Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection - Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Lindsey Sanders

Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection 

Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Lindsey Sanders (illustrator)

Emmaus Road Publishing

ISBN 9781645854265

I recently received the 6 volumes in this set to review. The volumes are:

Adventurous 

Ordinary 

Royal and Warrior

Talented 

Unshakable 

Young Saints 

These 6 volumes are geared for younger readers. They are a very high quality picture book. The six books are available individually or as a set. There is a volume that was released in 2021 by the same author and illustrator called Saints Around the World, that could be read to the same audience as this volume but it is much more in-depth and has significantly more information on each of the 100 saints covered in the volume. The description of this volume states:

“Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection includes all six books authored by Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Illustrated by Lindsey Sanders. Each book features the stories of fifteen saints—young, adventurous, ordinary, royal and warrior, talented, and unshakable—with 32-page full color illustrations.

Young Saints Around the World showcases young saints who accomplished much in their very short lives.

Adventurous Saints Around the World compiles the stories of adventurous saints and shows how serving God is the greatest thrill of all.

Ordinary Saints Around the World features short stories that show children that no life is too ordinary for extraordinary holiness.

Royal and Warrior Saints Around the World show how great heroes can also be holy

Talented Saints Around the World depict saints using their remarkable skills to spread God’s message in many times and places.

Unshakable Saints Around the World teaches children to never let go of God’s hand—despite danger, doubts, and other challenges.

Recommended for ages 4-8.”

About the author we are informed:

“Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a speaker, a writer, and a missionary who has lived out of her car since 2012. Meg loves telling stories, learning about Saints, reading the Bible, and watching the Olympics. She is a proud godmother of ten and aunt of an ever-increasing crew of incredible nieces and nephews.”

About the illustrator we are informed:

“Lindsey Sanders is the creator of AlmondRod Toys, an online shop that sells Catholic toys designed by Lindsey herself. She has seven kids who she homeschools in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

There is no table of contents nor even pages numbers which are the only draw backs I see to this book and the 6 in the series. If you wanted to find a specific saint you would need to flip through looking for them. That being said this is an excellent volume and series. We have given a set of them to our Catholic School Library. The physical books are well made, and designed to last a long time and for heavy use. They are beautiful hardcovers with solid stitching. I bent the books flat to scan a couple sample pages and there is no indication I did so. I believe the artwork is either watercolours or water colour pencils. The artwork is stunning. The artist sells blocks with images from the books, for teaching children, and other resources to support learning about saints. I wish she sold a set of them as prayer cards, I would buy a set for myself and 2 of my teen children who love collecting prayer cards. I would also love prints of a couple of the images to be able to hang in my den.

Each 2 page spread includes:

Name of the Saint or Blessed

Pronunciation Guide to the name

Brief introduction to them

A key point to learn from them

Then the country, dates and feast day.

A world map with a star marker for where they were from.

There is also available a Saints Around the World Map & Sticker Set that contains stickers for all the saints in the series. The inside cover of each volume shows where the saints for that volume come from. It would be an excellent supplement for home or classroom use. The saints by volume are:

