Catholic Children's Treasure Box

20 volume set
Book cover: Catholic Children's Treasure Box #1
Author(s): 
Maryknoll Sisters
Fr. Richard Ginder (Editor)
Illustrator(s): 
Miki
Number of pages: 
32 pages
Copyright: 
1950
Publisher: 
TAN Books
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Grade / Age level: 
Resource Type: 
Review: 

This set of colorful books for ages 3-8 are reprints of a Catholic magazine from the 1950s. They are filled with stories, games, picture puzzles, poems, crafts, etc. The pictures are beautiful and I like the very simple moral lessons many of the stories teach. (For example, when my daughter was three, she was very impressed by a story called "Peter the Picky Eater". Her eating habits changed and she honestly admitted that she wished I hadn't read it to her.) There are currently 20 volumes in print out of more than 60 that were originally published (unfortunately it may take quite awhile to find out what happens to Wupsy in the end!).

We have especially enjoyed the St. Therese stories from the first few volumes. These have been a favorite mostly among the preschool set in our family. While many Catholic homeschool parents treasure these books, there are two complaints that I've heard from a number of parents. First, some parents have bought the set thinking they would be nice for early grade school and found them to be more appropriate for preschool (as read-alouds). Second, the pedagogy at times doesn't hold up to serious scrutiny. Complaints include the sappy way in which the devil is presented in the Wupsy stories and the "self-righteous" expressions on some of the faces in the illustrations.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
First reviewed: 
8-21-02