New Releases by Claudia McAdam

The Holy Spirit changes everything. With engaging illustrations and beautiful writing, The Day God's Helper Came introduces little Catholics to the story of Pentecost. This story teaches children the power of having a relationship with the Holy Spirit. After Jesus' death and Resurrection, his followers went into hiding for fear of persecution. Hannah, a young believer in Christ struggles to overcome the fear of what others have to say about her beliefs.Despite adversity, Hannah and her family remember the promise Jesus made to them: that he would send a Helper who would encourage and strengthen them.To the amazement of Hannah and all gathered in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descends upon them and replaces their fear with boldness that helps them joyfully proclaim the story of Jesus. The Day God's Helper Came helps children learn about the Holy Spirit, and teaches them how he is at work in their lives through: An explanation of where Pentecost is in the Bible Easy-to-understand definitions for each of the Fruits of the Spirit Inspiring reflection questions that help children ponder their relationship with the Holy Spirit

Tabby Long is a non-Christian girl in a Catholic school whose world gets turned upside down when her dad, who has never been a man of faith, experiences a miraculous healing on Good Friday. Her father’s dramatic religious conversion alienates her mother, who deserts the family. In her struggle to understand what has happened to her family, Tabby follows the suggestion of her school’s religion teacher, and she begins spending time reading Scripture while in Eucharistic Adoration. Following the practice taught by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, she inserts herself into the biblical stories she reads. Through this process, she “time travels” to first-century Jerusalem, where she is Tabitha Longinus, the daughter of the centurion Gaius Cassius Longinus, who pierces the side of the crucified Jesus, incurs a spontaneous healing, and undergoes immediate conversion. Tabitha is a Gentile girl with Jewish friends and a mother who can’t accept her husband’s newfound (and dangerous) faith. When her mother flees to Rome and her father retires from the army and leaves Jerusalem, Tabitha finds herself alone in the holy city, her life in jeopardy for having entered a part of the Temple that is off-limits to Gentiles. She is drawn into belief in Jesus through her friends who are close to the Apostles, even as she struggles to devise a way to save and reunite her family — a duty that consumes her in her modern-day life as well. Tabitha’s experiences are rooted in the stories found in the first ten chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. On the last of several days of her Scripture meditations, Tabby emerges from Adoration with a newfound faith and clarity about how her family can be reunited and healed, all with the help of the Lord.

Long ago, on the tiny Venetian island of Burano, the villagers were starving. Brave Gianni sets out into the icy lagoon to catch fish to feed his people, leaving his fiancee Nicoletta to pray for his safe return. Gianni tries to catch fish for hours, but his net comes up empty every time. A sudden storm sweeps across the lagoon, washing Gianni overboard. He struggles to stay afloat. All hope seems lost until a beautiful mermaid appears in front of Gianni, bearing a gift that will change the lives of the people of Burano forever. This story is a beautiful adaptation of the Italian folktale of how Burano began crafting its famous lace. Rich, intricate illustrations by noted illustrator Traci Van Wagoner complement the delicate tale. Readers young and old will appreciate the resourcefulness and devotion of Gianni and Nicoletta in this title, destined to be a classic.