Easter is only one month away and I've been rounding up gifts to fill our children's Easter Baskets! As I have shared before, I'm always collecting books to give our children on their birthdays, Easter, and Christmas. Some of the books I have purchased from Amazon, Sacred Heart Books and Gifts, Catholic Child, or St. Augustine Academy Press, some have been purchased on sale at local bookstores, and some have been given to me as review copies from the authors or publishers.
In addition to all the books, I usually include something that represents each child's patron saint (this year I think it will be a mix of Saints 'N Stitches, Wooden Saint Dolls, Blessing Blocks, and Prayer Pillowcases), art and/or writing supplies (this year it will include new pens, postcards, greeting cards, or notebooks), a small toy or two (maybe these NHL Minifigures, doll accessories from The Little Habit, Schleich animals to go along with the barn Bud received for his birthday, etc), and some symbolic Easter candy (I've made my own in the past or purchased it at the store) in the Easter Baskets. I also usually put together a "Family Easter Basket", incorporating the various Easter symbols.
Below you will find the list of books we've picked out for each of our children. Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for a chance to win a book from a basket of books I have to share with all my dear visitors here at Shower of Roses!
Note: Before I share the book list, I do want to remind you all that I haven't read most of these books yet. I made my decisions based on recommendations, reviews, publishers, and the past work of some of the authors/illustrators. Many of the links below are affiliate links. If you choose to click any of the links, then add an item (any item!) to your cart and complete the purchase, I will receive a commission. We are so grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you!
For Captain (age 14):
The Imitation of Christ (with zippered cover)
Any book on the sacrament of Confirmation can explain what Confirmation is, but this is the only book that explains, in the most original and engaging manner, what Confirmation does. It is both a dialogue and a travelogue, taking the reader on a journey from the Crusades to the Crimea; from medieval ceremonies of Knighthood to early modern methods of warfare. What does it mean to be a Soldier of Christ? For the true child of God, life is a daily battle against a well-concealed foe-that is, our own flaws and failings-and Mother Mary Loyola proposes to arm young recruits adequately for this task, leaving no stone unturned in her quest to root out this 'enemy at home'. This is the sort of basic training no young Catholic should be without.
My Daily Bread
(My husband requested that we give each of the older boys copies of The Imitation of Christ and My Daily Bread this Easter.)
Hear Christ speak to you like never before. My Daily Bread is a series of short, daily reflections on the spiritual life. Written with loving care by Father Anthony Paone, this devotional will strengthen your love for Christ and his teachings. Written as a dialogue with Christ himself, Father Paone leads the reader through the three ways of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union. Arranged for daily reflection, this pocket-sized book is an indispensible guide to the spiritual life.
The Young Man's Guide
(also available directly from St. Augustine Academy Press)
Father Lasance's Catholic Girl's Guide, published in 1906, found immediate success among Catholic readers, and the natural demand for a companion volume gave rise to The Young Man's Guide in 1910. Both have a similar format and similar material, though each is geared specifically for its particular audience. In The Young Man's Guide we see life as warfare; thus those who would conquer must be prepared, as were the knights of old. The implements of battle are the young man's virtues, and the fight will determine not only the character of the man he will become, but the crown he may win in the hereafter.
Page, Esquire, and Knight
(also available directly from St. Augustine Academy Press)
A recent perusal of a modern set of encyclopedias revealed a mere three-line entry for Roland, whose story formed the basis for one of the first great epics of medieval France, the Chanson de Roland. So much of western culture was born from this legend, and yet most young people today have never even heard of him. Books like Page, Esquire and Knight are the perfect antidote to this lack. Condensed from such classics as Malory's Morte d'Arthur, the Arthurian poems of Tennyson, and the original Chanson de Roland, it gives young people a solid introduction to these giants of literature which is sure to inspire a lasting interest. Included are tales of King Arthur's knights, the battles of Charlemagne, Godfrey de Bouillon and The Crusades, St. George and the Dragon, and Pierre Terrail LeVieux, the famed Chevalier du Bayard. Engagingly written and enhanced by vivid illustrations, Page, Esquire and Knight is sure to be attractive to both boys and girls, young and old.
