As a parent, helping my kids connect with the love and care of God through experiences in nature is one of my great joys. Whether it’s taking them to the park or going on a hike or just pointing out the cool bug that’s hanging out on our gutter, there are few things like the power and beauty of the natural world to inspire wonder.

Valerie Ellis is a children’s book author who knows a thing or two about wonder. From giraffes to acorn woodpeckers, flamingos to sea otters, her beautiful new book, Wild Faith Devotional for Kids: 52 Amazing Animals that Point to One Great God is a delight.

Whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a Sunday School teacher, a babysitter, or just someone who loves animals and kids, this book is a gem.

Come along with us as we unpack what makes a good children’s book, how children are natural conduits for wonder, and the connection between faith and God’s good creation.

Author and speaker Dorothy Greco joins us on the podcast today to help expand our definition of misogyny and see how embracing both women and men as full parts of the human story can bring us hope.

She joins us to talk about her fabulous new book, For the Love of Women: Uprooting and Healing Misogyny in America. I found this conversation so enlightening, and I just know that you will, too.

Plus: why Saw-whet Owls are some of the best owls, the status of leaves turning in Massachusetts, and the hope of a really good church.

Follow Dorothy on Twitter, SubStack, or Instagram.

I love birds. I’m fascinated by American history. But there is not enough writing out there about birds and history! Enter: Robert Francis, whose wonderful Substack, Bird History, is a delight of parrots and passenger pigeons, feathered hats and conservation treaties.

He joins us on the show today to talk all things bird history. Plus: twenty of the weirdest categories for bird names (they’ll crack you up, for reals), finding hope in our feathered friends, and birds of Brooklyn.

You can also follow Robert on Twitter, where he often shares birding factoids, whimsical lists (this one is my current favorite), and fantastic photos.