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ST. JOSEPH
CATHOLIC HOMESCHOOL |
AGES 2-UP
Angel in the Waters, by Regina Doman,
Sophia Institute Press
This simple book chronicles the life of a baby in the womb and the months that follow the child’s birth. Angel in the Waters would make a wonderful gift for children, parents and Crisis Pregnancy Centers. The book may be previewed at www.angelinthewaters.com (Christine B. 12/04) |
Big Sister and Little Sister,
This is a wonderful story about the relationship between
two sisters. (Christine B. 4/02)
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The Complete Tales of Beatrix Potter,
As a young girl, my mom was introduced to the wonderful world of Peter Rabbit. As a young girl, my mom introduced me to Peter Rabbit and his friends. When we moved to the United States, she bought all 23 little books for my youngest sister. When my first child was born, my mom gave me the book pictured on the right. Beatrix Potter's tales have been read more than any other stories in our home. My children enjoy hearing about the antics of Peter Rabbit, |
Make Way for Ducklings,
Mr. and Mrs. Mallard start a family in Boston after finding
the “perfect” place to live. This is one of several good
picture books for children written by Robert McCloskey.
(Christine B.)
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Miss Rumphius,
I discovered this book when I was teaching pre-Kindegarten
one summer. It is one of my children's favorite stories.
Alice's grandfather tells her that she must do three things.
The third and most difficult is to make the world more beautiful.
Miss Rumphius' solution to the last challenge inspired my
family and me to carry on the tradition of making "the world
more beautiful" in our garden. (Christine B.)
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Pamela Walks the Dog, by Christine Marlin,
Bethlehem Books, Lamb Time Book.
A delightful story about a young girl who is preparing to
take her dog for a walk. The story has a great turn of events
that my 5, 4, and 2 year olds found quite amusing. (Christine
B. 5/03)
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The Parables of Jesus,
This book presents seventeen of the parables told by Jesus,
including “The Good Samaritan” and “The Lost Sheep”. (Christine
B.)
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The Rattlebang Picnic, by Margaret Mahy, illustrated
by Steven Kellogg.
The story begins… “When Jack McTavish married sweet
Marion McGillicuddy, they counted their money and talked
things over seriously.
“We can afford either a wonderful, speedy car that
never breaks down, or we can have lots of children,” said
Jack McTavish.
“What a pity we can’t have both.”
“Perhaps we can have a few children—just six or seven--if we make do with an old car,” suggested the new Mrs. McTavish. “That’s a good idea!” cried Mr. McTavish, looking pleased. “We’ll have seven children and get by with an old rattlebang.” So the McTavishes had seven children and drove an old rattlebang. “You have done the right thing,” said Jack McTavish’s mother, Granny McTavish. She liked having grandchildren. I won’t spoil the rest of the story for you, but your kids will enjoy their adventures and perhaps view their own “rattlebang” in a different light. (Submitted by Peggy Gagliardi) |
 Starfish,
by Edith Thacher Hurd, Harper Collins Children'sA couple of years ago, as I perused the children's Science section of our local library, my eyes alighted on Starfish 
and I scooped
it from the shelf. Starfish, originally
published in 1962 and read by children in Montessori
schools, was republished in 2000 as part of
the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series.