The Lego Neighborhood Book: Build Your Own Town!
In The LEGO Neighborhood Book, you'll create buildings with real-world details like cornices and facades, and try your hand at interior design by filling your buildings with furniture and light fixtures. Then add the finishing touches to your models with plants, traffic lights, scaffolding, and park benches. Snap together a few houses, shops, and apartment buildings to create your own neighborhood! Inside you'll find: complete, step-by-step instructions for four multistory buildings, dozens of inspiring ideas to use in your own models, mini builds for a recliner, old-time lamp post, traffic light, and more…
Farmer Giles of Ham
50th Anniversary Edition
The editors of the best-selling rediscovered Tolkien novel Roverandom present an expanded edition of Tolkien's beloved classic Farmer Giles of Ham, complete with a map, the original story outline, the original first-edition illustrations by Pauline Baynes, and the author's notes for an unpublished sequel. Farmer Giles of Ham is a light-hearted satire for readers of all ages that tells the tale of a reluctant hero who must save his village from a dragon. It is a small gem of a tale that grows more delightful with each rereading.
For Ranger (age 13):
The Imitation of Christ
Any book on the sacrament of Confirmation can explain what Confirmation is, but this is the only book that explains, in the most original and engaging manner, what Confirmation does. It is both a dialogue and a travelogue, taking the reader on a journey from the Crusades to the Crimea; from medieval ceremonies of Knighthood to early modern methods of warfare. What does it mean to be a Soldier of Christ? For the true child of God, life is a daily battle against a well-concealed foe-that is, our own flaws and failings-and Mother Mary Loyola proposes to arm young recruits adequately for this task, leaving no stone unturned in her quest to root out this 'enemy at home'. This is the sort of basic training no young Catholic should be without.
My Daily Bread
(My husband requested that we give each of the older boys copies of The Imitation of Christ and My Daily Bread this Easter.)
Hear Christ speak to you like never before. My Daily Bread is a series of short, daily reflections on the spiritual life. Written with loving care by Father Anthony Paone, this devotional will strengthen your love for Christ and his teachings. Written as a dialogue with Christ himself, Father Paone leads the reader through the three ways of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union. Arranged for daily reflection, this pocket-sized book is an indispensible guide to the spiritual life.
Christians Courageous
(also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
For every half-dozen heroes antiquity could muster, Christendom produced thousands; and often from the strangest holes and corners. Instead of drying up the spirit of adventure, the Fire of Pentecost kindled it anew and made it burn with an unquenchable flame. The Master’s parting instructions to His followers resulted in a host of enterprises quite as daring as any to be found in Homer. Some of these are brought vividly to life in these stories about courageous Christians from the earliest days of Christianity to modern times. Although written primarily for youthful readers, they are sure to interest all those to whom the achievements of their fellow Christians are a matter of pride and encouragement.
The Book of Saints and Heroes
(also available directly from St. Augustine Academy Press)
Andrew Lang and his wife Leonora are remembered best for their series of 12 fairy tale books--beginning with the Blue Fairy Book in 1889 and ending with the Lilac Fairy Book in 1910. These quickly became the most popular gift books of all time and remained so for several decades. And though all of them were published in Andrew's name, his role was largely editorial--a great deal of the translating, adapting and rewriting was done by his wife Leonora and others. This husband and wife team next applied their highly successful formula for choosing, researching and adapting folk tales to the stories of the saints, creating The Book of Saints and Heroes in 1912, with a result that is both inspiring and fun to read. Illustrated by H.J. Ford, whose creations also illuminated the Fairy Books. This book is completely re-typeset in imitation of the 1912 edition by Longmans, Green & Co., with the original illustrations.
