No name

The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Book cover: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
Author(s): 
Stephen R. Covey
Sean Covey
Number of pages: 
374 pages
Copyright: 
1999
ISBN: 
9780613191456
Publisher: 
simon & schuster
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Having a healthy skepticism of "self-help" books caused me to be lacking in enthusiasm when this book was recommended to me by my older brother. He had been studying it with some friends at work and had high praise for its content. I think I would never have picked it up except that I happened to be at my brother's house while he and my mom read a chapter aloud. Wow. It wasn't anything like what I had expected and turned out to be quite good. I believe that this book has helped me to deal with and understand others better, focus my energy more on helpful and productive things and overcome some of the frustrations I've experienced as a mother of small children. I used to scoff at the idea of "writing down goals" and such. After I read the book, I purchased a planner - a binder which includes a detailed calendar, address book, check register, and room for other important information. Using the planner and the ideas from Mr. Covey's book really helped me get the ball rolling on my plans and ideas for homeschooling.

Perspective: 
Judeo-Christian
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Seven Silly Eaters

Author(s): 
Mary Ann Hoberman
Illustrator(s): 
Marla Freeze
Copyright: 
1997
Publisher: 
Browndeer Press, Harcourt Brace & Co.
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman is neither a Catholic book, nor does it tell of a saint--it is not even around a religious theme. And yet, it is an all-time favorite in this seven-children Catholic family! The book tells about a family that grows and grows... almost every time we turn the page there is a new baby! The fact that they are silly--or fussy--eaters, which our kids have never been, matters little to us. The illustrations are absolutely captivating and darling, and the rhymes are known by all the kids, who can recite the book from cover to cover. The details of family life, the messy rooms, the bunk beds... and trees outside that grow as the babies arrive and the kids grow! The boy-girl-boy order of their kids is the same as in our family which has delighted the kids all of these years. I find in The Seven Silly Eaters a strong pro-life, pro large-family book as each child is so openly welcomed even if they don't seem to have much apparent affluent power. If you have never read and enjoyed the illustrations of The Seven Silly eaters, give it a try! Publisher's site has sample pages and the recipe! http://www.maryannhoberman.com/books/sevenSillyEaters.html
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-27-2010

The Shadow of His Wings

Book cover: 'The Shadow of His Wings'
Author(s): 
Fr. Gereon Goldmann
Number of pages: 
350 pages
Copyright: 
1964
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
This is a fascinating tale on many levels - spiritual, historical, adventure, humor. Fr. Goldmann was a young seminarian in Germany when he was drafted into Hitler's dreaded SS. Despite amazing obstacles and in spite of his loud mouth and rather hot temper with regard to his disagreements with the Nazi's, Goldmann works his way through World War II as a medic for the German army and is finally ordained as a chaplain to his comrades in the French prison camps in North Africa.

The story is quite simply related and details about the horrors that surrounded Fr. Goldmann on a daily basis are handled delicately enough to make the story appropriate for most high schoolers. Without being the least bit preachy, the story demonstrates in a powerful way the mysterious ways of God's will and the power of prayer and suffering. It's a very, very beautiful and worthwhile book. As an added bonus, Americans who are accustomed to seeing the story through the eyes of the "Allies" will find the German perspective (despite the author's clear anti-Nazi position) quite enlightening. This may help provide a much fuller sense of what the war was about.

Note: The story is also available on Audio Cassette, produced by St. Joseph Communications.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
2-20-01

The Sign of the Beaver

Cover: Sign of the Beaver audio
Author(s): 
Elizabeth George Speare
Greg Schaffert (Narrator)
Copyright: 
1983
Publisher: 
Random House Listening Library
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This is a story about a twelve year old boy named Matt who lived in Maine about 250 years ago. Near the beginning of the story, all of Matt's family (besides Matt) went away. One day he was fishing when a bear took a lot of Matt's food. The next day he was going to try to get a spoon of honey from a bee's hive. The spoon wasn't small enough to fit in the hole; neither was his finger. So he pulled a piece of the bark from above the hole and the bees came out and chased him to a river. So he went into the water and later he felt himself coming up because an Indian pulled him out of the water. The Indian had a grandson named Attean. Attean was about 14 years old. Attean's grandfather wanted Matt to teach Attean how to read. The book they started on was Robinson Crusoe. Matt and Attean became friends and they had lots of adventures.