In simple, easy to understand language the reader
learns that starfish have arms, but no legs;
feet, but no toes; a mouth, but no eyes, ears,
or nose. The author describes different kinds
of starfish. Edith Hurd shares how a starfish
grows, moves, and eats. She divulges where they
live. An art project and tips on finding starfish
are included at the end of the book.Although Starfish is geared towards children in Preschool and Kindergarten, all of my children find the book interesting and informative. They especially liked learning that the ray of a starfish grows back. Little did I know, when I plucked this book from the shelf, that I had found a star of the sea. Little did I know, that this book would introduce me to what has become an integral part of our Science studies, the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. |
There's a Wocket in My Pocket!,
My son enjoys reading this book with me. Reading the story
together provides a great way to familiarize young children
with rhyming words and teach them the correct pronunciation
of sounds. (Christine B. 4/03)
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Mary: The Mother of Jesus,
Mary: The Mother of Jesus is my favorite book by
Tomie de Paola. De Paola chronicles Mary's life from before
her conception to her becoming Queen of Heaven. He uses
quotes from the antiphons and the Bible to tell this beautiful
story. In doing so, he brings greater glory to God the Son
("to Jesus through Mary"). My three and five year old sit
in rapt attention, looking at the pictures, each time I
read the book. (Christine 12/14/05)
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The Seven Silly Eaters,
You know you've found a good children's book when you find
your husband lying in bed reading it with a smile on his
face (and there are no children to be seen). The
Seven Silly Eaters tells the story of a growing family
of silly eaters. Each Peters' child likes a specific
food and Mrs. Peters goes out of her way to satisfy her
dear children's appetites. Eventually, she feels totally
unappreciated and believes that nobody has even remembered
her birthday. Her birthday morning proves otherwise.
My family enjoys the lyrical and sometimes humorous text
of The Seven Silly Eaters. We are also amused
by the pictures that capture life in a growing family so
well. (Christine B. 2/27/06)
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AGES 4-UP
AGES 7-UP
AGES 9-UP
AGES 12-UP
ADULT
What greater work is there
than training the mind and forming the habits of the young?
St. John Chrysostom: Hom. 60 in Matth., 18. (4th cent.)
Copyright © 2002, 2006 TCB. All rights reserved. Picture
copyright original owner.
A Child's Rule of Life, by Robert Hugh
Benson, Neumann Press. (Mary L. 2/03) |
 Barry,
the Bravest St. Bernard by Lynn Hall, Random House
Step into Reading, Step 5This is a wonderful true-life story about the St. Bernards at the Great St. Bernard Monastery in the Pennine Alps (located between the valley of Aosta and the Swiss canton of Valais). The story focuses on a dog named Barry, who rescued more than 40 people from avalanches. My children (ages 3, 5, and 6) listened intently as they learned of the relationship between Barry, the boy who trained him, and the Augustinian monks. (Christine B. 3/04) |
 Father
Phillip tells a Ghost Story, by Joan Andrews Bell,
Susan Andrews Brindle, & Miriam Andrews Lademan; Precious
Life Books.A good book to read on All Hallow's Eve. (Peggy Gh. 10/01) |
Happy Times in Noisy Village,
Since learning about the children of “Noisy Village”
a few years ago, they have found a special place in
our home. Catherine loves reading about the antics of
these lively Swedish children who live on three adjacent
farms in a small village. This book (reprinted by Bethlehem
Books in the Fall of 2003) and
The Children of Noisy Village
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Island Boy,
Matthias grows from a young (homeschooled) boy to a
grandfather on an island in New England. (Christine
B.)
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The Lady of Guadalupe,
This book tells the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe in easy to understand language. (Rebecca C.) |
Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue, by Joan Andrews Bell,
Susan Andrews Brindle, & Miriam Andrews Lademan; Precious
Life Books. (Peggy Gh. 10/01) |
Mirette on the High Wire,
This story takes place in Paris. The main characters
are Mirette (a girl) and Bellini (a high wire walker).
People come to Mirette’s mother’s boardinghouse. One
night a stranger named Bellini comes to Mirette’s house.
Mirette sees Bellini walking on the high wire. She wants
to walk on it too. She practices walking on the high
wire. Bellini sees her practicing. Mirette wants to
walk the high wire with Bellini. Eventually, they walk
the high wire together.
I liked the story because it shows that if we practice, then we can do things we thought we couldn’t do. (Catherine, age 6) |
Sebastian: A Book about Bach,
Sebastian introduces Bach to children through
simple text and pictures. My children (ages 4,6 and
7) learned that Bach was taught to play the violin as
a young boy; played other instruments, including the
organ; walked 200 miles to boarding school; and lived
in Germany his whole life. They were fascinated by the
instruments depicted in the book and marveled at the
fact that Bach had 20 children (only 10 lived past infancy).
