Activity & Resource Books

Click for our list of currently available books from Amazon and other sources.
Out-of-print books may be found in libraries or the used book market.

Coloring Books
• = some of our favorites

  • Winter: A collection of Poems, Songs and Stories for young children

    Aulie, Jennifer and Margaret Meyerkort, eds.
    Wynstones Press, 1978, 1983, 1999, reprinted 2005

    Purchase from Steiner Books

  • Catholic Traditions in Cooking

    Ball, Ann
    Our Sunday Visitor, 1993

    Recipes and traditions from around the world for the Christmas and Easter cycles as well as many other saints’ days and occasions.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • All through the Day, All through the Year: Family Prayers and Celebrations

    Batchelder, David B.
    Augsburg, 2000

    A rich collection of rituals, celebrations, and prayer to build traditions for the whole cycle of the church year. Many ideas for families to adapt for their particular situation. Easy to use format, not overwhelming. Excellent resource.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Hunger & Hope: Dramas about Poverty, Hunger & Mission

    Billings, Carl H. Jr.
    Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2006

    Eleven short, easily-staged and performed plays stimulate thought about poverty, hunger and mission; one play about Saint Nicholas

    Purchase from ELCA Resources

  • Prayers from the Heart for the Feasts of the Year

    Bogle, Joanna, selected by
    Gracewing Fowler Wright Books
    Morehouse Publishing, 1992
    A collection of short prayers for the year from traditional and other sources.

    Appropriate for adults and children

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Saints of Christmas: Activity Book

    Borgatti, Katherine A.
    Liguori Publications, 2013

    Coloring pages, cut-outs and more for each of the six saints in the “Saints of Christmas” series: Francis of Assisi, Nicholas of Myra, Martin de Porres, Lucy, Mary and Joseph, and Gianna Beretta Molla.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Nicholas - a saint for giving: Resources for Worship

    Brooks, Thomas
    Creative Communications for the Parish, 2008

    Background, prayers, hymns, children’s sermons and more; comes with files on CD-rom

  • • Festivals, Family and Food

    Carey, Diana and Judy Large
    Anthroposophic Press, 1996

    Festival and seasonal resources for songs, games, stories, food, and things to do. Lovely story of the Easter Hare.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Visit of Nicholas: Recapturing the True Meaning of Christmas

    Cobb, James G. and Judith A.
    C.S.S. Publishing, 1988

    A one-act play for four children and adults, with chorus and solo

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Saint Nicholas Speaks: Advent—Christmas Monologue

    Crotts, Stephen M.
    C.S.S. Publishing, 1991

    An introduction for Saint Nicholas, with costume suggestions

    Purchase from C.S.S. Publishing, e-book available

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Icon Book: A study of the liturgical art of the Orthodox Church for children and adults

    Essey, Basel and James McLuckie
    Department of Christian Education
    Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, 1981

    General information about icons and twenty-five saints; illustrations by John Matusiak; may be used as a coloring book

    Purchase from amazon.com

  • The Secret of the Santa Box

    Fenoglio, Christopher
    Treehouse Publishing Group, 2017
    St. Louis, Missouri

    For parents

    As children grow and have Santa questions, this book shows parents a way to bring children into being gift-givers as showing God’s love in the world

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Drinking with Saint Nck: Christmas Cocktails for Sinners and Saints

    Foley, Michael P.
    Regnery History Publishing, 2018
    Washington DC

    Information about all the saints in the period from Advent until after Epiphany, especially Nicholas, of course. Along with all the recipes for each day, there is encouragement to drink like a saint: with moderation, gratitude, memory, merriment, and ritual.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Santas around the world: 12 patterns of Santa Claus, St. Nicholas and Father Christmas in Old World costumes

    Gillespie, Vicki
    SNG Publishing, 2006

    Twelve full-sized patterns large figures—nearly sixteen inches high. One is a Saint Nicholas identified as from Poland.