I like the Sign of the Beaver so much that I'd like to listen to it lots more times.

Additional notes: 

Reviewer age 7.

Audio runs 3 hours, 11 minutes. Also available in softcover.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Singing Tree

Book cover: 'The Singing Tree'
Author(s): 
Kate Seredy
Copyright: 
1939
Publisher: 
Puffin Newbery Library
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
The Singing Tree, sequel to The Good Master, is a much more serious story and takes place during World War I. Sandor, Kate's father, is drafted into the war and eventually, the Good Master, Marton Nagy, must report as well. The majority of the book tells of how the family gets along during the war years without the men of the family. Of course, Jancsi the young master steps up and, aided by a journal his father left for him, manages the farm quite well.

There is a difficult child, Lily, to be tamed in this story also, but she is easily won over by a set of puppies and the efforts of Kate and Jancsi. During the war, prisoners of war from Russia are brought into Hungary and Jancsi brings them to the farm to help with the work. A young woman and her new baby also come to live at the farm since her husband is in the war. Some orphans from the cities of Germany are sent out to the countryside and Jancsi takes them in as well. The household is lively and the wholesome life continues despite the terrible news from the war. Sandor is taken prisoner and put to work on a farm in Russia and Marton Nagy is missing in action. Jancsi, Kate and Lily travel to the front to rescue Jancsi's grandparents. Their home is near the front and the townspeople are fleeing the approaching Russians. While there, they accidently find Marton in a hospital bed. He had been injured and lost his memory. They triumphantly bring him home and he tells many stories about the war. One of the most moving is an often heard story about Christmas Eve where both sides sing Silent Night together and light matches to the newborn King. I have read the book at least ten times and cry every time I read that scene.

It is interesting to note that Hungary was on the "wrong" side in this war, yet in this story we see the people as victims of the political causes of a war which had nothing to do with them. One of the side effects of the war is an increase of racism among the people of the countryside who might not have otherwise been exposed to it. One of Mrs. Seredy's themes is that people, ordinary people, people of the land are the same in their hearts, no matter what nationality, and are connected by their shared humanity. She wrote the book in the late 1930's, on the verge of another war, and her tone is one of the hope of peace.

There is little, if any, other fiction for youth about World War I, so this work could be an important piece in a world history overview. My young children did not understand the political and nationalist themes of the story but enjoyed hearing it read tremendously. The reading level is fourth or fifth grade but it could be read at higher levels for the content.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Sinking of the Bismarck

The Deadly Hunt
Author(s): 
William L. Shirer
Number of pages: 
178 pages
Copyright: 
1962
Publisher: 
Random House - Landmark Books
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 

Back in print! It was May 1941 and the British were struggling to hold back the Germans (this is of course before the United States had entered World War II). Since the summer of 1940 the Germans had access to the harbors and airfields of western Europe from Norway to southern France. Their submarines, warships and bombers were wreaking havoc on Britain's supply convoys crossing the Atlantic which was seriously threatening Britain's survival. It was at this time that the British admiralty learned of the imminent release of the new German battleship Bismarck, the most powerful warship afloat in the world. This is the story of the week-long chase by the British who were hoping to prevent further losses to their precious convoys by destroying the battleship. This very accurate account is more exciting and suspenseful than fiction partially because we realize how much is at stake. It is such a game of nerves and logic, but the interesting tales of "luck" and unbelievable human error might make the reader wonder (okay, it made me wonder) whether Divine Providence had a direct hand in the final outcome. Most appropriate for mid-gradeschool through high school (and plenty interesting for adults too!). It's suspenseful, but not too scary or graphic to be read aloud in front of younger siblings.

