Find this book at Sophia Institute Press. Click here.
During the holidays each year, the giant evergreen tree hoped that a family would pick it to be the centerpiece of their home, and it would finally be a part of the miracle of Christmas. But as year after year passed and no one seemed to want it because it was so big, the tree began to despair that it would never be selected . . . until one special season when it was chosen, for a purpose far beyond what could ever have been expected.
[Thoughtfully written . . . and beautifully illustrated], I love the fact that this account of Pentecost allows children to follow a young girl through her encounter with this profound event.
--Lorelei Savaryn, This Catholic Family Reads Complete review here.
Do You See What I See? Texas
ISBN 978-1-56579-589-1
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
photography by Richard Reynolds
Available here, 48 pp.
See the book trailer here.
Picture Book Coming 2025
from Ascension Press
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
See the book trailer HERE.
"This is one of the most amazing stories that reconfirms one’s belief in the power of the Almighty. It is a book that is truly timeless, genderless, and classic."
—The Catholic Company
When someone steals the prize buckle of a junior bull-riding champion, amateur sleuth Kirsten Camarata sets her mind to solving the mystery. She takes part in a rodeo in order to get behind the scenes, and even though someone goes to extreme measures to prevent her from doing so, her detective skills pay off as she uses her brains to piece together clues and solve the mystery.
Read along with the book HERE.
This imaginative fictional tale retells the origin of the Shroud of Turin that will leave readers feeling hopeful, joyful and grateful for God-given talents.
The Wordless Weaver
ISBN 978-1-68192-484-7
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by
Caroline Baker Mazure
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
Polish edition
WINNER 2023Colorado Authors League Award, Children's category
"Well-written and colorful." "Without preaching, McAdam weaves into the story the profound passage from Matthew's Gospel: I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me..." "An inspiring story for children." --Kathryn Swegart, CatholicMom.com Complete review here.
German edition
Awakening
ISBN 978-1-933184-61-6
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
published by Sophia Institute Press, 150 pp.
also available as a Kindle eBook or ePub
Finalist, Screenplay Category, 2018
Colorado Authors' League Award
I didn't expect to find myself in tears after reading a book that's barely 30 pages long, but that's what happened when I came across Mother Cabrini: A Heart for the World by Claudia Cangilla McAdam. It's just that good. --Theresa Civantos Barber, Aletelia Complete review here.
This book would make a great gift for younger children who will be Confirmed using the restored order, or for any parent, grandparent or teacher looking for an imaginative, age-appropriate way to tell the story of Pentecost to children of elementary school age.
--Sarah J. Pedrozo, Catholic 365 Complete review here.
Reviews:
Find this book at TAN Books. Click here.
Kristoph and the First Christmas Tree
ISBN 978-1-61261-630-8
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Dave Hill
published by Paraclete Press, 32 pp.
View the book trailer
Read an excerpt
Listen to an interview about this book on Radio Maria
Rachel has a deathly fear of water. She hears Jesus tell his followers that if they believe and are baptized, they will be saved, but she is confused and still frightened. When she learns that the waters of baptism make her a child of God and bring eternal life, her fears get washed away.
See the book trailer HERE.
Find this book at Ascension Press. Click here.
A Miracle for Micah
ISBN 978-1954881815
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Gina Capaldi
St. Paul's Nephew to the Rescue
ISBN 978-1-68192-984-2
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Dave Hill
It's August in Rome in the year 358, and as the heat rises, so do tempers. Twin boys stand together against the teasing of the neighbor kids, but when the brothers quarrel, it doesn't seem like anything can heal their split. It might take a miracle to cool things down, and then, on the hottest night of the year, the most amazing thing happens.
See the book trailer HERE.
Finalist, Middle Grade Fiction, 2011
Colorado Authors' League Award
The Day God's Helper Came
ISBN 978-1954882300
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Gina Capaldi
A FREE coloring sheet from the book can be downloaded here.
Zedekiah and Abigail, two young cousins living in Capernaum at the time of Jesus, argue about everything. They want Jesus to judge which of their families' crops is better--grain or grapes? But when they find themselves in the Upper Room at the Last Supper with gifts of their harvests for Jesus, they discover something more important than their presents.
Readers young and old delight in discovering the hidden worlds within Colorado’s beautiful landscapes. For each photo, a cutout and imaginative poetry verse explore the mysteries of a small detail of the natural world, while turning the page reveals its place in one of nature's grand landscapes.
When it comes time to make his Lenten resolution, Louie is stumped. While his classmates take the traditional approach of giving up something for Lent, Louie embarks on a different course of action and in so doing, discovers what Jesus meant when he said, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice."
A, B, See Colorado
An Alphabet Book of the Centennial State
ISBN 978-0-9860004-0-9
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
photography by John Fielder
published by John Fielder Publishing, 32 pp.
View the book trailer
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
Find this book here.
In each of these two books, there are 24 reproducible stories of people who exemplify positive character attributes. Many stories focus on everyday heroes; ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. People who rise to the occasion. People who sacrifice personal safety for the sake of others or dedicate their lives to a worthy cause. Both celebrities and everyday heroes serve as positive role models for students. Each portrait includes a teacher guide that highlights the desirable traits, including thinking questions and writing ideas about the story and character.
