Book Review: ‘Saintly Creatures’

“Saintly Creatures,” is an adorable, “read-aloud” children’s picture book published by “Word on Fire,” the Catholic media organization founded by Bishop Robert Barron.

The author is Alexi Sargeant, writer, teacher, game designer and board member of Catholic Artists. In this book, Sargeant’s storytelling and writing talent provide us with interesting and engaging stories about “saints helping animals out of difficult circumstances and even, in some cases, taming them to live in harmony with the humans around them.”

With my first glance at the colorful, captivating illustrations on the book cover, I could hardly wait to jump into reading this collection of “14 Tales of Animals and their Holy Companions.” 

The alluring illustrations provided by Anita Barghigiani, graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence, Italy, and an activist for animal welfare, seem to tell a story in themselves. I was so impressed with her work I went online to astound.us/anita-barghigiani to learn more about her and see illustrations she produced for other work. What I found was impressive, and I encourage you to take the time to visit the website. 

My excitement on seeing the book cover was rewarded by the first tale, "The Boar and Saint Brigid,” a very interesting story on how Saint Brigid provided a wild boar, running for his life from a group of hunters, a safe haven in her abbey. Firm in her conviction for Christ’s mercy, Brigid prays a special blessing over the boar.

Just as with the first tale, reading through the book we find fascinating stories about other animals and their holy companions. Each story presents the reader an opportunity to learn about a virtue that can lead him or her closer to God. For example, in the “Tale of the Wolf and Saint Francis of Assisi,” we learn about Francis’ special love for animals and how he helped a large, fierce wolf and the small-town citizens learn how to forgive one another. 

In reading this book we learn interesting details about the lives of each holy companion, some of whom are not commonly known, for example, Saint Macarius, Saint Werburgh or James Heo In-baek, and we gain appreciation for how our relationships and experiences with animals can teach us the qualities of kindness, respect and generosity.  

“Saintly Creatures” is packed with wonderful, engaging stories and stunning illustrations, making this a book you and your family will enjoy for years to come. It is entertaining and educational which can inspire children and adults to model their lives around the Christian virtues of faith, hope and love. 

John H. Dolezal is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.