Wondrous Reading
Encountering the Catholic Faith in Children’s Literature
- Discipleship & Christian Education
- Children & Youth
- Arts & Literature
- Publisher: Cascade Books (Wipf and Stock)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
What if conversations about the Catholic faith occurred with children naturally, instigated by shared experiences and mutual curiosity? How might discussions about imaginative reading transform how children relate to their spiritual selves, cultivating their wonder and forming their hearts? Reading children's and young adult literature incites a range of emotions and in-depth moral questions. It shapes child-readers into ethical human beings and future scholars who ponder their connections with others as well as life’s grander meaning. If we as adults read intentionally with children, literature can even help us as adults—and the children we love—forge a relationship with God, as well as a deeper, communal understanding of the Catholic faith and its rich traditions. An intentional, guided path is what this book provides: it is a compass to navigate the vast questions of Catholicism, illuminated by the magic of literature. Breathing fresh life into catechesis, LuElla D’Amico offers practical examples of how adults can broach complex religious questions inspired by a spectrum of classical and popular texts. Inside, you’ll discover faith topics children often struggle with, drawing from a diverse array of chapter and picture-books that are already staples in parochial, public, and homeschool settings alike.
Endorsements (8)
“Wondrous Reading is a gift to parents who want to live an integrated spiritual life in the home with their kids. Reading aloud is not something that should be left behind as the child ages. Rather, to read together as a family is an invitation to contemplate the gift of creation, the relationship between faith and reason, and an ethics of communion. LuElla D’Amico’s spiritual reading of children’s literature and her various questions and exercises make this a must read for parents who are seeking to enact a contemplative revolution in the home.”
“Someone once told me all great stories are such because they reflect the ultimate story of Christ. Not until now, have I realized that this too includes children’s stories. LuElla gives us a fresh look at beloved (and a few new!) children’s classics and how they are portals into the presence of God all around us.”
“How might we teach our kids to love reading and love God? Bringing together her callings as both scholar and mother, LuElla D’Amico offers relatable and encouraging insights for Christian parents on reading literature with kids of all ages devotionally, virtuously, and joyfully.”
“We want to lead our children to the kingdom and point their feet toward God, and this book can help us do that in a way that bonds us and brings us together. This text identifies good literature and how it works in tandem with spiritual teachings, providing conversation starters and activities to strengthen relationships. As a former Catholic school principal, I see this book as an awesome way to grow faith—your own and that of the children in your care.”
“At once erudite and warm, D’Amico’s winsome re-presentation of universally beloved youth classics through a Catholic lens will provide parents and others who care for children with fresh insight into why the ‘thousand good books’ matter to human formation and faith. From the youngest readers to those who are ready to address more challenging themes, D’Amico uses key texts to help caregivers better understand the characteristic intellectual and spiritual needs of each stage of development. Here is wise guidance for how and why to build and bolster early reading habits, from a mind that has thought long and fruitfully about how to ‘do all to the glory of God.’”
“In Wondrous Reading, LuElla D’Amico underscores the principle that all truth is God’s truth while modeling a dynamic, reciprocal way of reading with children, whose candor and delight teach us as much as we teach them.”
“Equal parts memoir and mandate, Wondrous Reading takes its place alongside Reading for the Love of God and On Reading Well as a book that compels readers to consider the role of literature in soul formation. D’Amico’s deep desire to see Catholic children connected to their faith inspires parents to strengthen the faith of their families by reading together—with thoughtfulness and intentionally.”
“Dr. D’Amico’s book offers clear and thorough ways for parents to engage with their children (of various ages), teaching them not only how to read but also how to read in a focused way. Wondrous Reading is the perfect gift for new parents and experienced parents looking for new ways to inspire children through the beauty of literature to read more and to live well.”
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