Books published by publisher Parachute Press

All God's Creatures provides a complete Blessing of the Animals liturgy, as well as other prayers and rituals, for use in church or anywhere that animals are blessed! If you live with a dog, cat, or some other domestic animal, you already know that these treasured creatures are not just pets, but members of the family. Debra K. Farrington, who has lived with animals most of her life, explores the spiritual aspects of our relationships with these beloved friends--from everyday caring for their needs, to marking the extraordinary moments of birth, illness and death. Full of warmth and wisdom, this essential resource includes chapters on:Training and Compassion-and how to balance the twoCaring for the Sick--ethical concernsRest in Peace--rituals, blessings, and moreTell Me Your Name--discerning the personality of your companion“By viewing companion animals as a gift from God rather than objects that do the will of humans, Debra Farrington helps owners realize a greater sense of responsibility toward their own pets, and shows how the humane care and training of their animals leads to a more fulfilling experience for both.”- Barbara Demarest, canine and feline behavior consultant A percentage of the author’s profits on this book will be donated to PAWS of Central Pennsylvania, a no-kill animal rescue and spay/neuter group.

Fun and informative! See the life of Francis come to life as never before in this graphic novel based on the real-life events of the saint’s life, set in the mountains of Italy. Francis saves the life of an innocent duck, the only fictitious character in the story, and the two become each other’s inspiration. As they grow in faith and friendship, Francis recognizes in Br. Duck everything that he desires in living the Gospel life: humility, poverty, and a childlike imagination. Readers of all ages will enjoy the humor as well as the ageless wisdom offered as the story of Francis’s life is vividly told, scene-by-scene.

A thoughtful gift for children this EasterThis collection of poems and prayers celebrates the great themes of Easter: faith, love, hope…and all the joy of new life in springtime. A beautifully designed keepsake, Poems & Prayers for Easter is a whimsical companion for any child to read on their own, featuring Easter-themed prayers, classic poems by William Blake, Emily Dickinson, and Langston Hughes…and reflections for this special season.

This is a heartfelt look at real-life animals who visit, cuddle, and help kids in unexpected and amazing ways: JoJo the golden retriever who calms anxious kids at the dentist, Gracie the therapy cat who encourages reluctant readers, Parfait the service dog who helps a boy with seizures, Magic the miniature horse who comforts children in hospitals, Ricochet the dog who surfs with special-needs kids, and others. Each chapter, kids will recognize animals’ great capacity for love and devotion, which reflects God’s enduring love for us all. This book strengthens kinships with animals, encourages humane treatment, and helps kids build lifelong bonds with animal friends. Includes beautiful color photos of the actual animals, relevant and easy-to-read Bible verses, and ways children can give back and help animals.

"In a society where my generation is often mischaracterized or misunderstood by parents and those around them, assumed to be irreligious, cynical, and jaded, I intend to depict it as I see it: which is to say a generation lying just at the door of faith, having rejected everything but faith itself. Having assumed everything to be meaningless, we are very close to accepting God as the only source of meaning." - Marjorie Corbman In this candid, thought-provoking account, seventeen-year-old Marjorie Corbman teaches the rest of us something about faith. She recounts her own experiences as well as those of many of her friends, dismantling with remarkable transparency and grace the misconceptions surrounding today's teenagers. Chapters focus on issues and experiences that Corbman and her peers are searching for - such as intimacy, tradition, eternity, community, justice, escape - and how each relates to what Corbman calls "the one thing needful" - faith. Much has been written about teenagers, from self-help books for parents to young adult novels, but very little has been written by teens themselves. This is a book that is sorely needed, both for adults wishing to understand today's kids, and also for those teenagers who wish to assign some meaning to their beliefs, sufferings, and searching.

Editorial Reviews From Publishers Weekly Palmer, Shanonstet , Amy and Lisa, new to the Alma Stephens School for Girls, run an ad in the newspaper published by Ardsley Academy, an all-boys school. They soon hook up with "The Unknowns," four roommates at Ardsley, and their adventures begin. As with most of today's series, the four heroines are a predictable blend of ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles, of personalities and looks. But Wyeth writes with considerable humor, which adds depth and interest to the story. The four girls, and the reader, can see the funny side of potentially embarrassing situations. This first book in the Pen Pals series is a pleasant--and welcome--surprise. Ages 10-14. Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library Journal Grade 5-7-- Four 13-year-old girls who share a suite in a private girls' school are the center of this new series. In the first book, the girls devise a plan to set up a pen-pal exchange with the neighboring boys' school. After several letters back and forth, a school dance is organized so that the pen pals can finally meet. In Too Cute for Words, Palmer is more attracted to Amy's pen pal than her own, and she tries to take him away. Much like the "Babysitter's Club" and the "Cheerleaders" (both Scholastic) books, this series falls short of any literary quality. The plots are simplistic, characters stereotypical, and dialogue unrealistic. Unfortunately, many girls may find them appealing, even though they don't have much to offer in terms of good literature. --Bonnie L. Raasch, C. B. Vernon Middle School, Marion, IA Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This elegantly illustrated collection of ten favorite Bible stories has an interesting twist. McAllister imaginatively retells these tales from the point of view of the women involved: Noah's wife, Miriam, Ruth, Mary mother of Jesus, Pilate's wife, Mary Magdalene are among some of the women who put their side of the story forward. A stylish compilation of Bible stories with a difference, this is a perfect gift for girls.

Celebrated children’s author Rebekah McLeod Hutto (The Day When God Made Church) teams up with illustrator Jacob Popčak to introduce kids to the Apostle Paul — in the form of a lovable honey badger! Young readers will be introduced to Paul and his ministry and then hear stories of his friends, including Ananias, Barnabas, Silas, Lydia, Priscilla and Aquila, and Timothy. All of these New Testament characters will help teach kids about friendship, and how Jesus, our friend, calls us to care for each other as friends.

Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas presents Advent as special time for waiting and watching—paying attention—to the ways God comes to us. Told from the point of a view of a child, the story weaves together familiar Advent traditions like the Jesse tree and the Advent wreath, biblical stories and characters, and reflections on what these stories call us to do and be. This book reassures children of the presence of God in all times and places and invites them to become part of the holy work of making Christ present in the world.

For over one hundred years, the writings of Henry Van Dyke have been lovingly passed down from generation to generation. His Christmas stories, especially, are as resonant today as when the Presbyterian minister first read them to his New York City congregation in the late 1890s. In this volume of Christmas stories and prayers, we read of courage, generosity, and the triumph of light over darkness, from “The First Christmas Tree,” a magical tale of the Thunder Oak and the false god Thor, to the lyrical story of “The Christmas Angel in the Country beyond the Stars.”