A Child's Book of Saints

Reviews / Votes

From Association of Christian Teachers - July 2009 I particularly liked the presentation, format and illustrations in this book, and feel sure children within the five to eleven age range would enjoy the beautiful illustrations, the simple text and count this a book to treasure. Each page tells the story of a saint. Its 26 saints are well chosen; as the introduction states, it 'includes men and women from different times and places who have shared one common goal: to live for God as far as they were able and to put God and other people before themselves.' There are saints from every century up to the present day. The text is uncomplicated, providing the saint's story and relevant dates and place. The introduction suggests 'different traditions' hold different definitions of the term 'saint'. It doesn't explicitly present the reader with questions, but the small amount of information in the introduction and on each saint could stimulate deeper thought and discussion. One aspect that disappointed me was a lack of Bible references where appropriate, to help the reader engage with sources. However, the excellent illustrations tell a story in themselves; they are colourful and full of clear meaning and detail. They are complemented by attractive page borders conveying powerful symbolism to illuminate the text. This is a book to savour as special, as saints are. For school use, it is not a resource that could stand alone, but provide food for contemplation and further investigation into the meaning of sainthood. Reviewed by Cathy Davie From The Church Times - June 2009 A godparent might also consider this beautiful hardback as gift for the same event. A Child's Book of Saints contains exquisitely framed descriptions of the lives of 26 Saints, each coupled with a picture, looking at their life stories and the message that they give us. These sweep across history from St Peter in the first century to Maximilian Kolbe, who died in Auschwitz, and, most recently Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Reviewed by Imogen Phillips From The Good Bookstall - June 2010 A delightful book which would make a perfect gift. It is beautifully illustrated on each page and each page is an inspiration. The author has carefully chosen saints which represent biblical times, the early church, and then move on to cross cultural characters and modern representatives. What a fine touch to remind us that saints are not just holy people from the past but can be ordinary people with an extraordinary story and life. The text is well written for a child who can read well though the cameo biographies are short. Reviewed by Hilary Morgan