A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO KAY BURGESS National Catholic Educational Association A | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO KAY BURGESS National Catholic Educational Association Copyright©2012 by the National Catholic Educational Association, Arlington, VA. All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any form. Published in the United States of America by the National Catholic Educational Association. ISBN 1-55833-499-8 Part No. CUR-22-1502 table of contents Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Faith 3 Chapter 2 Hope 9 Chapter 3 Love 15 Chapter 4 Community 21 Chapter 5 Justice 29 Chapter 6 Courage 35 Chapter 7 Reconciliation 41 Chapter 8 Service 47 Resources 53 About the Author 55 introduction MANY YEARS AGO, when a little girl raised her hand and volunteered her Mother’s help in the school’s library my life changed. I began a journey through literature, filled with joy in reading and sharing an author’s words of faith, hope, and love of God with children. This journey has led me to creating and sharing a list of books containing virtuous themes woven throughout the author’s words. Children are impressionable. They are influenced by what is read to them and what they read. Their world today is far more open to many things through TV, music, and the World Wide Web. Teachers experience this influence from the day a child arrives in Pre-Kindergarten. Parents are the first at helping a child on their journey of discovery. Parents and teachers can work together to offer children good literature as a counter balance to their modern day influences. The reading list provides parents and teachers suggestions of present-day authors who have created characters that learn and grow, demonstrating God’s virtues of faith, hope, and love and the human virtues of justice, courage, forgiveness, and service. These are characters we would like children to emulate. Sharing and offering suggestions of authors who create good characters can open meaningful discussions among parent, child, and teacher. Reading aloud and sharing books with children helps to bring the characters alive. Children can develop a deeper sense of values by hearing and reading the way a character struggles between good, evil, right, and wrong. Jesus, understanding the power of a good story, taught through parables. Parents and teachers can harness the power of the written word, guiding children to the best of the best in literature. The list is a starting point for parents, teachers, and children. It can be expanded as readers discover their own virtuous stories. Stories can also often move into other categories. The important thing is to read quality literature. Children become what they see and hear. I would like to dedicate the reading list to all the students who remember Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Five Chinese Brothers, The Giver, and many more books that I read aloud to them; Sister Mary Arthur Hoagland, IHM, for teaching and sharing so much of her knowledge about libraries and reading; and Sister Catherine Delores White, IHM, and Sister Edward William Quinn, IHM, for their support and belief in me. Thank you, also, to parents and teachers who will use the reading list to bring the awareness of virtue to all their children. Lastly, I am grateful to my husband and children for always being there for me and to my daughter, who raised her hand to begin my journey. “To love means loving the unlovable, to forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.” —G.K. Chesterton EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 1 faith 1 EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 3 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” —Hebrews 11.1 Angel in the Waters. Regina Doman. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2004. In its mother’s womb, a baby grows, explores the waters, and talks with the angel who is there. Angels among Us. Leena Lane. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2007. Contains twelve illustrated stories of angels from the Old and New Testaments. Becoming Me: A Story of Creation. Marty Boroson. London: Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2011. In the beginning, God is alone and lonely and squeezes all things out of His very essence: plants, fish, insects, birds, animals, and finally a human fetus. Once born, the child soon forgets that he is part of God, although later in life, the author reminds readers, he may suddenly have a revelation that he is part of God, as is everything else, even war. Caedmon’s Song. Ruth Ashby. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2006. Based on the true story of Caedmon, the seventh-century cowherd who became known as the first English poet. Can You Find Saints? Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women. Philip D. Gallery. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 2003. This book is a fascinating way to learn about the saints. The saints are grouped in specific categories, but the final search is “Saints in the Making” which gives the children a look at what it takes to become a modern day saint. Child’s Guide to Baptism. Sue Stanton. New York: Paulist Press, 2006. We meet Anthony, a young boy whose baby brother is about to be baptized. Anthony eagerly invites the reader into his church and explains the importance of this once-in-a-lifetime sacrament. Faith. Maya Ajmera. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2009. In our world there are many faiths. Celebrate faith around the world in its many expressions: praying, singing, learning, helping, caring, and more. God Found Us You. Lisa Tawn Bergren. New York: Harper Collins, 2009. When Little Fox asks his mother to tell his favorite story, Mama Fox recounts the day he arrived in her life, from God to her arms. 4 | A WORKING READING LIST FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS Goodnight Angels. Melody Carlson. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz, 2011. Rhyming text follows a child who is saying goodnight to everyone and everything, from friends to a toothbrush to Father God and the angels. How Big is God? Lisa Tawn Bergren. New York: Harper Collins, 2008. With help from his mother, a little boy tries to understand the immensity of God. Images of God for Young Children. Marie-Helene Delval. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2011. The Bible describes God in many different ways: God is light; God is joy; God is wisdom. God is the beauty that fills the earth and the rock we stand on, the promises we live by, and the fire that purifies us. Jesus A to Z. Michael O’Neill McGrath. Franklin Park, IL: World Library, 2007. Colorful and inviting children’s ABC book combines delightful illustrations with alliterative and whimsical (yet appropriate) Scripture story allusions. Joseph and Chico: The Life of Pope Benedict XVI as Told by a Cat. Jeanne Perego. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2008. Relates the life story of Joseph Ratzinger, later to be known as Pope Benedict XVI, from his birth in Germany in 1927 through his election as Pontiff in 2005, as told by his cat, Chico. Keoni’s Big Question. Patti B. Ogden. Oregon, IL: Capstone Productions, 2008. A young boy who seeks answers about God’s presence in everyday life finds that a family friend held the key to his revelation all along. The Littlest Mountain. Barbara Rosenstock. Minneapolis: Kar-Ben Publishing, 2011. Discusses how Mount Sinai was chosen as the site of the giving of the Ten Commandments. Mama Says: A Book of Love for Mothers and Sons. Rob D. Walker. New York: The Blue Sky Press, 2009. Powerful life lessons spoken to a child, delivered with a mother’s immutable love. Stunning illustrations will leave readers breathless and deeply moved. Many-Colored Blessings. Dandi Baley Mackall. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 2005. Depicts children giving thanks for a world filled with color. Mighty Casey. James Preller. New York: Feiwel & Friends, 2009. The epic poem “Casey at the Bat” is recast for the T-ball set with much hilarity; this time, Casey comes out a winner! EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL TO GRADE TWO | 5 My Friend Rabbit. Eric Rohmann. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2002. When Mouse lets his best friend, Rabbit, play with his brand new airplane, trouble isn’t far behind. Rabbit means well but he is much bigger than Mouse and when he tries to launch the plane it ends up in a tree, too high to reach. Rabbit tells Mouse not to worry since he has an idea. A Night Night Prayer. Marijan Ramljak. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2008. This bedtime book introduces thankfulness and prayer in an evening routine. The Oak inside the Acorn. Max Lucado. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2006. A tiny acorn fulfills its destiny by becoming the tree God made it to be, and then it watches the little girl who climbs its branches grow up as well. Papa’s Pastries. Charles Toscano. Grand Rapids, Mich: Zonderkidz, 2010. Miguel’s family needs a new roof, firewood, and clothing to survive the winter. Miguel hope his father, a pastry peddler, will sell enough tasty treats to buy the things they need. But all the villagers they meet have also endured great hardship, and Miguel’s father gives his pastries to those who need them most. Miguel feels heartbroken. Then something happens that teaches him that kindness is far more valuable than money.