No name

I Am Special

Author(s):

Joan Ensor Plum

Paul S. Plum

Number of pages:

430 pages

2005

ISBN:

9781592760855

Publisher:

Our Sunday Visitor

Binding:

Other

Subject(s):

Preschool Programs

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Review:

I Am Special is a religious education course for three-year-old children, designed for a group-style, parish religious education program. A fully scripted, highly organized and well-planned teacher's guide allows the teacher to get the most out of the program without requiring special training or unusual materials. The student activity book and flannel board figures packet feature full-color cartoon-style artwork that may appeal to very young children. Most activities are group-oriented, but many of them could be adapted for homeschooling use with some modification.

This religious education program contains 30 lessons and assumes that one lesson will be completed in a one-hour class each week. Unit One includes thirteen lessons designed to help children develop positive attitudes about themselves by learning about names, hands, feet, and the five senses. Unit Two's eleven lessons investigate various things given to us by God, such as families, friends, animals, and trees. Unit Three's five lessons focus on the holidays of Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter/Spring. The final lesson is on Growing. A heavy emphasis is placed on music and singing, as well as finger play activities, of which some are original and others traditional. An optional music cassette or CD is available but was not reviewed. Each lesson's craft activities may require a teaching assistant as many involve cooking, baking, scissors, or messy materials. Despite the detailed organization, considerable preparation time is necessary for many lessons.

One weakness of this popular program is that it is generically Christian. I can easily see this course being used in a preschool religious education classroom of any Christian denomination. The religious content includes a very brief, original, conversational prayer in each lesson, references to God with very simplistic adaptations of Bible verses, and a very simple retelling of the Christmas and Easter stories. No content was noted as being specifically Catholic. No priest, religious, or saint figure appears among the 105 flannel board figures. There are no church or crucifix images. There are no traditional Catholic prayers, even the very simplest Sign of the Cross, other than a meal blessing. No catechetical information of any kind is taught directly. With such a strong emphasis on music, this course could have easily begun teaching basic Catholic prayers or traditional hymns by taking advantage of the ability of children of this age to memorize easily.

Perspective:

Catholic

Additional notes:

5th edition, Nihil Obstat, Imprimatur

Teacher's Guide (spiral-bound softcover, 236 pages plus appendices), Student Activity Book (softcover 112 pages), Blackline Masters (Looseleaf, 62 pages), Flannel Board Packet (Looseleaf cardstock, 20 pages)

Reviewed by:

Susan Kalis

First reviewed:

3-11-06

I could do that! Esther Morris gets Women the Vote

Author(s):

Linda Arms White

Illustrator(s):

Nancy Carpenter

2005

Publisher:

Farrar Straus Giroux

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Civics

Grade / Age level:

All ages

Resource Type:

Picture Books

Review:

This is a very cute book telling the true story of Esther Morris and the advent of the woman vote. The language is fun and accessible but it doesn't sugarcoat events. The eighth of eleven children and six foot tall, Esther had a interesting life and courage to spare. In this time of primaries, as we breathe politics in the air, this books brings a refreshing read!

Reviewed by:

Ana Braga-Henebry

First reviewed:

2-21-2008

I, Juan de Pareja

Author(s):

Elizabeth Borton de Treviño

Number of pages:

180 pages

1965

ISBN:

9780374435257

Publisher:

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

I, Juan de Pareja, is biographical fiction, set in Spain in the first half of the seventeenth century. It tells the story of Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez, the Court painter in Spain, through the eyes of his personal servant, Juan de Pareja. Juan was part of Diego Velazquez's inheritance, and became his personal aide. Because of his nature, Juan doesn't resent his master and becomes a beloved member of the household.

This story tells of the mutual respect that two men can have for each other, even though one is a slave and the other his master. Although it is forbidden for a slave to learn or practice the arts in Spain at that time, Juan pays close attention to his master and learns to paint in secret. But is learning to paint worth his guilt? Is it worth the guilt of having stolen paints and the terror of being discovered?

I, Juan de Pareja, is an excellent story that I'd recommend for children ages 9 to 16. The reason I recommend it for older children is that there is some wanton cruelty, and death is a sub-theme of the novel. It can also be used as a read-aloud to older children and would be an excellent addition to your study of Spain or the Renaissance. This book should be readily available at your local library, or even a good used book store.

Reviewed by:

K.H.

