Catholic stories for little hearts.
Faithful storytelling for the families forming the next generation of saints.
Why Joyful Tales?
Meet the Joyful Tales team. Christina (center) is the author — and the mom of one of the little altar servers whose story started it all. Stephanie (left) is the editor and the mom of the other little server whose quiet perseverance sparked the very first book. Mariah (right) is the illustrator who brings every page to life. This is the team behind every Joyful Tales story, now and for all the ones still to come.
Together we believe: the stories our children carry shape the adults they become. The Saints lived real, wild, holy lives that little hearts can love. The sacraments are not boring — they are the most exciting story ever told. Joyful Tales exists to put that joy into the hands of the families forming the next generation of disciples.
Reviews & Praise
B. Wass
5 out of 5 stars
Perfect book for young kiddos interested in serving in mass!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2025
Absolutely loved this book! it was a sweet and reassuring book for young children who are beginning, or even just dreaming about, becoming altar servers. From the very first page, you can tell there’s a lot of care and intention behind the story.
I especially loved the part about St. Dominic. It’s a really lovely reminder for kids that being small or young doesn’t mean they can’t serve in meaningful ways — it’s about willingness and heart.
The prayers included in the book, along with the glossary explaining Mass terms like paten, chalice, and incense, are especially helpful for families with young children who are still learning how everything works. Everything feels age-appropriate, encouraging, and easy to understand.
Whether a child is getting ready to serve for the first time or just enjoys stories about faith, service, and perseverance, The Littlest Server is a gentle, meaningful read. It’s a truly lovely book that I think will resonate with a lot of little hearts!
Lori
5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful Book!
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2025
“The Littlest Server” by Christina Coveyou is a touching story that all Catholic parents should read to their children, regardless if they aspire to be servers or any of the other vocations within the Church. Mariah Mione’s beautiful, kid-friendly illustrations give the story warmth.
“The Littlest Server” teaches respect, love, and hope—and it’s also a wonderful book for parents to remind them that showing patience and gentle guidance to their children is a gift that is Heaven sent.
I fell in love with “The Littlest Server” and I highly recommend it with 5 stars!
Meet the Storyteller
I’m Christina, the author of The Littlest Server — a children’s story born from a real moment of grace.
It started with two little boys. My small-for-his-age son and my friend Stephanie’s boy had just become altar servers — after an early, tearful setback involving vestments that swallowed them whole. They persevered, and soon they were volunteering to serve every Sunday. When Jackie, our deacon’s wife, said “there should be a book about them,” I sat down two days later and the story wrote itself.
The Littlest Server is for every child who has ever stood at the foot of the altar and felt a little too little. It’s for the ones whose love for Christ is larger than they are — and for the moms and dads cheering them on from the pew. I’m a Catholic wife and mother to six earthly children and two in Heaven, with our seventh on the way this September.
More Joyful Tales are in the works — stay tuned.
More stories on the way
Joyful Tales is just getting started. Join the Joyful Heart letter to hear when the next book is in the works, when new merch drops, and when a story sneak-peek is on the way.