The Bible for Kids Podcast

This week Mike and Sarah talk with author Mary Holloman about her new book, The Anxious Lily. Lola the Lily hasn’t a care in the world―until she pokes through the ground and realizes that she has no clothes! This realization is only the beginning of her worries. What if her stem gets crinkled? What if her petals get wet and soggy? With so many things that could go wrong, Lola has no time to waste―she must make herself a complete wardrobe to prepare for all her worst fears. Will Lola’s worries keep her from being the lily God created her to be? Themes: *Anxiety in Young Ones and Adults *The Comparison Trap *Finding Peace and Rest in God *Growth in Every Season *Contentment in Current Circumstances *God's Sovereignty Mary Holloman is passionate about communicating deep truths through story-driven writing. She is a contributing author for three books, and has written for many online publications, including Her View From Home, Lifeway Research, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Charisma Magazine, and the Christian Broadcasting Network. She and her husband have three beautiful children and live in the Triad of North Carolina. She loves to create rhymes, act silly with her kids, and eat dark chocolate. You can follow along with her at maryholloman.com.

This week hosts Sarah Humphrey and Mike Nawrocki talk with returning guest Nancy Sanders about her new book, Bedtime with Daddy. Bedtime with Daddy features many of the same characteristics as Book 1, Bedtime With Mommy, but with all new animal families!  All around the world, it’s bedtime, and daddies are tucking little ones into bed. From the penguins in the Arctic to the lions of Africa, it’s time for snuggles, prayers, songs and bedtime kisses. This adorable board book features a daddy and baby animal in eight different habitats getting ready for bed. The final spread features Daddy playing a guitar and putting his son to bed. Nancy I. Sanders is a multi-award-winning children’s author of over 100 books. She is the co-winner of the ECPA’s 2018 Young People’s Literature Award for the best in MG/YA nonfiction in the Christian market, and some of her favorite topics to write about are God, Bible stories, educational subjects, African American history, and Jane Austen. While Nancy loves to spend her time writing books and working on various manuscript projects, she also enjoys sewing patchwork quilts, gardening, and capturing the beauty of God’s beautiful creation on film. Nancy and her husband, Jeff, live in southern California and attend Calvary Chapel Chino Hills Church.

This week Mike and Sarah talk with authors Crystal Bowman and Michelle Lazurek about their new book, Who God Wants Me to Be. This empowering picture book features a diverse cast of little girls dreaming of all the things they can be when they grow up and exploring how they can serve God in all kinds of careers. I’ll keep trusting God, and then I will see exactly who He wants me to be.   An artist, a teacher, a doctor, a stay-at-home mom—there are so many things a girl might want to be when she grows up. And even if she changes her mind as she cultivates new passions and skills, that’s okay! The important thing to remember is that she will discover the talents and desires given to her by God as she grows and learns. Whether she becomes a protector, healer, builder, or creator, she can use her gifts to share God’s love with others!   Join Haley, Isabela, Lexi, and Ashley as they explore different careers and encourage all girls to trust God and who he created them to be! Crystal Bowman is a bestselling, award-winning author of over 100 books for children, women, and families. Her books have sold more than three million copies worldwide; received four Selah Awards, a Logos Bookstore Award, and five Golden Scroll Awards; and twice been named an ECPA finalist. Crystal is also active as a speaker, teacher, and grandma to her eight grandchildren. She and her husband reside in West Michigan.  Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, literary agent, certified writing coach, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother living in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. She has won two Golden Scroll Children's Book of the Year awards, Article of the Year, and the Enduring Light silver medal, among many other honors. She is also a member of the Christian Author's Network and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

