Such a Lovely Book!

The Door in the Wall

by Marguerite de Angeli

We just listened to this on audiobook from our library for the third or fourth time. I think I love it more each time. It's a book of learning and growing in wisdom and stature despite adversity, beautifully written, and a delight over and over again. Even the 8th grade boy, who had heard it every time, enjoyed it again.

The links above are affiliate links to Amazon. The opinions here are my own. We listened to the audiobook from our library, but we own this book in hardcover, purchased used.

Serious Piety: The Face in the Flames

The Face in the Flames: A Story of Saint Bridget of Sweden

by Brother Roberto, C.S.C.

In the Footsteps of the Saints series, Level 2 (reading level)

I wrote back in January about Hide the Children, a book from the same series as this one and recommended by our history program, volume 3 of Connecting with History, but that we would not be reading. It seemed appropriate to write a little post about this one, which I pre-read and decided to assign to First Daughter (fifth grade, grammar level in the Connecting with History lesson plans).

Like others in the series, this book reveals some of the odd piety of books written in the 1950s. For example, there was quiet awe when St. Bridget seemed to know of her daughter's husband's death when the women were visiting each other in Italy, but not really any sorrow from either of them despite the fact that this second husband was described as a good man earlier in the book. (Her first husband was not a good man and they seemed relieved and grateful when he died young.)

There was one really extreme example. Late in the book, Bridget is traveling to the Holy Land with her daughter and her son (both grown) when her son falls in love with a princess, although both are married.

When Bridget heard of their desire to marry, she was overcome with anxiety and turned at once to Our Lady and her Son in prayer.

Her prayers were quickly answered. Karl became violently ill while in Naples and after a sickness of two weeks quietly died in his mother's arms. Thus, death ended the evil love affair.

So there you have it. She was apparently better pleased by her son's death than by such a mortal sin. I will probably never be a saint, because I'd rather my son sinned and repented but still lived or (better yet) repented before sinning and lived.

First Daughter will still read this book. I doubt she'll be concerned with this part much.

According to the RC History website, the Level 2 books in the In the Footsteps of the Saints books are written at about a fourth grade reading level. Because of their format (large print and generous white space on the pages), they are not intimidating for younger readers who might be confident enough to read them. I think my third grader could read this book easily, though she has a July birthday and is therefore older than most third graders. But I'm happy to leave it as assigned just for the more advanced level.

I purchased this book new from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts (not an affiliate link) and received nothing for writing this post of my own opinions. The links above are affiliate links to the RC History website.

Western History Picture Books in 2012-2013 (Years 1301-1600)

I recently posted a review of RC History's Connecting with History Volume Three and the first of three lists of the picture books we read to go along with it (years 1070-1300). Here's the next installment, for roughly years 1301 to 1600. (The units overlap a little in Connecting with History volume 3 in order to take into account the complexities of the Reformation and the exploration of the New World in addition to following the events in Europe.)

I've noted the books that were recommended by Connecting with History.

A Medieval Feast by Aliki gives all the details you could wish on the lives of the wealthy in medieval times and the preparations involved in a great feast. The illustrations are colorful and include small bits of information in text on the life and times. This book is available from RC History.

Brother William's Year: A Monk at Westminster Abbey by Jan Pancheri tells of a year in the life of Brother William, a fictional Benedictine monk in the year 1383 at Westminster Abbey. The text is not overwhelming but there is a surprising amount of information about life in the 1300s and especially life at a Benedictine Abbey. It even includes some recipes. It's really wonderful!

Chanticleer and the Fox by Barbara Cooney is an adaptation of one of Chaucer's tales by one of my favorite illustrators, so of course we love it. It is a tale particularly enjoyable if you have actually watched a rooster. This book is available from RC History.

Rumpelstiltskin by Paul O. Zelinsky is a favorite here on the Range. The illustrations are fantastic and the fairy tale is one of the most enjoyable. This book is available from RC History.

A Boy Named Giotto by Paolo Guarnieri, pictures by Bimba Landmann, is a based on the life of the artist, Giotto. It's marvelously illustrated in a style like that of Giotto and gives a bit of background for his life.

Arthur and the Sword by Robert Sabuda is a wonderful retelling of the story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone. It's full of vibrant stained-glass style illustrations that perfectly complement the text.

