Four Michigan-based Eerdmans authors and illustrators will join forces to visit Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids next week.
Gary D. Schmidt, Faye Knol, Lori McElrath-Eslick, and Debra Reid Jenkins will all participate in a joint book signing at the Sallie Bender Guild Gift Shop on Tuesday, December 18, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Gary D. Schmidt is a two-time Newbery Honor-winning children’s novelist. 
His books with Eerdmans include, among others, a contemporary retelling of John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress, The Great Stone Face, and, most recently, a collection of prayers for writers entitled Acceptable Words (coedited with Elizabeth Stickney).
Faye Knol is the author of Receiving David: The Gift of a Son Who Taught Us How to Live and Love, in which she tells the story of her son David, who was born dangerously premature in 1982 but went on to live a life full of joy and blessing, despite severe physical and intellectual disabilities.
Lori McElrath-Eslick created the bright impressionistic illustrations for Nancy White Carlstrom’s acclaimed picture book Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?, which encourages a child’s exploration of God. The book is currently available in hardcover, paperback, and as a board book.
Debra Reid Jenkins has illustrated several picture books for Eerdmans. Her luminous paintings can be found in I See the Moon, 
Glory, and I Wanted to Know All about God.
If you’ll be in the area, be sure to stop by the hospital and meet these four talented people next Tuesday!
Click to learn more about the Sallie Bender Guild Gift Shop at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
