BookWorthy Chats Again with Courtney Siebring

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Valerie - Welcome to Bookworthy. Today we're talking with author Courtney Sebring, who I had the opportunity to talk with about her first children's book, Little Spark of Life, back in Bookworthy Season 1. But today we're talking about her latest rhyming picture book, Everybody Wonderfully Made. Courtney's lyrical rhymes are motivated by Psalms 139. This book tells of the incredible delight that God has lovingly crafted into each human being not only as image bearers of God but also affirms to children's hearts that their bodies, male or female, are linked to who God made them to be. I'm excited to chat with Courtney today.

Welcome back to Bookworthy Courtney.

Season 1- Little Spark of Life Interview

Courtney - Thanks so much for having me back.

Valerie - It is a pleasure. I'm excited to talk about this sweet little book that you've put together. But first, let's start with the question of the week. Now, we just started the new year and I need to ask, do you have any New Year's resolutions?

Courtney - Well, I used to be a New Year's resolution person, for sure. And then it sort of morphed into just praying and asking God, OK, what's a word that I can focus on? And that was a really fun practice for a while. And I'd say these days, I am really focusing on day by day. So no New Year's resolutions. And for me, that's a good thing. So yeah very much trying to do it day by day.

Valerie- That's a great perspective to have because I know I always find it very overwhelming in January when everybody's like, you have to come up with some sort of plan for the year and do all the things. I'm like, I'm lucky if I get to dinner time without like needing a break. So yes, the day by day, mom in the thick of it, you know, it's like, if, if I can make the resolution to maybe not lose my temper today, then we're winning.

Courtney - Yeah. Thank you for that. I needed to hear you say that.

Valerie - Yes, yes. Well Courtney, tell us a little bit about your book. Everybody is wonderfully made.

Courtney - Yeah, Everybody Wonderfully Made, as you said, it's a rhyming picture book and it takes a biblical worldview of gender. But as the title suggests, Every-body Wonderfully Made. The illustrations do point to all different types of bodies. That's part of the book as well. Loving the body that you're in and glorifying God with the body that he gave you. Yeah, that is the main focus of the book.

Valerie - The illustrations do kind of bring in the wonderful diversity that we have in our world, but not just through race and culture, but also through, know, physical handicaps and those types of things where, you know, kids are seeing things that they might encounter at their school, at the playground and knowing that. Yeah. Even in themselves, even though they might be different from somebody else, no matter what that difference looked like they are still made by God and loved by God.

Courtney - Absolutely. Yeah, that they're on purpose. Yeah, with a purpose.

Valerie - Yes. I think we all need that reminder from time to time. Courtney, what inspired you to step into this space of kind of gender identity and loving the body that you're in?

Courtney - Well, it was an opportunity that Paraclete presented me after the publication of my first book, Little Spark of Life, which, you know, as we discussed back in season one, it's about pregnancy and fetal development and the value of every human life. And so I think that everybody wonderfully made was just a natural next step, you know, to talk about the value of each life specifically created male and female. Yeah, gender is a pretty hefty topic to tackle. So I prayed a lot and considered what my entry point might be. Really what compelled me to go ahead and write the book is just that there is such a need right now for messages for children about their bodies. And I think it's because, mean, you just like go to any library and the books that are being highlighted and featured, you know, on The shelves are contrary to the belief

that you're born in the right body, and you were born a boy or a girl on purpose. So I think there's just a really great need. I know that as a parent, I'm looking for resources to have that discussion. And kind of like I was talking about with Little Spark of Life, when you've got that discussion in book form, It takes the focus off of you, it takes the focus off your kid. Now we're focused on this sort of third thing. And it makes the discussion, I think, a little more natural. So, yeah.

Valerie - It also makes it more tangible for kids, especially in that age range that your book is aimed for, kind of that three to 10 is you could focus on the big elements, the hard elements, or in one sitting, you could just focus on the fun of the illustrations and just look at all the differences of all the wonderful kids on this page. And, you know, no matter how big or small or forelimbs or two they're still having fun, and they are still loved by God. And I, you know, we do have that need in, on the bookshelves and the stores and stuff to have a biblical worldview

of, you know, our bodies, you know, and who God made us because what is it we say in our house a lot, God doesn't make mistakes. It's like, well, if he can't make mistakes then, cause if he's perfect and doesn't make mistakes. We're where we are for a reason and it may not be fun. It may not be like everybody else, but it has a reason to shape us and grow us to be who he needs us to be in the future. And that could be a hard concept for kids to understand.