Joan of Arc by Josephine Poole, illustrated by Angela Barrett, is one of my favorite picture book biographies of St. Joan of Arc. The text is a little dense for young children, so you might want to spread it over a few days, but I really like how the story is told. I also enjoy the illustrations in this version.

Leonardo and the Flying Boy by Laurence Anholt is a delightful tale based on Leonardo da Vinci's amazing talents. It's full of stories of his life and snippets from his notebooks. There is an informative page at the end with more information on da Vinci and some of the apprentice boys in his workshop. This book is available at RC History.

Chee-Lin: A Giraffe's Journey by James Rumford is the fascinating and beautifully illustrated story of a giraffe captured in Africa in the early 1400s and traded along until he arrives in China. The full pages overflow with images and words that bring the people and times to life. This book is text-heavy for a picture book, but we were all fascinated. I think I planned to read it over a few days but no one wanted to stop. Though I'm not sure I've mentioned it before, it's one of my favorite books.

Romeo and Juliet retold by Bruce Coville, pictures by Dennis Nolan, is an enjoyable version of Shakespeare's play. I warned my children it was a tragedy and therefore would not have a happy ending but that it's a beautiful play. The illustrations are fantastic in this version. It is a little heavy on text, so you might want to spread it over a few days for younger listeners. If you're studying Romeo and Juliet, this is a great version to share.

The links above to Amazon are affiliate links. The links to RC History in this post are not affiliate links (though I am an affiliate).

Western History Picture Books in 2012-2013 (Years 1070-1300)

I recently posted a review of RC History's Connecting with History Volume Three, which we studied during the 2012-2013 school year, when First Son was in third grade and First Daughter was in kindergarten. Because I have a picture book obsession, I spent way too much time reading through hundreds of picture books (which is probably an exaggeration) from our library and selected about one a week to read to the little ones that matched up with the time period we were studying.

I've noted the books that were recommended by Connecting with History. The majority are ones I found in other ways.

The Marvellous Blue Mouse by Christopher Manson is the tale of a foolish mayor during the time of Charlemagne. His ignorance and greed are put on display for all to see by a marvellous mouse. My children loved this book, laughing out loud at the foolish mayor and practically cheering the good friend of Charlemagne who saves the city.

The Errant Knight by Ann Tompert is recommended in Connecting with History Volume Three, but does not seem to be available from RC History anymore. It is one of my favorite picture books.

The Secret World of Hildegard by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Jeanette Winter, is a biography of St. Hildegard. The text is lyrical and the illustrations reflect the visions of the saint. It's a lovely book to share. St. Hildegard did not always fit the mold of a woman of her time, but she was a woman of God who created, shared, and preached. We have a set of CDs of Hildegard's music we played as well.

A Saint and His Lion: The Story of Tekla of Ethiopia by Elaine Murray Stone, illustrated by Cecile Sharratt, is the wonderful tale of St. Tekla of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. He demonstrates great compassion, perseverance, and love in following God's call and his ministry.

The Kitchen Knight: A Tale of King Arthur by Margaret Hodges, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, retells one of the Arthurian legends, the tale of Sir Gareth. If you like Saint George and the Dragon, you'll enjoy this book as well.

The Empty Pot by Demi tells the story of a lone trustworthy child in China who refuses to cheat in an attempt to woo the favor of the Emperor. It is one of my favorite picture books, also available at RC History.


The links above to Amazon are affiliate links. The links to RC History in this post are not affiliate links (though I am an affiliate).

Homeschool Review: RC History's Connecting with History Volume 3

Back in 2012-2013, we used Connecting with History Volume 3 for our World History. We had used RC History's program for the previous two years (Volume One in 2010-2011 and Volume Two in 2011-2012) and just kept moving right along through history.

Connecting with History is a four year cyclical history program that groups students into Beginner, Grammar, Logic, and Rhetoric levels based on age and ability while keeping all students in a family studying the same time period from a Catholic perspective. The CONNECT method is integral to the program. You can read an excellent summary of the program here on the RC History website. The digital version I have of Volume Three includes an explanation of the CONNECT method (which is not included in my spiral-bound version of Volume Two).

Volume Three covers the mid-11th century through the end of the 17th century including the Renaissance and the Reformation with a focus on European history. The end of the volume includes the early exploration of America and some of the first missionaries to the Americas.

