Holy Troublemakers and Unconventional Saints

An illustrated children's anthology about people of diverse faiths working for more love and justice in their corners of the world, even when that means rocking the religious boat. With original portraits from more than two dozen artists and engaging profiles of people from different faiths and different eras, these are stories that inspire, educate, challenge, and encourage.

Some of the people featured in this book are well known, like the beloved St. Francis of Assisi, who gave up a wealthy inheritance to serve the poor; Rumi, the Sufi poet; and Thich Nhat Hanh, the beloved teacher who developed the concept of engaged Buddhism. Some are well known, but the deep faith motivating their work is lesser known, such as Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, and Mr. Rogers.

Others are less known such as Bayard Rustin, an American Quaker whose role in the civil rights movement of the 1960s is often downplayed because he was a gay man; Maryam Molkara, an Iranian Muslim transgender rights advocate; and Regina Jonas, the first female rabbi to be ordained whose story was almost lost to history.

In particular, Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints emphasizes the stories of women, LGBTQ people, people of colour, Indigenous people, and others who are too often written out of religious narratives. These stories move us towards more love and a faith that works for the common good of us all.

The book is written for middle grade age children (and their adults) ages 8 and up.

Two digital companion curriculum packets are available for purchase from the publisher. The lessons are written for either in-person or online, in church settings, or at home. They are designed for middle-grade children (ages 8–14) with activity options for younger and older participants.

(12-72 sessions)