Courtney - Yeah for sure it is. And I find too that with my child, when we're sitting and reading or any topic that comes up at the dinner table, whatever, kind of let her guide the conversation. Kids are not without questions. So I think that we as parents, just to remember like, hey, they're going to bring up the topics as they're ready. This is sort of here as a jumping-off point. I think it is important to talk to them about being made the way they are by God on purpose. I think it's important too to talk about how not everybody believes that way, right? Because the conversations are gonna come up. I think it's important to talk about what's a loving response. Like why people might feel that way, sort of supporting this idea of empathy. What's it like to be in their shoes? Why do you think they're having the thoughts and feelings that they're having? Otherwise, I think we just kind of devolve into this us and them sort of, you know, mentality. Kids can be very black and white. So again, that's a tricky nuance. But yeah, I think that you know, from my perspective, it's like the more focus we put on the light, you know, then we create that contrast, right, between the truth and between falsehoods. We create that contrast and it becomes more evident to our children you know, in the fewer words we really need to say because the light's just light.

Valerie - I love how both your book, Little Spark of Life, and this book also make it easy for parents to discuss these topics because they are topics that we're not taught how to teach to young minds. And every child is at a different stage of development. It can handle details and

Courtney - Thank you.

Valerie -Their own way and knowing that as a parent is hard. And I love how both of these books kind of step into that space and make, you know, fetal development as well as, you know, how God made our bodies as a common language, something we can talk about. Cause I think it is areas where the church has kind of been almost too black and white. You know, this is this and that is that and, and not created space for those situations that do come up, but it at least expresses it in a loving way to make the conversation available to speak the truth, to be loving, to be empathetic, to be understanding, and to have that common language.

Courtney - I appreciate that. Know, one of my favorite sections in the book, I think it's a couple of spreads, you know, it talks about playing dress up and it talks about putting on a mask and a funny red nose and, you know, encouraging children like, yeah, pretend to be someone else. That's fine. Your imagination is a beautiful thing. And then when you take that off, you're still you. And I think children need to know that I like you for who you are. No, it's not like Mr. Rogers, like, I just like you for who you are. Kids need to know that. And that also, you know, I, as a parent, need to be reminded like, hey, yeah, my kid can play dress up, my kid can delve deep into their imagination, and I can encourage that while simultaneously encouraging the fact that God made them, you know, and there's nothing that they can put on from something physical like clothing or something metaphysical like a personality, that's gonna change who they really are. That's a comfort, I believe, to children.

Valerie - And it's one of those where we, know, kids are trying to discover who they are. Where do they stand? Where do they fit into this world? And, you know, as we as parents kind of go to the Bible as our source of truth, as our source of this is why this is good. This is why God gave this to us this way and not make it about no, this is wrong. And yes, this is right, but more giving them the tools to have a discussion, to have an idea, to come to an understanding of who they are is kind of, think, even as an adult, we're all still trying to figure out who we are and how we fit into this crazy world.

Trick or Truth Devotional

Courtney - For sure. I mean, that's one of the cool things about being a parent, right? And a Christian parent in particular, because you're constantly pointing your kid back to the word. And as you're doing that, you're preaching to yourself. Know, like, I need to remember where to go for the truth just as much as my child does. And so, you know, I mean, feelings are big. Feelings are big with me. Feelings are big with my child. And I know there are a lot of kids out there that are very big feeling kids. so it is, again, like you just keep this phrase comfort. It's a comfort to know where to go to find the truth that our feelings are blessings from the Lord and they can be gauges, but they're not there to dictate or to guide what is truth for us. And so I think that that, mean, across whatever topic you want to talk about, that's a great

baseline, you know, to say, okay, well, what does God say? You know, and then, you know, our children hopefully can know like, okay, well, what mom and dad say is lining up with what God says. But yeah, you're right. Like you say, pointing them back to the truth of scripture is, it's just this exhale. It's like, thank you, Lord, that there is something constant in a world, especially for our kids growing up right now, where it's just changing, changing, changing, changing, and to have this constant, it's such a comfort.

