For the Love of Literature

Religious_studiesAll Grades

About This Curriculum

A Catholic literature guide for homeschooling families featuring over 950 book recommendations organized by subject areas to help teach core subjects through living books.

What makes it unique: Comprehensive Catholic perspective on using living literature across all core subjects with practical library usage guidance

For the Love of Literature: Catholic Literature-Based Resource Guide

A comprehensive book recommendation guide by Maureen Wittmann designed to help Catholic homeschooling families integrate 'living books' across core subjects. The resource contains over 950 annotated book recommendations organized by subject area (art, music, math, history, science) with grade-level coding and practical guidance for building home libraries.

Best for

Catholic homeschooling families seeking to build literature-based curricula across subjects, particularly those interested in Charlotte Mason or classical education approaches and needing guidance on book selection and library resources.

Evaluation Criteria

3 strengths · 2 neutral · 1 insufficient evidence

Teacher TrainingStrength

The resource includes substantial guidance for parents on implementing literature-based education, including practical advice on library usage, home library building, and various pedagogical approaches.

Reviews highlight 'practical suggestions for obtaining books and for using library services,' 'chapters on library usage, home library building,' and explanations of 'classical, Charlotte Mason, and unit study approaches'

Historical ContextStrength

The curriculum demonstrates strong attention to historical context through chronological organization of art and history recommendations. The approach emphasizes placing literature within proper historical periods.

Reviews specify that 'art and history recommendations are presented by historical period' and sections are 'thoughtfully organized chronologically'

Primary Text EngagementStrength

The curriculum strongly emphasizes primary literature engagement through its 'living books' approach rather than textbook-based learning. Reviews highlight extensive recommendations for original historical works, biographies, and authentic literature across subjects.

Reviews note the guide promotes 'real books' over textbooks, includes works like D'Aulaire's mythology and Demi biographies, and integrates stories of saints and Church history into chronological lists

Direct InstructionNeutral

The resource provides guidance on teaching methodologies but appears to be a book selection guide rather than a curriculum with direct instruction components. It references Charlotte Mason techniques like narration and dictation.

Reviews mention the book 'discusses how living books fit into classical, Charlotte Mason, and unit study approaches' and references 'Charlotte Mason techniques described in the beginning of this book (e.g., narration, dictation, journaling)'

Theological KnowledgeNeutral

The guide includes Catholic religious content integrated throughout subject areas, particularly in history sections with Church history and saints' stories. However, it appears to be a literature selection guide rather than a systematic theology curriculum.

Reviews mention 'stories of saints are integrated into the chronological lists' and 'works related to Church history' are included, plus books from 'Catholic specialty presses about missionaries and saints'

Vocabulary BuildingInsufficient Evidence

Limited evidence of explicit vocabulary instruction, as this appears to be primarily a book recommendation guide rather than a structured curriculum with vocabulary components.

Reviews focus on book selection and organization but do not mention specific vocabulary development features or terminology instruction

Sources: cathyduffyreviews.com, ourhomeontherange.blogspot.com