Adventurous 

Blessed Peter Kasui Kibe

Saint Dulce Pontes

Blessed Emilian Kovch

Saint Damien of Molokai

Saint María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa

Saint Laura Montoya

Saint Joseph Vaz

Blessed Ladislaus Bukowinski

Blessed Sara Salkaházi

Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo

Barnabas

Blessed Maria Therese von Wüllenweber

Blessed Vasyl Velychkovsky

Blessed Peter To Rot

Saint Rafael Guízar y Valencia

Ordinary 

Saint Agatha Kim A-gi

Saint André Bessette

Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

Saint Faustina Kowalska

Saint Nina of Georgia

Blessed Stanley Rother

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz

Saint Alphonsa Muttathupadathu

Blessed Laurentia Herasymiv

Blessed Ceferino Giménez Malla

Saint Martha Wang Luo Mande

Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi

Blessed Rani Maria Vattalil

Blessed John Sullivan

Peter Wu Guosheng

Royal and Warrior

Saint Adelaide of Burgundy

Blessed Takayama Ukon

Saint Casilda of Toledo

Saint Raphael Kalinowski

Saint Augustine Phan Viết Huy

Saint Dominic Đinh Đạt

Saint Nicholas Bùi Ðúc Thê´

Saint Olga of Kiev

Saint Kaleb the Ethiopian

Saint James Intercisus

Rosalia of Palermo

Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá

Blessed Margaret Pole

Saint Pulcheria

Saint Moses the Strong

Saint Albert Chmielowski

Virgin Mary

Talented

Blessed Denis of the Nativity

Blessed Dina Bélanger

Blessed Benedict Daswa

Blessed Concepción Cabrera de Armida

Blessed Nicolas Steno

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Blessed Francisca de Paula de Jesus

Blessed Hermann of Reichenau

Saint Hildegard of Bingen

Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Blessed María Romero Meneses

Saint Martin de Porres

Saint Jerome

Saint Macrina the Younger

Saint Thorlak Thorhallson

Unshakable 

Saint Josephine Bakhita

Saint John Colobus

Saint Leopold Mandić

Saint Mary MacKillop

Saint Oscar Romero

Blessed Ana of the Angels Monteagudo

Saint Margaret of Castello

Blessed Peter Donders

Saint Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès

Saint Monica

Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung

Saint Columba of Iona

Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Serapion the Sindonite

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Young Saints

Blessed Carlo Acutis

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

Blessed Cecilia Butsi Wongwai

Blesseds Daudi Okelo and Jildo Irwa

Saint Germaine Cousin

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro

Saints Perpetua and Felicity

Blessed Paul Thoj Xyooj

Saint Teresa of the Andes

Saint Eulalia of Mérida

Saint Joan of Arc

Saint Peter Yu Tae-chol

Saint Jacinta Marto

I have had the longer version of this book for a few years now, as well as Meg’s volume Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness but after reading just one of these they have jumped way up in my ‘to be read’ pile. I look forward to reading Meg’s other works. I can easily recommend this  series for home, school, and church library. They are excellent for introducing children and even us older folks to a wide range of friends in heaven. A great series sure to become a family favourite!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Meg Hunter-Kilmer:

Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness

A Year in the Word Catholic Bible Journal

…

Saints Around the World Books:

Saints Around the World

Saints Around the World Map & Sticker Set

…

Saints Around the World For Younger Readers:

Adventurous Saints Around the World

Ordinary Saints Around the World

Royal and Warrior Saints Around the World

Talented Saints Around the World

Unshakable Saints Around the World

Young Saints Around the World

…

Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection

...

Contributed to:

Living the Word Catholic Women's Bible

The Ave Catholic Notetaking

…

Unshakable Saints Around the World - Meg Hunter-Kilmer and Lindsey Sanders

Unshakable Saints Around the World

Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Lindsey Sanders (illustrator)

Emmaus Road Publishing

ISBN 9781645853831

eISBN 9781645853848

I recently received the 6 volumes in this set to review. This is the fifth that I have read. The volumes are:

Adventurous 

Ordinary 

Royal and Warrior

Talented 

Unshakable 

Young Saints 

These 6 volumes are geared for younger readers. They are a very high quality picture book. The six books are available individually or as a set. There is a volume that was released in 2021 by the same author and illustrator called Saints Around the World, that could be read to the same audience as this volume but it is much more in-depth and has significantly more information on each of the 100 saints covered in the volume. The description of this volume states:

““Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us.” Colossians 3:23

In times of danger, doubt, despair, or other difficulties, these holy men and women remind us to never let go of God’s hand.

This hardcover book includes sturdy laminate pages suitable for young hands.

