It was the end of a long, snowy shift on Christmas Eve, the type of ride every bus driver dreads. Tidying up his bus, the driver discovered a tiny hippo on the dirty floor. He knew he would have to try locating the little girl who left the hippo behind. Despite his efforts to reunite the little girl with her lost hippo, it would be the bus driver’s wife who would point him in the right direction!

Since Day One, Lisa Williams has always told God that THE CHRISTMAS HIPPO was His story - to do with it what He wanted. She can certainly attest to the fact that God has done AMAZING things with the story. Throughout the whole publishing process, Lisa was blessed to see God’s hand at work every step of the way.

Lisa and her three children live in Delaware. Lisa is a licensed clinical social worker who passionately enjoys serving her community. Lisa’s ministries include singing on the praise team, community outreach development, and teaching Sunday School. She values the importance of children having a relationship with God, and it is her hope that through The Christmas Hippo, young readers will begin to understand how much God loves and cares for them.

Based on a true story, this enchanting children’s book invites readers to join a bus driver in learning the importance of turning to God in heartfelt prayer, while teaching readers that He cares about even their smallest concerns.

Learn more about her writing at https://thechristmashippo.wordpress.com

You can follow The Christmas Hippo’s adventures on Facebook and get a copy of the book at Amazon.com

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The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Snuggle up close with these best-loved children's Bible stories filled with dream illustrations and timeless messages of faith. In this book, you'll learn about the many ways that God loves you and continues to watch over you. As you get ready for bed, rest assured that He is always with you - from morning until night, and even while you sleep.

Children's Bible Stories for Bedtime features: stories from both the Old and New Testaments for kids ages 4 - 8 in a clear, easy-to-understand style; simple reflections at the end of each story to help kids understand God's Word and how it fits into their world; prayers that encourage children to speak openly and build a relationship with God, and beautiful full-color illustrations that vividly bring Scripture to life.

Enjoy this reading of Children's Bible Stories for Bedtime by Julie Lavender...

Julie Lavender is an award-winning journalist and author and frequent speaker at writers and homeschooling conferences and women’s events. Julie enjoyed taking part in a Focus on the Family Broadcast segment in early 2021 and contributes to other moms’ and women’s podcasts as well.

Julie’s recent books include Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime and Strength for All Seasons: A Mom’s Devotional of Powerful Verses and Prayers, both published by Penguin Random House; 365 Ways to Love Your Child: Turning Little Moments into Lasting Memories, published by Revell. Julie looks forward to children’s picture books releasing in 2024 and 2025 with End Game Press and Wren & Bear.

Julie holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and enjoyed teaching public school and homeschooling her four now-adult children. Julie and her high school and college sweetheart, David, live back in their hometown in Georgia. After serving twenty years in the Navy as an entomologist, David is completing his tenure as a wildlife biologist with an Army installation and will retire soon. The two look forward to traveling, visiting their children and families, baking, reading, writing, hiking, and putting together puzzles.

Interesting fact! Julie has stood in two hemispheres at once ... when visiting Ecuador with her husband, they straddled the equator with one foot in each hemisphere!

Learn more about the book at JulieLavenderWrites.com

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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After learning that her father is still alive, Megan Wills embarks on a rescue journey with her newly adoptive sisters, Crystal and Zoe. Their destination is Beta Four, a frozen prison planet, where he was exiled because of a false charge of space piracy.

Megan is constantly chased by Camille Fairbanks, the widow of Admiral Fairbanks, who blames her for his death and, for some unknown reason, wants to capture her father as well. Megan must avoid deadly dangers on Beta Four and other planets as she zooms through space following clues that her father left for her.

The trail leads Megan to Gamma Five, the mysterious planet that infuses the Starborn, children who have special abilities, with their amazing powers. There, she must follow the most dangerous path of all, an underground maze filled with perils, as she tries to locate the source of power and the identity of The First Starborn.

Enjoy this reading of a chapter from The First Starborn by Bryan Davis...

Bryan Davis is the author of nine different best-selling fantasy, adventure, and mystery series suitable for your entire family. To date, he has written more than thirty-two (32) novels along with various non-fiction works and children’s books with total sales reaching more than one million copies.

He lives in Western Tennessee with his wife, Susie – where they homeschool their four girls and three boys. His passion for the written word, reading, and writing has taken many forms and explored multiple genres - including theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.

Learn more about his writing at DavisCrossing.com

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Book Five in the Tree Street Kids Series: Jack Finch’s plan to gobble up tons of turkey over Thanksgiving Break and work on the Tree Street Kids’ fort has been foiled. Instead, the Finches are traveling to the mountains of North Carolina to visit grandparents Jack barely knows.

Thank goodness his best friends Ellison and Roger are coming with him to the cabin on Brambly Bald mountain. But something is lurking in the forest, and soon Jack uncovers a secret bigger than Bigfoot.

When the kids come face to face with a real threat, will Jack find a way to protect his friends?

Jack braves danger, finds new branches on his family tree, and discovers what it means to be rooted in God’s great family.

The Tree Street Kids live on Cherry, Oak, Maple, and Pine ... but their 1990s suburban neighborhood isn’t all quiet, tree-lined streets. Jack, Ellison, Roger, Ruthie (and Midge!) find adventure in every creek and cul-de-sac — and God’s big love in one small neighborhood.

The first five books in this middle-grade series, ages 8-10, are available now from Moody Publishers.

