The Liturgical Year
My Path to Heaven
This is one of the nicest educational materials I've come across (and I think that's saying a lot). What this book amounts to is a simplified form of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, designed to be understood by children. This is cleverly done with a very detailed picture for each of the twelve chapters. The child studies the details of the pictures and then the parent or the child reads the text (two or three pages) which explains the details of the pictures. The child is then invited to look at the picture again. The text is read a second time and then a list of ten to twenty yes or no questions are asked to reinforce the text and determine how well the child understood it. This is not just another religion text teaching facts, but a very persuasive text leading children to desire holiness and the greatest good in their lives.
The publisher gives permission for parents to photocopy the pictures for their own children to color while studying the text, which might enhance their interest in the pictures and their ability to notice all of the little details. The book is recommended for children ages nine through twelve, although I've heard from a number of homeschoolers (and found the same to be true in my own family) that younger children and adults will benefit from it as well. Particularly nice for Lent/Holy Week or for First Communion Preparation.
Copyrights 1936/1997
On That First Christmas Eve
This is one of those delightful children's books that I wish was hard-covered instead of paperback! This book is a simple idea: a 40-some page poem that details the first Christmas Eve. Sounds pretty traditional and common, yes? The unique thing about this book, though, is that the authors link that first Christmas Eve to Jesus' baptism and death on the Cross and then come back full circle to the first night, but now with children of the world surrounding the manger. It's a beautifully done explanation for WHY Christ was born. In simple rhythm poetry and simple pictures, children are shown that Jesus was born in a manger two thousand years ago, but his birth and resurrection are just as much for the children of today as for the shepherd children in that long ago field.
The illustrations by Dorothy Perez add to the innocence and beauty of the book. The pictures are lightly drawn colored-pencil sketches, a new sketch on every two-page spread. A simple, lovely book for children to read throughout the Christmas season.
Our Lady of Guadalupe Cut'n'Color Kit
Our Lady of Guadalupe Cut ‘n Color is actually a 3-dimensional story book about Our Lady of Guadalupe. Once completed, this cut, color, and assemble kit creates a lovely storybook attached to an attractive diorama that children can use with the paper dolls to act out the story. A few parts will need some adult supervision. On the bottom of the “book” are pages of the story that you turn while the diorama remains in view. Each kit includes the book, scenery, church, and paper dolls of Juan Diego, the Bishop, and Our Lady of Guadalupe all on card stock with easy to follow instructions. A craft knife or X-acto knife is required. The picture on the cover does not give justice to how beautiful this project is. Once completed, your child will have an attractive diorama to play with and a story to read over and over again.
Passion Play Cut'n'Color Kit from Illuminated Ink
The 3-D Passion Play Cut ‘n Color Kit creates a spectacular miniature theater when completed. It displays in a circle format and includes four ready-to-color, 3-dimensional scenes (The Last Supper, The Agony in the Garden, The Crucifixion, and the Resurrection). Three are back to back on the bottom and one is perched on top. (You might like to display it on a lazy-susan in order to change between scenes). Easy-to-follow, step-by-step, illustrated instructions are provided to insure success. Once completed, children will have a beautiful theater to re-enact the events of Holy Week, beginning with the Last Supper through the Resurrection, along with numerous movable characters, and 3 mini-booklets (Biblical excerpts from The Agony in the Garden, The Crucifixion, and the Resurrection). Besides the miniature booklets, there are scriptural verses printed along the perimeter of each scene. Also along the top tier there are nine virtues: Joy, Peace, Faithfulness, self-control, etc. Finished size: 10" x 10" x 13 ½". Younger children will need some adult supervision.
Stations of the Cross for Children
This small booklet can make a nice resource for a child during Stations of the Cross devotions.
Each set of double pages depicts a full page illustration in a simplified iconic format and a page of text. Under the title of each station, in bold, is the traditional prayer of the Church: We adore you, o Christ and we praise you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.
The language is directed towards children, and it has a personal and sincere tone. In a letter format, each opens with a "Dear Jesus" greeting and ends with an "Amen." Subjects revolve around the everyday life of a child and the prayers are very nicely worded.
This is a very nice resource, especially for Lent.
Stations of the Cross for Children Poster Set
This is a very nice, very inexpensive, large-size set of the Stations of the Cross created especially for children (the same pictures as are in the Stations of the Cross for Children book, also reviewed here) appropriate for homes and classrooms. The drawings are simple (they remind me a little of Tomie dePaola's drawings) and what my husband would describe as "sanitized". Our first inclination was to think these were too sanitized, but when we compared them to our more "traditional" set (which cost us 3x as much and are about half the size), we realized that the other set, too was without blood. As a matter, of fact, my 10 year old son noticed that one of the pictures in our "traditional" set was reversed and had the wound in Jesus' side – on the wrong side.
I think many families will find this to be a very nice set to hang on their walls during Lent as a very visual reminder (and even a visual catechism in the sense that religious art of old was intended to instruct) of Jesus' death and resurrection.
Medium weight paper – each poster is approximately 11x17 inches
Sadly, these are no longer in print but you might be able to find a used set.
Stations of the Cross Grotto Kit
This well-thought-out kit is easy to use and makes a beautiful set of Stations of the Cross "grottos" when complete. The kit contains full-color art prints of each station, pre-cut wooden sticks for the frames, and gemstones to glue on for decoration. When complete, each station measures approximately 7" tall by 5" wide.
This could be a wonderful family project to make during Lent or beforehand and the set of Stations can then be used for years to come. Illuminated Ink recommends it for children 10 and up or for younger children, 6 and up, with close supervision and help from a parent.
The Catholic Christmas Book of Cherished Christmas Customs
The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey
This is a lovely story about a gruff woodcarver who is commissioned to make a Nativity Set for a young boy and his mother. The story is beautifully written and lovingly illustrated. This is such a favorite for my children that we keep it out year-round and it has been read over and over and over again. This is simply a can't-miss book – at least check it out from your library. When you buy a copy, I certainly recommend the hardcover for durability. There are many copies available used online – at Amazon.com there were over 50 used copies available – most for well under $10.
Newer editions have a different cover, but interior artwork and content appear to be unchanged.