Unshakable Saints Around the World features the stories of:

Saint Josephine Bakhita

Saint John Colobus

Saint Leopold Mandić

Saint Mary MacKillop

Saint Oscar Romero

Blessed Ana of the Angels Monteagudo

Saint Margaret of Castello

Blessed Peter Donders

Saint Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayès

Saint Monica

Blessed Nicholas Bunkerd Kitbamrung

Saint Columba of Iona

Saint Katharine Drexel

Saint Serapion the Sindonite

Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Recommended for ages 4-8.”

About the author we are informed:

“Meg Hunter-Kilmer is a speaker, a writer, and a missionary who has lived out of her car since 2012. Meg loves telling stories, learning about Saints, reading the Bible, and watching the Olympics. She is a proud godmother of ten and aunt of an ever-increasing crew of incredible nieces and nephews.”

About the illustrator  we are informed:

“Lindsey Sanders is the creator of AlmondRod Toys, an online shop that sells Catholic toys designed by Lindsey herself. She has seven kids who she homeschools in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”

There is no table of contents nor even pages numbers which are the only draw backs I see to this book and the 6 in the series. If you wanted to find a specific saint you would need to flip through looking for them. That being said this is an excellent volume and series. We already plan to give a set of them to our Catholic School Library. The physical books are well made, and designed to last a long time and heavy use. Beautiful hardcovers with solid stitching. I bent the book flat to scan a couple sample pages and there is no indication I did so. I believe the artwork is either watercolours or water colour pencils. The artwork is stunning. The artist sells blocks with images from the books, for teaching children, and other resources to support learning about saints. I wish she sold a set of them as prayer cards, I would buy a set for myself and 2 of my teen children who love collecting prayer cards. I would also love prints of a couple of the images to be able to hang in my den.

Each 2 page spread includes:

Name of the Saint or Blessed

Pronunciation Guide to the name

Brief introduction to them

A key point to learn from them

Then the country, dates and feast day.

A world map with a star marker for where they were from.

Wow what a great collection of saints in this volume. About half of the saints in this volume I had never encountered before. They were a few I was familiar with. And a few were long time favourites and friends in heaven. I look forward to tracking down more information about some of those new friends in heaven. 

There were saints in this volume I had never encountered before. They were a few I was familiar with. I look forward to tracking down more information about some of those new friends in heaven. 

I have had the longer version of this book for a few years now, as well as Meg’s volume Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness but after reading just one of these they have jumped way up in my ‘to be read’ pile. I look forward to reading the other 5 volumes in this set as well as Meg’s other works. I can easily recommend this book and series for home, school, and church library. They are excellent for introducing children and even us older folks to a wide range of friends in heaven. A great book and series sure to become a family favourite!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Meg Hunter-Kilmer:

Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness

A Year in the Word Catholic Bible Journal

…

Saints Around the World Books:

Saints Around the World

Saints Around the World Map & Sticker Set

…

Saints Around the World For Younger Readers:

Adventurous Saints Around the World

Ordinary Saints Around the World

Royal and Warrior Saints Around the World

Talented Saints Around the World

Unshakable Saints Around the World

Young Saints Around the World

…

Saints Around the World Early Reader Collection

...

Contributed to:

Living the Word Catholic Women's Bible

The Ave Catholic Notetaking

…

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint - Jeannie Meekins - 15-Minute Books Book 623

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint

15-Minute Books 623

Jeannie Meekins

Learning Island

eISBN 9781310884344

ASIN B00HOXDRIS

This was the first volume I have read by Jeannie Meekins. According to amazon she has over 120 unique titles geared for young readers. Many are biographies, some are in a Fun Facts Series, and other appear to be short fiction. This one was recommended I believe because I had already read two volumes on Mary MacKillop. This is part of a series tagged as 15-Minute Books, which are geared to get children reading for 15 minu8tes a day. 

The description of this volume is:

“Mary MacKillop devoted her life to educating poor children. With the help of Father Julian Woods, she established her own religious Order, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

She set up over 100 schools, educated 12,000 children, and received approval from the Pope for her Order.

Mary constantly battled against the Church in her own country – and was even ex-communicated.

But she kept her faith and devotion to God and she became Australia’s first saint.

