Great Picture Books for Catholic Seasons and Feast Days (April-July)
In which we live liturgically through beautiful stories, & introducing This Catholic Family Reads!
Introducing This Catholic Family Reads!
Hello This Catholic Family Followers!
I am excited to introduce a new branch of This Catholic Family to you today. I originally started this blog in 2016 around the time of my Catholic conversion. Since then, I’ve been writing about Catholic conversion, womanhood, and family. I will certainly be continuing that work, but I’ve found over the years that I also have a lot that I want to say about books that doesn’t quite fit on this platform.
So today I am introducing This Catholic Family Reads! You can learn more about it here, but in short, it will be a place where I share book lists, reviews, and recommendations with the Catholic lens in mind. I will have a lot to say about children’s literature, as I read, write, and work in that space, but will also talk about grown-up books too. It is difficult to navigate the world of stories these days, and This Catholic Family Reads will bring you book lists and recommendations for stories that lift up the good, the true, and the beautiful for yourself and your children. Subscriptions are free- please join me there!
As part of the roll-out, I am sharing the first book list article from This Catholic Family Reads below so you can get a taste of what you can expect from this new Substack. I’ll continue to post here all the regular stuff about Catholic conversion, womanhood, and family.
So, without further ado, here is your preview of This Catholic Family Reads:
Great Picture Books for Catholic Seasons & Feast Days (April-July)
I love following moms who excel at liturgical living (Catholic All Year anyone?) While I admire the preparation and organization that goes into immersive liturgical experiences, and while we absolutely incorporate extra special things as we’re able, but I know I’m not built to sustain that high of a level with liturgical activities in the home.
One thing I can do, however, is read my kids a good book.
That’s where this book list comes in. Here is the first entry in what will be a series of books for the liturgically minded grown-up, hoping to immerse the little ones in stories that make our liturgical seasons and feast days come to life!
This list focuses on books that are a good fit for some very special seasons and days between February and July.
For Pentecost
The Day God’s Helper Came, thoughtfully written by Claudia Cangilla McAdam and beautifully illustrated by Gina Capaldi, is a new book our from Ascension Press that tells the fictional story of Christian girl who experiences Pentecost firsthand. At the beginning of the book, Hannah is lonely because following Jesus has cost her many friends and she is treated poorly by the other children around her. Her father comforts her and they both join the apostles in the upper room as they wait for the Helper to come. She receives comfort from Mother Mary, and is present as the wind rushes in and the tongues of flame appear. Receiving the Holy Spirit has a profound effect on Hannah, and she is emboldened and encouraged in sharing God’s love to the children in Jerusalem, ultimately helping to bring them to the faith.
I love the fact that this account of Pentecost allows children to follow a young girl through her encounter with this profound event. The Day God’s Helper Came will help kids relate to what it might have been like, and also to how the Holy Spirit continues to help Christians now.
Purchase The Day God’s Helper Came on Amazon
For Ordinary Time
We spend a lot of the liturgical year in ordinary time, and one of our family’s favorite stories for that season is I Went to Mass written by Katie Warner and illustrated by Meg Whalen. Great for kids who are beyond board books but still benefit from simple text and vivid illustrations, I Went to Mass follows a little one who says “I went to Mass. What did I see?” And who then points out the main components of the Mass like holy water, stained glass windows, the crucifix, and the Eucharist.
The priest, when shown in color, is wearing green vestments, which is perfect for Ordinary Time! Ordinary Time is also a wonderful season to emphasize the Mass and all the things that are consistent throughout the Liturgical year in our faith.
Purchase I Went to Mass on Amazon
Purchase I Went to Mass on Bookshop.org
For The Month Of May
There are many beautiful books about Mother Mary, but one of our favorites is Our Lady’s Wardrobe by Anthony DeStefano and illustrated by Juliana Kolesova.
Our Lady’s Wardrobe imagines that Mary, who wore simple clothing during her time here on earth, has access to a closet full of beautiful clothes in heaven, and she chooses what to wear when she visits us here on earth in apparitions. The book not only describes the outfits she is known for from apparitions to places like Guadalupe, Ireland, Paris, and others, but also shares the impact of those apparitions on the people in those places. This book could open up further exploration of Marian apparitions to kids, and is a great introduction to the topic.
Purchase Our Lady’s Wardrobe on Amazon
Purchase Our Lady’s Wardrobe on Bookshop.org
For The Feast Day of Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin (July 12)
We have a particular devotion to St. Zelie in our home, so much that we named a kid after her. I admire her marriage, her parenting, her business acumen, her steadfastness in suffering, and the fact that she and her family raised people who love God. She’s a wonderful Saint to have as a companion and One Holy Marriage by Katie Warner, illustrated by Leah Pumfrey, is a beautiful introduction into this holy family for kids. The pictures are sweet and hopeful, and the narration is honest and true and brings out the goodness and beauty in this pair of Saints.
It doesn’t shy away from the challenges that the Martin family faced, and it is more text heavy than the other books on this list. For that reason I recommend it for slightly older kids who are able to sit for a more extended story and who would be able to engage in discussion about the more the difficult parts of their lives.
Purchase One Holy Marriage on Amazon
Purchase One Holy Marriage on Bookshop.org
For a bookshop link to the complete list, as well as similar titles, click here.
Note: Any purchase from one of our affiliate links is greatly appreciated! It helps keep the lights on at This Catholic Family Reads, and is a wonderful way to say thank you if you’ve found our recommendations helpful!
Join me on This Catholic Family Reads!
And that’s it! Please join me on This Catholic Family Reads!
-Lorelei
This letter is free for you to read, but it took time and energy to produce. If you’re interested in supporting the work of This Catholic Family, I would be honored if you would prayerfully consider upgrading your subscription. Or, you can always buy me a coffee here.
-Lorelei
My Children’s Books
I write middle grade novels! My three books are currently published with Penguin Random House. While I’m published in the secular market, all of my stories are deeply informed and inspired by my Catholic faith. They are a good fit for kids 8 and up who can navigate some suspense/spookiness.
Titles:
The Circus of Stolen Dreams
The Edge of In Between (A Catholic & CS Lewis inspired retelling of The Secret Garden)
The Night Train (features a Catholic sidekick/friend)
In Case You Missed It:
Reflections on Marriage after 17 Years
The Least Surprising Part of My Catholic Conversion
Grace Over Guilt: How an encounter with the Northern Lights helped me better understand the intimate love of God