Child's Guide to the Mass
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 GreenCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved