Introduce your children to a plethora of religious orders with Jake Thibault’s unique new books: Discover the Brothers and It’s Fun to be a Nun.
Do you know how many religious orders there are? Actually, I don’t either! But I learned about many I have never heard of in these colorful and engaging new books. On each page, there’s a detailed drawing of a Religious Brother (or Sister in the companion book) carrying out the particular charism of his order. Some brothers are serving the poor, others teaching, others praying, singing, even cooking! Each page also has the charism or motto of the order written out for you.
In the tradition of religious brothers having a special devotion to Our Lady, each page also contains a Marian image. Play I-Spy with a younger kid, or have an older kid try to remember all the different titles of Our Lady as you page through Discover the Brothers.
Also check out the sister book (haha, get it, Sister book?) about nuns: It’s Fun to be a Nun. You’ll learn about many orders of Sisters and their missions and charisms.
Carthusian? Dominican? Trappist? Franciscan?
As someone who never learned to identify religious orders by their habits, I’m hoping these books will help my kids and I become more knowledgeable about the differences between orders. I’m envisioning this turning into a Catholic card game: name the religious habit and charism!
(Note that both books focus primarily on traditional orders with religious habits but there is one to two orders featured, out of 30 plus in each book, that do not have a habit.)
I really like the idea of giving my kids more exposure to religious orders. These books seem like a great place to start! They reminded me of what a wealth of different orders are out there- one to fit any person drawn to a religious vocation.
You can buy both books through my affiliate links: Discover the Brothers and It’s Fun to be a Nun.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of “Discover the Brothers’ and “It’s Fun to be a Nun” from the author in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
Find more of my favorite Catholic picture books on my list Good Catholic Books for Catholic Preschoolers and Kindergartners .
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follows 16 Carmelite nuns as they face the guillotine during the French revolution. An inspiring story based on true events. 
by Lloyd Douglas is the fascinating story of a Roman centurion whose life is changed forever when he acquires Christ’s robe. 
has a gentle, rhythmic text which details the animals preparing their barn for Christ’s coming.
is a simple retelling of the Christmas story which I particularly like because of its emphasis on Jesus’ birthday as the reason for Christmas and a short explanation of why we give gifts at Christmas: “to show our love.”
is a very simple rhyming version of the Christmas story.
is a whimsical story about a baker who learns that sometimes a dozen is really 13, thanks to St. Nicholas’ intervention. This book is perfect for reading on St. Nicholas’ Day prior to decorating gingerbread St. Nicholas cookies!
is my favorite version of the true story of St. Nicholas. This book’s iconography is a fitting visual companion to the story’s focus on Nicholas’ desire to be an icon of Christ, imitating his Lord in word and deed.
is a unique Christmas story about a tiny spider who helps save the Christ Child from Herod’s soldiers. The theme of the littlest helping and a fun connection to tinsel make this one worth buying.
is another fun explanation of a favorite Christmas tradition: candy canes. Very young children can understand this simple story with its explanation of the Christian symbolism of candy canes.
is another story to explain a Christmas symbol. This legend offers one explanation of the pointsettia: how little Lucida’s selfless, humble gift of weeds to the Christ Child is miraculously transformed to bright red star flowers.
is a sweet lullaby sung by the Blessed Virgin to Jesus, describing how all of nature is rejoicing at His coming.
is a favorite of mine. This adorable, wee little mouse named Mortimer hears the Christmas story read and decides to give up his bed for the baby Jesus in the family nativity scene.
combines the Nativity story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke with beautiful, illuminated manuscript style illustrations.
uses the story of a little boy who makes his own infant Jesus statue to introduce your child to an Italian tradition in which the Pope offers a special blessing on the third Sunday of advent to all the infant Jesus figures in St. Peter’s Square.
is the story of how only the humblest, small star can see past the newborn king’s humble surroundings and recognize his kingship.
is a fanciful take on what might happen if a candle gave one Christ’s eyes, and made one see each stranger as a loved family member.
takes a fresh look at this favorite Christmas carol, offering Scripture verses and interpretive pictures to accompany the verses.
is a story of how a small boy and his mother’s kindness helps a “scrooge” to recover and bring about a Christmas miracle.
