Around the Year Once upon a Time Saints

Once Upon a Time Saints

by Ethel Pochocki, Ben Hatke (Illustrator)

Ethel Pochocki, whimsically and unforgettably, presents a new set of  heavenly friends to readers young and old in this third collection of  Once Upon a Time  Saints stories. Beginning in the dark of December, the start of the Church Year, there are stories and poems for each month, all bursting with saintly—not to mention angelic—deeds and happenings. Each tale or verse—whether of mystical apparitions in a tiny Irish village or of friars who float in the air or of entire countries single-handedly converted to Christianity—makes it quite plain that heaven doesn't keep to its place at all, but is happily determined to spill over into earthly life—here, there and . . . all around the year. Ages 10-up

Genres: Religion, Catholic, Childrens

211 pages, Paperback

First published September 13, 2009

About the author

Ethel Frances Pochocki was a children's book author living in Brooks, Maine.

She developed a passion for books and writing working at the New York City Public Library. While raising eight children, she turned to writing in the early morning hours. Her writing career began when she won an essay writing contest about her experience taking in inner city kids with the Fresh Air Project in New York City. Through the 1960s and 1970s, she contributed numerous essays and poems to the leading Catholic publications of the time. Her award winning books include her collaborations with Maine illustrator Mary Beth Owens, such as The Gazebo, Penny for a Hundred and Rosebud and Red Flannel. She also collaborated with award winning illustrator Barry Moser on Blessing of the Beasts and The Mushroom Man.

Her contributions to children's literature were recognized by the Maine Library Association with the 2008 Katahdin Award for Lifetime Achievement and the 1991 Lupine Award for outstanding childrens literature. Her classic, Penny for a Hundred, was designated a notable book of 1996 by the Smithsonian Magazine.

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this series alot as a homeschooling supplement.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories to prove that saints were not "marshmallows" but men and women of zeal and humanity.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yes, I gave this one a try but I still couldn't get into the tone of the writing for this series about saints by Pockocki. These are short stories of the lives of saints set in both their time and containing current vernacular which was confusing and jarring.
Disappointing; fortunately there are great picture books about saints.

[Erin]

I grabbed this solely for the illustrations, and put it down because I found the stories of the saints difficult to get through.