Our 2013 Advent & Christmas Book Baskets
We love books. We love Advent and Christmas. We love books about Advent and Christmas!
We started our Christmas book collection in 2000, following the birth of our oldest son, and we still love adding to it each year. In 2007, following the release of Christmas Mosaic: An Illustrated Book Study for Children, we started reading a picture book as a family each day during Advent, incorporating some of Cay’s wonderful study guides and activities. That same year our public libraries were all closed due to a lack of funding (and stayed closed for a few years) so I was very thankful to have her booklists to use as a guide when searching for new books to purchase for my children.
Four years ago I started wrapping our books for Advent with purple and pink wrapping paper, coordinating with the liturgical color for each week. I wondered at first if it would be worth the effort (and all that paper!) but this is now one of my children’s favorite Advent traditions. They love taking turns unwrapping the books as well as the special time we spend together reading. (In the past I have also wrapped twelve books in gold for the twelve days of Christmas, but I have decided not to do that this year. The past couple years it has been so busy during those days following Christmas that there isn’t much extra time for reading.) Some years I have incorporate books that tie in to the various feast days that will be celebrated and last year I had the children each choose four of their favorites to be wrapped.
With Advent beginning in just two weeks I spent some time this past week sorting through all our Christmas books. I filled a bag with the books to donate (ones we don’t care for or no longer want to keep for various reasons), pulled aside all the books we will read this Advent, and filled a couple of additional baskets with the rest of our collection. This year I am going back to the original inspiration for our book a day and wrapping up books from the suggestions in Christmas Mosaic based on the four different themes: Decoration/Preparation, Giving/St. Nicholas, Family and Nativity/Angels/Epiphany.
(Note: I usually purchase rolls of the purple and pink wrapping paper at Target.)
December 1 (First Sunday of Advent) ~ Waiting for Christmas: A Story about the Advent Calendar
We will also decorate for Advent with Advent Calendars, Advent Wreath, Jesse Tree, etc… Set out Manger for Baby Jesus and all of our Christmas Books. Bless the Advent Wreath during nighttime prayers. Choose names for Christkindl! I also plan to surprise the children with the Holy Heroes New Jesse Tree DVD to go along with our new Jesse Tree Swap Ornaments!
December 2 ~ The Christmas Cobwebs
December 3 ~ Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis Xavier
December 4 ~ The Cobweb Curtain: A Christmas Story
December 5 ~ The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey with CD: Gift Edition
*Bake St. Nicholas Cookies
December 6 (Feast of St. Nicholas) ~ Santa’s Favorite Story * This is included during week two, but since the feast of St. Nicholas is earlier in Advent this year I moved this book to week one.
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas
December 7 (Feast of St. Ambrose) ~ A Christmas Memory (*This was a new purchase this year, and we decided not to add this book to our collection.)
*Decorate our Christ Candle for Christmas
December 8 (Second Sunday of Advent) ~ Gifts from the Heart (Not pictured… New to us and I haven’t recieved our copy to pre-read yet. No study guide available. Update: We decided not to keep this book after all.)
*Cut Down Christmas Tree after Mass
December 9 ~ The Christmas Candle
* The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin – transferred from the 2nd Sunday of Advent; Feast of St. Juan Diego
December 10 (Feast of Our Lady of Loreto) ~ Shoemaker Martin (*using the guide for The Shoemaker’s Dream – same story but depicted by a different artist)
December 11 ~ The Christmas Coat (ordered from the library)
December 12 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe) ~ The Gift of the Magi
*Begin Christmas Rose Novena; possibly have our Our Lady of Guadalupe Tea
December 13 (Feast of St. Lucy) ~ The Bear’s Christmas Surprise (purchased a used copy on Amazon – it’s still on it’s way)
*Celebrate the Feast of St. Lucy
December 14 ~ A Small Miracle
December 15 (Third Sunday of Advent – Rose’s Birthday – Gaudete Sunday) ~ Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas! **No Study Guide**
* Rose/Pink Themed Birthday Party for Rose’s 4th Birthday! We will also read Bambinelli Sunday!
