Writing Books for Kids from a Faith Perspective
A guest post by Rachel Pellegrino
As a faith-based children’s publisher, I can tell you without hesitation that there is a hole in the market for faith-based fiction for young readers. There are numerous devotionals, journals, coloring books, and other non-fiction titles to choose from, but what families are looking for are entertaining books to rival what kids are learning about from friends, finding at school book fairs, or picking up in local bookstores.
In fact, walk into any major bookstore, and you will find shelves of interesting books for kids that tell stories of dystopian worlds, royal contests, and magical mutants. There are wonderful board books about the alphabet and counting and picture books and early readers that are seasonal or solve mysteries or teach new recipes. And, all these books are well-written and encourage the reading habits of children.
But, for families longing for more stories founded on biblical principles, it can be challenging to find even one shelf in a local bookstore where they can find wholesome, clean, and faith-oriented books that they don’t have to scan first, especially as children become tweens and teens.
The count is even less for those books that tell children it’s okay to lean on Christ, okay to love the Lord who made them, and okay to pray when they are afraid, lonely, or worried…far less that offer biblical references for encouragement, strength, joy, and love.
Why is this?
I don’t have all the answers. But, I do know that this is why I launched Little Lamb Books. As a premiere publishing company, our mission is to shepherd the next generation of faithful readers by striving to produce three to five fiction titles a year for elementary, middle grade, and young adult readers. We want to put picture books, chapter books, and young adult novels that weave engaging plots with interesting characters in the hands of kids and encourage conversations about an almighty God that loves them and made them unique.
There is a hunger for stories that affirm a biblical worldview and celebrate God’s presence in our world as well as for stories that answer the need for colorful, entertaining, and yes, even humorous examples of characters overcoming obstacles, engaging in positive family relationships, and shining a light in a dark world, especially now, when nothing feels “normal” around us.
We need more writers wanting to grow in their God-given talent and build on their calling to write by creating wonderful fiction that enriches the imagination for the readers and inspires their love for reading while incorporating scripture, values, and salvation.
Our children read books to be entertained, to see themselves in the characters, to travel to new places, and to laugh and not feel alone. We need to give them those kinds of stories while encouraging discussions about challenging situations and believing in a God they cannot see or cannot touch.
As writers, we need to write stories for the elementary readers forming their own opinions and viewpoints with grace and dignity, integrity and kindness.
We need to write stories for middle grade girls and guys learning to stand up for themselves among their peers and how to value truth amidst the onslaught of virtual messages that distort the truth on a daily basis.
We need to create stories for high schoolers longing to be seen and heard, those young adults who value new worlds where love is real, friendships are valued, and diversity is accepted.
We need more faith-based fiction for elementary, middle grade, and young adult readers, and I know that at Little Lamb Books we are doing everything we can to make those books a reality. If you’d like to help us by contributing to our Kickstarter campaign, please visit here.
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Author Bio:
Rachel Pellegrino is the owner and publisher of Little Lamb Books, an award-winning publisher of children’s books.
Launched in 2015, Little Lamb Books has produced almost a dozen titles, all of which have won national awards, including two golds in the Benjamin Franklin Awards.
Rachel is passionate about collaborating with fellow publishers as well as empowering authors to be successful. Based in Texas, Rachel talks with her hands, offers individual author coaching, prefers Pepsi to coffee, and has a growing plush lamb collection much to her daughter’s delight.
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Connect with Rachel:
Website: https://www.rachelpellegrino.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaePelleTX/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raepelletx/
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Follow Little Lamb Books:
Website: https://littlelambbooks.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littlelambbooks/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/little_lamb_books/
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