This week, we have our first installment in the Kids’ Question of the Week blog series, brought to you by children’s author Kathryn Slattery and her new book, If I Could Ask God Anything. Don’t forget to drop your kids’ biggest God questions over in our Contest area to win the book and more from Tommy Nelson!

God is the creator of everything, visible and invisible. God created heaven and the angels. God created time and space. From God’s fingertips tumbled galaxies, stars, the sun, the moon, and our beautiful planet earth. God loved His creation so much that He didn’t stop there. God created the oceans, the animals, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea. God created human beings (Genesis 1-2).

God created you!

Every child has a biological or earthly mother and father. Earthly moms and dads are not perfect. Because they are human, they make mistakes. Earthly moms and dads can get tired and grumpy. They can have problems and get divorced. Because they are human, earthly parents can get hurt or sick and die.

The good news is that every child also has a spiritual parent, known as our Father God in heaven. God loves us perfectly and never gets tired or grumpy or sick. Best of all, God never dies.

God’s children include all the people on earth. God’s children include people who are living and people who have died. Do you know someone who is expecting a baby? God’s children even include people who haven’t been born yet (Psalm 139:13-16).

Here’s the best news: You are a child of God! (1 John 3:1)

Who is God?
God is your Creator and your perfect parent.

What is the best word to describe what God is like?
God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Kathryn Slattery is a long-time Contributing Editor for Guideposts magazine, and the author of several books including If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids, the memoir Lost & Found: One Daughter’s Story of Amazing Grace, The Gospel for Kids, Grandma, I’ll Miss You: A Child’s Story about Death and New Life, and The Grace to Grow: The Power of Christian Faith in Emotional Healing. Learn more about her work at her website, and on Facebook.

As you read Kathryn’s questions and answers for children, we want to know: Who do you tell your kids God is? Is this answer helpful?

If there’s one thing all kids have in common it’s questions. This truth is at the heart of a new blog series we’re kicking off today. We’ve invited children’s author and all around rock-star Kathryn Slattery to join us as our resident expert for a “Kid’s Question of the Week.” Our goal is to let Kathryn (”Kitty”) share with you from her new book If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids, and hopefully answer some of your children’s questions along the way!

If I Could Ask God Anything

Today, we’ll just start with an introduction. Here’s Kathryn on why she wrote If I Could Ask God Anything:

Life for a child – any child – is full of struggles. It’s part of being human. But we are also living in what historians and many theologians call the “post-Christian” age. Secular humanism, moral relativism, political correctness, and the powerful push-and-pull of popular culture have created a moral atmosphere of murky gray where there are few absolutes to help parents and children discern right from wrong.

Today – more than ever – children need to be informed and reassured that God is real, that He personally loves them, and that He has a unique purpose for each of their lives. What the late, great Christian apologist C.S. Lewis called “mere Christianity” can make a powerful, positive difference in a child’s life.

The good news is that children enter this world with a tremendous capacity for faith. For children, believing in God is instinctive. It is as natural as breathing. You could say that kids are natural-born experts when it comes to believing in God. Jesus recognized this when He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Luke 18:16-17, NIV). As parents, it is not only our privilege but also our responsibility to encourage and nurture our children’s God-given faith.

Perhaps like you, when my two children were growing up, I was reminded daily that children possess a very active inner life and can be surprisingly curious about religious and spiritual matters. Consider a few of the questions our daughter, Katy, and her little brother, Brinck, asked when they were young:

• “If God is invisible, how can I know He is real?”
• “When Jesus was born, was it before or after the dinosaurs?”
• “Is it OK to pray for help on a test?”
• “How can God be three persons at the same time?”
• “Mommy, what happens to me after I die?”
• “Does God ever sleep?”
• “Up in heaven, does Grandpa know it’s my birthday?”

As a follower of Jesus, I knew I very much wanted my children to have a strong faith to help them as they grew. Typically, a child’s religious education includes enrollment in Sunday school, familiarity with the Bible, and family rituals such as routine prayers at meals and bedtime. But over the years, I learned that that’s not enough. It takes a personal, intimate relationship with a loving God to breathe life and meaning into these religious traditions. As a Sunday school teacher, I was also surprised to discover how little my students knew about the basics of the Christian faith, let alone about the Bible and the Church as the body of Christ at work in the world today.

