Catholic SWAPS - Harry Potter, Netflix, Magic Tree House and more

Here are my ideas for good wholesome entertainment.
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[@lauriesmith6106]

Love your videos. Just wanted to say thank you for your ministry. Because of watching I have learned so much about the Catholic faith. Never in my life would I have considered becoming a Catholic but now I am happy to say that I start my first RCIA class on the 15th. Thank you Heather

[@CMBauer]

That’s so cool!

[@kimberlyrose1170]

Me too!! I'm so so excited! Good luck!

[@GardenMinistry.]

Good luck, so happy for you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@sherryjones377]

Welcome to our Catholic faith. I’m a convert and love the Eucharist.

[@JesusMariaCatholicChristianPio]

Better books: The Bible, The Catechism of The Catholic Church and The Life of the Saints.

[@amberupton7421]

Hi Heather, my little girl just started kindergarten at a Catholic school. We are Protestant, but wanted to send her to a school who shares so many of our values. There aren’t many options for Christian schools in Canada. I am watching and re watching your videos to help me support the Catholic part of her education ❤️

[@Sayber_300]

You might want to check out the Baltimore Catechism. It’ll help you get a grasp of what we hold as the truths of the faith. It’ll also help you find answers to those inevitable questions.

[@mlolvera91]

God bless you!! I hope she enjoys her school! And I hope you enjoy learning with her!

[@jow.2450]

@@ejvr99 interesting. I had no idea. How do the catholic schools compare to the “other” schools? We call them public in the US. Of course, there are other religious and private schools in the US as well.

[@A13rbuff]

I grew up Catholic but as an adult I no longer practice the faith. I just wanted to hop on and say that I love watching your videos and learning more about the religion I grew up in. While watching your videos I feel like I am in a safe space to learn, I am not being being judged or criticized, and that religion is still very relevant in our every changing world. Thank you for making videos!

[@Alwayslearnimg]

And of course you know you can always come home. 😘😘😘😘

[@kaitlynmadden8585]

Love this. Can this be a series? Keep us updated on your picks for kids and adults to swap for more virtuous options? As a newbie Catholic I need this 😅

[@mrsjamescottage]

Ok, two things. Firstly, I'm not in any way doubting you, but do you have any kind of publicly available source on the claim that Harry Potter uses "real" spells? As someone with a base understanding of Latin and a very unfortunate past within the occult, most of the "spells" in HP are just verbatim Latin translations of the caster's command. Secondly, for anyone looking to avoid their children being drawn down that dark path, it might be useful to share my experience. Just to warn you, the following contains descriptions of witchcraft, abuse and sin. The "gateways" for me were actually relatively innocent. I was fascinated by crystals. While this could have led to an innocent interest in geology, I got pulled down the route of "crystal healing", which in turn led me to witchcraft. As a child I was obsessed with fairies. There were multiple series of children's books about fairies that were pushed on girls when I was young, of varying quality. My parents very innocently allowed me to believe that they were real rather than explaining about folklore and mythology. At the time at which I should have been working this out for myself, I came across a self proclaimed "white witch" who explained her belief system to me, which included fairies and magic. It appealed to the part of me that didn't want to grow up. Then as a teenager I was very into the goth and emo subcultures; this isn't in and of itself dangerous, but rather made me a target for people with their own agendas. The media that was popular at the time (Supernatural, Twilight, Tim Burton etc) drew me further into this dark, witchy aesthetic. It was a very shallow thing for me at first, but there were clearly people using it to recruit for their own purposes (or the purposes of their "patrons"). Fast forward a few years and I was practising witchcraft, reading tarot and communing with false "deities". Honestly though, the main thing that caused me to get drawn into it was how alone I felt as a teenager. I was struggling with mental and physical health problems, I had very little support from friends or family, I was being abused by two separate individuals, and I was beginning to experience what you might call Same Sex Attraction. None of this was the kind of thing I felt I could discuss with the adults in my life, which led me even further to identify with the "persecuted" witches. I was basically very isolated. Sorry if that was a bit of a ramble, I just thought it might be useful to share for anyone trying to protect the next generation from this cr*p.

[@christinewallace9251]

Sending up prayer for you. You are so loved by our Lord and sharing your story may help others. Thanks for being open here. God bless you!!! 🙏

[@erint6540]

Fr. Ripperger, who is a famous exorcist has videos talking about the Harry Potter stuff. You can find it on KZbin.

[@kimberlyrose1170]

Love this video! Thank you so much for the info! Also, I'm starting Rcia this Saturday! (After a year and a half of researching) Say a prayer for me and my family please 😊 and thank you for all of your great content! Your love for Catholicism and seeing how that plays out for you in your daily life as a mom has been very encouraging to me. I hope someday I can be as sweet and full of light for my family as you must be for your family. I have often thought what a blessing she must be as a mother. I don't have a mom that I can look to for encouragement or advice or a good role model, so sometimes I know what I want to be for my family but not sure how to go about it. So videos like this with real life suggestions is so helpful!

