Passing along this lovely invitation from Paraclete Press! I hope you will join us.
Laura Sassi, author of My Tender Heart Prayer Book is launching the Thirty Day Prayer Challenge with the kickoff event on the National Day of Prayer.
Preschoolers through 2nd graders will get an introduction to what the National Day of Prayer is, a time for prayer, readings from My Tender Heart Prayer Book, plus a kick-off to the TENDER HEART 30-DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE, a fun 30 day experience for ages 2-7 designed to make prayer a habit by praying together with our children in 30 special ways for 30 days in a row.
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YOU’RE INVITED! On Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10 am Eastern, join me for a LIVE VIRTUAL AUTHOR EVENT via Zoom as we celebrate the National Day of Prayer and learn all about what prayer is. Ideal for Christian schools, Catholic schools, homeschools, families, church groups and more.
Hosted by Paraclete Press, this LIVE ZOOM event is geared to preschool through second graders (and their caregivers) and will include an introduction to what the National Day of Prayer is, a time for prayer, readings from MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK, plus a kick-off to the TENDER HEART 30-DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE, a fun 30 day experience for ages 2-7 designed to make prayer a habit by praying together with our children in 30 special ways for 30 days in a row.
I thought this a fun way to plant seeds of prayer in little hearts (and our hearts too.)
Learn more about the 30 DAY PRAYER CHALLENGE and download the FREE PRINTABLE here.
And if you want to order a copy of MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK for your church, school, or home library… or to give as a gift, check here for easy links.
Prayer isn’t just for grownups. And it’s never too early to plant seeds of prayer and faith in even the tiniest hearts! That’s why during the month of May I’m inviting you to join me for the My Tender Heart Prayer Challenge, a fun 30 day experience for ages 2-7 designed to make prayer a habit by praying together with our children in 30 special ways for 30 days in a row.
Step Two: Print out a 30 Day Prayer Challenge activity sheet for each child participating. The printable is found on page two of the activity kit.
Step Three: Starting May 1st, each day, pick a box from the prayer challenge sheet and pray together in that special way. After praying, color in that day’s box.
Step Four: For extra fun and motivation, follow along on my socials for the special Prayer Challenge of the Day and other fun things.
Step Five: At the end of the month, when all the boxes are colored, redeem your free printable certificate of completion – fun and colorful that you can display on your fridge! =)
Join me for the LIVE virtual kickoff!
On Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 10 am Eastern, join me for a virtual kickoff author visit via Zoom as we celebrate the National Day of Prayer and learn all about what prayer is. There will be a reading and I’ll introduce the challenge (and my heart behind creating it)— perfect for preschoolers through 1st/2nd grade. Sign up here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_stcdbyOOS6WA19AnDK2D4g
Let’s make prayer a habit by praying together with our little ones in 30 special ways for 30 prayer-filled days!
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Today, I’m thrilled to be a part of the SONG OF THE SEASONS Insta Hop and Blog Tour. At this stop, author Glenys Nellist shares five fun facts about her new book from ParacletePress. Presented in sturdy hardcover with joyful text and colorful illustrations that capture the essence of each season, SONG OF THE SEASONS is a lovely addition to Glenys’ robust shelf of faith-based books for children.
Here’s an excerpt official blurb:
From bestselling author Glenys Nellist comes a rhyming, whimsical, faith-building journey through the four seasons — for early readers who love nature and wonder and the beginnings of all things. Based on Psalm 98 and written in flowing rhyme, Song of the Seasons explores the idea that all nature sings praise to an Almighty Creator.
Get a preview with the book trailer, then enjoy Glenys’ thoughts as she shares five fun facts about Song of the Seasons.
Five Fun Facts about Song of the Seasons
by
Glenys Nellist
Fun Fact #1: The Book Originally Had a Different Title…
As a nature lover, acorn collector and tree hugger, I have always been inspired by Psalm 98 and the idea that perhaps all creation sings a brand-new song to God. I wondered, what would it sound like if the trees and the mountains and the oceans could sing praises to their creator? I remember sitting down, pen in hand, prayer in heart, to write Creation’s Song, a rhyming, lyrical ode that explored this idea. But when I met with my editor, she thought something might be missing. At first, I wasn’t sure she was right, but like all good editors, she pushed me to be the best writer I could be. In the creative process of reworking, I decided, instead, to encompass all the four seasons, and to explore how spring, summer, autumn and winter might sing to God. Thus, Song of the Seasons was born.
