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Play it Again with Sonia E. Amin ( reposted from 2/14/2024)
Full Transcript available at www.valeriefentress.com/blog


Join Valerie Fentress as she talks with Dr Sonia E. Amin about her children's picture book When Love Flows.

We talk about our favorite children's books as well as Valentine's traditions in our home.

Find out more about Sonia E. Amin on her website, and find a link to her books below.

Sonia E. Amin | Bax and His Bubbles - Positive Thinking for Kids (soniaeamin.com)

When Love Flows: The Beauty of Encouraging Others (Social-Emotional Learning) - Kindle edition by Amin, Sonia, Chirinos, Arlenis. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Happy Reading

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Summary

In this episode, Valerie interviews author Maria Antonia about her picture book, The Christmas Elephant, A Nativity Story. They discuss family Christmas traditions, sibling dynamics, and the inspiration behind the book. Maria shares her writing journey and the process of getting her book published. They also talk about their favorite books and what to expect from Maria's upcoming projects.

 Takeaways

 Family traditions around Christmas can vary, such as when to put up the Christmas tree.

The Christmas Elephant is a picture book about two sisters putting on a Christmas play and the younger sister's desire to be the Christmas elephant.

The book explores themes of imperfection, uniqueness, and finding joy in unexpected moments.

Maria's writing journey began with writing stories for her nieces and nephews as birthday gifts.

Critique groups and online communities can provide valuable feedback and support for writers.

The Christmas Elephant was published after a two-book deal with Paraclete Press.

Maria's next picture book, The Runaway Sheep, is based on the parable of the lost sheep.

Readers can find more about Maria and her books on her website, where she also offers downloadable activities for kids.

 Maria Antonia | children's picture book author (mariaantoniawrites.com)

Amazon.com: The Christmas Elephant: a Nativity Story: 9781640609570: Antonia, Maria, Zarrin, Laura: Books

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Summary

 In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Becky Van Vleet, an award-winning multi-genre author, about her children's picture book, Angelina the Traveling Angel. The book follows Angelina, a magical Christmas tree topper, as she travels from home to home and questions her worth. Becky shares the inspiration behind the book, which is part of her traveling series based on objects passed down through generations in her family. She discusses the importance of preserving family stories and memories and the impact of her own writing journey. Becky also recommends the book Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers and shares her favorite children's book author, Patricia Palocco.

Takeaways

 Preserving family stories and memories is important for passing down traditions and creating a sense of identity.

Children's books can convey important messages, such as the gospel, in a fun and engaging way.

Writing can be a fulfilling and unexpected journey, even for those who may not have considered themselves writers before.

Books have the power to impact and inspire readers, shaping their perspectives and values.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Background

03:00 The Inspiration for Angelina, the Traveling Angel

07:21 The Message of Angelina, the Traveling Angel

12:49 The Value of Family Stories and Memories

16:18 Becky's Writing Journey

21:48 Impactful Books in Becky's Life

23:18 Favorite Children's Books

25:42 Upcoming Projects

27:54 Where to Find Becky and Her Books

29:01 Conclusion

Home - Becky Van Vleet

Angelina, the Traveling Angel - Kindle edition by Van Vleet, Becky. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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Summary

 In this episode, Valerie interviews Dominique Okonkwo, the author of the rhyming picture book 'No Greater Love.' They discuss Dominique's inspiration for the book, the challenges of explaining God's love to children, and the importance of faith-based stories for kids. Dominique also shares her writing journey and her plans for future books. Overall, the conversation highlights the power of storytelling to teach and entertain children while reinforcing biblical truths.

Takeaways

 Children's books can be a powerful tool to teach and reinforce biblical truths.

Explaining abstract concepts like God's love to children can be challenging but important.

Writing can be a therapeutic and fulfilling creative outlet.

There is a growing appreciation for creativity and the arts in our culture.

Personal experiences and questions from children can inspire and shape the stories we write.

It's important to pursue the things that God puts on our hearts, even if they don't fit traditional career paths.

Favorite books from childhood can have a lasting impact and be enjoyed across generations.

Children's books have evolved to cater to shorter attention spans, but there is still value in longer, meatier stories.

Devotionals and journals can be valuable tools for personal growth and connecting with God's word.

Writing stories that engage children's questions and interests can help them connect with biblical truths.

There is a need for diverse children's books that highlight different cultures and experiences.

