Books published by publisher Paraclete Press (MA)

Wiggly kids may have this book in church! This fun book is meant to accompany a child to church – or sit in the pews waiting for him or her. Exploring questions young children naturally have, the answers are both educational and entertaining, such as: Why do we have to be so quiet in church? Does God hear me when I sing? Why do we say “Amen” at the end of everything? Does God like it when I kneel or bow my head? What does God look like? Does God remember my Baptism? Can God see me, no matter where I go or what I do? Does God see me when I do something wrong? Does God really forgive my sins?

One of the most meaningful stories ever written…"You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they traveled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man?"So begins Henry van Dyke's Christmas classic, told in the manner of the great fairy tales—and like a great fairy tale, it couldn't be more true! This beautiful edition is designed so that you can read The Other Wise Man as it is intended to be read—slowly.His name was Artaban, and he told his doubting friends why he wanted to travel far away to see the promised king: "It has been shown to me and to my three companions among the Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. We have searched the ancient tablets of Chaldea and computed the time. We have studied the sky. We saw a new star there, which shone for one night and then vanished. Now again the two great planets are meeting. This night is their conjunction."Try as he might, Artaban was unable to join the three Magi on that historic night. But as it turns out, he had even more important things to do—and he learned what it really means to know God.

Friar Jack wants you to know: God loves and cares for all creatures, including and especially those we are closest to!"Today at school, one of the kids told me that only humans go to heaven," my young friend, Eva Maria said. "I almost started to cry. Is that true, Friar Jack?"She went on, "My dog Daisy is my best friend. When I go home she jumps into my arms and licks my face. Wouldn't God want her to be with me in heaven?" Eva Marie looked at me, waiting for my answer. . ."We don't know everything God has planned for us in heaven," I told Eva. "But there are many good reasons for you to believe that your dog, cat, fish, hamster, snake, ferret, iguana, or any other creature that God created will go to heaven when it dies. God has given us clues and hints in stories from the Bible and in the teachings of my favorite saint, Francis of Assisi"This charming book is the children's edition of the Paraclete bestseller, I Will See You in Heaven (more than 25,000 copies sold). It comforts and explains to children that God loves and cares for all creatures, including and especially those we are close to.Includes a presentation page for gift-giving.

My Baptism Album – Boy Author: Sophie Piper A keepsake book that preserves a special Baptism day and helps children continue to grow in their faith Details A delightful keepsake for a precious boy on his Baptism. Includes delightful illustrations, scriptures, prayers based on scriptures, places for special photos of the child, parents and church family, as well as places for all to write prayers and promises to the child. Also included are stories of Jesus, Christmas and Easter and a section on "Thank you" prayers. Dimensions & Specifications Padded front hardcover with ribbon marker 5½ x 7 inches

This charming retelling of the story of Creation is for children of all ages. In her inimitable style, Luci Shaw brings both children and adults a new experience of the exhilaration of the Creation and the Creator as a work of art and a great artist, developed in richness and diversity. The original paintings bring the text to life with their fascinating mix of precision and wonder.

St Francis, the patron saint of animals, is particularly remembered for his gentle and caring deeds towards his world and those who shared it with him. His vibrant faith inspired many others to follow his example of a life filled with consideration. Set in the medieval countryside surrounding Assisi, this book invites you to step into his world, beautifully recreated in words and pictures.

"Once there was a town called Chelm where there was no luck. If something could go wrong, it did. The roofs of the houses always leaked. The sidewalks were cracked. The gardens grew only weeds. Nothing was ever right." So begins best-selling children's author, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (nearly 500,000 copies of her books are in print), in this charming, original story inspired by a Jewish folktale. Through her remarkable storytelling, Sandy Sasso has brought to life the mythical town of Chelm, and created another classic for reading aloud and discussing with children. Butterflies Under Our Hats has been selected as a finalist for the Koret International Jewish Book Award in the BabagaNewz Children's Literature category! Congratulations to the author and illustrator!

Henry Van Dyke was one of the most popular and enduring writers of the 20th century. His sermons, poems, and short stories, such as The Story of the Other Wise Man (Paraclete, over 28,000 sold) were well-loved by children and adults alike. A new volume, The First Christmas Tree and Other Stories combines two books by Van Dyke, The First Christmas Tree and The Spirit of Christmas, in a keepsake edition for the whole family. The First Christmas Tree and Other Stories features woodcut etchings, and comes in a hardcover, gift-sized format ideal for holiday gift-giving. Children, parents, grandparents, teachers, pastors, and lovers of classic literature will welcome this new edition of a beloved Christmas classic. The First Christmas Tree, a tale of the origin of the first Christmas tree, was first written in 1897 and read aloud to Van Dyke's congregation at Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City. Set in 722 A.D., the story tells of how Prince Gregor, "a young boy with the spirit of a man," and his hero, the daring Winfried of England, journey through treacherous land to reach the heathen people of the forest on Christmas eve. When they arrive, Winfried rescues the heathen from an unspeakable evil, destroys the great oak tree where they worshiped their false god, and points to a young fir tree, "the tree of the Christ-child," as the people's new sign of worship, symbolizing laughter, songs, and rites of love. The Spirit of Christmas is comprised of stories and prayers including The Christmas Angel, a story of a child-angel who predicts the coming of Christ as a baby in Bethlehem, Christmas Giving and Christmas Living, a simple, charming message about how to give from the heart, and Christmas Prayers, with prayers for the home and for "lonely folks" at Christmas.

That Baby in the Manger is a children’s Christmas picture book with a needed message about inclusion and acceptance of cultural differences. As the children of a small church struggle with the portrayal of the Holy Family in the Nativity scene as European—not Middle Eastern and not necessarily like them—they learn more about Jesus’s love for all children.

“I loved it. The most beautiful thing Walt has done.”—Maurice Sendak"Wangerin’s flight of fancy is full of love, and that is what the listener cannot help but hear.”—Jan Karon“Any child who gets this read to them will feel safe and protected.”—Janell Cannon, author and illustrator of Stellaluna“In a series of rhymes, Wangerin (Probity Jones and the Fear Not Angel) dispels a child’s fear of the dark by teaching the lessons of God’s love and presence. As the rhymes begin, a mother responds to her son’s question: “How much do I love you? / Lay down your head, / My gingerbread, / And listen: I’ll tell you.” She elaborates by telling him that if robbers should come into the room, “I’d clobber those robbers / Until they slobbered / And all their teeth decayed.” If her son is threatened by monsters, “I’d grab my reaper, / My vacuum sweeper, / And suck those monsters down!” After she reassures him that she will protect him against all things, the mother then tells her son, “Here in your room / All night while you’re sleeping, / Kinder and wiser / And best for safekeeping / Is God.” Huang’s illustrations capture the wildness of the child’s imagination and provide just the right background for Wangerin’s humorous rhymes. Ages 5-8.”—Publishers Weekly