Faith-shaped books for growing readers.
BookWorthy brings children’s and YA authors into thoughtful conversation about stories shaped by faith, imagination, courage, and care for kids’ inner lives. The tone is friendly and practical, with each episode connecting book craft to family reading, spiritual formation, and everyday wonder.
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BookWorthy is a Christian children’s book show centered on conversations with authors. It is gentle, direct, and deeply interested in why a story exists. Each episode tends to start with a book, but the real subject is often the moral and spiritual imagination behind it. A worldwide adventure series becomes a doorway into missions language, culture, prayer, and God’s concern for all nations. An early chapter book becomes a conversation about children learning confidence, faith, and emotional steadiness before later years arrive. A bright animal picture book opens into preschool science, narwhals, creation, and the delight kids take in living things. A YA fantasy about grief and portals turns toward the place of art in a practical world. Even space nonfiction and cycling history are handled as ways to talk about awe, courage, storytelling, and character. The show’s strength is its patience with authors’ origin stories. It lets guests explain how family life, childhood reading, church work, or a sudden idea shaped the books they made. Then it pulls the lesson back toward families. The format is interview-centered, with warm affirmation and simple summaries that keep the conversation easy to follow. It is not a hard-news book program or a literary criticism show. It is closer to a trusted reading-room conversation for Christian families who care about what books are forming their children. The tone can be playful, especially in bonus episodes with multiple authors, but the center stays sincere. BookWorthy repeatedly returns to purpose, creativity, faith, and the hope that good stories can help children see themselves, the world, and God more clearly.
Made for: BookWorthy is for Christian parents, grandparents, educators, and young readers looking for thoughtful children’s and YA books. It especially suits families who want stories with imagination, emotional care, and clear spiritual purpose.
What sets it apart: BookWorthy stands out by asking authors not only what their books are about, but why those books matter for children’s faith, courage, creativity, and wonder. Its interviews turn craft talk into practical family discernment without losing warmth.
Looking for books your kids will love — and you can trust? The BookWorthy Podcast is your weekly guide to help Christian parents cut through the noise and find books that actually matter. Each week, award-winning children's author Valerie Fentress chats with authors about stories that help kids process big feelings, grow in faith, and see God’s goodness in everyday life. Think of it as your trusted book buddy for raising readers who love Jesus.Full Transcripts available at http://www.valeriefentress.com/blog
Valerie makes faith-minded children's books audition for your shelf, silky chickens and all.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A straightforward look at how the Live Big books came together to encourage kids to grow.
Kat Cronenberg frames Live Big as a series built to help kids learn life skills and grow into the hero of their own story. The path to the books feels plain and human: an idea surfaced at a symphony, she wrote it down, set it aside, and kept returning to it.
A space-book conversation that finds its deepest wonder in the emotional reach of storytelling.
Bookworthy uses a children's space book as a doorway into wonder, faith, and the pull of a well-told story. Mark Wainwright, an author and editor with more than 18 years in Christian publishing, talks about Awesome Facts About Space, a full-color nonfiction title for kids from…
A warm, grounded look at faith-forward children's storytelling, collaboration, and a funny editorial idea.
This Bookworthy bonus episode follows Sean Stevenson and Brock Eastman as they talk through the Parable Port series, from The Sower's Seed onward. What stands out most is how easily the conversation moves from broad purpose to the practical work of shaping the story.
Two Bible translators unpack Scripture's hardest passages, from Revelation's 666 to the Witch of Endor.
Catholic arguments with pint-table warmth.
Daily headlines under Christian judgment.
Catholic homilies for the next faithful step.
Catholic teaching for ordinary discipleship.
Serious Bible questions, patiently reasoned.
Meredith Davis tells BookWorthy host Valerie that her middle grade series The Amazing Adventures of Noah Minor follows a seventh grader who learns he is a "gravitar" able to manipulate gravity.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews author Sandra K.
Bookworthy welcomes Kat Cronenberg to talk about her Live Big series.
Jennifer Jahn's debut board book, God's Wonderful Wide World, uses a narwhal to introduce six animal groups.
Lara d’Entremont’s YA novel The Painted Fairy Tale gives Wren’s paintings a magical role: her art opens portals to other worlds.
Bookworthy welcomes Sean Stevenson and Brock Eastman for a bonus conversation about the Parable Port series.
Author and editor Mark Wainwright, who has 18 years of experience in Christian publishing, joins Bookworthy to discuss his nonfiction children's book Awesome Facts About Space, published with Answers in Genesis.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews children's author Bonnie Swinehart about her Bingey series and the heart behind her books.
Author Valerie Fentress interviews cycling legend John Kennedy Howard about his middle-grade book on African-American cycling pioneer Marshall Major Taylor.
Valerie Fentress interviews author Valerie Ellis about her Wild Faith Devotional for Kids, which uses animals to teach children about God.
Valerie Fentress interviews author Leah Bowden about her fictionalized biographies for kids that teach boldness and faith.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews Dr.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews Terry Hillard-Brown about her devotional that combines picture books with family devotions for Christian parents.
Valerie Fentress interviews Zulchi Dixon about her picture book 'What Color Is God's Love?' for Christian parents seeking faith-based children's literature.
Author Karen Whiting discusses her 52-week devotional for families who want to serve, sharing activities and devotions to develop a servant heart in children.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews YA author Lindsay Llewellyn about her sci-fi sequel The Crier Stone, discussing the book's themes and the author's background.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews fantasy author Brian Davis about his new middle-grade Christian fantasy series, The Dragons of Camelot.
Valerie Fentress interviews author Maria Antonia about her children's book Barnaby the Sheep, discussing summer reading and family visits.
Host Valerie Fentress interviews author Kristen Puma about her children's book 'Abby and Liam and the Bedtime Adventure,' discussing sibling bonds and imaginative bedtime routines.