The Celebration Place: God's Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church

Jerry Pinkney Children's Book Award

No longer is church a divided space
Now it's a celebration place!

Church is more than just a building--it's a gathering of God's people to celebrate who he is and all that he has done. It's also where we learn about God's vision for justice and unity. That was the message that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shared, and it continues to be an important message for us today. Because of God's great love, church should be the best celebration place!

This delightful rhyme, accompanied by colorful illustrations, will be enjoyed by children and the adults who read with them. Also included is a note from the author to encourage further conversation about the content. Discover IVP Kids and share with children the things that matter to God!

Dorena Williamson has a passion for all children to hear the message of God's diverse kingdom. She writes children's books that adults also enjoy and is the author of ColorFull, ThoughtFull, and GraceFull. Prior to becoming an author, Dorena enjoyed a career as a social counselor, a worship leader, and a stylist. In 1995, Dorena and her husband, Chris, cofounded Strong Tower Bible Church in Franklin, Tennessee, a multicultural fellowship passionate about biblical justice and God's diverse kingdom.

Erin Bennett Banks is an illustrator with a passion for rich narratives and culturally distinct storytelling. Banks has illustrated seven children's books, earning recognition by The New York Times, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, and the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights. She has created artwork for Highlights for Children Magazine, Candlewick Press, McGraw-Hill, The Weekly Reader, and Harvard Business Review. Banks lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her illustrator husband and three creative girls.