Faithful Children’s Books Shine With Word of Fire Votive

Bishop Robert Barron’s evangelical powerhouse combines classic stories with truly unmatched aesthetics.

What is a tongue-stone? Well, it’s just that: a triangular stone that looks an awful lot like a tongue, found in the high inland places of Europe since at least the Middle Ages.

Their origin was mysterious until the 17th century, when a young scientist by the name of Nicholas Steno made a bold hypothesis. He proposed that tongue-stones bore a strong resemblance to shark teeth. In fact, he believed, they were fossils.

This observation, and the principles Steno derived from it, laid the foundation for modern geology. But still, Steno’s greater calling lay ahead of him.

This is the tale of “The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones” by Thomas Salerno. The prose is simple and accessible, and the intricate illustrations recall a Renaissance scientist’s notebook. The words of the book tell an impressive story, but so do its details, colors, and textures.

This is no surprise coming from Word on Fire, a publishing company founded by noted digital evangelist Bishop Robert Barron. The Catholic company focuses on adults, printing beautiful annotated Bibles, scriptural commentaries, and philosophical texts. But Word on Fire Votive, the company’s children’s imprint, is equally as impressive, making the lives of saints accessible to children young and old.

Studying the lives of holy people has been a part of Catholic practice for two millennia, and Word on Fire continues the tradition in fine style.

One of Word on Fire’s catchphrases is “lead with beauty.” And boy howdy, did the editorial team get the message. Aesthetically, these books are stunning. The textures and construction of the books themselves have clearly been thought through. Each one is an act of thoughtful preparation.

“Princesses of Heaven,” written and illustrated by the talented Fabiola Garza, features the lives of French soldier Joan of Arc, emancipated slave Josephine Bakhita, and more. The design is unapologetically feminine and stunningly done.

“Saintly Creatures,” written by Alexei Sargent and illustrated by Anita Barghigiani, tells the story of saints through the animals (wolves, bees, ravens, and others) that befriended them.

Written by Cory Heimann, “The Light of the Saints” is a charming rhyming book elevated by the simple elegance of Tricia Dugat’s illustrations. Each page reveals a secret when a flashlight is shone through it from behind, making it a bedtime favorite.

For authors, creatives, and parents, “The Votive Podcast,” hosted by editor Haley Stewart, provides a deeper dive on the mission of these books. The podcast offers “an exploration of art and literature that sparks the imagination,” featuring Votive authors, illustrators, public intellectuals, and parents.

A recent episode features “The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones” author Thomas Salerno, who describes how to cultivate faith in science-minded children. The book is worth a read, and the podcast is worth a listen.

This review is part of a series highlighting emerging young adult and children’s literature for conservative families. If you have a work or publisher to recommend, please contact the author at mark.guiney@heritage.org. 

Disclaimer: The author served as an editor on “The Light of the Saints” prior to its publication with Word on Fire. No compensation has been received for this review.