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PODCAST

BookWorthy

Valerie Fentress

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.

kids & family stories for kids

All Episodes

20:23

A Middle-Grade Prankster Helps Readers Explore their...

BookWorthy ·

2026/03/04

Send a text In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie interviews children's author Bonnie S. Weinhardt about her Bingees series, which follows the adventures of an 11-year-old boy named Benji in the 1930s. They discuss the inspiration behind the series, the character of Benjy, and the themes of humor, faith, and decision-making in the stories. Bonnie shares her journey as a writer, the influence of her journalism background, and her future writing projects, including a young adult no...

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22:09

The Colorful World of Hadley the Hippo with Kayla E....

BookWorthy ·

2026/02/25

Send a text In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Kayla E. Green, an award-winning YA fantasy author who has ventured into children's literature with her picture book 'Hadley the Hippo.' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of conversations about what children consume, both in terms of food and media, and Kayla's journey as a writer and teacher. Kayla shares her favorite books and their impact on her life, as well as what readers can expect from her upcomin...

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20:39

Growing a Love of God on the Farm with Sarah Philpott

BookWorthy ·

2026/02/18

Send a text In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews award-winning author Sarah Philpott, who shares her journey from writing devotionals to creating children's books. They discuss Sarah's latest book, 'Wake Up, Little Seed,' which connects children with the growth process in nature while emphasizing God's role in it. The conversation also explores the creative process behind children's literature, the impact of teacher encouragement, and the importance of reading in family life. &nb...

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23:14

Emotional Growth Through Storytelling with Kathleen...

BookWorthy ·

2026/02/11

Send a text In this episode of Bookworthy, host Valerie speaks with children's author Kathleen about her journey as a writer and the themes of her latest book, 'Our Hearts.' Kathleen shares insights on the importance of emotional development in children, the role of children's literature in addressing complex feelings, and her personal experiences that inspired her writing. The conversation also touches on the challenges of publishing and the significance of fostering a sense of belonging and...

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25:49

A Journey into The Black Cyclone with John Kennedy...

BookWorthy ·

2026/02/04

Send us a text In this episode of Book Worthy, Valerie interviews cycling legend John Howard, who discusses his latest book, The Black Cyclone, which tells the story of Major Taylor, the first acclaimed African-American sports hero. Howard shares insights into the extensive research he conducted to bring Taylor's story to life, the challenges Taylor faced in a racially charged environment, and the lessons young readers can learn from his life. Howard also reflects on his own experiences in cy...

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28:32

Exploring Wild Faith with Valerie Ellis- A Devotional...

BookWorthy ·

2026/01/28

Send us a text In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie Ellis discusses her latest book, 'Wild Faith Devotions for Kids,' which explores the connection between animal traits and Christian teachings. Valerie shares her journey as a writer, the research involved in selecting animals for the book, and the importance of fostering wonder in children. She also reflects on her writing process and future projects, emphasizing the role of faith in parenting and education. Valerie Ellis – Delighting Kids...

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21:44

Discovering WWII Mysteries with Nell Branum

BookWorthy ·

2026/01/21

Send us a text In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, Valerie interviews Nell Branum, a former elementary school librarian and author of the 'Heroes on the Home Front' series. They discuss Nell's inspiration for her books, which blend contemporary mysteries with historical elements from World War II, focusing on the stories of women who contributed to the war effort. The conversation explores the importance of intergenerational storytelling, the lessons learned from history, and Nell's wr...

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25:11

Play it Again with Abbi Lee

BookWorthy ·

2026/01/14

Send us a text Abby Lee, author of Geocache Club, Ghost Town Treasure Hunt, discusses her book and the concept of geocaching. Geocaching is a modern-day treasure-hunting activity where participants hide and find containers, called geocaches, using GPS coordinates. Abby shares her personal experiences with geocaching and explains the different types of geocaches. She also talks about the inspiration behind her book and how it incorporates themes of friendship, history, and dealing with change....

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25:16

Play it Again with Dominique Okonkwo

BookWorthy ·

2026/01/07

Send us a text In this episode, Valerie interviews Dominique Okonkwo, the author of the rhyming picture book 'No Greater Love.' They discuss Dominique's inspiration for the book, the challenges of explaining God's love to children, and the importance of faith-based stories for kids. Dominique also shares her writing journey and her plans for future books. Overall, the conversation highlights the power of storytelling to teach and entertain children while reinforcing biblical truths. Writer Po...

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26:41

Play it Again with Amanda Cleary Eastep

BookWorthy ·

2025/12/31

Send us a text In this Play it Again episode from Season Four of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Amanda Cleary Eastep, author of the Tree Street Kids series. Amanda shares her inspiration for her recent trip to India and how it influenced her writing. She discusses the fifth book in the series, The Beastie of Brambly Bald, and the themes of family dynamics and curiosity that are explored. Amanda also talks about engaging middle-grade readers and the importance of playfulness and humor in...

