There are So Many Ways to Be Holy!

Recently, I remember seeing a comedic skit on YouTube about kids books that try to be “deep,” or at the very least, more meaningful than they actually are.  The performer cracks jokes about the back cover being longer than the actual book text, about the book being overpriced, and the text being generally shallow.

The English-degreed nerd in me finds this skit very humorous.  The children’s book industry is quite a profitable market; just a casual trip to the kids section of the library will reveal hundreds of thousands of picture books. Not all are equally good, as my mom and I quickly found out!

I don’t yet have any kids of my own (although I will be married very soon…pray for me and my fiance!).  However, I already know that I will take great care to monitor the media which enters my children’s eyes and ears (just as I strive to do with my own senses).  “Garbage in, garbage out,” as my mom says. Or, to spin it a more positive way, good media helps us become the saints God intends us to be

So when I heard that Holy Heroes was adding a children’s book to the store, I was very excited.  Ahead of its release, I got to look through So Many Ways to Be Holy; A Child’s Book about Vocations.  I didn’t expect anything too amazing…after all, it’s just a picture book, right

Honestly, I was shocked at just how GOOD the book was!

For one, it uses bold COLORS and easily identifiable OBJECTS!  It’s perfect for helping kids name their favorite colors, foods, or toys.  Children can point and ask questions as the parent reads aloud, helping them learn while having fun and bonding with mom or dad.  

Each page has a simple rhyme to get kids excited about their vocation and life in Christ.  Importantly, these poems are not sappy or boring…and as someone who made her parents read the same books over and over again, I know how important this is!  Mom and Dad won’t get tired of the words, nor will they have to worry about strange rhythms or odd phrases.

Underneath each rhyme is a reference to the patron saint of that profession.  How awesome! If, for example, your child loves to cook or pretend to be in the kitchen, mom can look up the story of St. Zita and further her child’s education even more!

Alongside the words, the book shows pictures of happy kids playing pretend games…these sweet images are sure to inspire the kids in their own playtime.  The book even ends with a prayer for their future vocation!

The book ends with the words,”Listen with your heart, child, for God’s calling your name.”  I found these words to be quite beautiful, especially in a book for little ones. In the Rule of St. Benedict, the first instruction Benedict gives his monks is to “listen with the ear of your heart.”  No matter the stage of life, it can be difficult to “be still and know” that God is in control (Psalm 46:10 RSV)! Throughout our life, we need to cling to the peace that comes with being a child of God.

All in all, while So Many Ways To be Holy appears to be an unassuming book, it actually touches on realities that even adults have trouble mastering.  Namely, that God loves us more than we can ever imagine; “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 RSV).

I think the comedian above would be pleasantly surprised if he ever came across this book.

Want to check it out for yourself? Click here!