[@irishmclass2042]

Kimberly, praised be Jesus Christ that you are starting RCIA! I will be praying for you throughout the coming months as you walk this amazing journey! I am sponsoring two through RCIA myself so I attend classes along with them. You will be blessed all along the way as you plumb the depths of Catholicism! God bless you with many graces!

[@sherryjones377]

Welcome to our Catholic faith. I’m a convert. You will love the Eucharist.

[@kimberlyrose1170]

@@irishmclass2042 Yes, I'm so excited to start classes and meet the teachers and sponsors 😊 I've researched for so long but to get involved with my local community and get to know Catholics that can teach me more than just theology and history from books is very exciting :) because I don't know any Catholics so I'm hoping to learn a lot about how to actually live out the faith and all that.. Thank you for the prayers! They are very much appreciated!!

[@christinewallace9251]

God bless you. I’m sending up prayers for you!! 🙏

[@kimberlyrose1170]

@@christinewallace9251 Thank you for the prayers! I really appreciate them 😊

[@AnitasBooklist]

Great video! Voyage Comics are Catholic comics books , they have great illustrations that older kids and teens will love. They're an excellent swap compared to what's in most comic book shops. We carry them in our store and I personally love them. Heather, if you read this I hope we can get in touch. God Bless

[@carissahanson9887]

Be careful of the new Lord of the rings series done by Netflix it is nothing Catholic and nothing that the author was trying to convey in the original lord of the rings.

[@isarsalas]

For adults the diary of St. Faustina kowalska is awesome!

[@andraskewes4736]

Nancy Drew books for the girls - very wholesome. I loved them growing up. Maybe some of the more classic literature would be okay too.

[@JesusMariaCatholicChristianPio]

Better: The Bible, The Catechism of The Catholic Church and The Life of the Saints.

[@lees5073]

Also, The Boxcar Kids books. Really wholesome and well written.

[@everlynecherotich605]

Hi Heather, thank for your ministry as catholic mom, you are a great inspiration to many mothers/wives all over the world, God bless you

[@arudd7212]

I do agree about reading about the saints but I do believe it is so important to read about America, our constitution and our principles as a country. I was homeschooled through Seton and had very slim American History and due to that I swayed in many beliefs as a young adult. One mistake I will not allow happen to my children. I love hardy boys also!!

[@julie9299]

I love that you don't stream from those companies. I wish more people felt the way you do.

[@spinstercatlady]

The Chronicles of Narnia are amazing! I first read them when I was about 11 or 12 and loved them, and I love them even more now bc I'm able to pick up on the subtle Biblical connections that I wasn't aware of as a child. Plus, they're just as cozy and comforting as anyone could want. Yes, please do an adult recs! I love historical fiction and Julie Klassen and (especially) Sandra Byrd are 2 of my fav Christian historical fiction gothic mystery writers. They're usually set in the Regency or Victorian period and the mysteries are usually kinda gothic, like the main character is orphaned and gets sent to live in a big manor house where they begin to unravel secrets and such about their true identity/inheritance/love, etc. Nothing too scary at all, and they're actually really cozy. A children's rec I'd give you is the Brambly Hedge series by Jill Barklem (written in the 90's there was also greeting cards and porcelain and such with the illustrations you may remember). While not outright Christian, each seasonal story definitely teaches a sweet moral lesson, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning (you can Google Brambly Hedge and see lots of examples). They'd be perfect for your kids' age group!

[@irenec3906]

Fantastic topic Heather! It is a real worry what children are subjected to. I stopped my boys watching Loud House which is targeted at children. One of the characters was talking about demon days and in the movie the same character did a seyance, it is so frightening what society is doing to children! God bless you Heather, you're a very beautiful person 😀

[@rebeccacastro5405]

Thanks for the swap ideas! Although, I have to say I’m in the Harry Potter is okay camp. I personally see a lot of catholic values woven in the storylines and Harry’s owl Hedwig is after the patron saint of orphans. Just a different perspective :) I appreciate your content!

[@molliec4719]

I am in this camp, also. Honestly the themes between LOTR and HP are exactly the same in my opinion!

[@maryjosephine6744]

Actually it is not good to just put Harry Potter on anti Catholic side without really knowing a lot about it. Guess what? There are teenagers coming closer to Christianity reading them. I will definitely read it to my child. Also, even the priests recommend not to choke kids with too much religious things. I sometimes find Heather too exaggerated about this unfortunately. We are living to become holy and we are not from world but we can underline the best out of everything. Also kids need to know the bad things too so that they can avoid it, otherwise they will try those if not introduced under the supervision of the parents. Everything depends on how you teach it to your kids. I am a teacher and there's sth called coding. It is how you code it to your child. It is so detailed. I wish some people learnt these things instead of just banning things right away.

