From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of America, a book review

From Sea to Shining Sea, The Story of America published by Ignatius Press, part of the Catholic Schools Textbook Project. 20 chapters with an index, 462 pages. "From Sea to Shining Sea" is a 5th grade U.S. history book, that also incorporates the Catholic impact on the shaping of the U.S. This textbook covers early voyages of St. Brendan from fifth century Ireland to the new world. As well as the Vikings, Eric the Red and Leif the Lucky. It also goes into detail of the son of King Owain of Wales, Madoc. And the very welsh looking Indians that later settlers found. The textbook, continues through the Spanish conquistadors, the French and Indian war, And the early colonies. Right through to the early part of the 1900's. Each chapter includes vocabulary words in bold print, pictures with captions, and easy to read sections. Each chapter, and ends with a summary, chapter checkpoint, followed by activities you can do and a short paragraph titled American larder, which gives you a glimpse into the eating habits of the people during that time period. An Index is included in the back of the book. This is an excellent history textbook for either Catholic schools, or the Catholic home school setting. The book is set up in a very user friendly set up. I was so happy to find this book, it's great for my kids to learn how Catholic's impacted the growth of our country, either through their discoveries or in some cases through their martyrdom. Saints and religious are featured through this textbook. I do not have the teachers manual for this book, but have not in any way found that in any way to be a hindrance to planning my child's school lessons with this book.

I wrote this review of From Sea To Shining Sea Student Text for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

Diary of Saint Maria Faustina, a book review

Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul a compilation of notebooks written by then Sister Maria Faustina, secretary to Our Lord, published by Marian Press. St. Faustina's diary is made up of Sister Maria Faustina's notebooks that were written between the years 1934 and 1938. Sister Maria Faustina was a young Polish nun with the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. St. Maria Faustina's diary is filled with beautiful passages detailing her longing for Jesus, her struggles with her health, and her strive for sacrifice. Jesus told Sister Maria Faustina to keep a diary and and to record all the things He told her. All of the words that Jesus spoke to Sister Maria Faustina are typed in bold print in all versions of The Diary, which is printed in several languages, and availible in paperback and leather bond forms. I have also seen The Diary in cassette and CD. Many people I know read this as more a devotional type of book, and keep it close by at all times. The Diary comes with an index in the back, there is a concordance that is also available along with a prayer companion booklet. Pope Blessed John Paul II was a huge motivator in the publishing and spreading of the message of Divine Mercy, which was the reason behind Jesus asking Sister Maria Faustina to record what He said to her in her note books. And in His asking her to have a picture painted with the phrase "Jesus I Trust in You", and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. The Diary is full of Jesus' need to have us turn to Him in trust and seek His mercy, this is a message that needs to be shared with everyone we meet, Catholic or not. I highly recommended the paperback of this book to have on hand to give to people you know.

I wrote this review of Diary of Saint Maria Faustina for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

St. Therese And The Roses, a book review

Saint Therese and The Roses by Helen Walker Homan, illustrated by George W. Thompson, published by Ignatius Press, 9 chapters, 149 pages, part of the Vision Book Series. "Saint Therese" is another wonderful book from the Vision Book Series, written in 1955. It tells the story of St. Therese, a much beloved Catholic saint. The Vision Book Series is a wonderful addition to any family book shelf, but especially to the home schooling family's book shelf. With their extremely descriptive stories that make you feel as though you have stepped back in time and are truly living out the story in your hands. Also there is a teacher's companion book to the Vision Book Series, which not all Vision Books are listed in, although "Saint Therese" is, Saints of the Church, which gives you vocabulary, timelines, topics for reports and much more, making it perfect to plan a unit study off of the one book. "Saint Therese" walks you through the life of Therese Martin, a sweet girl who lived a very short life, and promised to send a shower of roses from heaven after her death. This book sends the better part, 7 chapters, on St. Therese's early life before she joined the Carmelite Sisters. The Last 2 chapters are spent on St. Therese's life as a sister and gives wonderful examples of her "little way", always doing the most disliked chores and tasks, but always doing them with a smile and for the glory of God. Not long after finishing her book "A Story of A Soul" and not quite 25 years old, St. Therese succumbed to the tuberculosis that had plagued her. A short 27 years later the Holy Father named Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Therese, she has been showering the earth with roses ever since.

I wrote this review of Saint Therese And the Roses - A Vision Book for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

Prima Latina, a book review

   

Prima Latina By Leigh Lowe, a complete curriculum, published by Memoria Press. This set of books is intended for grades one through four, but can be used with grades higher then this as the introduction to Latin. This curriculum came with a paperback teacher's manual, a paperback student work book and a cd. The cd has a pronunciation guide, prayers that you will be learning, songs and the words from each lesson spoken in Latin. The student work book has 25 lessons, with room to write your answers on each page, and a review every five lessons. There is also a vocabulary appendix in the back of the book. The teacher's manual has the same layout of the student book, but with the answers filled in with green ink on each page, which in my opinion makes things much easier to explain and grade. Just like the student work book, the teacher's manual has a vocabulary appendix in the back of the book as well as printable tests and the corresponding answer keys. Also included in the teacher's manual are, a printable vocabulary drill record, a guide to lesson planning and a sample day lesson. Each lesson your student will learn one to two lines of one of the basic Catholic prayers; the Holy, Holy, Holy, the Glory Be, the Table Blessing and the Our Father or Lord's Prayer. Each lesson is about 4 pages long, with nice sized print. With 30 total lessons this is easily a year long curriculum. That will give your student a basic understanding of the Latin text and can be used with multiple age groups at one time. There is also a dvd course available for this text, which I did not get.

