Clare's Costly Cookie

Good for my Godchildren especially for kids with many siblings. The best part of this book was the main characters love of our Lord in her family. Highly recommended.

Perfect for my granddaughter who struggles with self regulation 😇

My 9yo is not a fan of reading but finished Clare’s Costly cookie and asked for the next book! It made my heart glad.

Great book for middle age kids. Sets the tone for prayer - talking to Jesus.

I really liked this story! And so does my 7 yo. I wasn't at all sure what to expect from the title, and to find a young girl using prayer to deal with her daily struggles was heartening. Sibling issues, temptations, selfish impulses, and also learning/explaining Catholic routines and practices, I am very happy with this purchase. Definitely recommend.

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not what I wanted

5 Stars

The short experiences have given my students good examples on talking to God and strengthening their relationship with God.

Someone gave us the 2nd book "The Costly Cookie Chronicles" (on the Rosary). I liked it so much I bought this 1st one. Chapters are short, following the same rhythm of Clare talking to Jesus in her own words, listening quietly, then talking some more. We don't hear Jesus, except through Clare's own ponderings. Dialogue is believable and age-appropriate but fits in a lot of great catechesis and spiritual wisdom. Chapters conclude with a relevant Bible verse. I’d pick the years immediately after a child's 1st Communion as the ideal age for this book, but it even speaks to me as an adult, so I'd recommend it for any age. Clare herself is about 9. She has a big faithful Catholic family and struggles to get along with her siblings and obey her parents. My son is an only child, but still gets much from the reflections. Could be incorporated into homeschooling or used as parent/child reflection at bedtime. Any way you use it, I'm sure it will enrich your prayer life as it enriched mine.

Will be ordering more.

My daughter and I loved this book so much that I started buying it as a gift for others to enjoy too! Thank you for the opportunity to share this!!

A lovely book to teach the importance of prayer

A good book to read to my School of Religion class

Matthew Kelly said something along the lines of, "Tell me what you're going to read this year and I'll tell you how your life with change." At the time, I didn't realize this also applies to children, but this book has made that clear. My six-year-old enjoys me reading to her about Clare, to whom she can relate. Since we started reading this (one chapter before bed each night) I've been finding her praying the rosary, something I struggled to get her to do during family prayer time. This book is a gem.

Beautiful modeling for how to converse with Jesus. Children & adults benefit!

I am reading a chapter a day on line with my students at St. Joseph Regional School in Batavia,NY

I loved this book. I really love how it demonstrates, in a very approachable/understandable way, how to pray to Jesus from our hearts. I try to teach my children how to have conversations with Jesus, and although they both have vivid imaginations, sometimes it is still difficult to convey to them. I like that this demonstrates how we can talk to Jesus in the same way we would talk to a parent, in a language that is not "just for church." I also love the use of scripture at the end of each scene. I was looking for a book that tied the Scriptures to character qualities and obedience, etc, but the only ones I found were very Protestant in tone. I ordered one of them, but it didn't really fit my need. This book is beautiful. My children (at least my oldest, who just turned 5), can identify with the scenarios and better understand the Scripture. I am just so excited about it. Thanks for writing it, even if that was not your intention originally. Clearly it was meant to be written :) It helps me put into words the struggles my children have and how they hurt our relationship with each other and the Church in a more Catholic manner than I have seen before.

I've read this with my eldest daughter twice now, once when she was 4 1/2 and again when she was almost 6. I'm sure we will read it again soon, this time with her younger sister who will soon be 4. I love how Clare learns the beauty and simplicity of prayer, true prayer which means not only talking to Jesus but learning to listen to Him as well. I definitely recommend.

Terrific teaching tool for parents and teachers. I have given these books to our Catholic school and will buy a set for my grand kids. These stories bring our faith in to real life situations for kids. Very easy to see the out come of bad behaviors and how they effect others and ourselves.

Clare's Costly Cookie is the sweet story of a young girl and her developing relationship with Jesus. Written as a series of prayerful conversations between Clare and Jesus, it is a wonderful tool for teaching children not only how to pray, but offers many life lessons that will enable them to grow in holiness.

Clare, the third of four children, often steals away to pray and work out her problems. She encounters the challenges of any nine-year-old; having to watch her younger brother, arguing with her older siblings, dealing with family members' foul moods, struggles with sharing and speaking kindly toward others...the list goes on. Clare, in her prayer, models for the reader how to pour one's heart out to Jesus. Each chapter brings a new challenge and a new prayer. After praying, Clare listens quietly, and a solution to her problem is revealed to her. She concludes with a resolution to change or try harder. At the end of each chapter there is a scripture quote which is related to the problem Clare brought to prayer.

This book functions almost as a mini-catechism, exposing the reader to topics such as the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, resisting temptation, the armor of God, redemptive suffering, the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, humility and Eucharistic Adoration. Interwoven through Clare's prayer are short stories of the saints, which help her resolve to be more like them in her daily life.

Author Julie Kelly is a Catholic homeschooling mom of six children and founder of Nativity Press. A former retreat director, her expertise in this area comes through in her uncomplicated, yet eloquent writing. The simple, elegant illustrations by Mary MacArthur enhance the reader's experience and understanding of the story.

I wish I would have had this treasure to use when my own children were preparing for the sacrament of First Holy Communion. It would have made teaching them much, much easier. At a mere 96 pages, this book is packed with Catholic teaching. The engaging dialogues are a perfect read-aloud for parents of younger children and excellent for students in the elementary grades to tackle on their own. Clare's Costly Cookie would make a delightful gift for any child, particularly one who is preparing for or has received their First Holy Communion.

My children ages 9, 8, and 6 all loved reading this book and having it read to them! They laughed, and felt like it was written about them since the story is about children their same age. What a fun, and delightful book for all ages! I truly believe the author must be a saint. A talented saint at that, who Jesus wants to help children and parents through her books. The catholic faith is on every page of the book which makes it a joy to read. My children loved the illustrations.

My favorite parts of the book: The Invitation from the King to come to Eucharistic adoration, The heart as a great big stone castle, the movie play in Clare's mind about the rocky road...made me cry....so true to life. Also Clare imagining herself in the mysteries of the rosary...so beautiful.

This book will be treasured in our home. I can't wait for the author's next book to come out.

Bravo! Julie Kelly wrote a beautiful story of a young girl who overcomes her selfishness and self will. Thank you Julie for writing this book where kids can recognize themselves in Clare and make decisions to come closer to Jesus!

Wonderful book for young children. My daughters are 2 and 7 and we really enjoy reading Clare's stories. Great way to show children not only different ways to pray, but also how to deal with their every-day problems.

Lovely text and pictures. Nice addition to family faith library.

Thanks!

I bought this book for my granddaughter and I am so glad I did! What an excellent aid in guiding kids towards a life of holiness. Clare is a very real and relatable character, which draws the young reader into the story, only this is far more than just an ordinary story. This is more of a loving guidebook, packed with great theology that kind of sneaks up on the reader, gently and carefully shedding light on how to grow in holiness. Young readers have an opportunity to learn profound truths, as well as verses from scripture that can apply to their lives today, AND a path to holiness - all within this very simple story! It's an amazing feat that the author has achieved. Highly recommended!

I am reading these book to my children. It teaches them ((and me) how to have conversations with Jesus throughout the day.