First reviewed:

7-25-2000

If All the Swords in England

Author(s):

Barbara Willard

Number of pages:

181 pages

1961

Publisher:

Bethlehem Books

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Review:

The story of the martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket (and the last six years of his life) is presented in an intelligent and interesting format by viewing these events through the eyes of twin boys, Simon and Edmund, who are (respectively) in the service of Thomas Becket and King Henry II ( Saint Thomas' friend-turned-enemy). The story begins in the year 1164, while St. Thomas is in exile in France, avoiding the King's wrath for not cooperating with his wishes regarding the King's control over the Church. Edmund has just been admitted into the King's service, but Simon, because of his lame hand, is refused. Simon dreams of entering the Archbishop's service, but is temporarily taken in by some distant relatives of the Archbishop. The King's own commands alter the course of events as Simon is caught up in the forced exile of all of St. Thomas' relatives to join him in France. The tensions and mysteries surrounding the struggles between these two men are well-explained and many truths and lessons are skillfully drawn out by the author. For example, the story provides a very clear lesson on the consequences of not controlling one's temper. This is easy even for young children to understand because the King literally acts like a two-year-old (with the exception of allowing himself further loss of control by the excessive use of alcohol) - allowing himself to get so angry that he yells and screams, falls to the floor and eventually passes out. His temper tantrums lead directly to the death of the Archbishop. Also, the way the story is presented through the eyes of a child gives a sense of the awe of going to confession to and serving Mass for a living saint. Although it is clear from early in the book (even if the reader doesn't know otherwise) that Saint Thomas will be martyred, the subject is handled very thoughtfully and helps children to realize the "sweetness" present in the bitterness of martyrdom. I read this aloud to my children and only found one sentence too much for their ages (my oldest is seven). "He drew his sword and struck at the skull of the dead man, scattering brains and blood on the pavement." (pg. 173). My children and I also found the parallels between St. Thomas' final years and Our Lord's final days rather interesting. (There are parallels to the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the scattering of his followers before his death, and even one faithful follower who stuck with him to the end.)

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

7-7-2000

If Not for the Cat

Author(s):

Jack Prelutsky

Illustrator(s):

Ted Rand

Number of pages:

40 pages

2004

ISBN:

0060596775

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Poetry

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Elementary

Review:

This is what a picture book should be. A perfect pairing of beautiful text and beautiful illustrations. I love haiku and Jack Prelutsky's verses are beautiful examples of the form. I love poems that linger, that take up residence in your heart and resonate long after the book is closed. The title poem has made a nest in my ear and sings to me while I'm doing the dishes:

If not for the cat, And the scarcity of cheese, I could be content.

It has something of the simplicity and weight that I find so pleasing in William Carlos Williams. And several others are beginning to work their way in as well. Like this one about the kangaroo:

Safe inside my pouch Sleeps the future of my kind-- Delicate and frail.

Nor am I the only one. After only two or three readings my three-year old remembers and recites quite a few lines herself. I have found her picking up the book on her own, flipping through the pages, and reciting what she remembers. Each poem is in the voice of a different animal and Prelutsky's genius is in the personality of the different voices, hard to convey in a so short a form as haiku. I love the way he captures the slow sloth, the hive mind of the ants, (humorously followed immediately by the ant eater), and the threatening presence of the snake and the skunk. Especially memorable are the rounded polysyllables of the jellyfish:

Boneless, translucent, We undulate, undulate, Gelatinously.

Ted Rand's paintings are a lovely match, each one has a very different tone, well suited to the paired poem. My favorite is definitely the dark, moody one of the moth drawing close to a candle. Though the bright hummingbird hovering near festive orange nasturtiums is also right up there.

Reviewed by:

Melanie Bettinelli

First reviewed:

6-5-2009

Implementation of an Ignatian Education in the Home

Author(s):

Francis Crotty

Number of pages:

49 pages

1995

Publisher:

Kolbe Academy

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Methods: Classical Education

Teaching methods

Review:

The focus of this booklet is on the method of teaching. Mr. Crotty goes through the timeless and time-tested Jesuit philosophy of education and applies it to homeschooling. He has put together an outline that could be successfully applied to any curriculum. The ideas will be especialy helpful for parents who are homeschooling their teens, but it is useful to consider such important goals even when our children are very young.. Although it's a short booklet, the reading is rather heavy. I think you'll find it well worth the effort. Mr. Crotty recommends that reading The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius will make the booklet much more understandable. He recommends the translation by Anthony Mottola which is published by Image Books. The booklet lends itself to group discussion - and such a discussion would help to hash out some of the meanings and details.

