What's New

How to Dress a Duck and Other Stories from Science

Book cover: 'How to Dress a Duck'
Author(s): 
Nancy Nicholson

This book offers thirty-six stories about God's amazing world that very nicely brings science back to its creator and helps children make connections between faith and reason. We've had the earlier edition of this book for a number of years and I have found many tidbits about nature that were new and very interesting to me - especially information about why God made things the way that he did and what is good and useful about his creation.

Byrd of the 95th

Book cover: Byrd of the 95th
Author(s): 
Showell Styles

This book is now included in the Bethlehem Budget Book The Flying Ensign, also reviewed on this site.

I really liked this book. I can vouch for my wife's statement that this is a great read aloud. I read it to my children at bedtime (ages 3 through 9) – they were engaged... though the younger ones usually fell asleep. The older two LOVED it.

CHC Lesson Plans: Second Grade

Book cover: 'CHC Lesson Plans: Second Grade'

I continue to be impressed with each new grade level of the Catholic Heritage Curricula lesson plans. I could not imagine a more family-friendly format and the details are so impressive. On each two-page spread (which covers one week) there is a little "ideas" section which includes suggestions for celebrating feast days, an art masterpiece to display each month, and other things which help tie things together nicely. I love the beautiful quotes, simple games and other tidbits scattered throughout the lesson plans.

It's a Mystery! The Holy Trinity

Book cover: 'It's a Mystery! The Holy Trinity: A Catholic Children's Retreat'
Author(s): 
Sandra Garant

"Retreats are time set aside for study, prayer, activities, and discussion about God and His Church. Children can benefit from retreats as much as adults. Jesus would occasionally leave His followers and retreat to the desert or a mountaintop. Even He felt the need to get away from the world for a while." (from the Introduction)

A Long Way from Welcome

Book cover: A Long Way from Welcome
Author(s): 
Echo Lewis

In this story Echo Lewis takes us from the small town of Welcome, Indiana, all the way to Paris, France alongside Maggie, a shy teenager who would really rather stay at home in her comfortable small town surroundings. Maggie is visiting her new step-dad's sister in an ancient convent in the heart of the city. There she becomes wrapped up in her new home and friends and in a mystery involving a series of art heists plaguing Paris.

Galen and the Gateway to Medicine

Book cover: Galen and the Gateway to Medicine
Author(s): 
Jeanne Bendick

Jeanne Bendick's second title in Bethlehem Books' "Living History" series (after Archimedes and the Door of Science) brings to life the 2nd century (A.D.) Roman doctor whose work in learning to understand the human body became the standard authority on human physiology for over a thousand years. Although many of his theories were corrected through advancements in science since the middle ages, his story is interesting both for its own sake and for the light is sheds on Roman history and culture and the Hippocratic tradition of medicine.

Devotional Stories for Little Folks

Book cover: 'Devotional Stories for Little Folks'
Author(s): 
Nancy Nicholson

Nancy Nicholson (author of numerous titles from Catholic Heritage Curricula including the My Catholic Speller and Language of God for Little Folks series) hits another homerun with this new title. Thirty-six stories centering around family life offer humor, entertainment and gentle lessons in morality. The stories are perfect for reading aloud during breakfast or lunch. Each story includes related quotes from the Bible or the Catechism of the Catholic Church, vocabulary words and questions for discussion.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Movie)

Shot from 'Fellowship of the Ring' movie
What a happy thing, especially after all the Harry Potter fuss, to have such a revival in interest in the great Lord of the Rings trilogy because of this new movie (if Harry Potter leads people to Tolkien, I couldn't say much against him). I really believe (and I have noticed this with children of neighbors and friends) that in the end Lord of the Rings tends to be more beloved than Harry Potter.