The late, beloved children’s book writer and illustrator Tomie De Paola said that when he was “still an art student and saw the Giotto frescoes of the life of Mary in the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy, I knew that someday I would create his own visual version of Mary’s life.”

De Paola gives a splendid depiction of the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus–which is sure to touch the heart of every child, and adult. These beautifully written and illustrated episodes draw on the Bible, Church tradition, and pious legend to present the woman chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world.

In sharing events from Mary’s birth to her crowning as the Queen of Heaven, these fifteen stories will inspire a lifelong love for and devotion to Mary. They will draw children closer to her son and invite them, like Mary, to say “Yes” to the presence of Jesus in their lives.

Illustrated. Ages 4 and up

Tomie De Paola was best known for his books for children. He had written and/or illustrated over 270 books. He received numerous awards and honors, including Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor awards, the Children’s Literature Legacy Award (called the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award until June, 2018) for “substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children”, the Smithson Medal from the Smithsonian Institution, and the Regina Medal from the Catholic Library Association. Nearly 25 million copies of his books have been sold.