Introduction

Raising children in the Orthodox faith means welcoming them into a living tradition of prayer, worship, and wonder. When a child has their own prayer book, they become active participants—marking pages, tracing icons, and praying aloud with growing confidence. Having a personal prayer book helps children become familiar with the rhythms of liturgy at home and in church, while nurturing a habit of daily prayer that can last a lifetime.

How Personal Prayer Books Support Orthodox Formation

Engagement in worship: Children follow the Divine Liturgy or home prayers more closely when they can read along, point to familiar phrases, and revisit favorite sections.
Routine and habit formation: Having a go-to volume for morning, mealtime, and evening prayers helps establish a daily rhythm that anchors the whole family.
Deepening comprehension: Clear side-notes, brief saint biographies, and icon-style illustrations transform abstract theology into concrete, relatable images.

Church Guidance on Prayer Books for Kids

To nurture a strong prayer life in children within the Orthodox tradition, it is beneficial to start family prayers from infancy, gradually incorporating Scripture readings and stories of saints to provide inspiring spiritual role models. Encouraging toddlers to engage with picture prayer books during services helps them connect visually and emotionally, while older children can follow along with simple Divine Liturgy prayer books alongside their parents, fostering active participation. Establishing daily morning and evening prayers as a consistent family practice is foundational, and providing each child with their own prayer book allows them to pray independently when schedules differ. Selecting age-appropriate Orthodox materials that combine storytelling, iconography, and prayer enables children to recognize and relate to what they see in church, reinforcing their spiritual learning. This integrated approach supports children in developing a meaningful, lifelong habit of prayer and deepens their connection to the faith community.

Age-Stage Prayer Book Guide

Toddlers (2–5 years)

Picture guides to common church actions: making the sign of the Cross, kissing icons.

Early Readers (6–8 years)

Short troparia and akathist excerpts with phonetic helps.
Coloring pages of saints and feast days to reinforce learning.
A mini-glossary of liturgical terms: chalice, prostration, deacon’s litanies.

Older Children (9–12 years)

Brief canons and sample prayer rules (e.g., three prostrations per prayer).
Journaling prompts for reflecting on saint feast days and personal prayers.
Sections for family prayer planning: creating simple litanies and commemorations.

How to Teach Orthodox Children to Pray: First Prayers to Learn

Trisagion (“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.”) – repeat three times with the sign of the Cross.
Lord’s Prayer – practice line by line, noting parallels with Divine Liturgy petitions.
Morning Offering – a short dedication of the day to Christ:
> Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant me to greet this day in peace. Help me to use every hour…
Mealtime Blessings – simple “Bless us, O God, and these Thy gifts…” before meals and “We give Thee thanks…” after.
Prayer Before and After Communion – for children to help them begin to understand the importance of preparing ourselves before Communion.

What to Look For in a Children’s Prayer Book

Size & portability: A child-sized format that fits small hands and backpacks.
Illustrations & side-notes: Icon-style art keyed to prayers and brief explanations tying text to church life.
Liturgical coverage: Morning/evening prayers, feast-day blessings, saint-of-the-day entries, and Communion prayers.
Durability & design: Sturdy binding, wipe-clean pages, ribbon markers to track favorite sections.

Mid-article tip: Choose a book that clearly notes parish-approved wording so children use the same prayers you do in church.

Building an Orthodox Prayer Corner for Kids

Icons at child height: Place a small icon stand with Mary, Christ, or a favorite saint within easy reach.
Candle or lamp stand: Teach children to light a vigil lamp or wax candle safely with parental guidance.
Personal baskets & labels: Keep each child’s book, prayer beads, and rosary-style prayer ropes together.
Seasonal décor: Add color-coded ribbons or fabric during Great Lent, Pascha, and other fasts and feasts.

Best Orthodox Prayer Book for Children: Our Recommendation

We recommend The Children’s Prayer Book by Elena Trostnikova—designed to guide young Orthodox believers through daily and festal prayers:

Accessible texts that mirror parish practice and the liturgical year.
Vibrant, icon-style illustrations that help children recognize what they see in church.
Durable design with ribbon markers and sturdy covers built for daily use.

Ready to equip your child for prayer?

You can buy it here on our website or
order The Children’s Prayer Book on Amazon

FAQ

Why should Orthodox children have their own prayer book?
Ownership fosters routine, independence, and a sense of spiritual identity.
Which prayers should kids learn first?
Begin with the Trisagion, Lord’s Prayer, and simple morning/evening offerings.
How can I keep toddlers engaged during family prayer?
Use picture prayers, icon cards, and hands-on activities like lighting a candle.
What’s the difference between children’s and teen prayer books?
Children’s editions focus on short refrains, illustrations, and durable formats, while teen/young adult books include longer canons, deeper commentary, and journaling sections.

Equip your child with a prayer book today to deepen their connection with Tradition, engage them in worship, and build a lifetime habit of prayer.

Raising our children in a way that Christ may be formed in their hearts is no small job. There are a lot of good resources for adults, like the Prologue of Ochrid, but for children, there’s less available that is really engaging to them.

