Hey friends! I’m excited to introduce you to Hillary Eichols and her beautiful new picture book entitled What if the World is a Letter? The book is releasing from Tommy Nelson on June 9, 2026 and it was illustrated by the talented Ha Ngoc Vu.

This lyrical book has a dreamlike quality and it is sure to help children understand the depth of love that their Creator has for them in a fresh, new way. I fell in love with the stunning illustrations and I wish that this book would have been available when my kids were little. I am sure it will make a soothing bedtime read aloud with your kids.

I invited Hillary to help me this post and tell us five fun facts about her new release. I am sure that you will find them as fascinating as I did. You can pre-order the book now, or in a few days it will have its official launch. Check it out here.

Take it away, Hillary…tell us about your book!

1. WHAT IF THE WORLD IS A LETTER? is my first picture book!

I have a poem that has been published in a poetry anthology, and a chapter book that was released last year, but this is my very first picture book, and I am beyond thrilled and thankful for this amazing opportunity!

2. The idea for this book began with a question.

One night, I was getting ready for bed, and a question kept running through my mind:  What if the world is a letter? I couldn’t get it out of my head. I immediately remembered Romans 1:20, and I knew it was a question worth exploring.

3. WHAT IF THE WORLD IS A LETTER? is inspired, in part, by Romans 1:20.

Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made…” I love that we can learn about God’s character—and be reminded of His unfailing love—by interacting with His creation!

4. I wrote the whole first draft all at once!                                                                           

The next morning, I sat down to write out my thoughts, with that question still echoing in my mind. It all came at once. The refrain, the arc of the day, the various settings—except for the desert scene, which came later—were penned, all together.

5. Originally, this book had a different title.                                                                             

When I first wrote the manuscript, I’d chosen to entitle it, “WHAT IF…” But when the title, What if the World is a Letter? was suggested, it completely fit. After all, that had been the phrase that had inspired the manuscript in the first place!

Thank you very much, Hillary. I loved hearing the inside scoop about your book. I especially love that it is based in Scripture and the title definitely seems like it was meant to be. I’m sure our readers are going to love reading it with their kids. Best wishes to you on the official launch of this book in a few days.

Abour Hillary Eichols:

Hillary writes poems, chapter books, and picture books for children. Her poetry was featured in the anthology Friends and Anemones: Ocean Poems for Children. After studying English and elementary education in college, she spent a season in the classroom and eventually homeschooled her own children for eight years. She currently lives and writes in Virginia with her husband, kids, and a chocolate lab named Bear. When she is not writing, she can be found near the water with her family, preferably in coastal New England or North Carolina.

Post by: Mindy Baker

About Mindy Baker:

Mindy Baker resides in Indiana where she is a high school Spanish teacher. She is the author of Mouse’s Christmas Gift, Zonderkidz 2018, and has contributions in multiple Guideposts publications. Her middle grade novel Soledad and the Curse of the Phoenix was published in November 2025 with Chicken Scratch Books. You can connect online with Mindy here. She also has a mini-magazine for parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of children. You can sign up to receive it here.

Be sure to sign up to receive updates of each new post on our Christian Children’s Authors blog. Follow us for new book news, free resources, parenting tips, and encouragement!

#christianchildrensauthors #christianbooks #christianauthors #christianwriters #christianteachers #christianbooksforkids #christianchildrensbook #christianchildrensbooks #christianhomeschool