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.
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)
by Anne Mazer
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