  • A Classical Kids Christmas : Song Book: A Christmas celebration of music and poetry for all ages to enjoy

    Hammond, Susan
    The Children's Music Group Inc., 2001
    Pickering, Ontario, Canada
    A Christmas pageant song book and poetry collection for choir directors, teachers, and parents
    Song, script, and staging book

    Contains 12 scenes from Advent to Epiphany; the resource is a good idea, but weak on St. Nicholas. It could be useful if the St. Nicholas material is modified to be closer to established St. Nicholas tradition

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Stories of Everyday Saints: 40 stories with Bible links and related activities

    Heley, Veronica
    The Bible Reading Fellowship, Oxford, England, 2002

    A double page spread for each saint with story, prayer, symbol, and activity suggestions, useful for teachers and includes photocopy permission

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk

  • The Patron Saint of Stanley Park

    Kanagawa, Hiro
    Playwrights Canada Press, 2014
    Toronto, Canada

    Play for six cast members based on the legends of Saint Nicholas, the protector of children and a real-life model for Santa Claus, set in Vancouver’s historic Stanley Park. On a violently wild stormy Christmas Eve, two siblings, struggling to come to terms with their father’s disappearance in a float-plane accident, head to the park to remember and honor his memory. As the children are rescued by homeless vagabond Skookum Pete, the play celebrates family, love, and the true Christmas spirit.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Catholic Cook Book: Traditional Feast and Fast Day Recipes

    Kaufman, William I., ed.
    Citadel, 1955

    Comprehensive cookbook with recipes for all of the church year, including seven for St. Nicholas Day

    Purchase from amazon.com

  • Christmas in Holland: A Miniature Chancel Play

    Kemp, Helen
    Choristers Guild, 1969

    Sinterklaas and Christmas in the Netherlands, with Dutch music

  • The Santa Collection: Historic Gift Givers from all over the World

    Kissinger, Barbara
    Grace Publications, 1996

    Directions and patterns for making 24 wood Santa ornaments, including four of St. Nicholas: Dutch, Polish, Czech, and as Bishop of Myra

    Purchase from amazon.com

  • What We Do in Advent: An Anglican Kids’ Activity Book

    Kitch, Anne E.
    Morehouse Publishing, 2006
    Ages 4 - 8

    38 one-page activities (puzzles, color-by-number, word finds, mazes, etc) for the weeks of Advent and Christmas help children understand the symbols and meaning of the seasons. Parent guide included. St. Nicholas has a page, too.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • How to Talk to Your Child About Santa Claus

    Leal, Sonia
    CreativeSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014

    Experienced teacher shows how to have a sensitive dialogue, bringing together historical St. Nicholas with today’s Santa Claus, while encouraging honesty and generosity; helpful guide for parents.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Folk Like Me: the Read-Aloud Book of Saints

    Lucchese, Kathryn M.
    Morehouse Publishing, 2008

    Stories of the saints in a weekly two-year cycle written for school-age kids with humor and facts. Tested in chapel services.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus: The True Story Project Book

    Marquis, Deacon Bernie and Theresa Frances Myers, FSP
    Pauline Books & Media, 1993

    Pictures to color and other activities teach about Saint Nicholas

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Santa Club

    Moss, Kelly
    Palmary Press, 2011
    Henderson, Nevada

    This book offers a fresh way to answer the question, “Is Santa Real?” while preserving both facts and the magic of Christmas. The approach may be adapted from what is presented in the book.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration

    Nelson, Gertrud Mueller
    Paulist Press, 1986

    This classic book has good background for developing Nicholas and other traditions and a nice re-telling of four St. Nicholas legends with suggestions for creating plays. Fine introduction to family tradition and ritual with a wealth of ideas for the feasts and seasons of the Christian year.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Story of Saint Nicholas

    Nippert, George & Brenda
    Nippert & Co. Artworks, 2010
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania
    Set of 8 cards, 8 1/2 x 11-inches, tell the story of Saint Nicholas
    Teaching picture cards, or wall story

    Completely Western depiction of St. Nicholas, shown in quasi-contemporary clothing; nice introduction