Fun Fact #2: Song of the Seasons is a Circle Book
Several years ago, I was reading another of my books, The Wonder That is You, to a group of kindergarteners. When I reached the end, one of them exclaimed, “it’s a circle book … it ends the same way as it begins!” Up to that point, I had never heard that term before. Song of the Seasons is also a circle book, which I think is really appropriate, considering the fact that the four seasons are cyclical. It begins and ends in this way:
The earth sings God a brand-new song,
From grass to mountain peak,
And if you pause and close your eyes
You’ll hear the seasons speak.
Fun Fact #3: Something Surprising About the Illustrator…
As a traditionally published author, I don’t get to choose who will illustrate my books. That is the publisher’s job. How thrilled I was, then, to discover that Paraclete Press had chosen C. B. Canga to illustrate Song of the Seasons. If you take a look at the stunning scenes and colors used in its pages, you would never, ever guess that he has not experienced spring or summer or fall or winter in the same way as me! I live in Michigan, where all four seasons are diversely represented. C B Canga lives in California, where the climate is marked by two seasons: wet and dry. I do not know, then, how he depicted fall or winter so brilliantly, but I’m so glad he did!
Fun Fact #4: The Cornfield is a Real Place
A few years ago, when we lived on a small lake, I would ride my bike to a cornfield. It was always still and quiet. I would get off my bike and just listen to the birds and watch the sun peeping through the corn stalks. It was a place where I felt close to God. I took this picture, never realizing that one day, I would be able to include this special place in a book.
Fun Fact #5: Free Resources!
Since I was a teacher before becoming an author, I love to create resources to accompany my titles. For Song of the Seasons, I’ve written a five-day Creation curriculum that can be used for VBS or summer camps, a Parent Resource Pack and instructions for an immersive StoryWalk. All three resources are available as FREE downloads to anyone who orders the book. Just enter your order details at songoftheseasonsbook.com
Happy Thursday! I have two fun things to share today.
First, a big thank you co-hosts Sarah Humphrey and Mike Nawrocki (aka “Larry the Cucumber” for all you Veggie Tales fans) having me as their guest on this week’s podcast episode on The Bible for Kids! What a WONDERFUL way to introduce families to MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK!
Per their website, the goal of The Bible for Kids is “to provide a platform of discovery and information for authors, platforms, musicians, games, films, and more, that seek to help instill biblical principles in kids. We desire to be a resource for churches, small groups, teachers, parents, grandparents of kids ages 0-18 to help them pass along Christian values to the kids in their lives.”
Second, my wonderful publisher Paraclete Press is running a special sale for Easter and MY TENDER HEART BIBLE is one of the books included in their “Bunny Bundle” collection. Learn more and order your bundle here: https://paracletepress.com/products/easter-basket-bunny-bundle
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MONDAY JOY! I have a new Tender Heart book releasing with Paraclete Press October 1, 2024 and the cover is just starting to pop up on the web, so I thought I’d share it here too. The third in the My Tender Heart series, the book is called MY TENDER HEART DEVOTIONS and it’s something I was working on last winter and spring. Teaching our children that they can connect with God by turning to Him daily through prayer and Bible time is so important, and something that has been on my heart for a long time. Hasn’t illustrator, Sandra Eide, done a terrific job on the cover capturing the joy of those three young tender hearts as they snuggle in to read God’s Word? Here’s the scoop from Paraclete Press: My Tender Heart Devotions offers 52 age-appropriate meditations for toddlers and preschoolers, including Bible verses and prayer. Using concrete, everyday experiences or objects that little ones can relate to, each weekly reflection is easy to understand and prompts conversation about God’s goodness and love. Written in catchy rhyme, an opening poem is followed by a short devotional that includes a Bible passage, a playful “Heart Moment” activity, and a prayer. Here are two easy ways you can help let others know about the book (and make this author’s heart overflow with gratitude.)
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MY TENDER HEART BIBLE, introduces littlest ones to twelve of my favorite stories from the Old and New Testament rendered in poetic rhyme which both individually and together point to God’s redemptive love. Each retelling is accompanied by a Bible citation, a beautiful illustration by Sandra Eide, and a Heart Moment of prayer. The book is inspired by memories of sitting with my own children when they were little to read or re-tell (in my own words so they could understand) Bible stories so they could grasp just how much God loved them.
But how did I come to choose those twelve stories? And how did I manage to retell them in a way that honors and adheres to scripture? This is an important question and one which I took seriously as I was writing this collection.