[@peepeenuggerman5717]

Go watch exorcist Fr. Chad Ripperger and tell me Harry Potter is still in the okay camp.

[@samanthasmorong7519]

I’m in this camp too!!

[@rebeccacastro5405]

@@molliec4719 agreed! I think it’s all about what you take from the story. I actually chose Hedwig as my patron saint when I converted because of the series!

[@danielledarlene2501]

When you mentioned the WHO WAS books, I laughed because today my kids asked me "what do you call people in history that aren't saints?" Lol I thought it was cute

[@andreabonsanti9057]

The Who Was books are amazing and are of great benefit! There is even a Who Was Jesus book. Its important for our children to learn things of this world as well and these books are in no way detrimental.

[@ashleyortiz5939]

Thank you for this! I have recently come back to the church. I am also a homeschool mom and am trying to find ways to incorporate more faithful things in my kids lives (11,10,4,1). All my kids have loved veggie tales! I will look into these other options! Your channel has helped me in my journey back to the church so thank you so much for sharing as you do. Your love and devotion to God is very inspiring and beautiful. Also your top is beautiful where’d you get it, if you don’t mind me asking?

[@elizabetha3906]

Chime travelers are a great Catholic swap for magic tree house. It was written by a Catholic mom Lisa Hendey.

[@katiejon17]

I do think keeping our children away from the occult is imperative. I practiced Wicca in my 20’s, watched horror films and loved Harry Potter. I didn’t understand what I was dabbling in. I believed that because Harry Potter was well written and deviled deeply into the themes of friendship, bravery, and doing the right thing that it was “good”. But no surface level of good deeds erases anything that is routed in evil - and Harry Potter is routed in witchcraft. I do think it may be beneficial for parents to read to 1) know what your child may be up against, 2) have a better understanding of why it is loved, and 3) kids will inevitably get to an age where if they want to read it bad enough, they will. For those kiddos, it might be best to simply read it with them to allow for parent-led discussion. These are intense times for sure.

[@JesusMariaCatholicChristianPio]

Better: The Bible, The Catechism of The Catholic Church and The Life of the Saints.

[@catholicfaithofmine2664]

And that is the point. God doesn't want us even near it Galatians 5:19-21 English Standard Version 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy,[drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

[@catholicfaithofmine2664]

@@JesusMariaCatholicChristianPio there are some great books on the Saints for children and young adults. Also many movies animated and regular on the Saints. It helps reinforce the good qualities and values that help our children in today's world.

[@veronicac1199]

Love these swaps. Before my husbands reversion we allowed our oldest daughter to read Harry Potter in second grade. She’s a very advanced reader and just went through the series throughout second, third and fourth grade. This is a huge regret. Thank God my baby (now 12) has a good catholic foundation otherwise who knows what worse things could have happened. Anywho…for those 2 or 3 years she had such a hard time sleeping. She couldn’t explain why but she just couldn’t sleep, and it seemed to have started out of nowhere. She would cry because she didn’t know why. She didn’t feel sick or scared but just couldn’t sleep. It was exhausting going through this with her because if was so often. Well a bit after completing the series her sleeping got so much better. Idk what the books could’ve done to her sleep but once she was done reading these books it just got better. Well a few months later she was gifted the big picture book of Harry Potter and she was so excited to read the first book again and dove right in…and the sleepless nights started again. It wasn’t until then that we started to put the pieces together. Nothing else was different. We thought back to when this issue first started and it’s the only thing that made sense. I regret so much allowing her to read these books. But they’ve been long gone along with many other books too. We do a more diligent job now when it comes to their books as our kids love to read. Please stay away from HP. Sorry if this was confusing to follow 😕 we need to protect the souls and innocence of our kids. Live in the world…not of or for it.

[@melodyvecera1195]

I love this video! My kiddos love the Green Ember series. I started reading the first and it seems very good. Please DO make a mom's video. We just started a book club for moms and have read "A Song For Nagasaki" which was excellent. Nagai should be declared a saint one day. He converted to Catholicism and survived the atomic bomb. Also more home-oriented we read Annabelle Mosely's "Our House of the Sacred Heart" which is so beautifully written and changed my perspective on homemaking. I cannot recommend that one enough.

[@Goshdarnet]

I read that book this past summer. What a fantastic, heartbreaking story.

[@JesusMariaCatholicChristianPio]

Better: The Bible, The Catechism of The Catholic Church and The Life of the Saints.

[@annetteriley6443]

Yes adult swaps would be great! Stores to swap. Catholic companies to support in general too!

[@stephanieremigio8351]

Love your videos Heather! Thank you for staying rooted in the Faith and using your platform to not only teach others, but also when you take opportunities to explain very clearly why certain content (i.e. Harry Potter) is bad for us and our children.

