Saturday, February 9, 2013

The Catholic Company Review: My First Book of Saints

by Kathleen M. Muldoon and Susan Helen Wallace, FSP
with illustrations by Tom Kinarney and Patricia R. Mattozzi

In this new hardcover edition, Pauline Kids has pulled together all of the saints in the six volumes of their Little Books of Saints. I used the first two volumes of these when First Son was in kindergarten and will now use this new book for Second Daughter next year for kindergarten part one. (I think I'm going to spread her kindergarten year over two years.)

I love these little saint stories. They are very brief, just a few sentences on each saint, with a full page illustration. At the end, is a small prayer that connects the saint with the reader, like "Saint Damien, please show me how to be helpful to my family and friends."

For interested folks like First Son, a small box gives the years the saint lived, where the saint was born, and when we celebrate the feast day.

Many of the Blesseds are now Saints (like St. Kateri Tekakwitha and St. Damien of Molokai) and the new edition reflects the canonizations. (Some Blesseds are also included in the books.)

The hardcover edition would be perfect to give as a baptism gift or (perhaps even better) as a small gift for a "new" big brother or big sister at the baptism of a new baby. I think they are perfect for children in the three to five age range and am very pleased to have this book to share with my little ones.

This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on My First Book of Saints. The Catholic Company is the best resource for gifts for every Sacrament celebration, such as First Communion gifts and Baptism gifts, as well as a great selection of limited-time Year of Faith gifts and resources.