Religion Elementary

The Marian Grotto Kit allows your child to create his or her own lovely miniature grotto of the Blessed Mother from "popsicle" sticks, a picture of the Blessed Mother to color (you can choose Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Snows, or Our Lady of Lourdes) a Grotto background to color, polished semi-precious gemstones (Turquesite, Turritella Agate, Moss Agate and Yellow Jasper), a little booklet explaining what a Grotto is and a description of the Marian Apparition chosen, and illustrated step-by-step directions. The finished grotto can stand freely on a tabletop or be hung on a wall, and is approximately 7" tall.

My Books of Prayers is a nice booklet to keep handy, too. The prayers are the standard ones -- although for some reason the "Guardian Angel prayer" is a bit of an insipid version and the traditional "Morning Offering" is not included. Otherwise, I think this is a great little prayer book.

The book is divided into two major components -- prayers and the liturgical year. The prayers section includes:

• basic prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
• morning prayers
• prayers during the day (Grace and prayer for peace)
• night prayers
• other prayers (for family members, friends, etc.)
• The Rosary (including the Luminous Mysteries)

The section on the liturgical year is a nice overview of how the Church marks time. Each season -- Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter-Pentecost -- has a one-page explanation of how the Church celebrates these seasons and then there is a prayer/psalm that can be prayed during the specific season. Further, there is a nice overview of the Stations of the Cross with a short prayer for each station.This book, too, is targeted to children who have received their First Communion and First Reconciliation; I'd put the target age at 8-11 year olds.

The My First Missal is a wonderful, purse- or pocket-sized missal to carry with you to Church. And don't be fooled by the title. Whenever I see "my first", I think of little children and lots of pictures. This missal has lots going for it and would be suitable for children who have already received their First Communion and First Reconciliation. The text is not babyish or overly simplified.

In the space of 48 pages, this booklet has the complete novus ordo Mass (with one line explanations scattered throughout for further clarification and edification). The book goes further, explaining (and encouraging) other visits to Church -- for visiting the Blessed Sacrament, for morning or evening prayers, for praying Stations of the Cross and for celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There is a very nice "examination of conscience" with prayers to help make a good confession and prayers to offer in thanksgiving after receiving this wonderful Sacrament.

Illustrations, although at a minimum, are nicely done water-colors. They don't distract or detract from the text. For $3.95, this little booklet is a nice accompaniment for Church.

This is one of those delightful children's books that I wish was hard-covered instead of paperback! This book is a simple idea: a 40-some page poem that details the first Christmas Eve. Sounds pretty traditional and common, yes? The unique thing about this book, though, is that the authors link that first Christmas Eve to Jesus' baptism and death on the Cross and then come back full circle to the first night, but now with children of the world surrounding the manger. It's a beautifully done explanation for WHY Christ was born. In simple rhythm poetry and simple pictures, children are shown that Jesus was born in a manger two thousand years ago, but his birth and resurrection are just as much for the children of today as for the shepherd children in that long ago field.

The illustrations by Dorothy Perez add to the innocence and beauty of the book. The pictures are lightly drawn colored-pencil sketches, a new sketch on every two-page spread. A simple, lovely book for children to read throughout the Christmas season.