For the first time, I purchased the digital version of the book instead of a hard copy. I received a PDF of the book that was easy to download, easy to search, and I have received free digital updates over the past few years. (Purchasing any volume directly from RC History is the best way to go because you'll receive updates when books go out of print or when new resources are available.) While I like having paper copies and often printed some of the pages from each unit to keep in a binder, I opted for the digital version not only because it was a little less expensive but because I could read through it to figure out which books I wanted to borrow from the library, which I would skip altogether, and which I wanted to purchase. That way, I only had to pay shipping once from RC History. (Honest disclosure: I did not purchase every book from RC History; I shopped around a bit and split my history purchases mainly between RC History, another Catholic bookstore, and a secular online bookseller. I purchased some of the books used.)

The volume is over two hundred pages long and is full of aids to teaching, introductions to the time periods being studied, and supplements like E. Nesbit's adaptation of Macbeth. The first unit is one of review for the 10th and 11th centuries. Each unit includes background reading recommendations, discussion prompts, timeline people and events (a list), map activities, activities for beginner and grammar level students, writing projects for logic and rhetoric level studies, memory work suggestions, and reading assignments (books and page numbers for each level). At the end are a few reproducible charts and tables to aid in planning.

This history program is designed to be used every day, so it can be a time commitment. I limited our readings a bit and focused on just two real days of Western history with a family read aloud taking place outside of that time. (I already wrote about our family read-alouds here.) We used mainly the beginner resources for Volume Three with a few grammar level resources I thought looked particularly good. (The next time we cover Volume Three, First Son will be at the Logic level.) Some of our favorite books from the year included Heroes of God's Church, Usborne Time Traveler, Adam of the Road, A Grain of Rice, and The Door in the Wall. (Most of these are available from RC History.)

I don't think I need to share much more here than I did with the previous two volumes. This is an excellent thorough presentation of history for all ages in a family. We loved using it. I took this year, 2013-2014, off because Volume Four was still in development and I have an obsessive need to have all of my plans in place for all of our subjects before the year begins. The plan is to release Volume Four in units, first the American history units and then the European units. The first three units of American History are available now (which also include the daily lesson plans - wonderful!) as well as the reading list for the entire volume.

Next year, 2014-2015, we'll be covering Volume One in our Western History concurrently with the three units of American History. (I plan to cover all of the ten units over the course of three years, cycling through American History as we do Western History but a little more often.) I am really excited to be returning to Connecting with History next year and doubly so to have the lesson plans available! I'll try to review the lesson plans after I've used them.

I am an affiliate with RC History. If you decide to make a purchase on the site, I'd appreciate it if you'd use this link to do so as I would receive a small commission. I highly recommend this program, however, even if you choose not to use the affiliate link.

Homeschool Review: 2012-2013 Family Read-Alouds in World History

I already wrote about our American History read-aloud books. The ones below were selected to match up with Connecting with History Volume 3 (mid-11th century through the end of the 17th century).

This year, First Son was in third grade and First Daughter was in kindergarten. Second Daughter (age four) and Second Son (age two) were often around at read-aloud time as well.

Adventures of Robin Hood (Classic Starts) adapted by John Burrows from Howard Pyle's original - First Son could have read this himself, but I knew the girls would enjoy it as well. I don't know how it compares to the original (since I've never read it myself), but we all enjoyed this book and it's appropriate for all ages.

Alfred of Wessex by Frank Morriss should have been first on our list, but I forgot about it. I own this for my Kindle and thought First Son would enjoy the exciting story of the king who fought off the Viking invaders, but he and the girls were all ready for it to end before we finished it. (This book is not listed in the Connecting with History syllabus.)

Saint Thomas Aquinas for Children and the Childlike by Maritain Raissa is a nice introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas for children, touching on much of his intellectual work. First Son could have read the words, but he understood it much better because I read it aloud and we could talk about it a little.

The Door in the Wall by Marguerite de Angeli is one of my very favorite books. It's a wonderful book to read for early medieval England, but it's also a marvelous story of courage and perseverance all on its own. We listened to this one on an audio CD from the library and the children all enjoyed it immensely. Highly recommended anytime.

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray is another one of my very favorite books. Separated from his father and his sweet dog, Adam is courageous and resourceful. He learns patience, perseverance, dedication, and how many wonderful people there are in the world to help a young man on his way. This is truly one of those historical fiction novels that are always worthy of being read, aloud or independently.

Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel Brill is the story of a young Canadian woman who takes command of her family's manor when it is under attack by Iroquois. It's recommended for the Logic level, but I owned it and thought it would be alright to read it aloud. It fostered some interesting discussions and the children were thrilled with the exciting story. The chapters were short enough to keep them eager for more.

With the exception of Alfred of Wessex, all of these books can be purchased from RC History, along with Connecting with History Volume Three.


The links above are affiliate links, but I received nothing in exchange for writing these reviews. I purchased all of the books above, and Connecting with History Volume Three.

My Favorite Picture Books: The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane

The Ink Garden of Brother Theophane by C. M. Millen, illustrated by Andrea Wisnewski

Brother Theophane isn't very focused on his copywork in the scriptorium. He's sent to make the brown ink, instead, but a foray into the forest for bark yields more interesting results. This book lets us peek into the world of illuminated manuscripts during the Middle Ages. Brother Theophane is an imaginary monk, but the development of beautiful colored ink and elaborate decorations on manuscripts is real enough. A nice note at the end gives background to the creation of inks and illuminated manuscripts.

I like how Brother Theophane, while not quite like the other staid monks, is portrayed without condemnation or bitterness. His colored ink is welcomed by the others but their calm and steady monastery life continues.

Andrew Wisnewski's illustrations are fabulous. They manage to create some of the beauty of illuminated manuscripts within a print with lots of wonderful details that connect to the story for those willing and eager to seek through them.

January 2013 Book Reports

Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage by Kay Bratt is based on excerpts from a journal the author kept while her family was living in China, mainly focused on her experiences as a volunteer at a Chinese orphanage. I was mainly interested in this book because my cousin adopted an adorable little girl from China a few years ago. From what I've seen elsewhere, her descriptions are accurate (and depressing). Unfortunately, her writing is merely adequate. Also, although she claims to love China, she never shows any great love for the people or culture of China in her writing. Because she lives in an enclave for ex-patriots, her main encounters with China is through the orphanage, which is probably China at its worst. (I don't have any recommendations for other books on orphanages in China, but if you can find a great love for China in the magnificent writings of Pearl S. Buck.) (Kindle edition, borrowed for free from the Kindle Owner's Lending Library)

Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is the tale of a murder no one prevented. I read it in a day and highly recommend it. (library copy)

The Trees Kneel at Christmas by Maud Hart Lovelace is the story of the two children in a Lebanese family set in Brooklyn in 1950, right in Park Slope, the wonderful neighborhood Kansas Dad and I called home when we lived in New York City. Afify and her brother, Hanna, set out on Christmas Eve to see if the trees kneel just as they do in Lebanon, to honor the Christ child's birth. It's full of wonderful details about life in New York for Lebanese immigrants, a heart-warming tale of faith. I didn't pre-read it in time to share it with the children last Christmas, but we'll read it during Advent next year. (We also didn't get to The Christmas Carol, so we're going to start with that and then read this one.) Do pre-read it as there are references to Mary and the Mass that seemed explicitly Catholic to me. Also there are quite a few adults who smoke, which isn't something we find often in contemporary children's literature. (library copy)

Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky by Carol Garhart Mooney is a brief introduction to these five child development theorists and how those theories would impact classroom and educational practices. She either assumes everything they theorize is accurate or doesn't touch on the less accepted ideas. I'd like to read more about Montessori and I consider what I am learning in my Catechesis of the Good Shepherd classes and as I continue to implement and learn about Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education. This was the shortest book at the library on the topic and I found it a nice introduction, useful for childcare providers, early childhood educators, and parents. (library copy)

The Woman Who Died A Lot: A Thursday Next Novel by Jasper Fforde is the newest Thursday Next novel. I just love reading the Thursday Next books for the pure entertainment value. I thought the end of this one was wrapped up a little too quickly after how the plot was sluggish through earlier parts of the book and got the sense that much of the book was merely setting up his next Thursday Next book. That being said, I thought there could be some interesting discussions about the portrayal of religion and the value of human life and family relationships. I wish Kansas Dad could have read it along with me, but he still hasn't had time to read the last Thursday Next book. (Don't let anyone tell you being a college professor is a relaxing job, though I'm sure the four kids don't increase his free time.) (library copy)

A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children selected by Caroline Kennedy with fabulous paintings by Jon J. Muth just might be my new favorite book of poetry. For the past few years, I've purchased an anthology for each school year. If I continue the tradition, this will be the choice for next year. I imagine Ms. Kennedy and I would disagree on many things, but her poetry selections are delightful. There are fun selections for the children along with more challenging ones which will only appeal more as the children grow. As the very best collections should, it includes Daddy Fell into the Pond. The illustrations are simply perfect. (library copy)

