Wednesday, May 4, 2016

48 Picture Books for the Well-Rounded Catholic Child


Three years ago I became a grandmother for the first time. In just under a month from now, my fourth grandchild will be born. One of the many great things about having grandchildren is revisiting the joy of picture books -- the same joy I shared with their parents so many years ago.

I keep a book wish list for each of my grandchildren. (Yes, I'm passing my bibliophileness onto them.) Every birthday, Christmas, baptism, holy day, Groundhog Day, etc. is a reason to gift a child with a book. Right?! Keeping the wish lists helps me remember what I've bought, for whom, and what still needs to be presented.

Looking it over this morning I realized, "This is a pretty good list for any parent or grandparent." So, here I am sharing a portion of it with you. I picked a variety of books that cover a variety of topics to help form a well-rounded child.

These are books that are already on my shelves. Books I shared with my own children. Books I cherish and will not part with. They remain at Grammy's house for as long as Grammy is here. I'm buying them all over again so they are also on the shelves of my adult children and their children.

It is my hope that this list inspires you to buy good quality picture books for your children and/or grandchildren. Or, perhaps, your great-grandchildren.

I suggest printing this list and taking it to the library. Then when you find a favorite, put that on your wishlist. NOTE: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and then make a purchase I receive a referral fee.
     ~Maureen

Titles are in no particular order. Click on the book title to read reviews at Amazon.

Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects 
by Matthew Clark Smith (Author), Giuliano Ferri (Illustrator)

The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity
by Jennie Bishop

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
by Virginia Lee Burton

A Day on Skates: The Story of a Dutch Picnic
by Hilda van Stockum

The Weight of a Mass: A Tale of Faith 
by Josephine Nobisso (Author), Katalin Szegedi (Illustrator)

Blueberries for Sal
by Robert McCloskey

The Story of Ferdinand
by Munro Leaf (Author), Robert Lawson (Illustrator)

Angel in the Waters
by Regina Doman (Author), Ben Hatke (Illustrator)

Pancakes, Pancakes!
by Eric Carle

Paddle-to-the-Sea
by Holling C. Holling

Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish (Author), Fritz Siebel (Illustrator)

The Salamander Room
by Anne Mazer 

The Story of Holly and Ivy 
by Rumer Godden (Author), Barbara Cooney  (Illustrator)

The Squire and the Scroll
by Jennie Bishop (Author), Preston McDaniels (Illustrator)

Chickens to the Rescue
by John Himmelman

Saint Jude: A Friend in Hard Times 
by Michael Aquilina (Author), Keith Neely (Illustrator)

The Empty Pot
by Demi

Picture Book of Saints 
by Lawrence G. Lovasik

Book of Greek Myths
by the D'Aulaires

Rocks in His Head
by Carol Otis Hurst (Author), James Stevenson (Illustrator)

Peter Rabbit
by Beatrix Potter

Winnie the Pooh
by A. A. Milne

Charlie Parker Played Be Bop 
by Christopher Raschka

The Song of the Swallows 
by Leo Politi

Raphael (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists)
by Mike Venezia

Peter Tchaikovsky (Getting to Know the World's Greatest Composers)
by Mike Venezia

Sir Cumference and the First Round Table (A Math Adventure)
by Cindy Neuschwander and Wayne Geehan

by Jean Fritz (Author), Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

by Kathleen Norris (Author), Tomie dePaola (Illustrator)

by Margaret Wise Brown (Author), Clement Hurd (Illustrator)

by Robert McCloskey 

by Anne Eileen Heffernan (Editor), Deborah J. White (Illustrator)

by Ben Hatke 

by Michael McGrew (Author), Marnie Litz (Illustrator)

by Gloria Whelan (Author), Judith Brown  (Illustrator)

by Tomie dePaola 

by Crockett Johnson 

by Ludwig Bemelmans

by Bryce Milligan (Author), Helen Cann (Illustrator)


by H. A. Rey

by Elsa Holmelund Minarik (Author), Maurice Sendak  (Illustrator)

by Sandra Boynton 

by Amy Welborn (Author), Ann Kissane Engelhart (Illustrator)

by Donna Piscitelli and Rosemarie Gortler (Authors), Mimi Sternhagen (Illustrator)

by Jean Darby

by Nancy Carpentier Brown (Editor), Ted Schluenderfritz (Illustrator)

by Lawrence G. Lovasik 

Though this list contains 48 books, it is not exhaustive. There are a great many other picture books worth your time and effort. Explore other titles by the same author or by looking at Amazon's "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" suggestions. Ask your friends for their favorites and search for other Catholic reading lists online.

If I've left off your favorite picture book, let me know about it in the comments.



4 comments:

  1. One I would add is BECAUSE I LOVE YOU by Max Lucado.

    It makes me cry as its message to children (and adults) is that we were created to be with God and in His love HE seeks us when we stray.

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  2. The Story About Ping, written by Marjorie Flack and illustrated by Kurt Wiese, is one of my favorites! Ping is afraid of getting the dreaded spank for being last on the boat, but he learns it's not nearly as scary as missing the boat and facing the dangers of the river alone.

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  3. ANYTHING by Arnold Lobel: The Frog and Toad series, Mouse Tales, Mouse Soup. They are so wholesome and funny!

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  4. Thank you so much for including Bambinelli Sunday!

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