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JennGM
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I passed a few titles at the IHM and Emmanuel Books catalog that intrigued me. I didn't buy there because I was hoping for more feedback on these titles:
Reading the Saints: Lists of Catholic Books for Children plus Book Collecting Tips for the Home and School Library by Janet P. McKenzie.
Contents page of book
And Love2Learn had a good review. If you're already a book collector, have lots of saints series already, is this redundant, nothing new?
My second question is the In the Footsteps of the Saints Series by Brother Ernest CSC
from Emmanuel Books (although I'm not sure who is the publisher). The catalog says these are saint stories for early readers, which is exactly what I'm searching for. But how early? Very basic reading? I am familiar with his next level books and have a few, but this is the first I've of this level.
Thanks for any help!
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Mackfam
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Jenn,
"Reading the Saints..." is an extraordinary treasure of a book because of the lists compiling the saints by century and setting. In the early years, much of my history comes from reading the lives of the saints. This book lays it all out for you including reading level for each of the books. I think you will find it a wonderful resource as you build curriculum and reading around the saints!
I have the set of books from Emmanuel - the Footsteps of the Saints - in my cart for my 3rd grader. He's a good reader, but is still somewhat reluctant. I don't have the books yet...I'm hopeful. I'd love to hear if others have them and any thoughts.
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JennGM
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Thanks, Jennifer. I ordered the Reading book yesterday. I just needed some outside affirmation. 
Mary's Books is the publisher of the "In the Footsteps of the Saints". I'm just trying to determine what "Level I" in reading of these books actually means. And if they captivate children when they are reading them. It seems harder to find good saints books for early readers. I only have a few.
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Mackfam
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Well, I have several series of beginning reader saints books, but they're still too much for a reluctant little reader. My hope was that these would be less intimidating.
I'm certain I'm going to order - as soon as I quit putting things in my Emmanuel Cart  - because M. is a good reader. He just needs practice. I'm not as concerned about the level since M. has already finished all of his phonics instruction, but I was sort of wondering about the reading level myself since they don't really say.
If no one else comes in with a review of them, I'll let you know what I think when they come in. 
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missionfamily
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Thanks, for this discussion Jennifers...I just added more stuff to my "To Buy for Next Year" list.
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JennGM
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missionfamily wrote:
| Thanks, for this discussion Jennifers...I just added more stuff to my "To Buy for Next Year" list. |
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Always happy to help people spend their money.
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KC in TX
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Ooh, those books sound wonderful! I'm getting my list together (well, I'm always working on a book list) and these will be added.
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JennGM
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JennGM wrote:
| Mary's Books is the publisher of the "The Footsteps of the Saints". I'm just trying to determine what "Level I" in reading of these books actually means. And if they captivate children when they are reading them. It seems harder to find good saints books for early readers. I only have a few. |
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I just wrote to the publisher and received delightful answers which she said I could share here:
Mary's Books wrote:
When these were originally printed they came in 4 different reading levels but they were not labeled as Level 1, 2 , 3, and 4. I did this to make it easier for people collecting them for their children to know which books were which. Level 1 has about 32 pages which many 1/2 page pictures. I started reading these to my children at an early age and they were reading them by themselves easily by 2nd grade.
From the book about St. Cecilia these is on 1 of the pages-
"You will win your brother, Valerian. But soon after that both you you suffer martydom," replied the angel.
Then the light began to dim and the glorious angel disappeared."
I agree there are far to few books about the saints for younger readers. By reading these books all 3 of our children and found that they enjoy reading about the saints and we use them as role models.
The Level 2 are 96 pages and have fewer pictures. But 4th grade would be able to read these as well. Even so I enjoy the Level 2 as I have learned alot about the saints from typing and reviewing them as well.
I hope to try and publish 20 to 50 books each year as I have the time and money to do so.
I hope this helps you and if I can answer any other questions please let me know.
Our Lady of Grace Pray for us,
Mary's Books Publishing |
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And further information:
Quote:
| By ordering the set (10 of Level 1 or 5 of Level 2) there is a 10% discount plus a break on shipping as I charge as I would for 1 book when you order the set. |
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Quote:
I would love for your to share the information!! These are great books and I have taken them to several homeschool conferences in the midwest and they have been selling very well but I need to get the information out for people to see them. I am hoping to be able to come to the Catholic conference in VA in the next year or 2 but like anything it is time and money. All of my funds are going into printing right now. I am working on the next 15 books right now.
