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Mother Teresa
"It is not how much we do but how much love
we put in the doing
that makes our offering
something beautiful for God.
-- MOTHER TERESA"
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, Mother Teresa was called to a religious life at a young age and began her novitiate in 1928. She took the name "Teresa" after Saint Teresa of Lisieux, the patroness of missionaries, and dedicated her entire life to helping the poorest of the poor in India and, later, throughout the world.
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she came to be known as Mother Teresa and oversaw thousands of nuns as they ministered to the poor, the starving, and the dying.
Mother Teresa was the recipient of many of the world's most prestigious humanitarian awards, including the United States Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in Calcutta, India, in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003. In his homily the pope said, "Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and a tireless benefactor of humanity. In her we honor one of the most important figures of our time. Let us welcome her message and follow her example."
Blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, Demi's "Mother Teresa" is a glorious biography of one of the most beloved women of our time -- a woman whose actions and words will inspire us all.
we put in the doing
that makes our offering
something beautiful for God.
-- MOTHER TERESA"
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, Mother Teresa was called to a religious life at a young age and began her novitiate in 1928. She took the name "Teresa" after Saint Teresa of Lisieux, the patroness of missionaries, and dedicated her entire life to helping the poorest of the poor in India and, later, throughout the world.
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she came to be known as Mother Teresa and oversaw thousands of nuns as they ministered to the poor, the starving, and the dying.
Mother Teresa was the recipient of many of the world's most prestigious humanitarian awards, including the United States Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in Calcutta, India, in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003. In his homily the pope said, "Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and a tireless benefactor of humanity. In her we honor one of the most important figures of our time. Let us welcome her message and follow her example."
Blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, Demi's "Mother Teresa" is a glorious biography of one of the most beloved women of our time -- a woman whose actions and words will inspire us all.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 2005
About the author
Demi
184 books179 followersDemi (September 2, 1942) born Charlotte Dumaresq Hunt, is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. During her career she has published over 300 titles.
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
Demi was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is the great-grand daughter of the American painter William Morris Hunt, and the great-grand niece of architect Richard Morris Hunt. Demi earned her nickname as a young child when her father started calling her demi because she was half the size of her sister.
She studied art at Instituto Allende, Mexico, and with Sister Corita at the Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles. She was a Fulbright scholar at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, India where she received her Master’s degree.
Demi is known for her biographies for spiritual figures including Buddha, Krishna, Lao Tzu, Jesus, Mary (mother of Jesus), Muhammad, Rumi, Francis of Assisi, Gandhi, and the Dalai Lama.
In 1990, Demi and her husband Tze-si “Jesse” Huang represented the United States at the First Children’s International Book Conference in Beijing.
Source: Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 9, 2010
This is a wonderful children's non-fiction book about Mother Teresa. It is very inspiring... so much that my 6 year old daughter says she wants to be a nun (and we are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!). I can't wait for us to finish it tomorrow.
Things I want to keep found in this book:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me a channel of your peace, that
where there is hatred, I may bring love;
where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
where there is error, I may bring truth;
where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
where there is despair, I may bring hope;
where there are shadows, I may bring light;
where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand than to be understood;
to love than to be loved;
for it is by forgetting self that one finds;
it is by forgiving that one is forgiven;
it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
"she did no great things... only small things with great love" (said of the person whose name mother Teresa took... Teresa of Lisieux)
On her "Inspiration Day" she wrote: "Suddenly, I heard the call of God-- a call within a call. The message was quite clear. I was to leave the convent and help the poorest of the poor while living among them. It was an order, and I obeyed."
"God speaks through the silence of the heart, and we listen."
"All we do is for Jesus... We serve Jesus in the poor, we nurse Him, feed Him, clothe Him, visit Him, and comfort Him in the poor, the abandoned, the sick, the orphans, the dying. All we do-- our prayer, our work, our suffering-- is for Jesus. Our life has no other reason or motivation."
"Never let anyone come to you without coming away better and happier... Everyone should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile."
Now that is a GREAT woman.
Things I want to keep found in this book:
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me a channel of your peace, that
where there is hatred, I may bring love;
where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
where there is error, I may bring truth;
where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
where there is despair, I may bring hope;
where there are shadows, I may bring light;
where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand than to be understood;
to love than to be loved;
for it is by forgetting self that one finds;
it is by forgiving that one is forgiven;
it is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
"she did no great things... only small things with great love" (said of the person whose name mother Teresa took... Teresa of Lisieux)
On her "Inspiration Day" she wrote: "Suddenly, I heard the call of God-- a call within a call. The message was quite clear. I was to leave the convent and help the poorest of the poor while living among them. It was an order, and I obeyed."
"God speaks through the silence of the heart, and we listen."
"All we do is for Jesus... We serve Jesus in the poor, we nurse Him, feed Him, clothe Him, visit Him, and comfort Him in the poor, the abandoned, the sick, the orphans, the dying. All we do-- our prayer, our work, our suffering-- is for Jesus. Our life has no other reason or motivation."