December 16 ~ An Orange for Frankie
December 17 ~ Silent Night
*O Wisdom… (View all our O Antiphon Plans here.)
December 18 ~ The Christmas Promise
*O Adonai, and Ruler of the House…
December 19 (Bud’s Birthday) ~ That’s Not My Reindeer (also available directly from my Usborne website!) **No Study Guide**
*Deer/Woodland Themed Birthday Party for Bud’s 2nd Birthday!
*O Root of Jesse…
December 20 ~ One Christmas Dawn
*Bake Cookies for Christmas to give as gifts
*O Key of David – Key Lime Pie and Sparkling Drinks with Dinner
December 21 ~ Night Tree
*O Dayspring… Hot Cocoa in thermoses and drive around to see Christmas lights after dinner!
(we may also read The Christmas Bird by Bernadette Watts)
*Bake and Decorate Cut-out Cookies.
*O King of the Gentiles…
December 23 ~ Father and Son: A Nativity Story
*Bake Starlight Cookies
*O Emmanuel…
December 24 (Christmas Eve) ~ Mortimer’s Christmas Manger and Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers
*Gingerbread House Decorating Party and Midnight Mass
Christmas at Stony Creek
Destination: Bethlehem
Letters from Father Christmas
The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories by O. Henry
The Story of Holly and Ivy
The Thirteen Days of Christmas
The Trees Kneel at Christmas
A Christmas Chronicle
The Catholic Christmas Book of Cherished Christmas Customs
The Church Mouse of Saint Nicholas
The Eternal Babe (poetry)
The True Meaning of Christmas by Fulton Sheen
Advent Storybook: 24 Stories to Share Before Christmas
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas, An Austin Family Story (more of a chapter book)
Waiting for Noel: An Advent Story
A Time to Keep: The Tasha Tudor Book of Holidays
A Gift from St. Nicholas (we don’t love the illustrations in this one)
Saint Nicholas
St. Nicholas: A Closer Look at Christmas (coffee table style book)
The Baker’s Dozen: A St. Nicholas Tale (our “Baker’s Dozen” inspired cookies)
The Legend of Saint Nicholas by Demi (great book, definitely a favorite)
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (about a church named “Saint Nicholas” – definitely near the top of my list of favorites for Advent and Christmas)
The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas (another favorite, most appropriate for older children, especially love the illustrations)
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend (board book)
Kersti and Saint Nicholas (chapter book, not pictured)
Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe (not pictured)
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Father Lovasik
Our Lady of Guadalupe(Coloring Book)
Our Lady of Guadalupe by Carmen t. Bernier-Grand
Our Lady of Guadalupe (pop-up)
The Story of Our Lady of Guadalupe Empress of the Americas (*there are still a few copies available here at the old price, plus you can support the sisters with your purchase!)