Find out more about this woman who became a saint.

Ages 8 and up.”

The description of the Series is:

“LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.”

The website is now defunct, but Learning Island when I checked the internet archive machine appears to have been a site with contributors from around the world. The oldest archived versions show books available for download in PDF format and exercises to go with the books. Later iterations of the site show link to purchase cheap eBook and later even print editions of the works. There are some numbered even into the1000’s. With the most recent being from early 2013 and numbered at 1014. But I only find 163 when I search Kindle. The sections in this booklet are:

Early Life

Mary meets Father Woods

The Stable School

Mary’s Order

Mary is Ex-Communicated

The Rule of Life is approved

Mary’s Death

Mary’s Legacy

Australia’s First Saint

Even though I have read two other biographies of this saint, I still really enjoyed this volume. It was engaging and well written. It does not talk down to children, it includes the word excommunication. It is clear and concise. It is a wonderful introduction to this saint, and the life she lived. 

This is a wonderful little book. I enjoyed it so much I picked up 3 other volumes by the authors as soon as I finished this one. I can easily recommend this volume for school, church or home library. A great read for young readers. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books about Saint Mary MacKillop:

Mary MacKillop: A Spiritual Model for All - E.J, Cuskelly - CTS Biographies

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint - Jeannie Meekins

Meet Mary MacKillop - Sally Murphy - Celebrate Australian History Meet Series

…

Books in the 15-Minute Books Series about Saints:

Saint Nicholas The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Children - Melissa Cleeman 

...

Books by Jeannie Meekins:

Saint Patrick Ireland Beloved Saint 

Saint George: Dragon Slayer

Saint Valentine: The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Love

Saint Francis of Assisi: The Patron Saint of Animals

Joan of Arc: The Girl Who Fought For France

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint

The Lives of Seven Saints

…

Mary MacKillop - EJ Cuskelly, MSC - CTS Biographies

Mary MacKillop: A Model For All
CTS Biographies

E J (Eugene James) Cuskelly, MSC

Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860826924

eISBN 9781784694944

ASIN B075P2Z65L

CTS Booklet B733

I discovered the books and booklets of the Catholic Truth Society in 2018. Since that time I have read 380 different titles, and many of them more than once. This is one that focuses on Mary MacKillop and her spirituality. This volume was originally published by the CTS as part of the CTS Biographies Series. However it was originally published by St Pauls Publications in 2010. But had previously been published as Walking the Way of Jesus: An Essay in Christian Spirituality in 1999. The eBook edition was released in 2017. It is currently only available in the eBook edition.

The descriptions of this volume is:

“Mary MacKillop was a great religious educator in 19th century Australia. Her love of Christ, children, and the poor made her the country’s first saint. In today’s world she stands as a lasting example of courage and compassion for the needy.

Canonised a saint by Pope Benedict in 2010, Mary MacKillop was born in Australia in 1842, of a modest family, and by her teenage years was intensely engaged in the religious education of children, a passion which consumed her life of Christian service. Her contribution to education in those formative years of modern Australia was profound: her love of Christ, children and the poor helped her overcome intense and misplaced opposition. In today's world she stands as a lasting example of courage and compassion for the needy. She died in 1909.”

This booklet is another excellent volume on this saint and it is part of a wonderful series and I can easily recommend it. The chapters in the booklet are:

A brief biography

A spiritual model for all

She lived in God’s presence

She brought the Good News to the poor

She walked the way of God’s will

She walked the way of God’s will

She walked the way of love and forgiveness

She loved her enemies

Endnotes

This is the second volume of Saint Mary MacKillop, that I have read and I have already picked up another to read later this year. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume. I was surprised by how few. The ones I highlighted were:

“Mary MacKillop was born on 15 January 1842 in Fitzroy, an inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, Alexander MacKillop and Flora McDonald, had emigrated from Scotland and had met, and married, in Australia. At this time Melbourne was in its infancy. Many of its streets, which today are major thoroughfares, were little more than tracks.”

