Tag: Joseph Pearce

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Review: Poems Every Child Should Know

Book Review: Poems Every Child Should Know, compiled by Joseph Pearce

I love Joseph Pearce’s collection, Poems Every Child Should Know. This beautifully curated collection elegantly presents classic poetry that will shape hearts and minds and serve as an entry point into the sometimes daunting world of poetry.

When I was a freshman in college, I had a composition professor who assigned more literary reading to us than the literature professor. We were required to memorize a poem from a list, and I chose “Daffodils” by William Wordsworth. The rhyme and rhythm made it easy to memorize. I just wanted a quick solution to the assignment. I never expected that decades later, I can still recite the poem. It has been part party trick and part prayer to be able to recite this poem at various times in my life. Not only did it introduce me to the joy and challenge of poetry, but it showed me that it can have spiritual roots, too.

Reading good classical poetry contributes to a well-rounded education and creates a foundation for a lifelong love of literature and learning. This collection, designed for children, is really for anyone who wants to embrace the universal language of poetry. Its beauty, in carefully selected poems, is representative of the richness of the poetic literary tradition. Each section dedicated to an author’s work also provides a thematic context for the reader.

Some of my favorite selections include a section on so many beloved Mother Goose rhymes, poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins, and of course my favorite, “Daffodils.” It also has the lovely William Blake, and the touching A.A. Milne. I am enjoying revisiting many of the poems in this season of my life, and sharing my favorites with my grandchildren.

Within the pages of this lovely book, one can find echoes of the Catholic literary tradition, too. Poems exploring themes of love, compassion, and the wonders of creation are presented in a way that aligns with the moral and spiritual values often associated with the teachings of the Catholic Church. The collection serves as a subtle guide for parents and educators seeking to impart not only the joys of literature but also enduring virtues to the next generation.

Highly recommended.

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ TAN Books (March 21, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Imitation Leather ‏ : ‎ 344 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1505126303
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1505126304
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Book Review: Literature

living dangerously with a book in the pool

I’ve been reading this book, Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know by Joseph Pearce, for three months. I know that sounds like a terrible endorsement, but you see, I’d read a chapter and then immediately go to the books discussed in the chapter and reread those selections!

Full disclosure: I was an English major — and a literature professor. A few years ago I retired from teaching composition and literature at a technical college. I’ve missed discussions of esoteric themes and deep thoughts. Mostly, I think I’ve just wanted to read good books and just enjoy them. No assignments. No grading. Just reading.

In the great works of literature we discover a deep understanding of man’s being and purpose. We discover that the human person is homo viator, a pilgrim or wayfarer who journeys through mortal life with eternal life always in mind. Literature 1

I think this view of literature was an implicit part of my teaching, but it has been a refreshing source of insight to approach these familiar texts with this philosophy explored explicitly. Alliteration aside, It’s been a nerdy delight.

Literature has been like taking a reading retreat, and refocusing my Catholic sensibilities in the great literature referenced in the sections. I even pulled out a complementary text given to me by a dear friend, and reread Poems Every Catholic Should Know compiled by Joseph Pearce. Yep. The very same.

If we wish to have minds open to the presence of God we need to take time and not waste it. We need to take time in the silence of prayer or the silence of poetry. We need more time with trees and less time with trash and trivia. Poems xxi

That’s how I spent my summer. Immersed in good books and excellent reflections on them. I didn’t know how much I needed to reconnect with these stories and poems until I started, and then I couldn’t stop.

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