Picture books that help children fall in love with the saints

True stories of saints with big hearts, told gently for ages 4 to 9. Each book ends with a simple prayer and a “Be a Little Saint” challenge to carry into the week.

The books

One saint and one virtue in each book. Read them in any order.

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Cover of Francis and the Whole Wide World: Saint Francis in a brown robe in a sunny meadow, with birds, rabbits and a butterfly around him.

Francis and the Whole Wide World

Loving all of God's creation

Long ago, in the sunny hills of Italy, a boy who had everything discovered the one thing that finally made him happy.

Meet Saint Francis of Assisi — the boy who gave away his riches, embraced the outcast everyone else feared, and preached to the birds. His story gently shows little hearts that the greatest treasure of all is a life full of love: for God, for people, and for every creature under Brother Sun.

Saint Francis of Assisi’s feast day is October 4.

Cover of Thérèse and the Little Way: Saint Thérèse in a Carmelite habit holding an armful of pink roses in a green meadow.

Thérèse and the Little Way

Doing small things with great love

In a house full of love in France, a little girl who felt everything deeply dreamed of doing something great for God.

Meet Saint Thérèse — the girl who was “far too young,” who bravely asked the Pope himself, and who discovered a secret that changed everything: you don't have to be big or famous to be a saint. You only have to do small things with great love.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux’s feast day is October 1.

Cover of Joan and the Brave Heart: Saint Joan of Arc in shining armor holding a white banner in the French countryside.

Joan and the Brave Heart

Courage

In a little French village, an ordinary farm girl heard God call her to do something impossible — and she was brave enough to say yes.

Meet Saint Joan of Arc — the girl who put on armor, carried her banner into battle, and saw her king crowned, all before she was twenty. Her story shows little hearts that God can do great things through anyone with the courage to follow him.

Saint Joan of Arc’s feast day is May 30.

Best for ages 6 and up. The story tells, very gently and without detail, that Joan died for her faith.

Cover of Saint Nicholas and the Secret Gifts: Saint Nicholas in red bishop's robes holding a bag of gold beside a window with a stocking by the fire.

Saint Nicholas and the Secret Gifts

Generosity — giving in secret

Have you ever wondered where Santa Claus comes from? It all began with a real man, long ago, who loved to give in secret.

Meet Saint Nicholas — the kind bishop who tossed bags of gold through a window to rescue three sisters, and who spent his whole life giving secret gifts for the love of God. His joyful story shows little hearts that the very best presents are the ones we give without expecting anything in return.

Saint Nicholas’s feast day is December 6.

Cover of Clare, the Truest Friend: Saint Clare in a brown habit and white veil holding a glowing golden ciborium in a sunlit meadow.

Clare, the Truest Friend

Being a true and loyal friend

In the same green hills of Italy where Saint Francis lived, a wealthy young girl gave up everything to follow the very same beautiful dream.

Meet Saint Clare of Assisi — Francis's dearest friend, who left her grand home to live simply for God, gathered a joyful company of sisters, and stayed faithful to their dream her whole life long. Her story shows little hearts what it truly means to be a friend: someone who stays, who keeps a promise, and who helps the people they love be good and brave.

Saint Clare of Assisi’s feast day is August 11.

Inside every book

A story to read aloud

Ten illustrated spreads with short, gentle sentences, written to be read aloud to ages 4 to 7 and read alone from about age 7.

About the saint

A page for grown-ups and older children with the saint's real story, what they are patron of, and when we celebrate their feast day.

A simple prayer

A short prayer a child can say with you at bedtime, in words they can understand.

A “Be a Little Saint” challenge

One small, concrete way to live the saint's virtue this week, so the story carries on after the book is closed.

Full-color paperback, 8.5 × 8.5 inches, and a Kindle edition. Watercolor-style illustrations throughout.

A gift for every feast day

Give a saint's story on their feast day, or for a Baptism, First Communion, birthday or Christmas.

Coming next

Five more saints are on the way.

  • Kateri and the Whispering Woods — Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
  • John Bosco and the Greatest Show — Saint John Bosco
  • Juan Diego and the Miracle of Roses — Saint Juan Diego
  • Carlo and the Highway to Heaven — Saint Carlo Acutis
  • Pier Giorgio and the Highest Mountain — Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati

About the author

Joseph Glazier writes the Little Saints, Big Hearts series so children can meet the saints early, as real heroes with big hearts. Their stories show even the youngest how to love God and one another. He hopes that a saint loved at five will still be a friend at fifty.

For hundreds of years, stained-glass windows have shown children the saints in light and color. Joseph hopes these little books do something of the same, on paper. He lives surrounded by more books than shelves to hold them.

Holy Saints, our heroes, pray for us.