While obviously, for children, us modeling the faith for them is the most important thing we can do, we also feel strongly that good books are important as well, which is why we’ve always been dedicated to making more good quality, beautiful books available for children. That’s also why we’ve recently released our new series on the lives of saints.

Opening Up the Treasury: Why Saints Matter for Children

Orthodox Christianity has a spectacular treasury of saints, each with their own unique story of courage, humility, love, or even holy stubbornness. Introducing these figures early in life helps root children in a tradition where faith is lived, not just learned.

When kids read about Saint Elizabeth the New-Martyr’s kindness, or Saint Nicholas’ secret generosity, they’re not only hearing stories from the past, they’re meeting real heroes whose victories and struggles can shape hearts right now. They’re also making a new friend who can help pray for them.

But there’s a difference between reciting the biography of a saint and truly making their life accessible. That’s where these new children’s books shine.

Fresh Approaches: From Biography to Bedtime Story

Most adults first met the saints through a parish icon or a story at church. Today’s Orthodox children’s books go further, weaving the lives of saints into formats children already love: storybooks, board books, and even interactive experiences.

Let’s look at some ways publishers are bridging that gap:

Potamitis Publishing’s "Paterikon for Kids" offers more than a hundred beautifully illustrated mini-books (each focusing on a separate saint or feast day). These bite-sized stories fit naturally into bedtime routines or story circles, gently guiding kids into the world of holy men and women.
Faith Tree’s "Super Saints" program turns learning about saints into a full sensory experience, combining storytelling with music, crafts, and games. Suddenly, saints become not just names but living role models who are every bit as exciting as pop culture superheroes.
Here at Exaltation Press, we love creating stories that connect to real life. Our book, The Life of St. Elizabeth the New-Martyr, walks with kids through the journey of a princess who chose kindness over comfort and learned humility, courage, and love in her daily walk with Christ. We keep things gentle, honest, and just right for young listeners, striving to make these saints feel like down-to-earth friends.

What Makes a Great Children’s Saint Book?

Not all saint stories are created equal. The most effective books for kids today have a few things in common:

1. Gentle, Honest Storytelling

Children are sensitive listeners. They deserve stories that are honest about the saints’ trials and victories, without becoming scary or dry. Our books use simple, warm language that never talks down to kids, inviting them to see God working in ordinary, sometimes fragile, human lives.

2. Rich Visual Storytelling

Let’s face it: beautiful art draws kids in! That’s why the new books feature hand-painted illustrations with soft colors, friendly shapes, and scenes full of imagination, whether it’s Saint George slaying the dragon, or a gentle moment between St. Elizabeth and her sister. These illustrations help bring the saints closer, making holy lives feel more familiar and real.

3. Stories That Connect to Everyday Life

Great saint stories plant seeds for action. When a child hears how St. Elizabeth served the poor, or how St. Nicholas shared gifts in secret, it sparks real-life questions: “How can I help someone today?” Books designed for young readers often end with an activity, conversation prompt, or simple prayer, opening the door for family connection and real faith practice.

The Magic of Age-Appropriate Content

Every child is on their own journey. That’s why modern publishers offer books for every stage:

Board books and touch-and-feel editions for toddlers (yes, even babies can enjoy the saints!).
Early reader stories with short sentences and repetitive patterns, ideal for preschool and primary ages.
Chapter books and devotional readers for middle-grade kids who are ready for deeper questions and (sometimes) bigger miracles.

We know from experience that a four-year-old will sit quietly for a ten-minute picture book, but a nine-year-old might want to dig deeper or ask tough questions. At Exaltation Press, we design our books so each child feels seen and included, wherever they are, curious beginner or budding reader.

Reading Together: Tips for Making Saints Come Alive at Home

Ready to bring more saints into your family life? Here are a few gentle tips:

Start Small: Pick one story night per week for a saint book. Let kids choose the saint from a stack!
Use the Pictures: Pause and talk about what’s happening in each illustration. “How do you think St. Elizabeth felt here?”
Act It Out: Act out a simple scene from the story with stuffed animals or dress-ups.
Connect to the Calendar: Match stories with feast days - read about Saint Nicholas in December, or St. George near Pascha.
Pray Together: End the story with a short prayer. It’s a simple way to connect head, heart, and hands.

Why It Matters: Saints as Real-Life Friends

The world is full of loud heroes, but saints offer something different: quiet courage, self-giving love, and hope in Christ. By introducing our children to these real-life friends through beautiful books, we invite them into a world big enough for mystery, kindness, struggle, and joy.

And maybe, just maybe, we plant seeds that will bear fruit in their own journey of faith.

Looking for your next great saint story? Explore our full range of Orthodox children’s books here, or check out the “Lives of Saints for Children” series here. We’d love to help you build your family’s library of faith!

If you have a favorite saint story you’d love to see in print, or just want to share how these books have helped your family, drop us a note on our Contact page—we’re always listening.

Further Reading:

Why Orthodox Children Benefit from Their Own Prayer Books