Children/Teen Chapter Books

Double the Fun, Double the Trouble

Introducing Book #1 in The Adventures of Nick & Sam!

The end of summer means two things for the twins Nicholas and Samantha. First, pack in a lot of fun before school starts. Second, get presents for their birthday.

But this year has its share of trouble when Nick and Sam get caught sneaking peeks at their hidden presents. And that's just the start! Later, Nick turns a family hike into a stinky event. Sam discovers just how dangerous disobedience can be. And an unwise buying spree leads to more problems than Nick could imagine. 

Will the twins be able to celebrate their birthday this year?

Nicolas (Nick) and Samantha (Sam) Perry are twins. They moved with their parents, their brother Andrew, and their sister Lizzy, to the Colorado town of Hope Springs. The likeable and engaging characters reflect the sensibilities and struggles of being Catholic in the quirky small town of Hope Springs, and in the many adventures that make the teachings of the Church come alive.

In Trouble with Lent, the fourth book of the Adventures of Nick and Sam, the Perry twins are celebrating Lent at school, at church, and with their family. The family discusses what they will be giving up for Lent, and Nick and Sam experience some struggles with their choices throughout the Lenten season. A new boy, Riley, comes into their class who is obsessed with Big Foot, and he and Nick get into some strange adventures seeking the famous creature. Sam enters the school spelling bee, and she struggles with temptation when someone tries to help her cheat. The kids learn about temptations, sacrifices, poverty, and the love of Jesus along the way. The chapters follow along the calendar for the season of Lent and lead right into the joy of Easter Sunday.

Ages 6 and up.

Nicolas (Nick) and Samantha (Sam) Perry are twins. They moved with their parents, their brother Andrew, and their sister Lizzy, to the Colorado town of Hope Springs. The likeable and engaging characters reflect the sensibilities and struggles of being Catholic in the quirky small town of Hope Springs, and in the many adventures that make the teachings of the Church come alive.

In View from the Top, the sixth book of The Adventures of Nick & Sam series, the Perry twins are looking forward to summer. As the school year comes to an end, Nick and Sam are already caught up in new beginnings. Not only are they packing for a move, but Nick begins to wonder if he's good at anything and Sam struggles to help two people she loves through their troubles. Together, the twins discover that how they deal with inflatable castles, bad throws, and difficult decisions often depends on having the right point of view. It's a lesson for everyone in this exciting and fun-filled story.

Ages 6 and up.

Get this book--and dive into the amazing life of a teenage boy who died in 2006--and has already begun to intercede with miracles from Heaven!

You'll follow along, step-by-step, the methodical process the Catholic Church follows to determine who is in Heaven, and the miracles which revealed that Carlo was already there. 

Extensively researched and incorporating details from official Church documents and personal interviews with Blessed Carlo's mother, you'll learn:

• What miracles astounded him so much that he created a website to share them with the world?
• What simple habits did he incorporate into his life, plus the weaknesses he struggled with?
• What did he call his "kit" for becoming a saint, which fits the lives of modern children and teens?
• What was the miracle--7 years to the day of his death--which led to the beatification?
• What still remains before the Church can recognize him as "Saint Carlo Acutis"?

Brave Leader, Big Heart invites young readers to meet the amazing saint John Henry Newman. He was a happy child, a thoughtful young man, a warm friend, and an affectionate brother. Through his writing, he helped start a movement which would change lives. As a Catholic priest, his courage and warmth led many to seek his guidance. Although he is now with the angels and saints in heaven today, the story of his life and the impact he made still speaks to hearts, young and old, today.

Dive deeper into the world of Narnia with your family, classroom, or small group with A Catholic Guide to Narnia: Questions and Activities for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! 