Dollar Battle-Gami
Got a dollar burning a hole in your pocket? Impress your friends wherever you go with the readily available paper in your wallet. Or leave a creative tip for waiters and bartenders with these creative designs in Dollar Battle-Gami. Master paper engineer Won Park created this sophisticated origami kit for advanced paper artists. These 15 impressive projects turn a dollar bill (or a sheet of the included practice paper) into a combat knife, spy plane, hand grenade, revolver, tank, stealth bomber, stealth fighter, submarine, jet fighter, U.S. Navy destroyer, assault rifle, unmanned aerial drone, sniper rifle, land mine, or a Japanese zero fighter plane. Dollar Battle-Gami offers the next generation of origami enthusiasts a chance to gain a whole new perspective on battle tools and the world of origami.
Smith of Wootton Major
Recently republished! A charming new pocket edition of one of Tolkien's major pieces of short fiction, and his only finished work dating from after publication of The Lord of the Rings. What began as a preface to The Golden Key by George MacDonald eventually grew into this charming short story, so named by Tolkien to suggest an early work by P.G. Wodehouse. Composed almost a decade after The Lord of the Rings, and when his lifelong occupation with the 'Silmarillion' was winding down, Smith of Wootton Major was the product of ripened experience and reflection. It was published in 1967 as a small hardback, complete with charming black and white illustrations by Pauline Baynes, and would be the last work of fiction to be published in Tolkien's own lifetime. Now, almost 50 years on, this enchanting tale of a wanderer who finds his way into the perilous realm of Faery is being published once again as a pocket hardback. (pre-ordered - released on Feb. 26, 2015)
For Twinkle Toes (age 11):
Tea and Cake with the Saints: A Catholic Young Lady's Guide to Hospitality and the Home Arts
Second edition: Now with full color photos, as well as watercolor illustrations, throughout!
Hospitality does not have to be elaborate or difficult. It can begin right at home with one's siblings and parents! It can be as simple as a picnic with a friend to celebrate their feast day or surprising your brother or sister with breakfast in bed. Many of the ideas in Tea & Cake with the Saints use saint's feast days as the occasion for practicing hospitality in the form of simple tea parties, but almost all of the ideas given can be used for any occasion a girl can dream up...
Sixty Saints for Girls
Recently republished! Joan Windham’s Sixty Saints for Girls contains all her stories of girl and woman saints from her other books, with a number of new ones added. The stores are arranged by date, beginning with Our Lady’s mother, St. Anne, and finishing with another Anne, Anne de Guigne (this Anne, who died in 1922, aged 10, has not been canonized, but she was declared Venerable on March 3, 1990 by Pope John Paul II). In between is a lovely mix of saints, young and old, princesses and pilgrims, mothers and grandmothers and nuns: a goose-girl and a horse-dealer’s daughter; a girl who was kidnapped by pirates, a veterinarian, and (believe it or not) a ventriloquist! These stories are ideally suited to inspire readers to fall in love with virtue. No child reading them will ever suppose that saints are all cut to one pattern or that holiness is less interesting than bad behavior. Anyone who wants to know what a saint is really like will get a clear and beautiful picture by reading these accounts, and they can be enjoyed over and over again by children of all ages, and by adults alike.
A Little Princess
Illustrated by Tasha Tudor!
When Sara Crewe arrives at Miss Minchin's London boarding school, she seems just like a real little princess. She wears beautiful clothes, has gracious manners, and tells the most wonderful stories. Then one day, Sara suddenly becomes penniless. Now she must wear rags, sleep in the school's dreary attic, and work for her living. Sara is all alone, but keeps telling herself that she can still be a princess inside, if only she tries hard enough.
The Doll's House
From Rumer Godden, one of the foremost authors of the 20th century, and illustrated by two-time Caldecott Honor recipient Tasha Tudor, comes a heartwarming tale filled with imagination and creativity that is ideal for any girl who has ever loved a doll so much that it has become real to her.
