Today I Made My First Communion

by Dianne Ahern, Katherine Larson (Illustrator)

What happens when an affable parish priest is confronted by a pair of curious second graders who want to help him solve the Mystery of the Eucharist? Why, he turns it into a teaching opportunity for the entire First Communion class. The book is a wonderful combination of storybook, reference book, and keepsake book. The storybook section mixes a bit of 'who-done-it' drama with traditional religious education to uncover the mystery of faith. Father Hugo challenges the children to look throughout the church for clues to solve the Mystery. Then he and the parish staff together explain how the things they find, the prayers they say, and the music they sing all relate to Jesus Christ and the Eucharist. The reference section of the book contains a rendering of 'our church' that identifies the sacramentals and other items the children find. It also includes information children should know when making their First Communion. The last section of the book allows the First Communicant and his or her family to record the events of this special day, making it a lasting keepsake.

56 pages, Hardcover

First published March 20, 2003

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of two children who are preparing for their first communion. When during class father talks about the Eucharist as a mystery of faith they decide to solve the mystery of the Eucharist. As they work to do this they learn about the things that other Catholic second graders learn in preparation for their first communion. In the end they realize they do not need to solve the mystery of faith, they just need faith. It is written in chapters, but still has full color pictures like a picture book. Second graders would connect to the book easily because they are going through the same process. It also has a wonderful reference section with the parts of a church, prayers most second graders learn before their first communion, and the parts of the Mass. It would be a wonderful book to read with a second grade class as they prepared to receive Jesus for the first time.

Ahern, D. (2010). Today I made my first communion. Ann Arbor, MI: Aunt Dee's Attic.