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26:57

Play it Again Christmas Edition with Author Courtney...

BookWorthy ·

2025/12/24

Send us a text In this Play it Again episode from Season One, Valerie Fentress interviews Courtney J. Strong and illustrator Carissa Robertson about their new Christmas picture book, The Trail of Unexpected Gifts. They discuss their favorite Christmas traditions, the inspiration behind the book, the process of illustrating the book, and their heart for donating the proceeds to Vision Rescue. They also talk about involving their children in the book and their future projects. The episode concl...

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30:14

Play It Again Christmas Edition with Becky VanVleet

BookWorthy ·

2025/12/17

Send us a text In this Play it Again episode from Season Fout of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Becky Van Vleet, an award-winning multi-genre author, about her children's picture book, Angelina the Traveling Angel. The book follows Angelina, a magical Christmas tree topper, as she travels from home to home and questions her worth. Becky shares the inspiration behind the book, which is part of her traveling series based on objects passed down through generations in her family. She discusses th...

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30:08

Play it Again Christmas Editions with Maria Antonia

BookWorthy ·

2025/12/10

Send us a text In this Play it Again episode from Season Four, Valerie interviews author Maria Antonia about her picture book, The Christmas Elephant, A Nativity Story. They discuss family Christmas traditions, sibling dynamics, and the inspiration behind the book. Maria shares her writing journey and the process of getting her book published. They also talk about their favorite books and what to expect from Maria's upcoming projects. Takeaways Family traditions around Christmas ...

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29:59

Play it Again Christmas Edition with Gayle Boss

BookWorthy ·

2025/12/03

Send us a text In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, from Season One, Valerie Fentress interviews Gail Boss, the author of All Creation Waits. They discuss the importance of waiting and rest, the inspiration behind the book, and the power of nature in teaching us about God. Gail shares her personal experience of celebrating Advent in a unique way and how it helped her overcome seasonal depression. They also talk about the impact of stories, particularly the Chronicles of Narnia, on shapi...

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19:20

Top 20+ Books for Kids this Christmas 2025

BookWorthy ·

2025/11/26

Send us a text In this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast, children's author Valerie Fentress shares a curated list of over 20 books suitable for gifting during the holiday season. Valerie emphasizes the importance of choosing books that nurture children's hearts and souls, providing insights into each book's themes and messages. Additionally, she highlights several devotionals for families to explore together during the holidays. See all book and links a www.valeriefentress.com/blog T...

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20:18

Discovering the Full Story of Christmas with Donna...

BookWorthy ·

2025/11/19

Send us a text In this episode of Book Worthy, host Valerie Fentress interviews award-winning author Donna Wyland about her latest children's book, 'Twas the Night Before Jesus.' They discuss the importance of Christmas traditions, the deeper message of the book, and Donna's journey as a writer. The conversation also touches on impactful books, the authenticity in storytelling, and Donna's podcast, Free To Be, which encourages women to live abundantly. Donna shares insights on her upcoming pr...

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25:27

A Heartfelt Christmas Tradition with Brock Eastman

BookWorthy ·

2025/11/12

Send us a text In this episode of Bookworthy, host Valerie Fentress interviews author Brock Eastman about his latest Christmas book, 'Saint Nicking at Night.' They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the importance of giving and community, and Brock's personal writing journey. The conversation highlights the significance of teaching children about generosity and the true spirit of Christmas, as well as Brock's future projects and favorite children's books. Don't forget to join in...

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28:44

Navigating Middle School with Books, Jesus, and...

BookWorthy ·

2025/11/05

Send us a text In this episode of Book Worthy, Valerie interviews author Heather Holleman about her Elita Brown series, which addresses the challenges of middle school, including popularity, social media, and the quest for belonging. Heather shares her inspiration for writing the series, the theological insights woven throughout the books, and the importance of intergenerational wisdom in navigating these challenges. The conversation also touches on Heather's future projects and her passion f...

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22:00

From Chicken Coop to Soaring Heights: A Journey of...

BookWorthy ·

2025/10/29

Send us a text In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews Soaring Eagle (a preferred alias), the author of a children's picture book that explores themes of trauma, identity, and self-discovery through the story of a young eagle raised in a chicken coop. Soaring Eagle shares insights about complex trauma, the importance of recognizing one's true identity, and the power of choice in overcoming adversity. The conversation also touches on the role of literature in healing and the author's...

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19:58

From FBI Fantasies to Faithful Adventures with Rob...

BookWorthy ·

2025/10/22

Send us a text In this episode of Bookworthy, Valerie interviews middle grade author and illustrator Rob Baddorf, who shares insights into his writing journey, the inspiration behind his 'Recruited by the FBI' series, and the unique blend of faith and adventure in his stories. Rob discusses the importance of serialized fiction for engaging young readers and his experiences as an illustrator. He also reflects on the influential books that shaped his writing and reveals what’s next for his care...

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131 results

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