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Catholic Books about the Sacraments for Kids

by Olivia Spears – April 14, 2023

Catholic Booklists
Catholic Books about the Sacraments for Kids - Into the Deep

Being initiated into the life of Christ through the sacraments is the great gift we can give our children. It is our charge to model a sacramental life for them, witnessing to the grace, peace, and joy found in this kind of union with Christ and His Church. 

Wonderfully, we also have a building treasure trove of Catholic picture and chapter books to help form their understanding and love of the Seven Sacraments! 

Books about the Sacraments for Kids

Sacraments in General

Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan

Light of the Sacraments by Cory Heimann 

Baptism

Jesus Speaks to Me about My Baptism by Angela Burrin

Chosen by Jenna Guizar

Confirmation 

The Soldier of Christ by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)

Home for Good by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)

Eucharist

Jesus Speaks to Me on My First Holy Communion by Angela M. Burrin

Jesus Speaks to Me about the Mass by Angela M. Burrin

The Supper of the Lamb by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman

Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass by Gracie Jagla

The Weight of a Mass by Josephine Nobisso

Receiving Jesus for Little Ones by Kimberly Fries

The Treasure of Saint Tarcisius: Hero of the Eucharist by Caroline McDonald 

First Communion by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)

The King of the Golden City by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)

Heavenly Hosts: Eucharistic Miracles for Kids by Kathryn Griffin Swegart (chapter book)

Confession

Jesus Speaks to Me about Confession by Angela M. Burrin

Peter and Jesus by a Charcoal Fire by Maura Roan McKeegan

First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola (chapter book)

Matrimony

One Holy Marriage by Katie Warner

Holy Orders

Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass by Katie Warner

Jack Giorgio: Future Priest by Katie Warner

 

What books would you add to the list?!


Ready to dive deeper? 

Here are 4 ways to fill your nets... 


📖 1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses
🥖 2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.
🕯️ 3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.
✏️ 4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!
Catholic Booklists

by Olivia Spears – April 14, 2023

Comments

4 comments

Rare Catholic Stories-by Little Way Press

Chapter book with many stories about the sacraments!

Rebecca Beck

I’m sorry for messaging 3x in a row. I blame my pregnant brain for my only thinking of things after sending a message. I also wanted to recommend the Armor of God series by Theresa Linden for kids preparing for their First Confession and First Holy Communion!! God bless!

Erin Blaschke

Whoops! I saw after submitting my message that some of the books I wrote down from Mother Mary Loyola were already on your list! Thank you for compiling it!

Erin Blaschke

Excellent Books for understanding confession:
King of the Shattered Glass by Susan Joy Bellavance
My Picture Book of First Confession published by Augustine Academy Press
First Confession by Mother Mary Loyola
My Confession Book by Sr. M. Andrews

Best Book I have ever seen on the 7 sacraments in general: The Seven Sacraments Explained for Young Catholics By Rev. Demetrius Manousis, OFM (published by the Sarto House in KCMO)

Excellent Book for First Holy Communion:
My Picture Book of First Holy Communion (published by Augustine Academy Press)

Great books for kids to read while preparing for their First Holy Communion or any communion:
1. True Stories of First Communicants by Sr. Mary Imelda
2. Stories of Holy Communions by Catholic Sprouts

Other books:
The Butterfly That Found Her Way Home A Story of Forgiveness
The Little Caterpillar That Finds Jesus A Parable of the Eucharist

Erin Blaschke

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Ideals are often massacred by toddlers and teenagers.These are further opportunities to exercise self-discipline. We get to discipline our minds. How will we respond? Will we throw up our hands in resentful surrender (I have no idea what that’s about. Never done that before.)? Or will we face pivots with fortitude, doing the best we can and giving the rest to God?   Longevity The last point I’ll make on the topic of self-discipline for mothers is that we must accept the Lord’s grace and realize that we are in a marathon.Sometimes self-discipline looks like true self-care. Maybe it’s going to bed earlier instead of watching one more episode so you’re better rested. Maybe it’s taking a walk outside or reading a book instead of checking Facebook. Maybe it’s making time for dedicated prayer. Maybe it’s eating an actual breakfast so you’re fueled for the day.Remember, the motive of self-discipline must not be self-hatred. 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What is a Mother's Morning Basket? - Into the Deep

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What is a Mother's Morning Basket?

