Today I’m delighted to feature the wonderful Glenys Nellist as my guest. Glenys is the author 12 fabulous books – including her best-selling LOVE LETTERS FROM GOD series with five books out and more on the way. She’s also the author of the adorable SNUGGLE TIME series. Last December, she was here for an interview to celebrate the release of her clever and gorgeous ‘TWAS THE EVENING OF CHRISTMAS, a heart-warming Christmas tale told to the cadence of Clement C. Moore’s famous poem. And today we’re here to celebrate the release of two darling rhyming board books that celebrate the special bonds between and mothers/children and fathers/children. With simple rhyming text and sweet illustrations, these are sure to be a perennial hit. And now, as a fun way of introducing the books, here’s Glenys with FIVE FUN FACTS about the books. (And be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!) Take it away, Glenys!
FIVE Fun Facts About GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL & GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL
by Glenys Nellist
FUN FACT #1: They Weren’t my Idea!
That’s right—you did read that correctly… GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL and GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL were not my idea! Almost three years ago I pitched a new children’s book manuscript to my editor and anxiously awaited her response. When it came, it went something like this:
Hi Glenys, thanks for submitting your new book proposal. Unfortunately, it’s not a good fit for us at the moment. However… I am looking for new titles featuring mommies & daddies. If you have any ideas for those sorts of books, I’ll be happy to take a look.
Any author would be crazy not to give their editor what they are looking for… and the books were born! Now, whenever my editor and I meet for lunch, I always ask her this five-word question: What are you looking for? Then I come home and try to write it.
FUN FACT #2: Why the Mommy Cover Has a Heart-Shaped ‘O’…
Take a peek at the cover of GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL…
Can you guess why the ‘O’ is heart-shaped? It’s because in England, where I’m from, and where I’ll shortly be marketing the book, we don’t say Mom. Instead, we say Mum. So the marketing team at Zonderkidz decided to shape the ‘O’ so that it could also be seen as a ‘U’. Aren’t they clever?
FUN FACT #3: The Books Can Be Used in a Fun Guessing Game
One of my favorite things to do as an author is to visit schools and read to children. With these books, I’ve found a wonderful guessing game that children LOVE to participate in. Before showing them the pictures, I read each poem and they have to guess the animal. Listen carefully, I tell them. The clues are in the words.
Try it with your little one. Read this poem and have them guess the daddy animal. (Answer below)
Come and meet my daddy
He stands up nice and tall.
And even though he’s on one leg,
I’ve never see him fall.
Every time I wobble,
He helps me stand up straight.
God made Daddy special—
He’s really, really great!
FUN FACT #4: The Illustrations are Better Than I Imagined
It’s a very scary thing for an author to hand their manuscript over and trust that the illustrator will be a good fit. I needn’t have worried at all with these books! Estelle Corke did a FABULOUS job, especially with Daddy Skunk, which is my favorite part of the daddy book! 
FUN FACT #5: There Might Be a Grandma and Grandpa Version in the Wings…
Sshh… don’t tell anyone, but I already have GOD MADE GRANDMA SPECIAL and GOD MADE GRANDPA SPECIAL written in my head! Depending on sales of the mommy and daddy books, then I’m hoping that Grandma and Grandpa will be joining them on the shelves… fingers crossed for that!
Thank you, Glenys, for those five fun facts. And best wishes for your continued success!
BIO: Coordinator of Children’s Ministry for the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church. Zondervan children’s book author of twelve titles, including two popular series: Love Letters from God and Snuggle Time. Glenys is a writer with a passion for God, her family, and children’s ministry. Find out more about Glenys and her books here:
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!!
If you’d like a chance to win a FREE two-book bundle that includes one copy each of GOD MADE MOMMY SPECIAL and GOD MADE DADDY SPECIAL both written by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Estelle Corke, let me know in a comment below. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident with a street address (as opposed to a P.O. Box and at least 18 years old to enter.) The giveaway ends Monday, 5/21/18 at 12:01 am EST. The winner will be announced that day!
Finally… the answer to the poem in FUN FACT #3 is: Daddy Flamingo!
Laura Sassi Tales 
Fun five facts! I love it when editors/agents tell you ideas of what to write. That happened with my latest sale, too. I love that these are guessing riddles for the animal moms and dads. Congrats. I hope the grandparent books will become reality!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Tina, and thank you Laura for having me on your blog!
I would love to win these amazing books for my son and daughter 😊 ages 5 and 2 😍😀 thank you for the opportunity. God bless ❤
You’re welcome Darlene… so glad you entered!
Oh these look so fabulous! I’d love to add them to my home library! My four kiddos would enjoy these, especially my two littlest. Fingers crossed to win!
Thank you so much Callen!
Congrats on a lovely new series, and thank you so much for some ‘behind the pages’ info!
It was my pleasur pleasure Gail!
Two beautiful books. I have some nieces and nephews who would love these.
Thank you Roseanne.
These books look wonderful! I know my little ones would so enjoy them!
Thank you so much Samantha!
A great article and the books look adorable. Congratulations!
Thank you so much Deanie!
I would love to win the bundle!!!! I just had a baby and these books would be so special to read to him!!!
Thank you Lex! Welcome to your new little one!
I am SO enjoying all these comments and thank you, again, Glenys, for sharing your gift for words with the world – and for sharing your fun book facts in this post! Blessings to you and to all your readers out there!
I would love to win these lovely books for my son!
Thanks for entering Anitha!
I would love to have these books for my kids at our church. 😊
That’s a great place for them Richard!
These books look wonderful! I’d love to add them to our home library! I really enjoyed the fun facts and will read the poem to my kiddos to see if they can guess the animal. We love those kind of games!
Thank you so much Jennifer…I’m sure they guessed it correctly!
I would gift this to my son-in-law for his first Father’s Day!
What a lovely idea Lane!
So LOVELY to see the comments still coming in for a chance to win this adorable new book bundle from Zonderkidz! Thank you for sharing it with us, Glenys!
I’d love to win these for the kiddos, Liam, Logan, Cooper, Brendon, Brody and now Olivia. USA resident with a regular mailing address, not a PO box. A big thank you for being able to enter for a possible chance of winning.
Thanks for entering… you have a busy family!
I would love the books! There are so few storybooks with a focus on dads. I know my family looks for books with dads as the main character. As a kindergarten teacher I find Mother’s Day books in abundance, not so much for quality Father’s Day books. Thank you.
The books are so cute. They are sold (or can be ordered) everywhere books are sold.