(Christine B.)
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The Squire and the Scroll,
This is a tale of the rewards of a pure heart. It is
a story for everyone, young and old. It tells of the
last knight who could save the kingdom and his wise
young squire not yet hardened by the notion that his
manly strength and battle experience were more powerful
than the lessons learned from a scroll in childhood.
Which of the two would be the hero who saves the kingdom
and gains the hand of the princess in marriage? (Marty
W. 2/05)
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The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith,
This is a story about a kingdom whose inhabitants had grown cold in their faith. One day an old woman entered the bakery and asked for a crust of bread. In exchange she would offer a Mass for the baker. He mocked her, wrote the words, "One Mass" on a delicate piece of tissue paper and dropped it on his scale. On the other side he placed a piece of bread. The whole town was amazed at what happened next! (Marty W. 2/05) |
Leah's Pony,
Leah saves her family's farm during the Great Depression.
She does so by selling her most prized possession, her
pony. Leah then proceeds to bid one dollar for
her father's "practically new" tractor. This picture
book quietly depicts the sacrifices of a family and
their friends during the 1930s. (Christine B.
6/05)
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 Paddington
Treasury,
My first grade teacher, Mrs. Koreski, introduced me to Paddington Bear. The introduction made an impression that has lasted into adulthood. My children and I enjoy reading and hearing about the adventures of Paddington Bear, who came from "Darkest Peru", wearing a tag that read, "Please look after this bear". The stories are available in this delightful treasury or individually. (4/11/06) |
The Adventures of Tintin: Destination Moon,
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Catholic Tales for Boys and Girls, by Caryll
Houselander, Sophia Institute Press.Caryll Houselander's stories include sweet encounters of children with Christ-like people and gentle moral lessons. (Carol T. 4/03) |
 The
Charlotte Years by Melissa Wiley, Harper Collins
In
Little House by Boston Bay,
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The Children of Noisy Village,
This book is better than Pippi Longstocking. (Mary L. 10/01) |
The Door in the Wall,
A dramatic story of Robin crippled son of a great Lord, who proves his courage and wins his king’s recognition – set against a background of fourteenth-century England. (Mary L. 11/01) |
Jenny and the Cat Club: A Collection of Favorite Stories
about Jenny Linsky
These are cute stories about cats. Ideal reading for second and third graders. May be enjoyed by other ages too. Other stories in this series include, The School for Cats: A Jenny's Cat Club Book, |
King of the Golden City, by Mother Mary Loyola,
Catholic Heritage Curricula.
This book is a beautiful allegory written for children.
It is wonderful for First Communion preparation as well
as a read-aloud that encourages family discussion.
It tells the story of a young maiden, Dilecta (beloved),
trying to navigate her way through the turbulent "Land
of Exile" in order to reach the beautiful and much yearned
for "Golden City". As she travels, she must avoid the
numerous snares and temptations thrust before her by
the evil rebel lord Malignus, who despises the King
of the Golden City and tries to lure people off the
narrow path that leads to his heavenly kingdom. Highly
recommended! (Peggy Gh. 4/03)
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 The
Martha Years by Melissa Wiley, Harper Collins
Melissa Wiley (Catholic, homeschooling mother) has
written several books on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s
great grandmother, Martha Morse. Books in the series
include:
Little House in the Highlands,
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AGES 9-UP
Augustine Came to Kent
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 The
Letzenstein Chronicles, by Meriol Trevor, Bethlehem Books:
The Crystal Snowstorm,
My daughter enjoys this adventure series. (Mary L.) |
AGES 12-UP
Darby O’Gill and the Good People, by Herminie
Templeton Kavanagh, One Faithful Harp Publishing Company.