From the beginning, capturing the essence of each story was a spiritual, prayerful process. This is because, unlike most of what I’ve written, I wasn’t just writing any story. Rather, I was conveying, for little ears, the essence of God’s story, and wanted to make sure I got it right. In creating the collection, I spent hours reading my own Bible, looking things up in various concordances and then cross-checking Scripture against Scripture. I also had several Christian colleagues and friends read the stories with a critical eyes towards honoring the Biblical text.
Once I felt each story was well-grounded, it was my joy to put it into rhyme. Those who know my writing well, know that rhyme is my favorite way to write. With this collection, I had four guiding principles.
First, the story, not the rhyme, needed to come first.
Second, the versification I selected for each story needed to fit the feel of each story.
Third, the story told in rhyme needed to be short enough to appeal to the toddler audience, while also appealing to older siblings (up to age six or so) who might also be joining in the reading.
Fourth, I decided early one that each rhyming retelling would be accompanied by a non-rhyming “Heart Moment” of prayer, because, when we encounter God, it touches our hearts and begs us to respond!
In closing, if you haven’t yet picked up a copy of this book to share with the little ones in your life, I hope you will. And if your kids are too old for it, will you help this little book make its way into churches and classrooms everywhere by purchasing a copy to give as a gift to the children’s ministry director at your church or to a beloved preschool or kindergarten teacher?
What inspired me to write MY TENDER HEART BIBLE and what is my hope and prayer for little ones and their families this Christmas? Find out in this short (1 minute 37 seconds!) video. HINT: It has to do with God’s great love for YOU and I hope it nudges your heart to pick up a copy for a church, child, or family you know as a first introduction to God’s love! Thank you, Paraclete Press for publishing it!
A little bit more about the book:
With sweet, rhyming text and whimsical illustrations, this sturdy board book, My Tender Heart Bible, features beloved and classic Bible stories for beginner readers. Bestselling author Laura Sassi pairs simple yet creative paraphrasing of Old and New Testament re-tellings with a “Heart Moment” for families to read aloud and pray. Scripture references are noted with each story that tell of God’s redemption plan for even more exploration together!
Check out https://mytenderheartbooks.com for even more information about MY TENDER HEART BIBLE and MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK (the second in the series) and get free printables for both.
Available wherever books. Check my book page for four easy links to vendors.
My Tender Heart Bible:
Published by Paraclete Press, 2023
Makes the Bible memorable and accessible for young readers
Helps kids think deeper about what the Bible says about God’s creation, His plan for humanity, and His love for all of people as His childre
Is perfect as bedtime reading for your toddlers and little ones, especially during the holiday season
Offers details in the artwork for little ones to enjoy and find for “point and learn” discovery
Serves as a base for introductory Bible discussion
Includes an inviting cover and sturdy pages for little hands
Makes a great gift for Easter, new baby, christening, baptism, baby showers, new grandchildren, curious toddlers, and boys and girls ages 0 to 6 years old
Today I’m delighted to have debut children’s book author Valerie Ellis as my guest sharing five fun facts about her darling new lift-the-flap Christmas book SHARE THE JOY, illustrated by Sergio de Giorgi and published by Paraclete Press.. Here’s the official description per the publisher’s website:
It’s Christmas, and there is so much to be excited about! This lift-the-flap book helps kids explore and share all the fun, love, and true joy of this special time of year.This first book from author, speaker, and mom Valerie Ellis celebrates all the wonderful things that bring us joy at Christmastime! Charming rhymes and vibrant illustrations will entice little readers to lift the flap to learn even more about how they can help make Christmas special for others, and share the gift of Jesus’s birth with everyone.
Here’s the book trailer:
Here’s my take:
Sweet and interactive, I think this book is a wonderful addition to a family, church, daycare or preschool Christmas book collection. My kids are too old for it, but I’ve purchased one anyway to keep in our Christmas book basket to be enjoyed by young visitors and future (I hope) grand children.
Now enjoy this special post as Valerie shares five fun facts aboutthe book and writing. Thank you, Valerie!(And remember to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.)
FIVE FUN FACTS
About
SHARE THE JOY
by Valerie Ellis
Fact #1:The flaps are more than fun. They hold meaningful surprises. Share the Joy! helps kids discover how wonderful it is to share and care. Above each flap, we see families engaging in favorite Christmas traditions like baking cookies or singing carols. Under each flap, kids are expanding those activities to give to others and celebrate Jesus!