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Our 2023-2024 School Lineup | Booklists + Resources - Into the Deep

Blog – by Olivia Spears

Our 2023-2024 School Lineup | Booklists + Resources

August is upon us, which means it is nearly time to begin another school year in our home. I have been in planning prep for a couple of months (I take it slow!) and I'm happy to share our booklists with you here! How I Plan a New Homeschool Year My planning process typically follows three movements: Pray (you can learn more about that here) Make booklists (jot down all my ideas and resources, then heavily edit) Put it all together in a rhythm First, I'll share our booklists. Then, I'll share a loose idea of our rhythm! The Groundwork... My oldest kids are entering the 4th and 1st grades, and my youngest two are 3 years and ten months old. While each child does their own level of phonics, math, copywork, and logic, most of our subjects are done family style in a loop rotation (more on that later). This fits our family best in this season and we all really enjoy this setup. 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I don't have a final list yet, but I've shared some definites in the Amazon shop! Catechesis We will be using Into the Deep Level Two this year, taking pauses to do the picture studies on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary during Advent, the Luminous + Sorrowful during Lent, and the Glorious during Easter. History We used The Story of the World last year and it was a family favorite all around! We are moving to Volume 2 this year. I use the student guide for extra reading, map work, and projects.Additionally, I'll be reading one story each week from American Tall Tales so they have a touch point with their national history. Geography We use the geography prompts in the SOTW above.I'll also pepper in Charlotte Mason's Elementary Geography. Nature Study/Science It's a water year for us! I'll be using Among the Pond People in the fall semester and Ocean Anatomy and Watercolor with Me in the spring. I picked up The Good and the Beautiful's Wind + Waves. We used their Little Hearts and Hands last year and it was a great resource to have on hand for days when I needed extra support (like when a kid was sick or the baby didn't sleep). Excited to have that in my back pocket again this year. Literature My fave! Well, alongside catechesis and history. We will ease into the first semester by revisiting A.A. Milne's When We Were Very Young. Aligned with our history studies, we will also read some Norse Myths!In the second semester, we will read a couple of Shakespeare plays (the kids have loved these—not yet sure if we will revisit old favorites, read new, or a combination of both).Our main focus this spring semester will be fairy tales. I've snagged some fairy tale picture books from Will Moses, and I have a couple of collections here at home I will pull from. (A note on finding books on fairy tales: be sure they are the original text, not adaptations!) Character Building I have some perfectionistic students (no idea where they got that 😬), so we are working on growth mindset with Mistakes that Worked.We will also be reading through A Book of Golden Deeds.In the spring semester, we will revisit Connoisseur Kids. We used it this year and it was a roaring success, so the kids want to go through it again! Artist Each year, we study two artists. In the fall we will study Van Eyck and use the picture studies from Simply Charlotte Mason. In the spring, we will deep dive Michelangelo. I'm pumped. We will use SCM's picture studies, along with The Stone Giant, Michelangelo for Kids, Mike Venezia's Michelangelo, and a giant coffee table book of his complete works. Composer As with the artists, I select two composers to study each year. In the fall, we will study Handel and, in the spring, Paganini.I'm an Opal Wheeler fan girl, so I just use her books. Mike Venezia has a book on Handel, too, so we will use that as well. Language I don't stress about this much yet. My energy is focused more on reading fluency at this stage and, with a toddler and baby, I don't have much overflow to devote to foreign language. I have Prima Latina and we will use those DVDs each week in "car school" when we drive a small distance to pick up our farm food and dairy. On Rhythms... Our family functions best with a rhythm rather than a strict schedule. But we typically begin around 9 a.m. (this gives us time for personal prayer, breakfast, morning chores, and getting ready).Typically, we school Monday-Thursday, as Fridays are set aside for errands, Mass, and cleaning. Weekly Loops With that, here are the family subjects we will loop throughout the week: Mondays || catechesis, character building, history, nature study, and composer Wednesdays || catechesis, character building, history, literature, and nature study Thursdays || catechesis, history, literature, and artist/drawing Like I mentioned, all of this will be tested by actually living it, and we will adjust as needed! I always enjoy reading other people's homeschool plans, so I hope this has brought you some entertainment and solidarity! God bless your new school year!

