Here are some of our favorites out of the thousands of books available this Christmas for Catholic kids. Web sites that carry these and other books include, catholicshopper.com, ignatius.-com, osv.com, Pauline.org and bethlehembooks.com. Most of the books are also available through the big Internet booksellers like amazon.com, bn.com and borders.com.

Christmas

The Night of the Shepherds: A Christmas Experience by Juliana Quaglini, illustrated by Elvira de Vico. Pauline Books & Media, $3.95, ages 2-7

Why Were the Shepherds Excited? by Pauline Youd Pauline Books & Media, $3.95, ages 2-4

General Reading

Brother Joseph: The Painter of Icons by Fr. Augustine DeNoble, OSB, illustrated by Judith Brown Bethlehem Books, $14.95, ages 4-8

The Children's Book of Faith by William Bennett, illustrated by Michael Hague Bantam, Doubleday, Dell, $24.95, ages 5-8

The Children's Treasury of Virtues by William Bennett, illustrated by Michael Hague Simon & Schuster, $29.95, ages 5—8

Pope John Paul II

For the Children: Words of Love and Inspiration from His Holiness Pope John Paul II Scholastic Inc., $16.95, ages 6-12

Karol from Poland: The Life of Pope John Paul II for Children by Mary L. Wilson, illustrated by Carla Koch Pauline Books & Media, $6.95, ages 5-7

Saints

The Young Life of St. Faustina

by Claire Mohan Jordan Marian Press, $7.00, ages 10-13

Pauline Saints Comic Book Series Volumes on the lives of various saints Pauline Books & Media, $1.95 each, ages 8-13

Along the Paths of the Gospel Series volumes on the lives of various saints Pauline Books & Media, $9.95 each, ages 7-10 (Pauline Books also has series about the saints for other age groups)

Vision Saints series

Volumes on the lives of many saints Ignatius Press, $9.95 each, ages 9-15

Bible Stories

The Jesus Book

by LaVonne Neff, illustrated by Toni Goffe Loyola Press, $9.95, ages 4-8

Teach Me About Series Includes volumes on God's Creation, Jesus and the Mass Our Sunday Visitor, $3.95 each, ages 3-7

Mary, Mother of Jesus

by Mary Joslin, illustrated by Alison Wisenfeld Loyola Press, $15.95, ages 4-8

—Gerry Rauch, Register Senior Editor