I was given copies of these books courtesy of Tommy Nelson in exchange for my honest review. In He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, Jack and Scarlett find a baby bird who is separated from his parents and learn to trust God when they’re afraid. In I’ve Got the Joy, Jack and Scarlett…
Tag: Christian
Review: The Best News of All by Sally Michael
I was sent an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from New Growth Press in exchange for my honest review. This simple, gentle retelling of Luke chapter two will help little readers memorize a familiar verse. The Best News of All written by Sally Michael and illustrated by Sengsavane Chounramany is a sweet Christmas…
5 Tips for Self-Publishing Your Picture Book
This year, I had the opportunity to write a book for my church’s Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoeboxes. OCC, run by the international ministry Samaritan’s Purse, sends boxes full of toys, school supplies, and hygiene items to children in need around the world. Churches use these boxes to introduce children to the Gospel, the greatest…
6 Songwriting Tips for Your Children’s Story
This summer, I had the opportunity to write lyrics for a children’s musical. It was a huge honor, but there was one problem – I had never written a song in my life! Sure, I like to make up little tunes as I walk around the house, but lyrics? That was a whole different ballpark….
Have Hope When Pitching Your Book
The title seems counterintuitive, right? Pitching a book is difficult for all writers. With all this talk of rejection in the industry, why should you have hope that someone will accept it? It’s better to be realistic and expect the worst. Right? Not exactly. Let me explain. Though I didn’t anticipate it, God gave me…
4 Tips for Writing Emotions in Your Christian Picture Book
Mister Rogers had a dilemma. Superman was at the height of his popularity, and every child in America was recreating the hero’s battles. Mister Rogers believed in the power of play as “the work of the child”. He knew play was integral to child development. But what he read in the newspaper that day shocked…
What Makes a Story “Christian”?
“We want to avoid writing films that are preachy,” said my film professor. “We are Christians and our faith motivates everything we do, but we don’t want our work to sound cheesy.” I stared at my professor, confused. What did that mean? At that time, I hadn’t had much experience with explicitly “Christian” films outside…
Why it Works: Writing Strong Characters with The Backyardigans
Nick Jr.’s The Backyardigans is known for its rich storytelling, excellent music, and detailed animation. While all of those things are wonderful, for me, the best part of the show is its brilliant characters. There’s Pablo, the determined penguin, Tyrone, the chill moose, Tasha, the bossy hippo, Austin, the shy kangaroo, and Uniqua, the kindhearted…
The Idea Hunt: Writing “Original” Ideas
You dash into the pyramid, certain this is the place where you’ll find it – the elusive idea. You must find this gorgeous golden trinket, or else die of idea-less-ness. You dodge some poison darts and tiptoe around a path of sleeping snakes. Then, you spot it, shimmering under a ray of light. You lean…
Advice From Kiri and Lou: “Write. Every Day.”
Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash Writer, are you a perfectionist? Are you struggling to get just the right words on the page? Do you feel like your work is garbage? Then you should really watch the Kiri and Lou episode “Good Advices”. Kiri and Lou is a stop-motion animated preschool show full of big ideas. It’s…
Emma Holley 