For Tottie Plantaganet, a little wooden doll, belonging to Emily and Charlotte Dane is wonderful. The only thing missing is a dollhouse that Tottie and her family could call their very own. But when the dollhouse finally does arrive, Tottie's problems really begin. That dreadful doll Marchpane comes to live with them, disrupting the harmony of the Plantaganet family with her lies and conceited way. Will Tottie ever be able to call the dollhouse home?
Tiny Stitches
Brand new! Instructions and supplies for quick, hip, adorable, tiny embroidery pieces with mini hoops that kids turn into decorative pieces they can wear or display. Embroidery is on trend (with more than 37m Google listings and 1.4 million blog posts about tiny embroidery), and these darling, penny-sized pieces provide the perfect application for what kids do with their finished sewn art: necklace pendants, buttons, hair clips, and more. The book teaches the basics of embroidery with Klutz-clear instructions, and includes thread, fabric, a hoop, mini-display hoops, and 100+ patterns for tracing.
(This new release hasn't shipped yet, but I'm hoping it will arrive on time! If not I'll save it for her birthday in August and replace it with another book.)
The Rose Round
13-year old Matt is spending the holidays at the dilapidated Woodhall mansion where his spirited step-sister Caroline works as cook. In a faded rose garden Matt meets Alix, proud old Madame Ayre's granddaughter, and is introduced to the tension-filled relationship between the embittered mother and her crippled son Theo. Matt must learn to judge character rather than appearances as Theo strives to turn the house into a home for orphans. Alix, through her willful foolishness, puts Theo's life in danger and brings a dramatic confrontation: Christian hope versus fatal self-pride. A timeless book with a fast-paced plot and vivid characters.
For Chiquita (age 9):
Saints Among the Animals
What do a whatchful fly and a weight-bearing whale have in common?
A grateful saint -- a saint whose life of work and devotion to God wouldn't have been the same without the loyalty. the friendship of a lion or a blackbird, an eagle or a deer. Other saints in these stories -- two of the liveliest are women -- deal cleverly with animals who act up: snakes in one instance, greedy geese in another. But in each of these stories, the commonality of all living things is luminously celebrated. The ten saints, whose biographies are given in the last pages, are named on the back of this jacket. (Includes: St. Colman, St. Werburge, St. Francis, St. Medard, St, Canice, St. Hilda,St. Keneth, St. Brendan, St. Kevin, and St. Jerome.)
The Golden Castle
“Once upon a time there was a castle (only most people called it a monastery)…” Published in 1969, our monastery’s Golden Jubilee Year, this delightful “nun-fairy tale” takes us inside the “Golden Castle” (on the corner of Morris and Springfield Avenues in Summit, New Jersey!) and gives us a peek into the lives of its “princesses.” A light-hearted read for children of all ages.
Sisters of the Last Straw: The Case of the Missing Novice
Will Mr. Lemon get Gracie the puppy taken away? Can Sister Krumbles find a way to stop Mr. Lemon’s evil plan? Where is Novice Kathy? Can the Sisters solve the mystery and find the lost Novice before it’s too late?
(One of the girls received the first book in the series last year and Sisters of the Last Straw 3: The Case of the Stolen Rosaries is also available. I will probably give book 3 to Chiquita for her birthday in April.)
A Nest for Celeste: A Story About Art, Inspiration, and the Meaning of Home
A beautifully illustrated novel about a mouse, her friendship with Audubon's apprentice, and her search for home. Beneath the crackled and faded painting of a horse, underneath the worn and dusty floorboards of the dining room, lives Celeste, a mouse who spends her days weaving baskets, until one day she is thrust into the world above. Here Celeste encounters danger—and love—unlike any she's ever imagined. She dodges a hungry cat and witnesses the brutality of hunting for the first time. She makes friends with a singing thrush named Cornelius, a talkative osprey named Lafayette, and Joseph, Audubon's young apprentice. All the while, Celeste is looking for a new home. In the end, Celeste discovers that home is really the place deep inside her heart, where friendships live.