Tabby Long is a modern-day teenager in a family without faith. But on Good Friday, her father experiences a miraculous healing and immediate conversion to Christ, something her mother cannot accept. As the fabric of her family unravels, Tabby turns to Scripture for answers. In her meditations, she imagines living at the time of Jesus. She sees herself at the crucifixion, where she is the daughter of the Roman centurion who crucifies Christ, only to be healed by the Lord's blood. A witness to the miracle, Tabitha is beckoned to the foot of the cross. But in the future that awaits her, she will be faced with danger, despair, and death. Can she possibly follow her father's path to faith and stitch her family back together?
REVIEW:
"Filled with colorful, realistic, narrative illustrations of the story, Kristoph and the First Christmas Tree describes an ancient Christian miracle through the fresh eyes of a child, making this lovely book a beautiful holiday gift to celebrate the coming of Christ." —Midwest Book Review
THIRD PLACE 2023 Association of Catholic Publishers' "Excellence in Publishing Awards" (Children's Books: Picture Books)
See the book trailer HERE.
The Christmas Light
ISBN 978-1644131138
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Igor Kovyar
Beckoning
ISBN 978-1681926629
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
2021 Finalist Colorado Authors' League Award
Whimsical verse combines with the spectacular photographs of Texas nature photographer Richard Reynolds in this 48-page, full-color book that explores the details of nature and their places in larger landscapes. This book challenges not only young readers but those of all ages to recognize that Nature's details are often as magnificent and mysterious as Nature's landscapes.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
—Regina Lordan, Catholic Sentinel
THIRD PLACE 2023 Association of Catholic Publishers' "Excellence in Publishing Awards" (Children's Books: Young Readers)
A beautifully written and illustrated book with a poignant and heartwarming story that introduces the Shroud to younger audiences.
eBook
The Christmas Tree Cried
the story of the White House Christmas Tree
ISBN 0-9748995-5-0 (print)
ISBN 978-0-9748995-6-5 (e-Book)
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Anna-Maria Crum
published by Two Sons Press
View the book trailer
Find this book at Our Sunday Visitor.
Click here.
Far from her native South America, Maria the llama is homesick. When she sets off on a mysterious mission with a heavy pack on her back and a heavier weight on her heart, she forges a new friendship and comes to see her life in Colorado through very different eyes.
See the book trailer HERE.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide
is available by request here.
Find this book at Our Sunday Visitor. Click here.
Take a peek at the book that imagines how the Shroud of Turin could have been created. See the book trailer HERE.
See the trailer for this major
motion picture here.
Portraits of Character
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam,
Robert McAdam, Diane McAdam Bange
Vol. 1 ISBN 978-1879097-64-3
Vol. 2 ISBN 978-1879097-65-6
published by Kagan Publishing
English edition
FIRST PLACE 2023 Catholic Media Awards, Best Book for Young Adults
In this story, a first-century girl, mocked and ridiculed for her belief in Jesus, experiences the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and is filled with the understanding, wisdom, and courage necessary for turning the hard hearts of her friends to the Lord.
See the book trailer HERE.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
If you could stop the crucifixion of Christ, would you?
Ronni is a twenty-first century American teenage girl living 5,000 miles away from home . . . 2,000 years in the past. How she got here, she doesn’t know. But one day she woke up in Jerusalem the week of the crucifixion of Jesus. She has three days to try to stop his death. The question is . . . can she do it? Should she?
Classroom sets of the book are available for purchase at up to a 50% discount!
A young girl in Jerusalem is well-known for her exceptional weaving skills. She wishes she could tell Jesus she loves Him, but she is mute. Instead, at his crucifixion, she provides the work of her hands that speaks of her love louder than words ever could, and a blessing she receives changes her life forever.
Do You See What I See?
ISBN 978-1-56579-554-9
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
photography by John Fielder
Available here, 48 pp.
German edition
The Real Presence
ISBN 978-1950784639
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Gina Capaldi
Mother Cabrini: A Heart for the World
ISBN 979-8889113300
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Richard Cowdrey
The daughter of the Bethlehem innkeeper is cold and cranky in her crowded home. When she brings fire for warmth to the young couple in her family’s stable, she encounters the newborn Jesus and finds her mood suddenly altered and her life forever changed, thanks to the Christmas Light.
Find this book at Ascension Press. Click here.
It’s Christmas Eve in the year 722, and Kristoph, a young orphan boy, is accompanying the missionary priest, Boniface, through the German countryside on their way to the first Christmas the boy will celebrate outside the orphanage. When the pair happens upon a group of men worshiping a sacred oak and preparing to sacrifice the son of the village chieftain, Boniface’s brave actions change their hearts and initiate the tradition of bringing evergreen trees into the home to shelter “loving gifts and lights of kindness.” Kristoph and the First Christmas Tree is a beautiful retelling of the legend of the martyr who became the patron saint of Germany. Includes "A Prayer of Blessing for a Christmas Tree."
