Read Your Way Around the World [book list]

Read your way around the world this year and discover Catholic families everywhere you go!

We went through the entire Very Young Catholic series and created a book that fits each month! With wonderful families as your guide in each country, these books will allow your family to “visit” each timezone from the comfort of your home! If you want to know specifically how to utilize these books in your homeschool curriculum, click HERE to download a guide or learn more in this blog.

Now, let’s kick off this book list right now–no need to wait for the start of the school year:

July: Very Young Catholics in Fiji

Enjoy these last few weeks of summer in Fiji! Cool down from hot July days with the clear water of the Fijian beaches as this Fijian family learns the importance of acts of service and how hosts are made!

Bonus content includes:

• the International Date Line, 
• what Oceania means, 
• common greetings in Fiji, 
• and more!

August: Very Young Catholics in Togo

Next, as we head into the school year, inspire your kids by showing them what school looks like in Togo! Join Felix and David as they share their family stories and how they live out their Catholic faith in their local parish!

Bonus content includes:

• the flag of Togo, 
• local fruits and flowers, 
• the equator, 
• and more!

September: Very Young Catholics in Australia

 Ever wondered what September looks like in Australia? Enjoy this story of a farm in Australia just as Australia heads into its spring season! This story also features the sacraments of baptism, first confession, and first communion so it’s a wonderful way to prepare your little ones for Sunday School. 

Bonus content includes:

• traditional Australian dishes, 
• favorite Australian sports,
• and more!

October: Very Young Catholics in the United States of America

We are staying a little closer to home this month and learning about All Saints Day! Be ready for apple cider, a moonlit picnic, and an explanation of All Saint’s Day. As a bonus this month, learn about the only approved Marian Apparition in the U.S.A.

Bonus content includes:

• Meridians, 
• American food and drinks, 
• local animals, 
• and more!

November: Very Young Catholics in Canada

As the weather gets colder take a trip up to snowy Canada to enjoy some cold weather fun including sledding, moose spotting, and a special celebration for St. Martin of Tours just in time for his feast day.

Bonus content includes:

• Aurora Borealis, 
• Klondike Gold Rush, 
• letter writing between Canadian children, 
• and more!

December: Very Young Catholics in Kenya

How would you like to celebrate Christmas in balmy Kenya? Get a sneak peek into how Kenyan families prepare during Advent and then celebrate Christmas! With safari animals and hot weather, this book is a wonderful vacation from dreary December weather.

Bonus information includes:

• one of the earliest converts to Christianity, 
• what a kanga is, 
• what you will find in a game park, 
• and more!

January: Very Young Catholics in Austria

 Don’t worry we don’t have to pack up the Christmas cheer immediately.  Our next destination is Austria to see how Austrians celebrate the Christmas season including the feast of Epiphany! Plus, this cheerful Austrian family can act as your guide for all sorts of winter activities.

BONUS materials include information about:

• the Rorate Mass,
• Advent Markets,
• what a Christkind is, 
• and how the date of Christmas was selected!

February: Very Young Catholics in Iceland

 It is still cold for this Icelandic Catholic family! This wonderful story explores all the rugged natural beauty found in Iceland such as volcanoes, geysers, frigid beaches, and the amazing northern lights! Plus, how can we keep active imaginations happy with stories while still recognizing the truth?

BONUS content includes:

• J.R.R. Tolkien and his deep knowledge of the old Icelandic sagas,
• genealogy records, 
• glaciers and geysers, 
• St. Thorlak, 
• and more!

March: Very Young Catholics in Ireland

 Spend the month of St. Patrick visiting the Irish countryside and let this family take you along for a summer getaway including the ruins of an Irish castle, lots of sheep, and a classic snack of homemade blackberry jam with scones.

Bonus content includes:

• musical instruments, 
• hurling, camogie, and Gaelic football, 
• why it is called the island of Saints and Scholars, 
• and more!

April: Very Young Catholics in Brazil

 It’s time for Holy Week and Easter! This year travel down to Brazil to see how a family prepares for Easter throughout Holy Week and celebrates that he is Risen.

Bonus content includes:

• the liturgical year, 
• traditional Easter greeting (and response),
• and more!

May: Very Young Catholics in Taiwan

As the days start to get long and hot, visit a family in Taiwan to discover all the fun ways they stay busy in warm weather. Plus catch a glimpse into the Taiwanese school system including classes like calligraphy and painting. 

Bonus content includes:

• writing with characters, 
• special foods to eat in Taiwan, 
• the Henchun Tropical Botanical Garden, 
• and more!

June: Very Young Catholics in Ecuador

 And to finish off the year, travel down to the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador where you can be amazed by the wildlife and history of these awe-inspiring islands. For more fun, stay on the same continent and jump over to Argentina!

Bonus content includes:

• a history of chocolate, 
• pirates off the coast of Ecuador, 
• and more!

There are even more Very Young Catholic books that you can travel around the world through–check out the complete series HERE.