Whimsical children's books that convey profound lessons about the Sacraments, about our Faith, about the sanctity of life: in a nutshell that is Precious Life Books. They are very helpful in the early grades of Catholic homeschooling.
In the Seven Sacraments Series, some of God's little creatures - a caterpillar, a butterfly, two turtledoves, a grumpy cricket, an angry mouse, a little fish - lead us to an understanding of the sacraments as channels of God's grace. The Little Caterpillar That Finds Jesus: A Parable of the Eucharist and The Butterfly that Found Her Way Home: A Story of Forgiveness are two very useful helps in explaining Penance and Holy Communion to little ones even before their formal instructions for the First Sacraments.
In the Stories of the Faith Series children are introduced to their Guardian Angel (My Guardian Dear), to Our Lady and the Rosary (Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue), to the sufferings of Jesus and the Stations of the Cross (Children's Stations of the Cross), to Purgatory and the Divine Mercy Devotion (Father Philip Tells a Ghost Story).
The Preborn Christ - A Story of God in the Womb teaches both about the Incarnation and the sacredness of life in the womb. The Most Beautiful Thing in the World is a retelling of one of the original Angel Food Stories about sorrow and forgiveness.
All of the Precious Life Books have both English and Spanish text (translation by Carmen A. Klosterman) which makes them useful tools for teaching a second language as well as religion.
A word about the authors: the three Andrews Sisters - Joan Andrews Bell, a true pro-life hero, Miriam Andrews Lademan, and Susan Andrews Brindle - collaborated in writing and illustrating all these books. In addition, three of Susan's daughters have contributed illustrations. Each of these three sisters, their husbands and children (home-schooled, of course) are "doers of the Word, not hearers only" in evangelization through pro-life and media apostolates. May God bless them all and give us more families like theirs. Amen
