Valerie -Welcome to Bookworthy. Today we're talking with author Amy Houts, who has written over a hundred books for children from bath time books to nonfiction and fairy tales. But which of her mini books or upcoming projects will be discussed today? We're going a little
green as we enter into April for Earth Day. Amy's book, God's Earth is Something to Fight For, is a picture book about God's call to take care of the Earth. Through simple prose and multiple verses from the Bible, Amy explains to kids that everyone, all human beings, must work together to save the Earth. From writing letters to elected officials to recycling and saving water at home, kids are encouraged to make changes and ask others to do so as well. Welcome to Bookworthy Amy.
Amy - Thank you, thank you for having me. I'm so happy to be here.
Valerie - It is my pleasure to have you, Amy, and you have had a lot of books out there and I'm excited to talk about this one for Earth Day. But to get started, we have to do our random question of the week. So what do you prefer, the beach or the mountains?
Amy -I would have to say the beach. I was born in New York and so we used to go to the beach and especially like a rocky beach or a sandy beach and I really loved the seagulls and the waves and the, you know, just being there with the ocean. It's so vast. It's a beautiful place.
Valerie - It is amazing. I've never heard someone say they love the beach when they're from New York though, because that's usually, you don't hear about the New York beaches. Florida, North Carolina, or South Carolina, you know, but I guess New York does have beaches too. Way fun. I always enjoy the beach as well. It's just, again, there's so much you see and there's something about water that just has a calming effect.
Amy -It does.
Valerie -Most definitely. Well, Amy, tell us a little bit about your book, Earth is Something to Fight For.
Amy -Okay, well I wrote this book because I was hearing a lot of news about fires and floods and how the earth was changing and how our weather was changing, and the storms did seem more severe than when I was growing up. And also I'm married to a retired science teacher, so a lot of our conversations revolve around science topics. And also at the same time, we were having grandchildren, and I was thinking, what kind of world are we going to live in for them? And are they going to be able to grow up with the same type of enjoyment?
Especially one of my grandsons is worried about climate change, something that we never even thought about when we were young. So I wrote a book, I wrote a manuscript, and I submitted it to an SCBWI to have a critique, from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. And the woman, while she liked the manuscript, she said it was not from a faith perspective to begin with. So while she liked it, she said there are so many books out about the climate and recycling and back matter, what practical ways you can do. And so I said, well, what if I wrote it from a faith perspective? Because as writers and as people, we see things through our, you know, through the lens of our faith. And she said, now that has not been done. Well, it's been done, but not to the extent of, you know, the market, the general market. And so, I wrote something and submitted it to a few different publishers. And I had two that were interested. And the one that where I finally got the contract Bushle and Peck books wanted me to, they had someone read it and wanted me to add more Bible verses, which I was, you know, happy to do. And it became, so it became even stronger from a Christian perspective. And I, it is, it's a persuasive book. It's, it's, which I've been told is kind of unusual, but, sometimes when you're writing something, you don't know what it is. You're just, just putting the words down and so I talk about kind of the history of very briefly how God gave us free will and we learned how to you know keep warm and cook food and you know all these things that benefit us but how that caused and is causing the Earth to change and have too much CO2.
Valerie -I love that you've taken this need that usually gets a lot of like you said, attention in the general market and, you know, as Earth Day and Arbor Day and all those things are coming
up, but to take it from a faith perspective that we are stewards of the Earth that God gave us and that we do have to take action, do our part, love the creation that God has made you know, and to be sure that we are caring for what he has given us, whether that's, you know, we're in the city or the country and there's always things that we can do. And you've done a great job in this book of making it not a scary topic. Cause as you said, you had a grandson that was a little worried because there is a bit of fear that is put out in media and even some TV shows about climate change, but to talk about how, you know, the cause and effect but we can take action. Through, I think part of it, said, know, worry leads to prayer. It's something we can pray for. Because what we care about, God cares about. And I love just taking that perspective on, you know, taking care of our world and just loving the place that God has given us to live, even though it's not perfect, but it is what we have in front of us and we can glorify God in those actions as well.
Amy -Yes, I agree. And not just the fact that we're taking care of the earth, but taking care of the earth means taking care of other people because a lot of times it's, you know, people we don't even know who are caught in the floods or the fires and people, know, in the United States, but also globally that are affected. And a lot of times it's poor people that need our help and so it is a global problem.
Valerie -It's a book that helps give kids a global perspective and to look at our world beyond their own home or their school and to kind of take a sense of how they can impact the world around them. They can have a voice, and they can take action on things that they care about. And I love that you've kind of given tools in your back matter as well as just kind of throughout the book, just showing that kids can have an opinion for something good, not just with you know, whether we like peas or not, you know, there are other opinions they can have. And I love how you talk about fighting in the book as well, you know because I have three boys. So, fighting usually means fists up, let's go. But you know, it's not just, you know, not with fists, but with your voice and with your action with, you know, your time, your talent and your smiles. I love that element just to think about What can I do? How did God create me so that I could impact his creation? I love that message in your book as well.
