Ep. 68: Exploring the Power of Picture Books and Parables with Valerie Ellis

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood, hosted by Monica Healer and brought to you by Early Childhood Christian Network, children's author Valerie Ellis joins the conversation to discuss the impactful role of stories and story time in early childhood education. With extensive experience in teaching and children's ministry, Valerie explains how stories uniquely connect with children and help in teaching both academic and non-academic skills such as emotional literacy and social behavior. She provides practical strategies for making story time effective in classrooms and at home, including her point, pause, and ponder method. Valerie also shares book recommendations and introduces her new book, 'Let's Go Bible Adventures,' which uses transport themes to make Bible stories engaging for young children. This episode is filled with insights for educators and parents on leveraging the power of stories for childhood development. Additional resources and book links are available in the show notes.   00:00 Introduction to Reimagine Childhood 00:42 Meet Valerie Ellis: Author and Educator 01:13 The Power of Stories in Early Childhood Education 03:13 Engaging Children with Stories: Techniques and Tips 09:59 Book Recommendations for Various Learning Domains 16:41 PrimeTime 2025 17:29 Let's Go Bible Adventures: A Unique Bible Storybook 32:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts https://oureverydayparables.com/books/ - 75+ book recommendations for kids ages 0 to 12 in five categories, perfect for families and classrooms pursuing faith, compassion, and fun. We talked about an activity pack for The Mixed-Up Chameleon. Here is the link to that free download: https://oureverydayparables.com/teach-kids-about-god-with-popular-picture-books/ Valerie's books can be found at  https://valerieellis.com/books/ Valerie also does in-person and virtual classroom visits! You can connect with her on Instagram @iamvelerieellis https://instagram.com/iamvalerieellis