“Young women came to join Mary, and so the congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart was begun. In 1867, Mary was asked by Bishop Sheil to come to Adelaide to start a school. From there, the Sisters spread in groups to small outback settlements and large cities around Australia and New Zealand.”

“Throughout her life, Mary met with opposition from people outside the Church and even from some of those within it. For a brief period she was under an edict of excommunication for refusing to accept changes to the Sisters’ rule which, she believed, were contrary to its spirit. In the most difficult of times she consistently refused to attack those who wrongly accused her and undermined her work, but continued in the way she believed God was calling her and was always ready to forgive those who wronged her.”

“The ‘Brown Joeys’ may be seen in big city schools, on dusty bush tracks, in modern hospitals, in caravans, working with the ‘little ones’ of God–the homeless, the new migrants, indigenous people, the lonely and the unwanted, in direct care and in advocacy, in standing with and in speaking with. In their endeavours to reverence the human dignity of others and to change unjust structures, the Sisters and the many others who share Mary MacKillop’s spirit continue the work which she began.”

“Mother Mary’s life speaks eloquently because it was firmly anchored in something which every human heart longs for: inner peace, that peace that comes from knowing that one is loved by God and from the desire to respond to his love. She knew that God loved her and she did not doubt; freely and unassumingly she responded to this love with confidence and courage.”

“Each of us is called to enter into the paschal mystery of Jesus–passing through death to self to share in his risen life. This will mean that, in fact, at some stage of our lives (or at a number of stages) each of us will have to pass through an experience like that of Jesus in Gethsemane. Life will not go the way we expected or wanted. Then we must choose; either we rebel–or we pray: ‘Not my will, but thine be done’. And we must choose further how we pray.”

“Today many, many people think that life should be a ‘living happily ever after’ in this life. When that does not happen they blame God for not bringing it about. Mary did not think that way. She thought that suffering and trials were a normal to-be-expected part of human existence. She also thought that those trials and sufferings were used by a loving God for our own good and the good of others. Further, she saw that suffering and the Cross were part of the life of Jesus. Therefore, the Cross would be part of the life of the followers of Christ. Consequently, no cross could make her unhappy.”

“People will differ as to where they see true holiness in Mary MacKillop. It might be in her deep faith, her trust in God, her persevering courage, or her compassionate concern for the poor, especially the children. Certainly all of these things go to make up the total picture of the sanctity that was hers.”

“For me the most striking manifestation of true holiness is to be found in her beautiful and heroic response to unfair and unjust treatment that she received. I marvel at the serenity, the sweet charity, the total respect for priesthood and her belief in the goodness of the motives of those who treated her so unfairly.”

This is a short biography but it is still packed full of great information. There were a number of events in her life in this volume I had not previously encountered, including her excommunication. The extreme opposition of a specific priest to her order, and the lengths he would go to; to undermine her. And also her heroic forgiveness and prayer for those who opposed her. It is no wonder this booklet was original published under the titled Walking the Way of Jesus. 

It is a great read and I highly recommend it. I am trying to track down some of the out of print volumes by Bishop E.J. Cuskelly. And other books about Mary MacKillop. I am thankful the CTS received permission to reprint this and for this edition in the CTS Biographies series. A great little eBook I can easily recommend. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews in the CTS Biographies Series Click here.

  

Books by E J (Eugene James ) Cuskelly, MSC:

No Cowards in the Kingdom

Walking the way of Jesus

God’s Gracious Design

Jules Chevalier: Man with a Mission, 1824-1907

A New Heart and a New Spirit

A Summa of the Spiritual Life

Mary MacKillop: A Spiritual Model For All

The Kindness of God

A Heart to Know Thee

…

Books about Mary MacKillop:

Meet Mary MacKillop - Sally Murphy - Celebrate Australian History Meet Series

Mary MacKillop: A Spiritual Model For All - EJ Cuskelly - CTS Biographies

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint - Jeannie Meekins

…