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In this episode of Bookworthy, host Valerie Fentress engages with author David Lahm and illustrator Lael Brinkley about their children's book 'In the Beginning, God Smiled.' The conversation explores the themes of faith and science, the artistic representation of God, and the messages intended for both children and parents. David shares his inspiration for writing the book, while Lael discusses her approach to illustrating God's character. They also reflect on impactful books in their lives and their future projects together.

 Don't forget to join in the 2nd Annual Holiday Book Drive partnership with Storyteller's Shelf Podcast. More Details at the following link. 

Help share the magic of children’s literature with every young reader.

2025 Holiday Book Drive: September 30 – December 1 – The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast

Takeaways

Children's books can minister to parents as well.

Combining faith and science can create meaningful stories.

God's joy in creation is a central theme of the book.

Art can personify God in a welcoming way.

Children should learn they are not mistakes but intentional creations.

The book aims to show God's love and intentionality in creation.

David's background in science influences his writing.

Lael's illustrations aim to depict glimpses of God.

The joy of creating parallels God's joy in creation.

Future projects will continue the themes of faith and love. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bookworthy and Guests

01:45 Exploring the Themes of 'In the Beginning, God Smiled'

04:28 The Artistic Representation of God

07:54 Messages for Children and Parents

12:08 The Journey to Writing and Illustrating

20:31 Impactful Books and Future Projects

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In this episode of Bookworthy, host Valerie talks with author Tenille Marie about her middle-grade sci-fi adventure, 'So My Mom's From Outer Space.' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the relatable characters, the importance of blended families in literature, and Tenille's writing journey. The conversation also touches on favorite books and their impact, as well as what Tenille has planned for the future.

Author website for Tennille | Official website of Tennille Marie

2025 Holiday Book Drive: September 30 – December 1 – The Storyteller’s Shelf Podcast

Takeaways

 Tenille's book is inspired by her sons' desire to be characters.

The book aims to be relatable for children, especially those in blended families.

Tenille emphasizes the importance of believing in oneself to achieve goals.

Writing became a passion for Tenille during her son's therapy sessions.

She aims to represent blended families in children's literature.

Tenille's favorite book is 'Pride and Prejudice.'

She believes in the power of storytelling to connect with readers.

The conversation highlights the significance of humor in children's books.

Tenille is working on a sequel to her middle-grade book.

She encourages aspiring writers to develop a thick skin and share their stories.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tenille Marie and Her Book

02:50 The Inspiration Behind 'So My Mom's from Outer Space'

05:57 Relatable Characters and Themes in Middle Grade Fiction

09:01 The Importance of Blended Families in Literature

11:57 Tenille's Writing Journey and Historical Fiction

14:58 Favorite Books and Their Impact

17:59 What's Next for Tenille Marie?

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Full Transcripts available at http://www.valeriefentress.com/blog

In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews author Kevin William Rascoe about his middle-grade series, The Unusual Life of David Snod. The conversation explores the themes of bullying, personal experiences, and the importance of instilling values in children through storytelling. Kevin shares his journey as an author, the inspiration behind his books, and his hopes for future projects, including a potential TV series adaptation.

 Don't forget to join in the 2nd Annual Holiday Book Drive partnership with Storyteller's Shelf Podcast. More Details at the following link. 

Help share the magic of children’s literature with every young reader.

https://thestorytellersshelfpodcast.com/book-drive/

Takeaways

Kevin's childhood experiences with bullying inspired his writing.

The Unusual Life of David Snot teaches kids about overcoming challenges.

Humor is used to address serious topics in children's literature.

The importance of building a child's self-esteem and identity.

Kevin aims to inspire kids to focus on their relationship with God.

The series incorporates biblical truths to guide young readers.

Kevin's journey to becoming an author was influenced by his family.

Future books will tackle themes like lying and Halloween.

The role of humor in making difficult subjects approachable.

