Summer Reading - June

After taking a long hiatus from sharing some of the books that we read each month, I decided to try and do so again.

Picture Book Read Alouds

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Kieran through Patrick have been enjoying listening to this story over and over again. Patrick finds the "invisible castle" very amusing.

Eloise Wilkin Stories (Little Golden Book Treasury)

We didn't simply read this book; we read it again and again and again. We gave Eloise Wilkin Stories to Kieran for his birthday and he really likes it. At least once a day, he asks one of us to read "Timmy". After we read the story about Timmy, he asks us to read "Daddy buzz like the bees" or "the deer picture". Then he wants "help Mommy". After that, he wants to hear the rest of the book or all of the book, starting with "Timmy".

Jesus and Mary: The Lives of Jesus and Mary and the Story of Fatima

Elizabeth received this book in her Easter basket. She thoroughly enjoys listening to the stories and looking at the pictures. She even tries to read it herself sometimes. I didn't realize when I bought the book last year that it is a good beginning reader.

Mirette on the Highwire by Emily Arnold McCully

This was one of Catherine's favorite books when she was little. So, I wasn't surprised when Elizabeth saw it on a library shelf and asked me whether she could check it out. Her sister had done the same thing years ago. I was happy to read this book to my children once more and Catherine was happy to see "an old friend" once again.

*If you are looking for picture book ideas for July our 2010 July Picture Book Basket can be found here.

1st/2nd Grade

I Believe: The Creed, Confession and the Ten Commandments for Little Catholics

Finnian received this book in his Easter basket. He likes reading it to himself and with me. Once again, I didn't realize when I purchased this book a year ago that I was buying a great beginning reader for my son. All I knew was that Finnian would be receiving his First Confession this year and that it would be a good book to place in his Easter basket.

Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel

3rd Grade

Nate the Great by Marjories Weinman Sharmat

Saint Ignatius of Loyola: For the Greater Glory of God (Encounter the Saints) by Donna Giaimo, FSP

I wish that I could remember who recommended this book because I could just hug her. Patrick received this book for Easter this year and we read it together at his request. Patrick and I learned more about St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier. Patrick also liked reading the book with me which was a huge plus.

6th Grade

Downright Dencey by Caroline Dale Snedeker

Joan and Agnes remembered reading this book when they were younger and so I decided that it was worth checking out from the library for Theresa. We have now purchased the book from Bethlehem Books. I don't know why I hadn't done so before.

Father Damien And The Bells by Elizabeth Odell Sheehan

Cecilia read this book and all of the other 30 books in the Vision series. She started reading them around April.

The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden
My daughter enjoyed rereading this book and Elizabeth was happy to listen to it.

The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Lowenton Clymer

7th/8th Grade

The Shannon Sailors: A Voyage to the Heart of Ireland by Leonard Wibberley

9th Grade

Faces of Holiness: Modern Saints in Photos and Words by Ann Ball

Our pastor reads a story or two from this book during our parish's Confirmation retreat. Our children have all appreciated hearing these stories. This year, we gave this book to our daughter for her baptism anniversary. Even though we had checked this book out from the library previously, she was very happy to receive her own copy and to reread Faces of Holiness.

The Shannon Sailors: A Voyage to the Heart of Ireland> by Leonard Wibberley
The Shannon Sailors is an account of Leonard Wibberley's trip to Ireland with his sons and the amusing adventures that they had.

The Young People's Book of Saints by Hugh Ross Williamson
Bernadette enjoyed rereading this old favorite. I might just borrow it from her for our next morning read aloud.

11th Grade

The Ball and the Cross by G.K. Chesterton
My eldest always enjoys reading Chesterton. This book is currently available free for Kindle.

Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
Although Catherine found this book humorous, she told me that she preferred the old Cheaper By the Dozen movie because in the book God's name is used in vain. There is no swearing in the movie.

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by N.C. Wyeth

This book was read a few years ago for a book club and reread this month. My daughter requested that I check out this particular book illustrated by N.C. Wyeth because she remembered liking the illustrations. Wyeth was a talented illustrator. Unfortunately, according to a review on Amazon, the current publication of this book that contains Wyeth's pictures is abridged.

The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton
When Catherine was around 13, she pulled our copy of Father Brown off a shelf and she hasn't stopped reading Chesterton's writings since that time. The Father Brown stories make her laugh out loud. The Man Who Knew Too Much hasn't caused her to laugh, but she is enjoying it. This book is also available free for Kindle.

Victory Over Vice by Ven. Archbishop Fulton Sheen

I was happy to see our oldest reading this book. I read it a few years ago and it is, as our daughter said, "excellent". I might need to reread it when she is finished.

Personal Reading

The Glories Of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori

I started reading this book in May and it is excellent! I love Our Blessed Mother!

Read Alouds

New Catholic Picture Bible by Fr. Lawrence G. Lovasik

When Catherine was younger, my husband used to read a children's bible to her and eventually her siblings each night. After reading a story, my husband would ask questions. My dad used to delight, when he and my mom visited, in asking Catherine questions about various stories from the bible. She was always able to answer his questions. Somewhere along the way, the nightly bible reading stopped. Well, in February, we decided to start our old tradition again. The children are enjoying listening to their father read the bible after our family rosary each night and they are taking pleasure in answering his questions.