Eva K. Betz (1897–1968)

Saint Colum and the Crane tells the story of Saint Columba, and how he came to found the famous monastery of Iona in Scotland. We watch Columba grow up in Ireland and become a priest before reaching the famous crane incident that gives the book its title. Columba copies a manuscript after being told not to and gets banned from seeing Ireland or feeling its soil under his feet forever. But his crane friend accompanies him and his twelve companions on their journey across the sea to Scotland and their work bears great fruit (as one might expect).

A nice book about one of the less common children's book saints. Jean Fritz has written a version of the book incident in The Man Who Loved Books that is more satisfying, but just as out of print. So if you like books about saints outside of the main children's book canon of Francis, Therese, and Bernadette, you should grab this one if you bump into it.… (más)

Saint Germaine and the Sheep is an early reading book about the life of Saint German Cousin of Pibrac, near Toulouse, France. She was born with a deformed hand and a skin condition and was abused by her stepmother. Eventually forced to live in the barn with the sheep, she never let the hatred of others affect her. When she wanted to attend mass she would stick her staff into the ground and tell her sheep to say, and they would until she returned and removed the staff from the ground. Also, after a bridge gave out, she was able to cross a fast-flowing stream without being swept away.

All of this makes for a good read, even if the artist did not do a good job with St. Germain's face (she looks like she's forty even when she's supposed to be a young girl). For those who enjoy illustrated and interesting lives of saints.… (más)