Please feel free to quote me as well. 1 of the Brothers who wrote quite a few of the books- Br. Roberto-is alive and I had the chance to meet and talk with him. He is very excited to see these coming back into print. |
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So you can see the above quote from the one volume to assess reading level.
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Mackfam
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Thanks, Jenn. Now I know to watch her site for the Level 2 books to be published. It looks like she has about 5 offered right now.
I ordered the entire set of 10 Level 1 readers.
Thanks for sharing her responses. Very helpful!
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Can I hijack this with some another question - what are your favorite saint books and resources - we have
- Saint Joseph picture books of Saints
- Father Lovasik picture book of Saints
- Saints and Feastdays (thank you for helping me decide, Jenn )
- Vision books
- Windeatt books
- Encounter the Saints
- Mother Frances Forbes books
- Tomie de Paola Saint Books
- Catholic Mosaic picture books
- Once Upon a Saint books
Wow it suddenly looks like a lot!
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JennGM
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MarilynW wrote:
Can I hijack this with some another question - what are your favorite saint books and resources - we have
- Saint Joseph picture books of Saints
- Father Lovasik picture book of Saints
- Saints and Feastdays (thank you for helping me decide, Jenn )
- Vision books
- Windeatt books
- Encounter the Saints
- Mother Frances Forbes books
- Tomie de Paola Saint Books
- Catholic Mosaic picture books
- Once Upon a Saint books |
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I think it's a great list, Marilyn. I wasn't familiar with the Forbes books, but found that they are reprints from TAN
I could add a few series and titles to your list, although some are OOP. You are going to be sorry you asked.
Some Out of print series by publisher:
Dujarie Press, Notre Dame, IN are the ones reprinted by Mary's Books, with the different levels.
Holy Cross Press, Valatie, NY had a series called Saints Who Changed History Series saints and biographies.
St. Anthony Guild Press had another series, with some authors like Rita Brady and Charles Brady, but I'm not sure of the series name. I have St. Casimir and St. Thomas More of London Town. There's a lot of text even though they are small hardcover books.
And Sheed and Ward had a series Patron Saints Books.
Pauline Books AKA Daughters of St. Paul had some of the best saints series, although sadly many have been redone or are out of print. Besides Encounter the Saints Series which you mentioned, the predecessor to those are the Encounter Series by the Daughters of St. Paul. According to the sisters, the new series, although some of the same titles, are totally new books. I highly recommend the older ones, as they are delightful (I grew up on these).
And there is also for younger children the Along the Paths of the Gospel Series by Pauline Books. I think these were done by another "house" (my one book is printed in France by the French DSP), but they also seem to be out of print.
A two volume series called Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year was another I was raised. It follows the Traditional Calendar, so the dates don't always correspond to the current calendar.
Fifty-Seven Saints for Boys and Girls is one of the best one volume series, with gorgeous illustrations. You have to find the older versions, though, to get the good stuff.
For older readers, Heavenly Friends, a Saint for Each Day by Rosalie Marie Levy is delightful reading, also an older Daughters of St. Paul book.
Saints You Should Know Series by Margaret and Matthew Bunson published by Our Sunday Visitor (OSV). I can't seem to find them on the OSV site now. I know these were recommended by Seton.
Some ideas by author:
Eva K. Betz is a great author, and Neumann Press has reprinted her Saints and Friendly Beasts series, originally published by St. Anthony Guild Press. The reprints are a bit expensive, but very well done for early readers.
I'm glad you asked this question because in going through my shelves I realized I had one of the Brother Ernest books mentioned above (In the Footsteps of the Saints). The reading level is comparable to the Saints and Friendly Beasts series, but both are not super easy reading as compared to books like "Frog and Toad".
(As an aside, a similar title book The Book of Saints and Friendly Beasts by Abbie Farwell Brown is available on The Baldwin Project.)
And Eva K. Betz wrote some other books, both saints and Catholic stories for older readers. Some have been reprinted.
Your younger children will enjoy anything by Joan Windham. Her saints books are just wonderful. Probably the one most recently published (and now OOP of course) are the two volumes, 60 Saints for Girls and 60 Saints for Boys. But she was prolific, so you can find many of her saints series. The ultimate collection is the Story Library of the Saints, a 3 volume set.
You also mentioned Once Upon A Time Saints which are written by Ethel Pochocki. You can also find her series Saints of the Seasons for Children and her earlier versions under the author name Ethel Marbach.
