Authors' Unique Experiences Working with Children Inspire New Releases from Warner Press
Warner Press' Two New Storybooks Encourage Kids to Develop a Healthy Self-Image
Anderson, Ind.--Warner Press will be adding two new titles to its line of children's books teaching kids to develop Christian character and values. "Chrissie's Shell" and "Petunia Pepper's Picture Day" encourage children to develop healthy self-images by seeing themselves as God sees them. The authors of both books have unique experiences working with children, one as a volunteer for a children's charity and the other as a school guidance counselor, that inspired them to communicate this theme to their readers.
The first of Warner Press' new titles, "Chrissie's Shell," introduces Chrissie, a little turtle with a big problem: she believes her shell is empty. She spends her days comparing herself with other animals in the forest and imagining what it would be like to be them, only to end up disappointed when she finds she cannot transform herself into someone new. At last, when Chrissie is ready to give up all hope, she has a conversation with God. God helps Chrissie realize that her shell is not empty after all and that He loves her just as she is.
Brooke Keith, the author of "Chrissie's Shell," was inspired to write the story through her volunteer work with a children's charity where many of the children feel as though they are empty shells. They are limited in the things they can do and often say they wish they could be like everyone else. Brooke uses the story of Chrissie turtle with kids when they are in the hospital or having a particularly rough time. The little girl, Chrissie, for whom the book was named, died from chronic lung failure, which she had suffered with from birth.
Warner Press' other new release, "Petunia Pepper's Picture Day," helps children understand, at an early age, that mistakes are not fatal, outward appearance isn't everything and we all have special abilities that God can use to help others. Every year, disaster strikes on Petunia Pepper's school picture day. Puffy hair, pumpkin-style smiles and pink eye help create pictures that only her family could love. But this year, Petunia promises herself things are going to change. She plans carefully for the perfect picture day, but a series of misadventures on the way to school lead to yet another picture day fiasco. Petunia thinks her perfect picture is ruined, but when her photo is on the front page of the local newspaper in honor of her heroic rescue of a poodle, she finally has a picture everyone in her class loves.
As a guidance counselor, Cathy Breisacher knows how important it is for people to feel appreciated and loved. Because of her experiences, she wanted to create a story in which the reader could root for the main character and hope with her that she would get what she wants—people to like and want her picture, but more importantly, people to appreciate her. In a larger sense, Breisacher hopes that readers will understand their great worth in God's eyes and know that God doesn't see us the same way we see ourselves. "Petunia Pepper's Picture Day" features a "Time Out for God's Word" page that parents and teachers can use to reinforce the biblical foundations of the story with children.
Warner Press has chosen to publish these books in response to the fact that children in both Christian and non-Christian families are suffering from a lack of self-esteem. With these new books, Warner Press editors hope children will discover at an early age that God has a plan for their lives, and that they were created perfectly by a God who loves them and wants the best for them. The books are designed to be tools to help lay the foundation for healthy self-esteem and self-image, which is more likely to bridge the way for a child to experience God's love and grace and accept Jesus as Savior.
"Chrissie's Shell"(ISBN: 978-1-59317-398-2) and "Petunia Pepper's Picture Day" (ISBN: 978-1-59317-397-5) will be available July 1 at retailers nationwide and online. For more information about these and other titles from Warner Press, visit www.warnerpress.org.
About the Authors
Brooke Keith is the author of "Chrissie's Shell," and her children's poetry has appeared in children's magazines and storybooks around the world. She is a devotional and family writer for the Christian Broadcasting Network, a columnist for War Cry Magazine and a regular contributor for many well-loved Christian magazines such as Mature Living, Christianity Today, and Young Salvationist among others. When Brooke isn't writing, she is a volunteer and mentor for the Hugs and Hope Foundation. She lives with her husband Chris and their four children, Alex, Brock, Emily and baby Jack in Lula, Ga.
Cathy Breisacher, author of "Petunia Pepper's Picture Day," has been a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators since 2000. Ever since elementary school, she has enjoyed writing stories and has had a fascination with fun, humorous and meaningful children's books. She graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor's and Master's Degree, along with a certification in school counseling; then completed two writing courses through the Institute for Children's Literature. Cathy and her husband, Chuck, are the youth leaders at their church and enjoy writing youth lessons and skits for their group.
About Warner Press
For more than 125 years, Warner Press has been serving the Christian industry. Warner Press produces children's products, church resources and boxed-card assortments. Warner Press is committed to excellence in developing and marketing products and services based on scriptural truths, to evangelize, educate, nurture, inspire and unite the whole people of God.
Warner Press is headquartered in Anderson, Ind. and is a not-for-profit organization.
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