Join Darby O’Gill as he encounters fairies, leprechauns, and more in Catholic Ireland. (Christine B. 2/03) |
St. Monica, by F.A. Forbes, Tan
Warning! If you start reading this book, you might
not be able to put it down. Peggy Ghigleri loaned me
St. Monica because she felt I needed a little
encouragement. F.A. Forbes has done a remarkable job
of capturing St. Monica’s faith in God, hope for her
son (St. Augustine) and husband, and love for God. I
believe both young and old can benefit from this short
story of St. Monica’s life. (Christine B. 3/04)
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ADULT
 Around
the Year with the Trapp Family: Keeping the Feasts and
Seasons of the Christian Year, by Maria Augusta
Trapp, Pantheon Books 1955 (Out of Print)In Around the Year with the Trapp Family, Maria shared her rich knowledge and love of the Catholic Faith, while at the same time providing a glimpse into how her family celebrated the Liturgical Year. The book is rich with ideas that can be incorporated into our own celebration of the Church year. It is an interesting and educational read that provides not only a wealth of ideas, but also a better understanding of the feasts and seasons of the Catholic Church. Although this title is out of print, it is available from the King County Library System (at least it was in 1996) and it occasionally becomes available on eBay (that is where I got my copy several years ago). This is one of my favorite books. (Christine B. 2/27/06) |
Catholic Education: Homeward Bound
Hahn and Hasson provide practical homeschooling advice. (Mary R. 10/01) |
The Catholic Family Handbook, by Fr. Lovasik,
Sophia Institute Press.Fr. Lovasik shares his ideas and gives advice in a simple style with great wisdom. (Christine B.) |
The Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan, by Father
John Hardon, Eternal Life. (Mary L. 2/03) |
In Conversation with God, by Francis Fernandez,
Scepter.Recommended by Fr. Corapi, Johnette Benkovic and other well-regarded Catholics. Offers daily spiritual readings and formation. (Peggy Ga. 2/03) |
Father Elijah,
O'Brien's book is an apocalyptic page-turner. (Christine B. 10/01) |
Goodbye, Good Men: How Liberals Brought Corruption Into
the Catholic Church,
Written prior to the “scandals”, this book provides a clear explanation of the underlying causes. (Peggy Gh.) |
The Hidden Power of Kindness, by Fr. Lawrence
G. Lovasik, Sophia Institute Press. (Mary L. 5/03) |
The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth,
Great Lenten reading. (Barbara S. 1/02) |
The Little Way of the Infant Jesus (formerly Wood
of the Cradle, Wood of the Cross), by Caryll Houselander,
Sophia Institute Press. (Out of Print)Great reading for Advent & Lent. (Ginny 9/01) |
 My
Cup of Tea: Musings of a Catholic Mom, by Danielle Bean,
Daughters of St. Paul
Recently after Sunday Mass, a friend loaned me Danielle
Bean's My Cup of Tea. As I began reading
it on our way home, I found myself laughing and sharing
some of the author's journal entries with my husband.
I smiled when I learned that I am not the only one who
apologizes when someone bumps into me. It was
comforting to read about another mother who delights
in all that her children do and who loves them more
than herself. The first chapter of Danielle Bean's
book and more of her journal entries can be found on
her website,
www.daniellebean.com.
(Christine B. 1/30/06)
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Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to
Sleep,
This book helps parents understand why babies sleep differently than adults and offers solutions to nighttime problems. (Donna B.) |
Please Don't Drink The Holy Water: Homeschool Days,
Rosary Nights and Other Near Occasions of Sin,
Susie Lloyd takes a light-hearted look at homeschooling in a “mid-size” family. She made me laugh out loud and gave me a greater appreciation of the “golden years”. (Christine B. 2/05) |
Raise Happy Children Through a Happier Marriage!Raise Happy Children, Raise Them Saints! Raise Happy Children ... Teach Them Virtues!
