One side-effect of the common lectionary used by Catholics, Episcopaleans, Lutheran, and various mainstream Protestant churches is the development of some excellent lectionary based resources. (A lectionary contains the Biblical readings for a given Sunday).

This series of three volumes for the three year lectionary cycle (each year concentrates on a synoptic Gospel - Matthew, Mark or Luke) contains music, poetry, art, etc. that in some way reflect on the Scripture for a given Sunday. The volumes are carefully multicultural.

An example: for the first Sunday in Advent, there are poems by Czeslaw Milosz, Sandra Cisneros and Janet Morley; a photo of a festive cross by Claudio Jimenez; quotations from Lamar Williamson Jr. and the Gelasian Sacramentary; a song by Arthur G. Clyde (contemporary); paintings by Rodolfo Abularach and Salvador Dali.

Each Sunday is equally diverse. You should always be able to find something that meets your needs and/or challenges you to reconsider your needs. Highly recommended.

Gorgeous book of art tied to the Christian lectionary. Poetry, paintings, photographs, sculpture, scripture quotes. A real treat!

Richly satisfying artwork, with text that rhymes. Out of a large basket of small books, our kids choose "Noah's Ark" by Amy Flynn & Linda Hayward to be read time and time again. A classic "chunky book".

Being a gifted student at my school, I can honestly say this book was filled with more myths then facts. The authors can't compare to how hard my life is, being labeled as a "geek" and "insane". The quiz in the back of the book is suppose to tell you if you are or not in fact gifted. For example, if you answer yes to some of these questions, you are gifted: 8. Do you find a lot of school lectures boring? (Every student in the world does) 1. Do you think about a particular subject more then other kids your age? (Unless it is Dawson's Creek or 98 Degrees) 31. Do you ever read the encyclopedia for the fun of it? (Well, who doesn't?) 30. Do you like to read? (Teen People and Cosmo girl) My personal favorite: 33. Do you ever consider a lot of teenage fads dumb and a case of herd-following? (I think you can think of your own sarcastic remark for this one.) My five gifted(as told to us by school tests, not the book's) friends and I had a ball laughing about this. The book should be under the humor section, not in the self help part of my library. Five words: Save your money and time.