Bells of Santa Lucia
Hanna’s Christmas
Kirsten’s Surprise: A Christmas Story
Lucia Morning in Sweden
Lucia, Child of Light: The History And Traditions of Sweden’s Lucia Celebration
Lucia, Saint of Light
Baboushka: A Christmas Folktale from Russia
Christmas Around the World
Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition form Poland
Miracle of the Poinsettia
Pablo’s Christmas
The Miraculous Child: A Christmas Folktale from Old Russia
All for the Newborn Baby
Good King Wenceslas
Good King Wenceslas
Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker
O Holy Night
Stephen’s Feast
The Huron Carol
A Christmas Manger (Punch-out-and-play Books)
Cranberry Christmas
The Gift of the Christmas Cookie: Sharing the True Meaning of Jesus’ Birth
The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher
Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber
Christmas in the Trenches
War Game: Village Green to No-Man’s Land
Golfer’s Night Before Christmas , A
Home for Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
Snowmen at Night
The Night Before Christmas: Book & DVD
The Mitten 20th Anniversary Edition
Angela and the Baby Jesus
Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing (not pictured)
On Christmas Eve
The Legend of the Christmas Rose
The Little Fir Tree
The Little Match Girl
ABC is for Christmas (A Little Golden Book)
S is for Star: A Christmas Alphabet (*also available in paperback for much less)
The Christmas ABC (A Little Golden Book – reprinted this year, not pictured)
The Angels Alphabet by Hilda Van Stockum (OOP – I found our copy on ebay)
Bethlehem
Christmas in the Barn
Christmas Night Fair and Bright
Little Star
On That Christmas Night (not pictured)
One Winter’s Night
Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey
The Christmas Bell
The Christmas Story (A Little Golden Book)
The Donkey’s Dream
The First Christmas
The Nativity by Ruth Sanderson
The Stable Where Jesus Was Born
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale (not pictured)
There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Gennady Spirin
The Twelve Days of Christmas: A Christmas Carol (A Little Golden Book)
The Twelve Days of Christmas: The Story Behind a Favorite Christmas Song
Twelve Days of Christmas Stained Glass Coloring Book
Babushka and the Three Kings
Small Camel Follows the Star
The Last Straw
The Third Gift
We Three Kings
A Christmas Carol
Christmas in the Manger
One Night in Bethlehem
Saint Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
Stable in Bethlehem: A Countdown to Christmas (not pictured)
The Christmas Story Board Book
The Legend Of The Three Trees – Board Book
The Saving Name of God the Son
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Touch and Feel Baby Jesus Is Born
Who’s Hiding: A Christmas Lift the Flap
Who Is Coming to Our House?
A Child’s Story of the Nativity Illustrated by Masha
That Wonderful Night: The Story of the Very First Christmas
The Christmas Anna Angel
The Little Juggler
Cay Gibson, author of Catholic Mosaic and Christmas Mosaic, has generously offered to send one of my visitors a signed copy of Christmas Mosaic! If you would like to enter the giveaway please do so below:
New Christmas Books for the Feast of St. Nicholas
I’ve been busy finishing my Jesse Tree Swap Ornaments the past few days and finally, after staying up until way too late last night early this morning painting and assembling, got them wrapped and shipped this afternoon, barely making the deadline! It took way longer than I thought it would to make 35 angel ornaments… I’m glad I participated though and we are all excited to see the other ornaments when our box arrives!
Anyways, every year on December 6th, the feast of St. Nicholas, our children wake up to find their shoes or slippers filled with treats and chocolate gold coins (sometimes they even find new shoes or slippers if they are needed), along with a new Christmas Picture Book to add to our ever growing collection. I just finished wrapping the books for this year with red paper, attaching a rose tag with each child’s name. Here’s a peek at the books Sean and I choose for this year:
Written by J.R.R. Tolkien? I couldn’t resist!
“Christmas is a special time at Pumpkin House, where two dolls named Sethany Ann and Nicey Melinda live. Every Christmas they invite their friends to join them for an elegant dinner party and a marionette show. The dolls have fun getting ready for their party: they send out invitations to their guests by Sparrow Post, decorate their very own Christmas tree with silver nutmegs and golden pears, and prepare doll-size cookies and other treats for the party. Then at “candlelight-time” on Christmas Day the guests begin to arrive, and the evening isn’t over until the last carol has been sung around the tree. Tasha Tudor’s delightful tale captures all the charm and magic of an old-fashioned Christmas shared with your dearest friends. Beautifully illustrated in nostalgic watercolor paintings, this book will be treasured by generations to come.”
“A beautifully illustrated book for the Holidays about Kersti, a mischievous little girl who is always misbehaving, much to the dismay of her six older sisters and parents. As St. Nicholas Day approaches, Kersti worries that she won’t receive any gifts and sets out on an adventure.”
Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing
Love, love, love this new book by Amy Welborn. It is going to be perfect for our six year old! Be sure to enter the giveaway below to possibly win a copy!
“Alessandro is staying with his grandparents, who run a small shop that sells figures for the presepe (Nativity scene), while his parents look for work in another country. To help with the boy s loneliness, his grandfather encourages Alessandro to make his own figure of the baby Jesus. They will bring that figure to Rome in two weeks to have it blessed by the Holy Father on Bambinelli Sunday. Through the events that occur in the time leading up to receiving the blessing in St. Peter’s Square, Alessandro comes to see his world in a new way, and receives the best surprise of all in the end. This book for children ages 7-10 tells a wonderful story about sharing, comfort, generosity, and forgiveness through the lens of a long-standing Italian tradition. The beautiful illustrations and timeless story make this a treasure Advent and Christmas resource for generations to come.”
For Dad:
OOP – Imprimatur 1955 – I purchased a used copy on Ebay
For Mom:
Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Art of Waiting
After seeing a number of recommendations, this will be my reading this Advent.
“These Advent reflections by the abbess of a Poor Clare monastery, an accomplished spiritual writer, focus our attention on the coming of Jesus into our lives. There is a double movement to this coming; both our active preparation to be ready for him and our patient waiting for the Lord to arrive in his own good time. There is also an art to this simultaneous preparation and waiting, and no one knows better than the beloved Mother Mary Francis how to encourage us in our attempts to master this art. Meditating on passages from Scripture about the coming of the Messiah into the world and our hearts, Mother challenges us to persevere in overcoming our faults and keeping our eyes on the Lord who has called us to himself-for it is he, through the gifts of his grace, who will complete in us the work of sanctification which he has begun.”
I always love finding books that go along with some of our Christmas baking! Last year we had fun with The Christmas Cookie Sprinkle Snitcher, Cookie Cutters Tell the Story of Christmas, The Baker’s Dozen :: A Saint Nicholas Tale and Baking Cookies for the Feast!, The Twelve Days of Christmas and more! This year our plans will include baking “Maggie’s Favorite Cranberry Cookies” from the back cover of Cranberry Christmas!
Cranberry Christmas
(… Now back in print along with Cranberry Thanksgiving!)
“Old Cyrus Grape doesn’t like children. And he insists that the skating pond is ‘his.’ Mr. Whiskers knows this isn’t true, but since he can’t prove it, there’ll be no skating…not even on Christmas Day! That is…unless cleaning Mr. Whiskers’ house uncovers some important information. This 1976 classic is back for a new generation of Devlin fans to enjoy, with Maggie’s favorite cranberry cookie recipe on the back.”
My favorite recently published Christmas themed picture book is definitely Bambinelli Sunday! I would like to give a copy to one of my visitors here at Shower of Roses for Advent!
Enter the giveaway below:
*I’ll have this year’s Advent Book Baskets up soon along with a giveaway for a signed copy of Christmas Mosaic!
Celebrating the Saints :: St. Martin of Tours
“The most common, and universal, harvest and thanksgiving celebration in medieval times was held on the Feast of St. Martin of Tours (Martinmas) on November 11. It was a holiday in Germany, France, Holland, England, and in central Europe. People first went to Mass and observed the rest of the day with games, dances, parades, and a festive dinner, the main feature of the meal being the traditional roast goose (Martin’s goose). . .” – The Holyday Book: The Celebration of Holydays, Feastdays & Festivals
The past few years, with the feast of St. Martin right after our annual All Hallows’ Eve/All Saints Party and the busy days that follow, I am usually still recovering and end up keeping the feast of St. Martin extra simple. This year, however, since we had some friends join us to “Celebrate the Saints” I went all out for Martinmas! The children all had a wonderful time and learned so much about St. Martin and the various traditions attached to his feast day.
