We have a tradition in our family, starting several years ago, to read something having to do with our faith during breakfast. This time has become very special to my boys (me too:)). I can count on finding our "current read" sitting at my chair when I sit down. I am amazed how, over the years, we have managed to read and enjoy so many wonderful stories. If I had sat down and set a goal to read
a to
z titles by a certain time, I most certainly would have given up. My only goal was to read. Sometimes just 2 minutes, sometimes 10, but always read something having to do with our Catholic faith. Just that little goal has amounted to so much!!
Over the years we have read through many books. Here are are a few:
The New Catholic Picture Bible
I read through this with my children each time one of them turns 5. I usually read one or two stories a week. Each story is read at least once- on subsequent mornings I may talk about the story while showing the picture, reread a small part of the story, or just discuss it with the kids. After breakfast, the kids sometimes draw or color a picture to go with the story.
Devotional Stories for Little Folks
We love these stories! My boys really enjoyed reading about this homeschool family. They talked about the kids in this family like they were friends.
Devotional Stories for Little Folks Too
Faith and Life Grade 1 and 2
This is a nice series that many use as their catechism text. We just read the stories- I read one each week. We use it sort of
Five in a Row style. I read the story each morning for a few days, ask questions and have a discussion (as much as little ones discuss :)). We are going to reread these this year for my youngest son who is preparing for his 1st communion.
Little Acts of Grace
This book is from a great little series that is perfect for the youngest listeners. It covers "little things"- holy water, bowing your head, genuflecting... each story is just one short page (occasionally two) with a full page picture to go with it. I would read one each morning for 3 or 4 mornings and then do a reread to review the previous mornings.
Science 2 for Little Folks
My boys love these stories. With titles like "How to Dress a Duck", you can tell it is a fun book. This is a science book, but also a great book to see God's hand in all of creation.
God's Love Story
This is a simple retelling of God's love story from Creation through Pentecost. It is an easy to read book with nice black and white illustrations that can be colored by your child. We read it over a 2-3 week period.
Stories to Learn By (this is a bit corny, but boys loved it K-2)
Stories of the Saints (we have read selections from the volumes 1 & 2)
These saints stories from
CHC really work for my boys- they are written with a grade 4 + audience in mind (I believe).
Father Lovaski books (we read ours on various saint's and feast days)
*During Advent we read from books having to do with the season. Usually these are picture books, but we also do special readings from an advent booklet that we own.
Occasionally, when I come across a story from one of my Catholic publications or even short blurb from one of
my devotional books that I think would be of interest to the boys, I'll read that for our "morning time".
I plan on posting more of our "breakfast reads" as I get a chance. We have been doing this for about 6 or 7 years, so we have managed to work our way through quite a few titles!
These books about saints who "took their ordinary lives and made them in to extraordinary adventures" are well written, face paced and just the right length for an easy breakfast time read.