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Bookswithtea
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I am looking for a children's book that would explain the life of sisters in a convent, either cloistered or maybe teaching sisters in a boarding type school (does not have to be particularly modern)? Not too heavy...for a unit study aimed at 2nd and 5th grade girls.
Any suggestions?
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and  due 9/10
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MaryatHome
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I don't know of any specifically for that age group.
The two we have enjoyed are "A Few Lines to Tell You" and "A Right to Be Merry."
"A Right to be Merry" is written as a series of letters home from a young woman who has entered a Carmelite monestary, and of the two is the more accessible to the girls on the older end of your spectrum.
I'll be hoping that you find something for that age group.
ETA: I apologize. I got the wrong name and description above. "A Few Lines to Tell You" is the series of letters home from a young Carmelite. I don't know how I had such a big brain freeze. "A Right to Be Merry" is more of a narrative. I promise I'll think before I post from now on! 
Mary
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Helen
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The Buffalo Carmel dedicated to St. Therese used to have a wonderful booklet written by the novices about the Novitiate.
I can't remember the title right now... something like
"All is Love"
But, if you write to them
Carmelite Monastery
75 Carmel Road
Buffalo, NY 14214
and include a donation for the booklet with the description of the booklet, I think they will send you one. (I don't think they asked for more than 5 dollars. It might have been less.)
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JennGM
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I only have some older books, but perhaps you can find these titles:
The best for this age unfortunately is a very expensive book, called Bernie Becomes a Nun by Sister Maria del Rey printed in 1956. It has great b/w photographs covering all the steps from the entrance as a postulant to the day-to-day life of a sister. This was a Maryknoll convent, so obviously things have changed (habits being the least!). Even though it's hard to find, I'm mentioning this book because you might find it in a library or convent or something.
My favorite book is Shepherd's Tartan by Sister Mary Jean Dorcy (now MaryM don't roll your eyes). It's OOP but easily able to find cheap used copies. I'd use this as a read-aloud, but it's delightful. It's the story of her vocation to the Dominicans, but from a very human and sometimes humorous point of view. What's great about her book is that you can find tangible items of her art to show to the girls, the scherenschnitte or scissored paper cuttings. Sister Mary Jean Dorcy has beautiful work. In particular, she has Our Lady's Feastswhich is just wonderful. Neumann Press has reprinted Our Lady of Springtime which is quite beautiful with lovely poetry and illustrations. Can I say beautiful any more? 
Adrian Dominican Sisters shop
Catholic Authors
Dan Paulos, Sister was his mentor and they collaborated on a book, Spring Comes to the Hill Country (gorgeous). He also has some of her art for sale. I know what I'm going to ask for my birthday!
Cay includes In the Midst of Chaos, Peace that includes scissored Paper cuttings of Sister Mary Jean Dorcy and Dan Paolos (her student).
A Right to be Merry by Mother Mary Francis is a terrific book, but again, a read-aloud. She tells the story of life in a Cloistered Poor Clare Convent.
There was a previous thread on nuns which MaryM suggested Sister Anne's Hands to see the vocation of a teaching nun.
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mary theresa
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This isn't exactly what you asked, but I remember reading and loving Convent Boarding School by Virginia Kenny (I think) when I was young. I think your 5th grader would be the perfect age for it.
It's from the p-o-v of a 6th grade girl in a convent school -- it's sweet and funny and faith-filled. The school and the life in the convent are so attractively portrayed ( i wanted to go to a convent school when I read it!). And being a nun and living that teaching and praying life looks so beautiful in the book too.
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Bookswithtea
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Thank you all so much! This is a great place to start. I'll check out the oop bookfinder places, tonight. :-) Jenn, you are a wealth of information for great oop books! We are doing a unit on They Were Strong and Good (FIAR book) soon and it seemed like a neat opportunity to talk about convent schools/sisters.
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Blessings,
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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MaryM
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JennGM wrote:
| My favorite book is Shepherd's Tartan by Sister Mary Jean Dorcy (now MaryM don't roll your eyes). |
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I would never do that, Jenn.  I am a total Sr. Dorcy fan now, too!
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Bookswithtea
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Hmmmmmm...Bernie Becomes a Nun starts at $55, and Convent Boarding School starts at $35. So I'm thinking Shepherd's Tartan will be out selection at $2 plus shipping! I have Sister Anne's hands but I'm saving that for when we do Follow the Drinking Gourd/Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Thanks again everyone!