I wrote this review of Prima Latina Text Set for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Joan, The Girl Saint. a book review

Saint Joan, The Girl Soldier written by Louis de Wohl, illustrated by Harry Barton, published by Ignatius Press, part of the Vision Book Series, 166 pages. I can not say enough great things about the Vision Book Series. These are a wonderfully written series on the lives of much loved Catholic saints. They are a must have for any Catholic home, and especially any home schooling family. "Saint Joan" is a very reader friendly book, 5th grade and up, with the exception of the very French last names, which were very hard for us to pronounce. Girls will love to read this book, of course, as they learn how Joan of Arc commanded, and fought along side her army. Boys will love to read this book, as it is mostly about war. Parents will love for their children to read about Joan's complete obedience to and love for God and her willingness to bend to God's will in all things. Even as Joan was being tried for heresy, she never doubted her love for God. This a fantastic book for home schooling families, and could be used as the base for a unit study on France or Saint Joan of Arc. Joan of Arc was a tremendously brave girl, she commanded armies, made grown men change their bad habits to good, won wars, and crowned a king. She was betrayed by the country she helped set free, and the church she loved. She was found guilty and burned at the stake, all before the age of 20, and with out ever doubting God's love or will for her life. I would recommend this book for all children to read, for Saint Joan was truly a wonderful role model.

I wrote this review of Saint Joan: The Girl Soldier - A Vision Book for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

Our Lady Came to Fatima, a book review

Our Lady Came to Fatima written by Ruth Fox Hume, illustrated by Christpher J. Pelicano, published by Ignatius Press, part of the Vision Book Series, 165 pages. I would like to start off by saying that we love the Vision Book Series. I think that every Catholic child should have at least a few of this series on their book shelf. "Our Lady Came to Fatima" was a wonderful book, we read this book for the first time during our out loud reading time and was able to read a chapter in anywhere from 20 minutes to a half of an hour. I would say that this book has a reading level of fourth grade and up. My teenager has re-read this book and enjoyed it just as much now as she did the first time when she was 9 years old. This book isn't just for girls either, my son enjoyed it as well. We found "Our Lady Came to Fatima" very informative into the apparitions of the Blessed Mother, as well as to the lives of the three young shepherd children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta. We found the narrative very descriptive, you can clearly picture the Blessed Mother as she appeared to the children. Also the feelings of the children were portrayed in great detail as they were harassed by family, neighbors and the government, all who thought they were lying through many of the months that the apparitions were happening. It goes on to tell of the children's lives after the October 13th miracle, the dance of the sun, witnessed by more then 30,000 people. The bravery in the face of death shown by young Francisco and Jacinta is a great model for children. Chronicled also are the struggles that Lucia faced as she entered the convent and tried to move forward with her life. An afterword gives an update (the original copyright is 1957) to the beatification of Fancisco and Jacinta.

I wrote this review of Our Lady Came To Fatima - A Vision Book for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.

Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi

John Paul II, A Life of Grace book review

John Paul II, A Life of Grace written by Renzo Allegri, translated by Marsha Daigle-Williamson, Ph.D. published by Servant Books. "John Paul II" is a 195 page biography on the life of Pope John Paul II. This book starts with a quick introduction of Pope John Paul II parents, family and moves swiftly into John Paul II (then Karol)'s life. This book gives you much in the way of what it was like for young Karol as the family struggled with Karol's mother, Emilia's ill health. The author shares a beautiful poem that young Karol wrote 10 years after his mothers death in remembrance of her. Several chapters are spent going into detail of young Karol's early adult years, which he spent writing plays based on books of the Bible, and working with other young adults his age in underground prayer groups during the war. Some of the things Karol learned in these underground prayer groups he used during his early years as a priest when working with the youth groups that he started. This book goes on to discuss the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in the early 80's and it's links to the third secret of Fatima. I would highly recommend this book to be read by anyone with even a passing interest in Pope Blessed John Paul II and his life. It blends together the over all theme of the life of Karol Wojtyla (later Pope John Paul II) which was one of ever increasing struggle, from before he was born until his last breathe, you can see our Lady's hand guiding his life to where it needs to be. You can also see how hard Satan tried to weigh down this incredible man's heart so that he would turn away from God. Thankfully for us, Pope Blessed John Paul II always turned to God and our Lady offering up his life of struggle.


I wrote this review of John Paul II: A Life of Grace for the free Catholic book review program, created by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods
Aquinas and More is the largest on-line Catholic bookstore.
I receive free product samples as compensation for writing reviews for Tiber River.


Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. - St. Francis of Assisi