What's New

A Book of Sanctity

Book cover: 'A Book of Sanctity'
A Book of Sanctity is a newly printed collection of stories gathered from numerous out-of-print Catholic reading books. These 27 selections center around the theme of sanctity and include Bible stories, stories of the saints, and stories of families. Most pages include a simple black-and-white illustration that enhances the interest of the story without distracting a young reader's attention.

This book is used as a reading text in Seton's 2nd grade program, but is available for sale apart from the curriculum.

Grandpa Karm's First Catholic Australian Reader

Book cover: 'Grandpa Karm's First Catholic Australian Reader'
Author(s): 
Karmenu Attard
"Grandpa Karm" has written a 20-page first level reader, illustrated with black and white clip art and holy card reproductions. The typeface is large and clear and easy for a new reader to follow. Self-published and bound with staples and binding tape, the book may not hold up well to repeated readings by boisterous young readers.

The story describes farm life in Australia, and the children have a kangaroo and a possum for pets. At the end of the story, the children learn the most simple truths of the Catholic faith.

Celtic Heritage Saints

Book cover: Celtic Heritage Saints
Author(s): 
Marian Keaney

This book offers short, readable biographies of sixteen of Ireland (and Scotland's) greatest saints (covering the years from St. Patrick through 1142). The writing style and illustrations are reminiscent of Once Upon a Time Saints by Ethel Pochocki (Bethlehem Books). Despite the simplicity of the book (approximately a 4th grade reading level) it covers an important and oft-forgotten part of Catholic history.

Baby Mozart

Author(s): 
Baby Einstein
It is commonly believed today that Mozart's music is so beautiful and well-ordered that it can have a beneficial effect on the brain's development in children who listen to it during their developing years. Using this theory, the Baby Einstein company have made an audio and video package meant to capitalize on these ideas. The audio CD takes some of the most famous (and most beautiful) compositions of Mozart and performs them with alternate instruments (small bells and/or a xylophone I believe) to make them more "baby-friendly." I didn't really care for this version of music.

English from the Roots Up

Book cover: English from the Roots Up
Author(s): 
Joegil Lundquist

This is a really neat and fairly simple program designed to introduce children to 100 Greek and Latin words that are common roots of English words. Along with background information, Greek and Latin pronunciation guides, and other teaching tips are 100 pages containing one Greek or Latin Root word, a list of English derivatives (with definitions and other root words), teaching notes and extra derivative words.

English from the Roots Up: Word Cards

Author(s): 
Joegil Lundquist

This set of 100 cards covers the Greek and Latin root words found in the companion book. 37 words are Greek Roots (cards are outlined in green - don't worry - they are written in our standard alphabet!) and the res are Latin (cards are outlined in red). The back of each card gives the definition and derivatives in an identical manner to the book (includes definitions, et al.), but does not contain the teaching notes and extra words found in the book.

This is Our Town

Book cover: 'This is Our Town'

This reading text is the first of three used in the third grade at Seton Home Study school. In the tradition of the Faith and Freedom readers, this book offers family stories centering around a parish Church and school, stories of saints, fairy tales, folk tales and some just plain silly stories designed for reading practice and pleasure.

Poetic Knowledge

Book cover: 'Poetic Knowledge'
Author(s): 
James Taylor

(Additional Review, in response to the one above)

"There are relatively few persons who can analyze as clearly and as lucidly the writings of Aristotle, Plato, and Aquinas as does this author. Like Taylor's educational philosophy, he seeks to move his readers' affections and will as well as their intellects, and he does this successfully." - Richard Harp, University of Nebraska

Surprised by Truth

Book cover: Surprised by Truth
Author(s): 
Patrick Madrid (editor)

These are relatively short (usually about 20 or 30 pages each) autobiographical essays from Catholic converts. The stories cover a number of converts who are becoming well-known for their vibrant Catholic ministries of various sorts, and so you may have heard the names Marcus Grodi, James Akin, Steve Wood, Tim Staples and Dave Armstrong before).

Surprised by Truth 2

Book cover: Surprised by Truth 2
Author(s): 
Patrick Madrid (ed.)

The sequel to Surprised by Truth provides even more stories of how the grace of God, the witness of others and important conversations about the truth, brought these men and women back to the fullness of the Catholic faith.