CRAFT: MARTIMAS LANTERNS
In many countries, including Germany, Martinmas celebrations begin at the eleventh minute of the eleventh hour of this eleventh day of the eleventh month. Bonfires are built, and children carry lanterns in the streets after dark, singing songs for which they are rewarded with candy. (In our case it was cookies and St. Martin bags!)
I posted all the details and instructions for our Martinmas Lanterns here.
Rose very much enjoyed explaining to her older sisters how it is done! 😉
TIP #1 – Be sure to cover the table with a disposable plastic tablecloth.
TIP #2 – DO NOT leave a room full of boys unattended with a bottle of Mod Podge!
TIP #3 – A blazing wood stove will help speed up the drying process.
STORYTIME
Here are the books I choose from our collection to share with the children this year…
Introduction and Art Appreciation:
Lives and Legends of the Saints
by Carole Armstrong
“A lavishly illustrated volume–featuring the famed works of Raphael, Bosch, and Giotto–recounts the dramatic histories of many Christian saints, including John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, and Joan of Arc.”
Art Appreciation: Saint Martin’s Renunciation of Arms by Simone Martini about 1284-1344 S. Francesco, Assisi
Read and Discuss:
from Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson
The Mantle of Charity: St. Martin of Tours – Patron of Tailors
printed from Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact (using the images I created little folded booklets)
My husband is so awesome! He took over reading and discussing the stories with the children while they colored, giving me a much needed break.
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS COLORING PAGE
Once again Charlotte’s free and downloadable coloring page of St. Martin of Tours was a hit!
I did hear one of the boys say that he looked “a little girlie…”
… which they then all quickly remedied with some facial hair!
“Hey Mom, look! I gave him a mustache like Dad had when he was younger!” (Yes, that was before we met!)
I think the hairy hands was taking it a little too far! 😉
“Bud” really enjoyed his godmother’s coloring page too!
The children (ages 1-13!) all enjoyed coloring and did an excellent job!
ST. MARTIN COOKIES
After creating these St. Martin Cookies, I am officially in love with Catholic themed cookie molds. I just wish they weren’t so expensive! We all have our favorite hobbies though, and creating “Catholic Cuisine” is one of mine. Thankfully my husband has always been supportive when it comes to purchasing things that help enhance our faith and help teach our children about the saints, so hopefully he will buy me another mold (or two!) for Christmas! I’ve added quite a few of them to my “wish list!”
ST. MARTIN BAGS
“Il-Borża ta’ San Martin, or St. Martin’s Bags, are a festive tradition in Malta on the feast of St. Martin of Tours. Children are given these bags full of treats associated with the feast. The cloth bags have drawstrings at the top and are filled with fruits of the harvest.”
Catholic Cuisine: St. Martin’s Bags
I quickly created our St. Martin Bag’s with Fruit & Nuts from Costco.
A poem about the bag of treats to recite:
Ġewż, Lewż, Qastan, Tin
Kemm inħobbu lil San Martin.
Walnuts, Almonds, Chestnuts, Figs
I very much love Saint Martin.
You can download the tags I created for our St. Martin Bag’s here.
MARTINMAS BONFIRE
We had a little “Bonfire” in our fire pit and roasted hotdogs (instead of goose) for dinner.
A few of these pictures are pretty blurry, but they were such precious moments! Just look at that little baby of mine… He is growing up way too fast!
