St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Small Deeds, Big Love

Ellen Gable Hrkach reviews a lesson catechists, teachers, or homeschooling parents can use with students in grades 1 and 2.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Small Deeds, Big Love

By Maria Riley, Susan Ciancio (both Catholic Mom contributing writers), and Emily Finlay 

Published by the Culture of Life Studies Program, American Life League

From the publisher:

St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Small Deeds, Big Love is a standalone lesson booklet for first and second graders that teaches about the short and devout life of St. Thérèse, who understood that not everyone could travel the world to teach about God or do things that many would consider “great,” but who also understood that we all have a role to play in building a culture of life here on earth. Her love and respect for those around her, even those she did not like, serve as a beautiful example for kids as they navigate a world that is often unkind. The lessons learned within lay the crucial pro-life foundation that young children need as they grow and implement their own Little Way into all they do. 

Beautiful Booklet Designed as a Supplement 

This is a beautiful booklet designed as a supplement to teach first and second graders about the short life of Saint Thérèse, the Little Flower, as well as pro-life values. At the beginning of the book, it says,

Children can learn pro-life values from the time they are born. As parents and educators, we build a culture of life by teaching our children that every single person has value, matters, and is a beloved child of God.  

This is so true!  Small children are like sponges, absorbing information. When we tell them that they (and all humans) are valued and beloved by God, they not only grow up with excellent self-esteem but also with values consistent with a culture of life.  

Saint Thérèse is the ideal saint for children because she is the epitome of “doing small things with great love.” 

Lesson Plans are Detailed 

Within the lesson plans for parents, there is a lesson overview with discussion questions, objectives, activities, a glossary, and additional resources.  Within the lesson, highlighted sections entitled “EXPLORE” refer teachers and students to interesting websites where they can learn more about the topic. 

I highly recommend this beautiful book to parents (homeschooling and those with children in public schools), teachers, and grandparents who want to teach children not only about Saint Thérèse and her “Little Way,” but also about building a culture of life. 

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 2025 Ellen Gable Hrkach
Images: Canva