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Building Their Lives on the Liturgical Year - Into the Deep

Blog – by Olivia Spears

Building Their Lives on the Liturgical Year

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The Best Catholic Bible for Children - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

The Best Catholic Bible for Children

Telling our children the Story of Salvation History helps them understand God’s movement in the world since the beginning. Hearing the stories of God’s faithfulness from long ago reminds them that He is faithful to them now. Learning about the men and women God raised up to serve Him points to their call to be saints.   Blessedly, many people have completed the task of making these stories accessible for kids of all ages. There is a variety of Catholic children’s Bibles on the market today, so how do we know which one(s) to choose?   Should We Even Use a Catholic Children’s Bible?   A preliminary consideration is whether or not we should even use a Children’s Bible.   In short, yes… if it’s worthy.   However, the actual Bible holds primacy always. Sacred Scripture is the actual Word of God, and our kids need to hear it. It is this Word that is living and effective, it is this Word that does not return to the Father void. Reading Sacred Scripture to our children plants the seeds deeply in their hearts. (This is why we always encourage reading from the actual Bible throughout our resources).   Of course, our children hear the actual words of Sacred Scripture at every Mass, and they’ll hear them if your family plays the Liturgy of the Hours or a scriptural Rosary.   I like to read from the actual Bible for our formal catechesis, and a Catholic Bible for children on our “off” days when we’re not doing Into the Deep. And of course, these are the Bibles that are pulled up on laps alongside toddlers, and the ones that get brought to Mass.   Criteria I Use When Selecting a Catholic Bible for Children   When combing through the options for Catholic children’s Bibles, I have a few criteria: It must be authentically Catholic. It must be beautifully-illustrated. It must engage the imagination.   My Favorite Catholic Children’s Bibles   My Big Book of Catholic Bible Stories   This ranks as our favorite Catholic children’s Bible. Although its title implies that it is a collection of Bible stories, I find this to be a much more thorough and complete presentation of Scripture than other smaller collections of Bible stories (see more on those below). What we love: It includes the actual text of Scripture. It uses the NRSV-CE translation. Each story begins with a small blurb providing context of the story before the actual biblical text begins. The illustrations are beautiful. There are closing prayers, Catechism references, and fun facts.   When I found this Bible, I thought it was a perfect companion to our full-year resources!   The Catholic Bible for Children   I am continually impressed with what Magnificat is putting out for children. This Bible is another thorough presentation of the Old and New Testaments. What we love: It is divided into chapters, which helps give some context and framework. The illustrations are engaging. It is written in a more narrative format rather than the exact Bible verses. The quality of the pages is high.   With the Bible Through the Church Year   I found this while thrifting one day and I hit the jackpot. I absolutely love this children’s Bible written by Father Richard Beron, OSB in 1953. We will begin using this one in the Fall.   What we love: It is tied to the liturgical year. Beginning in Autumn, it walks through Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, Septuagesima, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost, and Corpus Christi. Each section ends with a corresponding psalm, weaving the Psalms in much like the Mass. There are short descriptions of each liturgical season as you enter it. It is written in a very engaging narrative style. It’s the closest style I’ve found to The Jesus Storybook Bible (more on that below).   This is an older book that is out of print. If you can’t find it on Amazon, check no Thriftbooks or Ebay!   Catholic Bible Story Collections   The following are not full children’s Bibles, but cover the major highlights of the Story of Salvation History.   Read-Aloud Book of Bible Stories   Another favorite in our household, these stories are beautifully-written and engaging.   What we love: It is written in narrative format. The black and white sketches and artwork are more lifelike. It is a wonderful companion to the Advent calendar from Little Liturgy Press (a beloved tradition in our family each Advent).   The Bible Story   Written in 1957, this anthology of Bible stories reads like an epic.   What we love: It is perfect for older readers and teens as it reads like a chapter book. There are not many illustrations, but the sketches are lovely.   This is one I’ll have my kids read as they approach Confirmation as another review of the story God has been writing in the world since the beginning.   My Catholic Picture Bible Stories   From Ascension, this collection of Bible stories is great for younger kids.   What we love: The illustrations are historically accurate. The stories are short (1 page), making it a great read for toddlers and younger children.   While the illustration style is not my favorite, the hardcover is sturdy and thus gets brought to Mass with us.   Tomie dePaola’s Book of Bible Stories   If you love dePaola’s other work, you’ll love this.   What we love: The hardcover version is less expensive and such high quality. Truly, this book is beautiful. Naturally, the illustrations are delightful and deep. The text is written in dePaola’s prose.   I treat this like we do with any collection of stories (like Winnie the Pooh or Beatrix Potter)—I select a season in which we will read one story at a time during tea time or afternoon quiet time. It takes us a long time to move through that way since those are less frequent than Morning Time, but it’s a delight for all!   What about the Jesus Storybook Bible?   I really wish I could broadly recommend this Bible. The writing is beautiful and lyrical. It’s a favorite among Christians, and for good reason. What I particularly love about this Bible is that it shows how the New Testament lies hidden in the Old, and how the Old is fulfilled in the New. Jesus is the through-thread in this book, and it makes clear God’s plan for salvation since the Fall. However, I cannot broadly recommend this title because there are some inclusions that contradict Catholic Church teaching. I can remember two off the top of my head: During the Last Supper, the words read something like, “This is like my body…” Obviously, this is contrary to the doctrine on the Blessed Sacrament. In the narrative on the crucifixion, the author is clearly presenting the teaching of penal substitution. This is the belief that God’s wrath was poured out upon Jesus during His Passion and Death. That God the Father took all His fiery anger and directed it at Jesus. This belief is not the only view even among Protestants about the atonement but is particularly common in Calvinistic circles. This is not the teaching of the Catholic Church.   When we read through this Bible, I self-edited these sections; however, because these subtleties can be easily missed, I cannot broadly recommend it for Catholic families.   The Whole Point   What matters most is that we share the Word of God with our children. Let the Word dwell in them richly, forming their consciences and inspiring them to the greatness for which they were created!   What’s your favorite Catholic children’s Bible? Let us know in the comments!   Ready to dive deeper?  Here are 4 ways to fill your nets...   1. Memorize Bible verses with your children easily with our FREE guide: Stocking the Storehouses  2. Make your dreams of family prayer a reality with The Daily Feast framework, making it possible in just a few minutes a day. This free guide shows you how.  3. Want to steward your own prayer life? Check out this Scripture prayer journal we made just for you.  4. Looking to level-up in your family faith formation? Join over 10,000 families that use our resources. We make open-and-go, family-style resources to make your role as primary catechist easy AND delightful. Click here to browse!