"Never let anyone come to you without coming away better and happier... Everyone should see goodness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile."
Now that is a GREAT woman.
February 19, 2019
Born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910, Mother Teresa was called to a religious life at a young age and began her novitiate in 1928. She took the name "Teresa" after Saint Teresa of Lisieux, the patroness of missionaries, and dedicated her entire life to helping the poorest of the poor in India and, later, throughout the world.
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she came to be known as Mother Teresa and oversaw thousands of nuns as they ministered to the poor, the starving, and the dying.
Mother Teresa was the recipient of many of the world's most prestigious humanitarian awards, including the United States Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in Calcutta, India, in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003. In his homily the pope said, "Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and a tireless benefactor of humanity. In her we honor one of the most important figures of our time. Let us welcome her message and follow her example."
Blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, Demi's "Mother Teresa" is a glorious biography of one of the most beloved women of our time -- a woman whose actions and words will inspire us all.
Founder of the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she came to be known as Mother Teresa and oversaw thousands of nuns as they ministered to the poor, the starving, and the dying.
Mother Teresa was the recipient of many of the world's most prestigious humanitarian awards, including the United States Medal of Honor and the Nobel Peace Prize. She died in Calcutta, India, in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003. In his homily the pope said, "Let us praise the Lord for this diminutive woman in love with God, a humble Gospel messenger and a tireless benefactor of humanity. In her we honor one of the most important figures of our time. Let us welcome her message and follow her example."
Blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, Demi's "Mother Teresa" is a glorious biography of one of the most beloved women of our time -- a woman whose actions and words will inspire us all.
September 28, 2020
This is such a phenomenal account of the life of Mother Teresa. I love that it is in a picture book format and has beautiful illustrations, which makes it appropriate for nearly all ages. This particular book is a bit longer than some of Demi's other biographical picture books, however, I just do not know how she could have shortened it! It is a lovely book that I will look forward to reading with my children over the years to hopefully help inspire kindness and selflessness in their lives.
January 24, 2018
This is a beautifully written, illustrated, and crafted biography with quotes, stories, and events portrayed in just the right way to tell the story, and inspire children and adults alike to want to love and serve as Jesus Christ, just like Mother Teresa.
February 24, 2018
What a life! This picture-book biography describes the singular life of a woman who devoted herself to “loving God in all of His distressing disguises.” The illustrations of her receiving the “call of God” are absolutely stunning. Very inspiring!
December 19, 2014
Lackluster pictures - not one of Demi's finest books.
August 12, 2025
I didn't know Mother Teresa's history. It's amazing. She was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu in 1910 in Yugoslavia. She felt called and she went into the service of the Catholic church. Then, she went to India. While there, she got her calling and she left her convent and went to the worst slums in Calcutta and helped them. All this helped came in to help her.
I'm not the biggest fan of the Catholic church, but when you see how they helped the poorest of the poor and helped relieve some suffering on Earth, this is the very best of the Catholic church. Of course it would be, since a woman led it. And, the church supported her. She really did amazing things in her life. She is incredible.
This story lifted my spirits. I am certainly no Mother Teresa. Far from it, but I appreciate what she has done in this world. I remember her speaking at the UN in my life. She was a gem. She wasn't perfect, but she was quite the saint.
The artwork was done in ink and paint as Demi said. Her style didn't really work for the slums and leper colonies. Still, the suffering came across.
This is too involved for younger kids. This is more suited to older kids second grade and up.
Kids who enjoy biographies will enjoy this.
I'm not the biggest fan of the Catholic church, but when you see how they helped the poorest of the poor and helped relieve some suffering on Earth, this is the very best of the Catholic church. Of course it would be, since a woman led it. And, the church supported her. She really did amazing things in her life. She is incredible.
This story lifted my spirits. I am certainly no Mother Teresa. Far from it, but I appreciate what she has done in this world. I remember her speaking at the UN in my life. She was a gem. She wasn't perfect, but she was quite the saint.
The artwork was done in ink and paint as Demi said. Her style didn't really work for the slums and leper colonies. Still, the suffering came across.
This is too involved for younger kids. This is more suited to older kids second grade and up.
Kids who enjoy biographies will enjoy this.
July 9, 2017
A very inspiring biography.
July 13, 2017
Artwork is fairly good, but the story feels a bit dry. It doesn't have the joyous spirit with which Mother Teresa ministered. Also, not sure that it contains the Catholic sensibility.
January 20, 2018
Inspirational and well researched biography of the good work of Mother Teresa - learned a lot of new info about her as a person and an interventionist.
November 20, 2019
This is an author I have to read about for a project and at first was a little hesitant, but after reading this book and many others of hers I see how impactful and informing her writing is.
May 16, 2021
Beautiful illustrations and story.
November 10, 2021
Beautiful illustrations and a beautiful biography of St. Theresa of Calcutta. Read aloud to the kids.
