A guest post by Karen Ferguson
Have you ever been in a group of people with a different worldview than you and hesitated to share God’s truth about a matter? I sure have. When I was working at a community college many years ago, sitting in high pressure board meetings, it would happen often. It’s even happened when talking about current topics with extended family members. It’s not always easy to be counter-cultural.
But, as an author, I chose to be just that.
Look at the latest New York Times Best-seller list and you probably won’t find many Christian picture books on the list. Yet 😉 I believe that can change, and will change at some point.
But when I set out to write my Questions for Kids picture book series, I knew it had to be biblically-based. Challenging the cultural norms that tend to confuse children and pull them away from obedience to God’s Word.
I love the fact that kids are full of questions. They are blessed with a natural curiosity and wonder that many adults outgrow. Those recurring what, when, where, how and why questions shape who they become. Even for young children, not all questions fall into the why is the sky blue and grass green categories. Many go much deeper into ones about God, faith, and the meaning of life. Although the Bible doesn’t claim to answer every question, it does answer the most important ones. But unfortunately the number of children (and adults) who are biblically literate has declined dramatically.
This is tragic because there can be no clear revelation of God apart from the Bible. Without God’s Word as the foundation, it’s too easy to compromise and life becomes meaningless. People become hopeless. We see this on new levels today among our youth. The truth is, if we don’t disciple our children, someone else will. Whether that’s a teacher, their peers, a book, or the newest viral TikTok video. Kids have access to more information now than ever, but so much of it is anti-God and anti-morality.
This very thing is what inspired me to write the Questions for Kids series.
Where did I come from?
Who made the earth?
What makes me special?
Why do people look different?
Why do I see a rainbow after it rains?
Kids will find biblically based answers to these questions and more as they journey into the Bible right alongside the main character, seven-year old Lucy Lu, who has plenty of questions for her trusted advisor Papa Joe. Thankfully, Papa Joe is a wise man and takes her to the best place to get the right answers – the Bible! In this book series, young readers will discover important people, places, and events that help shape a strong faith in God and understanding of His never ending love.
I remember sitting with a group of lovely ladies at a volunteer event, many of whom were school teachers. Somehow we got on the subject of one of the ladies and her husband being caught in a pride parade in downtown Nashville. They couldn’t get off the route fast enough. We all had a good chuckle, but then each one expressed concern that their students didn’t know much about the Bible. Many of their Sunday school students couldn’t articulate why God made the rainbow, and that was the case for some Christian adults in their lives too. How sad! Our culture has hijacked the rainbow and normalized something far from God’s best for His people. Because the Bible isn’t a plumb line in many homes these days, kids are easily deceived. Well, I was encouraged that day because I happened to be working on the third book in my series at the time, which is about Noah and why God made the rainbow!
It felt like a Godwink. An encouragement to not grow weary in my writing. I know biblically-based children’s books aren’t always the most popular on Amazon, but I have no doubt they please God, and are essential for the well-being of this next generation.
Do you write for children? If so, I encourage you to not grow weary in writing wholesome, God honoring books. The book marketplace (and our kids!) needs this now more than ever.
Are you a parent or grandparent? I encourage you to fill your libraries with wholesome, Bible-based books and read these to and with your special readers. Not only will you be planting seeds for their eternity by pointing them to the Bible as THE source of truth, you will enjoy special moments together. There’s something quite memorable about reading colorful, creative books together that spark imagination and a love for reading and for God’s Word.
May I suggest books one, two, and three in the Questions for Kids series? Book four is coming soon, published through Ambassador International.
About Karen:
Karen Ferguson is a writer, host of the 5-Minute Parenting podcast, and the author of the Questions for Kids picture book series. A lover of words, family, animals, and Jesus, Karen is a passionate advocate for truth that transforms lives. Her faith in God and background in K-8 education inspires her mission to share God’s unchangeable truths and His unchanging love with the next generation. She wants every child to know their life matters. You can follow Karen on Facebook and Instagram and sign up for her free newsletter to be the first to know about special events, book updates, freebies and giveaways.