[@magnolia31611]

I love these swap ideas! My family also watches pureflix, and my husband and I have recently started watch “The Chosen” which we think is really good. For radio, I listen to KLove. I would love to find a Catholic radio station, but for now KLove is at least centered on Christ, and I don’t have to worry about the music my children hear on there.

[@UzosChoice]

This was a wonderful video, Heather! Thank you so much. I am not yet a mommy (I am actually 29 and single), but I have Godchildren and nieces/nephews so this is very useful! I am astonished/saddened at how much Disney incorporates witchcraft into their kids movies. It feels so prevalent, but this has helped to reassure me! I will definitely be making some purchases. Lots of love from the UK xx

[@erikagrimm1217]

I highly recommend Chime Travelers as another series like Magic Treehouse

[@lupsy54]

Side note: An exorcist Father Vincent Lampert, has videos explaining the different ways that Harry Potter affects us in a negative way…it’s really interesting. Anyway, just wanted to share that in case anyone is interested in listening to it.

[@debbieolagues5283]

Pure Flix also has listings for Catholic adults. I love the movie on the Blessed Mother and how she helped St. Peter and the early Church. I actually found your channel when I was looking for suggestions for good autumn reading. What I found instead is a genre I had never heard of before, dark academia, which promoted books about witchcraft, magic, and other dark themes. I was so shocked by how sweet and beautiful they start out talking about their love for autumn then go into talking about these books. Beware of the beautiful side of evil. Your channel was a wonder breath of fresh air. Thank you for being here. Do you have any suggestions for Catholic adult fiction?

[@manonpecher6683]

Did you find any good catholic fiction books? Could you share them with me looking for new reads.

[@simplelivingmama]

So many good swaps! I’ll be referring back to this video when I make my kids’ reading lists!

[@joannesalazar1766]

Im a New mom and this videos help me cause it shows me that even in this moments there is so much we can do for our children

[@andrea9797mdd]

Thank you for tackling these tough issues. The writer for HP is JK Rowling. I discourage my children from reading these too. Another series to be wary of is the Percy Jackson series.

[@Goshdarnet]

I will never not recommend the Redwall books for preteens and teens. They're not Catholic but they're written by an Anglican gentleman. The entire series is about sentient woodland creatures defending their homes and ways of life at Redwall Abbey from evil invaders. They're fantastic books -- all 22 of them!!!

[@hollyslager2883]

Was wondering if I would find a comment about these! I use to watch the animated series of it when I was younger then got into the actual books when i was closer to a young adult. I would say they are more for teens and older children particularly if your sensitive about violence. Even as an adult though they are good it is refreshing to read the little poems that are introduced as songs in the books too.

[@christinewallace9251]

These are awesome books for preteen and teen boys. My two boys gobbled them up and I’ve read at least the first one and it is wholesome though themes of good and evil which can be scary for young kids. Perfect for teen and preteen!!!

[@pinkymoreno8126]

I loooove this!!! Something similar happened with my daughter which had friends that were very into anime and I did my research to find something appropiate and we talked a lot about how most shows had a demonic focus or how they portray relationships in a way that was contrariy to God's will and His plan, she understood and we were in an ongoing search for something clean to read, watch and draw (and that she did not think was to "kiddish"😂 as she would say), and one thing that she really enjoyed, which you recommended a while back was the book of St. Claire of Assisi Runaway Rich Girl. It is a graphic novel with drawings that look like anime. She took it to school and even though her friends were not impressed, she was so happy because she knew that what she was cultivating in her heart was pure and holy. Another great book specially for the age when schools try to convince them that God and science are not compatible is BRILLIANT By David Michael Warren, (which you also recommended) my daughter (age 11) also liked it very much, great for good conversations at night. As for family good night stories I like to read to them, "The Adventures of Nick and Sam" it is a book series that is light and fun to read to ages about 6 to 12, you can usually find these books at churches where they have a display of books and you place your donation in a box. Thank you Heather for all these resources!

[@vs5524]

Angelicum Academy has a good books and great books list for each grade level. We use the list as an addition to literature for our children. They are classic literature pieces being offered from a Catholic homeschooling group. It's nice to not have to research too much and to be able to go to one source for reliable literature.

[@ruthschrager6052]

I remember being allowed to watch Davey and Goliath even though we are jewish. I loved it and would still watch it.

[@oggiecath]

One author I recommend is Nancy Carabio Belanger - good material for middle-grade readers. I know they are used in a number of Catholic school programs and are all solid and faithful to the Church's teaching. My favorite of hers was The Gate, which is great for pre-teen boys, but her other two books are good for pre-teen girls as well.

[@kelseahess2721]

Thank you for for your work! You are so inspiring to me I just love your videos! I am a momma of five our fifth baby Is due in December! God bless you !! Continue the great work momma 💕💕 we love formed!! I stumbled across you a few years ago and I love love your videos!

