Fiction

Catholic Tales For Boys and Girls 1
by Caryll Houselander

Tales about Catholic children to form your own little ones in holy wisdom and piety.

Caryll Houselander is best known for the intensity of her vision of the suffering Christ and His immeasurable love for us, a theme that she frequently spoke of with breathtaking luminosity in her many books about Him.

Few know, however, of the many remarkable stories she wrote for Catholic children — delightful tales that are simple but not shallow. Indeed, like her books for adults, they manifest a tender love of Christ and His little ones not commonly found among us these days.

Here are twelve of Houselander's best tales, charmingly illustrated with Renée George's lively drawings of pirates and princesses, castles and kings.

Through the tale of Jack and Jim, even young children will grasp the meaning of Christ's suffering; in Racla the Gypsy, they'll discover the charity which is at the heart of the Eucharist; in the The Curé's Guest, they'll see how Christ makes up for the sins of others.

All the stories touch on Catholic themes, but these tales are not really catechetical. Yes, they do take for granted that Catholicism — especially prayer and the Mass — plays a large role in the lives of these children, but they do something more . . . and more important.

Tale after tale introduces children to the tender love that Jesus has for each of them, and to the fire of love for Him that can burn in the hearts of Catholics — even in the hearts of little ones like themselves.

There is no better gift you can give to a young child.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 160 pages

A Child's Rule of Life
by Msgr Robert Hugh Benson

Big children and small will be inspired by the rhymes and the profuse use of line drawings, to make it both simple and smart, throughout the book. The child is invited to “learn by heart” the whole Rule, not only a part. The beautiful line drawings follow a brother and sister throughout their day, when they awake, go to Church, eat their meals, learn their lessons, and have family time. The simple yet charming rhymes will teach a child how to act in Church, what to do when tempted, what to do when troubled, and much more. A real treasure for young and old!

Paperback, size 10.5" x 8.3", 26 pages

Also available in Hardcover.

Portrait of the Son
A Tale of Love
The Theological Virtues Trilogy
by Josephine Nobisso

The richest man in the world, with the most varied and treasured art collection in existence, begets the most wonderful son who, like himself, loves and appreciates every creation they possess. They relish entering the very worlds of their seascapes, landscapes, cityscapes and even abstract forms, but, most of al, they cherish their portraits, sharing in the very lives of their subjects. Under the father’s solicitous eye, and with their motherly estate keeper’s assistance, the exceptional son grows in wisdom and stature, extending his wealth to whomever wants it. What becomes of this son? And what later becomes of the treasures when the father decides to offer his immensely vast collection at auction? What superlative will be the most superlative of all? The man who wins the auction for the Portrait of the Son is in for the surprise of his life, and the would-be bidders witness a miracle of conversion.

This is the third volume in a trilogy of The Theological Virtues--faith, hope, and love--which began with THE WEIGHT OF A MASS, A Tale of Faith, and TAKE IT TO THE QUEEN, A Tale of Hope. Printed on the front and back underflaps are theological insights into the text and art of this story for all ages, for the true protagonists are the Persons of the Holy Trinity, the seen and unseen world of Creation, and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Also available in paperback.

Hardcover with dust jacket, size 11.75" x 8.25", 40 pages

King of the Golden City
by Mother Mary Loyola

The King of the Golden City is an allegorical tale which has stood the test of time because of the beauty of its symbolism and the richness of its spiritual advice.  Written for children yet beloved by all, the only complaint lodged against it has been that its main character is female, leaving many boys to feel that this tale is better suited for girls.

Encouraged by the original French translators of this book, who created parallel editions for boys and girls, we have now remedied this single fault! 

In this brand new edition adapted especially for boys, readers will find the tale of Dilectus and his friends every bit as charming and instructive as before--and now boys as well as girls will find it easy to become the hero of the story and make it their own!