Explore the rich Christian symbolism that can be uncovered through engaging discussion questions, activities, and references to Scripture and The Catechism of the Catholic Church. To help Catholics appreciate this C.S. Lewis masterpiece, A Catholic Guide to Narnia can be used with both the book and movie versions of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Families, individuals, and small groups will not only gain a more profound understanding of the amazing world of Narnia, they will also grow in their appreciation of and love for the Catholic Faith. A Catholic Guide to Narnia: Questions and Activities for The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe includes:

• 100 fun and interesting questions and answers on the story’s content

• Over 20 activities for families, small groups, or individuals

• Discussion questions to engage in the content

• Bible and Catechism references to see how it is connected to the Catholic Faith

• "For Further Exploration” sections with suggestions on how to discover more about the themes discussed

Patrick and his twin sister Katie are shocked when they learn that someone threw a brick through the St. Francis of Assisi stained glass window at St. Anne's. What would make someone angry enough to damage the beautiful old window? And how will the church ever be able to repair it? The twins want to investigate, but before Patrick can learn anything, he's swept into another adventure--in the year 1205!

Patrick's second Chime Travel journey takes him back to Assisi, where he meets a brave young man who wants to leave his family's wealth behind so he can answer God's call in his life. Young Francis invites Patrick to help him repair an old church, but Francis's father is furious with his son's decision and will do almost anything to stop him. Can Francis and Patrick follow God's command to rebuild the church? And will Patrick's time in Assisi help him solve the mystery of the broken window at St. Anne's?

Book 3 in the Chime Travelers series, exciting new chapter books ideal for children in grades 2-4.

Hurtled into the Wood between the Worlds, the children soon find that they can enter many worlds through the mysterious pools there. In one world they encounter the evil Queen Jadis, who wreaks havoc in the streets of London when she is accidentally brought back with them. When they finally manage to pull her out of London, unintentionally taking along Uncle Andrew and a coachman with his horse, they find themselves in what will come to be known as the land of Narnia.

And so begins their hazardous journey, fraught with mystery and danger. Calormen's capital city of Tashbaan must be crossed, a harsh desert endured, the high mountains of Archenland climbed, their enemies overcome. For the young Shasta it is an adventure beyond his wildest dreams and one destined to change his life forever.

This acclaimed BBC Radio dramatization perfectly captures C.S. Lewis' magical world, inviting us to "breathe" the sweet air of Narnia once again and to join the mighty Aslan and his people in defending its most precious borders.

A full-color paperback edition of The Silver Chair, book six in the classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition is complete with full-color cover and interior art by the original illustrator, Pauline Baynes.

Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, a noble band of friends is sent to rescue a prince held captive. But their mission to Underland brings them face-to-face with an evil more beautiful and more deadly than they ever expected.

Enter a land where enchantment rules in The Silver Chair, the sixth book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series. For over sixty years it has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters. This is a complete stand-alone read, but if you want to discover what happens in the final days of Narnia, read The Last Battle, the seventh and concluding book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

A full-color paperback edition of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, book five in the classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition is complete with full-color cover and interior art by the original illustrator of Narnia, Pauline Baynes.

A king and some unexpected companions embark on a voyage that will take them beyond all known lands. As they sail farther and farther from charted waters, they discover that their quest is more than they imagined and that the world's end is only the beginning.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the fifth book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land with unforgettable characters for over sixty years. This is a novel that stands on its own, but if you would like to continue to the journey, read The Silver Chair, the sixth book in The Chronicles of Narnia.

Of the few who had dared explore this immense waterway, none had lived to return and report where it emptied. If he could travel to the mouth of the "great river", Fr. Marquette hoped to obtain new lands for France and new souls for Jesus Christ. He braved the dangers of tomahawks and tortures to bring the Word of God to the Indians of the New World. Rapids, floods, Indian superstitions, tribal warfare - these are only a few of the obstacles Father Marquette and Louis Joliet encountered in trying to meet their challenge. Illustrated.

Cover art by Chris Pelicano

This Vision book for youth 9 - 15 years old tells the thrilling story of one of America's greatest missionaries who came down from Canada with explorer Louis Joliet to explore the mighty Mississippi River, the "great river" bordered by Indian tribes who killed white men on sight.

Of the few who had dared explore this immense waterway, none had lived to return and report where it emptied. If he could travel to the mouth of the "great river", Fr. Marquette hoped to obtain new lands for France and new souls for Jesus Christ. He braved the dangers of tomahawks and tortures to bring the Word of God to the Indians of the New World. Rapids, floods, Indian superstitions, tribal warfare - these are only a few of the obstacles Father Marquette and Louis Joliet encountered in trying to meet their challenge. Illustrated.

