A couple of these books may be outdated (don’t you just love the outdated ones? …I do!!) so you may have to search around to find them.
My advice would be to read the books yourself, first, to judge the timing and maturity level of when to introduce them to your daughter (or son). Happy Reading!!
Dressing With Dignity – Colleen Hammond Dressing with Dignity: Second Edition
Youth’s Pathfinder (heart-to-heart chats with Catholic young men and women) – Rev. Fulgence Meyer, O.F.M.
Helps to Purity – Rev. Fulgence Meyer O.F.M.
Chastity (A guide for teens and young adults) – Gerald Kelly, S.J. Helps to Purity
Clean Love in Courtship – Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D. Clean Love in Courtship
Three to Get Married – Bishop Fulton J. Sheen Three to Get Married
Catholic Youth’s Guide to Life and Love – Monsignor George A. Kelly The Catholic Youth’s Guide to Life and Love
The ABC’s of Choosing a Good Husband – Stephen Wood The ABC’s of choosing a good husband
The ABC’s of Choosing a Good Wife – Stephen Wood The ABC’s of Choosing a Good Wife: How to find & marry a great girl
The Temperament God Gave You – Art & Laraine Bennett The Temperament God Gave You: The Classic Key to Knowing Yourself, Getting Along with Others, and Growing Closer to the Lord
I Kissed Dating Goodbye – Joshua Harris I Kissed Dating Goodbye
Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship – Joshua Harris Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello to Courtship
Beautiful Girlhood – A Timeless Guide for Christian Adolescence – Mabel Hale Beautiful Girlhood
My Beloved – The Story of a Carmelite Nun – Catherine Thomas of Divine Providence, Mother dc My Beloved: The Story Of A Carmelite Nun
Mary Was Her Life – Mary Was Her Life: The Story Of A Nun, Sister Maria Teresa Quevedo, 1930-1950
Mother’s Little Helper Mothers Little Helper: 12 Heart to Heart Talks
Listen, Son Listen Son-12 Heart to Heart Talks
The Catholic Girl’s Guide – The Catholic girl’s guide: Counsels and devotions for girls in the ordinary walks of life, and in particular for the Children of Mary
The Young Man’s Guide – YOUNG MAN’S GUIDE by Father Lasance
(Please, if you have any other “tried and true” books you would like to add, leave a comment and let us know!)
Not sure I would use the term ‘outdated’. I have many of Fr. Lasance’s works including both of the ones you have on your list, and while they are old… human nature doesn’t change….
I totally agree Anna. I just meant that they are outdated in the fact they are out of print. Thanks for noticing that. Those are some of our favorite books and their truths are timeless.
Karol Wotyla’s (aka, Pope St. John Paul) “Love and Responsibility”. I require this of my children when in their senior year of high school.
Actually, the Fr. Lasance books are in print again. Don’t remember who has done it, but they’re readily available.
Do you have any suggestions for very young children? Our first is almost a year old, so she isn’t reading herself, obviously.
Also, what is your take on books like “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”? And if you’re not a fan of books like these, what do you suggest instead? I’m very new at this, please help!
Thanks Leane. These are really great books to build a library. ‘My Beloved’ was such a wonderful read and another favorite of mine. I couldn’t put it down! : )
For the mature young adult, I recommend “Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust” It is a true story told by Immaculee Ilibagiza and her amazing survival, attributed to prayer: https://www.amazon.com/Left-Tell-Discovering-Rwandan-Holocaust/dp/1401908969/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
Cana is Forever by Charles Hugo Doyle is a great book for before and after marriage. Out of print I think, but you should be able to find it.
Thank you!
I am reading Dressing With Dignity with a friend right now, it has really given us good conversation. And, Mary Was Her Life, was so good! I highly recommend both. Thanks for all the books listed, looks like there are some I need to add to my library!
Thank you for including me, Leane! LOVE YOU!
Of course, dear Colleen! ❤️