Illinois Authors

Church Publishing 2020

In this beautiful book for children, a child tells her story of losing a beloved neighbor and friend. A young girl remembers playing with her neighbor’s cat, stories that her neighbor told her, and the special mementos her friend kept on a shelf above her kitchen sink, including a little blue bottle she kept to remind her of Psalm 56:8: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” A Little Blue Bottle doesn’t provide pat answers or heavy-handed messages about life or death, but allows the grieving child to articulate her loss and her love for the deceased friend, while wondering how God is near when we suffer. A gentle and insightful resource for children who are grieving, and for those who care for them.

Broadleaf Books 2021

The moon is out, the air has cooled, and you are ready for bed. You know that scrolling on your phone does not draw you toward sleep but adds to your worries. Power down your phone, take a breath, and begin to dim the day. Research suggests that we should refrain from screens at bedtime. But it can be hard to give up social media and news without something to take its place. In these pages, author Jennifer Grant offers gentle meditations that help you direct your gaze away from screens and uncertainties and toward the natural world. Dimming the Day guides you to focus on the wonders of God's good earth, from the ordinary head of a dandelion to the exquisite beauty of a fractal. Replace anxiety with awe, distraction with focus, and worry with true rest. Calm your mind and settle into stillness. It is time to dim the day.

Jericho Books 2014

An engaging and hilarious collection that encourages readers to tackle those strange, awkward, worrying, yet endlessly compelling passages of the Bible. The Bible is full of not-so-precious moments, from murder and mayhem, to sex and slavery. Now, an incredible cast of contributors tackles the parts of the Bible that most excite, frustrate, or comfort, like: What the heck is the book of Revelation really about? (The answer will surprise you.) How do we come to grips with the Bible's troubling (or seemingly troubling) passages about the role of women? Why did the artist of the oldest known picture of Jesus intentionally paint him with a wonky eye -- and what does it tell us about beauty? Disquiet Time was written by and for Bible-loving Christians, agnostics, skeptics, none-of-the-aboves, and people who aren't afraid to dig deep spiritually, ask hard questions, and have some fun along the way.

Beaming Books 2023

"Let nature be your teacher when your feelings are tangled up in knots." One way to feel better when we are hurting is to spend time outside. Being in nature is good for both our bodies and our minds. Each chapter of this practical guide explores a different element of nature and connects it with a mindfulness prompt designed to help kids manage their feelings. From dandelions to spider webs, children will uncover the lessons nature teaches about embracing a growth mindset, the benefits of living in community, and the transformative power of noticing the beauty around them. Breathing exercises, stretching, practicing mindfulness, and keeping a nature notebook are just some of the tools introduced to kids to equip them to navigate their feelings as they spend time outdoors. Author Jennifer Grant's affirming, kind voice will inspire readers to see the world with fresh eyes--and discover the calm, joy, and wonder waiting just outside their door.

Thomas Nelson 2011

An intimate family memoir written by a mother on the adoption of her youngest child. Following the invisible thread of connection between people who are seemingly intended to become family, journalist Jennifer Grant shares the deeply personal, often humorous story of adopting a fifteen month-old girl from Guatemala when Grant was already the mother of three young children. She captures her family's journey in stories that will not only encourage adoptive parents, but will engage those who are curious about adoption or whose lives have been indirectly touched by it. Love You More explores universal themes such as parenthood, marriage, miscarriage, infertility, connection, destiny, failure and redemption. Sections include: Starting the Journey Waiting for Mia Learning to Know In Love You More, Grant describes the way God has brought her family together and completed it with the adoption of her daughter.

Sparkhouse Family 2017

In this award-winning story, a young boy learns that God can be found in all kinds of moments--all you have to do is look at the people around you. Every child wonders where God lives or what God is like. In Maybe God Is Like That Too, a young boy asks his grandma where God is in their city. She invites him to pay attention to where he sees the fruit of the Spirit. Where love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are, there too is God. The boy sees God in the kindness of a doorman holding the door for a man using a wheelchair, in the patience of his teacher helping him tie his shoes, and in the love, faithfulness, and gentleness of his grandma. An ordinary day in his city opens this young boy's eyes to God's Spirit at work all around him.

Beaming Books 2019

In this follow-up to the award-winning Maybe God Is Like That Too, a young girl wonders how to be a good neighbor to the dozens of people in her apartment building, the people on the street, and the other kids at the park. With help from her mama, the girl discovers that all it takes is a little kindness and creativity to show love to neighbors near and far.

