No name

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow

Author(s): 
Robert D. San Souci
Illustrator(s): 
Earl B. Lewis
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2010
ISBN: 
9780439625388
Publisher: 
Orchard Books
Binding: 
Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Stories for Children
Setting: 
England
Grade / Age level: 
Grades K-2
Resource Type: 
Picture Books
Review: 

Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow retells the classic story of Robin Hood and his men in the Sherwood Forest in the adventure of the archery contest. The villainous Sheriff of Nottingham intends to trap Robin at the contest but the Merry Men turn the tables in this lighthearted retelling for younger children. The oversize format and colorful watercolors bring the well-known story to life, adding some details from the original sources. The Author's Note at the end of the book explains a little about the origins and sources of the classic tale.

Reviewed by: 
Ana Braga-Henebry
First reviewed: 
April 15, 2011

Rome Sweet Home

Book cover: 'Rome Sweet Home'
Author(s): 
Scott Hahn
Kimberly Hahn
Number of pages: 
198 pages
Copyright: 
1993
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Paperback
Subject(s): 
Conversion Stories
Grade / Age level: 
High School
Adults
Review: 
From a young age, Kimberly wanted to be a minister. When her study of the Bible convinced her that the ordination of women as pastors was unbiblical, she deicded that she would do the next best thing and be a pastor's wife. Enter Scott, a fellow student at Grove City College whose plans for the future focussed on preaching and teaching. This book tells the story of their journey from anti-Catholic to Rome Sweet Home. Along the way, we see God working in their lives in events large and small. Interestingly, the Hahns abandoned contraception long before either began to seriously consider the claims of the Catholic Church. Kimberly's personal study of the historical Christian teaching on this topic is what convinced them to give it up, and their reaction at the time was more along the lines of "even a broken clock is right twice a day." Yet, it is obvious in retrospect that this discovery played a role in opening their hearts to the Truth that subsists in the Catholic Church. The story is told by Scott and Kimberly in alternation, a device that is very effective in conveying the discoveries, trials, conflicts, and joys of their journeys as they follow their different paths. As Scott observes in the introduction, his conversion moves from a detective story in which he unearths evidence pointing to the truth, to a horror story when he realizes that the Truth points to the Catholic Church, to a romance as he falls in love with the Church that Jesus Himself founded. Along the way, he has to learn to restrain himself and not push his wife before she is ready. Meanwhile, Kimberly's story is largely one of great pain and suffering as she sees the death of all her hopes and plans of ministering together. She truly experiences a "dark night of the soul" -- feeling abandoned and alone. A beautiful moment is when her father, a Presbyterian minister, urges her to pray to yield her will to God. As she observes, he took a great risk in thus advising her, for he knew it might lead her into the Catholic Church -- as in fact it did. This is a great story of a wonderful Christian couple who had it all planned out how they were going to serve Jesus, and then thought they would lose it all for His sake, only to get back something even more precious. Their passion for the Truth is inspiring. See sample pages at the Book preview though Google books, by permission of Ignatius Press. The Spanish version of this book is entitled El Regreso a Casa El Regreso a Roma; preview here.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Suchi Myjak
First reviewed: 
7-28-2008

Rosary Reflections

Help Your Children Contemplate the Mysteries of the Rosary through Drawing
Book cover: 'Rosary Reflections: Help Your Children Contemplate the Mysteries of the Rosary through Drawing'
Author(s): 
Joseph J. Oka
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
2003
Publisher: 
Ascension Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
the Holy Rosary
Review: 

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. We're planning on using these sheets as a centerpiece in our history timeline binders to illustrate the basic story of the Life of Christ as well as to jump-start a renewed interest in the Rosary in the younger children. Keeping to the Biblical and Apologetics emphasis of the Ascension Press materials, the overview of the Mysteries of the Rosary consist entirely of Biblical citations and quotes for each mystery. The format has a very professional look to it and this resource would be great for use in homes, schools and CCD classes.

Additional notes: 

Binding details: softcover with 26 perforated drawing sheets

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
4-25-04

Rosary Reflections for Kids Tablet

Book cover: Rosary Reflections for Kids Tablet
Author(s): 
Joe Oka
Number of pages: 
30 pages
Copyright: 
2003
ISBN: 
9780972980005
Publisher: 
Joseph's Labor
Binding: 
Other
Subject(s): 
the Holy Rosary
Review: 

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.

The second, and unexpected, result was that as we older ones watched the little ones grab their colored pencils and sketch out, say, a glowing Jesus next to stick figures of Moses and Elijah, or a smiling John the Baptist pouring water over Jesus in the river, we all reflected more deeply on the mysteries as we prayed.

In addition, the children asked a few questions, so they could get their sketches right. For example, "Who was with Jesus at the Transfiguration?" "How old was Jesus when He was baptized?" The drawing tablet provided several "teachable moments" which made the prayer time richer for all of us.