    Purchase from catholicartworks.com

  • Seasonal Saints Cutouts

    Nippert, George & Brenda
    Nippert & Co. Artworks, 2010
    Carlisle, Pennsylvania
    Includes Saint Nicholas, Saint Patrick & Saint Valentine
    Large (11x17) cards, 2 for each saint
    The second card for each saint has information and symbols

    The two cards are designed to be cut out (or mounted and cut out for durability) to make a bulletin board display about the saint

    Purchase from catholicartworks.com

  • • The Secret Society of Saint Nicholas

    North, Katherine
    Declare Dominion Publishing, 2020

    Children asking questions; parents, too

    The truth leads to deeper understanding of magic in the world, drawing children into an expanding understanding how they are able to give in many ways; beautifully produced

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • More Creative Mission: Over 40 further ideas to help church and community celebrate special days and events throughout the year

    Orme, Rona
    Barnabas for Children, the Bible Reading Fellowship, 2013
    Abingdon, UK
    A very useful resource

    44 chapters to celebrate feasts and seasons: seasonal activities and sections for Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Special days include All Saints, Remembrance, St Martin, St Cecilia, St Andrew, St Nicholas, Christingle, St Paul, and others, such as, Granny & Grandpa day, star gazing, Easter, Noah, open farm and much more. Each chapter has a key Bible verse, Bible links, identifies key focus and key group, with activity ideas, music if appropriate, prayer and further ideas to develop the theme

    Purchase from Barnabas for Children

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Draw and Tell Saints

    Petras, Julie A.
    Our Sunday Visitor, 2004

    Seventeen stories with simple drawings for saints’ symbols for classroom use.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Follow the Year: A Family Celebration of Christian Holidays

    Powers, Mala
    Harper & Row, 1985

    Stories, legends, and customs for all the year including a story for each day in Advent; lovely, soft illustrations.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.ca

  • On the Chocolate Trail: A Delicious Adventure Connecting Jews, Religions, History, Travel, Rituals and Recipes to the Magic of Cacao

    Prinz, Deborah R.
    Jewish Lights Publishing, 2017
    New York, New York

    A complete introduction to chocolate and its relationship to religion, including the role of St. Nicholas coins.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Festivals for You to Celebrate: Facts, Activities, and Crafts

    Purdy, Susan
    Lippincott, 1969

    Festivals from around the world, includes directions for making Swiss St Nicholas mitre/headdresses

    Purchase from amazon.com

  • • Fun with Saints: Coloring a & Activity Book

    Richards, Virginia Helen and D. Thomas Halpin
    Pauline Books & Media, 2009
    Saints included: Mary, Joseph, Paul, Nicholas, Monica, Patrick, Benedict, Francis of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, Elizabeth of Hungary, Clare, Catherine of Siena, Joan of Arc, Juan Diego, Ignatius of Loyola, Francis Xavier, Rose of Lima, Lorenzo Ruiz, Martin de Porres, Isaac Jogues, Kateri Tekakwitha, Bernadette, Damien of Molokai, Thérèse of Lisieux, Bl. Jacinta & Francisco Marto, Faustina Kowalska, Bakhita of Sudan, Katharine Drexel, Pio of Pietrelcina and Bl. Teresa of Calcutta.

    A coloring page and activity page each for 30 different saints, some well-known, others less so.

    Purchase from Pauline Books & Media

  • • Festivals of the Christian Year: Make them really special

    Rock, Lois
    Lion Publishing, 1996

    Attractive, practical craft ideas for 20 Christian festivals, with some basic information about each, full-color photos

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • Festivals of the Christian Year: Teacher’s Guide

    Rock, Lois
    Lion Publishing, 1996

    Helpful guide to 20 festivals: background, Christian belief, activities, discussion suggestions, notes for craft projects in main book (above) and follow-up craft and project ideas

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Celebrating Advent and Christmas with Children: Food Celebrations with the Saints for Home and School

    Rooney, Colleen
    CreateSpace Independent Publishing Company, 2013
    Recipes, traditional and modern, and lessons for all the saints of Advent and Christmas; background information, recipes and material for other seasonal traditions; 6 recipes for St. Nicholas and a lesson, too

