Francis Woke Up Early, Paperback

Moonbeam Children's Book Award

While other children's religious titles focus on Saint Francis of Assisi as an adult, few, if any, have concentrated on the early life of the patron saint of animals and the environment. Stunning illustrations punctuate this beautifully told story of Saint Francis as a boy as he communes with nature and treats even the fiercest of animals--a hungry wolf--with the same compassion he would show his grandmother. In a fearless display of courage, tolerance, and understanding, the young Francis makes peace with the wolf, foreshadowing his teachings of harmony with the world around us and man's duty to protect nature.

About the Author:

Josephine Nobisso is an award-winning author of more than 50 books, including "Take It to the Queen," " Show; Don't Tell!," ""and "Weight of a Mass. "Her titles have earned her "Learning Magazine's "Teacher's Choice Award and a citation in "Parent Magazine "for""Best Books of the Year, among numerous other awards. She lives in Westhampton Beach, New York. Maureen Hyde is an artist and a professor at The Florence Academy of Art in Italy.