Hues of You with Dr Lucretia Berry

This week Amy and Mike talk with author Dr Lucretia Berry about her new book Hues of You: An Activity Book for Learning About the Skin You Are In.

 We live in a vibrant, colorful world, and though we enthusiastically teach our children the hues we find in nature and in the objects around us, we often find it difficult to teach them about the beauty of different skin tones. 

Dr. Lucretia Berry, founder of Brownicity—a learning community dedicated to education and advocacy for antiracism—is often asked by parents, teachers, and caregivers how they can best approach this conversation with kids. In response, she created a fun and interactive tool that provides children and their adults a way to brave the shift from color blindness to color consciousness—HUES OF YOU: An Activity Book for Learning About the Skin You Are In (WaterBrook; on sale 1/4/22). 

Filled with lively and bright full-color illustrations by Adia Carter, the book’s drawing and writing activities are divided into four main sections—Hues of You, Hues of Your Family, Hues of Your Ancestors, and Hues of Your Friends. Each page gives kids space to explore their identity in a variety of social contexts and to celebrate the diversity of skin tones in the world around them. 

Adults who have felt hesitant or unprepared to talk with the children in their lives about skin tone, race, and ethnicity will find that Hues of You is the perfect starting point. With this engaging resource, they can help lay the groundwork for a more positive, affirming, and inclusive world. 

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

It's more Dead Sea Squirrels!

This week Amy talks with co-host Mike Nawrocki to get the latest scoop on his Dead Sea Squirrels book series (book 10 releases soon) along with a peak behind the scenes of the upcoming season one of animated episodes!

Mike Nawrocki, co-creator of VeggieTales, is back! In the first installment of this hilarious new chapter-book series, ten-year-old Michael and his friend Justin sneak into the Dead Sea caves near the archaeological dig where Michael’s dad is working. Michael finds two 2,000-year-old squirrels petrified in sea salt. Hijinks ensue as Michael tries to bring them back to the U. S., hidden in his backpack. What Michael thinks are just cool souvenirs may turn out to be something much more! The Dead Sea Squirrels series is humorous, fun, and filled with character-building lessons.

Be sure and follow Mike and The Bible for Kids Podcast on Instagram and Facebook!

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

Hear, O Little One: In the Morning and The Evening.

This week Amy and Mike talk with Eric and Meredith Schrotenboer, authors of the children’s board book, Hear, O Little One: In the Morning and The Evening.
BOOK INFORMATION
This lyrical adaptation of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 introduces young children to the "Shema," a sacred statement of belief that has been recited in the morning and evening through the ages, including by Jesus Himself.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
For centuries, followers of God have started and ended their day by saying the Shema, a five-verse passage in the book of Deuteronomy, as a twice-daily reminder to love God with all of their heart, soul, and strength.
Written in rhyme for infants through four-year-olds, Hear, O Little One is a colorful and creative adaptation of the Shema. This innovative board book is intended to be read in the morning and then flipped over and read in the other direction for a different version at nighttime.
Help your child develop a lifelong love of God and a deep reverence for God’s Word with this one-of-a-kind children’s book.
ERIC AND MEREDITH BIO
Eric Schrotenboer is a storyteller at heart. He is an award-winning filmmaker and composer, a Bible teacher and children’s book author. Eric holds a Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary and has a passion to help people better understand the context of the Bible. Through his ministry, The Acacia Project, Eric leads biblical study trips to the lands of the Bible teaching the cultural, historical, and geographical context of God’s Word. Eric is also the owner of Fresh Wind Studios, a production and publishing company that creates resources for children and families that better help them understand the context of the Bible.
Eric’s film credits include feature length documentaries, Bible study curricula, and short films for Focus on the Family, Compassion International, International Bible Society, the Institute for Bible Reading, Zondervan, Zonderkidz and many other Christian organizations. Eric is the music composer for Focus on the Family’s best-selling video series, “That The World May Know.” His music can also be heard throughout the Creation Museum and on numerous films and documentaries. He has produced and recorded six original piano albums of traditional hymns featured in modern arrangements.
Meredith (TerHaar) Schrotenboer is the morning news anchor with the ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, MI.  She has won numerous awards from the Associated Press during her journalism career. She has worn nearly every hat in the news industry, having worked as a producer, reporter, and assistant news director. Meredith is also the founder of Growing with the Enneagram. She is a certified Enneagram coach, teaching workshops and coaching individuals, teams and groups.
Eric and Meredith are the authors of the children’s board book, Hear, O Little One: In the Morning and The Evening. They also created the The Wandering Wise Men, a Christmas activity set that includes a children’s picture book, a 37-day family devotional, and three plush wise men toys. (thewanderingwisemen.com)
Eric and his wife, Meredith, live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with their two children, Meryn Grace and Judah Allyn.

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

Fruit Full - 100 Family Experiences

Mike and Amy talk this week with author Christy Thomas about her new book, Fruit Full: 100 Family Experiences for Growing in the Fruit of the Spirit and her brand Little Shoots, Deep Roots. A fun family devotional inspiring children to understand the fruit of the Spirit.