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Delicious December: How the Dutch Brought Us Santa, Presents, and Treats
    A Holiday Cookbook

    Rose, Peter G.
    Excelsior Editions, State University of New York, 2014
    Albany, New York

    Information about St Nicholas and the Dutch colonies of New Netherland; many traditional Dutch recipes for Sinterklaas, Christmas and more

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • Cooking with the Saints: An Illlustrated Treasury of Authentic Recipes Old and Modern

    Schuegraf, Ernst
    Ignatius Press, 2001

    A beautiful book, coffee-table size, introducing 73 saints with several recipes for each.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • A Merry Christmas Herbal

    Simmons, Adelma Grenier
    William Morrow, 1968

    Background, recipes, and decorative ideas for many days of the Christmas season

  • Folk Crafts for World Friendship

    Temko, Florence
    Doubleday, 1976

    Some background information for many festivals; rhymes for Sinterklaas surprises

  • Happy Saints eBook 2

    Ten, Victor
    Parusian Publishing, 2012
    Printable PDFs for 15 saints: Ss. Anthony of Padua, Catherine of Siena, Dominic of Guzman, Elizabeth of Hungary, Joan of Arc, John Bosco, Josemaria Escrivá, Maria Goretti, Maximimilian Kolbe, Nicholas, Patrick, Philomena, Rose of Lima, Thomas Aquinas & Vincent De Paul.
    Printables include posters, greeting cards, prayer cards, coloring pages and badges

    Bright, cheery saint graphics with a bit of information about each

    Purchase from Happy Saints

  • The Christmas Star: Singing with Children Series, Well loved songs for the Christmas season from Advent to Three Kings Day to sing with your beloved children

    Thienes-Schunemann
    Naturally You Can Sing, 2001

    Spiral bound book and CD, one Nicholas song from Germany

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Gazing into the Eyes of the Future: the Enactment of Saint Nicholas in the Waldorf School

    Tresemer, David
    Association of Waldorf Schools of North America, 2002
    Fair Oaks, California

    A complete guide for St. Nicholas in all school grades; background, conversation models, and more.

    Purchase from Waldorf Publications

  • The Art of Dutch Cooking or How the Dutch Treat

    van Limburg Stirum, C. Countess
    Gramercy, 1961

    Includes a description of the children’s festival, Sint Nicolaas, with six recipes for traditional Dutch festival foods

  • St. Nicholas Mural

    Visminas, C. E.
    C. E. Visminas Company, 1990, distributed by Morehouse Publishing, 1990

    Background on Nicholas’ life, timeline of his era, 11 stories, and pictures to color and mount to make an icon-type picture with scenes from the life of the saint—for teachers and families

  • • Saint Nicholas Activity Mural: The Life, Legends, and Miracles of St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

    Visminas, C. E.
    Morehouse Publishing/Dumb Ox Publications, 1990, 2016

    Background on Nicholas’ life, timeline of his era, 11 stories, and pictures to color and mount to make an icon-type picture with scenes from the life of the saint—for teachers and families. This is a complete reprint of the original published by Morehouse. The individual scenes of St. Nicholas life are to be colored, cut-out, and mounted to form a 18x24-inch poster of a hagiographic St Nicholas icon.

    Purchase from Dumb Ox Publications

  • • A Continual Feast: A cookbook to celebrate the joys of family and faith throughout the Christian year

    Vitz, Evelyn Birge
    Ignatius Press, 1991

    Recipes, projects, and customs for the whole year with suggestions for when and why these dishes might be served.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Little Series: Christmas

    von Kugelgen, Helmut
    WECAN Publications, 2005
    Spring Valley, New York

    One chapter, “The Nicholas Messenger” tells of Nicholas arriving with a bag filled with apples, ginger cookies, and small gifts to be opened when Nicholas has left. He may also have a golden book, filled with praise for each child and advice for improvement. Sample text is given for the visitor to make his own.