The call of Nathanael, a character presented to readers in the first chapter of the Gospel of John is concise, covering just seven verses. The components of the passage found in John 1:45-51 are these: an invitation from Philip; a brief conversation with Jesus; a profession of faith; a man’s life transformed. What is it about Nathanael’s short interactions with Philip and with Jesus that cause him to proclaim Jesus “Son of God” and “King of Israel”? How is it that he comes to discipleship in this brief passage, going from "under the fig tree" to a profession of faith? To attempt to answer these questions, this book examines Nathanael in his context as a devout Jewish man of the time of Jesus, paying special attention to how the author believes he was formed through his study of Scripture, through his ritual synagogue worship, and through his presumed reception of the first sacrament of initiation and that of reconciliation. The conclusion points to Nathanael as a model of discipleship for modern-day followers of Christ.
See the book trailer here.
Photographer for the Shroud of Turin Research Project; Editor & Founder, Shroud of Turin Website (shroud.com)
The Bones You Own
A Kids' Introduction into the Human Skeleton
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
See the book trailer HERE.
Recipient of the 2016
Colorado Authors' League Award
THE MERMAID'S GIFT
ISBN 978-1455621088
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner
published by Pelican Publishing, 32 pp.
View the book trailer
Louie's Lent
ISBN 978-1950784646
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Michael Rogers
Read along with the book HERE.
—Barrie Schwortz, Official Documenting
2021 Winner Colorado Authors' League Award for Juvenile Cover Design
Books
Children's Book Picks for Spring 2021
Micah is a young boy living in Capernaum at the time of Jesus. When his mother sends him to the market to purchase food, Micah has a different idea. He sneaks onto Peter's rooftop to steal fish instead. At Peter's home, he witnesses one miracle after another. But when Jesus catches Micah stealing, the boy comes to realize how his sinful acts hurt many. Through repentance and the bountiful forgiveness of Jesus, Micah becomes part of a very special miracle.
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
With her beautiful prose, Claudia Cangilla McAdam teaches us that the silent gifts of ourselves and our talents that we bring to the foot of the cross yield blessings through Christ's resurrection.
"E" is for Eucharist
ISBN 978-1505117509
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Anna-Maria Crum
Find this book at Arcadia Publishing.
Click here.
Find this book at Ascension Press.
Click here.
Claudia Cangilla McAdam
Author of Works for Children and Young Adults
Maria's Mysterious Mission
2008 Colorado Book Award finalist
ISBN 978-1-56579-588-4
by Claudia Cangilla McAdam
illustrated by Anna-Maria Crum
photography by John Fielder
Available here, 32 pp.
Long ago on the tiny Venetian island of Burano, the winter's ice encircled the island, keeping the fishermen from the sea. The villagers were going hungry. This book tells the story of Gianni and Nicoletta, a courageous and compassionate young couple who want to help their starving neighbors. Gianni braves the icy sea, hoping to catch fish to feed the villagers, and Nicoletta holds vigil in the church. When a fierce storm capsizes the boat, he nearly drowns, until a mermaid appears who offers a gift that will change the future of everyone on the island.
Written in a poetic form, this book is humorously entertaining as well as being informative as it teaches children about the major bones that comprise the human skeleton. Children will learn the names of these bones and their functions as well as uncovering some fascinating facts about the skeletal system. An added bonus is free resource material, including a discussion guide and activity sheets related to the skeleton. Ideal for parents and educators looking to introduce children to the human skeleton.
Find this book at Ascension Press. Click here.
“Simple and beautiful, this imaginative tale takes children to the time of Jesus and introduces them to the gift of the Real Presence found in the Eucharist.” —Dr. Edward Sri, theologian, speaker, and author of A Biblical Walk through the Mass
Honorable Mention 2023 Catholic Media Awards, Best Book for Youth
Available Now:
"One of the best things about Colorado is the stunning scenery of the state, from the expansive Eastern Plains to the snow-capped tips of the Rocky Mountains to the sculpted hills of the Great Sand Dunes. Through photos that span the state and cover all four seasons, and with poetic descriptions that bring each scene to life, this unique alphabet book is a celebration of the beauty and variety of Colorado’s natural wonderland: the flora, the fauna, the grand panoramas, the picturesque details. The enchanting verse of children’s author Claudia Cangilla McAdam and the spectacular photography of John Fielder combine to take children of all ages on a captivating lyrical and pictorial journey around Colorado from A to Z." —John Hickenlooper, Governor of Colorado
Forthcoming Titles:
FINALIST 2024Association of Catholic Publishers' "Excellence in Publishing Awards" (Children's Books: Young Readers)
FREE Resource Material is available by request here.
See the book trailer HERE.
It's a great story about faith and persistence and how anyone can do anything with God's help. --Lynn Topel, The Epoch Times Complete review here.
From "Ashes" to "Zucchetto," this colorful alphabet book is jam-packed with what makes us who we are as Catholic Christians. -- Kerry Crawford and Patricia A. Crawford, National Catholic Register
A FREE Discussion and Activities Guide is available by request here.
A FREE Discussion Guide is available by request here.