So what to do?

If I Could Ask God Anything is, quite frankly, the book I wish my two children had when they were young. It’s also the book I wish I had during my many years teaching Sunday school. I am also thrilled at the thought of it being used as a terrific resource for grandparents, godparents, home-schooling parents — anyone who has a special young person in their life!

If I Could Ask God Anything offers clear, fresh answers in language that kids can understand to a wide variety of questions that ultimately cover the basic tenets of biblically-based orthodox Christianity, including God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, the Church, Christian Seasons and Holidays, and many other challenging, real-life questions from real-life kids about faith, life, death, and eternity. Written for children of all denominations, the book emphasizes God’s great and unconditional love for each and every child. Special care has been taken to firmly root every answer in scripture, so that it isn’t just “my opinion.”
Most importantly, If I Can Ask God Anything is written to help young readers establish a deep and lasting personal relationship with a living, loving God through faith in Jesus Christ.

It is my most heartfelt hope and prayer that If I Can Ask God Anything will serve to deepen young readers’ understanding of how faith works in their lives, and help them see how they fit into the larger body of Christ. This is because I truly believe that just like grown-ups, young people can be motivated and empowered by faith to make a positive difference in a fallen and hurting world. Just like grown-ups, children can acquire a vocabulary of faith that enables them to articulate what they believe and why they believe it.

There are, of course, an infinite number of questions about God – more than could ever be answered in one book. And with each passing day, the more persuaded I am that there is not very much difference between the questions asked by curious kids and curious adults. Perhaps this is because we are all God’s “children” at any age. For this reason, I encourage you and your child to use the questions and answers in If I Could Ask God Anything as a way to grow in faith together.

In coming weeks I look forward to sharing biblically-based answers to real-life questions from real-life kids… and hearing from you, too!

Until then, remember that God loves a seeking heart (Matthew 7:7-12)…
And God loves you (1John 3:1)!

Kathryn Slattery is a long-time Contributing Editor for Guideposts magazine, and the author of several books including If I Could Ask God Anything: Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids, the memoir Lost & Found: One Daughter’s Story of Amazing Grace, The Gospel for Kids, Grandma, I’ll Miss You: A Child’s Story about Death and New Life, and The Grace to Grow: The Power of Christian Faith in Emotional Healing. Learn more about her work at her website, and on Facebook.

Stay tuned each week as Kitty answers your children’s questions about God. Feel free to let us know what your little ones are asking about God & enter to win a Tommy prize pack on our Contest page!

Children's Author Susan E. Crites

Hello Tommy Nelson friends,



Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and I was thrilled when Tommy Nelson asked if I’d write a guest blog. While I believe every day is an opportunity to show how much you care for those you love, Valentine’s Day is a good reminder.



I’m a firm believer in sharing those three magical words, “I love you,” especially with kids of all ages. It gives them comfort, confidence and hope, especially when they’re going through a hard time. Knowing someone thinks they’re special can truly make a difference in someone’s life.



These days we seem to function on a pace dictated by the clock and where we have to be at a certain time while fitting in life’s chores somehow. A lot of families need two incomes to pay the bills, which adds to the pace, and sometimes life’s little joys get overlooked simply because of the pace we keep. One of those joys is simply curling up with a good book and sharing some quality time with your kids, especially at bedtime. When the lights go out, their room can seem awfully lonely, but when they have the reminder of how much they’re loved, a comfort blankets them as they drift off to sleep.

Young readers at a school in Northern Virginia

My book, I Love You More Than Rainbows, is all about expressing the love an adult has for the little ones in their life. Using every day joys a child experiences makes an abstract concept one they can wrap their minds around. To tell them “I love you more than birthday cake, balloons and presents too,” is something they can grasp. When it hits home that “I LOVE my birthday, and I’m loved more than that?” my mission has been accomplished. They understand that the things they love most don’t compare to the love someone has for them and it’s something you can’t put a price on. My book also goes from day to night and through all four seasons, reminding the listener that no matter what time of day it is or what day of the year it is, they’re always loved. It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give a child you love.