Amy - I was just reading it over this morning, and I was thinking about that particular part of the book and how and how people can come together with their church. Our church has a special, the United Methodist Women. Well, now they're called United Women of Faith and that's a special issue for them is fighting against climate change. And so there were when I was writing this book and doing the research, I found out that there are the Baptist Church and several other churches that have taken this issue and are championing fighting for it. I was so encouraged to see all these faith groups coming together and working to help people to help change some of the laws and to encourage this caring for our planet.
Valerie -Definitely, it's one of those that, know, Christians really, of whatever denomination, are not usually seen in the, you know, political areas as, you know, others when dealing with issues like climate change or many of the other issues in our world. But it's neat to see that there are ways of stepping into those hard spaces with our faith where we don't have to be combative or, you know, fight with our fists, as you say, but to fight with our actions, to show what we love and what's important to us through, you know, how we vote, how we serve our communities, whether it's locally or globally. And I think it's neat for kids to see that they can have an impact and they can, you know, think beyond just their own home. I love that. Now, if you could communicate just one idea, there are many in this book, but what would you hope kids walk away with from this book?
Amy -I would say that the one idea would be that they can make a difference.
Valerie -I love that. And it's one of those, you know, ideas we all want to make a difference, you know, no matter how old we are. And just to, you know, to see our world and even, you know, pollution and climate change in a Christian's perspective is different and unique. And I think that there is both a need for books like that, as well as a desire for, you know, parents to communicate these things to our kids because they are getting so many messages from school and media to say, let's save the earth, let's combat climate change. Those are very large concepts. But you do a great job of putting it into something tangible for kids to do and ways parents can have conversations. To even, I think one really neat element of your book is that not everybody's going to listen to you. That kind of like. Not everybody's gonna be welcoming to your ideas. That's a concept that is hard for kids to understand. Like, well, this is what I believe. Why do you believe something different? And it's like, that's not normal for that kind
of four to eight range of a picture book, but it is relevant. Whatever they're feeling and experiencing finding important to them is going to affect how they communicate with their grandparents, with neighbors, and to know that not everybody thinks the same about climate change or even faith. And just to have a way to communicate that we can still love them, we can still step towards them, so communicate with them and in a respectful way, I think is an element that is a heavy need for kids to understand. I know with my boys, it's been a constant conversation like, look, you're not going to like everybody, you're not going to agree with everybody, but everybody is made in God's image, which is also another point of your book.
Amy -That's true. When you mentioned that four to eight-year-olds, yes, this book, I'll just show you a picture of it. The artwork is so beautiful that if some of the words are a little too high level for a four-year-old, just looking at the pictures is another way that you can get them interested. And that the concepts, yeah, I think an eight-year-old would be able to understand. Just the fact that they can look at and see this beautiful artwork and get the basics of what is being said, I think is important too, because it is a complex topic. I do try to, in the back matter, try to explain what your carbon footprint is on a very basic level. So it isn't, so that's just something to keep in mind.
Valerie -That's kind of the beauty of picture books is, well, there's so much development that goes on in the age range that picture books are made for, but there is, the artwork is amazing. Even if they're not catching onto the concepts in the words, the questions that they ask regarding pictures lead to more questions and better understanding. And if you reference you know, all the Bible verses you kind of mentioned or quoted or referenced in there. And that just leads to let's go look in the Bible and let's double check this. Know, it's a great book of just exploring and, know, whether they're young and can't quite get that little brother, can't
quite get those concepts, or big sisters like eating it up. But it's, it's a great book just to kind of continue to have that conversation about climate change, about. Stewarding our world well and you know a little bit of why There are store certain storms are flooding and you know why there are these things that happen in our world It's just a great conversation starter for sure Now Amy, did you always want to be an author?
Amy -I didn't. Didn't. My mother was a preschool teacher so I always grew up thinking I wanted to be a preschool teacher and I did try it for a year and found out that I liked writing for preschoolers better than teaching them. But I really didn't, really wasn't on my radar until our older daughter, now in her 40s was a baby and I was at home with her and she would take these long three-hour naps in the afternoon and when I got me you know my housework done that I needed to I wanted to do something that you know that would be fun and would help me you know being at home and being alone something I could do there. I did sew and bake and do all of those things, but I wanted to do something with my challenging mind. My mother had written, had always written poetry, and had written one picture book when I was older. And so I asked her some questions and just started writing and found that I loved it. I started with a magazine article, you know, magazine little stories and poems and activities, and then my first picture book, I brought it here, was an ABC Christmas from Standard Publishing and
that was in the 1990s and from then that was free, that was my idea but most of my hundred plus titles have been written on an assignment which was something else I didn't even know that writers did. So I've worked with a lot of educational publishers and they give me the topic, the word count, a team to work with to bounce ideas off of. And so that's the majority of my work, but I love also, of course, writing my ideas and having them published.
