Children

In this awe-inspiring tale, Gospel stories are imaginatively retold by an improbable witness: a donkey! Like Jesus' disciples, Ladan the donkey is present for Biblical events and tells us about Jesus' kind words, teachings, and miracles. Sensitively expressed and colorfully illustrated, A Donkey's Tale encourages children ages 6-8 to also be witnesses to the faith by sharing what they have seen and heard about Jesus with others.

Following Christ isn't always easy. You need faith, courage, patience, and love.

Colleen Swaim looks at eight young souls who became saints for the against-the-current, selfless heroism of their teen years. In addition to the inspiring stories, Ablaze includes maps, recipes, prayers, journal prompts, scripture references and reflection questions to help the reader apply the saints' experiences to every day life.

Read how an Italian high school student inspired thousands as she faced cancer joyfully. Follow a new Christian as he marches to his death by fire after standing firm in his faith in the face of a wretched king. Lock arms with a young man and his crucifix as he dares brawling teens to throw the first stone.

We are all called to follow Christ in our own ways. This book will inflame your heart with vivid storytelling, saintly challenges, prayers, images, and more. Discover how you can set your world ablaze with love for the Lord!

Features: Saint Dominic Savio; Saint Teresa of the Andes; Saint Kizito; Blessed Chiara Luce Badano; Saint Stanislaus Kostka; Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception; Blessed Pedro Calungsod; and Saint Maria Goretti.

View sample pages.

Paperback

Review by Lisa M. Hendey, CatholicMom.com webmaster:

If you're a mom of teens like me, you're constantly on the lookout for books and resources that will help inspire your family. With this new book by Colleen Swaim -- her first, but hopefully just the start of a prolific writing career -- we discover a treasure of the faith for Catholics young and old.

Ablaze is aimed at teens, but truthfully, the resources contained within this book will aid anyone looking to grow in sanctity and faith. Colleen profiles the lives of eight young saints and blesseds, sharing their path to sainthood with accounts that are filled with insight and detail. She has a voice that truly manages to bring these stories to life. Perhaps it's her work as a high school teacher that has provided her with an insight into what will move, challenge and inspire young people. Ablaze is filled with so much more than simply biographical details, including sidebars, vocabulary descriptions, maps, sacramental lessons, and even recipes. Journal prompts, prayers, scripture references and reflection questions help the reader to fully interact with the content presented, applying it to the challenges of every day life.

Each of the saints profiled, though living in different periods of history, has a freshness and a relevance to the world our teens face today. Colleen Swaim aptly brings their heroic virtues to light in a way that will have teens (and grown ups too!), eagerly interacting with her content and asking for more. I give Ablaze my highest recommendation and will enjoy sharing it with my own son this summer.

Gifted youth leader Mark Hart, aka the Bible Geek, asks and answers the real questions that puzzle Catholics. This updated and expanded edition of a bestselling classic deals with concerns about God, temptations, personal issues, social media and technology, and more. Solutions to typical situations you face today are rooted in Scripture and Catholic tradition and provide fascinating advice and strong encouragement for living an authentic Christian life.

One of 101 titles in the St. Joseph Picture Book Series, this book by beloved author Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D. is a treasury of essential prayers for young Catholics. Among the features of this book are:

The following prayers are included in this title:

The St. Joseph Picture Books Series is a magnificent series of religious books for children, superbly illustrated in full color and simply written, that will help all children to better understand the Catholic Faith. These books are ideal for home or school.

The St. Joseph Picture Books Series is intended to help teach the basics of the Catholic Faith to children in an enjoyable manner. The books in the Seeries deal with one or more of the following themes: (1) the teachings of the Church, (2) the Christian way of life, and (3) our Catholic worship (including both public and private prayers and devotions). Each book also carries the Imprimatur, assuring that the contents are in line with Church teaching.

The engaging illustrations help Scripture come alive and capture the importance of the events and the dignity of the characters.

The frame-by-frame narrative makes it easy--and entertaining--for everyone to discover Acts of the Apostles: the story of Jesus and the His Apostles as they formed the early Church.

Younger children can become familiar with the adventures of Acts of the Apostles by following the story through vibrant illustrations, while older children will be immersed in God's Word like never before.

Your children and teens will reach for God's Word again and again, and you'll find yourself doing the same! If you've always wanted to really sit down and read the Bible but have found it difficult, this is the Bible for you.
Acts of the Apostles features:

Discover the thrilling story of how Jesus's first followers went forth to evangelize the world--and the adventures and dangers they faced along the way--in captivating comic book form!

Are you ready to live a life filled with hope? A life lived "more abundantly"? John 10:10

In today's world people often don't keep appointments, show up for events, or even RSVP to an invitation. More significantly people struggle to keep their marriage intact or follow their chosen vocation. Culturally there is a feeling that people just don't keep their word anymore.

Hope means being able to say YES and to mean it. Fr. Torrens, SJ, explains the major obstacles to making promises in our world today. These obstacles can destroy our hope and affect the most important choices we make in life. Drawing from his experience in counseling others in discernment and from his own decision-making experiences, Fr. Torrens provides examples, strategies, and wisdom to help you practice and hone your skill for making wise choices--enabling you to Dare to Commit.

Paperback

In this sixth volume of the Gospel Time Trekkers series, children ages 6-9 are taken on a journey that imaginatively retraces the events surrounding Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. Upon arriving in Jerusalem, time-traveling siblings learn that Jesus is in town! It finally seems like they will be able to meet him. But with darkness consuming the sky, soldiers stationed throughout the city, and Jesus's apostles looking worried, something is not right...

Young children can be both mystified and confused by what they witness while attending Mass with their families--even when they can see over the adults sitting in front of them!

Don't Drink the Holy Water! explains the Mass with creative, full-color illustrations and simple descriptions that resonate with kids. A special section at the back of the book helps adults answer kids' questions about the Mass.

Featuring a 50-minute DVD--broken into 20 small segments, perfect for engaging kids and off ering opportunities for questions and reflection--parents, grandparents, godparents, and teachers alike will appreciate this lively, versatile teaching tool.

Hardcover with DVD