Our Only May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm is the first person tale written in the vernacular. It tells the tale of a 12 year old girl living with her large boy-filled family as pioneers in the Pacific Northwest. I suppose it was alright, but I didn't think it was great and was a little disappointed at how her grandmother treated her. (purchased at a library sale, but I think I'll pass it on to someone else)

Adam of the Road by Elizabeth Janet Gray is altogether a different story. The book is set in the last thirteenth century in England. Adam is the young son of a minstrel and loves his life on the open road. On one eventful day, he loses both his dog and his father. Alone, he searches for them. It's a tale full of adventure, friendship, courage, loyalty, wisdom, prudence, and a host of other virtues. It's full of wonderful glimpses of medieval life in the most natural way, as all the best historical fiction is. Highly recommended. I intend to read it to the children even though we're a little bit past this time in our history studies. (purchased copy, and worth every penny)

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall just wasn't very good. It's not terrible, though I don't like how the girls keep secrets from their father. The plot and writing seemed forced. If my kids asked to read it, I'd let them, but I don't intend to give it to them otherwise. (library copy)

The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling is truly delightful and I can't believe I'd never read it before. That's a travesty I don't intend to inflict on my children. I'm going to read it aloud to them soon, hopefully before the end of the school year. We had listened to a wonderful audio version of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, so my children will recognize that story. (free Kindle edition)

Holding Jesus by Alfred McBride (a review for The Catholic Company)


Books in Progress (and date started)

• The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey (October 2012) 
• Destination: Bethlehem (December 2012)
• When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself (January 2013)
• The Cloister Walk (January 2013)
• Quo Vadis (January 2013)
• Walk the Worlds Rim (January 2013)
• Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life (January 2013)

December 2012 Book Reports

It's taken me a while to get this posted, but I didn't want to neglect it. Here's the list of books I read in December 2012 (not counting what I read out loud to the kids).

Saint Tekakwitha: Courageous Faith adapted from a book by Lillian M. Fisher (a review for The Catholic Company) - I read this book in November, but forgot to include it in my November book report.

The Queen of Water by Laura Resau and Maria Virginia Farinango (library copy)

The Mennyms by Sylvia Waugh is the story of life-size rag dolls that are alive. They have been living in a rented home for forty years, since their creator passed away. Crisis arrives, of course, and the family must adjust to accommodate each other. It was a nice little story, though I don't think it would appeal to my nine year old son that much, though he could read it. I'm going to add it to my list for the girls when they get older. As a mother, the idea of a home without any need of preparing meals or cleaning up after them was extremely appealing, but the thought of the children eternally remaining the same ages was a little terrifying. (library copy)

Birdbrain Amos by Michael Delaney is a cute little book about peer pressure, friendship, and courage with a lot of laughs. First Son read it in about half an hour, but I'm going to put it on the list for First Daughter to read when she's ready for short chapter books, probably next year in first grade. (library copy)

First Shift - Legacy (Part 6 of the Silo Series) by Hugh Howey is the sixth book in the Silo series. Set in the "past," it tells of the beginning of the silos. Don't read it first, though! The end is a wonderful connection to the first books but this one will make more sense if you've read the first five. I'm really enjoying these books - so much so that I actually paid for this one to read on the Kindle and then immediately bought the seventh book when I had finished. (purchased Kindle edition)

The Moffats by Eleanor Estes is a very sweet book of the four Moffat children who live with their mother in the yellow house. (Father died many years before.) They are poor but happy. The book shares a series of events rather than an larger plot. Some stories are short and silly, some are serious adventures; all are enjoyable. In my favorite episode, young Joe loses the family's last $5 on his way to buy coal. Mother's reaction epitomizes the kind of mother I'd like to be. (Don't worry; they find the money and all is well!) This book is now high on my list for family read-alouds. If we don't read it this year, it will be early next year. (library copy)

Second Shift - Order (Part 7 of the Silo Series) by Hugh Howey is the seventh book in the Silo series. I bought it right after finishing First Shift (above) and finished it within 24 hours. I would have bought the next book immediately, too, if it had been available. (purchased for the Kindle)