October 29, 2023
Simply beautiful. If only everyone could read this book.
April 6, 2009
We heard just a little bit about Mother Teresa this weekend in General Conference (LDS). I told my kids we should check out a book and learn more about her. I'd forgotten that I had put this book on hold and checked it out already!!
We all really liked this book. I think it could have been better omitting some of the dates and facts. Other than that, it was a great book about a truly amazing woman. We learned some things about the Catholic church that we hadn't known. I liked how there were many quotes from Mother Teresa as well as scripture in the book. My kids were touched by the way she took care of unwanted and abandoned children and were shocked and saddened by the idea that babies were (are) left in dumpsters--a rather difficult idea to stomach. Pope John Paul II approved of this book written and illustrated by Demi.
My son said it took us almost an hour to read. I can't verify whether it did indeed or whether he was just anxious to get outside to play.
We all really liked this book. I think it could have been better omitting some of the dates and facts. Other than that, it was a great book about a truly amazing woman. We learned some things about the Catholic church that we hadn't known. I liked how there were many quotes from Mother Teresa as well as scripture in the book. My kids were touched by the way she took care of unwanted and abandoned children and were shocked and saddened by the idea that babies were (are) left in dumpsters--a rather difficult idea to stomach. Pope John Paul II approved of this book written and illustrated by Demi.
My son said it took us almost an hour to read. I can't verify whether it did indeed or whether he was just anxious to get outside to play.
March 24, 2011
I am totally inspired by Mother Theresa after reading about her life and her example to the world! Wow. She was a totally remarkable woman! I wish I could've remembered her funeral because I bet it would have been spectacular!! I liked learning about Mother Theresa, but for a juvenile biography book, it got too wordy for kids and the pictures were different. Usually I like to see the pictures, but this book not so much. I would've liked to seen real life pictures and not illustrations. Very Inspiring story.
October 30, 2013
Demi always provides an interesting read, and always educational, just sometimes a little bit long for my 5 yr old. He's an advanced reader, but Demi uses some words that are a little big, and sometimes clutters up the story with names and dates, I'm not sure any kid will remember. Overall, though, still very enjoyable and the illustrations are superb. A great addition to any lesson on their topic, Demi's books are probably for older children, perhaps 2nd grade and up. Definitely a stand alone reader as well. Still, great educational information.
March 18, 2013
In this biographical work, Demi tells us about Mother Teresa's work and advocacy for the "poorest of the poor" in India. She tells us about Mother Teresa's early life and eventual call to help the poor and outcast in India.
I enjoyed reading this book. I think it would be a good book to introduce social justice and care for the needy in our communities, religious themes aside. I loved the illustrations and the gold-leafed highlights of the pages add a diverse feel to the text.
I enjoyed reading this book. I think it would be a good book to introduce social justice and care for the needy in our communities, religious themes aside. I loved the illustrations and the gold-leafed highlights of the pages add a diverse feel to the text.
January 29, 2014
This beautiful book was blessed by Pope John Paul II himself, Demi's Mother Teresa is a glorious biography of one of the most beloved women of our time, a true saint. Full of awesome illustrations and prayers, this book is a joy and a blessing indeed for children of all ages. "It is not how much we do but how much love we put in the doing that makes our offering something beautiful for God." - Mother Teresa.
September 19, 2008
Great biography of Mother Teresa giving a brief overview of her life and all that she accomplished. Includes quotes from her, list of all the awards she received, and map of all the Missionary of Charity Foundations around the world. Wonderful illustrations - gold highlights reminescent of Medieval religious art.
December 6, 2013
Demi is a great children's author, and the subject could not be better! I loved everything about this book, from the illustrations, to the simplified details of Mother Teresa's life. Some of the events were a little over my 5-year-old's head, and we aren't too familiar with Catholicism, but it was a great book to learn about a wonderful Christian woman who spent her life serving God.
April 21, 2009
the pictures were nice and the story was nice. I was wanting it to be longer and more indepth...but it was a juvenile biography. I checked out an adult one but it was 400 pages. I need something in the middle of these two books.
October 29, 2015
This is a beautiful story about a loving, brave soul who set out to change the world thru her acts of kindness. This would be a great biography to discuss with a class, it is full of encouraging messages of love and hope that would benefit anyone reading it.
March 9, 2008
Anything illustrated by Demi is gorgeous!
January 21, 2011
This was a great read aloud that resulted in a geography study. Amazing woman and well written book!
March 20, 2011
I think it is a good book because it is about someone who helps the poor and diseased.
April 16, 2011
Read this aloud with my girls for their AWANA homework. Humbling!
July 24, 2011
Mother Teresa
by Demi
The story of a future saints personal history and her remarkable prayer
by Demi
The story of a future saints personal history and her remarkable prayer
April 17, 2012
Inspiring life. One person can make a huge difference.
March 5, 2013
Beautiful book about a beautiful woman who made it her goal to make each person she encountered feel human, especially those living in abject poverty in the slums of Calcutta.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews