La Misa Para Los Ninos / Child's Guide to the Mass

by Sue Stanton

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.

First published November 1, 2000

Reviews

[Alicia Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book I've ever checked out which explains the Mass to children. I would say four year olds and up can enjoy it, it's a bit too long for children earlier than that and the ideas can be somewhat complex. But this makes sense because the Mass is complex.

For a book published in 2000, I was impressed with the diversity of the congregants in the illustrations. I also appreciated that it was a children's Mass, thus showing children participating, which I think is naturally more engaging for young readers.

Sue Stanton also does an excellent job of conveying that this is a holy event for Catholics. She shows the children's hands in prayer. She emphasizes the most important parts of the Mass, particularly the Liturgy of the Eucharist. But she also conveys the seriousness of preparing your heart through the Penitential Rite. Truly, this is an excellent book.

Strictly orthodox Catholics may notice the absence of mantillas, female altar servers, and a modern layout of the church. I don't mind this as this book seems to represent a holy and modern congregation for the time that it was written.