• Edward & Lorna Mornin: Saints – A Visual Guide, Eerdmans, 2006

This is a compact volume chock full of detailed information about more than 130 saints. It is very tastefully illustrated with a wide range of gorgeous art – from famous masterworks to church statues. There is also a handy guide to symbols associated with many of the more colourful personages. Edward Mornin is professor emeritus of Germanic Studies at UBC, where his wife has served as a research scientist.

• Elsie K. Neufeld, editor: Half in the Sun, 2006

This anthology of poems and stories by west coast Canadian Mennonites offers a good cross-section of material by contemporary writers. Some of the more interesting items include: ‘Renovating Heaven,’ ‘Angel of Stupidity’  and ‘The Dog Outside the Dream.’ Contributors include Deborah Campbell, author of This Heated Place, who teaches literary non-fiction at UBC; Barbara Nickel, winner of the 1998 Pat Lowther Award for The Gladys Elegies; Andreas Schroeder, author  of more than 20 books; and R.W. Snopek, author of Targets of Affection. Editor Elsie Neufeld is a published poet who lives on Sumas Mountain.

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• George Epp, compiler: Whatever You Did for One . . . You Did for Me, 2006

Profusely illustrated with Dave Roels’ appealing photos of the participants, this book looks back on 40 years of the M2/W2 prison ministry. Rather than offer a dry factual narrative, the organization wisely chose to tell its story through the personal accounts of more than 100 volunteers – many with poignant stories to tell – of their spiritual involvement with prisoners.

• Harry Schmidt, with Jim Coggins: The Incredible Dream, 2006

Abbotsford businessman and humanitarian Schmidt has an extraordinary tale to tell, as BCCN readers may recall from his testimony in our January 2007  edition. That testimony was taken from this book. Starting out with “no money, little education and a serious speech impediment,” the tenacious Schmidt eventually triumphed over difficulties to develop a successful ministry building shelters for young people in various countries. An inspiring tale, written with the assistance of BCCN’s own Jim Coggins.    – DFD

January 2008