The idea behind these meaningful surprises is simple: connect sweet examples of service to the Christmas activities kids already love to inspire the next generation to put God’s love into action.
Fact #2:This wasn’t always a lift-the-flap book…
The desire to help kids embrace the true spirit of Christmas has been with me since I was a kid myself—knowing Jesus was the best gift and the greatest servant but also understanding how easy it is for those truths to get crowded out. When I began writing children’s books, I knew I wanted to create one to help kids make the connection between deeper Christmas joy and greater love for others.
However…what I had originally planned to write was much different than the book you see now. I had the message, but something about it just wasn’t right. Then my agent suggested we turn the concept into a lift-the-flap book. After an initial brainstorming session, the ideas started flowing, the rhymes started clicking, and it was a pretty quick writing process after that! (Thank you, Annette!)
Fact #3: I had the privilege of suggesting potential illustrators, and I was so excited when Paraclete Press chose Sergio de Giorgi! From what I’ve heard, it’s rare for an author to be included in that process. In fact, early in my author journey whenever people would ask how I planned to find an illustrator, I’d always say, “Oh, the publisher does that. I may not even see the illustrations until the book is printed!” That would have been fine too, but I’m so grateful the Paraclete team invited my collaboration.
One of the things that put Sergio on my list is how the kids in his images really look like they’re interacting with each other. I wanted this book’s young audience to easily understand the love-in-action displayed on each page, and Sergio pulled that off beautifully. Another element I love: the kids Sergio draws are so cute!
Fact #4:And speaking of the pictures, there are plenty of fun things to point to on every page, which makes for great read-again potential and meaningful conversations. Plus, families can search for Christian Christmas decorations like angels, nativity scenes, and advent candles. It’s fun to help kids recognize these beautiful symbols or maybe learn about them for the first time.
I’ve been delighted to hear how many people have found something personal to connect with in the illustrations. One reviewer said she felt most drawn to the singing scene because her elderly mom is so happy when kids visit her nursing home. Personally, I love the poinsettias because we used to sell the beautiful red blooms to raise money for a local women’s shelter.
Fact #5:Share the JoyI is my debut but not my first! It’s actually the second book I wrote and sold to a publisher. So, how did it become my first? I was pleasantly surprised when Paraclete said they wanted to release it just a year after the contract went through!
I can’t share too much about my “first” book right now, but it’s releasing in 2025 and, like Share the Joy!, it meets families at the intersection of faith and fun! Stay tuned!
Thank you, Valerie! I think Fact #1 is my favorite! I love how you used something as tangible and fun for kids as lift-the-flaps to plant seeds of kindness and sharing. I look forward to your next book too.
About Valerie Ellis:
Valerie Ellis is a children’s book author, speaker, and founder of the multi-author online resource Our Everyday Parables, which offers book reviews and parenting resources for families pursuing faith and compassion.
A certified teacher, Valerie is passionate about helping kids and parents connect with God and each other in the everyday moments. Her books—releasing October 2023 from Paraclete Press, February 2025 from Tyndale, and October 2025 from Waterbrook—are designed to serve families at the intersection of faith and fun.
Valerie is a member of MOPS/MOMSnext, SCBWI, and the Texas Library Association. She is also a nonprofit consultant, trainer, and grant proposal writer in the Houston area, where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys.
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!!! If you’d like a chance to win a SIGNED copy of SHARE THE JOY (Paraclete Press, 2023) follow this blog and post a comment below letting me know. (NOTE: Must be U.S. resident and at least 18 years old to enter.) Thank you, Valerie, for providing the winning book. This giveaway ends Friday, 11/17/23 at 11:59 pm EST. The winner will be announced the next day!
There’s a new Christian podcast called BookWorthy launching this week with children’s author and podcast host Valerie Fentress. Valerie’s mission is to help Christian families find children’s books that “are good for your kids’ heart and soul”. I’m tickled to be one of her first three guests!
In this episode we chat about MY TENDER HEART PRAYER BOOK and how prayer has shaped our lives and our parenting. I hope you will take a listen. Here’s the link: BookWorthy Talks with Laura Sassi Thank you for having me on your podcast, Valerie!
MONDAY JOY! I have a new Tender Heart book releasing with Paraclete Press October 1, 2024 and the cover is just starting to pop up on the web, so I thought I’d share it here too. 
Laura Sassi Tales 