In their first every "recorded from Egypt" podcast - this week Sarah and Mike talk with the founder of Kingdom Kidz Online Academy, Tawanna Davis. Tawanna Davis is the founder of Kingdom Kidz Online Academy where it is her desire to build God’s kingdom, one child at a time by making learning fun and interactive from home. A 2011 graduate from Lasalle University Nursing Program, it was the Almighty’s calling for Tawanna to make the career transition to become an educator. Taking a leap of faith, Tawanna decided to educate children internationally in Egypt, and China which she has over 10 years of experience teaching both in the brick and mortar and virtual setting. Having been employed at VIPKID, the #1 online education platform, Tawanna had the wonderful opportunity to teach over 10,000 students, write and illustrate children’s stories for the Chinese community, and work for the Rural Education Project, founded by the Alibaba business mogul, Jack Ma in teaching many children throughout rural China who do not have access to quality education. As an educator, Tawanna offers more of a motherly approach in the classroom setting: nurturing, stern, and creative. Because she acknowledges that all children are intelligent and learn when it is fun, Tawanna utilizes several teaching methods proven to enhance student academic development and interest in learning. From song and dance to visual enhancements, she loves to incorporate many educational methods to create a fun learning atmosphere. Moreover, Tawanna is a current homeschooler and world schooler with over 8 years of experience which is her gift from God to be a mother that has allowed her to reach the hearts and minds of the youth. ‘Train up a child in the way that he shall go and when he is old, he will never depart from it ‘Proverbs 22:6

This week Mike and Sarah talk to Michelle T. Sanchez about her new book God's Beloved Community. This children's book from the author of Color-Courageous Discipleship makes the God-inspired dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., accessible to all, helping kids and parents answer God's call to move from being color-blind to color-brave. God created a world filled with vibrant variety—and called it good! From flamingos and crows to shooting stars and rainbows—to all our different shades of hair, eyes, and skin—God declared it all very good. Now God calls us to resist racism and proclaim with him how precious all people really are. With lively rhyming text, this book takes young readers on a biblical and historical journey to discover more about beloved community. Drawing on the biblical vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., it explores how we can create communities filled with God’s love as we delight in our differences, stand up to bullying and unfair rules, and declare with our lives and our love that everyone matters to God.

This week hosts Mike Nawrocki and Sarah Humphries talk with author Monica Swanson about her new book, Raising Amazing: Bringing Up Kids Who Love God, Like Their Family, and Do the Dishes without Being Asked. Raising Amazing combines years of research with personal stories and step-by-step, practical advice to equip you to raise kids of godly character and deep faith who love their parents and remain close to their siblings for a lifetime. Parents love to imagine their children growing up to be exceptional adults. But for many, raising exceptional adults seems a daunting task. Perhaps you're a new parent and don't know where to start, or maybe you're a parent of teens and feel like you've made a mess of it all. Or perhaps you're somewhere in between and just don't think you're good at the whole parenting thing. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, there's hope for you. As a mom of four boys, Monica Swanson--also the author of Boy Mom and host of the popular Boy Mom podcast--knows firsthand the challenges and struggles of parenting and the kind of help that parents in the trenches are looking for. In Raising Amazing, Monica gives you the tools and techniques you need to: Raise countercultural kids in the midst of a crazy world Train your children in the biblical character qualities you value most Find ways to help your kids navigate technology, sports, and dating Introduce your children to a vibrant life of faith that will draw them closer to God Cultivate strong sibling bonds and mend those that may already be struggling Develop healthy relationships with your children that will lead to friendship for a lifetime Encourage dads with a "note to dads" at the end of each chapter written by Monica's husband This isn't just a book; it's a fresh perspective on parenting that may just change the trajectory of your family forever.

This week hosts Mike Nawrocki and Sarah Humphries catch up with author Caroline Saunders and talk about her latest book, The Story of Home. No one makes a home like God! The Bible is filled with stories about homes, from the Garden of Eden to the Promised Land, from the tabernacle in the desert to the temple in Jerusalem. But what do these stories have in common? What is God showing us through them? Enter The Story of Home and discover God’s perfect plan to build the homiest of homes through Jesus. Learn how Jesus welcomes all who are homesick to be part of His family and live happily with Him forever! Filled with stunning illustrations Traces the theme of home throughout the Bible A perfect house-warming gift for a family Can also encourage those who are homesick, lonely, or without a permanent home Caroline Saunders is a writer, Bible teacher, pastor's wife, and mother of three who believes in taking Jesus seriously and being un-serious about nearly everything else. She's written two Bible studies for teen girls (Good News: How to Know the Gospel and Live It and Better Than Life: How to Study the Bible and Like It, LifeWay Girls), a retelling of the books of Joel, Amos, and Jonah for elementary readers called Sound the Alarm, and two kids books (The Story of Water and The Story of Home, B&H Kids). Find her writing, resources, and ridiculousness at WriterCaroline.com, on Instagram @writercaroline, and on TikTok @writercarolinesaunders.

