Wondrous Reading: Encountering the Catholic Faith in Children’s Literature

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. View Less