Yesterday I told you about my recent boardbook release God’s Big Promises for Kids (Standard Publishing). Well there’s more to the story. When I submitted my manuscript for this book, the editor responded that she loved the idea as well as the manuscript, but for marketing purposes the publishing team thought it would be best to release a pair of books rather than just one.  So they would offer me a contract for two boardbooks if I could come up with another idea and manuscript that would be a companion book to God’s Big Promises for Kids. An offer for two books instead of one is usually music to my ears. However, I needed to get back to them a.s.a.p. in order for the deal to go though.

So I thought about my relationship with God and how much He loves me no matter what, and how He wants the best for me. But in order for me to experience God’s best, I need to obey His commands. Then it occurred to me that many of God’s promises are conditional—meaning that in order to receive His promises, it takes action on our part. God will answer us when we call on His name. God will forgive our sins when we confess them. God will draw near to us when we draw near to Him. So I decided the perfect companion book would be something about obeying God’s commands in order to receive His promises. The word “commands” is not a kid-friendly word (or an adult- friendly word for that matter), so I thought of the title God’s Big Ideas for Kids.

I followed the same format that I used in God’s Big Promises. Each two-page spread includes: God’s Idea (rather than a promise), followed by a rhyming verse and two Scripture verses. Some of “God’s Ideas” in the book are:  Trust Me, Obey Your Parents, Come Near to Me, Tell the Truth, Be Thankful, Share with Others, Worship Me, and Love God and Others.

The good people at Standard were pleased with the second idea and manuscript, so the contracted was signed and the books have been published.

I hope you have enjoyed a little behind-the-scenes sneak peek regarding these two new boardbooks. But more importantly, I hope you enjoy sharing God’s Big Promises for Kids and God’s Big Ideas for Kids with the little ones God has entrusted to your care.

Crystal

available at standardpub.com and christianbooks.com