The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman is the story of a young unwanted girl in medieval England who ends up as a midwife's apprentice just because the midwife finds her useful. She's ill-treated and barely fed, but somehow finds her place in the world. It's definitely a book for young adults, certainly only for those who already know how children come into the world and that not all children are born to a husband and his wife. The language is rough, too. It's engaging, though, and a good depiction of medieval life. I wouldn't read it aloud to my family, but I would allow my girls to read it when they're in high school. (First Son could, too, but I doubt he'd be interested.) (library copy)

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Isiguro is the quiet reminiscence of a women ending her career as a "carer" and about to embark on the end of her life as a "donor." The truth of her creation and childhood are never hidden but not fully revealed. Written in the 1990s, it challenges the value of scientific advancement at the expense of people. It was a little disturbing, but well-written. (library copy)

The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry van Dyke (library copy)

Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn, though I'll write more about this in January. (library copy)

Heidi by Johanna Spyri (free Kindle version)

One Body, Many Blogs by T.J. Burdock and various other Catholic bloggers talks about the roles bloggers play in Catholic New Media and includes some tips for serious bloggers. Most of them didn't apply much to my own little blog, but I thought it was interesting. (purchased for the Kindle)

Books in Progress (and date started)

• The Good Shepherd and the Child: A Joyful Journey (October 2012) 
• Holding Jesus (December 2012, a review copy from The Catholic Company)
• Theories of Childhood: An Introduction to Dewey, Montessori, Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky (December 2012)
• Our Only May Amelia (December 2012)
• The Jungle Book (December 2012)
• Silent Tears: A Journey of Hope in a Chinese Orphanage (December 2012)
• The Trees Kneel at Christmas (December 2012)
• Destination: Bethlehem (December 2012)

My Favorite Picture Books: The Errant Knight

The Errant Knight by Ann Tompert, illustrations by Doug Keith

This book is recommended in my copy of Connecting with History in volume three at the beginner level, though I can't seem to find it on the RC History website.

A knight sets out to serve his King, but is continually pulled away from a direct journey by those in need. At the end of his life, he finally arrives at the castle, dressed in rags because he has given away all that he had. This is one of those magnificent picture books that seems to effortlessly combine an entertaining story with a great Truth. In the pages of this book, we can see how we may truly serve our Lord and King by serving those we encounter any day, anywhere.

In the author's biography, we learn that Ms. Tompert wrote this book "as a tribute to her father, a selfless, hard-working man whose personal dreams were often postponed as he raised his three daughters alone." She has done so perfectly.

The illustrations add wonderfully to the story. Though the story takes place over many years, it begins in the springtime, shows the knight traveling through the summer and fall and arriving at the castle in the storms of winter. And I very much love the illustration of the knight racing through the fall leaves, trying vainly to forget the monk struggling to rebuild his church before turning back.

My children were just as enthralled with this book as I was.

April 2012 Book Reports

Seek First the Kingdom by Cardinal Donald Wuerl (a review for The Catholic Company)

Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam by Huynh Quang Nhuong is a gentle tale of a boy in Vietnam who loved his family, his village, his water buffalo and his life. It is an autobiographical account that gives a wonderful glimpse of his daily life, the joy he found in his home. It is less painful than The Land I Lost: Adventures of a Boy in Vietnam (another wonderful book), but the Vietnam War does touch his life violently near the end of the book. First Son will be reading this book next year as part of our People and Places studies along with mapwork and some geography on Vietnam. Though I will not read The Land I Lost out loud to all the children, I would allow First Son to read it himself after we've finished this book. (library copy)

The Trumpeter of Krakow by Eric P. Kelly - We'll be using RC History's Volume 3 next year and this is one of the recommended books for the Grammar level (grades 4-6). I was considering it as a family read aloud because I happen to own it, having grabbed it at a library sale a few months ago. I was particularly interested in it as my grandmother's parents were born in Poland. It's a tale of intrigue and mystery as a family seeks to protect a precious treasure, the Philosopher's Stone, held in trust for the royal family. The Heynal figures prominently, adding more honor to the story. You can listen to the Heynal here as well as learn a little more about the tradition. I think there's a bit too much "alchemy" and discussions thereof in the story which would make it difficult for First Son to understand as a third grader. (I don't think there's a concern with witchcraft being portrayed favorably, just that those scenes in the novel are complicated.) Since he'd get little out of it and the girls would get even less, we're going to wait until the next time we study volume 3.  (purchased copy)


