The Attic Saint

Leo and his family have just moved to a strange home in a new city. The house has stained glass windows, steaming radiators, and a cavernous basement. But it also has an attic. In the attic, where the veil between heaven and earth becomes very thin, Leo will form a friendship that transcends both time and space.

In The Attic Saint, a heartening tale for children of all ages, the wisdom and beauty of the Catholic faith shine brilliantly. Author Tim Drake’s inspired story is brought to life through Theodore Schluenderfritz’s vivid illustrations.

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Tim Drake serves as executive director of Pacem in Terris Hermitage Retreat Center. An award-winning author and former journalist, his books include Behind Bella and the children’s coloring books Viva Cristo Rey! and From an Angel in a Dream. He resides in St. Joseph, Minnesota with his wife and children.

Theodore Schluenderfritz is the illustrator of several books including the Old and New Series by Maura Roan McKeegan, A Life of Our Lord for Children, and the The Book of Angels. He is a freelance graphic designer and the art director for Catholic Digest and Gilbert Magazine. He lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife Rachel and children.

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“Possessed of a quiet charm, gentleness, and simplicity, Tim Drake’s The Attic Saint shows that a child’s growing acquaintance with a saintly person can bring light into dark places, changing everything for the better. Ted Schluenderfritz’ lovely paintings, suffused with that light, transport us to the child’s world with tenderness and grace.”—Josephine Nobisso, Author of The Weight of a Mass

“The book Catholic parents have been yearning for! Pope Benedict XVI once said, ‘The only really effective apologia (defense) for Christianity comes down to two arguments, namely the saints the Church has produced and the art which has grown in her womb.’ And with this splendid book we get both! It introduces children to a great saint (Ambrose) and a great art form (iconography) without being heavy-handed or trite. It’s a beautiful, charming account of one boy discovering the Church’s treasure, and inviting readers to join him on the quest.”—Brandon Vogt, Author of Why I Am Catholic and founder of ClaritasU

“Kids will love this and learn from it. Adults will appreciate the stunning art and poetic text. And all readers will learn the story of one of the great Fathers of the Church. This book is an all-around win.”—Mike Aquilina, Author of more than forty books, including The Eucharist Foretold

 “Young Leo’s new family home takes some getting used to, until one day when the boy who seems to notice all of life’s small details encounters an amazing work of art! In The Attic Saint, delightful prose by Timothy Drake partners to perfection with illustrations by Theodore Schluenderfritz for a story that informs, inspires and sparks the imagination. Fantastic!”—Lisa M. Hendey, author of I Am God’s Storyteller

“A child without good books is like a child without intellectual nutrition. Thanks to Tim Drake, a veteran Catholic writer and journalist, parents now have a powerful new spiritual vitamin for the health of the soul. . . . I will be buying this book for all of my grandchildren.”—Steve Ray, Pilgrimage guide and author of Crossing the Tiber

“I love the set-up in Tim Drake’s story. It is easy to empathize with a new boy in a new house, and you get a real tangible sense of what it is like to encounter a place that is a giant question mark, but about to become deeply known and loved. The book is a reminder that, wherever we live, we are just the latest chapter in a long story written, and cared for, by God.”—Tom Hoopes, Writer in Residence, Benedictine College

“The Attic Saint is a delightful picture book to read aloud! Complete with beautiful illustrations, this heartwarming tale will introduce you to St. Ambrose, the “Honey-Tongued” doctor of the Church, through the clever use of a religious icon found by a young boy in the attic of his new home. I look forward to reading this sweet story to my children.”—Jessica Gordon, Author of ShowerOfRosesBlog.com