Charming children’s book highlights key figures from award-winning Bible Timeline Learning System
Ascension has added a new title to the beloved Ascension Kids lineup: A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree. This colorful book for children ages 4–8 teaches little readers about the story of salvation and what it means to be a part of God’s family.
A debut title from Catholic mother Nichelle Soriano Torno, A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree walks little ones through the genealogy of Jesus’ ancestors and helps parents explain “our place” in this family today—as sons and daughters of God.
Torno comments on her desires for families as they read this book: “My hope for young readers and their families is that they know how much God loves them and how awesome are the plans he has for their lives.” She continues, “I also hope that every child knows they are called to be a part of God’s spiritual family.”
Beautifully illustrated by the author’s cousin, Jordan Vicente Yango, A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree will capture the hearts and minds of little Catholics as they are immersed in the stories of the Bible. Color-coded to match each time period of The Bible Timeline Learning System, every story builds on the one before it, helping children understand the big picture of salvation history.
Illustrator Jordan Yango also expresses his hopes for the book: “When life becomes quiet, and the busyness of holidays and travel winds down to nothing, I’m tempted to feel bored and perhaps sad. But when I consider God’s great family, which I belong to, life becomes an adventure again. I hope young readers gain that sense of belonging and adventure when they open our book.”
A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree is the perfect addition to other Ascension Kids titles like The Great Adventure Kids Catholic Bible Chronicles and My First Catholic Bible Stories Board Book.
A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree is available at www.AscensionPress.com.
Praise for A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree
“Each of us belongs to a family, and that belonging shapes and forms our worldview and context for life. Thankfully, no matter what our earthly family looks like, we all belong to God’s family, and that truth can set the trajectory for the rest of our lives. In A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree, children will learn about the family that we all have joined as baptized Christians, dating all the way back to Creation. What a humble truth it is to know God’s family, to learn the history of this family, and to belong to this family. It is a great joy to sit with my children and tell them the truth: they belong and they are loved in God’s beautiful family.”
–Jenna Guizar
Founder of Blessed is She Women’s Ministry
“I LOVE THIS! Wonderfully written & illustrated for the little ones! This is such a great tool for Sacrament Prep and for anyone learning about Jesus! I am excited to share this with my kids!”
–Lowella Gaerlan
Devoted Wife, Homemaker, Homeschool Mom of three & Catechist
“As a mother to a growing Catholic family, I confidently offer Torno’s tale as a staple within any book collection for children growing in their faith. Relating God’s family tree to all readers brings them closer to Him, as well as encouraging all to further understand their own family trees.”
–Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
“I was captivated by the unique format of the book, which presented a beautiful dialogue between a mother and child. It offers a creative and engaging way for children to learn about the genealogy of Jesus, understanding the humanness of his family and our place within it through our baptism. The illustrations were simply breathtaking, adding another layer of charm to the storytelling.”
–Lisa Gomes
Director, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Diocese of Honolulu, Hawai’i
About the Author
Nichelle Soriano Torno is passionate about sharing her Catholic Faith with young people and their families. She first grew in her relationship with God after encountering Christ in Adoration on a high school retreat. Through this experience, she discovered her identity and worth as a beloved daughter of God and became assured of his presence and guidance in her life. She began to serve the Church as a teen, and later as a young adult student leader through her college campus ministry.
After earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in Communicology and Religious Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nichelle’s passion for sharing the Faith led her to professional youth and young adult ministry. Now a mother, she realizes how important it is to help raise children in the Faith, which is what inspired A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree. In this book, she teams up with her cousin, Jordan Vicente Yango, who brings her words to life with his whimsical illustrations.
Nichelle, her husband, and her son live and play on the beautiful island of Oahu in Hawaii.
About the Illustrator
Jordan is an up-and-coming illustrator currently serving the Lord in lay ministry with youth in Seattle. Growing up in a Filipino-American family, Jordan was exposed to the beauties of Catholicism throughout his life, but he didn’t truly practice or understand his faith until he began exploring it in college. Through the University of Washington’s Newman Center and under the guidance of his peers and local Dominican Friars, Jordan experienced a radical conversion. During his senior year, he served as a peer minister at the Newman Center. Upon graduation, Jordan began his career in lay ministry in the Archdiocese of Seattle, where he currently serves as Youth Minister at St. Charles Borromeo Parish.
Bonded over their shared faith, Jordan joins forces with his cousin Nichelle Soriano Torno to create the whimsical illustrations for A Place for Me in God’s Family Tree.
About Ascension
Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of more than 10 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year and Catechism in a Year podcasts, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and Ascension Presents, which hosts the largest Catholic YouTube channel in English.
Media Contact
For media inquiries, contact (800) 376-0520 or Newsroom@AscensionPress.com.