Saint Colum and the Crane by Eva K. Betz - I really liked this little book on Saint Colum (also known as Saint Columba). He shows such fortitude, love of learning, love of educating children, love of country, love of God's creation, obedience and courage. I wish First Son could have read it when we read about Iona in history, but I had to request it from inter-library loan and I'm only allowed three requests at a time. I read it quickly and then handed it to him to read on his own. It took him about an hour, but I think he was playing dinosaurs with Second Son for part of that time. Recommended, if you can find a copy. (inter-library loan)

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. was another novel for the science fiction and theology class. It's a grim story of a post-apocalyptic future. Yet, somehow, a hope in humanity remains, perhaps even grows in the reader. The Catholic Church figures prominently in the novel, a source of courage, constancy and hope. We have hope, not because of anything humanity does in the course of the novel, but because we hope in God and trust in His hope in humanity. I had read this before, about four years ago, but it was much more powerful the second time through. Highly recommended. (desk copy)

What Maisie Knew by Henry James is a typical James novel with lots of long and convoluted sentences. (Oh, how I enjoy them!) This particular book follows the life of poor Maisie, neglected and manipulated by her parents in their divorce and then by her step-parents in their desire to meet freely with each other under the pretense of caring for their step-daughter. It was, not surprisingly, rather sad. I thought often of all the poor children who find themselves in similar situations (though hopefully not so egregious) in divorces today. (free Kindle version)

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien  - Will you believe me if I say I never read this book as a child? Even as I started it this month, with the idea we might read it aloud next year, I was ambivalent. After all, I live in the country; mice and rats are not cute or my friends. I want them to stay out and Kansas Dad takes measures to eliminate the few who venture in. Within pages, though, I was hooked. I wanted desperately to know what would happen. The writing is a little slow at times, but I think we will try it as a family read aloud next year when First Son is in third grade. (library copy)

Uncovering the Logic of English by Denise Eide (purchased copy)

The Adventures of Robin Hood (Classic Starts) edited by John Burrows from the original by Howard Pyle - This book is recommended at the beginner level for RC History's volume 3 which we'll be using next year. I have never read the full-length version and am generally averse to sharing abridged books with my children, but I trust the Sonya at RC History. I think First Son will find this book entertaining next year, in third grade. The short chapters will be perfect for him to read on his own and narrate to me. (PaperBackSwap.com; the full length book is available for free for the Kindle)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle was a book for my science fiction and theology class. I don't think I had ever read it before and enjoyed it. At times the author seemed to skip over important moments. When Meg, for example, finally accepts the responsibility and the task before her, I felt like the pivotal and transformative moment happened between one sentence and the next. As a reader, I missed it. I would also be cautious about sharing it with my children when they are young. Though it often quotes Scripture, it does so along with other famous authors. It specifically mentions Jesus, but then follows with a list of others who battle the darkness. It's not clear that Jesus is categorically different from the others. Though Michael O'Brien would disagree (here and here), I think a middle school or older child could read this without any great problem. Even a child a bit younger would probably be alright. I won't be reading it aloud to my young ones, though. (library copy)

Madeleine Takes Command by Ethel C. Brill is a tale based on the true story of a 14 year old girl who holds off Mohawks in New France while her parents are away. She and her younger brothers, along with a few others, devise a plan for defending her home and the women and children protected inside. It is a wonderfully written tale of courage, steadfastness and strength that comes from love of family and loyalty to those who look to you for protection. The Native Americans are portrayed as vicious attackers. Madeleine makes exceptions for the Christian Indians, but there is no sympathy for those who are being forced under the control of Europeans. It's a fine line, to show the tenacity of early settlers against the lives of the Indians who lived here before they came. In general, I think this is a worthy book and intend to read it to my children next year. Because there are some frightening scenes, and the tone of the book tends to be stressful and fearful, I will probably read it aloud to First Son at a time when the girls are not listening. (purchased copy)

After Miscarriage by Karen Edmisten (a review for The Catholic Company)

These is my Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner - I picked up this book at a library book sale thinking it was an actual diary, but it's a novel based loosely on the diary of one of the author's ancestors. The diarist starts as an uneducated 18 year old girl who's better with a gun than a pen. Her writing skills grow as time passes and she reads widely. It is a romance, but it seemed to show rather well what life was like for women in the Arizona Territory at that time. I enjoyed the book but would reserve it for more mature readers. (purchased copy)