Softcover, size 8.5" x 5.5", 130 pages

Tales of Foreign Lands vol 1
Catholic Stories of Adventure In the Mission Lands
by Fr Joseph Spillmann, S.J. 

Fr. Joseph Spillmann was born at Zug, Switzerland, April 22, 1842. He joined the Jesuits and in 1874 was ordained priest. Due to his poetic gifts he was assigned to work on various periodicals. Spillmann's literary activity resulted chiefly from his connection with these periodicals, especially the Katholische Missionen, which he edited from 1880-90. His Tales of Foreign Lands series contains 21 booklets, consisting of edifying and tastefully illustrated stories for the young. They have been translated into many languages. Newly reprinted by Angelus Press, Volume One combines four of these stories into a single volume.

Love Your Enemies. The Maoris of New Zealand have had enough of being cheated by the English and rebel. Meanwhile, the Patrick O'Neal family, trying to start a new life there, are overtaken by a marauding tribe and must flee for their lives, all the while trying to practice in earnest that hardest of Christian maxims: Love Your Enemies.

Maron. It is Lebanon in 1860, and the Druses are persecuting the Christians under the complicit eye of the Turkish government. The Mufti of Sidon incites the mob to kill the Christian dogs even as his son Ali, sickened by the slaughter, helps his Christian friend Maron flee to the hills, and learns from his actions the reality of grace and the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The Festival of Corpus Christi. Don Pedro and his nephew have accepted their government's commission to shut down the Jesuit missions in Bolivia. Reaching the mission, they discover a village where the Indians are living a civilized, Christian life. Their preparations for the annual Corpus Christi procession and the taming of a savage tribe form the backdrop of this tale.

The Cabin Boys. It is 1798, the ninth year of the bloody French Revolution, and fifteen-year-old Paul and twelve-year-old Albert embark as cabin boys on a sea voyage with unusual cargo in the hold: 200 priests, condemned to forced labor in Cayenne. Gripping adventures await the boys, aided by wise priests at sea and on land, until the tale brings them back home again.

Paperback, size 9" x 6", 320 pages

The Phantom of the Colosseum
In the Sadows of Rome Vol 5
by Sophie de Mullenhein

The Secret Tomb is the fifth volume of the gripping new series for 10 yr. olds and up titled In the Shadows of Rome (6 books total).

Being a Christian in ancient Rome was very dangerous. To spread the faith and stay alive, you had to live in the shadows . . .

Titus' father thinks his son is a coward and arranges a stay with the police to make a man out of him. Soon, Titus finds himself hunting down Christians and trying to discover where they've hidden the body of Peter, Apostle of Jesus, who died 250 years earlier. Meanwhile, his friend Maximus is given the mission to find Peter’s tomb before it’s destroyed. Will their friendship survive the test of their loyalties? 

Follow their adventures as they forge priceless friendships—and discover the many secrets lurking in the shadows of Rome.

Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.5", 208 pages

The Phantom of the Colosseum
In the Sadows of Rome Vol 3
by Sophie de Mullenhein

The Mysterious Goblet is the third volume of the gripping new series for 10 yr. olds and up titled In the Shadows of Rome (6 books total).

Being a Christian in ancient Rome was very dangerous. To spread the faith and stay alive, you had to live in the shadows . . .

Maximus, his slave Aghiles, and their friend Titus are again caught up in exciting and dangerous events—this time when Titus discovers a rather ordinary goblet in his sack. Where did it come from? Who put it there and why? The plot thickens when a man is killed outside Titus' house. The boys must decide, and quickly, what to do about the goblet before somebody else gets hurt.

Follow their adventures as they forge priceless friendships—and discover the many secrets lurking in the shadows of Rome.

Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.5", 240 pages

A Lion for the Emperor
In the Sadows of Rome Vol 2
by Sophie de Mullenhein

A Lion for the Emperor is the second volume of the gripping new series for 10 yr. olds and up titled In the Shadows of Rome (6 books total).

