When I was expecting my husband’s and my first child, the church where I worked delighted me with the sweetest baby shower. The whole parish was invited, and folks were asked to bring a favorite children’s book to help build our growing family’s library. It was such a lovely idea, and a gift that has truly kept on giving. I took good notes regarding who gave which books, and I love remembering those good, kind families and individuals each time I re-read When The Relatives Came and Each Peach Pear Plum. And of course we love have a plethora of books in our home!

Many of the titles we received were the top picks of the children in the families who gifted them to us (I’m looking at you, Snuggle Puppy and Strega Nona!), or were chosen for their beautiful art work or clever topics. But since it was a shower hosted in the parish center of a Catholic church, you would be right to assume that a lot of Catholic and faith related books were included as well. This made me very happy, and I’ve continued to grow my Catholic book collection in the years since. 

Catholic books are an excellent way to teach your children aspects of the faith and to share its wisdom and inspiration in a fun, simple, and memorable way. With kid friendly language and colorful images, children’s books are able to distill large theological concepts into digestible ideas, and they also integrate into the home Bible stories and  the lives of saints. 

Whether you are looking to grow your own child’s library, or that of a godchild, niece, nephew, neighbor or friend, here are some thoughts on how to a build a Catholic book collection for children. 

Give Books Related to Sacraments 

While you could gift a book like Jesus and the Miracle of the Mass anytime, it seems especially fitting as a First Holy Communion gift. This beautifully illustrated and rhyming book introduces children to the miracle that occurs in the celebration of the Eucharist, when ordinary bread and wine are transformed on the altar into the real presence of Jesus. A gift like would not only be a nice addition to any child’s Catholic book collection, it will also help a young first communicant understand more clearly the meaning of the sacrament they are receiving. 

Choose Books that will Wow your Particular Child

The first time I laid eyes on Princesses of Heaven, I immediately knew that it would delight my ultra-girly-girl daughters. Get this: the book is written and illustrated by a Disney illustrator… and the familiar style of the “princesses” — St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Joan of Arc, St. Josephine Bakhita, St. Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Narcisa de Jesus, and St. Lucy Yi Zhenmei — will not be lost of the young girls in your life. 

Remember to Include “Grown Up” Books As Well

When I was a kid, my godparents had the habit of gifting me birthday and Christmas presents that they always said I wouldn’t necessarily love at the time, but would appreciate in the future. For instance, they gifted me an antique trunk one year, a painting another year, beautifully bound volumes of poetry another year, and a hand carved wooden nativity piece every year until the entire scene was complete in my twenties. They were wrong about one thing — I did love those more adult gifts, even as a child — but right about the other: I appreciate these treasures so much, now, as I have carried these items across decades. 

That said, I highly recommend not just building your child’s Catholic book collection with books that they will like as children, but also with books they will cherish for life, such as The Way of Divine Love or The Interior Castle. 

Consider “Pairing” Adult and Kids’ Books

If you are open to gifting adult as well as children’s books, like I’ve suggested above, you might consider pairing two and giving both for a particular Christmas, birthday, or other important milestone. For instance, you could wrap up both the picture book When Mary Says Yes and Gate of Heaven: Reflections on Mary, The Mother of God. Both selections help their readers connect with Our Lady, but at different developmental levels.

Rotate the Types of Books you Give

If you want your child’s Catholic library to include a variety of books, find a simple way to track or routinize the gifts you give. For instance, maybe you tie book themes to the lectionary cycles (i.e. Year A you give a prayer book, Year B you give a book about a Saints or one particular Saint, and Year C you give a Biblically themed book). Or, for birthdays you can give more kid-friendly books and for Christmas you give lifelong classics. 

Whether your are building your child’s Catholic library, or that of an important young boy or girl in your life, there are so many beautiful Catholic books to choose from. And here’s a bonus — you’ll probably enjoy looking through these books as well!