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Blessings,
~Books
mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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JennGM
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| Hmmmmmm...Bernie Becomes a Nun starts at $55, and Convent Boarding School starts at $35. So I'm thinking Shepherd's Tartan will be out selection at $2 plus shipping! I have Sister Anne's hands but I'm saving that for when we do Follow the Drinking Gourd/Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
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Yes, I warned you about Bernie! I just thought you could keep your eyes peeled for a library or local loan, just in case. I also did a search for the author and it was originally a magazine article in Cosmopolitan, so maybe you could find a microfiche version.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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isjalu0826
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OH! Bernie Becomes a Nun!!! I remember that book. I used to read it in the library at my elementary school (on the sly) every chance I got... I wonder what ever happened to the books in that library (the school closed in the late 80's and the building is now leased by the city for Continuing Education)...
That book made a BIG impression on me in those days. It'd be so cool if you could find it somewhere in an old library or something...!
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teachingmom
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Bookswithtea wrote:
| Hmmmmmm...Bernie Becomes a Nun starts at $55, |
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Hey, I think I have that book! It was given to us by someone along the way. I'll have to locate it and take a look.
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cornomama4
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Hi Books,
I'm not sure your time frame for this sort of a thing, but if you have some specific questions I'm due to send a letter to my dear friend Sr. Cecilia who is a member of the Oblates of Mary, a Benedictine order. She and I are friends from before her nun days (she played french horn too) so I'm sure she'd be forthcoming with interesting tidbits. I also attended her clothing ceremony, which was rather interesting.
What's the general concencus on that movie with Audrey Hepburn..."A Nun's Story"??? I had the impression it was rather accurate in a mainstream sort of way. I had seen a little of it and was really interested in the "examination of conscience" scene they showed where they wrote in little books. I almost started doing that myself....
BTW, I hope you're doing OK!! Are you still on bedrest that you mentioned on a previous post?? PM me if you want.
cm4
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Mary G
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cornomama4 wrote:
What's the general concencus on that movie with Audrey Hepburn..."A Nun's Story"??? I had the impression it was rather accurate in a mainstream sort of way. I had seen a little of it and was really interested in the "examination of conscience" scene they showed where they wrote in little books. I almost started doing that myself....
cm4 |
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Nun's Story starts out really good ... knows she has a vocation and is willing to "go for it" regardless of what her family thinks .... problem is that as the movie progresses the character becomes more and more me-centered and forgets why she went in in the first place! The ending was a GREAT disappointment for me -- but we were able to turn it into a "teachable moment" about sacrifice and obedience ....
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JennGM
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I would agree with Mary G.'s assessment. A movie I think gives a better light is "Trouble with Angels", although that should be previewed first, and it's probably good for only girls, as there is a bra scene. It's humorous, shows two adolescent girls rebelling, but gives a wonderful picture of true convent life, with the most rebellious girl hearing her call to becoming a nun.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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8kids4me
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Love,love,love The Trouble with Angels!!!!!! I have been trying to find a dvd of that to own.
Sister Anne's Hands is a great book too, so gentle. I bought that one for one of my girls one year.
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LisaD
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mary theresa wrote:
This isn't exactly what you asked, but I remember reading and loving Convent Boarding School by Virginia Kenny (I think) when I was young. I think your 5th grader would be the perfect age for it.
It's from the p-o-v of a 6th grade girl in a convent school -- it's sweet and funny and faith-filled. The school and the life in the convent are so attractively portrayed ( i wanted to go to a convent school when I read it!). And being a nun and living that teaching and praying life looks so beautiful in the book too. |
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My 3rd grade daughter and I are reading this together right now, and it is a wonderful book. I highly recommend it!
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Angela F
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We love Sister Regina Marie! There are two books in the series now. All my kids love to read them - even the 13 year old, though she probably wouldn't admit it. The second in the series has some cutouts you can use as well.
Anyone else seen or used these?
God bless,
Angela
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JennGM
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Angela F wrote:
We love Sister Regina Marie! There are two books in the series now. All my kids love to read them - even the 13 year old, though she probably wouldn't admit it. The second in the series has some cutouts you can use as well.
Anyone else seen or used these? |
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No, but they look great! I wonder if they would even be Catholic Mosaic worthy. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
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CKwasniewski
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Hey ladies, I just looked on addall.com used books and there are several copies of Convent boarding school for 20.00. (There is one for less from the UK but adding in postage it wd be about the same.)
If my dd was a little older (and we had any money ) I'd be getting this too!
Thanks for this thread.
CK
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Bookswithtea
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The Sr. Regina Marie books look perfect! Thank you so much.
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mothering ds'93 dd'97 dd'99 dd'02 ds'05 ds'07 and due 9/10
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Topic: Book about life in a convent?