Kevin envisions his stories as potential animated series.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Kevin William Rascoe and His Work

02:11 The Unusual Life of David Snot: Overview and Themes

07:43 Personal Experiences with Bullying and Their Impact

12:34 Inspiration and Messages for Young Readers

17:40 The Role of Humor in Addressing Serious Topics

22:47 The Journey to Becoming an Author

28:10 Future Projects and Upcoming Books

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Full Transcripts available at http://www.valeriefentress.com/blog

In this episode of Book Worthy, Valerie interviews author April Graney about her latest book, 'If Jesus Came to My School.' The conversation explores the themes of kindness, support in public schools, and the importance of instilling values in children. April shares her experiences as a middle school teacher and her journey as a writer, emphasizing the impact of literature on young minds. The discussion also touches on favorite books and resources for parents navigating the challenges of public schooling.

Takeaways

April Graney's book encourages children to embody the values of Jesus.

The importance of kindness and support in school environments.

Children can be a light in dark places through their actions.

Literature can play a significant role in shaping young minds.

Public school can be a mission field for families.

April's writing journey began with a childhood desire to be an author.

The significance of having conversations about bullying with children.

Support for families in public schools is crucial.

Picture books can communicate profound truths in simple ways.

Organizations exist to help parents and teachers navigate public schooling.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to April Graney and Her Book

03:10 The Impact of Jesus in Schools

06:12 Supporting Families in Public Schools

09:04 April's Writing Journey

12:00 Favorite Books and Their Influence

18:04 Future Projects and Resources for Parents

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Full Transcripts available at http://www.valeriefentress.com/blog

In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie speaks with Leah Boden, an author dedicated to empowering women and children through literature. Leah discusses her latest book series, 'The Tales of Boldness and Faith,' which features fictionalized biographies of notable figures like Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta. The conversation explores themes of displacement, redemption, and the importance of relationships in shaping identity. Leah shares her journey to becoming a writer and the influential books that have impacted her life, as well as her future writing aspirations.

Takeaways

 Leah Boden's passion is helping women and children through literature.

The Tales of Boldness and Faith is a series of fictionalized biographies.

Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta are featured in the series.

The stories explore themes of displacement and redemption.

Leah emphasizes the importance of relationships in shaping identity.

Writing was a gradual realization for Leah, sparked by her love for reading.

Wendell Berry's works have significantly influenced Leah's writing.

Leah's next book in the series will be about Sarah Forbes Bonetta.

Leah hosts an online community for readers and writers.

The conversation highlights the impact of real-life stories on children's understanding of faith. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Leah Boden and Her Work

02:14 The Tales of Boldness and Faith: Overview

05:01 Exploring the Lives of Charlotte Mason, C.S. Lewis, and Sarah Forbes Bonetta

11:41 Themes of Displacement and Redemption

17:00 The Journey to Becoming a Writer

19:55 Influential Books and Future Projects

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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

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Dr. Ann Worth discusses her three-book series, Tessie's Tears, which addresses difficult topics for children. The inspiration for the series came during the pandemic when Dr. Worth realized the need to help children process the hard things happening in the world. Her counseling background influenced the books, guiding for parents to help their children navigate these topics. The books cover themes of loss, friendship, and the love of animals, while also incorporating salvation and faith. Dr. Worth shares her journey into counseling and her late-in-life conversion to Christianity. She also mentions her favorite books and her plans for future books.

 Takeaways

 Dr. Ann Worth's Tessie's Tears series addresses difficult topics for children and provides guidance for parents to help their children navigate these issues.

The books cover themes of loss, friendship, and the love of animals, while also incorporating salvation and faith.

Dr. Worth's counseling background influenced the books, allowing her to provide valuable insights and support for parents.

Her journey into counseling and her late-in-life conversion to Christianity have shaped her writing and her desire to help others.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Background

01:21 The Inspiration Behind the Tessie Series

03:32 The Influence of Counseling Background

06:05 The Third Book: A Story About a Rescue Puppy

11:23 The Messages in the Books

15:41 Dr. Ann Worth's Journey into Counseling

18:18 Dr. Ann Worth's Journey to Faith

21:11 Favorite Books and the Passion Translation

23:31 Future Books and Themes

25:10 Where to Find Dr. Ann Worth's Books

26:27 Conclusion


Amazon.com: Tessie's Tears: Grampy Goes to Heaven: 9781955668095: Worth, Dr. Anne, Inertia, Aljon, Inertia, Nova: Books