[@elizabethbrink476]

Great video! Agreed. The whole which/ fantasy thing…why even walk that fine line? Especially when it comes to your child’s soul. Just fill them with what’s true, beautiful, and good. Cannot go wrong with that. I would rather err on the side of over cautious than not.

[@kimg1210]

Love this! As a mother to young adults now, I see the mistakes we made as parents in certain things we let our kids watch along the way. Especially Disney. I would never let my kids watch Disney now knowing the underlying message it sends. Would love an adult swap video as well! I don't want all the garbage they have on netflix and hulu even for myself and my husband.

[@ashleydaugherty7710]

I'm so happy to see you're back making vlogs. Which Catholic Store has the Carlos Acutis book? I'm going to checking out your book recommendations. My husband and I pre-watch films and read books before or with our children. That way if there is anything that comes up we don't agree with we discuss it with our children. Trying to get in those good values now so when they are adults they can make those better decisions.

[@christinewallace9251]

I commend you. That is so important. We didn’t do this for our kids as they got older and BIG mistake. Keep it up even when it is hard and you both have careers and come home tired. God bless you and your family.

[@reneehendrickson5192]

Love love love this video! I have been watching your channel for a while now Heather and you are such an inspiration to me! I have five children ages 11, 5, 3 , 1.5, and 5 mo. I’m always on the lookout for good family movie/ book swaps! Keep up the good work friend! Thank you for all you do for Christ and His kingdom. God Bless!

[@marthaimmer5675]

Heather - thank you SO much for putting in the legwork to find these things for us moms! It is hard to do all the research and you've done it all for us.

[@erikahand7957]

Thank you for this video! My four year old also loves Benjamin Cello. I wish they would make more episodes! Great advice for swaps! You are spot on about Harry Potter- It is not O.K. Some other good swaps for that my older children have enjoyed are The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Wingfeather Saga. Both are series with three or four books to them. My son also likes the Will Wilder books by Raymond Arroyo.

[@paolacontreras4321]

You're an amazing mother. If I ever have kids I'm definitely giving these options a go

[@LB-ku6ry]

Thank you, Heather! This was a practical and useful video. I also love your fashion videos. You are such a pure soul. It is challenging to find friends like you. Being a traditional Catholic can be lonely. But these book suggestions are wonderful! Thank you so much. I would love another book video!

[@DollyJohanne]

Thank you for sharing! I am not catholic, but I so agree with protecting our hearts and be mindful about what we allow to take in. I stay clear of all magic. It doesn't fascinate me neither, but I to believe it can be a gateway to more, if you not are careful, so staying away from it totally I feel is the most wise. Love and blessings from Johanne, Norway 🇳🇴

[@diadhuit]

Thanks. Carlo Acuitas, created a website to show all eucharistic miracles, so people understand the real presence of our Lord at Mass. He strengthened his moms faith hugely! He died at 15 in 2006, and is on his way to being first millenial Saint.

[@brendalanderos560]

Thank you Heather, I really liked the video sometimes it’s really hard to know what’s good for our children to watch. Everything is so contaminated. I can’t wait to hear the swaps for adults.

[@TheTarantinoFamily]

Thank you for these recommendations and thank you for pointing out the spiritual dangers of Harry Potter. Just like yoga, it's an entry point into the occult which can lead many astray. There are videos by Dr. Taylor Marshall and Fr. Chad Ripperger explaining this.

[@maryjosephine6744]

Ummm just like yoga. If you do not pay a lot of attention and stress on the deep teaching but you do it as sports, knowing that God is your only direction, then everything is fine. You are more focused on evil than good. That's why no matter what, most of the things will seem evil to you. Yes yes, people with little faith,with big fears, isolated friendless kids, scrupulous people, people who speak without knowing should not read Harry Potter and stay away.

[@emilywhipple2296]

Great for St. Nick and Christmas gifts - thank you!

[@colletteian]

I am just starting to watch this, buy in advance, THANK YOU. It is an absolute minefield out there. I relied somewhat on Common Sense Parental Reviews, only to learn the hard way, precious few parents have any sense whatsoever concerning what is appropriate for a child. I read that " The Count of Monte Cristo" was just fab for 4th grade and up. Decided to let my 6th grader read it. Then I started reading it myself and just as he was 3 pages away from THE most graphic execution scene I've EVER READ, I stopped him. I mean wow. WOW. There is constant contemplation of suicide, to point of one father putting a gun to his face. It's a fascinating story, but NOT NOT a children's book. Never written as a children's book, but boy do modern parents think it's grand for 9 to 14 year olds. Another one that was a fave of mine, growing up, is " Where the Red Fern Grows." I decided to read it before handing it to my boys because I did remember how traumatizingly sad it was. Decided to wait on that one as the beloved dog is attacked by a Mt lion and the dog drags his entrails home, he's them tangled in a fence and child has to untangle them...then the family tries to sew them back inside him and its just ... beyond disturbing. Also a graphic death of a child by a falling on a hatchet...it doesn't leave out gurgling sounds and the description of a dying child's face of terror as he bleeds to death in the woods, impaled by a hatchet. Jeeez people, it's bad out there and I'm getting to the point I don't trust annnnnything. My boys are avid readers or starting to be. As they mature they can make their own choices but right now...I refuse to out that into their innocent little minds.

