Love 2 Learn.net

First reviewed:

8-3-04

This is Our Parish

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This reading text (used in the second grade at Seton Home Study School) has been a favorite among my children since we picked it up at a garage sale a number of years ago. Although basal readers (such as the Faith and Freedom readers) are designed for classroom use and not an essential part of a homeschool curriculum, I remember clearly how much I enjoyed receiving a new reader each school year and how I devoured all the interesting stories reading in bed on my first night of school. This is Our Parish reminded me that my children will probably delight in such stories in a similar way. They also provide a variety of different stories that may spark a child's interest in a realm that he would not have otherwise explored.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

2-20-01

The Story Tree

Number of pages:

224 pages

1964

Publisher:

Seton Press

Binding:

Softcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This reading text is the third of three used in the third grade at Seton Home Study School.

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

Feb 20, 2001

This is Our Town

Number of pages:

320 pages

1963

Publisher:

Seton Press

Binding:

Softcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

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.

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

4-26-01

This is Our Valley

Number of pages:

329 pages

1963

Publisher:

Seton Press

Binding:

Softcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This reading text is the second of three used in the third grade at Seton Home Study School. My children have enjoyed many of the stories as a read-aloud. The book provides a wide variety of selections - fairy tales, poems, folk tales, biographies, etc. These new reprints have a glossy soft-cover with a beautiful image and text with black-and-white pictures. Although the original images within the text were color, these reproductions are well-done. Given that some of the illustrations are of the cheezy-sixties variety, I think some of the illustrations actually came out nicer in black and white than in the original color.

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

Feb 20, 2001

This is Our Land

Number of pages:

416 pages

1965

Publisher:

Seton Press

Binding:

Softcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Review:

This reading text is used in the fourth grade at Seton Home Study School. It provides a wide variety of stories and poems of a rather engaging nature for young readers. Some examples include selected chapters from popular books by authors such as Beverly Cleary and Carolyn Haywood, several well-known Fables and Fairy Tales, Greek Myths, Bible Stories, stories about Saints, and stories and poems from nature. The comprehension/study questions which follow each story are excellent. They are designed to help the reader identify subtleties in the story and consider the deeds of the characters. My husband, who has read some of these selections aloud to the children complains that they (stories such as those written by Cleary and Haywood) were "horribly written."

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

Feb 20, 2001

Chief Truths of the Faith

and Fr. Laux's "A Course in Religion" series

Author(s):

Fr. John Laux

Number of pages:

179 pages

1990

ISBN / ID:

9780895553911

Publisher:

TAN Books

Binding:

Softcover

Sample Pages

Subject(s):

Religion

Parent Resources

Catechetical Programs

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

Originally published in 1928, the current edition published by TAN Books is a complete reproduction of the 1934 edition. The 1990 editor added some footnotes to bring the series more "up-to-date." This is a highly recommended series — it is the recommended high school religion text for Kolbe Academy, Mother of Divine Grace and Seton Home Study. I have not worked my way through an entire book from this series yet, but I found it to be an excellent reference resource, especially before the Catechism of the Catholic Church was released. It makes an excellent reference because it is laid out in a very practical manner. It is possible to study a single chapter in the middle of the book in order to more fully understand a particular topic, such as the Catholic Church's teaching on Evolution (ch. VI, Bk. 1 The Origin of the Human Race) which did not change with Vatican II or Our Holy Father's recent (and highly misunderstood and misquoted) statement on Evolution. Because of this practical format, parents may find this series very useful in learning about a particular concept more fully in order to teach it to their younger children. The series is extensively illustrated.

The full series of Fr. Laux's "A Course in Religion" includes the following titles:

Chief Truths of the Faith (Book I, 179 pages, ISBN 9780895553911)
Mass and the Sacraments (Book II, 199 pages, ISBN 9780895553928)
Catholic Morality (Book III, 164 pages, ISBN 9780895553935)
Catholic Apologetics (Book IV, 134 pages, ISBN 9780895553942)

For those interested in using this as a high school religion series, Laura Berquist has syllabi for this series, which include quizzes and answer keys and are available from Emmanuel Books. Seton Home Study offers, even for those not signed up with their entire program, a course using this text. This service includes telephone consultation, test correcting, grading, etc.

Perspective:

Catholic

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

1998-99

How Many Animals?/Quot Animalia?

Author(s):

Marie Carducci Bolchazy

Illustrator(s):

Kristie Stock

Number of pages:

60 pages

2002

ISBN / ID:

9780865165403

Publisher:

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Latin

Resource Type:

Supplement

Review:

What a great idea - simple Latin readers to introduce young children to the language. Big pictures are paired with large, clear print, just like an English easy-reader. This first book in the series is a simple picture book with very nicely drawn, realistic pen and ink illustrations. The format allows readers to intuitively figure out what some basic words mean by connecting them with the pictures. The text introduces 13 types of animals, offering each Latin word in the singular and plural. The reader is also exposed to the Roman numerals from I-XII, and C as well as the Latin names for the same numbers. Just the last few pages introduce a few more words, including some relevant adjectives. The book wraps up with a complete translation, glossary and notes in the back.

This is a really nice beginning book for young children - particularly those whose older siblings are studying the language. Highly recommended!

Additional notes:

Donated for review by Bolchazy-Carducci

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

8-2-04

What Color Is It?/Quo colore est?

Author(s):

Marie Carducci Bolchazy

Illustrator(s):

Yana Igorevna Myaskovskaya

Translator(s):

Mardah B C Weinfield

Number of pages:

60 pages

2003

ISBN / ID:

9780865165397

Publisher:

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Latin

Resource Type:

Supplement

Review:

This title offers charming, child-friendly pen-and-ink illustrations to introduce the colors (in Latin) to young children. The text is quite a bit more complex than How Many Animals? Quot Animalia?, but would provide a good opportunity for young Latin scholars to practice their pronunciation by reading the book aloud to a younger sibling. Since the topic is "colors", I think this book will be best enjoyed if an artist in the family colors in the illustrations first. Translations and glossary are in the back.

Additional notes:

Donated for review by Bolchazy-Carducci

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

8-2-04

What Will I Eat?/Quid Edam?

Author(s):

Marie Carducci Bolchazy

Illustrator(s):

Michelle Kathryn Fraczak

Number of pages:

60 pages

2002

ISBN / ID:

9780865165427

Publisher:

Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Latin

Resource Type:

Supplement

Picture Books

Review:

Lots of silly black-and-white pictures (which will likely appeal to certain funny-bones) and simple text introduce readers to the Latin words for many types of food. You'll find a monster eating pizza, a cow suggesting pork instead of beef, a hot dog enjoying a soda and... lots of good Latin content. Not my favorite book in this series, but perhaps not a bad way to introduce young children to some relevant Latin vocabulary. Young readers will probably not be ready to translate all the sentences on their own, but they can learn to recognize basic words and get a feel for the sound of the language.

Additional notes:

Donated for review by Bolchazy-Carducci

Reviewed by: