Celebrate National Read a Book Day with Amy Houts!

Hello readers, writers, and book lovers, too! We have a very special treat in store for you. Today is National Read a Book Day. Is there anything more relaxing and fun than taking a bubble bath with a book in hand? We have author of over 100 books, Amy Houts, with us sharing her new bath books - Noah's Arc and The Creation. This is the first time we've featured bath books on #SeaonsOfKidLit - just wait until you get a closer look at them, too (they're so adorable)! So, want to know more about Amy, her new books, PLUS want to hear some writing tips and want a chance to win your very own bath book? Read on...

Q: Hi, Amy! Thanks for joining #SeasonsOfKidLit again on National Read a Book Day. We’re thrilled to have you and hear all about your two new books that are not only perfect for National Read a Book Day, but also bubble baths! Readers, for those of you who may have missed Amy's first interview for our Earth Day celebration, click here.

Can you share more with us about your new books?  

A: I’m so happy to be here, especially on a national day to celebrate reading! Besides reading to your child at naptime or bedtime, there’s another reading time you can incorporate into your routine—while they are taking a bath!  Publisher Bushel & Peck asked me to write two Bible story books for toddlers to play with in the bathtub: Noah’s Ark and The Creation. What makes them so much fun is the amazing, color-changing illustrations! Dip the pages in water, and illustrations magically appear. When the book dries, the artwork disappears―ready to be used again! I absolutely LOVE the illustrations by Archita Khosla.

These Bible stories are simple retellings. In Noah’s Ark, the ark, the flood, the dove, the rainbow, and more appear, carefully telling the story of Noah. In The Creation, the earth, water, animals, and more magically appear, carefully chronicling the six days of creation. Both stories are from the book of Genesis. 

Q: The format of The Creation and Noah’s Ark - both color-changing bath books - is so unique! As warm water mixes with the pages, images come to life! What made you decide on the color-changing format? Did the publisher suggest this to you or did you come up with it? 

A: The books’ concepts, titles, and color-changing format were the publisher’s idea. Bushel & Peck had published my book, God’s Earth is Something to Fight For, which was my own original idea. Then they asked if I would like a writing assignment. I was overjoyed! I love writing on assignment. Most of my 100+ titles were written for educational publishers on assignment. Even though you write within a framework, it’s fun and creative.

Very cool - I love how that all worked out for you!

Readers, take a look at some of these amazing color-changing spreads in Amy's books!

Q:  Many of us here are picture book authors. We know how challenging writing a book in 500 words or less can be. How challenging was it to write a complete book in even less words (how many words were each)? What tips do you have for others looking to do the same? 

A: Noah’s Ark is 96 words. The Creation is 105 words. Both books are six pages. I read different translations of the Bible and discussed it with the publisher. We decided The King James Version (KJV) was the most poetic. At first, I wanted to use Scripture word-for-word, but the story wasn’t clear working within the word count limit. The publisher sent it back to me. I revised both books using some of the phrases and wording from the KJV to make the stories engaging and easy to understand. It was a fun challenge!

Here are some tips for writing picture books in 500 words or less. 

• Don’t cram too much into your story 

• Decide what you are trying to say. Focus. 

• Delete unnecessary words or phrases

• Dialogue isn’t usually a full sentence

• Think of each spread as a scene

• Make a picture book dummy to discover if you have enough text/scences for an illustrated picture book, which is usually 32 pages

• Don’t include anything in the text that will be included in the illustration

Q: Do you have anything else coming our way soon? What can we be on the lookout for? 

A: My fourth book from Bushel & Peck Book’s Sunbeam (their faith-based) division is releasing in 2025. Where Did the Bible Come From? is a historical, nonfiction book for ages 7-10. I love doing research, and I love writing about my faith, so this book was the perfect combination! 

This sounds SO cool! We can't wait to check it out.

Q: What’s one question you wish we would have asked you about yourself, working with Bushel & Peck Books, etc?.

I would like to talk a little more about Bushel & Peck Books. Working with them has been a wonderful experience! They are a small independent publisher based in California owned by David & Stephanie Miles. They are talented, professional, kind, and considerate, and they publish the most beautiful books. I’m so happy to be working with them. Check them out! www.bushelandpeckbooks.com.

Bonus question: On National Read a Book Day, what was your favorite children’s book growing up and why? What would young Amy say to grownup Amy for becoming the author of over 100+ books? 

A: When I was growing up, I loved reading fairy tales. They were imaginative, scary, and fun! I still own this one, a Little Golden Book, The Blue Book of Fairy Tales. It’s my favorite! Amazon describes it this way: “Three favorite fairy tales—Rapunzel, Beauty and the Beast, and Toads and Diamonds—are brought beautifully to life in this classic Little Golden Book from 1959, with breathtaking illustrations by the inimitable Gordon Laite.” 

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Book-Fairy-Tales/dp/044980996X/

I think my young self might have said something sappy to my grown-up self like, “I’m so glad you followed your dreams!” 

Thanks again for joining us, Amy! We loved hearing all about your new books.

Would you like to leave a tip or a treat for our readers?

Both!

Tip: Write in a variety of genres and for varying ages so you can discover what you like and/or are best suited to write. 

Treat: Your choice of a bath book, Noah’s Ark or The Creation. 

Wow - what a seriously sweet treat! Thanks SO much!

Giveaway Instructions: Readers, to enter this giveaway please 1) like and share/RT this post on social media and 2) thank Amy for stopping by and sharing her new books with us! Bubble bath or rubber duck GIFs count as extra bonus points for the entry. :)

Giveaway winners will be drawn and announced on or about 9/20!

Note: Books will be shipped in the US only. Winners must have a US address.

About Amy Houts:

Amy is the author of 100+ books for children. She writes for both faith-based and general market publishers. Amy’s faith-based books include Christian Q&A Book for Kids (Rockridge Press) and God’s Protection Covers Me (Beaming Books). Amy’s educational books include 60 retold tales for the series, Compass Children’s Classics, 2020. Her 10-nonfiction science early readers for Highlights were also released in 2020.

For more about Amy, visit the following links:

Let’s connect:

X/Twitter: @AmyHouts

Instagram: @amyhouts

Facebook: “Author Amy Houts”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyhouts/

To Purchase Noah's Arc on Amazon, or to leave a review, click on the following link: https://www.amazon.com/Noahs-Ark-Color-Changing-Bible-Bath/dp/1638191751

To Purchase The Creation on Amazon, or to leave a review, click on the following link:  https://www.amazon.com/Creation-Color-Changing-Bible-Bath-Book/dp/1638192103/

---