    Purchase from Waldorf Publications

  • Cookie Molds Around the Year: An Almanac of Molds, Cookies, and Other Treats for Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Other Holidays, and Every Season

    Watson, Anne L.
    Next River Books, 2017
    Bellingham, Washington

    A good companion to Baking with Cookie Molds; here are more recipes, more tips, and lovely photos of molded cookies for every imaginable occasion.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • • Baking with Cookie Molds

    Watson, Anne L.
    Shepard Publications, Friday Harbor, Washington, 2010, 2018

    Recipes and technique to successfully make beautiful molded cookies—especially St. Nicholas, of course! Upated, full-color edition.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • Maybe The Truth About Santa

    Zalewski, Amy Powell
    Shiny Red Ball Publishing, 2005

    A simple guide to help children make up their own minds about Santa being real as the spirit of giving

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

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COLORING BOOKS

  • Stained Glass Colouring Book

    British Museum
    The British Museum Press, 2003

    Eighteen pictures of stained glass windows from English cathedrals and churches; the St Nicholas window is from York Minster

    Purchase from The British Museum

  • Our Heavenly Friends Volume 1: Coloring Book

    Brother Francis
    Herald Entertainment, Inc., 2011
    McKinney, Texas USA

    Coloring book with 7 saints; two pages each. illustrations

    Purchase from Herald Entertainment, Inc.

  • • Santos: A Coloring Book of New Mexico Saints

    Cash, Marie Romero
    Sunstone Press, 2008
    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Twenty-five Spanish Colonial saints, including St. Nicholas, St. Anne, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Dominic, St. Isidore the Farmer, St. James, St. Joseph, and many more. The line drawings are accompanied by a short paragraph about each saint.

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Saints Volume 2

    Cavanagh, Karen
    Regina Press, 1998

    Twenty-nine saints with a sentence and prayer for each

    Purchase from The Catholic Company

  • Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa

    Creative Communication Center
    Irving, Texas, 1989

    Coloring book to accompany video of the same name

  • Saints: Stained Glass Coloring Book

    Green, John
    Dover Publications, 2011

    Illustrations of sixteen saints on translucent paper; pages are perforated, suitable for crayon, felt-tip pen, watercolor, tempera or oil paint

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • The Story of Saint Nicholas: A Coloring Storybook

    Herald Entertainment, Inc.
    2012
    McKinney, Texas USA

    A nice coloring storybook, marred by liberties with the St. Nicholas tradition; it has Nicholas unemployed following his altercation with Arius rather than showing his reinstatement. 14 coloring pages.

    Purchase from Herald Entertainment, Inc.

  • My St. Nicholas Book

    Klesko, Pamela & Michael Krolewski
    American Polish Assistance Association, 2003

    A coloring book with Polish Catholic customs

    Purchase from American Polish Assistance Association

  • Coloring Book about the Saints: Pictures and Rhymes

    McKean, Emma C.
    Saint Joseph Coloring Books, 1986

    Includes Saint Nicholas

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

  • My Synaxarion: December

    Potamitis, Egle-Ekaterine & Dionysios
    Potamitis Publishing, 2009
    $6.99
    Printed in Greece

    Coloring book with 15 December saints; text in Greek and English

    Purchase from Orthodox Children's Books

  • Ikons of the Forty Saints

    Saliba, Bishop Athanasius
    Orthodox Church Sunday School
    Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1991

    Coloring book of icons; the images go with “Forty Saints of the Holy Eastern Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church,” Syrian Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of New York and All North America, 1967

  • The Saints December–May: Coloring Stories for Children

    Winkowski, Jude Hibel
    Paulist Press, 1989

    Six saints included

    Purchase from amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca

More Books About St. Nicholas
Basic Books about St. Nicholas
Picture Books for Younger Children (and all ages)
Picture Books for Older Children
Books for Older Children
Saints Books for Adults
Saints Books for Children
Activity & Resource Books
Christmas Books with St. Nicholas
Related Books
Books in Other Languages
Children’s Books in Other Languages

Digital Media

Church Year Resource Books for Families

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