#OpenBook for April 2026

Books we read this month

Happy Easter! Alleluia! He is risen!!

I’m excited to participate in Carolyn Astfalk’s #OpenBook again, where we are sharing what we read this month! You can find all of the info to participate in the open book round up here!

In March, I continued to enjoy my Lent devotional and started a devotional that bridges Lent and Easter. We also enjoyed a couple of books on St. Joseph this month, and a new gardening book that gets the entire family involved!

Our family has also been reading a ton of books on the new Saintifi app which I will note. You can try it for free for 30 days!

Catholic Non-Fiction Books for Adults

Praying with the Psalms: 3-Minute Devotions for Lent and Holy Week 2026

by Emily Mae Mentock

Published by Ave Maria Press

I have been loving this devotional all Lent, and I have stuck with it! It is really making me appreciate the Psalms more.

You can read more of my thoughts on this book here.

9 Days to Easter Joy

by Fr. Rich Conlin

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Also available as an ebook or audiobook on the Saintifi app

I paired this book with psalms book starting during Holy Week (9 days before Easter Sunday). This is a wonderful devotional for Holy Week and the Easter Octave. Fr. Conlin's writing is impactful and encourages deep reflection. I love that it bridges Lent to Easter so that you can keep the momentum going with your pious practices and devotions. I loved the daily novena as well as reflections that Father included.

You can read my full review here.

The Silent Witness of Nazareth

by Father Serafino Lanzetta

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Also available as an ebook or audiobook on the Saintifi app

I really enjoyed this audiobook about St. Joseph by Father Serafino Lanzetta. He was named after St. Joseph (and he explains about changing his name when he was ordained), and wrote the book specifically to increase Josephine devotion. I have learned so much – including how Abraham and Isaac are figures of St. Joseph and Jesus, respectively. He explains how St. Joseph leads us to Mary, and how Mary, of course, leads us to Jesus. What a beautiful truth to meditate on this month!

I listened to the book on the Saintifi app while I cleaned up and did my nightly chores. You can also purchase a hard copy of the book if you prefer. I recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about Jesus’ foster father, and anyone who already has a devotion to St. Joseph would just love him even more after reading it.

Infertile but Fruitful: Finding Fulfillment When You Can’t Conceive

by Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Also available as an ebook and audiobook on the Saintifi app

This was a super quick (122 pages), enjoyable, uplifting, and informative read for me. Leigh Snead writes about her infertility struggles openly and honestly in order to educate those who have family and friends facing the same struggle and to walk beside those currently facing infertility themselves. It is a topic that is not talked enough about, in my opinion, and this book gave me so much hope. I loved hearing the Snead family’s adoption stories the most!

Grow Where You’re Planted

by Samantha N Stephenson

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Also available as an audiobook on the Saintifi App

It is known in our house that my husband is the green thumb in our family. In the past, I spent summers enjoying the abundant harvest of his efforts (one year, we had over 100 tomato plants lining just our back fence!), but, sadly, anything I tried to grow wilted and died. As our soil worsened and pests and critters to our yard increased (groundhogs and bunnies are cute, but they eat everything!!), we became discouraged and our garden shrank. Last year, the kids asked to start a garden again, so, with my husband’s guidance, we planted 5 large pots with zucchinis, cucumbers, and tomatoes! We put the pots up on a table too high for groundhogs and rabbits to reach.

The kids are asking to grow even more this year, so I read Grow Where You’re Planted in preparation! This book includes practical gardening tips for each season, lovely scripture reflections about cultivating the garden of our soul, delicious recipes, and TONS of resources for starting a garden or improving upon your skills. There are even sections in each chapter for ways to get the kids involved making your family garden a whole family affair. I learned a lot about composting, raised beds, and curing foods to last through the winter, and I am so inspired to start planting! The physical book is beautiful next to my other cookbooks, and the layout is organized making it easy to find the information that you need. I also enjoyed the audiobook version to listen to while folding laundry and washing dishes. Highly recommend!

Catholic Picture Books for Kids

Joseph, Keeper of the King

by Scott Hahn and Emily Stimpson Chapman

Illustrated by Tricia Dugat

Published by Emmaus Road Publishing

We read this book multiple times in our home this month, and I also brought it to read at our Little Flowers girls group to discuss the virtue of loyalty. It was enjoyed by all - especially the adorably illustrated page of St. Joseph raising Jesus as various ages. It tells St. Joseph’s story in charming verse with lovely illustrations to go with it. Highly recommend!

You can read my full review here.

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