Valerie - That's very fun. And I love how God has just kind of moved you in that direction and allowed you to, I'm sure with your husband being a science teacher that, you know, those kinds of conversations were, you know, it kind of helped keep you in that constant thinking phase to always have some sort of idea or project to work on. So that's lots of fun. Now, what is your favorite book that you have written? I know it's hard, but or the most interesting project.
Amy- That I've written. Dear. The most interesting. Well, I could say the most interesting project, which was an assignment of retelling 60 fairy tales, was the most interesting project I've worked on, and it was over six months. And I worked for a publisher from Korea, South
Korea, called Compass Publishing. And so they gave me a list of, it wasn't just fairy tales, was folk tales and some classic books to rewrite for young children so that they could understand them. and I worked back and forth with a British editor. So he worked for this and he lives in South Korea, but he worked for this educational publisher and we worked back and forth to get it just right. I love rereading fairy tales and folk tales that I'd read in my childhood and then retelling them so that young children can understand them and help them learn how to read and help them learn English.
Valerie -What is it? Of the, I've, I've done a retelling of Red Riding Hood is one of my children's books. And so I love retellings and just, I love the fairy tales and folk tales that we've grown up with and how powerful they are in our hearts. I love that you've done that for, you know, kids in South Korea as well, to give them those tools because there is so much that we learned from a fairy tale, you know, just empathy and, you know, resilience and so many great tools that those Good old stories. Share with us for sure. Now, what has been the most impactful book in your life, Amy, other than the Bible?
Amy -other than the Bible, okay. Well, I was, when you sent me the questions, I was going to talk about the Bible and I wanted to tell you why. And then I'll think of another book. I grew up in a Jewish family and didn't read the Bible, didn't go to church or temple until someone gifted me a Bible when I was 18 years old And so, and that book changed my life. Mean, that was when after I read it, and I read it cover to cover, I decided that Jesus was the son of God. I mean, and I had grown up with, even though we didn't go to the temple, we celebrated Jewish holidays, and my, you know, my family, extended family are all Jewish. And so, I decided that even though Jewish people don't believe that Jesus is the Messiah, everything I read about just totally changed my life. So, it was the most impactful thing in my life.
Valerie -I think that was a very impactful book. Yes. Most definitely. Love how God's Word can do that. Whether, no matter your history or the family that you grew up in, God can reveal Himself and transform hearts and minds through His Word.
Amy -Yes, absolutely.
Valerie -Okay, now other than the Bible.
Amy - Other than the Bible. I would have to say I loved the book when I was growing up. Loved The Wrinkle in Time by Madeline Lingle. And it just I don't write fantasy, but it's just this
wonderful fantasy that kind of brings science and science fiction together with a girl and you know looking for her father who's has been lost and it just I always have remembered that that book kind of I think it was kind of a transition between being a young child and growing up and I always kind of think of that book as kind of in that transition period when I was kind of a higher level thinking too. So I would say that the book had a lot of impact on my life.
Valerie -Wrinkle in Time is one of those books that kind of can mark a childhood for sure. I read it recently and I was shocked at how many Bible verses were in there. And was kind of one those like, these are Bible verses like woven into this science fiction story. And I was very impressed. I was like, I need to read more for things, but it's a very good book. But yeah, it is one of those unique books that kind of merges both faith and science and accepting ourselves and being willing to step out and believe in ourselves too, which is just a message that's great for any age. Well, Amy, what can we expect next from you?
Amy -Bushel and Peck, the publisher who published My God's Earth is Something to Fight For, I've worked with them on a few different projects. Next year, the next book coming out is called Where Did the Bible Come From? And so I did a lot of research on this. It was so interesting. It's for a little older age group. So it's for the seven to 10-year-olds. And it's got lots of facts. It talks about not only who wrote it, where they wrote it. What are the books in the Bible? How are they different? When did the format of the Bible change through the ages? And so that is coming out next year.
Valerie -That's exciting. I love that topic. I recently did an article on the Geneva Bible. I think my eyeballs just nearly popped out of my head learning a little bit more about the history of the Bibles that we have. It is a fascinating subject to see just how many people were involved in it, how it stood the test of time, and just continued to impact hearts and cultures across the world. So that sounds like a very neat project. I can't wait to see more of it. Now, where can people find out more about you and your books?
Amy -So I have a website, it's my name, amyhouts .com and my name is spelled A -M-Y -H -O -U -T -S and then my handle for X and Instagram and threads is just my name, at Amy Houts.
Valerie -We'll make sure it's linked in the descriptions as well. Thank you for joining us today, Amy.
Amy - Thank you so much for having me. This has been a pleasure.
Valerie - It's been fun for sure. And thank you for joining Amy and me on this episode of the Bookworthy podcast. Check the show notes for any books or links that we discussed and let us know in the comments if you prefer the beach or the mountains. Now next week, Bookworthy will be going on break to prep for the next season. But don't worry, we'll be replaying a few of our past episodes so you don't miss us too much. We'll be back with new episodes soon.
Happy reading!
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