PRAYER
The evening ended with a Martinmas Lantern Walk. My husband read the prayers from the Mass of St. Martin along with the readings and Gospel, as we walked around our property with the lanterns. We also prayed for our Veterans, military, and all those who have died or are suffering due to the recent typhoon in the Philippines…
“At that time, Jesus said to His disciples, No man lighteth a candle, and putteth it in a hidden place, nor under a bushel: but upon a candlestick, that they that come in may see the light…”
(Gospel for Nov. 11 – St. Martin, The New Roman Missal, Father Lasance)
We will be taking a break from “Celebrating the Saints” (with friends anyways… we celebrate the saints with the Church and as a family year round, but this momma needs a little break before she completely burns out!) during December and January and will get together again in February with friends for the feast of St. Modomnoc featuring The Saint and his Bees. Speaking of which, the author of The Saint and His Bees has a new book out and it’s illustrated by Lydia, one of our family’s favorite home educated artists! I’ve already placed my order for a copy of Saint Felix and the Spider!
O God, Who seest that we exist by no power of our own, mercifully grant that, by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy confessor and bishop, we be strengthened against all adversities. Through our Lord.
St. Martin of Tours, Pray for us!
Martinmas Lanterns
“But undoubtedly the main festivity on St Martin’s Day especially in France and Germany is that of making paper lanterns and carrying them in procession. Children form groups – either informally or as part of an official organization with a band – and walk through the streets with paper lanterns that they have either made or bought. Shops produce a large variety of lanterns depicting everything from spacemen to Mickey Mouse for the processions. Undoubtedly, it is as much a celebration of the arrival of winter, with its long dark evenings, as of St Martin. There are lantern songs and nonsense rhymes to accompany the processions.” – Joanna Bogle, A Book of Feasts and Seasons
We are getting ready to have friends over once again and will be celebrating the feast of St. Martin of Tours, also known as Martinmas! Our plans include reading and learning about St. Martin, coloring pictures, decorating lanterns for an evening walk, roasting hotdogs over a bonfire, and enjoying St. Martin cookies and Il-Borża ta’ San Martin (St. Martin bags).
I plan to share with the children that one of the symbols of St. Martin is a “globe of fire” (which isn’t too different from a glowing lantern) and (also inspired by a comment I read written by Jennifer Gregory Miller) that “Because St. Martin was fighting some of the pagan beliefs and gods of Gaul and Rome, one could say that the light of Christ and Christianity that St. Martin was teaching and spreading fills the night, overcoming the darkness of ignorance. Or that the little lanterns each represent our souls, lit up with the grace of Christ, overcoming evil darkness. Not too much of a stretch, because light and dark are constant symbols.”
After Sunday morning Mass, Rose and I spent some time decorating her lantern to use as a sample for all the other children. We had so much fun together and her lantern turned out lovely! (You can also find the lanterns the older children decorated when they were younger in the archives.)
Martinmas Lanterns
Materials needed:
- Tissue paper in various colors
- Mod Podge
- Sponge brushes or Paint Brush (dedicated for glue)
- Jars (I purchased canning jars at the craft store, but any clear glass jar would work fine)
- Light Floral Wire (similar to this)
- Decorative Garland (optional)
Directions:
Cut tissue into strips, squares, circles or whatever shapes you prefer.
Cover the jar with a thin layer of Mod Podge.
Apply the tissue to the jar, covering each piece with additional Mod Podge.
Continue applying tissue and more Mod Podge until the whole jar has been covered.
Let it dry (this can take up to 24 hours so allow plenty of time – we placed ours next to the wood stove to speed up the process).
Wrap the rim of the jar with some wire, forming a handle, and tighten. Add star garland if desired.
Tip: Drip some wax from a burning candle to the bottom center of the jar, before placing your tea-light or votive candle inside, to hold the candle in place.
Note: You can also create lanterns with balloons! Just blow them up first and set them in a bowl to stabilize while decorating. After the glue has dried, pop the balloon and cut out an opening in which to place the candle. Punch a hole on each side and gently thread the wire through to make a handle.
Happy Martinmas!
Update: You can see all the pictures from our Martinmas celebration here.
A Lego Perplexus
A couple days ago our oldest son informed me that there is just one thing that he would like for Christmas this year… a Perplexus.
