Christian children’s author says the best way to make Bible real to kids is to meet them on their own level

A new Christian children’s writer has valuable advice for parents who want to make biblical truths and overseas missions relevant to their children.

“We need to meet our children where they are in their lives right now,” Ruth Willms says. “After all, that’s what our heavenly Father did for us. He met us in our human form by sending us Jesus in human form.”

Willms’ recently published children’s novel, The Lion Tree, teaches modern-day lessons from the Bible stories of Job, Jonah and the Whale, and Brave Queen Esther.

The novel has drawn some criticism because it uses fantasy characters to teach Bible truths. Critics worry that children may not be able to distinguish between the fantasy in the book and the biblical message the characters convey.

Willms disagrees. “I used fantasy in the novel because all of us, not only kids, are fascinated by the supernatural,” she says. “The book’s main characters don’t solve problems with magical powers or the power of positive thinking. They depend on the power of God’s love. They face real-life challenges and find real-life answers that work for all kids.”

Set in British Columbia’s beautiful Fraser Valley where Willms grew up, The Lion
Tree touches on current events and missions in both Haiti and Afghanistan. Vivid descriptions of Haitian life and the book’s emphasis on overseas missions reflect Willms’ own experiences from a short mission trip to Haiti several years ago.

Willms inherited her love for reading and storytelling from her father, an enthusiastic storyteller who wrote for periodicals and magazines. She studied with The Institute of Children’s Literature but put her dream of authoring a book on hold while she raised her own children and helped manage the family business.

The Lion Tree began as a bedtime story Willms told her grandchildren, Darian and Cassidy, after whom the novel’s main characters are named.

Visit http://www.RuthWillms.com to download a free sample chapter of The Lion Tree or to purchase the e-book or autographed paperback.