The above books are all written by Mary Ann Budnik
who is also the author of You Can Become a Saint,
Looking for Peace, Try Confession!, and
Why Suffer?. The books can be obtained
through R. B. Media, Inc., 154 Doral, Springfield,
IL 62704 or
www.rbmediainc.com.
Mary Ann Budnick’s books are packed
with helpful information on how to raise great
Catholic children. (Peggy Ga. 9/03)
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Saint Gianna Molla: Wife, Mother and Doctor,
St. Gianna’s husband has given the world a beautiful story by sharing his wife’s life, from her earliest days to her death. This book reaffirms how we as Christian mothers should live, stressing the importance of placing God and our families first in our lives. St. Gianna, please help those who are trying to conceive, those who are pregnant and all mothers. I also recommend No Greater Love: Bl. Gianna Beretta Molla, Heroic Witness to Life, by Ann M. Brown, New Hope Publications. |
 Real
Learning: Education in the Heart of the Home, by Elizabeth
Foss, By Way of the Family, 2003
Real Learning belongs in all homeschooling libraries.
I have read this book three times, since purchasing
it in 2004. Elizabeth Foss draws on the writings
of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (St. Edith Stein),
while at the same time sharing ideas for teaching Language
Arts, Math, History, Science, Religion, Art and
more in a loving and gentle manner. Each
time I read this book, I come away feeling refreshed
and thankful for the gift of homeschooling. I
can't wait to read it again! (Christine B. 4/06)
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Discusses the misunderstandings and myths regarding the scapular, and the promises made to those who wear it. (Carol T. 2/03) |
The Shadow of His Wings,
Excellent true story about World War II, told from the perspective of a German seminarian who was drafted into Hitler’s SS. (Christine B.1/02) |
The Soul of the Apostolate, by Dom Jean-Baptiste
Chautard, Tan.This is a book to read slowly and meditate upon. Among many other topics, it discusses the need for, and benefit of, a personal devotion time each day. (Lisa H. 2/03) |
The Story of a Family: The Home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
by Fr. Stéphane Joseph Piat, Tan Books.Fr. Piat does an incredible job of bringing St. Thérèse’s Family to life, giving the reader an in-depth and personal look at Louis and Zélie Martin (the parents of St. Thérèse), their offspring and close relatives. The Martin’s love for God and total acceptance of His will left me feeling truly inspired. I highly recommend this book! (Christine B. 9/04) |
Strangers at Your Door, by Fr. Albert J. Nevins,
M.M., Our Sunday Visitor.Provides ideas on how to respond to Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Televangelists, cults, etc. (Mary L. 5/03) |
The Temperament God Gave You, The Classic Key to Knowing
Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer
to the Lord, by Art & Laraine Bennett
I have found the book, The Temperament God Gave You,
The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with
Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord, by
Art & Laraine Bennett to be very beneficial.
I particularly like the analysis of different
temperament combinations in marriage.
I found it helped me to understand how my spouse
views the world and equally helpful in understanding
how I can be a better parent when relating to the different
temperaments of my children, especially when it comes
to motivating them.
I also like this book because it helped me to
do a better job of examining my conscience and gave
me specific spiritual guidance for my particular flaws.
Mary Ann Budnik’s, Examinations of Conscience
for Specific Ages & Temperaments, is a nice companion
to the Bennett’s book as well.
(Peggy Ga. 1/06)
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Time Management for Catholics, by Dave Durand,
Sophia Institute Press.An easy read that will give back to you a hundredfold. I’m considered fairly organized, but this book took me to greater heights. Very beneficial to homeschooling moms. (Peggy Ga. 2/03) |
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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League.This book covers topics such as, tips on the early months, general nutrition, sleep issues, discipline, and fathering. (Donna B.) |
 The
Woman Shall Conquer, by Don Sharkey, Bruce Publishing.Speaks about Marian apparitions. (Mary L. 2/03) |
St. John Chrysostom: Hom. 60 in Matth., 18. (4th cent.)