Bedtime has its own little magic. The room grows quiet, the wiggles finally slow down, and the day winds down with one more story, one more snuggle, and a whispered goodnight.
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God’s Gentle Care by Glenys Nellist is a lovely book to share in those moments.
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With gentle rhyme and adorable farm animals, this third book in the Bedtime Blessings series offers little ones a comforting thought to carry into sleep: God cares for them through busy days, dark nights, and every dreamy moment in between.

Last week, I packed my bags and headed to Wheaton, Illinois, for the Write to Publish Conference at Wheaton College, organized by the fabulous Becky "Blue" Antkowiak.

Like most writers attending a conference, I expected to come home with pages of notes, a few new connections, and enough ideas to keep me busy for months.

​I wasn't disappointed.
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What I didn't expect was for the conference to become part professional development, part family history tour, and part reminder of why I love being part of the writing community.

I remember years ago, when my youngest daughter disappeared after telling her she couldn't have any snacks before dinner. She was only two, and I knew she had to be in the house somewhere. Finally, I found her ... in the bathtub, curtain closed, finishing up what had been a full box of fruit roll-ups.

You know those moments when a child makes one tiny mistake and instead of asking for help, they somehow turn it into a full-scale cover-up operation?

Well. Welcome to Arlo and the Great Big Cover-Up by Betsy Childs Howard.

This picture book gets kids.

Help your little ones discover what’s actually happening under those waves—the gliding, glowing, slightly mind-blowing world most of us never see. In God’s Little Oceanographer, kids don’t just dip a toe in—they dive straight into a swirling mix of color, mystery, and real-deal ocean science, all wrapped in reminders of God’s care.

Tina Cho has this way of making the vastness of the ocean feel both epic and personal. Whether you’ve got a preschooler counting down to a beach trip or a classroom knee-deep in an ocean unit, this book delivers layers of learning without ever losing its sense of wonder.

Bringing an author into your school doesn’t require a miracle budget, a heroic PTO leader, or a complicated fundraising campaign. It requires clarity, creativity, and a plan.

If you’ve ever wondered, “How would we even pay for this?” — this guide walks you through manageable, realistic funding options schools use every year.

Let’s take it one step at a time.

What does it really mean to win?

That question feels simple on the surface, but it’s one we spend a lifetime answering—especially in a world that loves trophies, first place, and shiny rewards. The Best Trophy begins with the excitement of a children’s trail race, but quickly becomes something deeper: a gentle, faith-filled exploration of friendship, courage, and choosing others first.
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This is the kind of picture book that invites families to slow down, read closely, and talk together about what truly matters.