Make Your Own Washi Tape Stickers
Kids love washi tape (beautifully decorative paper tape that originated in Japan), but up until now they didn't know quite what to do with it. Washi Tape Stickers is the only book that makes it easy to turn strips of pretty little tape into even prettier little stickers. The book is filled with pages and pages of traceable art and comes with six beautifully bright colors of washi tape, a stack of special peel-off backing paper, and a fine-line felt-tip pen. Simply trace a piece of art on the backing paper and cover it with washi tape. Then cut it out, peel it off, and you’ve got a perfectly shaped, perfectly adorable sticker.
The Wind in the Willows
Kenneth Grahame’s classic tale of the pleasures of country life and the dependability of good friends will never grow old. Now, in this splendid volume, Inga Moore recaptures its scenes and its characters with richly patterned and warmly detailed illustrations. Here, drawn with charming freshness, are impulsive dear Mole, rash Mr. Toad, reclusive Badger, and sensible Rat, so happy just "messing around in boats." And here are the most treasured moments from THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS - Mole’s first enraptured row on the river, Toad’s irrepressible adventures in and out of automobiles, and many more. So gather ’round to read or listen, and, as Mole and Rat would heartily agree, a fine time will be had by all.
For Snuggles (age 7):
The Apostles Creed: What We Believe (Gloria Series)
(also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
Gloria Series Children's Story Books
Exquisite 30 page hardcover books filled with Fratelli Bonella artwork from Italy 5" x 6"
The Life of St. Benedict
Children and parents alike will be delighted by these stories and illustrations about the famous Saint Benedict. Based on his biography by Pope Saint Gregory the Great, and told by a Benedictine monk living today in Italy at the birthplace of Benedict, these stories and pictures are rich with interesting details. The holiness of Benedict, his wisdom, his great impact on the world, and his miracles will intrigue and inspire everyone in the family. Also included are stories involving his twin sister, Saint Scholastica.
Bilbo's Last Song
Bilbo’s Last Song is considered by many to be Tolkien’s epilogue to his classic work The Lord of the Rings.
As Bilbo Baggins takes his final voyage to the Undying Lands, he must say goodbye to Middle-earth. Poignant and lyrical, the song is both a longing to set forth on his ultimate journey and a tender farewell to friends left behind.
Pauline Baynes’s jewel-like illustrations lushly depict both this final voyage and scenes from The Hobbit, as Bilbo remembers his first journey while he prepares for his last.
The Chestry Oak
As he watches his homeland of Hungary being taken over and run by invaders from Nazi Germany, young Prince Michael of Chestry strives to retain his identity and integrity during one of the most dangerous seasons in human history. Michael carries an acorn all the way from his castle home in Chestry Valley to the warm soil of the Hudson Valley farm in the USA where he makes a new home after WWII. It is difficult to decide which are the most unforgettable; the scenes in Hungary, Michael's proud, valiant father and his beloved Nana, or the friendly young GI and his family who take Michael to their hearts and make him their own. Perhaps the most compelling character of all is Midnight, the dancing black stallion, full of fire and beauty, and trained to perform before princes. Kate Seredy's drawings make this a book to treasure.
(pre-ordered - will be released on March 2, 2015)
The Adventures of Sir Gawain the True (The Knights’ Tales Series)
(Adding to our collection of Books One and Two in The Knights' Tales Series)
In the third installment in the Knights’ Tales series, Gerald Morris tells the laugh-outloud tale of King Arthur’s most celebrated knight, and nephew, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. With lively illustrations by Aaron Renier, Morris creates a captivating and comical medieval world that teems with humor and wonder. This chapter book is sure to set young readers on another rollicking and hilarious Arthurian adventure!