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Picture Books about the Bible - Into the Deep

Blog – by Olivia Spears

Picture Books about the Bible

Telling the Story of Salvation History as lived through Sacred Scripture is one of the most fantastic ways we can capture the holy imaginations of our children. An added layer of of illustration comes through picture books about the Bible.  Looking for solid Catholic children's Bibles? Check out this post. Picture Books about the Bible Many authors throughout the years have presented Bible stories through sketches and stories, paintings and prose. We've gathered some of our favorites below, broken into the Old and New Testaments. Old Testament Creation + the Fall Creation by Gennady Spirin Paradise by Fiona French The End of the Fiery Sword by Maura Roan McKeegan Noah's Ark Noah's Ark by Peter Spier Noah's Ark by Jerry Pinkney The Tower of Babel The Tower of Babel by William Wiesner  The Patriarchs Sarah Laughs by Jacqueline Jules Moses + the Exodus Jacob and Esau by Mary Auld Joseph by Brian Wildsmith The Coat of Many Colors by Jenny Koralek Benjamin and the Silver Goblet by Jacqueline Jules Moses + the Exodus Moses by Margaret Hodges Moses: The Long Road to Freedom by Ann Keay Beneduce Exodus by Brian Wildsmith The Prophets Jonah and the Whale by Rosemary Lanning The Book of Jonah by Peter Spier Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb by Maura Roan McKeegan Daniel and the Lord of the Lions by Gloria Jean Pinkney The Story of the Call of Samuel by Bryn J. Brock and Karin A. Childs The Story of Ruth by Maxine Rose Schur  The Angel & the Donkey by Katherine Paterson  Kings + Queens David and Goliath by Beatrice Schenk De Regniers The Lord is My Shepherd by Gennady Spirin The Wisest Man in the World: A Legend of Ancient Israel by Benjamin ElkinNew Testament To Everything There is a Season by Diane and Leo Dillon Kings and Queens of the Bible by Mary Hoffman Queen Esther Saves Her People by Rita Golden Gelman  The Story of Esther by Eric A. Kimmel New Testament Mary by Brian Wildsmith St. Joseph's Story by Geraldine Guadagno Jesus by Brian Wildsmith The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer St. Peter's Story by Marion Thomas The Miracles of Jesus by Tomie dePaola Loaves and Fishes by Helen Caswell The Parables The Parables of Jesus by Tomie dePaola Parable of the Good Samaritan by Helen Caswell Parable of the Vineyard by Helen Caswell Parable of the Sower by Helen Caswell Parable of the Bridesmaids by Helen Caswell The Paschal Mystery The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith The Way of the Cross by Inos Biffi The Thornbush by Michael Laughlin Easter by Fiona French     Do you or your children have favorite children's books about the Bible? Let us know in the comments!   