It's common for kids to memorize the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, goodness, self-control, and all the rest. But that doesn't mean they understand what it means. Is peace just not fighting with your siblings? Does self-control mean resisting a second dessert? When Mom and Dad explain these concepts just in terms of morality, we miss the mark.

Christie Thomas is skilled at taking complex ideas and making them accessible to kids . . . and adults learn a lot along the way too. Each of her devotions is designed to help parents connect their children with the Holy Spirit through a Scripture passage, thought-provoking questions, ways to apply each verse, and a prayer. And for each fruit, parents can use the optional hands-on activities when there's extra time.

Perfect for kicking off the New Year as a family, these 100 devotional experiences include illustrated examples of each fruit of the Spirit. They demonstrate the hands, heart, and habits of Jesus and also teach children to spend time with the good God who loves them. By understanding how he covers them with his goodness and how his Spirit helps them grow their own beautiful, Jesus-reflecting character, the whole family will connect to the Vine and grow abundant fruit together.

You can learn more about Christy's platform at https://littleshootsdeeproots.com/about/

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

The Bible for Me: Bible Stories & Prayers - Part 2

This week the discussion continues about Mike and Amy's new Bible Storybook releasing in February - The Bible for Me: Bible Stories and Prayers.

You can learn more about the book at https://www.klove.com/books/bible-stories-and-prayers

The Bible for Me – Bible Stories & Prayers is written by bestselling Christian children’s author Amy Parker and VeggieTales® co-creator Mike Nawrocki, who have introduced tens of millions of children to Bible stories through their books and videos. The 50 stories selected (25 from the Old Testament and 25 from the New Testament) unfold the story of God’s people with a focus on God’s great love. Each reading includes a prayer which can be easily tailored with a child’s name, making each story uniquely personal.

“We know that an early understanding of God’s Word plays a vital role in establishing a lifelong foundation of faith,” write co-authors Mike Nawrocki and Amy Parker. “We hope Bible Stories & Prayers helps parents and grandparents introduce children to God’s endless love for them.”

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

The Bible for Me: Bible Stories & Prayers

This week producer Dan Lynch joins Mike and Amy as the three unveil their latest project which launches in February - The Bible for Me: Bible Stories and Prayers.

Help your child to understand what God's Word means to him or her with this fully illustrated and easy-to-read collection of 50 popular Bible stories, written by best-selling Christian children's author Amy Parker and VeggieTales® cocreator Mike Nawrocki.

The Bible for Me: Bible Stories and Prayers is a new Bible storybook and the first title in The Bible for Me brand of related products for kids ages 4 to 8 from authors Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki. The 50 stories are written and designed to share the story of God's people and His love for each child in a way that is relevant and relatable to the reader. The book features:

  • Engaging stories written with your child in mind
  • An even split of 25 Old Testament and 25 New Testament stories
  • Fresh, colorful illustrations from Taylor Thompson
  • Prayers at the end of each story, where the reader can easily insert the child's name, making the stories uniquely personal

Bible Stories and Prayers was written to emphasize how personal and relevant God's story is to your child's life. Throughout these fifty favorite Bible stories, children will come face-to-face with God's endless love for them, providing a firm foundation of faith to last a lifetime.

Authors Amy Parker (Night Night Prayer books) and Mike Nawrocki (cocreator of VeggieTales(R) and voice of Larry the Cucumber) have written and told Bible stories to tens of millions of children through their books and videos. In Bible for Me: Bible Stories and Prayers they wrote each story to speak directly to your children and tell God's story in a way that reveals His love for them.

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

Dorena Williamson - Crowned with Glory

In our kick off of the 2022 season, co-hosts Mike and Amy talk with author Dorena Williamson about her new book, Crowned with Glory.

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

Soloman Says for Tweens

What better way to start your tweens off right for the new year than with the wisdom of Soloman?  This repeat from our 2021 season features Mike interviewing co-authors Amy Parker and Sarah Humphrey about their book for tweens Soloman Says.

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki

A Story About Gratitude

For our final podcast before Christmas - this week we're repeating a great one.  Mike interviewing co-host co-host Amy Parker and her co-author Tricia Goyer about their new picture book; The Grumbles: A Story about Gratitude.

Are you trying to teach your about gratitude? The Grumbles are here to help . . . they just don't know it yet!

The Grumble family tried not to complain but bills and laundry and sibling squabbles kept everyone rumbling. When Grandma Grateful comes for a visit, things change. Bestselling authors Tricia Goyer and Amy Parker team up to spread an attitude of gratitude.

The Grumbles teach children:

  • how to approach life with a gracious mindset
  • about core Christian values
  • how to seek out the goodness in everything and identify blessings

This picture book is perfect for:

  • ages 4 to 8
  • a classroom story time focused on thankfulness, kindness, or gratitude
  • reading aloud together as a bedtime story
  • birthdays, holiday gift giving, or as an addition to your home library

The Grumbles is a sweet, simple, and silly story about how to turn grumbles into gratefulness.

by Amy Parker and Mike Nawrocki