Wangerin is the author of over thirty novels, numerous children's books, and a handful of plays, and he also holds many awards for his short stories and essays. He has been a college professor, a radio announcer, a book reviewer, a pastor of a Lutheran church, and has also taken part in cultural ceremonies such as a Lakota Sun-Dance.
The bulk of his writing consists of religious books, giving theological guidance on subjects such as marriage, meditation, parenting, and grieving. The other half of his religious titles are books regarding the events in the Bible.
As for Me and My House: Crafting a Marriage to Last (2001)
Paul: A Novel (2000)
Jesus: A Novel (2005)
The Crying for a Vision (2003)
This Earthly Pilgrimage (2003)
In The Days Of The Angels (2007)
Father and Son: Finding Freedom (2008)
Naomi and Her Daughters (2010)
Letters from the Land of Cancer (2010)
Children's books/stories
Bible for Children (1981,2003)
Thistle (1983,1995)
Potter (1985,1994)
Elisabeth and the Water Troll (1991)
In the Beginning, There Was No Sky (1997)
Mary's First Christmas (1998)
The Bedtime Rhyme (1998)
Water, Come Down (1999)
Peter's First Easter (2000)
Swallowing The Golden Stone (2001)
Angels and All Children (2002)
Probity Jones And The Fear Not Angel (2005)
I Am My Grandpa's Enkelin (2007)
Historical fiction
Saint Julian (2003)
Notes
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From 1980 to 1983 in National Book Award history there were dual awards for hardcover and paperback books in many categories. Most of the paperback award-winners were reprints, including this one.