NOTE (12/3/07): This has recently come back into print as part of the Sterling Point series under the title The Sinking of the Bismarck: The Deadly Hunt.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
11-16-99

The Small War of Sergeant Donkey

Book cover: 'The Small War of Sergeant Donkey'
Author(s): 
Maureen Daly
Number of pages: 
87 pages
Copyright: 
1966
Publisher: 
Bethlehem Books
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
Chico Felippo is a young boy living in a small village in Southern Italy. It is 1944 and most of the war has moved north, but the American Army has a special "Remount Depot" nearby where donkeys are trained to assist the soldiers in the difficult mountain fighting. Chico loves these animals and becomes friends with many of the Americans as well as one particularly beloved animal, "Sergeant Donkey". The entire town suffers from a shortage of food because all of the donkeys which worked the fields had been seized by the Germans earlier in the war. The monks in the monastery on the mountainside are especially in need of provisions and Chico has the regular task of collecting donations from the townspeople and bringing them up to the monastery. Because he was so familiar with the ways through the forest and up the mountain, he was even able to accomplish these journeys earlier in the war while the Germans were encamped on the mountain and heavy fighting was going on.

One day an American Serviceman is injured by a small troup of German soldiers and stranded on the mountain. Chico decides he wants to help, but the dangers are great. It wouldn't be fair to spoil the details of the adventure that follows, but I'll just say that the whole story is a wonderful one for children in many ways. American children tend to study very little of Italy during World War II. The historical details are fascinating here and especially appropriate as seen through the eyes of a child who has experienced war first hand. The simple details of the struggles of family life in Italy and the companionship they find with the homesick American soldiers are very nice. The simple, honest virtues of courage and friendship are embodied by the characters in the story. Finally, some of the Christmas and other traditions of Catholic Italy are woven into the story as well.

The story is suitable for a family read-aloud and could be read independently by early to mid-gradeschoolers. Sure to become a family favorite. Along with Twenty and Ten and The Winged Watchman, this would make an excellent first-glimpse at World War II - one of the most significant and influential events of our recent history.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
1998-99

The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty

Book cover: 'The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty'
Author(s): 
Patricia Rasmussen
Number of pages: 
112 pages
Copyright: 
2003
Publisher: 
Voyageur Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Review: 
Snowflakes tell a different sort of Christmas story - the "story" of God's fingerprints in the snowy landscape of winter. (I don't know how anyone can look at the stars or at a snowflake without being drawn in some way to the Creator). It's appropriate all through the winter, but especially relevant at Christmas.

Of course it is good to study the natural causes of things like snowflakes in order to understand and appreciate them better, and that is what this book is about; lots and lots of beautiful, amazing, magnified photographs of snowflakes (these are simply breathtaking) and an introduction to the science of understanding them.

The text can get fairly technical at times and is most appropriate for high schoolers and adults (although it could certainly be appreciated by younger children - especially as a read-aloud). However the pictures - the numerous full-color pictures - will be appreciated by everyone in the family.

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
11-30-05

The Song at the Scaffold

Book cover: 'The Song at the Scaffold'
Author(s): 
Gertrud Von Le Fort
Number of pages: 
110 pages
Copyright: 
1931
Publisher: 
Lepanto Press
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Review: 
This novelette, set at the time of the French Revolution, follows the lives of the nuns of the Carmelite convent at Compiegne during those troubled times, all the way to their martyrdom at the guillotine. Despite the rather short length, the novel is very deep and very moving. The author, rather than having the charcters preach to the reader, created a story which causes the reader to consider some very substantial spiritual issues - suffering, pride, fear, and how God works in our lives. Far from a depressing tale, we are shown how the Christian spirit becomes stronger in the face of great evil. However, we also see a warning note very applicable to our own times - that human nature alone is not sufficient and that when we abandon God and religion a very frightening and chaotic side of mankind can be revealed.

The story is quite valuable from an historical perspective - particularly as we view the French Revolution from a Catholic perspective. This book would be appropriate for high school (probably Junior or Senior year) and would be excellent for teens and parents to read together in order to discuss the many facets of the story.

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

The Song of Bernadette

Book cover: 'The Song of Bernadette'
Copyright: 
1945
Publisher: 
20th Century Fox
Subject(s): 
Setting: 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 
This is a beautiful, Academy Award winning movie depicting the apparitions of Our Lady to Saint Bernadette in Lourdes, France, in the mid-1800s. The depiction is accurate - based on the book of the same title by Franz Werfel - but also beautifully and powerfully produced. Jennifer Jones is the simple and unpretentious Bernadette, Vincent Price is a town magistrate who is skeptical of the apparitions and rather hostile to Bernadette. An excellent family film and one of the finest Hollywood films of a religious nature.
Additional notes: 

black and white, 156 min

Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
3-3-01

Pages