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

1998-99

In God's Garden

Author(s):

Amy Steedman

Number of pages:

142 pages

Publisher:

Roman Catholic Books

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Saint Story Collections

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Grades K-2

Review:

"Long ago in a far distant land there lived a boy called Offero." So opens the story of St. Christopher, one of fourteen saint stories in In God's Garden. Written in a friendly story teller format, the book's primary audience is younger children, approximately preschool-age to 3rd grade.

Usually starting with the saint's birth and childhood, the story introduces children to legends and famous stories about that saint. Because of the fantastic quality of some of the stories, the parent may want to mention that some of the legends may not be true, like St. George killing a dragon, but we do know that the person was holy. In fact, the author does admit this in a few places when she comments, "Whether all this really happened we do not know; but one thing we are certain of . . . ."

Similar in style to Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki, the stories hold the reader's attention to the last word. Although the stories include facts from the saint's life, the stories are not biographies. They are stories written to introduce children to the saints and inspire them on to imitate their lives of holiness.

In the center of the book are color reproductions of paintings of the Saints by famous Italian artists such as Titian, Fra Angelico, Giotto, and others. The artwork is not dazzling compared to the bold, vibrant colors of some of today's picture books. They are, however, a way to introduce your children to some of the outstanding artists of the past.

Perspective:

Catholic

Additional notes:

Binding details: Gold embossed hardback

Reviewed by:

Elizabeth Yank

First reviewed:

11-22-04

In Search of Shakespeare

Author(s):

Michael Wood

2004

Publisher:

BBC

Subject(s):

Classic Literature

Grade / Age level:

Adults

Resource Type:

DVD

Review:

This is a fascinating documentary, but not suitable for children. Although it leans secular to a certain extent, it provides a very helpful (and detailed) background of the nature of the political and religious conflicts going on in Shakespeare’s world. It also makes a pretty strong case that Shakespeare grew up in a Catholic household and had some Catholic sympathies throughout his life, that at least seem to reflect the basic morals found in his plays. There is plenty of ugliness too, but I think it’s worth sorting through the muck to get a better understanding of the Bard. Available from Netflix or your local library.

Because of mature content and a slight secular bias, this series is recommended for parents (who can, of course, share the content with their children at their own discretion).

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

2-11-2009

In the Beginning...There Were No Diapers

Laughing and Learning in the First Years of Fatherhood

Author(s):

Timothy P. Bete

Number of pages:

192 pages

2005

ISBN:

9781893732872

Publisher:

Sorin Books

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Books on Parenting

Review:

A Catholic parenting humor book? Yes, it is possible. Tim Bete has the timing, the subtle humor and the Erma Bombeck training to take the early years as a new parent, and tell it like it is: from the 672 rules every parent must have in the average home to the bribing of children into toilet training, Bete, a father of three young children, never misses a beat.

One thing I liked about this book was that although I'm a mom, I had just as much fun reading it as any dad. In fact, there were times I thought, "Yep, I've been there, I'll bet Tim's wife told him about that," whatever that was (after all, how many dads are really directly involved in toilet training? How many get up in the middle of the night to the sound of a crying baby, other than to say, "Honey, I think the baby needs you," I mean?)

Fathers and mothers are going to have a great time laughing at the way Bete teaches his children about food, ("What do you think about chocolate french fries?" he asks his daughter. "Great! Can I have some?" she says. "How do you feel about green ketchup?" he asks. "Yuck," she says, then adds, "but could I try it on the chocolate fries?") or about playing by themselves (the way to get kids interested in their toys, Bete explains, is having more kids. "As soon as a sibling is playing with their toys, the child is suddenly intensely interested in them.")

Bete is pro-life, pro-children, pro-family and positively Catholic. And the fact that Barbie, Thomas the Tank Engine and the shepherds can all play together under the Christmas Nativity set is proof that he has real children.

The chapters are short, the stories are sweet, humorous and even touching. I found this book to be a great reminder of the fun and laughter of childhood, and a good reminder not to take parenting too seriously. The life-lesson reminders are good, as well: take time to talk with your children, hold them, read to them, and give them lots of love. Before you know it, you'll be taking your sixteen-year-old out for driving lessons, and remembering how you once had to put green ketchup on the chocolate french fries. Then suddenly–botta bing, botta boom–you become your grandparents, saying, "How fast they grow!" Excellent gift idea for a young or soon-to-be dad, as well as your own husband (Christmas, or Father's Day).

Reviewed by:

Nancy Carpentier Brown

First reviewed:

10-29-05