Our First Communion with Brother John
(DVD - also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
In this unique presentation, young Catholic hearts and minds will encounter the Story of Creation, the Miracles of Jesus, the Last Supper, Confession, the Traditional Mass, and much more. Intended for children in the lower primary grades, included are some basic prayers, plus simple forms of the Act of Contrition and the Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, As Msgr. Kelly wrote in 1925, "Easy words and a little rhyme please a child; and when he knows what he is saying, his prayer is better said."
older children."
For Rose (age 5):
The Rosary: My Prayers to Jesus through Mary (Gloria Series)
(also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
Gloria Series Children's Story Books
Exquisite 30 page hardcover books filled with Fratelli Bonella artwork from Italy 5" x 6"
The Hail Mary: Our Mother in Heaven (Gloria Series)
(also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
Gloria Series Children's Story Books
Exquisite 30 page hardcover books filled with Fratelli Bonella artwork from Italy 5" x 6"
The Little Children's Prayer Book
(also available directly from St. Augustine Academy Press)
This is a newly typeset and illustrated edition of the classic 1911 title by Mother Mary Loyola. This little 4" x 6" pocket gem contains more than just daily prayers: Two different sets of meditations for the Mass and Mother Loyola's uniquely appropriate examination of conscience for children make this book a must for the Catholic child. Gorgeous full-color illustrations throughout. This is the softcover edition; we also offer a hardcover edition at the St. Augustine Academy Press website.
Little Saint Therese Paper Doll Set
(available as a printed set and as a digital download in color or black and white)
This paper doll set is made of my original, hand-drawn illustrations and offers a glimpse into the childhood of Thérèse of Lisieux, who became known in her adulthood as "Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face," and, simply, "The Little Flower." With this set children can join Thérèse as she sews, paints, plays with her sisters and her pet dog, takes long walks with her beloved father, participates in a Eucharistic procession, dresses up as Saint Joan of Arc, and–on what she described as “the most important day of my life”–makes her First Holy Communion. Her First Holy Communion costume is based on the actual dress and veil she wore (which has been preserved in her family home in Lisieux). Her other costumes were are based on clothing for girls in the late 1880s. Each page includes captions for the costumes and accessories and a brief description of her family life.
A Doll for Marie
This rediscovered gem, first published in the 1950s but long out of print, by Caldecott-winning illustrator Roger Duvoisin is perfect for a new generation of little girls who love dolls.
In the city of Paris, a beautiful but lonely doll sits on a shelf in an antique shop. She’s surrounded by old vases and teapots, but longs for a friend to play with. There is one little girl who would dearly love to own the doll, but Marie could never afford such a precious item. So Marie has to settle for admiring the doll through the window on her way home from school. But Marie and this doll are clearly meant for one another, and Marie will make sure that the doll has a home where she is loved.
(pre-ordered - will be released on March 10, 2015)
The Easter Story
"A beautifully illustrated book that recounts the story of the first Easter from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to the resurrection, and emphasizes the message at its heart—that of God's everlasting love. This retelling of the Easter story is both clear and detailed, explaining fully the message of God's love in a way that children will be able to easily understand. The book follows this important episode from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem right through to the resurrection. Giuliano Ferri's illustrations are peaceful, gentle, and elegant, making this a sophisticated picture story book for older children."
For Bud (age 3):
The Our Father: Our Prayer to God (Gloria Series) and The Boy Jesus: The Perfect Child (Gloria Series)
(also available from Sacred Heart Books and Gifts)
Gloria Series Children's Story Books
Exquisite 30 page hardcover books filled with Fratelli Bonella artwork from Italy 5" x 6"
The Beautiful Story of the Bible
(also available from Ignatius Press)
Here are all the most important stories of the Bible, Old and New Testaments, with very expressive and gorgeous pictures, sure to delight young children from 3 years old and up. The Old Testament stories include Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah, David & Goliath, Moses and more. The New Testament stories include the whole story of the life and miracles of Jesus, and the lives of the Apostles and early Church, all presented in a wonderful way that shows God's great love for mankind.
Noah's Ark
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