by Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli
illustrated by Mimi Sternhagen
Over and over again, I am pleased with the little books for children written by Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli. I own all but one, I think (Living the 10 Commandments for Children) and even reviewed Little Acts of Grace 2 for The Catholic Company a few years ago.
I have used all of these books as our catechism books for my preschoolers and kindergarteners, but I think Seeds of Faith for Children will quickly become one of my favorite first books to use in our homeschool (along with Little Acts of Grace and The Mass Book for Children).
In this book, children learn how the gifts of God through the Church help our faith to grow just like a seed well tended grows into a beautiful plant. These precious gifts are prayers, the Creed, the Ten Commandments, the sacraments, sacramentals, and even the opportunities to do acts of charity. The explanations are perfect for little ones like preschoolers and kindergarteners, encouraging them to make connections with the prayers they hear at Mass and the statues or other sacramentals they may see at home.
Throughout, there are quotes from Scripture (the RSV translation, not modified) and from the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. The end of the book includes prayers, a list of the sacraments, and the Ten Commandments. (The Commandments are also listed within the text, but in language more accessible for young children. I thought it was very well done.)
The illustrations by Mimi Sternhagen include the little mouse my children have learned to find on each page. I appreciated that, though the mouse is shown going to confession, he does not take Communion. I love how Jesus himself appears in the confessional and with the priest in the illustration of First Communion (which has such a beautiful young girl!). I can tell there has been a real effort to make the illustrations an additional source of information on the faith for children.
Another wonderful book from Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an objective review.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program
from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more
information on Seeds of Faith for Children.
The Catholic Company is the best resource for all your seasonal needs such as First Communion gifts as well as ideas and gifts for the special papal Year of Faith.