Valerie - I love that word to say it is a comfort because it is even as a parent to say like, okay, I don't have to figure this out at every turn. It's not constantly changing, but I have a resource I could go to, be like, okay, okay. God is good. He's given me his word for direction. And sometimes it's complicated, but sometimes it is simple. And I love how you've taken that Psalms 139 section of scripture that we kind of know and love and just woven it into just this more of a sense of identity and self-awareness, which I think is really big for kids these days.

Courtney - Yeah, absolutely. Thank you so much. I'm glad that that comes through.

Valerie - It's one of those topics as a parent that you're just like, how do we breach this subject? How do we talk about this in a loving and Christian way and to meet people where they're at rather than again, causing those divides and our kids are going to come up with friends that think differently than them, and how do we encourage them to love them well? We don't always have to agree with them, but we love them well where they're at because again, those emotions are a very large driving force for kids, and learning how to handle emotions is a lifelong process.

Courtney - Yes, for sure. And I think at the base of both of these books, Little Spark of Life and Everybody Wonderfully Made, is the fact that we are all image bearers of God, regardless of whether we know him or not. He made us, and we are image bearers. And that's another truth that we can impart to our kids, that this person who acts, thinks, and looks differently than you was made on purpose with purpose as well. You know, and whether they're walking in their purpose or not, it doesn't change the fact that they are a beloved child of God, that they are part of his creation. And so just continuing to reiterate that love for God's creation and specifically his creation in these bodies, right? These image bearers.

Valerie - Right. Yeah, because even if I know I have a kiddo that at a very young age struggled with some bullying in elementary school, which it came up so fast and early that I was blindsided, but it took a while to just be like, okay, let's think about this person that's trying to hurt you because, you know, hurt people hurt people. And it's like, okay, so let's approach this with prayer rather than, you know, hating this person or being angry at this person and blaming this person. Let's look at it from a different angle because, yeah, we don't know their story. We don't know what they believe. We don't know where they're at. But it is just to remind them that, yes, this God loves this person, even if you don't right now. And God is working in their life and wants them to be a part of his heavenly kingdom. And so it's just kind of that constant reminder that even through all of our differences, no matter what we believe.

 Recommended Reading: How to Parent the Kid Getting Bullied

Courtney - Yeah, for sure.

Valerie - What, religiously or politically, there's still this common ground of us all being image bearers of God like you said. Now you kind of have an interesting journey to becoming an author. Can you tell us a little bit about how you stepped into this children's book space?

Courtney - Yeah, absolutely. Well, I've always loved to write since I was a kid, and it was something that kind of came naturally to me, but was also sort of like a just is kind of the place that I would go, you know, to kind of feel comfortable and me. And so I've written poetry mostly. When my daughter was like around four years old, I started writing the manuscript for Little Spark of Life. I mean, I didn't know it was a manuscript at the time, but I started writing down the words. And it was about three years. Three or four years after I started writing that and had tucked it away we moved from Nova Scotia in Atlantic Canada to where we are now in Colorado Springs and just through some connections and friendships with a writer a writer friend of mine here I was introduced to Paraclete Press and shared my manuscript with them

and the rest is sort of history. So, you these doors opened up for me, which was so cool and unexpected. And yeah, I've learned a lot. I've learned a lot in the process. And it's actually encouraged me to continue with the other type of writing, you know, that I like to do. It's been a good journey.

Valerie- We talked in our interview, what was it, last year or so, that, you know, your daughter's inquisitive nature spurred onto a lot of your inspiration for a little spark of life. And I love that you're taking those gifts and talents that you've always kind of nurtured, but then looking at the needs of your daughter and being like, how can I step into this space and give her tools and resources that would help you and other parents tackle these challenging topics and to present a Christian worldview to our kiddos? So, I love that about your story.

Courtney - Thanks so much. Yeah, it's it is really cool. It's an honor, you know, and I've she's she's quite the little visual artist herself. So, you know, there's there's a little there's hope in the back of my mind. I'm kind of like catching a collab with her when she gets a little bit older. So anyway, yeah, she's she's interested in the process. It's been fun.

 Valerie - It is fun to watch our kids kind of get inspired by your own creativity and your own process and to watch them kind of develop their own. Now Courtney, have you put together some resources and things to go alongside this book?

