Grades K-2

Follow the Line Around the World

Author(s): 
Ljungkvist, Laura
We love geography in our house! And I love it when I find books that bring geography to little ones! This picture book invites the young child to follow an imaginary line around the world, highlighting interesting facts about different places in every continent. [This review is still under construction.]

Bigger Stories for Little Folks

Author(s): 
Nancy Nicholson
This summer I had the supreme pleasure of reading Nancy Nicholson’s Bigger Stories for Little Folks to my two youngest girls, ages 5 & 7. After flipping through the first, more well-known volume of Devotional Stories for Little Folks, I was hesitant, thinking that perhaps the stories would seem a bit involved and preachy to my two precocious gals. I am happy to say that my fears were unfounded. Each evening, after Beth and Mae were cozy in their pajamas and had brushed their teeth, they would bounce into my bed and Beth would hand over the book.

How Much Can a Bare Bear Bear?

Author(s): 
Brian P. Cleary
Illustrator(s): 
Brian Gable
Do you know what homonyms and homophones are? If not, this book will certainly help you understand them. With clever writing and silly cartoon illustrations (and a somewhat obnoxious typeface), they give many clever and memorable examples of each.

Making Music Praying Twice

Author(s): 
John and Katherine Daneluk
Illustrator(s): 
Cover Art by Shelly Dieterichs
Virginia Kearns, Margaret Kearns, Katherine Daneluk and several talented kids
Making Music Praying Twice is a music and movement program for the young Catholic child. There are a variety of ways the parent can use the program. It can be used with your own children or with other families in a homeschool co-op or a group class for the parish. Because the program is highly adaptable, the age range is quite wide.

God's Love Story

Author(s): 
Poor Clare Nuns, NM
Illustrator(s): 
Poor Clare Nuns, NM
I am glad to see a reprinting of this marvelous little book. The author listed is the Poor Clare nuns in Roswell, NM, but if I remember correctly it was the wonderful, intelligent and witty Mother Mary Francis, author of the fabulous "The Right to be Merry" who wrote this wonderful story for children. From Genesis to the Ascension and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the book tells the most important story of all in a language that is story-like, children-friendly, and loving.

Christian Heritage Art Program

Book cover: 'Christian Heritage Art Program'
Author(s): 
Sr. Marie Vianney Hamilton, O.P.
When my friend came back from a Catholic homeschooling conference she was excited to present this set of DVDs to me, since I teach art at our local co-op. I shared in her excitement even before previewing it: a complete elementary school art curriculum, written by a Nashville Dominican sister? Wow. The Christian Heritage Art Program, as far as this reviewer knows, is the only complete elementary school art program available that teaches art from a Catholic perspective.

Phonics Pathways

Book cover: 'Phonics Pathways'
Author(s): 
Dolores G. Hiskes
I picked up Phonics Pathway because Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer recommended it in the first edition of The Well-Trained Mind. When I mentioned to a friend that I had bought this book, she wrinkled her nose and said, “Let me know what you think,” implying, of course, that I probably wouldn’t think much of it. Nothing could be further from the truth. I love Phonics Pathways. Ms. Hiskes presents a systematic approach to teaching phonics.

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