I've got a few other one volume series that I like and will use, but I'll spare you.
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Wow Jenn - thanks!
I forget that I do have Saint a Day for Young Readers Vol 1 and 2 - these are so used in our home they are falling apart! I would love to find another set like these maybe with some pictures.
I am in the process of trying to make a simple religion plan for each month. The twins and Matt are not doing a program like Faith and Life etc - but we are planning on just following the Liturgical year, doing Saint books, Catholic Mosaic etc and I am planning on buying Inos Biffi's picture catechism. I am slotting in all the different saint books we already have, simple activities etc - so my first list is what saint books we have for each month.
I just wish I had a week to myself to plan...
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Another thought is teaching the saints through art. There are several volumes that have gorgeous saint paintings. Fussy baby, so no time to list with links. Rosa Giorgi has several titles, Sister Wendy and her book of Saints, One Hundred Saints by Bulfinch Press are a few that come to mind.
Poring over the pictures, recognizing symbols and cultural and era hints from the paintings is so much fun. How to Distinguish the Saints in Art is an old book online that is great for a beginning lesson. I've found some of our best discussions and memory of saints has been from opening a book, showing the picture and discussing the saint and the painting. St. Lawrence the Deacon and Martyr (gridiron martyrdom) has stuck in my son's mind since last August, even though we've never read one word about him together. The painting spoke to him.
I'll sound a bit unschooly, but I like to have most of the saint books read voluntarily or as story time, not always "for school". They need to be the inspiration for imitation. I like having books around the Liturgical Year, and bring out some books so my son will want to take choose to read similar ones on his own.
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Just seconding the idea of teaching the saints through art! Each year, I make this pilgrimage to an awesome used bookstore in Nashville. They have tons of coffee-table type books for next to nothing. The kind with full color, glossy images. Sometimes the reflections or writing is twaddly or not in keeping with the faith. I buy them, cut them up (please don't throw tomatoes ), back the sacred art with beautiful cardstock and laminate. Viola! Instant art study using the saints, images of Our Lord and Lady, and other sacred art as a guide. Then, I divide the art prints up according the liturgical year, so for example prints of the Coronation would be filed in August for the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. Prints of St. Francis filed under October for his feast day.
Thanks Jenn for the remarkable saint's book list. I have some of the series, but I'm going to print and save it in my file so I can keep an eye out during my pilgrimage to aforementioned used bookstore, and at online used book sources. Thanks very much!!
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JennGM
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JennGM wrote:
| I'll sound a bit unschooly, but I like to have most of the saint books read voluntarily or as story time, not always "for school". They need to be the inspiration for imitation. I like having books around the Liturgical Year, and bring out some books so my son will want to take choose to read similar ones on his own. |
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I have to clarify this point. My son isn't even reading now, I'm thinking of the future. I've seen personally how "required" saints reading can become distasteful. When one or two of a series or by an author is read together as enjoyment, I find the books are read by choice and enjoyment alongside other more secular titles.
And Jennifer, not sure if I have the nerve to cut the books, unless they were that cheap. And if I didn't do something with the cuttings right then (like a binder) I know they would be lost forever. It's easier for me to keep track of the books!
I did think about pasting some text in some of these books -- bringing together the best.
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JennGM wrote:
I'll sound a bit unschooly, but I like to have most of the saint books read voluntarily or as story time, not always "for school". They need to be the inspiration for imitation. I like having books around the Liturgical Year, and bring out some books so my son will want to take choose to read similar ones on his own. |
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Jenn - I agree. My planning consists of finding all the Saint Books for the relevant month and leaving them on the coffee table for the older ones to select. With Matt - I choose the read alouds.
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JennGM wrote:
| Another thought is teaching the saints through art. . |
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We do this through art calendars. Friends and family save their parish/other calendars for me and I can cut these up - this year I have so many beautiful prints - the Arlington diocese parish ones, Basilica one (beautiful beautiful prints of Our Lady), Apostles one. Plus ones from previous ones. Jen - I file mine under the relevant month too. I laminate some of them and stick up each month above our prayer table with the calendar. eg August may have an Assumption print.
I would love to have the Sister Wendy Saints in Art book - but I believe it is oop.
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MarilynW wrote:
| I would love to have the Sister Wendy Saints in Art book - but I believe it is oop. |
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Don't let that intimidate you! I found several copies for sale for very reasonable prices. Sometimes books that go out of print recently can be found for good prices, better than new!
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Saint Resource Questions
