Easter is almost here, and it’s a great time to add to your Catholic home library! I love filling my kids’ baskets with authentically Catholic books and gifts. Here is a huge round up of Catholic books for babies and toddlers, kids, and adults. Help your family, friends, and students learn about the Catholic faith and grow closer to God with some beautiful new books this Easter!
Catholic Mass and Theology Board Books for Babies and Toddlers
Jesus is Here Lift the Flap by Mary E. Wingfield and Illustrated by Mike Marshall
The first book on the list is perfect for babies and toddlers who love lift-the-flap books! This lift-the-flap Mass book is perfect for little ones to learn about the Mass. The illustrations are colorful and bright, and children will love to see parts of the sanctuary that they will recognize when they go to Mass. You will find Jesus on the cross, statues, stained glass windows, and the Baptismal font in this book.
This book would be great for keeping children engaged in the Mass. Keep the book in your Mass bag and point out all of the aspects of Mass with your child to keep them involved and get them excited to encounter Jesus at Mass!
Teeny Tiny Theology 4 Book Series: Sacred Scripture, Salvation History, The Trinity, and Christology by Michael R. Heinlein and Illustrated by Frank Fraser
These books are perfect for little hands and little hearts! They introduce 4 aspects of Catholic theology: Sacred Scripture, Salvation History, The Trinity, and Christology. Each book explains these topics in a way that little minds can comprehend and absorb. They are not only filled with facts that every Catholic should know, as well as God’s loving plan for all of us and how that is revealed throughout salvation history. As you read these books over and over to your toddlers, they will be hearing and learning the cornerstones that make up our beautiful Catholic faith.
These are perfect to bring to Adoration or Mass, and would be great to read in preschool Faith Formation classes or Catholic Mommy and Me groups.
Marian Picture Book for Babies and Toddlers
When Mary Says Yes by Gracie Jagla and Illustrated by Natalia Carcache
You may have heard of the very popular children’s book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” This picture book has the same interactive nature of asking questions for kids to answer, except it is centered around Our Lady’s YES! I love the spin that the author takes on this type of book for toddlers.
The book encourages children to ponder what Mary’s life was life as a child, and what it means to say “yes” to God in all aspects of our own lives. This is a great addition to any little Catholic’s library that would be perfect to read for Marian feast days or any day you want to spend time with the Blessed Mother. This lovely picture book would also be great for a classroom setting during story time with little ones.
Picture Books about the Mass for Kids
From Bread to Wine and Saints Divine By Anthony DeStefano
I wrote about this beautiful book on Catholicmom.com. Here is an excerpt (Spoiler alert: I absolutely loved it!):
“The book describes the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist in a clear and truthful way for children to understand. Anthony DeStefano has a gift for writing about all that is beautiful, good, and true, and he is a favorite Catholic author in our household. We have many of his children’s (and adult!) books on our shelves, and we are happy to add From Bread and Wine to Saints Divine to our collection.”
This book is a must have for First Communion gifts and Easter baskets.
The Holy Mass: On Earth as it is in Heaven by Kevin and Mary O’Neill
This Mass book is truly unique, so fun for kids, and is one of our favorite ways to learn about the Holy Mass! It covers how to New Testament fulfills the Old Testament, Marian Typology, the parts of the Mass, the Sacraments and how they relate to the Mass, and so much more. The book is written comic book style with lego characters and originally designed props and backgrounds. This book looks like it’s for kids (which it is!) but adults will learn right alongside with them.
This is great for kids preparing for First Communion and up and is a truly excellent resource for at home or classroom catechesis.
Picture Books for Families About Sacred Scripture
Salvation History Story Time: Move and Play with Scripture by Katie Warner and Illustrated by Amy Rodriguez
Our family was introduced to Amy Warner’s “Move and Play” scripture stories in the OSV Kids Magazine, so we were all thrilled when she came out with an entire book. I also tested out this book recently during the parish Mommy and Me group that I run, and it was a hit! Although, I do recommend starting at the beginning and working your way through the book in order to provide the correct history and context for the little ones. Nonetheless, they had a blast pretending to wash their care giver’s feet and making the sound of the cock crowing! Honestly, the grown ups loved it just as much as the kids!