Worthy Books Brentwood, Tenn. : 2012

Celebrating the joyous art of being a mother, MOMumental offers an inspiring, honest, and infectiously humorous look at the perils and pleasures of raising a family in the real world. Once a devout believer in the myth of the perfect mother, author Jennifer Grant now has a more realistic yet still upbeat view of parenting and families. Instead of focusing on creating a conflict-free home, raising picture-perfect kids, and being an ideal mother, Grant offers a wiser and more down-to-earth way to love your children that makes room for mistakes and imperfections. She says, "I share stories about family life and how I've come to appreciate the mess of it. I am grateful for my own happy, idiosyncratic, and imperfect family." MOMumental is one mother's account of the unpredictable, creative, sometimes hilarious, and always rewarding process of raising a family. It's filled with funny and poignant stories from her everyday life--a life that mothers everywhere can identify with.

Morehouse Publishing 2021

The story of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes it brought into our homes, schedules, and social lives, with journal pages to record your own memories. Children and adults alike will be processing the shock, loss, and disappointment of the COVID-19 pandemic for years to come. This beautiful keepsake picture book captures the joys and sorrows of this time and the underlying message to readers is that they can make it through difficulty. The illustrations celebrate love, family, and community as they were expressed all across the globe in a time that taught us the meaning of togetherness. It also includes journal pages to record your own memories about this unique and historic time and the effect it has had on your own life.

Morehouse Publishing 2022

Fresh and imaginative ways for kids to pray using all of their senses. Prayer does not have to involve silence, sitting still, and solemnity. It can be active and engaging, especially essential for kids, who often enjoy movement and creativity. In an easy-to-use format with illustrations, the author connects scripture and biblical characters to dynamic prayer practices such as wrestling, singing, breathing, and dancing. Praying while using sign language, tracing a labyrinth, applying Band-Aids, planting a seed, eating something delicious, or riding a bike―these fun ideas are just some of the ways wiggly, tactile, and nonverbal kids will learn to reach out in love, gratitude, and need to God.

Beaming Books 2023

"I've tried asking grown-ups to explain God, but they aren't very good at it." Explaining who God is can be really hard. Especially for grown-ups. They like to use confusing words like "Trinity," "outside of time," and "everywhere all at once." What's a kid to do if they can't explain God? Maybe it's not such a problem after all. The little girl in this story realizes there are so many things in the world that are hard to explain, but not hard to accept. Like how people speak in many languages; how the sun is a color, a feeling, and also light; and how people in her family have different names for each other. So what if you can't explain God? What matters is that God loves you--and that's not confusing at all! In this new picture book by the author of Maybe God Is Like That Too, children will learn that accepting a bit of mystery is part of what it means to have faith.

Herald Press 2017

From writer and veteran columnist Jennifer Grant comes an unflinching and spirited look at the transitions of midlife. When Did Everybody Else Get So Old? plumbs the physical, spiritual, and emotional changes unique to the middle years: from the emptying nest to the sagging effects of aging. Grant acknowledges the complexities and loss inherent in midlife and tells stories of sustaining disappointment, taking hard blows to the ego, undergoing a crisis of faith, and grieving the deaths not only of illusions but of loved ones. Yet she illuminates the confidence and grace that this season of life can also bring. Magnetic, good-humored, and full of hope in the sustaining power of the Spirit, this is a must-read for anyone facing the flux and flow of middle age. Free downloadable study guide available here.

Loyola Press 2014

“Doing it all” and “having it all” have become barriers for women, barbed judgments for moms especially. At a time when it seems that moms should be everything to everyone—and failing at one implies failing at all!—Wholehearted Living cuts through the uncertainty and self-shame and confidently proclaims: You’re doing great, just as you are. Author Jennifer Grant presents a smart, accessible, and inspiring book for moms who don’t have much time, but long to connect deeply with their own selves, their families, friends, and with God. Designed to be a daily moment of peace and reflection, Wholehearted Living addresses the authentic concerns, fears, and joys that women experience as they strive against the imperfect “have it all” mentality. Every month presents its own practice relating to reflection, risk, or rest, and each page echoes the needs of modern moms. Wholehearted Living doesn’t try to change who you are, it helps you thrive where you are.