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Tina P.
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Which one? Or both? And what about Maureen Wittmann's For the Love of Literature? And one more question, if I may: how do I use these books? Kind of like how I would use Honey for a Child's Heart (whose review against Picture Perfect I think I read somewhere on these forums ...)?
Can someone shed some light on the differences and similarities among these books? Maybe can you offer a review? I know *your* books are great, Cay. I use Catholic Mosaic. I've just  ordered Christmas Mosaic (for a while there I stewed on how different it could be than what's in your Christmas section of Catholic Mosaic ... and I also really like the T dP unit. It takes me pretty much forever to decide on ANYTHING. ).
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Paula in MN
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To me, Literature Alive is more a How-and-Why-to-do-it manual.
Picture Perfect has great How-and-Why ideas at the beginning, and then is filled with lists of topics and the corresponding picture book suggestions. IT IS MY FAVORITE.
Maureen's book is also wonderful, just different kinds of books. And the Honey book also has some good lists.
Yes, I own all of them, and a few you didn't mention. I'm not sure of the ages of your kids, but I think if you went with Picture Perfect, you would be VERY happy.
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 Paula
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KC in TX
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I'm a big fan of book lists and these books provide them (PP and LOL). Literature Alive is, as Paula stated, a how and why.
The essays in front of the book lists in Picture Perfect are inspiring and heartwarming.
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Cay Gibson
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Have you decided yet, Tina? 
I personally think it's better to hear from others than the author so...you asked for reviews:
Literature Alive! reviews
A Picture Perfect Childhood reviews here and here.
I've been meaning to write a blog post about the differences in Maureen's book and mine. Just haven't had much downtime. Her's is a necessary educational tool that will compliment any curriculum you use. My Picture Perfect is only an enhancement agent. It's for all parents who are in survival mode, are desperately wanting to make sure they are not wasting their kids' time (or at least the day), or, after a day of play want to connect with their children and enhance their education...even if only for 15 minutes a day. It's also a great enhancement for parents who feel they are doing a great job education-wise, because it takes only 15 minutes a day.
I don't want people to think PPC is simply another book of booklists. I made great efforts to make sure the essays in the front were though-provoking and meaningful...something you'd want to read and reread and give your daughters (and sons) to read. My whole family has read it and they have a greater respect for my collection of picture books.
I set out to make sure the booklists were different from any other book of booklists out there and I think I succeeded. They were lots of fun to put together and offer something I have not seen in other compilations:
* 12-month historical timeline of picture books
* 12-month shopping list of pictures with recipes in them
* picture books teaching virtues
* picture books for all 50 states and around the world
* An Art Museum! featuring a never-ending list of children author's to read before your 100th birthday 
* Petit Fours for Mom: picture books that leave a notation upon a mother's heart
There's lots more in it. I do hope it is a blessing to all who read it.
Thanks for asking and if you have any more questions, please ask.
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Paula in MN
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Cay Gibson wrote:
I don't want people to think PPC is simply another book of booklists. I made great efforts to make sure the essays in the front were though-provoking and meaningful...something you'd want to read and reread and give your daughters (and sons) to read.
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Oh, Cay, I hope I didn't make it sound that way! 
Your book is SO. MUCH. MORE. than "another book of booklists". I have loaned it to three different librarians so far, and all are ordering copies for their branches. It is truly my favorite resource!
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Cay Gibson
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Paula in MN wrote:
Oh, Cay, I hope I didn't make it sound that way! |
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Not at all, Paula. Not at all.
It is a book of booklist and that's worth mentioning. But books of booklists are a dime a dozen. Right? I just hope PPC stands alone in an otherwise flood of books of booklists. 
Paula in MN wrote:
| It is truly my favorite resource! |
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I'm so glad. It was a lot of fun putting together.
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Cay Gibson
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Cay Gibson
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Tina P. wrote:
| I use Catholic Mosaic. I've just ordered Christmas Mosaic (for a while there I stewed on how different it could be than what's in your Christmas section of Catholic Mosaic ...) |
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I think the Christmas Mosaic stands on it's own, Tina. There were several contributing writers and there's some great pieces and ideas in it. And it'll last your family far, far, far beyond one Christmas. Consider it a family tradition. I hope you like it.
Tina P. wrote:
| It takes me pretty much forever to decide on ANYTHING. ). |
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That's not a bad thing, Tina.
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Cay Gibson
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Tina P.