Being a Christian in ancient Rome was very dangerous. To spread the faith and stay alive, you had to live in the shadows . . .

Maximus and Aghiles join their friend Titus on his father’s expedition to capture a magnificent lion in the forests of North Africa. After surviving the dangers of the hunt, the three friends face a perilous voyage back to Rome. Their mission: present Emperor Diocletian with a priceless beast that will be used to satisfy the pagan appetite for violence during games in the Colosseum.

Follow their adventures as they forge priceless friendships—and discover the many secrets lurking in the shadows of the Rome.

Paperback, size 8.25" x 5.5", 224 pages

Ink In His Blood
A Story of Monsignor Ronald Knox
by Brother Edward Overstreet, C.S.C.

Ronald Knox was born in England in 1888, and he grew up in the Church of England. After much study and prayer, Ronald decided to join the Roman Catholic Church in 1917. Ronald was ordained a priest in 1919. Father Knox was a brilliant writer who published many works, but he saw a great need in the English-speaking Church: the need for a new translation of the Bible.

Level 3

Paperback, size 9" x 6", 145 pages

Crossbows and Crucifixes
A Novel of the Priest Hunters and the Brave Young Men Who Fought Them
by Henry Garnett

England, 1585: Queen Elizabeths spies lurk everywhere, searching out Catholics who refuse to attend thenon-Catholic services of the State religion. Officers of the law huntdown and kill Catholic priests, and imprison those who shelter them.

In these perilous times, fifteen-year-old Nicholas Thorpe discovers thathis widowed mother has become Catholic, and he soon joins the Churchshe has come to love.Thus begin Nicholas s adventures in the Companions, a pious underground army ofresistance that shelters priests and leads them in strict secrecy andgreat danger from one estate to another, so the Catholic faithful cancontinue to receive the Sacraments the law now forbids.

In this adventure for all ages, author Henry Garnett brings to life the drama of a nation where unjust laws forced good men and women to choosebetween their country and their Faith, and young people heard early andwell the call to heroism that Christians must be ever ready to heed.

Age range 10 - 17 years

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 208 pages

Stone Soup
by Marcia Brown

When three hungry soldiers come to a town where all the food has been hidden, they set out to make soup of water and stones, and all the town enjoys the feast.

Paperback, size 10" x 7.6", 40 pages

The Marks of the Bear Claws
by Rev. Henry S. Spalding, S.J.

Paul Guibeau has spent the winter at the Mission of Saint Ignace and now is anxious to set out with Father Marquette and Sieur Joliet on their voyage of discovery.  More than anything, though, he wants his friend Red Bear to accompany them—not only to help protect them, but in the hopes that by spending the months ahead with the great Missionary, Red Bear may finally consent to become a Christian.  But Red Bear fears Marquette and instead heads east with his people.  Who, then, is encircling the camp each night with the marks of bear claws?  Mystery and danger abound on this journey into the unknown…

The story of Père Marquette and his participation in the discovery of the Mississippi River was one that was dear to Father Spalding, for he had done much of his own research on the life of this great Jesuit.  He used details from Volume 59 of the Jesuit Relations (which includes the actual journals kept by Marquette during his travels) to construct this story (though of course he added fictional elements as well).  The result is a riveting tale of courage and faith valuable as much for itself as for its historic significance.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 164 pages

The Father Brown Reader
Stories from Chesterton
by G.K. Chesterton
adapted by Nancy Carpentier Brown

Young readers can now delight in Chesterton's wit and storytelling in these adaptations of 4 popular Father Brown stories:

1. "The Blue Cross,"
2. "The Strange Feet,"
3. "The Flying Stars," and
4. "The Absence of Mr. Glass."

In each story Chesterton includes a delightful twist and the clever sleuthing of Father Brown.

The Father Brown Reader II is also available.