Courtney - Yes, yeah, that was a really important part of the book. It's the whole package. So there are resources on the book's landing page at paracletepress .com. So the landing page is everybodywonderfullymade.com, just the title of the book. And people can find coloring pages and things like that, but also a package that has activities that sort of. There are sort of extensions of the different conversations that you might have with your kids. And some of them are in draft form. Some of them are in, there's some movement involved because, after all, it's everybody wonderfully made and different things like that. So yeah, I would encourage your listeners to go to everybodywonderfullymade.com download the resources and check out the book.

Valerie - I love that you and Paraclete have really equipped parents for this conversation, not just by providing a wonderful book for kids to be immersed in just this idea of God's truth and what God says about life and our bodies, but also our equipping parents to have this conversation. What was a taboo topic that it has been in the past and that you're making it a common language I love that about both of your books.

Courtney - Thank you. Thanks so much. Yeah, very intentional and I appreciate Paraclete Press for providing that opportunity.

Valerie - Very neat. Now, what is one of the most impactful books in your life,

Courtney - Man. Yeah, it's a tough question because superlatives are very hard for me. It's your favorite or the best, you know. But yeah, okay, some impactful books. Man, it runs the gamut. You know, anything from the poetry of Billy Collins, who writes in a very, just a very present,

tangible, and also witty way, it just gets you in the room, has really influenced my poetry. So any of his poetry books to books like Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. So yeah, mean, fiction, nonfiction, poetry, it kind of runs the gamut. I'd say one of my favorite authors is John Steinbeck. So yeah, I love his stuff. And actually, after we, it's really cool. My husband and I, don't do this so much anymore. Life is pretty busy, but we used to like to pick a novel and just read with each other out loud, now, chapter, chapter back and forth. It's one of the things that we used, like from the time we were dating until kids started coming into the picture, we haven't done it in a while. But when we

started fostering, we were reading Steinbeck's East of Eden. And I mean, like it's thick. It's like, I'm holding up about four inches there. So I don't know how many pages that is, but it's a big book. And so our fostering journey lasted like a year and a half. And it took us about that long to read this book. Cause I mean, we're doing like onesie twosies as we're dragging ourselves into bed at night. But after we adopted our daughter, we took this huge six-month road trip in a camper out west. So we were living in Atlantic Canada at the time. And so we chose another Steinbeck book. We were reading Grapes of Wrath, which is

about an inch and a half. And we read that book in the camper in the evenings, but as we're like heading to California to, you know, Steinbeck country. So, Steinbeck has a really special place in my heart just because of how wrapped up it is in like my personal story. But yeah, I think that's my long answer to your question.

Valerie - Well, I love it. It tells us a lot about you and your family and just how books have affected you. I love hearing those stories from people. Now, what can people expect next from you, Courtney?

Courtney - Well, I think probably just some more poetry. I don't know why I say just. It's a joy, you know, but I've had some poetry published by the online journal, thewayback2ourselves.com, which is just a great community of artists. And I'm hoping to pursue poetry more and more.

Valerie - Very neat. That's exciting. It's neat to see poetry kind of coming back in style. And you're seeing more of both children's poetry as well as adult poetry. I kind of, that has a special place in my heart too. So it's really kind of fun to see it come back and be a, you know, seen as a viable art form, which it is. It has been for ages, but it's just one of those like, you know, things go in and out of style and it's neat to see it coming back.

Courtney - Out of curiosity, like what's your relationship with poetry?

Valerie - Let's see. It's really how I started writing as a kid it really just was how I saw the world was in these small little pockets of rhyme. And, you know, was it some teachers really kind of encouraged that in me and it just kind of went by the wayside for a while, but you know, we're coming back.

Courtney - That's awesome. It's so cool.

Valerie- It's pretty fun. Well, where can people find out more about you and your books,

Courtney - The best place right now is on the Paraclete website. So, for Everybody Wonderfully Made specifically, again, it's just everybodywonderfullymade.com. If people want to check out Little Spark of Life, it's littlesparkoflifebook.com.

Valerie- Very neat. Well, we'll make sure to have those links in the description for people to click on easily and find you for sure. Well, thank you for being with me today, Courtney.

Courtney- Wonderful. Thanks so much, Valerie.

Valerie-And thank you for joining Courtney and me on this episode of the Bookworthy Podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links we discussed and let us know in the comments, what is your New Year's resolution. Be sure to like and subscribe so we can discover more great books together.

Happy reading.