Child's Guide to the Mass [Hardcover]

Sue Stanton (Author), H. M. Alan (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This bright and cheerful interactive explanation of the Mass will keep children occupied Sunday after Sunday. Little Sarah invites readers to join her and her family for a special Children's Mass. She explains everything in child-friendly terms, both the key parts of the Mass and the different roles of the laity. Many prayers and responses are given in full. Along the way Sarah asks questions that prompt the reader to point out people, actions, and items and that also gently encourage appropriate behaviors and thoughts. Searching the appealing art for the answers yields surprises as the typical congregation whispers, drops bulletins, and hunts for runaway babies. Above all, this book's message is that Mass is a loving place that has room for everyone.

Child's Guide to the Mass holds up to multiple readings week after week after week. The playful full-color illustrations show a diverse congregation that embraces the young and the old, the well and the disabled, plus a wide range of ethnic groups. The book's unique interactive features will entertain young readers as well as gently teach them and encourage them into a joyful attentive presence at Mass.

Written for kids aged five to eight, this title is recommended for parents, grandparents, home schoolers, and caretakers; Sunday school teachers, CCD teachers, and parochial school teachers; children's liturgy committees; parish offices; directors of religious education; Catholic daycare centers and Catholic hospitals; and gift givers everywhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ages 4-8, with an adult. Sunday school may be interesting for many young children, but services themselves often inspire squirming. Stanton strives to change that by clarifying what goes on during the Roman Catholic Mass to make the service more interesting and fun. Young Sarah describes the Mass, from the opening songs through the readings and the Eucharist, sharing her experience in simple, buoyant prose, punctuated with questions and activities (two of which, unfortunately, suggest taking a pencil to the pages). There's also plenty of cartoon-style art, watercolor and pen-and-ink, which matches the lighthearted approach. The absence of both a glossary and an index will leave adults on their own to answer questions about penitential rites, homilies, and Eucharistic prayers, but this is an unusual offering that will engage children with pleasant artwork and simple language, allowing them to better appreciate an important religious service. John Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A book that will engage children with artwork and simple language to help them appreciate the Mass. -- Booklist

A charming book to introduce your child to Mass using simple everyday terms. -- Elaine Murray Stone

Clearly and invitingly explains each part of the Mass with words and illustrations that are easy to understand -- The Catholic Journalist

It clearly and invitingly explains each part of the Mass with words and illustrations that are easy to understand. -- The Catholic Journalist

It is the best book available to children that breaks down the Mass and makes it simple, understandable, and fun! -- Michele Federle

The only book that breaks down the complicated Mass and makes it simple, understandable, and fun! -- Michele Federle

This is an unusual offering that will engage children with pleasant artwork and simple language. --Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809166828
• ISBN-13: 978-0809166824
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,493 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What's He Doing, Mommy?, June 23, 2001

By 

"psobrien" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child's Guide to the Mass (Hardcover)

This book explains the mass in simple and clear terms, with an insight that would be helpful for casual Catholics too. My French grandson-age 4- was fascinated by the celebration of Mass during a recent visit.He insisted that his mom explain everything that the Priest said. I bought this book so that he and his little sister could remember our religious celebration. Both of the kids love this book and insist that my daugther read it to them most nights.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delight, but short on theology, May 13, 2003

By 

John Tangney "jdtangney.com" (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Child's Guide to the Mass (Hardcover)

This book explains the sequence of the Mass very well, and is quite engaging. The illustrations are interesting to kids - at least to mine!

I would have preferred a little more background on the why's of the Mass. The book focuses somewhat on who does what and when. I'd like to see just a sentence or two that goes into the theology. What does it *mean* when the priest offers up the bread and wine during the offertory? How is that different from the Consecraton?

It has been very valuable, and if used as a starting point for discussing the why's, then it can't be faulted.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but not what I thought, March 24, 2003

By 

Catholiccat (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Child's Guide to the Mass (Hardcover)

This is nice book for children to learn about the mass. It is geared toward older children though, a little old for my four year old. It gives the names for each part of mass, which is nice but the words are too big for small children. My daughter kept losing interest but each page asks a question that quickly caught her attention again. I actually thought this book would go more in depth about mass, listing the prayers and explaining church a little more, but it didn't. Overall is it a cute modern book for older children.