Saints General Resource

A Litany of Saints

Book cover: 'A Litany of Saints'
Author(s): 
Ann Ball
Number of pages: 
224 pages
Copyright: 
1993
ISBN / ID: 
9780879734602
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
Adults
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 

When I see Ann Ball's name on a book, I expect a treat. This book is no exception. A Litany of Saints begins with an introduction to the Communion of Saints and Catholic practices regarding their veneration. This section is clear and easy-to-read, including the changes instituted as a result of the Second Vatican Council. The footnotes provide many sources for additional reading. Next comes a history of litanies in general and the text of the formal "Litany of the Saints". Following this is the bulk of the book: a fascinating, documented collection of information about 26 well-known saints as well as shorter summaries of 17 more saints. This book contains prayers, photographs, legends, and the stories of these saints. It is written in a titled-paragraph style that makes it easy to pick up, read a few pages, and put down again–-perfect for a busy person to read in those few available minutes each day.

Do you know why we should ask the saints to pray for us? Do you know what happened to St. Christopher? Do you know who is the protector from cancer? If not, then you need to read this book and have your questions answered!

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Imprimatur (1992) and Nihil Obstat

Many thanks to Saint Gabriel's for donating this book for review.

Reviewed by: 
Susan Kalis
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Catholic Cardlinks: Patron Saints

Book cover: 'Catholic Cardlinks: Patron Saints'
Author(s): 
Thomas J. Craughwell
Number of pages: 
100 pages
Copyright: 
2004
ISBN / ID: 
9781592760633
Publisher: 
Our Sunday Visitor
Binding: 
Other
Subject(s): 
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 

My children have always loved picture cards for learning about subjects – animals, art, flags, etc. I love it when the cards are fastened together in some way so that they don't get lost and thus rendered useless. Catholic Cardlinks: Patron Saints is just the sort of resource that makes everyone happy!

Children will love (I speak from experience with my own brood) to befriend the saints with this charming resource that they can so easily hold in their little hands. Each elongated cardstock sheet has a colorful sketch of a saint (48 saints in all) with a short biography. The pages fan out so that you can see all of the faces at once. Or open to one at a time and spend a little time reading about your favorites. When I leave this sort of book laying in reach of my little ones (especially the pre-readers), they will become acquainted with the pictures over time and find their favorites that they ask me to read about over and over. What a nice way to help young children develop a devotion to a favorite saint!

I'm also delighted to see such colorful and creative resources being published for young children.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Binding details: cardstock pages pivot on a sturdy post

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
12-11-04

Heroes of Virtue

A Timeline-manual of New World Saints and Blessed
Book cover: 'Heroes of Virtue: A Timeline-manual of New World Saints and Blessed'
Author(s): 
Sister Elizabeth Ann
Number of pages: 
115 pages
Copyright: 
1999
Publisher: 
Catholic Heritage Curricula
Binding: 
Stapled Softcover
Sample Pages
Subject(s): 
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Grades 6-8
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 

We have enjoyed using this manual in our home for almost a year now and have found that it has added a dimension that was lacking from our homeschool before. The author, a member of the congregation Sisters of Saint Joseph the Worker, has done an outstanding job organizing the saints of the Americas by chronology and geographical area. This manual includes saints from both North and South America. Sister Elizabeth Ann begins her book with reasons for studying these saints along with many ideas for incorporating them into ones ongoing historical or geographical studies. She includes information about the various religious orders and information on "How Saints are Made." Her excellent timeline includes key events and people in the history of the Americas with an astric noting where the saints fit into the overall picture. We have found this timeline to be invaluable. Outline maps, which are provided for each area, are easy for the children to trace and the biographies are long enough to provide important information but short enough that they could easily be woven into any history program. The workbook pages and activity sheets at the back of the book allow the student to spend extra time considering the saint's life and how they impacted history.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Many thanks to Catholic Heritage Curricula for donating this book for review.

Reviewed by: 
Andrea Chen
First reviewed: 
3-26-01

Reading the Saints

Lists of Catholic Books for Children plus Book Collecting Tips for the Home and School Library
Author(s): 
Janet McKenzie
Number of pages: 
218 pages
Copyright: 
2007
Publisher: 
Biblio Resource Publications
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Books about Books
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
All ages
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 
This is an interesting and helpful book of lists designed for parents and teachers interested in collecting Catholic stories (particularly saint stories) for their children and incorporating them into their school studies. The first part of the book consists of listings of Catholic book series (both in and out of print), including titles with Catholic content that have been awarded the Caldecott Award and the Newbery Award, Catholic Readers, the Clarion Series, the Vision Series, American Background Books, Catholic Treasury Books and much more. The main portion of the book (over 100 pages) includes historical and geographical charts of these books of interest (including separate listings for individual stories in the story collections). These charts provide information on where and when the story took place, what series it belongs to, whether it's in print or not and a general age recommendation. Also included are extensive listings of Catholic authors and publishers of interest. The appendix includes a helpful and detailed guide to collecting and caring for books. I found this to be a very useful and well-organized book and I'm sure it's one I'll turn to again and again - particularly when doing school planning over the summer.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-3-2008

Saints of the Church

Book cover: Saints of the Church
Author(s): 
Michael G. Allen
Number of pages: 
184 pages
Copyright: 
2000
ISBN / ID: 
9780898707830
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 

This book is a companion to the Vision series of saint's biographies (also published by Ignatius Press). It is a wonderful help to extending the biographies into a full-blown unit study, if you wish, or just to help enrich the reading. For each of the 17 books covered in Saints of the Church , the author includes:

  • an overview of the book
  • vocabulary lists broken out by chapter
  • quotations from the books called "Language in Context" that develop comprehension and illustrate various literary devices
  • Time Line information
  • Outline Map information
  • Numerous topics for written reports on various levels
  • Biographical sketches of other famous people in the book
  • "Turning to Scripture and Catechism" which requires looking up various verses or topics in the Bible and the Catechism; this is done to "make connections between the saint's life and the living tradition of the Catholic Church."
  • Discussion questions
This is a wonderful, well-organized, and thorough guide to really getting the most out of the Vision books...likely just the kind of thing we would do on our own if we had the time.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Susan Kalis
First reviewed: 
1998-99