Amanda Cleary Eastep is not related to Beverly Cleary but wishes she were. She is, however, a children’s writer, and the Tree Street Kids is her debut series. Amanda knows kids because she’s still one at heart. When she is forced to act like an adult, she edits nonfiction books by grown-up authors.

Amanda’s children’s writing has been published in Ladybug, The Friend, Sunday school curriculum, and Story Warren. As a longtime writer, she’s contributed to Christianity Today, Think Christian, and many other print and online publications. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and she leads writing workshops at her local teen center.

Learn more about her books at treestreetkids.com

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Hunger Winter: A World War II Novel is the thrilling story of one boy's quest to find his father and protect his younger sister during the great Dutch famine of World War II!

"Sometimes you have to take a chance, because it’s the only chance you have."

Hunger Winter is intended for children between fourth and eighth grade. Kirkus Reviews calls the novel "a gritty but hopeful wartime thriller."

Author Rob Currie did extensive research on events happening in the Netherlands during World War II – and the result is an enthralling story which captivates both young adults and children. Some of the darkest days during World War II are never explored in books for young people – but these action packed scenes convey Dutch traditions, danger, loyalty, and faith to readers.

Learn more about his writing at robcurrieauthor.com

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Siblings Josh and Abby Hunter don’t believe their parents’ death was an accident. After taking pictures of the most incredible find of the 1920’s—proof humans and dinosaurs lived together in the same time and place—desperate outlaws armed with tommy guns are on their tail! Only Josh and Abby know where the proof is hidden—in the canyons of Arizona’s desert.

When an intruder searches Josh and Abby’s bags inside their new home, the two convince their uncle Dr. David Hunter to return to the canyon and find the pictures they’d hidden. But the outlaws are just as eager to find the proof before Josh and Abby. Can Josh use his super-smart brain to outfox the villains in time? Will Abby’s incredible physical abilities stop full-grown men? And will their uncle believe them? Dino Hunters is an apologetics-adventure series aimed at the middle reader to help them trust the Bible from the very first verse.

Enjoy this reading of Dino Hunters: Discovery in the Desert by Peter R. Leavell and Ken Raney...

Peter Leavell, a 2007 graduate of Boise State University with a degree in history, was the 2011 winner of Christian Writers Guild's Operation First Novel contest, and 2013 Christian Retailing's Best award for First-Time Author. Peter and his family live in Boise, Idaho. For entertainment, he reads historical books, where he finds ideas for new novels. Whenever he has a chance, he takes his wife and two homeschooled children on crazy but fun research trips.

Learn more about Peter's books, research, and family adventures at PeterLeavell.com

Ken Raney has been an artist and illustrator for over 40 years. Explore samples of his work on his website at KenRaney.com

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Before they were Founding Fathers, they were Founding Children. ENJOY this reading from The Voice, The Revolution & The Key by Jenny L. Cote, author of the five book Epic Revolutionary Saga and the Epic Order of the Seven Series!

The Order of the Seven must help birth one nation under God by entering the lives of a unique generation of children chosen to become the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Nigel must ensure that Benjamin Franklin's kite-flying efforts succeed to turn the key to unlock American Independence. The fight for liberty will be costly, with an Enemy determined to give the patriots the other outcome—death.

THE VOICE, THE REVOLUTION & THE KEY is book one of the five book Epic Revolutionary Saga. The award-winning book The Voice, the Revolution, and the Key is now available as an audiobook on Audible. The 25-hour masterpiece of Revolutionary adventure features the epic voice talent of Denny Brownlee - who performed 150 voices to bring the book to life!

JENNY L. COTE is author of the five book Epic Revolutionary Saga AND the Epic Order of the Seven Series!

Jenny has been researching Patrick Henry and the Revolutionary War since 2007! She is passionate about this crucial period of history, and about her favorite Founding Father, Patrick Henry. Her heart's desire is for children to know the REAL history of America, including God's hand of favor every step of the way.

She is a Virginia native, who now lives with her family in Roswell, Georgia! Learn more about the entire series at EpicOrderofTheSeven.net

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

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Twelve-year-old Kimmy trusts dogs more than people.

After all, her dog Bo never made fun of her for having one hand. But two years ago, Bo disappeared.

When Kimmy stumbles across a magazine photo of a dog in upstate New York that looks just like Bo, she knows she has to find him. Her parents seem oddly unsupportive, but pink-haired, adventure-hungry Aunt Skylar agrees to a road trip with a stop in the Adirondacks. Kimmy jumps at the chance to bring her furry family member home.

Unfortunately, Aunt Skylar’s idea of a road trip isn’t the rescue mission Kimmy had in mind.

Enjoy this reading of Road Trip Rescue by Becca Wierwille...

Becca Wierwille writes stories to show kids they are wonderfully created for the unique adventures in their lives. Born with only half of her right arm, she aims to help others find beauty in what makes them extraordinary. Mom by day and novelist by relatively early in the morning, she wishes she could eat peach pie as often as most writers drink coffee.

Despite her dreams of sandy beaches and mountain peaks, she loves living in Pennsylvania with her family. Road Trip Rescue is Becca's debut novel.

Like Kimmy, the main character in Road Trip Rescue, Becca was born missing half of her right arm.

As a parent and a former teacher, she writes stories to show kids they are wonderfully created for the unique adventures in their lives. They are not perfect, but they are extraordinary, and they are loved. And every adventure will be better when they know they’re not alone.

Learn more about the book at beccawierwille.com or follow her on social media @beccawierwille

Please share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.

The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria’s Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.com

Feedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.org

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