This engaging prequel to Joseph Girzone’s bestselling series, which has sold more than 5 million books in the United States, describes Joshua’s early years and the first inklings of his destiny as a messenger of love in a troubled world.
Millions of readers around the world have followed the story of the gentle woodcarver and carpenter who was first introduced in 1983 in Joseph Girzone’s beloved parable, Joshua. In JOSHUA’S FAMILY, Girzone travels back in time, painting a captivating portrait of the mother and father who nurtured Joshua and of the friends and neighbors who viewed the unusually precocious child with an uneasy balance of wonder and skepticism. Joshua’s extraordinary nature and mysterious gifts come to light even as he participates in the ordinary routines of small-town life: his gentleness and loving spirit imbue his interactions with contemporaries and adults alike. As he grows from child to adolescent, Joshua gradually awakens to the knowledge that he has been placed on earth for a special reason. Leaving the comforts of family and a familiar world, he moves to the outskirts of a distant town, where he will begin to teach others how the powers of love, tolerance, and understanding can heal the divisions in the human family and bring everlasting peace to the world. This is the book so many have been waiting for, and its powerful message is a much-needed antidote to the difficulties in today’s world.

Praise for Joseph F. Girzone“Girzone draws on the wisdom of the centuries, writing [with] humanity and spirit.” —Kirkus Reviews“Girzone’s empathy for the loneliness and insecurity of being human guides readers toward a more satisfying religious experience.” —Booklist“It’s the living presence in our souls that Girzone seeks to foster.” —National Catholic Register“Joseph Girzone focuses on the heart of the matter, the truth of the Gospel, and the revelations of the heart, and people relate to his words, respond to his wisdom, read his books, and beg for more.” —Catholic Times“Regardless of how hard or how easy you find the way to God, Girzone’s spirituality, based on good sense, and his confident, friendly writing will ensure that even if you are alone, you will not feel lonely.” —Schenectady Gazette“Girzone is an encourager who seeks to challenge others with the simple but powerful methods of positive thinking, prayer, and love for others.” —Free Press (Chattanooga)