[@colletteian]

jeeez the typos. lol, no glasses and in a hurry. Leaving as is, I think it makes sense enough:)

[@sarahsonderman4524]

Formed is amazing! I love using it with my students. I am a Catholic school teacher.

[@elizabethdavis3417]

Wow, some I've never heard of. I'll be Christmas shopping early from these ideas. Daughters of St. Paul have some great kids books . . . Some about time travel to biblical times and they are great.

[@rachelkivarkis1801]

Well said, and very informative. Great selection of books, and also great comparison. Thank u, so much. 🙏🥰👏🌹🌹❤️🌟✝️

[@hillarylauer8581]

Some other good Catholic children's book series'... Author Carissa Douglas had a series featuring a large Catholic family where the kids are guided by a Saint to fight evil. The first is called "The Mystic Informant" and features St. Padre Pio The Chime Travellers Series by Lisa Hendey are Catholic and have a similar time travel/adventure theme to the Magic Treehouse books Tomie DePaola's Fairmount Avenue series are beginner chapter books featuring true stories about his boyhood growing up just before and during WWII. They have Catholic elements woven throughout as they discuss the family going to Mass, his first communion, using holy water, etc.

[@carissahanson9887]

There is also a Catholic author on the daily wire Matt Walsh.They are also starting a streaming service for kids and they do have some adult contacts most of the people from this company are either Catholic or Christian other than one and they are all pretty wholesome in there thinking I would check that out too

[@caroblue7988]

Michael Knowls is also Catholic from the Daily Wire. My husband paid for their children's series subscription called Bent Key, my kids love all the shows on there and so do we. Chip Chilla is their original content and is a homeschooling family! This resonates with us as we are also homeschoolers and there is virtually NOTHING showing that on other shows.

[@72kilmihil]

Thank you Heather. Missed your videos during the Summer holidays. Thanks so much for your ideas and advice. God Bless

[@philfitzmaurice3170]

Glad your back! Hope you and your family are doing Great, God Bless you folks!!

[@crystalreyes8]

Thank you I really like your videos and just wanted to say my son read the first lord of the rings book and he loves it God bless❤

[@LenaSheppard]

Yes, yes please do one for adults. Thank you for keeping us company !

[@sarahisabella1704]

I would like to see a Catholic swap video for moms! :)

[@marcihf217]

Thank you for the suggestions. ❤😎

[@msmary126]

Loved every single suggestion!!!!! Great video!!!

[@JVSak]

Swap out Harry Potter and other fantasy books with The Green Ember series and The Wingfeather Saga books. Not Catholic- but such excellent Christian fantasy series!!

[@Creative2xmom]

The Green Ember series is amazing!

[@jacintawick2392]

LOVE formed!!! Benjamin Cello is wonderful!!! So is the slugs and bugs show and also the new variety show. Agree with Harry Potter. Another good swap is CS Lewis (Narnia and also the space trilogy). The boxcar children, bobsy twins, Laura ingalls, Anne of Green Gables (there is a Catholic Swap Anna of something can’t quite remember but gg still has good values) for older girls Janette Okee all of hers are wonderful one of my favorites is the love comes softly series and the four seasons. Micheal Phillips is another. He’s got some great historical fiction. Stonewyke is great. Also Pauline media has some great young adult/younger children St. Stories. I loved these growing up. I support you all the way sister. Keep these good videos coming! Red wall for boys...(I also liked those too though)

[@isarsalas]

Louis de Wohl novels are great! But the level of reading is for 14 and on or something like that! and also for adults are very entertaining!

[@monicaresendiz1272]

Another good beginning chapter book series is The Lighthouse Family by Cynthia Rylant to swap for Magic Treehouse

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

Is Magic treehouse OK because isn’t basically where they go onto this treehouse and then they go to a point in history? It’s like a time traveling treehouse so to speak?

[@christinahernandez9763]

I canceled Netflix . I had pureflex but I didn't like the quality of many movies and besides is not catholic. What I really love is FORMED.

[@mommyof4384]

Thank you. I been watching for a while since finding your videos about multiple c-sections. I am going to be having my 4th this March. Looking forward to ordering the Virtue Adventures for my daughter. I too stir clear of anything in the gray.

[@jck6920]

Thank you!

[@lindsey3088]

My preschooler & toddler love Benjamin Cello too! I appreciate your recommendations and the suggestions in the comments too.