Home - Dr. Anne Worth (dranneworthauthor.com

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Summary
In this episode, Valerie Fentress interviews Terrie Hillard Brown, the host of the Books That Spark podcast and author of the devotional book Building Character Through Picture Books. They discuss Easter traditions, Terrie's podcast, the inspiration behind her devotional book, her writing journey, and the influence of living in Taiwan. They also talk about the importance of everyday discipleship, teachable moments in parenting, and the most impactful books they have read. Terrie shares her upcoming projects and where listeners can find her and her books.

Takeaways
Bedtime storytime can be made more meaningful with devotions based on popular picture books.
Everyday discipleship is important for families, regardless of whether they homeschool or not.
Teachable moments in parenting can have a lasting impact on children's faith.
Reading and discussing books can be a powerful way to deepen one's faith and understanding of God.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Easter Traditions
03:02 The Books That Spark Podcast
06:04 Inspiration for the Devotional Book
08:00 Terrie's Writing Journey
09:51 Influence of Living in Taiwan
11:30 Everyday Discipleship
14:19 Teachable Moments in Parenting
19:30 Most Impactful Books
22:02 Upcoming Projects
25:47 Where to Find Terrie and Her Books
26:13 Conclusion

Find out more about Terrie Hellard-Brown and her book on the links below.

 Main - Terrie Hellard Brown

booksthatspark's podcast (libsyn.com)

Building Character through Picture Books: 25 Family Devotions Based on Favorite Picture Books: Hellard-Brown, Terrie: 9798395555922: Amazon.com: Books

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Summary

In this conversation, Valerie Fentress interviews author Jared Michaud about his YA science fiction novel, Bright Star. They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the representation of autism in the main character, and the use of science fiction to communicate truths about God. Jared also explains the concept of Energemetrix 6, the energy force in the book's universe. He shares his favorite impactful books and discusses his plans for the series. Listeners are directed to the E6Universe.com website for more information.

Takeaways

Science fiction can be a powerful tool to communicate truths about God to teens and young adults.

Representation of diverse characters, such as those with autism, can help readers connect and empathize with the struggles of others.

The concept of Energemetra 6 in Bright Star serves as a force of nature rather than a mystical power, highlighting God's ultimate power and the importance of relationships and character.

Books have the power to impact and change lives, and different books can be impactful during different seasons of life.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bright Star and the Author

02:00 Inspiration to Write Science Fiction

04:19 Fascination with Space and God's Creation

06:12 Using Science Fiction to Communicate Truths about God

12:25 Representation of Autism in the Main Character

20:32 The Concept of Energemetra 6

26:05 Impactful Books and the Power of Story

29:38 Future Plans and Related Books

33:11 Where to Find More Information

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Summary

In this episode of Book Worthy, Valerie interviews Xochitl Dixon about her picture book, 'What Color is God's Love?' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of embracing diversity, and the impact of colors and emotions. Xochitl also shares her personal journey of becoming an author and her upcoming projects. The conversation highlights the power of colors in conveying God's love and the need to challenge negative connotations associated with certain colors. Overall, the book encourages children to celebrate diversity and recognize God's presence in all things.

Takeaways

 Colors can be used to convey God's love and evoke emotions.

It is important to embrace diversity and challenge negative connotations associated with certain colors.

Children's books can play a significant role in teaching faith and promoting inclusivity.

Nature and colors can serve as reminders of God's unchanging character.

Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and Favorite Color

01:04 Family and Personal Background

03:10 Becoming a Christian and Embracing Diversity

04:45 Inspiration behind 'What Color is God's Love?'

08:17 Exploring Colors and Emotions

09:07 Challenging Negative Connotations of Colors

10:18 God's Presence in Nature and Colors

12:38 Additional Resources and Activities

15:13 The Inspiration behind 'Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown'

20:24 Childhood Dream of Becoming an Author

25:31 Most Impactful Book (Other than the Bible)

29:39 Upcoming Projects

33:37 Where to Find More Information

34:05 Conclusion

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