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Catholic Picture Books for April - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

Catholic Picture Books for April

April showers bring May flowers! With Easter and warm weather just around the corner, 'spring' into spring with these Catholic picture books for April! This month celebrates Saints such as Saint Bernadette and Saint George.   Catholic Picture Books for April   This I Know by Clay Anderson Based on the beloved children's song Jesus Loves Me, this book has playful rhymes and colorful illustrations that your children will love.   Saint Bernadette and the Miracle of Lourdes by Demi Packed full of beautiful illustrations, this book serves as an excellent introduction to the life of Saint Bernadette.   'Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist "'Twas the morning of Easter, before the sun rose, Two guards on a hillside were trying to doze. Now Jesus had died, only three days before, A huge stone was in place, sealed over the door." Written with a catchy rhythm, 'Twas the Morning of Easter is the perfect Easter basket gift.   God Gave Us Easter by Lisa Tawn Bergren This board book is a sweet read while still providing thoughtful insight. Follow Papa Bear and Little Bear as they discuss Easter.   Saint George and the Dragon by Margaret Hodges Saint George and the Dragon is a Caldecott Medal Winner and on top of that an altogether beautiful read.   Cloud of Witnesses: A Child's First Book of Saints by Katie Warner With simple, short quotes from each saint and an illustration to accompany it, Cloud of Witnesses is the perfect book for introducing saints to littles.   Queen Esther by Tomie dePaola This book tells of a Jewish queen who not only loved her people and the Lord but stood by her Faith in times of distress.   Pascual and the Kitchen Angels by Tomie dePaola Pascual, patron saint of kitchens, would not cook. But he trusted in the Lord and when he prayed, the angels cooked.   That Grand Easter Day! by Jill Roman Lord That Grand Easter Day! takes us to that day Mary came to the tomb and Jesus was nowhere to be seen.   Seven Clues: A Catholic Treasure Hunt by Scott Hahn and Maura Roan McKeegan Written by renowned author Scott Hahn and children's author Maura McKeegan, Seven Clues follows three children on their treasure hunt that aids in deepening their Catholic Faith. A great read during Sacraments season!   Bernadette: The Little Girl from Lourdes by Sophie Maraval-Hutin  Born in France, Bernadette was a young girl who had a miraculous encounter with Our Lady of Lourdes.    Saint George and the Dragon by Jim Forest  Saint George was one of the first martyrs of the early Church. He is usually regarded as almost a mythical man. Jim Forest writes of the legend of Saint George, a brave Christian soldier who staunchly defends the princess and the villagers, while also addressing the symbolism behind the legend.    What are YOUR favorite picture books for the Easter season? Drop in the comments!     

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Help! My Kids are Bored at Mass! - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

Help! My Kids are Bored at Mass!

Bringing kids to Mass is often a sacrifice of praise in and of itself. Even when tantrums and bathroom breaks are avoided, there's the threat of "boredom." Children have a relatively short attention span as it is, but when they’re bored… Prepare for the whispering, “Are we almost done?”  to repeat steadily until the end of Mass. This is natural and understandable. It also offers us an opportunity to train their attention, patience, and understanding of the importance of being at Mass (even when we're bored).

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What Made Scott Hahn Become Catholic - Into the Deep

Blog – by Into the Deep

What Made Scott Hahn Become Catholic

What made Scott Hahn became Catholic? Two words: the Liturgy. Of course, there was more to it than that, but in The Lamb's Supper, he reveals why attending his first Catholic Mass was a major step toward communion with Rome. Scott Hahn walked into that parish as an interested but a slightly critical, casual observer. He left as a convert. Granted, he didn’t immediately drop everything and say “I want to be a Catholic!” But his conversion was largely founded upon his understanding of the biblical roots of the Mass.

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