[@ChrisAFurog]

I love Formed especially Benjamin Cello!

[@sarahrivera4865]

I’ve heard good things about adventures in odyssey as well,that they are a good option for children and can be found on KZbin and audiobook format

[@julissa689]

Thank you!! Yes, please make one for adults!!

[@Alma.-]

Hallow app it’s very good, I don’t have little kids anymore but I think they have a kids section about Saints and stuff, I believe it costs $63 per year but I highly recommend it Thank you Heather God bless

[@87FM39]

Tomie DePaola books are beautiful and the illustrations made by him are very very cute. He is an american writer with italian and irish origins. He has also a witch character "Strega Nona". But is catholic. "Merry Christmas Strega Nona" is so good. He also has books about catholic traditions around the world: "The legend of the Poinsettia", "The night of Las Posadas", "The legend of Old Befana". The story of the Christmas Tree. As well as stories from native americans and Irish folktales like "Fin M'Coul". And life os saint Patrick, saint Francis of Assisi. I recommend his books :).

[@mlolvera91]

I really love Harry Potter. It was one of those books I grew up with, and it really got me into reading, which helped me a lot through high school. I did know that some of the spells in the book were real, but didn’t think much of it, even after returning to God. I was trying to practice it before I made my way back…. I don’t think I’ll be letting my son watch these things. As a new mother returning back to our Father, I really thank you for this video. It’s given me new insight on the things i didn’t see before. I’ll definitely have to give Tolkien a try! 🤯

[@ashleyslack5960]

And oh my goodness, I had no idea there was still a place I could buy those Catholic dvds!

[@sugarloaf10]

I would also recommend Imagination Station as an excellent swap out for Magic Treehouse books. The series is well done and Christian. It is increasingly difficult and yet so important to screen books and media for our children- my husband and I were aghast when we saw all the displays of witchcraft related books in the children’s section of Barnes and Nobles. I mean, it’s like 70% in regards to fiction. Just terrible. My kids know to stay away from magic in books now and completely agree that it is everywhere!

[@pinkymoreno8126]

Which book would you reccomend to my 9 year old son Prince Martin book series or In the Shadows of Rome book series?

[@MusicBlik]

You explain the religious objection to Harry Potter more fully than I've heard before, though I'm still not really convinced how it's substantially different from the Lord of the Rings in that way. Both stories have good guys that use magic to help, and bad guys that use magic to harm. Both books feature a good guy magic user that sacrifices himself to save the others, who literally dies and then returns to life. Both works contain real darkness, with the bad guys doing despicable things with dark magic, up to and including necromancy. I will concede that LOTR speaks more of Virtue than HP does--LOTR seems to be more about elevating and inspiring the human spirit while HP feels more like simply well-crafted entertainment. And there are other differences as well, some of them profound. But I don't see why criteria that disqualify Harry Potter as worthwhile would not ALSO disqualify the Lord of the Rings, and despite that, most people I've heard pan Harry Potter on witchcraft charges LOVE the Lord of the Rings. Could you help me understand?

[@vanessagutierrez7637]

Love you videos thank you for what you do.

[@dominiquer.9042]

I cant find the Blessed Carlo Acutis book. Do you mind commenting a link? God bless!

[@meyrfam]

Yes…I am not able to find the Carlo Acutis book either…please include a link. Thx

[@mariasilviacirelli7799]

In my disfunctional family, Harry Potter taught me that I could always choose the Good though I was surrounded by Evil. Rowling is not Catholic, but she's Christian (she attends regularly Scottish Church). Harry Potter books (books, not movies, that are very poor) are absolutely full of Christian topics (Love, death, sacrifice, motherhood, the choose of the Good over the Evil, traditional family...),expecially from the third book. The main theme is the Good VS Evil and magic is not something occult. In Harry Potter world magic is a quality that you can have or not, but that you have to use with good purpose. In Harry Potter magic can't be used for occultism: it can't be used to manipulate people, to manipulate reality, the events or emotions. This kind of magic in Harry Potter world is banned and is clearly referred to dark wizards and is evil. Harry Potter and his friends fight against this kind of magic. It's not a saga for pre teens, but after 11/12 years. Everything can be dangerous, without a solid teaching of faith. Even Tolkien and Lewis can be dangerous, without solid teaching, though they are Catholics. In Europe we are full of tales and legends full of magic that cohabitated with catholic faith and were transmitted literally for centuries without any problem. Following this discussion, in Europe we should ban every oral tale that made our countries for centuries? I just invite to reflect on this.

[@ericah4232]

How can you let your child read that? Knowing full well that it’s actual spells, and actual witchcraft. It’s a gateway for the diabolical. You will be held accountable, please reconsider for the innocence of your children.