Social media and websites are valuable platforms for connecting with readers and promoting books.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Favorite Pie

03:05 Teaching Children About God's Love

06:20 Inspiration and Questions from Children

10:58 Dominique's Writing Journey

12:56 Favorite Books and Impact

15:25 Evolution of Children's Books

23:24 Connecting with Dominique and Conclusion

Writer Portfolio | Dominique Okonkwo | Miami Motherhood

Amazon.com: No Greater Love: A Celebration of How High, How Deep, and How Wide God’s Love is for His Children: 9781640609310: Okonkwo, Dominique, Morena, Lhaiza: Books

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Summary

 Nancy Tupper-Ling discusses, Bless the Earth, which is a collection of poems for children to celebrate and care for the world, co-edited with bestselling anthologist, June Cotner. The book features a variety of poetry styles and beautiful illustrations. Ling explains that poetry comes in and out of fashion, but it is making a comeback, especially with the inclusion of fun and joyful poems. The book aims to inspire children and families to appreciate and care for the Earth. Ling also shares her connection to nature and how it inspires her writing. She mentions that the book includes resources for poetry exercises and encourages readers to explore different types of poetry.

Takeaways

 Bless the Earth is a poetry compilation for children that celebrates and encourages care for the world.

Poetry is making a comeback and is a powerful way to communicate big truths and emotions in a small moment.

Nature can be a source of inspiration and connection to God.

The book includes a variety of poetry styles and resources for poetry exercises.

Children's books, including poetry, can help children understand and navigate complex emotions and situations.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to Bless the Earth

02:29 The Collection of Poems

03:40 The Power and Variety of Poetry

06:01 Finding Inspiration in Nature

08:09 Exploring Different Poetry Styles

 Nancy Tupper Ling – Children’s Author and Poet

June Cotner

Bless the Earth: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World: Cotner, June, Ling, Nancy Tupper, Song, Keum Jin: 9780593577660: Amazon.com: Books

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Summary

 In this episode, Valerie interviews Rachael Hartzell, the author of the picture book series 'The Garden Scouts.' They discuss Rachael's favorite bugs and bug encounters, as well as the lessons we can learn from bugs. 

Rachael shares the inspiration behind her book series and how she teaches the fruits of the spirit through her stories. They also talk about scouting, different cultures, and the impact of books on education. Rachael shares her journey as an author and her plans for future books. You can find Rachel on Instagram at Rachael.Hartzel.

 Takeaways

 Bugs can teach us about God's intricate design and the importance of details.

Rachael's book series, 'The Garden Scouts,' teaches children about the fruits of the spirit in a relatable and practical way.

Rachel chose a fly as the main character to show that even the 'uglier' parts of life can have beauty and redemption.

Teaching from Rest by Sarah McKenzie and Babushka Baba Yaga by Patricia Palacco are impactful books for homeschooling and a passion for children's literature, respectively.

Rachael is self-publishing her books and is focused on promoting her first book while working on the manuscript for the second book.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Favorite Bugs

02:19 Bug Encounters

06:15 Lessons from Bugs

08:15 The Garden Scouts, Buzzing with Love

12:05 Teaching the Fruits of the Spirit

15:12 Scouting and Cultures

16:29 Choosing a Fly as the Main Character

18:48 The Next Book and Fruits of the Spirit

21:18 Rachael's Journey as an Author

23:26 Education and Homeschooling

28:07 Most Impactful Book

31:26 Future Plans

33:33 Where to Find Rachael

34:16 Conclusion

Little Honeycomb Press

The Garden Scouts: Buzzing With Love - Kindle edition by Hartzell, Rachael, Wills, Sarah-Leigh. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

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Summary

 In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, host Valerie interviews author Jennifer Bosma about her latest children's book, 'God is Three in One.' The conversation explores the inspiration behind the book, the challenges of explaining the Trinity to children, and the importance of faith-based literature. Jennifer shares her journey to becoming an author, her plans, and insights from her podcast, emphasizing the need for Christian principles in parenting and education.

Takeaways

Jennifer Bosma's book simplifies the complex concept of the Trinity for children.

The inspiration for the book came from a conversation with her granddaughter.

Writing in rhyme helped convey the message of the Trinity in an engaging way.

The book includes a salvation prayer and further study resources for deeper understanding.

Jennifer emphasizes the importance of teaching Christian principles at home.

Her journey to becoming an author began in fourth grade with a manuscript.

The Bible is Jennifer's favorite book, providing peace and guidance.

Jennifer's podcast aims to support and encourage women and mothers.

The illustrations in the book were a collaborative effort with a talented artist.

Future plans include more books and continued podcasting to reach families.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jennifer Bosma and Her Book

02:25 Inspiration Behind 'God is Three in One'

05:08 The Complexity of the Trinity Made Simple

09:30 Further Study and Salvation's Prayer

16:24 Jennifer's Journey to Becoming an Author

22:10 Future Plans and Podcast Insights

 Jennifer Bosma | Christian Children's Book Author & Blogger

God is Three in One: Jennifer Bosma: 9781637972281: Amazon.com: Books Front 

Parking Spot Podcast — Jennifer Bosma

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Summary

 In this episode, Healey Ikerd discusses her book, The Red Ball, and its inspiration. She shares the importance of faith and forgiveness in the story and how it teaches children valuable life lessons. Healey also talks about the impact of different lifestyles and the need for books on forgiveness. She shares her journey as an author and her upcoming projects. You can find Healey and her books on her website, writtenbyhealy.com.

Takeaways

 The Red Ball teaches children about faith, forgiveness, and kindness.

Books are a great tool for teaching children important life lessons.

Different lifestyles and cultures can be understood and appreciated through books.

Forgiveness is a powerful concept that can bring healing and freedom.

Healy Ikerd has written other books for both children and adults.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to The Red Ball

02:23 The Inspiration Behind The Red Ball

04:02 The Themes of The Red Ball

05:01 The Importance of Faith in The Red Ball

06:37 Understanding Different Lifestyles

07:41 Comparing Lifestyles

08:46 The Message of The Red Ball

09:57 Teaching Forgiveness and Kindness

10:57 The Power of Forgiveness

12:06 The Impact of Emotions on Children

13:14 The Need for Books on Forgiveness

14:20 The Importance of Books in Parenting

16:08 Healy's Other Books

21:27 The Most Impactful Book in Healy's Life

24:06 Upcoming Projects

26:39 Where to Find Healy and Her Books

27:30 Conclusion

Written by Healey - Home

Amazon.com: The Red Ball: A Story of Friendship and Forgiveness: 9798989944705: Ikerd, Healey E: Books

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Summary

Maryna Doughty tells us about her middle-grade book Sincerely Diary, which explores friendships and relationships in middle school. She shares her inspiration for the book, including her own experiences with betrayal and deception. Maryna also talks about the devotional resource accompanying the book, which covers topics such as self-acceptance, peer pressure, and forgiveness. She emphasizes the importance of honesty and discernment for young readers. Maryna discusses her journey as an author and her favorite books. She also gives a sneak peek of her upcoming book, Confessions of a Stepsister. Listeners can find more information about Marina and her books on her website.

Takeaways

Sincerely Diary is a middle-grade book that explores friendships and relationships in middle school.

The book addresses important topics such as self-acceptance, peer pressure, and deception.

A devotional resource accompanies the book, providing biblical perspectives on friendship, honesty, and forgiveness.

Marina Doughty's upcoming book, Confessions of a Stepsister, delves into themes of sabotage, forgiveness, and identity.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Middle School Experience

02:03 Understanding Friendships and Relationships

03:09 Inspiration for the Book

05:07 The Devotional Resource

07:45 The Relevance of the Book for Young Readers

11:16 Lessons and Themes in the Book

15:40 Becoming an Author and Favorite Books

19:48 Upcoming Book: Confessions of a Stepsister

22:49 Release Date and Where to Find More Information

24:21 Conclusion 


About Me | Maryna Doughty

Sincerely, Diary: A middle grade magical realism novel: Doughty, Maryna, Yang, Kaitlin: 9798989035915: Amazon.com: Books

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Summary

 Abbi Lee, author of Geocache Club, Ghost Town Treasure Hunt, discusses her book and the concept of geocaching. Geocaching is a modern-day treasure-hunting activity where participants hide and find containers, called geocaches, using GPS coordinates. Abbi shares her personal experiences with geocaching and explains the different types of geocaches. She also talks about the inspiration behind her book and how it incorporates themes of friendship, history, and dealing with change. Abbi discusses her journey as an author and her favorite books. She also gives a sneak peek into the upcoming books in the Geocache Club series.

Takeaways

 Geocaching is a modern-day treasure-hunting activity where participants hide and find containers using GPS coordinates.

The Geocache Club book series explores themes of friendship, history, and dealing with change.

Abbi Lee drew inspiration from the story of Forrest Finn, who hid a treasure chest in the Rocky Mountains and combined it with her love for geocaching.

The books in the Geocache Club series aim to encourage kids to explore their towns, discover hidden gems, and appreciate history.

Abbi Lee is currently working on the second and third books in the Geocache Club series.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Geocache Club and Abbi Lee

03:36 Friendship, History, and Change in Geocache Club

04:55 Inspiration and Kansas in Geocache Club

05:23 The Journey of an Author: Abbi Lee

09:05 Favorite Books and Impactful Reads

12:05 What's Next in the Geocache Club Series?

Abbi Lee Books – Children's Author (wordpress.com)

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