is a Max Lucado story about a young carpenter’s apprentice who learns to see Christ in those he meets.
is a wonderful imaginative story about three animals, a horse, an elephant, and a camel who must work together using their unique skills to bring the Wise Men to the infant Jesus.
is a wonderful look at how a spoiled princess is guided by her wise parents to learn lessons about selflessness, sympathy, and the joy of giving.
is a touching story about God’s special plan for even the littlest and weakest creatures.
is the Christmas story retold from an angel’s perspective with beautiful, light-filled illustrations.
chronicles the dreams the donkey who carried a pregnant Mary dreamed, while exploring some of Mary’s titles. Beautiful illustrations again!
is a powerful story which stars Saint Boniface smiting down the oak tree the pagans worship, and explains the miraculous origins of the linking of evergreen trees with Christ’s birth.
is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the legend of Saint Lucia and how her feast is celebrated in Sweden.
is a simple Christmas story young children will love about the kind animals making room for smaller and smaller animals, and eventually the Christ Child.
is a feel-good inspiration story of a young boy who chooses to use his hard-earned savings to bring joy to poor children at Christmas.
is a beautifully illustrated story about young Jack learning from his gentle mother the true meaning of Christmas as they bake Christmas cookies to give to the poor.
is the story of Hoshmakaka the camel (kids love this story just for that name) who must learn humility to see the Christ Child.
is Tomie de Paola’s beloved story of a village coming together to make Christmas special for an old woman.
is a very simple story for preschoolers as the animals determine by process of elimination that it is the Christ Child who was born on Christmas day.
is an inspiring true story about a World War II Pilot who dropped candy to the German children as a sign of hope and good will.
offers a possible explanation of how the tradition of Nativity scenes came to be: through the collaboration of Saint Francis of Assisi and a simple shepherd boy.
is the story of a miraculous Christmas in war-torn Russia brought about by the faith of a small boy, the intercession of St. Nicholas, and a community coming together.
can be enjoyed by even very young children, who will love its message that even the littlest can have an important task.
is a charming story about a family who lives above a barn and practices the true spirit of Christmas.
is a series of meditations on fourteen events leading up to the birth of Christ. Complete with reflections and prayers, this can be prayed similar to the Stations of the Cross.
is a beautiful, humorous story of two Lebanese immigrant children who hope to see the miracle of the trees kneeling that their Grandmother told them happened in Lebanon.
is an advent book with twenty four chapters, one to read each evening in December, as you accompany the characters through Palestine on a journey to Bethlehem, meeting many Bible characters along the way. Perfect for a family read-aloud!
is for an older reader. This beloved story by Henry Van Dyke is about a fourth wise man who never does get to see baby Jesus, but instead beautifully illustrates the Bible message of seeing and serving Christ in those one meets on one’s journey.
is a specifically Catholic resource focused on various ways of celebrating Advent: stories, songs, poems, and activities.
is, as the name implies, a story a day until Christmas collection. The stories range from the various gospel accounts of the Nativity to Christmas stories and traditions from around the world.
are old stories from the beginning of the twentieth century which illustrate the true spirit of Christmas.
is by Hilda Van Stockum, one of my very favorite children’s authors, and therefore simply a joy to read. Four-year-old Kersti knows she falls into the naughty category, but her appeal to the good bishop on behalf of all the little ones who struggle to be good is a wonderful illustration of mercy versus strict judgment.
is a famous O. Henry short story about sacrifice, true love, and the true meaning of Christmas.
is a beautiful new book that introduces little children to Mary’s love and her many appearances to her earthly children. Full review 
has the traditional antiphon, then a short kid-friendly meditation on the station with a picture to look at. 
is a good choice. There are a few interactive pages to help the child follow along. This second edition has a sturdy board book style construction to hold up to little hands using it every week!
! There’s a one page story about the saint of the day and a coloring page. Great for engaging young ones! 
is a parable retelling that has quickly become a family favorite. Full review 
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by Regina Doman is the perfect book to nourish a love for unborn babies in your child. This is a sweet story about an unborn baby’s experience in the womb and chats with its guardian angel.