YOU ASKED FOR IT! This is probably my most requested not-yet-posted post ever. So here it is: Every single read aloud we use on saints' days all year long! (This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through those links, I receive a small commission, at no cost to you. Yay!)
Read Aloud Recommendations for Each Month
DECEMBER
Advent & Christmas Middle Length Family Read-Alouds (also great as audiobooks). I’ve included the publisher’s recommended age range, but we listen as a whole family, babies to adults.
The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas: An Austin Family Story by Madeleine L'Engle 2010 (originally 1964), recommended age range 4-8, illustrated short chapter book
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson 1972, recommended age range 8-12, short chapter book
Christmas in Noisy Village by Astrid Lindgren 1981, recommended age 7 and up, long picture book
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 1843, recommended age 10 and up, short chapter book
A Child's Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas 1952, recommended age 7 and up, long picture book
The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden 1958, recommended age range 5-8 long picture book
Advent & Christmas Picture Books
Angela and the Baby Jesus by Frank McCourt 2007
The Donkey's Dream by Barbara Helen Berger 1985
Christmas in the Manger board book by Nola Buck 1998
An Orange for Frankie by Patricia Polacco 2004
The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story by Gloria Houston 1996
The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola 1997
The Legend of Old Befana: An Italian Christmas Story by Tomie dePaola 2017
The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola 1978
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Laurel Long 2011
December 6—Saint Nicholas
The Miracle of Saint Nicholas (Note: about an Orthodox Parish called St. Nicholas, not about the saint, but a great story!) by Gloria Whelan 1997
The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale by Aaron Shepard 2018
Santa's Favorite Story: Santa Tells the Story of the First Christmas by Hisako Aoki 2007
The Legend of Saint Nicholas (An overview of the various and more fantastical St. Nicholas legends) by Demi 2003
Saint Nicholas and the Nine Gold Coins (A more detailed version of the money through the window story) by Jim Forest 2015
December 9—Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin / December 12—Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie dePaola 1980
Guadalupe: First Words - Primeras Palabras board book by Patty Rodriguez
Third Sunday of Advent—Gaudete Sunday / Bambinelli Sunday
Bambinelli Sunday: A Christmas Blessing by Amy Welborn 2013
December 24—Christmas Eve / Saints Adam and Eve
The End of the Fiery Sword: Adam & Eve and Jesus & Mary by Maura Roan McKeegan 2014
December 25—THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas)
The Christmas Story by The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2017
December 26—Saint Stephen, The First Martyr
Wenceslas (Note: St. Wenceslas’ feast day is actually September 28, but most people associate him with the Feast of St. Stephen) by Geraldine McCaughrean 2007
JANUARY
January 1—Mary, Mother of God
Mary: The Mother of Jesus by Tomie dePaola 1995
My First Pictures of Mary board book by Maïte Roche 2011
January 6 (or the Sunday after January 1)—Epiphany
We Three Kings by Gennady Spirin 2007
FEBRUARY
February 1—Saint Brigid of Ireland
Brigid and the Butter: A Legend about St Brigid by Pamela Love 2017
February 11—Our Lady of Lourdes
Saint Bernadette and the Miracles of Lourdes by Demi 2017
February 23—Saint Isabelle
Marguerite Makes a Book by Bruce Robertson 1999
MARCH
March 17—Saint Patrick
Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland by Tomie dePaola 1992
Patrick: Saint of Ireland by Diana Mayo 2002
March 25—The Annunciation
Mary Stories from the Bible by Charlotte Grossetête 2018
Holy Week
Margaret's First Holy Week (The Pope's Cat) short chapter book by Jon M. Sweeney 2019
The Queen and the Cross (About St. Helena, so also appropriate for her feast day August 18 or Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14) by Cornelia Bilinsky 2013
The Tale of Three Trees: A Traditional Folktale by Angela Elwell Hunt 1989
APRIL
Easter
The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith 2000
Into the Sea, Out of the Tomb: Jonah and Jesus by Maura Roan McKeegan 2016
The Story of the Easter Robin by Dandi Daley Mackall 2010
April 23—Saint George
Saint George and the Dragon (fairytale legend St. George) by Margaret Hodges 1984
Saint George and the Dragon (Catholic legend St. George) by Jim Forest 2011
MAY
May 22—Saint Rita
Brothers at Bat: the True Story of an Amazing All Brother Baseball Team (we read this for the feast of St. Rita since she's unofficially the patron saint of baseball) by Audrey Vernick 2012
May 30—Saint Joan of Arc
Joan of Arc by Demi 2011
May 31—Visitation
Take It to the Queen: A Tale of Hope by Josephine Nobisso 2008
Little Gold Star: A Spanish American Cinderella Tale by San Souci, Robert D 2000
JUNE
June 29—Saints Peter and Paul
Peter, Apostle of Jesus: The Life of a Saint by Boris Grebille 2014
JULY
July 22—Saint Mary Magdalene
The Miracle of the Red Egg by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson 2014
AUGUST
August 28—Saint Augustine
Brother Hugo and the Bear by Katy Beebe 2014
Gus Finds God by Michael P. Foley 2018
SEPTEMBER
September 5—Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Mother Teresa: The Smile of Calcutta (Life of a Saint) by Charlotte Grossetête 2016
September 11
Fourteen Cows for America (not a saint story, but a beautiful book for September 11th) by Carmen Agra Deedy 2009
September 29—Michaelmas
The Bearskinner: A Tale of the Brothers Grimm Hardcover by Laura Amy Schlitz 2007 (we read this for Michaelmas, because it’s about triumphing over the devil, it’s my all-time favorite picture book)
OCTOBER
October 1—Saint Thérèse
Therese: The Little Flower of Lisieux (Life of a Saint) by Sioux Berger 2011
The Little Flower: A Parable of Saint Therese of Lisieux by Becky B. Arganbright 2015
October 2—The Holy Guardian Angels
Angel in the Waters by Regina Doman 2005
God Bless the Gargoyles by Dav Pilkey 2016
October 4—Saint Francis
Saint Francis and the Wolf by Richard Egielski 2005
Saint Francis by Brian Wildsmith 1996
Brother Sun, Sister Moon by Katherine Paterson 2011
October 7—Our Lady of the Rosary
Let's Pray the Rosary by Mauricette Vial-Andru 2015
Mysteries of the Rosary board book set by Catholic Sprouts 2019
Hail Mary board book/ Our Father board book by Maïte Roche 2017
October 22—Saint Pope John Paul II
The Story of Saint John Paul II: A Boy Who Became Pope by Fabiola Garza 2014
Lolek - The Boy Who Became Pope John Paul II by Mary Hramiec Hoffman 2008 (the two JPII books are both well-written and illustrated, but this one has more historical information)
October 31—All Hallow’s Eve
Cautionary Tales for Children Hardcover by Hilaire Belloc 2002 (originally 1907) We like these as spooky Memento Mori poems for Halloween!
NOVEMBER
A Story of St. Catherine of Alexandria by Brother Flavius C.S.C 2013 (originally 1965)
So that's it, our entire picture book liturgical library! If you've read these, I'd love to know which are your family's favorites, and if you love a saint picture book that's not on the list, please let me know in the comments. I'm always looking to add good books to our collection. Check back in on this post, I'll update it as we get new books!
And please pray for all of us at the Fiat Conference, and consider joining us!