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Cay, I don't want to pigeon-hole these books by asking for age ranges, but ... well ... are any of these books suited to different ranges? I sailed with my kids on the FIAR tide while they were in K, 1st, and 2nd. I started floundering with Beyond FIAR. Now, for my 13, 12, and even 10 yo, I'm simply making up things for them to do (or not, as the Spirit moves me) as I have them read what I consider (mostly from recommendations off this list ) good literature.
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JuliaT
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I only have Picture Perfect Childhood and I absolutely love it. I don't think the booklists are similar to others. I think the way that the lists are grouped is unique. The picture books are amazing. I have learned so much from the books in these lists. I use the historical timeline list all of the time. I love how there are lists for so many diffeent subjects.
This is how I use the books: when I get the books from the library they go in our book baskets. We read one book a day in the afternoon. It's like our treat for getting the day's school work done. I read the book and then things vary. Sometimes our time together is done after the reading of the book. Other times we disucss the book or the kids put on a play about what we have read. I let the kids decide how they want to handle the book.
This week we read My Mom and Dad are Palindromes (is this where I admit I didn't know what a palindrome was until I read this book? I know, for shame!) My dd was so taken with this book because she found out that she is a palindrome! (her name is Hannah) The kids spent alot of time going through the book finding all of the palindromes. Another favourite is All The World's A Stage based on Shakespeare's plays. My dd loves Shakespeare. The book inspired an impromptu play of Hamlet. My kids are learning so much through these books. This month we also have books on John Muir and the Bronte sisters, just to name a few.
I wrote this out so that you could see you don't have to plan anything out with these books, You can just read them and let your children run away with their ideas. If they don't have any, that's okay, too. Just being exposed to these kind of picture books is enough, imo.
Thank you, Cay, for giving us such a gift.
Blessings,
Julia
mom of 3(8,7,5)
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donnalynn
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Cay Gibson
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donnalynn wrote:
Cay - I was wondering which of the books was most applicable to a wide age span - |
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I think you and your 13-yr-old would get the most from "Literature Alive!" It's full of older article and how-to. Very hands-on type book.
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MaryM
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Tina P. wrote:
| Cay, I don't want to pigeon-hole these books by asking for age ranges, but ... well ... are any of these books suited to different ranges? |
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donnalynn wrote:
It's the voracious 13 year-old I have trouble keeping up with!
Do any of the books have more content to help guide older children compared to others? |
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I can tell you about the two I'm familiar with.
Now, as I've shared before I am a strong believer in picture book use for all ages in education. Even the older ones can benefit and enjoy them, especially as a way to spark initial interest in a topic so they want more in-depth study. Many picture books are very content heavy and I learn more from them than on the same topic in a text book. My 12 year old loves picture books still. A Picture Perfect Childhood covers only picture books, so if that is what you are looking for it is an incredible resource. The topic booklists are not grouped by overall subject but are very easy to navigate. It includes the title and author only - there is not additional info on the books.
Maureen Wittmann's For the Love of Literature is a mix of types of books by topic. It includes picture books, chapter books, and non-fiction resources and has a key for each entry that indicates age appropriateness, whether it is Catholic, and if any discretion is advised. It also has a very short (one or two line) synopsis of the book (and publisher information if it might be a more challenging book to find). It is divided into sections by subject (math, art, history, science) and within that by specific topic.
Both include tips for incorporating living literature into the curriculum and looking at education from that perspective. Neither are really geared to be resources that the child would use to guide their study. They are more parent reference though students could enjoy reading the lists to find titles. They are both awesome resources. I hope this helps you picture them a little.
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donnalynn
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Erin
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MaryM wrote:
. A Picture Perfect Childhood covers only picture books, so if that is what you are looking for it is an incredible resource.
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How did I miss that Cay wrote another book? 
Now for a funny question, are most of the titles recommended in PCC American? I'll explain why I ask, I love the whole idea of FIAR but many of the titles are OOP and American and therefore very hard to source here. English publications abound and are easy to source in OP shops etc and obviously Australian books are too. But many of the titles in FIAR I had never heard of. And if you knew me you'd know how strange that really is.
Picture books go out of print so fast it is frustrating. I often want to write reviews of Australian picture books and recommend them to you there but as I can't find them at Amazon what is the point of getting you disappointed.
However PCC really sounds where I am at currently, 'survival mode' yep sums it up well.
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Literature Alive? Picture Perfect?
