring the voice talents of: Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Sandra Bullock and Michelle Pfeiffer

Regina Doman is the author of The Shadow of the Bear: Snow White and Rose Red Retold, reviewed on this site and the mother of five children. She writes from Front Royal, VA.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Princess and Curdie

Author(s): 
George MacDonald
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
The Princess and Curdie continues the fantasy saga begun in MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin. This novel gets off to a slower start than the first one in the series, but it is just as attention-holding. Curdie, the young hero, is put to the test in this story, and must prove himself both brave and loyal, whilst remaining trustworthy and honest. In this story, Curdie is given the gifts of a magic of his own that can only be used for others and a faithful but unusual traveling companion. His quest takes him to the home of the Princess and provides a grand adventure, with the final suspenseful battle calling him to give his best.

This novel takes place just a short time after the events in the previous book and is best enjoyed by reading the first tale first. This classic work is also written on many different levels, and numerous allegorical references to Christianity are present. The ending is expected yet surprising and leaves the reader wanting more. We read this book in an inexpensive paperback edition, and we found the "word pictures" wonderful for stirring the imagination. I have been on the lookout for an illustrated edition to compare the artist's ideas with my own. The children also adored this story, although my 9 and 12-year-olds liked it best.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4/19/01

The Princess and the Goblin

Author(s): 
George MacDonald
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
The Princess and the Goblin is a classic fantasy novel written in the late 1800s by George MacDonald. The story features all of the elements of a great fairy tale: a young princess, a brave hero on the verge of adulthood, subtle magic, and more goblins than can be counted. There is enough adventure to keep the story moving, but the plot is not overwhelming or difficult to follow. There is nothing to recommend a caution for: no rough language, no adult situations, and very little violence. The violent scenes were in the context of the battles between good and evil and avoided gory descriptions. We read this novel in a beautifully illustrated edition; it is worth looking for one that has the lovely full-color plates.

But more than that, the story is written on several levels and can be enjoyed by many different age groups. After reading The Mysteries of Life in Children's Literature, I was anxious to begin reading this book aloud to my children. I had hesitated, thinking that my mainly-male audience would protest a "fairy tale". Their reaction surprised me! All of the children looked forward to the next chapter of the book, although the 9- and 12-year-olds enjoyed it the most.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
4/19/01

The Princess and the Kiss

Book cover: 'The Princess and the Kiss'
Author(s): 
Jennie Bishop
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2000
Publisher: 
Warner Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
"Long ago, in a wonderful castle on a mountain of splendor, a beautiful princess was born." So begins the story of The Princess and the Kiss, a tale of a young woman's - in this case princess's - first kiss. On the day she is born, her parents present her with this special gift from God. In a secret room in a castle tower, it is kept safely hidden away under glass. When she is old enough, her parents explain the treasured value of this precious gift and warn her to not give it to just anybody. Heeding their wise advice, she is not one to be bamboozled by the many interesting suitors who vie for her hand, from Prince Peacock to Prince Romance to Prince Treasurechest. She wonders if there ever will be a young man special enough for her to give her first kiss. At last, she meets a young man who impresses her with the purity of his heart.

In this day and age of sexual amorality, the ideal of purity and saving one's first kiss for another pure heart is refreshingly beautiful, especially since both of them have saved their first kiss for each other. For my four-year-old and seven-year-old daughters, this is one of their favorite stories, quite worn out already.

Additional notes: 

originally appeared in Heart and Mind Magazine, Summer 2005 - used with permission

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

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