When God Speaks by Hunter Leonard and Illustrated by William Meany
This charming picture book starts with the story of Creation. William Meany’s illustrations are vibrant and detailed right from the beginning. At the end of each story, the author writes “Because when God speaks, something beautiful happens.” This shows that everything God tells us through Sacred Scripture is true. I love that Leonard chose this line to emphasize throughout the story book. It is so important to teach children that we can trust God’s words and follow His loving guidance.
The book then ends with all of the ways that God continues to speak to us, and encourages the reader to open our heart to hear His voice. This is a great one to read at Easter time since it talks about the Last Supper and the Mass.
God the Father’s Love: A Journey Through Scripture for Catholic Families by Colleen Pressprich and Illustrated by Amy Heyse
Colleen Pressprich has a gift for not only making scripture come alive, but also for helping parents make the scripture come alive for their own children. She has teamed up again with talented illustrator, Amy Heyse, (they also did this beautiful Jesse Tree book for families together in the same format) to help families meditate on Sacred Scripture together.
Collene includes an introduction for parents which is packed with helpful guidance for using the book as well as encouragement for memorizing scripture (which is so valuable!). She also has an introduction for children, explaining that God’s words and promises are true and trustworthy.
This would be a beautiful family activity for Sunday after Mass, or during family prayer time.
Catholic Journaling Resources for Adults
Did you add a new prayer or spiritual habit that you would like to keep beyond Lent? Maybe you carved out a good prayer routine during Lent that you also want to continue. Journaling is a wonderful way to help us slow down and really listen to God’s voice, decompress after a stressful day, or keep track of what we are grateful for.
Here are three awesome resources to help you continue to strengthen any good prayer habits or routines that you cultivated during Lent – specifically through journaling.
Saintmaker Holy Habits Journal
This new journal from the Saintmakers is like a spiritual, at home bootcamp to help you grow in virtue. Over 60 days, you will complete a Morning Session and Journal Entry. The Morning Session will have you dictate your spiritual plan for the day where you will map out practical steps to grow spiritually that day. For example, you will determine the fruits God is bringing to your life right now, choose 2-3 daily virtues to worn on, choose a good work (prayer, fasting, or almsgiving) to accomplish, make a spiritual battle plan, and plan your personal holy hour. The journal entry has daily spiritual exercises, reflections, tips, and encouragement.
Seems like the perfect way to kick off and celebrate the Easter season to me! This journal is truly beautiful (all black with two ribbon markers) and functional, and would make a lovely gift for a brother or sister in Christ.
Saintmaker Pilgrim of Prayer Journal
The purpose of this stunning (mint green and gold!), beautifully crafted journal is to help you dig deep into meditation. This journal will lead you on a 90 day pilgrimage through Sacred Scripture, the writings of the saints, and other spiritual texts. The eight tips for praying during periods of spiritual dryness are excellent and practical.
Like most Saintmaker products, you will start by making a plan and system to help you succeed in growing spiritually. You will start each day by becoming aware of God’s presence by choosing a subject to meditate on. You can choose any spiritual resource you would like for the subject. Then, you will enter into the meditation by observing, reflecting, conversing with God, and acting. Throughout the day, you will work on a journal entry and then end the day with an Ignatian Examen.
The Saintmaker motto is “Saints aren’t born. They’re made.” Both of these journals will absolutely assist you on the path to sainthood!
Adventure Awaits By Stacey Sumereau
This book would be a wonderful Easter gift for anyone who you want to encourage or help hear God’s voice. Stacey Sumereau’s ministry is all about helping people discern God’s path for them, and she lays out the process for discernment in her book with concrete tips and steps to completely trust in God and surrender to His plans for us. Her “5 S’s for a Surrendered Heart” are practical and powerful! (Note: The author also candidly shares her experience with an eating disorder, so be sure to consider how this may affect the recipient if you are giving this book as a gift.)
Stacey’s experiences and testimony are so relatable, and I think this book would be great to gently and lovingly nudge someone back to the faith who has fallen away. The book is also unique in presenting journaling prompts for each chapter. These are great if you need some journaling inspiration, especially to help you spend time quietly with God via journaling. Stacey has great advice for hearing God’s voice in scripture, prayers, and in the little “coincidences” (or, “God handprints” as she calls them) that He sends us throughout our days.