I love you can come across in a million little ways. A simple hug when it’s not expected, a little note snuck in a spot that only the recipient will see that says something simple but special, or being there when it’s been a hard day. It can be our tone of voice despite our frustration with life at the moment. It can be lending a hand even though you’re busy or comfy on the couch. It can be simply listening about someone’s day or the great idea they have, including their dreams.



Actions speak louder than words the old saying goes and how true it is. How we treat those we love most will long be remembered over things like the dishes weren’t done or the beds weren’t made. I encourage you to turn off life’s distractions and interruptions and focus on some quality time with your kids. It makes a huge impression on them and I’m always amazed at how my nieces and nephews (who are all in high school and college) remember the tiniest details of time spent together whether recent or in the past, and it reminds me I need to do it more often. The benefit of making time to share life’s simple pleasures far outweighs the time and effort we think it will take. I think you’ll find when you give your time you’ll receive far more than you gave. Life is too short to miss the opportunities to share your love with those who mean the most to you. Don’t let them pass by.



Love generously, praise loudly, live fully! ~ Elias Porter

You can keep up with Sue on her Facebook page, and can find her book, I Love You More Than Rainbows, here.

We get a lot of questions from moms, writers, readers, and interested bystanders about what it looks like from our side of the editorial desk. What are publishers looking for in new children’s books? What does a day in the life of an editor look like? Do you really have such a big gumball machine? Okay, maybe not that last one (the answer is yes if you’re wondering!), but it’s clear that people are curious, and we live to serve that curiosity.



So today we bring you an interview with one of our children’s editors – the lovely MacKenzie Howard. This interview was orginally posted on the wonderful blog of Sarah Sumpolec, My Book Therapy. We are grateful she allowed us to share it with you here! And with that, we’ll let her take it away:

Children's Editor MacKenzie Howard

Tell us a little about yourself!
My name is MacKenzie Howard, and I’ve been with Thomas Nelson for three and half years. I’ve got a wonderful husband who is a high school teacher and basketball coach, and we share our home with two crazy little dogs. Spring and summer are my favorite seasons because it allows me to spend more time walking outdoors and working in my yard, and I love nothing more than having a houseful of family and friends.
I am so blessed to have the job I have—acquiring and dreaming up book ideas for children as well as working with authors and delving into manuscripts is so much fun. The best thing about the children’s division is the variety of projects we get to handle—fiction, non-fiction, Bible storybooks, picture books, board books, and others.



Even though I’m sure no day is “typical”, can you tell us about what your “day at work” is like as a children’s book editor?
You are definitely right that no day is typical! It really depends where my projects are and what my priorities are for a given day or week. When I’m close to printer dates, it can be hectic getting proofs finalized and off to the printer—especially if projects overlap. Those days involve a lot of shuffling proofs off to freelancers, checking, working with design, and rechecking. Other times I’m working on the front end of manuscripts and early edits, managing freelancers, working up proposals for new products, researching the market to find new products, or handling our submissions. Some days I’m doing just one thing, but others I may be doing all of it.



On the website, you list Kids’ Fiction and Tween Fiction. For you, what is the distinction between those two?
Kids’ fiction could be anything from a board book story to an early reader chapter book. Tween fiction is for the nine to twelve age group. For example, in the secular market, Junie B. Jones would be for younger children, but something like Harry Potter is geared for nine to twelve year olds.



What makes a picture book manuscript stand out to you? What do you look for?
Picture books are an extremely tough market these days. They don’t sell like they used to, and because they’re sold at a higher price, we have to be extremely selective. We see a lot of very sweet stories, but the market is so competitive, that just doesn’t cut it anymore. Things that would make a picture book stand out in addition to a great story line would be an author platform or a subject matter platform. And unless you’re a professional illustrator, never include artwork.



What about kids/tween novels? What do you look for in those stories?
Right now, I’m specifically interested in action/adventure novels for the nine to twelve market. In any genre, I look for a strong, engaging plot and well-developed characters. Characters are particularly big for me as an editor but also as a consumer. I can stick with a great character even if I’m not in a fast-paced part of the story. Another thing that is important for us is Christian content. That can work on several levels. The plot doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around an explicitly Christian theme, such as a young boy’s search for Christ, but we need the stories to be from a Christian worldview and have some sort of edifying, redemptive message. It may be about a boy’s search for treasure, but through that he learns about God, prays for safety, etc.
We also do allegory, although at the moment, I’m not really seeking out fantasy. It looks to be trending down right now. One thing that is hugely popular is dark fiction. This can be tricky for kids, but if I see something that works with our values, I’m open to exploring it.