Cover art by Chris Pelicano

This book is now part of Renaissance Learning's Accelerated Reader program. Quizzes are currently available.

Meet young Giorgio. He's the son of a blacksmith, lives in medieval Turin, Italy, and loves his pet donkey, Franca. Together they go charging around Giorgio's hometown, running errands, performing for his neighbors, and generally having a great time with his friends. But his father hasn't been the same since his mother's death, and Giorgio, his family, and the whole town of Turin could use a miracle.

Then, one day, Franca runs away.

Giorgio prays for heavenly help ‚"‚€‚" a prayer that's answered when the people of Turin have a miraculous encounter with the Eucharistic Lord.

You've read the story of Waljan of the Wood, Haden Hunter, Penelope, Bo Dog and their friends . . . now, the real adventure begins . . . an adventure in faith!

These lesson plans for In the Realm of Mist and Mercy walk readers through the story as an allegory to the Catholic faith. Each lesson includes questions for discussion, an exposition of the relevant teaching of the Catholic Church from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible, and an invitation to prayer. Topics include:

Every October 7, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. What many may not know is that this title was bestowed on the Blessed Mother after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571—the most epic sea battle in the history of Christendom.

Lepanto’s Lady is based on the real-life events of the Battle of Lepanto and introduces readers to Rosa, a young girl from Amalfi who must use her strength and cunning to stay clear of slave traders and ruffians as she travels alone in search of her father, who has been captured by enemies.

Can Rosa manage this treacherous journey with the help of newfound friends? How will she find and save her father? Lepanto’s Lady is a riveting tale that demonstrates the undeniable power of the Rosary.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, were the first married couple ever canonized together by the Catholic Church. This inspiring story begins in their childhoods and follows them through their joys as well as their sorrows.

Louis, the son of a French army officer, had desired to be a priest. Instead he became a watchmaker, happy to remain single in service of God and neighbor. Zélie had thought about becoming a religious sister, but she became an expert lace maker and started her own company, doubtful she would ever marry. Then one day they passed each other on a bridge . . .

The Martins married and welcomed nine children, five of whom lived to adulthood and became religious sisters. Their household was full of love, which extended, sometimes heroically, to many others outside their family, including the needy and the enemy soldiers quartered in their home during the Franco-Prussian War.

The secret to their unfailing love was their boundless faith in God. All the challenges the Martins faced, great and small, were met with a profound trust in Divine Providence.

The apartment where Margaret lives with the Pope, ever since he adopted her off the streets of Rome, looks out onto St. Peter's Square. And the noises down there kept waking Margaret up.

She rolled over, covering her ears with her paws.

A few minutes later, the sounds began again, as more trucks arrived to unload even more chairs. Beep, beep, beep, beep went the trucks as they backed up to where men in yellow jackets were waiting to unload them. Then came Bang! Slam! Boom! all over again, as the men arranged the chairs in rows facing the portico of St. Peter's Basilica.

All of this was in preparation for a special event to take place the following day, Christmas.

____________

In this delightful new story from their lives, the Pope takes Margaret on a tour of St. Peter's. But when he's called away to work, Margaret gets lost in the world's largest church. She meets saints, children, tourists, and the artist Michelangelo's famous statue, The Pieta, before being reunited with the Pope as Midnight Mass is about to begin.

In 1946, Francesca Cabrini was canonized as the first saint of the United States. This Vision book for 9 - 15 year olds tells the exciting story of this missionary from Italy who came to America to spread the Faith. She founded a new order nuns, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, to teach the Faith and work with the poor in our country. She was a tireless missionary who crossed the ocean 37 times to expand her order across the world to France, England, Spain; in Central and South America; in the United States from coast to coast including New York, New Orleans, Denver, Seattle (where she took the oath of U.S. citizenship) and Chicago, where she died in 1917, a saint of our time.

Cover art by Chris Pelicano