July Book Basket
At the beginning of each month I fill a basket with books featuring the the various saints whose feast days will be celebrated during the month and place it in the living room. Throughout the month I will find the children curled up on the couch reading books they have chosen from the basket, either on their own or to their younger siblings. I also choose books from the basket for some of our afternoon family read-alouds. Our collection started very small and we have continued adding additional books over the years which we have either purchased or have been given as gifts. Some are picture books, some are chapter books, and some are collections of saint stories. This post is a work in progress and I will continue adding links as I sort through our collection.
July 1st, St. Junipero Serra (New):
- The Mission Bell
- Song of the Swallows
- The First Californian: The Story of Fray Junípero Serra
- Serra: American Founding Father
- Junípero Serra: Founder of the California Missions
- Bl. Junipero Serra from Saints of the Americas Coloring & Activity Book
- California Missions Coloring Book (Dover)
- California Missions to Cut Out (Book 1) and California Mission to Cut Out (Book 2)
July 3rd, St. Thomas, the Apostle (Trad. – December 21st ):
- Thomas the Apostle (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- St. Thomas (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
- Thomas (The Twelve Apostles) by Marianna Meyer
July 4th, St. Elizabeth of Portugal (New) (Trad. – July 8th):
- Elizabeth of Portugal (Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
July 4, Independence Day:
- The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgliesh
- See Unit Three of our American History Book List
July 6th, St. Maria Goretti (New, Hist.) (Trad – July 9th ):
July 11th, St. Benedict (New) (Trad. – March 21st ):
- St. Benedict (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Saint Scholastica & Saint Benedict (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
- Saint Benedict (Saints for Boys) by Alma Savage (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- B – St. Benedict (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- In the Footsteps of the Saints: A Story of St. Benedict
- St. Benedict, Hero of the Hills (Vision) by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
- St. Benedict: The Story of the Father of the Western Monks by Mary Fabyan Windeatt (Also available from TAN)
- Citadel of God: A Novel about Saint Benedict by Louis de Wohl (Note: This is not a children’s book, but I have really enjoyed reading the saint novels by Louis de Wohl.)
- The Life of St. Benedict
July 12th, St. Veronica of the Veil (Hist.):
- St. Veronica (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
July 14th, St. Kateri Tekakwitha (New):
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
- Mohawk Glory: Kateri Tekakwitha by Sr. Mary Grace
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha: The Lily of the Mohawks by Father Lovasik
- Kateri Tekakwitha, Mohawk Maid (Vision) by Evelyn M. Brown
- Kateri Tekakwitha: Model of Bravery (Saints and Me!)
- Kateri Tekakwitha Paper Dolls
- I Want to be a Christian!: The Story of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Glory Stories: Vol. V)
July 14th, St. Francis Solano (Hist.):
- St. Francis Solano: Wonder-Worker of the New World and Apostle of Argentina and Peru by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
July 15th, St. Swithin:
- Swithin (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
July 18th (USA), St. Camillus de Lellis:
July 19th, St. Vincent de Paul (Trad.) (New – Sep. 27th):
- Vincent de Paul (Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- St. Vincent de Paul (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Saint Vincent de Paul (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
- St. Vincent de Paul: Founder of Hospitals (The Book of Saints and Heroes) by Andrew Lang
- Saint Vincent de Paul (Saints for Boys) by Alma Savage (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- V- St. Vincent of Paul (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- V – An Alphabet of Catholic Saints by Nippert
- Saint Vincent de Paul: Servant of Charity (Along the Paths of the Gospel Series)
- Vincent de Paul, Saint of Charity by Margaret Ann Hubbard (Vision)
- Saint Vincent, Friend of the Poor (considering ordering to add to our collection)
July 22nd, St. Mary Magdalene (New, Trad.):
- Mary Magdalene (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
- Mary Magdalene (Tapestries: Stories of Women in the Bible) by Ruth Sanderson (Note: Tore out one of the pages in this book.)
- St. Mary Magdalene (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
July 23rd, St. Bridget of Sweden (New) (Trad. – Oct 8th):
- Saint Bridget of Sweden (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
July 25th, St. Christopher (Trad.):
- Christopher (Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- Christopher (Lives and Legends of Saints) by Carole Armstrong
- St. Christopher (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Saint Christopher (Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
- C – St. Christopher (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- The Legend of St. Christopher by Margaret Hodges
- Saint Christopher by Dionysios Potamitis
- St. Christopher (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
- In the Footsteps of the Saints: A Story of St. Christopher (Level 1, Set 5)
July 25th, St. James the Greater (New, Trad.):
- James the Elder (The Twelve Apostles) by Marianna Meyer
July 26th, St. Anne (New, Trad.):
- Anne (Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- St. Anne (Saints and Angels) by Claire Llewellyn
- St. Anne (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Joachim & Anne: Love for Generations (pre-ordered)
July 27th, Sts. Maximianus, Malchus, Martinianus, Dionysius, Joammes, Serapion, and Constantius (Hist.):
- Seven Sleepers of Ephesus (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- St. Malchus: Captive Monk (The Book of Saints and Heroes) by Andrew Lang
July 29th, St. Martha (New, Trad.):
- Martha (More Once Upon a Time Saints) by Ethel Pochocki
- Mary and Martha (Tapestries: Stories of Women in the Bible) by Ruth Sanderson (Note: Tore out one of the pages in this book.)
- St. Martha (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
July 31st, St. Ignatius of Loyola (New, Trad.):
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children) by Bart Tesoriero
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola (More Saints: Lives and Illuminations) by Ruth Sanderson
- I- St. Ignatius (An Alphabet of Saints) by Robert Hugh Benson (Neumann Press – also available from TAN)
- St. Ignatius and the Company of Jesus (Vision) by August Derleth
- The Golden Thread: A Novel about St. Ignatius Loyola by Louis de Wohl
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Leading the Way (Graphic Novel)
- Ignatius of Loyola: For the Greater Glory of God (Encounter)
Other Links for July:
Dear Jessica, thank you so much- your list are always so helpful and hopefully you get parts of our greatfulness from Amazon : ) Could you please share from with book about St. Vincent the beautiful illustration of him is? Thank you again, and please know that you are in my prayers- I know it takes time to heal… Love, Emma in Norway
2014-07-02 20:31:20
Thank you, Emma! ♥
The image of St. Vincent de Paul is from Lives of the Saints: An Illustrated History for Children by Bart Tesoriero. I'm not sure how my Amazon links convert for those overseas. I'll have to look into that. 🙂
2014-07-02 21:11:39
Please do, we have a little "Jessica library" already : ) And Lives of the saints are on its way… .Have a wonderful , blessed and joyfilled 4th.of July – Emma
2014-07-02 21:38:57
I hope you are happy with it! I looked into the terms of my Amazon Affiliate Account and it looks like I only earn commission on US sales. Thank you though, I enjoy sharing our book lists just the same! 🙂
2014-07-03 03:31:19
Thank you for the time you spent sharing this!
2014-07-05 04:16:33
You're welcome! 🙂 Only a few more months to go!
2014-07-05 18:56:23
Darn it, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel coloring book is $152 right now.
2019-07-01 16:35:17
I wasn't able to find it on TAN's website either… I did find this over at Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FLjfcd and it's the same author/coloring images, but not sure who the publisher is. Might be a good affordable alternative!
2019-07-01 17:43:18