Jumping into Joy is the first in this Rosary-themed chapter book series.Nine-year-old Peter dozes off while his family prays the Rosary. His friend Caitlyn encourages him to use his imagination. He's not sure what she means until she takes him through the Portal to the Rosary Mysteries. At first Peter doesn't see the ancient town of Nazareth. But as Caitlyn describes their surroundings and the teenage girl carrying a water pot, Peter begins to see it too! Hey, is that Mary?Peter uses his problem-solving skills, and Caitlyn refers to her Rosary Journal as they try to discover the virtues attached to each mystery of the Rosary. Once they discover the virtue, they zip to the next mystery!Prayer is more important than ever-and not just for adults. Children have the potential to become great prayers warriors and to grow in virtue by using Our Lady's gift of the Rosary. We know that the Rosary is more than a recitation of words; it is also a meditation on the lives of Jesus and Mary. Children have a unique ability to use their imagination. Following lively characters, this Rosary-themed chapter book, geared toward children ages six to nine, will show readers how to use their imaginations to meditate on the mysteries and will encourage them to pray for particular virtues.After the story, find Bible verses and virtues specific to each mystery, along with a "Prayer before the Rosary" for children. Theresa Linden is the author of award-winning Catholic fiction that weaves the natural with the supernatural. Her faith inspires the belief that there is no greater adventure than the realities we can't see, the spiritual side of life. She hopes that her stories will spark her readers' imaginations and awaken them to the power of faith and grace.Her books include the Chasing Liberty dystopian trilogy, the West Brothers contemporary young adult series, Tortured Soul (a purgatory soul story), the Armor of God children's books, short stories in Image and Likeness: Literary Reflections on the Theology of the Body, and a story in each of the Catholic Teen Books Visible & Invisible anthologies. She is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild and CatholicTeenBooks.com. A wife, retired homeschooling mom, and Secular Franciscan, she resides in northeast Ohio with her family.
