Various Books for Children

[Titus]

I'm looking for good books for small children: not necessarily teaching materials or catechisms (I have the Baltimore Catechisms), but more general books about the saints, the Mass, and even just good worthwhile stories not about ecclesiastical topics specifically.  A lot of the Catholic kids' books that come up on Amazon look like my early nineties religion class books: ugly illustrations and sappy text: not necessarily heterodox but not exactly inspiring either.  I also know about Lawrence Lovasik's New Picture Book of Saints, but that's about it.  Old books, especially ones that can be found without too much trouble, are of course welcome.

Thanks for any suggestions, and apologies if this same question is buried in a thread some pages back---I didn't look all the way through.

UPDATE: My first child is actually still in utero, so I'm not looking for books for one age precisely (nor am I in any kind of rush!): I'm more interested in getting a good idea of what books are out there for the age range from "the child is old enough to be read a story and understand" stage up through the Curious George/Babar the Elephant age of 4-7 and maybe a little beyond.

[Herr_Mannelig]

How small are these children?

I found lives of the saints books to be very good in every way when I was a child.

[St.Cecilia]

Well, my kids (and myself when I was a kid) love Richard Scary books. The two that we have are "What Do People Do All Day?" and "Richard Scary's Best Word Book Ever". They are great at teaching kids how things work/are made and are not "politically correct". My kids will just look at the pictures all day (or at least for 30 minutes continuously!).

Another one that is popular with my little girl (and myself when I was a little girl) is "A Time To Keep" by Tasha Tudor (written and illustrated). Beautiful, beautiful pictures and lovely book about old fashioned traditions during the year.

You may also check out www.faithandfamilylive.com which is a website of of Faith and Family Magazine (run by Regnum Christi). I get a lot of Catholic children's book reccommendations there.

[gloriamaria]

Oh, please buy the Catholic Children's Treasure box series.  You can get a good price at allcatholicbooks.com   
They have very simple stories about St. Therese and a little Guardian Angel named Wupsy, lots of beautiful pictures, simple crafts, written by nuns.  One of my daughters loved them from about 2 1/2 years  another daughter is that age now but will probably enjoy them at 3yrs (different temperament).  I think boys might like them too.  I caught the older kids sneaking to read them!

My teen and tween love the books by Fr. Finn.  Catholic fiction from the turn of the century (last century).

If you swear off t.v., and make lots of trips to the library to get the child interested in books (even from as young as a year old) it will REALLY pay off later in increased concentration and comprehension.  I have 5 kids with all different personalities and the older kids are very bright, great readers, and devour all sorts of good books.  Even the tween who is seemingly more worldly, and sporty - not at all bookish, is an exceptional reader.  The trick is to get the right material into his hands.

It is wonderful you are thinking of this already.  My baby who is a young 1 year old, and VERY busy, already likes books with tactile pages.  He will sit if I work hard at making it interesting.