First up, a playlist: Click on the image below for a YouTube playlist of some great and fun and sacred Marian music. The videos...meh, but the music is lovely. I turn this on in my classroom just for the sound, not on the SmartBoard for the students. What would you add? What great Marian songs are we missing?
And our favorite books: I pull these books from other places and feature them in a special basket in our faith corner during the month of May. This list doesn't include all the Bible story books we have that also of course feature Mary, but those are going to have to be saved for another post.
Update: Here's a few more books in a simple list. These contain Amazon affiliate links, meaning that I earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my link:
Just Like Mary- Gortler, Rosemarie
Our Blessed Mother: The Story of Mary for Children- Orfeo, Christina Virginia
The Lady of Guadalupe- de Paola, Tomie
Our Blessed Mother: The Story of Mary for Children- Orfeo, Christina Virginia
The Lady of Guadalupe- de Paola, Tomie
Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Tomie de Paola
Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Story Book- Windeatt, Mary Fabyan (and series)
Mary's Story- Boss, Sarah Jane
Mary's Story- Boss, Sarah Jane
On a Mission to Love- Staresinic, Debbie
Our Lady of Fatima: The Graphic Novel- Estrada, SamAnd here's an updated list from 2023:
These Catholic Story Coloring Books feature various Marian apparitions and are published through TAN books. I wrote about how I use them in the classroom here, but unfortunately some of them can be hard to find.
Next up, collection of short, simple, and sweet books about Mary from St. Joseph Picture Books. Quick and easy, I am still ok with my 5th graders reading them to keep them familiar with all of the stories surrounding Mary and her role in Biblical times as well as now.
And, there is definitely Fulton Sheen's Jesus, Son of Mary. I love using this one as a read aloud. In Sheen's typical style, the easy to read passages are packed with depth, allowing me to use this picture book to lead 5th grade level discussions on Mary's role as Jesus's Mother, the first Christian, and a model for all of us.
My 1947 copy has lovely illustrations, but so does the reprint version. :)
This one was recently acquired. Mary's Story by Sarah Jane Boss chronicles the story of Mary's life starting with St. Anne and Joachim's desire for a child all the way to her Assumption. It relies on both Scripture and Tradition , but also weaves some "legend" or the author's generalizations to fill in the blanks. The text isn't my favorite, but also isn't worrisome. However, I really like the illustrations. They are lovely, reverent, detailed, and fresh all at the same time.
They remind me a bit of Jan Brett's style for tucking more of the story into the margins and edges of pages, in corners and backgrounds. It reminds me that there is so much of Mary's life that is was hidden, left to our imaginings.
This book, Just Like Mary by Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli, is different in that each page (or few pages) tells about an event in Mary's life and then shows how she can be a guide to us in similar situations.
For example, here it recounts Mary & Joseph's flight to Egypt after the birth of Jesus, and how that can show us that we need to listen to God. I like that it practically shows kiddos how Mary can be a model for our daily lives.
And my favorite Marian picture book by far is Take it to the Queen by Josephine Nobisso. Gorgeously illustrated, it tells the story of all of Salvation History and the role of Mary as Queen Mother through an allegory that is full of symbolism and creative meaning.
"Hidden" images in the illustration point to more Christian truths, and
the author even has a list of specific things to look and listen for on
the inside covers of the book. Its lasting message reminds us that Mary is always ready to take our offerings, work, gifts, and our very selves straight to the heart of her Son.
Lots of good reading! I'd love to hear about your favorite kids' books honoring Mary- what else would you recommend?
Next up, collection of short, simple, and sweet books about Mary from St. Joseph Picture Books. Quick and easy, I am still ok with my 5th graders reading them to keep them familiar with all of the stories surrounding Mary and her role in Biblical times as well as now.
And, there is definitely Fulton Sheen's Jesus, Son of Mary. I love using this one as a read aloud. In Sheen's typical style, the easy to read passages are packed with depth, allowing me to use this picture book to lead 5th grade level discussions on Mary's role as Jesus's Mother, the first Christian, and a model for all of us.
This one was recently acquired. Mary's Story by Sarah Jane Boss chronicles the story of Mary's life starting with St. Anne and Joachim's desire for a child all the way to her Assumption. It relies on both Scripture and Tradition , but also weaves some "legend" or the author's generalizations to fill in the blanks. The text isn't my favorite, but also isn't worrisome. However, I really like the illustrations. They are lovely, reverent, detailed, and fresh all at the same time.
This book, Just Like Mary by Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli, is different in that each page (or few pages) tells about an event in Mary's life and then shows how she can be a guide to us in similar situations.
For example, here it recounts Mary & Joseph's flight to Egypt after the birth of Jesus, and how that can show us that we need to listen to God. I like that it practically shows kiddos how Mary can be a model for our daily lives.
And my favorite Marian picture book by far is Take it to the Queen by Josephine Nobisso. Gorgeously illustrated, it tells the story of all of Salvation History and the role of Mary as Queen Mother through an allegory that is full of symbolism and creative meaning.
Lots of good reading! I'd love to hear about your favorite kids' books honoring Mary- what else would you recommend?
what a great list, thank you so much!
ReplyDeletewhat a great list, thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteOur Lady's Wardrobe, Anthony DeStefano is a beautiful one..
ReplyDeleteIt is so beautiful! I added it to the "updated" list at the top, but this post is from 2015- I need to do a new post with pictures of all of the great new Mary books that have come out since then!
Delete