To start the new year off, Mike and Sarah talk with author Jonathan Starrett about his latest book The Architect which will appeal to young readers, especially those that enjoy action, adventure, and mystery novels. There’s a golden rule in Phantom City: “No one about when the Zeppelin is out.” But one night, twelve-year-old Charlie Crane comes face-to-face with the Zeppelin, and instead of finding trouble, she is awakened. Determined to find the truth in a city plagued with lies, Charlie, along with a quirky band of unlikely heroes, works to free the people of Phantom City from the clutches of a shadowy villain. Helped by a mysterious Architect who only communicates over radio and telephone, Charlie wrestles with two big questions: Can she trust a guide she ca't see? And is the truth actually worth the trouble? From storyteller, pastor, and illustrator Jonathan Starrett, comes this debut middle-grade tale filled with sinister schemes, unexpected friendships, and plenty of humor and plot twists. Young readers will be kept on the edge of their seats by the unique world of Phantom City and will quickly find themselves cheering for our heroes in their fight against evil. Jonathan Starrett is a pastor, storyteller, author, and illustrator. When not writing books, he leads a children's ministry of over a thousand kids. Jonathans use of storytelling, media, and fun to make the Bible easier to understand has impacted not just children but their families. Having reached thousands in the city of Tampa, Florida, and beyond, he and his innovative team continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible in children's ministry. Jonathan lives in sunny Tampa with his wife, Rachael, who loves to collect children's books, and his two children, Elliott and Eliza, who love to read. Their dog, Dash, unfortunately only eats books—never reads them.

This week Mike and Sarah talk with author Laura Smith about her new book 5-Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health. 5-Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health removes the stigma on mental health and advises Christian teens what they can do when they are depressed and anxious. Scattered throughout the book are tips to help teens maintain good mental health practices such as meditation, disconnecting from social media and technology, saying affirmations, and much more. Each day includes a Scripture verse, short devotional, and a prayer or prompt. This 100-day devotional will help teens 13 to 17 years old: deal with mental health issues, depression, and/or anxiety. re-enter normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic. develop an authentic relationship with God and deepen their faith. Laura Smith is a popular speaker and best-selling author who has written nonfiction books for adults, pre-teens, and kids, as well as the popular Status Updates fiction series for young adults. 5 Minute Devotions for Teens: A Guide to God and Mental Health is her twelfth book. Most recently she is known for Restore My Soul: The Power and Promise of 30 Psalms and How Sweet the Sound: The Power and Promise of 30 Beloved Hymns, which has sold more than 130,000 copies.

This week Mike and Sarah catch up with returning guest Eric Schrotenboer to discuss two new books that he co-wrote with his wife Meredith. The Youngest Disciple:   You are never too young to be a disciple. Join John, the youngest disciple, as he responds to Jesus’ call and follows in His footsteps. From the shores along the Sea of Galilee to the empty tomb in Jerusalem, The Youngest Disciple takes children of all ages on a journey to discover how they are called to be disciples too. Walk with John as he learns how to be like Jesus.   The Mouse in the Manger:   Little Mouse feels small and insignificant, especially compared to all the other animals in the Bethlehem house where he lives. He wishes he had a special talent to share or an important purpose to fulfill. Then one night, a couple named Mary and Joseph arrive looking for somewhere to stay after a long journey. The usual guest room is full, but the family members offer radical hospitality and make space for Joseph and Mary to be comfortable and warm. That same night, Mary gives birth to a baby boy named Jesus. Little Mouse wants to do something special for the new baby, but feels like he has nothing to offer. Will Little Mouse think of a way to give Jesus a special gift?   Eric and Meredith Schrotenboer are both storytellers at heart. Eric is an award-winning filmmaker and music composer. Meredith is an award-winning journalist and news anchor. Eric has his Masters of Divinity and leads biblical study trips to Israel and Jordan through his ministry The Acacia Project. Meredith is a certified Enneagram Coach and facilitator. Together they created Fresh Wind Studios where they create resources that help children and families better understand the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the Bible. They are the creators of the award-winning Christmas resource, “The Wandering Wise Men” and authors of “Hear, O Little One: In the Morning and in the Evening,” “The Youngest Disciple,” and “The Mouse in the Manger.” Eric and Meredith live in Grand Rapids, MI with their two children, Meryn and Judah.