[@rainyday6789]

I understand where you are coming from. And do agree with some of your points. The main reason that I will keep my kids away from HP is the attachment people seem to have and retain for the franchise. For whatever reason young people (and adults alike) had/have a hard time not becoming obsessed. Almost like a complusion. Many spend more time longing for hogwarts than participating in the world/Church around them (of course there are varying degrees to which this happens but we cannot deny that it does). This scares me most as this kind of disordered longing opens one up to the evil one. I do not respond to argue or tell you that you're wrong. I offer my opinion humbly to other parents who discerning this topic. Most importantly, I am sorry for what you suffered in your family life and offer an Ave for your intentions. Pax Christi.

[@mariasilviacirelli7799]

@@rainyday6789 people can be addicted to many things : soccer team, TV, Instagram... Do you want to forbid your children to join a soccer team because of hooligans or maybe it's better to lead them to a right way to live the love for soccer? There's a lot of people obsessed The Lord of the Rings franchise. Do we have to conclude that LOTR is wrong for this reason?

[@mariasilviacirelli7799]

@@ericah4232 ok listen. I don't know you and you don't know me. You don't have to like Harry Potter. I just explained why it's wrong to say it's satanic. Don't you want to read it? OK, perfect. But please don't tell me how I should raise my kids, I know what's the best for them. Thanks. Bye.

[@rainyday6789]

@@mariasilviacirelli7799 yes, any kind of addiction, obsession or disordered longing will be addressed. I don't care if it's soccer, tv, instagram HP or LOTR. I don't care if it's alcohol, p0rn or food. I will not expose my children to "hooligans" for the sake of exposure. If I could not foster their love for soccer in a way that was safe for their minds and hearts and pleasing to God, they would not play soccer. We would find another activity/team/organization. My job is to give them the tools to get to Heaven. Anything that knowingly hinders that will not be accepted. It is really that easy. Peace be with you.

[@retrorenegade1967]

Anne of Green Gables for girls is cute

[@ALAuchter]

The pearl clutching in this thread 🙄

[@ivanajukicgloban6627]

Thank you!Very educetional!

[@ashleyslack5960]

Yay!! My kids are literally watching Formed right now LOL

[@rachela.5311]

Thank you for this video! So many great recommendations! I'm definitely going to look into Pure Flix. Does anyone have any ideas for an alternative to Pokemon? Something that allows kids to collect cards

[@sugarloaf10]

Look into Animo- it’s a Christian trading card game with characters and Bible verses. My kids love them.

[@rachela.5311]

@@sugarloaf10 That's perfect! Thank you!

[@amc8075]

Awesome suggestions. Please do one for adults! ♥️

[@elvacuevas7021]

Thank you! Harry Potty Books are in the schools:/ Your research is correct. God Bless you...Heather:)

[@jennifer7648]

We LOVE Benjamin Cello!

[@rhi3953]

We had Pureflix for year and most of the things were fine but occasionally something new age would come up like for example someone switching bodies with their dog, which I wouldn’t take too seriously normally, but it involved crystals and someone who came off very new age. Just be vigilant.

[@yedarisfigueroa1148]

Yes!!! No to Harry Potter in our house. We’ve read a lot about it too from exorcists. You got this so right. God bless you and your ministry and all your followers with graces and final perseverance! 😘❤️🙏🏻

[@aadamy]

Prince Martin is cute but it’s not a replacement for the Hardy Boys. I think they’d LOVE the Green Ember series and the Wingfeather saga. They’re by Protestant authors but it’s all about being virtuous. They’re very exciting. I enjoy them. For smaller kids we like the Monks Make Amends (there are other Monk books). The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White is good and The Door in the Wall. For catechism we love the lego book for the Catechism of the Sacraments. It’s adorable and amazingly well written.

[@Cationna]

An important distinction between fairytale, fantasy elements and what Harry Potter did is it's one thing if there's this fantastical creature that can do what no human can, and helps, or harms, the human heroes - and showing literal historical techniques used by real-life witches and satanists as working, attractive, a means for a human hero to obtain magic. It's not that simple, because you have to be born with the ability, however hidden, to do magic in HP world; it won't tell you that if you ask that nice demon nicely it'll give you whatever you want, no. But, it does teach fascination with that stuff and encourages kids to play with it, and I, from my own experience, think it's extremely dangerous. Especially because it really has something magnetic about the world - it's good at seducing you into this fascination. BUT, even if you judge it as ok, PLEASE be mindful of the age of your kids. The later volumes are very much NOT children-friendly! They get very, very dark and heavy. Even the second book concerns itself with a serial killer, basically, but it manages to keep the convention of a fun detective story... But the further it goes, the darker it gets. You really have to monitor at what pace your kids are reading it. It really should NOT come into hands of kids under 10 and later volumes should be for teenagers.

[@jessa3062]

I agree with you 💯 on the Harry Potter! I won’t let my children see it.