I was quite perplexed myself, having absolutely no idea what he was talking about. I didn’t pay much attention at the time, but eventually asked the boys a few questions and looked it up online. I discovered that the Perplexus is the new “Bendy, Trendy, Can’t-put-it-down Challenge” GAME.OF.THE.YEAR. which they were recently introduced to at a friend’s birthday party…
Hmmmm… That does look like fun! I think I just might have to add one (of the four options – any suggestions on which would be the best to get – the Rookie, Original, Epic or Twist?) to my Christmas shopping list. In the meantime the boys decided to create their own version with LEGO!
I know I am biased, but are they creative, or what?!
Here are a few videos of the boys attempting to “Flip, Twist, and Spin” the marble through their maze:
Maybe I should just skip the Perplexus and give them some more LEGO instead! 😉
{pretty, happy, funny, real} :: From Instagram
Feasts & Seasons :: Our November Book Basket
November 1, All Saints Day (New, Trad.):
Can You Find Saints? : Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women
All Saints from Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints
An Alphabet of Saints
An Alphabet of Catholic Saints
S is for Saints
Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson
More Saints: Lives and Illuminations by Ruth Sanderson
Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints
Once Upon a Time Saints
Once Upon a Time Saints Audiobook
More Once Upon a Time Saints
57 Storeis of Saints
Picture Book of Saints
Saints for Young People for Every Day of the Year (2 Volume Set)
Saints for Boys: A First Book for Little Catholic Boys (see detailed pictures here)
Saints for Girls: A First Book for Little Catholic Girls (see detailed pictures here)
Note: These last two books are going in next year’s Easter baskets. In the meantime I have been enjoying reading them! 🙂
 |
| Can you find Saints?: Introducing Your Child to Holy Men and Women |
November 2, All Souls Day (New, Trad.):
The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)
Father Philip Tells a Ghost Story
November 3, St. Martin de Porres (New, Trad.):
The Pied Piper of Peru
Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert
Saint Martin de Porres by Father Lovasik
M – An Alphabet of Catholic Saints
Martin de Porres from Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints
Saint Martin de Porres by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Saint Martin de Porres and the Mice
Glory Stories CD No 7: St. Martin – The Saint of the Broom (Available from Holy Heroes)
November 3, St. Hubert (New, Trad.):
Hubert from Once Upon a Time Saints
November 11, St. Martin of Tours (New, Trad.):
Short Read Alouds for St. Martin of Tours (download from Family in Feast and Feria)
St. Martin of Tours (print from Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact)
The Mantle of Charity: St. Martin of Tours – Patron of Tailors (print from Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact)
St. Martin of Tours (print from Treasure Chest of Fun & Fact)
St. Martin and the Goose from Brother Wolf, Sister Sparrow: Stories about Saints and Animals
St. Martin of Tours from 57 Stories of Saints
Saint Martin of Tours from Lives and Legends of the Saints
Saint Martin of Tours from Saints: Lives and Illuminations
Snow on Martinmas
November 13, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (New):
The Orphans Find a Home: A St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Story
Frances Xavier Cabrini from Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints
Mother Cabrini: Missionary to the World (Vision Books)
St. Frances Cabrini Coloring Book
November 16, St. Margaret (New):
Margaret
St. Margaret – Queen of Scotland from The Book of Saints & Heroes
November 16, St. Gertrude the Great (New, Trad.):
The Promises of the Sacred Heart by Father Lovasik
The Story of the Sacred Heart by Daniel Lord (I posted pictures from this book here.)
November 17, St. Elizabeth of Hungary (New, Trad. on Nov. 19th):
St. Elizabeth’s Three Crowns (Vision Books)
St. Elizabeth of Hungary – The Pious Princess from The Book of Saints & Heroes
The Story of St. Elizabeth of Hungary by William Canton
Roses in the Snow: A Tale of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
November 20, St. Edmund, King and Martyr:
Saint Edmund from Saints: Lives and Illuminations
November 21, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (New, Trad.):
Mary, My Mother by Father Lovasik
November 22, St. Cecilia (New, Trad.):
Glory Stories CD Vol 5: Cecilia, Saint of the Catacombs – The Story of Saint Cecilia (Available from Holy Heroes)
Saint Cecilia from Lives and Legends of the Saints
Saint Cecilia from Saints: Lives and Illuminations
A Story of Saint Cecilia by Brother Ernest, C.S.C.
