Summer Reading

Are your children reading good books? Summer reading is not just a past-time, but an enrichment of the intellect and imagination. Invite your children to read good classic literature that is appropriate for their age. Of course, good biographies and autobiographies of important leaders, inventors, holy people, and athletes are useful as inspiration for young and old.

Among all the different toys, games, and electronic devices that we buy for children, do we consider their minds and spirits? Have you taken your child to the public library and acquired a library card? Have you introduced them to the librarian and asked him/her to give your child instructions on how to use the resources? What about giving them access to e-books?  What about saving money to buy books about the Mass, Bible stories, the Saints, Catholic prayers, adoration, the Way of the Cross, etc.?

How many parents or adults have done a web search for “catholic books for children?” or, “catholic book publishers?”  I have done such searches several times. I have found books like: Saints Were Kids, Too, and, Spirituality of Sport: Balancing Body and Soul. I found one website by a Catholic mom (catholicmom.com) who reviews all kinds of books for Catholics including children’s stories, novels for adolescents and adults, spiritual writings, etc. If we do the right kind of research we can help our children and others to find resources with the purpose of helping them become good, or even better, people.

I know that many teenagers have jobs for the summer as well as during the school year. Consider requiring them to save a percentage of their earnings for “intellectual enrichment.” What about a “book fund” or a “college fund”? Do not let them spend all their money on clothes, movies, fast food, and other passing things.

Personally, in the past few months I have read only books that have won awards for excellence. Here are some titles: The Good Lord Bird, by James McBride; Someone, by Alice McDermott; All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr; The Falls, by Joyce Carol Oates, and The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri. These books are all novels for adults. I have looked for award-winning books and/or authors. The quality of the story-telling and the use of language are excellent. Enjoy your summer reading, learning, imagining, growing, etc.

Peace, Fr. Andy