Each sheet has drawing space for five Mysteries; a printed Rosary in the center helps children keep track of their progress. The sheets are sturdy, high quality paper, which would stand up to crayons, markers, or even paint. The finished works are suitable for hanging on a bedroom wall, as my children requested, or for keeping in a portfolio of their art projects.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 
Binding details: 11" x 17" Drawing Pad; 30 sheets
Reviewed by: 
Mary-Eileen Swart
First reviewed: 
5-3-04

Rosary Rummy

Publisher: 
jody's Hands-On Learning
Binding: 
Other
Subject(s): 
Miscellaneous Religion Materials
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
Puzzles and Games
Review: 
This is a lovely and inexpensive Rummy game that also teaches the mysteries of the rosary. It includes two colorful cards, illustrated with Old Masters paintings, for each 0f the twenty mysteries of the rosary. The Rummy game requires both matching and ordering the mysteries. Instructions are included. So far, we've been using it as a memory game - and even my five year old (who admittedly is a memory enthusiast) loves it. It actually has some weaknesses as a memory game (too busy on the backs of the cards, images are rather small) that don't detract at all from its intended purpose. Available from jody's Hands-on Learning
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1-14-2009

Saint Athanasius

Book cover: Saint Athanasius
Author(s): 
F.A. (Frances Alice) Forbes
Number of pages: 
98 pages
Copyright: 
1919
ISBN: 
9780895556233
Publisher: 
TAN Books and Publishers Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Sample Pages
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
Early Church
Review: 

This short, and fairly easy to read biography chronicles the life of Saint Athanasius (early 300s) – Patriarch/bishop of Alexandria and Doctor of the Church (and model of perserverance). Athanasius was a defender of the faith in a very critical time in the early Church's history. Even before the Edict of Milan which allowed Christians to practice their faith freely (at least for a time), the heresy of Arianism, which denied the divinity of Christ, was beginning its attack on the Church. Although the heresy was firmly rejected at the Council of Nicea (325 A.D.), the heretics were very powerful and continued to attack the Church – even winning the Emperor Constantine to their side. While the heresy was never embraced by the Pope, the heretics used the Emperor to banish orthodox bishops from their diocese, replacing them with those sympathetic to their rebellious ideas. All through this difficult time, Athanasius led his people (sometimes while in hiding with the desert monks for years at a time) by his writings.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-13-2000

Saint Benedict

The Story of the Founder of the Western Monks
Book cover: 'Saint Benedict: The Story of the Founder of the Western Monks'
Author(s): 
Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Number of pages: 
158 pages
Copyright: 
1943
Publisher: 
TAN Books and Publishers
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
Early Middle Ages
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
Review: 
St. Benedict (480-543), particularly honored as the Father of Monasticism, is an essential character in understanding Christian Culture as it existed in the Middle Ages because it was heavily influenced by the Monasteries (and the rule of St. Benedict) which helped to preserve Catholicism and classical learning after the fall of the Roman empire. Fortunately, this particular book is very simple and aims at telling the STORY of St. Benedict. The author introduces us to his spirituality, the realm of his influence during his own lifetime, and in a very real and tangible way, how the devil tried to fight the good God did through this holy monk. Like all good saint stories aimed at children, the author provides us with a real, live, interesting person, actively engaging our attention and causing us to want to imitate him. (Make no mistake, even though it's aimed at children, it can have the same effect on their parents too.) The story provides excellent supplemental material to a history program as it also covers some of the major political and social events of the times through the eyes of St. Benedict. Our family found the story and the interest level suitable even for the little ones, although the reading level is harder to determine. Kolbe Academy recommends it for 7th grade (based on length) and Seton Home Study recommends it for 6th grade.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
7-8-2000

Saint Catherine of Siena

Book cover: 'Saint Catherine of Siena'
Author(s): 
F.A. Forbes
Number of pages: 
103 pages
Copyright: 
1919
Publisher: 
TAN Books and Publishers Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
High Middle Ages
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Adults
Review: 
Catherine was born in the year 1347 of a wealthy family in Siena, Italy. These were troubled times in her native country. The pope was living in Avignon, France, and rival Italian cities and families were constantly at war with one another. The author gives presents a rather interesting story of a rather remarkable little girl who had heavenly visions and was a light of comfort and cheer to all those who came in contact with her. As Catherine grew older she live a very pious and austere life, offering great penances to Our Lord and working to help the poor and convert sinners. One of the most remarkable stories of this time in her life is how she brought a man back to the faith just before he was to be executed - even remaining with him at the time of his execution. But God had even bigger plans for Catherine. To her came the difficult task of convincing the pope to return to Rome and help and encourage him through the hardships involved after he did finally return. Catherine's devout prayer life, her obedience to the will of God and her great humility allowed her to overcome seemingly impossible tasks by the grace of God. Today she is honored as one of the greatest of saints and a Doctor of the Church. The book is suitable for upper grade school and high school, but will be beneficial to adults as well!
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-17-2000

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