Welcome back to Fierce Calling! In this episode #215, host Doris Swift is joined by returning guest Valerie Ellis—author, speaker, teacher, and founder of Our Everyday Parables, a multi-author site dedicated to bringing families resources where faith and fun meet. Valerie’s passion for connecting kids with biblical truth through engaging books shines as she shares about her journey, including inspiration from her own two boys and her background as a certified teacher.



Doris and Valerie dive into the stories behind Valerie’s beloved children’s books—like Let’s Go Bible Adventures, designed for kids obsessed with trains, trucks, and ice cream vans, and Share the Joy: A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book, which helps instill a spirit of giving during the holidays. They discuss Valerie’s newest release, Wild Faith Devotional for Kids, packed with fascinating animal facts and faith lessons, and explore how everyday moments and the wonders of creation can point children (and adults!) to God.



You’ll also hear practical wisdom on helping your kids experience "Jesus joy," resources for parents and caregivers to make faith relatable, and tips for aspiring writers who feel called to create meaningful books for children. Tune in for encouragement, laughter, and a timely reminder that investing in the youngest generation can have eternal impact—even in the busiest seasons.



We're Talking About These Amazing Books & More!



















Florida Women's Ministry Leadership Conference mentioned in the intro:







Episode Highlights and Takeaways ...



00:00 Children's Christian Books and Devotional



07:06 "Supporting Parents in Faith Education"



09:42 Teaching Christmas Sharing to Kids



12:28 Promoting Christian Books in Libraries



14:44 "Books Adults and Kids Love"



20:15 Teaching Faith Through Everyday Moments



21:28 VBS Themes: Truth and Fun



25:02 "Catfish Devotion: Sense God's Goodness"



30:39 Joy of Writing Rhyming Books



31:44 Writing Children's Christian Books



34:53 "Get Excited Every Day"



38:07 Critique Groups for Writing Growth



42:19 Writing Journey: Faith, Fiction, and Nonfiction



45:01 Unrecognized Parental Impact



49:47 Sharing Faith and Resources



Connect with Valerie!



You can connect with Valerie and find her books and resources mentioned in the show, here:



valerieellis.com



Our Everyday Parables Blog



Instagram: @iamvalerieellis



Instagram: @oureverydayparables



 Let's Go! Bible Adventures: Real Bible Stories for Kids Who Love Trains, Tractors, Ice Cream Trucks, and More



 Share the Joy! A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book



Wild Faith Devotional for Kids: 52 Amazing Animals That Point to One Great God



Listeners can find a free activity pack for Let's Go! Bible Adventures at https://valerieellis.com/letsgo/. and info & resources for Wild Faith, plus a YouVersion study for kids at https://valerieellis.com/wildfaith/.



The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Valerie mentioned: https://www.scbwi.org



More About Valerie!



Valerie Ellis is an author,