A Future Bishop, a Shattered Cruet, and a Very Bad Week

AnneMarie Miller reviews Fulton Sheen and the Very Bad Week by Bonnie L. Engstrom, a new children's book from Emmaus Road Publishing.

Fulton Sheen and the Very Bad Week

By Bonnie L. Engstrom; illustrated by Mariam Khoury Briggs

Published by Emmaus Road Publishing

An Ordinary Boy in Illinois

Although I’ve read books written by the soon-to-be beatified Fulton Sheen, I’ve never known much about him. I was excited to pick up Fulton Sheen and the Very Bad Week, a delightful picture book written by Bonnie L. Engstrom and illustrated by Mariam Khoury Briggs (Emmaus Road Publishing 2026). In this story, we meet a little boy called Fulton as he goes through a terrible week. Fulton makes mistakes, grows frustrated, and wonders if he will ever amount to anything.

I love how this book opens a window into the life of Fulton Sheen. When I read the author’s note at the end, I was delighted to learn that the events in the book are all based on true stories, although they did not all occur in the exact same week. Knowing that these events happened helps Fulton Sheen come to life in a special way, regardless of how old you are. He went through plenty of mishaps, just like all of us!

It’s OK to Have a Bad Day

I also appreciate how this book reminds children (and their parents) that sometimes, we just have bad days. I’ve noticed that in our eagerness to “offer it up,” we sometimes fail to simply acknowledge when we’re having a hard time. Fulton Sheen and the Very Bad Week reminds us that everyone has bad days, or even bad weeks. In those moments, we can imitate little Fulton and acknowledge our challenges and then hand them all over to God.

Illustrations and Extras

Not only is this story profound, but the illustrations are lovely as well. The images are gentle and offer a Beatrix Potter aesthetic that guides the reader through the story. However, I initially wasn’t sure if the story and accompanying pictures would hold the attention of my young children, since many current picture books are crammed with colors and visually “loud” illustrations. I was surprised and delighted to see that my young toddler was entranced with this book. He grabbed it from me and slowly turned the pages himself, looking at the illustrations carefully. His response reminded me that although bright and colorful books are often fun and enjoyable, children (and adults) still benefit from calmer books, too. When I sat down to read this book with my preschooler and first grader, their eyes were glued to the page as well!

This story also offers opportunities for deeper engagement. For example, the book lists different references to Fulton Sheen’s life that are scattered throughout the many illustrations. These little visual details — for example, a picture of a coffeehouse, which refers to a Fulton Sheen quote about coffee — help us see that he was like us in many ways. Also, Catholic teacher and author Katie Bogner created a free workbook that offers activities for kids, like coloring pages, a word search, trivia cards, and prompts to help kids reflect on the ways in which God is working in the messiness of their lives.

This book, and the accompanying workbook, is wonderful for families to use at home, but it would also be a fantastic addition to a religious education program or Catholic school classroom.

Ask for Fulton Sheen and the Very Bad Week from your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Emmaus Road Publishing. 

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2026 AnneMarie Miller
Images: Canva