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 148 pages

Angels in Iron
by Nicolas C. Prata

The year is A.D. 1565 and the tiny island fortress of Malta, defended by an anachronistic crusading order called the Knights of St. John Hospitallers, is all that stands between the war machine of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and the very heart of Christendom. Pitifully outmatched and against impossible odds, the indomitable Grand Master Jean Parisot de La Valette nevertheless inspires his knights to "strike a blow for Christ" and sacrifice their lives to halt the invading Turks at the gates of Europe. Nicholas Prata relates the actual events of the Great Siege in riveting and graphic prose which brings the extreme heroism of the knights and the horror of combat sharply into focus.

Age range: 12 years up

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 292 pages

First Communion Days and True Stories for First Communicants
by A Sister of Notre Dame

This collection of First Communion day stories has remained popular among children ever since they were first published in the early 1920s.  They have stood the test of time for two simple reasons: they are wonderful stories, and they are all true.  Even those that are sad have the power to inspire young and old with renewed love for our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. 

Originally published as two separate books, True Stories for First Communicants and First Communion Days, they were reprinted in 1949 with new illustrations by Rosemary de Souza.  Years later, in 2003, this 1949 impression was brought back into print by Neumann Press.  We have gone back to the original books, combined both sets of stories under one cover, and have restored the original black and white illustrations by Wilfrid Pippet. 

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 198 pages

The Door in the Wall
by Marguerite de Angeli

Ever since he can remember, Robin, child of Sir John de Bureford, has been told what is expected of him as the son of a nobleman. He must learn the ways of knighthood. But Robin’s destiny is changed suddenly when he falls ill and loses the use of his legs. Fearing a plague, his servants abandon him, and Robin is left alone.

A monk named Brother Luke rescues Robin and takes him to the hospice of St. Mark’s, where he is taught woodcarving and patience and strength. Says Brother Luke, “Thou hast only to follow the wall far enough and there will be a door in it.”

Robin learns soon enough what Brother Luke means. When the great castle of Lindsay is in danger, Robin discovers that there is more than one way to serve his king.

Paperback, size 7.5" x 5.2, 128 pages

New Boys Bush Rescue #7
by Fr James Tierney

This book is suitable for all members of the family to read or have read to them. Full of adventure and fun, Father Tierney's Bush Boy series captures everyone's imagination. Set in the Australian Bush it introduces the reader to real Australian culture and humour. This is James Tierney's long-awaited new adventure in the wonderful Bush Boys series. Find yourself immersed in Jack, Jim and Joe's expeditions in the Australian bush!

Paperback, size 7.1" x 4.4", 512 pages

I Am Margaret #1
by Corinna Turner

IN MARGO'S WORLD, IF YOU DON'T PASS YOUR SORTING AT 18 YOU ARE RECYCLED.

LITERALLY.

Margaret Verrall dreams of marrying the boy she loves and spending her life with him. But she's part of the underground network of Believers - and that carries the death penalty. And there's just one other problem. She's going to fail her Sorting. But a chance to take on the system ups the stakes beyond mere survival. Now she has to break out of the Facility - or face the worst punishment of all. Conscious Dismantlement.

"Great style - very good characters and pace. Definitely a book worth reading, like The Hunger Games." EOIN COLFER, author of Artemis Fowl

"An intelligent, well-written and enjoyable debut from a young writer with a bright future." STEWART ROSS, author of The Soterion Mission "This book invaded my dreams." SR. MARY CATHERINE BLOOM O.P

Age range: 15+

Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 308 pages

Christina's Carol
by Tomie dePaola

Based on the 1872 Christmas carol “In the Bleak Midwinter” by English poet Christina Rosetti, this stunning, wintry picture book from acclaimed author-illustrator Tomie dePaola will be cherished all through the holiday season.

One chilly winter’s night, the wind howled over a blanket of snow while in a humble stable, Jesus Christ was born. Angels, shepherds, wise men, and farm animals all gather to share in the still and holy night.

Hardcover, size 9" x 11", 32 pages