November 23, Bl. Miguel Pro (New):
Glory Stories CD Vol 12: Blessed Miguel Pro (Available from Holy Heroes)
God’s Secret Agent by Daughters of St. Paul
Jose Finds the King – A Blessed Miguel Pro Story
Blessed Miguel Pro (comicolor saints)
November 23, St. Clement I (New, Trad.):
Clement from Once Upon a Time Saints
November 25, St. Catherine of Alexandria (New, Trad.):
A Story of Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine (I posted more about this book here and here.)
Saint Catherine of Alexandria from Lives and Legends of the Saints
Saint Catherine from Saints: Lives and Illuminations
November 27, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal;
November 28, St. Catherine Laboure (Trad./some places):
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Coloring Book by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal from Mother of God Coloring Book
The Miraculous Medal: The story of Our Lady’s appearances to St Catherine Laboure by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
November 30, St. Andrew (New, Trad.):
The Twelve Apostles by Marianna Mayer
The Apostles of Jesus by Father Lovasik
Andrew the Apostle by S.E. Danielski
Saint Andrew from Lives and Legends of the Saints
Ordinary Time:
Brother Joseph, The Painter of Icons (study guide in Catholic Mosaic)
The Ink Garden of Brother Theopane (I posted more about this book here.)
Other Links for November:
Links for November :: Month Dedicated to the Holy Souls
*It is going to take me a long time to sort through all the books on our shelves and list them by feast days! I will continue updating this post as I find and/or purchase new books for our collection… And I hope to continue working on the rest of the year as well.
You can find links to all my book lists here.
√ Christmas Pajamas and Nightgowns
I can’t believe that Christmas is next month… Advent will be starting in just a few weeks and I have some Jesse Tree swap ornaments to finish, books to wrap, and a few other things to prepare.
At least I can check pajamas and nightgowns off the list!
Our 8th Annual Mass at the Cemetery…
Celebrating the Saints :: Our 2013 Costumes!
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| Celebrating the Saints – Our 2013 Costumes: Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Juan Diego, St. Gregory the Great, St. John of the Cross, St. John Vianney, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Catherine of Sienna – All Saints in Heaven, Pray for us! |
The excitement has been building all week in our home as we prepare to celebrate the feast of All Saints and welcome over sixty guests to our home this evening for our annual All Hallows’ Eve Party! (You can find pictures from last year’s celebration here.)
I am taking a little break from the final preparations to pop in real quick to say THANK YOU for the outpouring of support and encouragement!!! I wish I could respond personally to each of you and want you all to know how very much every comment/email, along with all the extra prayers, is appreciated. God bless you all!
Also, I wanted to share this year’s saint costumes! I took these pictures on our way to our parish’s All Saints Costume Contest last Friday night and my children will be wearing them all again this evening. We actually ended up coming home with two prizes! Chiquita won 3rd place in the 0-10 age category and Rascal won 2nd place in the 11-Adult age category! I am so thankful that I wasn’t one of the judges… There is no way that I would have been able to choose favorites. I loved them all!
Twinkle Toes (age 10) as St. Catherine of Sienna
Costume: white St. Lucia gown, detached white collar and wimple/veil from our past St. Therese and St. Clare costumes, a black rosary and cross – both gifts from her Uncle Father D.G., white lilies (from her St. Gabriel costume back in 2005!), our lenten crown of thorns, and (red marker) the stigmata on her hands.
.: Our Lady of Guadalupe :.
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