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, speaker, and founder of Our Everyday Parables, a multi-author online resource with book reviews and ideas for families pursuing faith and compassion. A certified teacher with countless hours in children’s ministry, Valerie writes books that serve kids at the intersection of faith and fun.

Valerie is a frequent speaker for The MomCo (formerly MOPS) and similar groups. She stays involved with her own local chapters of The MomCo, SCBWI, and the Texas Library Association as well. Valerie is also a nonprofit consultant, trainer, and grant writer in the Houston area, where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys. An Ohio-born, Texas-raised TCU Horned Frog, Valerie loves live music and going on adventures—big and small—with her family and friends.

What Threatens to Steal Your Joy?

Check out Surrender the Joy Stealers: Rediscover the Jesus Joy in You 6-week Bible study rooted in John 15. You can find more info at https://dorisswift.com/book/

Let’s Stay Connected!

Find my free resources including Fear Fighting Bible Verses, Simple Tips for Sharing Your Faith, Surrender the Joy Stealers, Step Out of Your Doubt and Into Your Calling ebook, and more on my dorisswift.co...