God Made That! Catholic Nature Field Guide

Kathryn Swegart discovered fascinating facts about saints, science, and Catholic theology in this excellent book by Kathleen M. Hoenke and William A. Jacobs.

God Made That! Catholic Nature Field Guide

By Kathleen M. Hoenke and William A. Jacobs

Illustrated by Fiona Osbaldstone

Publisher: Pauline Books and Media

A Catholic nature field guide? Who ever heard of such a thing? Now you have — and be glad that you did. I wager a guess that there is no other book quite like this one. It is jampacked with hands on activities, stories about saints, bible readings, Catholic teachings on ecology, and solid scientific information. The authors and illustrator weave all the above into an inspiring book sure to help families grow in their love of God and creation.

God Made That

A Guide to Going Outside

Right away the reader will notice that the authors want to get us out the door and into the forests, deserts, grasslands, or tundra. With notebook and pencil in hand, this book will turn each excursion into an adventure. Every effort was made to make it a safe learning experience, offering tips that include not exploring alone, watching the weather, watching for ticks, and the list goes on.

I decided to take to the winter woods behind our house. One activity recommended using the app iNaturalist. With smartphone in hand, I took photos of tree trunks and uploaded them to the site. Immediately, you become part of a community of explorers and gain access to a wealth of information. Graphs, photos, and Wikipedia articles pop up on the screen, adding depth to this walk in the woods. Give it a try. By the way, it is a free resource.

It was startling (in a good way) to settle into reading a science book and turn to Chapter 2 on creation, complete with quotes from Genesis and Catholic theology. One activity instructed explorers to carry a nature journal and copy Psalm 98. “O sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things.” The writers dig a little deeper.

God created everything out of nothing, and everything depends on God. God is the source of all that exists. Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God.

That is a great lesson in apologetics. After all, Scripture asks us to always be ready to defend our Faith, even in discussions with atheists.

Who Would Like This Book?

Homeschoolers would find this a valuable addition to their library. In one easy to use book, theology, Bible studies and science become part of a curriculum. In fact, anyone, young and old alike could come to appreciate the world around them.

God Made That! is pleasing to the eye with many detailed illustrations of flowers, insects, and mammals. The layout is outstanding.

Here is a bonus benefit. Fresh air is good for us! A hike in the woods or by the sea can lift the spirits and bring us closer to God.

I enjoyed learning about the Happy-faced Spider found only in Hawaii. It really seems to have a happy face painted on its back. For some reason that scares away predators.

Now that nature fact is perfect for ending this review. Buy this book and you will see many happy faces and busy little scientists. You will see them drawing, writing, and photographing the world around them.

As you may have guessed, I highly recommend this book.

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Ask for God Made That! at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Pauline Books & Media.

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