Tell us a little about YA Non-fiction. What do you look for in those submissions? Any particular needs in this area?
Right now we’ve got a strong line of YA non-fiction from our Revolve team that covers a good breadth of topics. But I’m always open to a great idea. Girls read much more than guys, so that’s good to keep in mind. But, if you’ve got a great message that will reach teen guys and get them reading, I’d love to find it. Two important questions I’d ask are: 1. Is your topic relevant to teens today? 2. Do you have a platform to reach them?



What’s on your wish list as far as books go?
Like I said, I’d love to find a great action/adventure series that would appeal to both boys and girls. Thirty-nine Clues is a very fun series in the secular market right now. I love that it’s a grand, fast-paced adventure tied to a very intricate mystery, but I also love that it’s fun and educational.
My goal is always to first reach children for Christ. I believe there’s a statistic that 80% of conversions happen before the age of twelve, so that’s a huge mission for us. Secondly, I want to educate them and make them more well-rounded individuals so they have an awareness of culture, history, science, and society. And finally, I want to inspire them and entertain them.



Is there anything you see way too much of?
We see a lot of picture book or storybook submissions, which like I said, is a tough market. Today, it takes more than a good story to reach consumers.



Are there any common problems/mistakes that you see in the manuscripts you read?
We don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts, but in anything, it’s important to make sure it is clean! Typos happen to everyone, even editors, but the cleaner your manuscript looks, the better.



What percentage of your children’s books are written by authors that you’ve already been working with? Are there areas you’d be open to submissions from “new to Thomas Nelson” writers?
Probably ninety percent or more of our titles come from authors who have worked for us before or who have worked in other Nelson divisions, but we’re always open to new talent.



Many agents will not consider children’s writers, so are there agents that Tommy Nelson does work with that you might recommend writers to look into? Any other ways to be considered?
Mike (Hyatt) has also done a post on agents, and several of these do work with children’s authors.



Describe your dream author:-)
My dream author works hard, is responsive, meets deadlines, and is open to feedback. It’s really like any relationship; you want it to be healthy with lots of communication and mutual willingness to work together for the best possible outcome. You have to be, as one of my college professors used say, willing to sometimes “kill your darlings.” You may think you’ve written the best scene, but if your publisher or your editor is telling you it isn’t working, you’ve got to be open to change.
I’m really blessed to work with a lot of great authors. I’ve built some great relationships, and we have a lot of fun working on books.



Any other advice you’d like to share with authors who write for children?
Study the masters! Study all-time best-sellers like Margaret Wise Brown and Dr. Seuss and study what is currently popular. Know what works and why. Read bestseller lists like the New York Times and the ECPA lists. Read books on writing and attend conferences if you are able. Read blogs like Michael Hyatt’s and other industry leaders. Spend time with children and research the market. Commit to finding an agent or research which houses accept unsolicited manuscripts.



Here are a few more resources that may be helpful:
If you are interested in having your stories published by another Christian publisher, we recommend a book called The Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2009 by Sally Stuart. This book includes writer’s guidelines and submission procedures for all Christian publishing houses that do accept unsolicited manuscripts. You can find it on Amazon, and you can also visit Sally’s Website .



If you need help writing a book proposal, we recommend Mike Hyatt’s article, “Writing a Winning Book Proposal.”



Also, don’t rule out self-publishing. More and more people are moving that direction, and for some it’s a stepping stone to a deal with a major house. Nelson has even launched our own self-publishing division, Westbow Press. You can find out more at www.westbowpress.com
.


Whether you’re pitching to a house or an agent, have a healthy confidence in yourself and in your work. Never tell them you have the next Twilight or Harry Potter but know you’ve done your homework and have produced a quality writing worthy of review.



Do you have other questions for us? Leave them here and we’ll get back to you