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Prayer is more important than ever—and not just for adults. 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. They have the potential to become great prayers warriors and to grow in virtue by using Our Lady’s gift of the Rosary. Following lively characters, this Rosary-themed chapter book, geared toward six- to nine-year-olds, will show readers how to use their imagination to meditate on the mysteries and will encourage them to pray for particular virtues.
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After the story, find Bible verses and virtues specific to each mystery, along with a “Prayer before the Rosary” for children.
JUMPING INTO JOY
Caitlyn and Peter's Rosary Adventures
February 2025
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?
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Peter uses his problem-solving skills, and Caitlyn refers to her Rosary Journal as they try to discover the virtue attached to each mystery of the Rosary. Once they discover it, they zip to the next mystery! Jumping into Joy is the first in this Rosary-themed chapter book series.
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Reviews
"I can’t rave enough about this new series by Theresa Linden! Jumping for Joy is a fun, entertaining way to bring the mysteries of the rosary to life. Peter has trouble concentrating during his family’s weekly rosary until he and his friend Caitlyn embark on an imaginary journey, traveling back to Jesus’ time to discover the mysteries firsthand. This book will keep kids engaged and encourage the whole family to contemplate the mysteries in new ways. Instead of absently reciting the prayers, readers will have a new appreciation and understanding of the joyful mysteries. And there’s a little bonus! The children featured in this story, Caitlyn and Peter, are some of the teen characters in her West Brothers series. So, as your children grow, they can continue to follow their favorite characters as they also grow in their faith."
~Leslea Wahl, author of award-winning Catholic fiction
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"This story is really interesting and a unique twist on the time traveller motif. In some ways it is similar to Lisa M. Hendey’s Chime Travellers Series or the Mr. Baker’s Book Series by Andrew Votipka and even Douglings Adventures by Carissa Douglas. The main difference is that in this volume and I assume series is that the children are witnessing events but often appear to not be seen or hear. And there are jumping through events from the Bible for the mysteries of the Holy Rosary.
The story begins with a Rosary being said at a Home-school meet up. And Peter has fallen asleep again. After the Rosary, Peter and Caitlyn head out to the woods to play. Caitlyn challenges Peter to use his imagination to meditate while thinking on the mysteries of the Rosary. She uses her journal to pull out factions and quotes from the bible. Soon they are witnessing the events the woods are transformed into the desert, and cities of Israel. And with each mystery they realize there is a virtue being shown and they work to figure out how the mystery links to a virtue and how that virtue should be worked on in their own lives.
This is an excellent little read. It is a great volume and one that would be a great addition to any home, school, or church library. I cannot help but conclude that this is a much younger version of Caitlyn and Peter that we encounter in the West Brothers Series when they are teenagers.
This is another great volume from the masterful pen of Linden. It is written for a younger audience than many of her books, but appears to tie some of them together. It is a great read in what looks like it will be a wonderful series."
~Steven R. McEvoy, Book Reviews and More
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