When Alexi learns from his babuskha that a Russian village church has been closed for sixty years, the resourceful young boy decides to prepare it for a Christmas miracle.
This little book is a tale of two journeys, both in search for St. Nicholas and the meaning of Christmas. The first is the story of a young boy with a teddy bear and a lamp who sets out with Santa Claus to go back in time to a place where he can give the gift of his teddy bear. The little boy explores the lore of Christmas, going back to the very beginning, and takes the reader along for the ride. The boy, and the reader, will meet other children like Robert L. May (writer of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol), and Bishop Nicholas of Myra. The childhood of each one shaped their lives, their stories, and the traditions we hold dear today. The second journey is that of author Bruce Templeton, who shares true stories of his forty years assisting Santa Claus. He has been called upon many times to visit young and old alike who need comforting in difficult times. In this book, Bruce's emotional journey ends with the birth of a child on Christmas Eve at the Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. John's, which gave him the inspiration for this book.
Book of SaintsWho are the saints, why are the lives of saints important for children, and what can children learn from lives and actions? In Loyola Kids Book of Saints, the first in the Loyola Kids series, best-selling author Amy Welborn answers these questions with exciting and inspiring stories, real-life applications, and important information about these heroes of the church. This inspiring collection of saints’ stories explains how saints become saints, why we honor them, and how they help us even today. Featuring more than sixty saints from throughout history and from all over the world, Loyola Kids Book of Saints introduces children to these wonderful role models and heroes of the church. Ages 8-12.