Three years ago, I met Janice D. Green when I attended my first-ever Write2Ignite critique group meeting. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Janice and to learn from her. Today, I’m delighted to introduce my friend Janice to you as she celebrates her brand-new picture book, Outside ABCs (illustrated by Jonathan Huff, published by Ambassador International, 2026).

Interview

Sue: Let’s start at the beginning – with “A” – for an awesome author’s amazing ideas. Please tell us the story behind Outside ABCs. How did it all begin?

Janice: The idea came to me in 1989 following a children’s literature course for my MLS degree. I learned the basics of composing an alphabet book. I designed an alphabet book about Moses for a class assignment. Pondering other alphabet books I could write, I considered a book about familiar things found in nature. The hardest letters were “U” and “X”. God sent me the answer for X one morning as I opened the copy of a magazine that had arrived in the mail. Just inside the cover was the Xerces Butterfly which had become eXtinct. For “U” I chose to use a concept. Look “under” rocks and boards to find amazing critters.

Sue: Next comes “B.” This delightful book describes the beauty of God’s creation and is told in rhyme. Your other published works are Bible story retellings, told in prose. How did the process of writing Outside ABCs differ from the process you followed as you wrote your other projects?

Janice: When I write Bible storybooks, I focus on biblical accuracy and storytelling making it kid-friendly. I also self-published the Bible storybooks, so I had to wear all the hats that go along with creating and marketing the books.

Outside ABCs began as Backyard ABCs illustrated by my mother. It was not written in rhyme and was printed on my computer, folded, and stapled. I then undertook the challenge to re-write all the pages in in rhyme and printed copies using Lulu.com.

I met Crystal Bowman at the Florida Christian Writers Conference in 2009. She was willing to mentor me with my poems. We struggled to get good poems for pictures that had already been painted. Ultimately, we started a new book from scratch by writing the poems before getting illustrations. I knew I would not be able to self-publish this book as I could not pay the quality illustrator that it needed.

Sue: Now, let’s move on to “C.” What are some ways parents and educators might use this book with curious and creative children?

Janice: I hope that Outside ABCs will stimulate curiosity about nature and a desire to spend more time outdoors. I would encourage children to create their own books about nature and the things they can find outdoors. With cellphones for cameras or drawing what they see they can make their own books. Don’t fret over finding all the letters. Just make a book about the child’s neighborhood or the school yard.

Sue: What’s next for you on your writing journey?

Janice: I have several WIPs. Most are on hold while I finish writing a book of family devotions about the life of Moses. When I designed the Moses alphabet book for my library class, I thought it needed a companion book to tell the whole story of Moses, but the scope of such a project overwhelmed me. Critique partners encouraged me to try. I feel the project is too lengthy for a child to tackle alone, so I broke it down into smaller bites making it a book of family devotions.

Sue: Please finish these thoughts:

My favorite Bible verse… It is hard for me to choose a favorite Bible verse because so many fit different situations and become favorites for the occasion. Is it fair for me to choose a favorite Psalm?

I love Psalm 139 and read it every day when my daughter and I made a trip to Europe. We only missed one day of reading it. God is always with us, no matter where we go. So many parts of that Psalm were highlighted to me as we traveled those three weeks many years ago. And He is still with me every step I take today.

I was hoping you’d ask… about how I partnered with a special illustrator – Jonathan Huff – my grandson for this book. That was the icing on the cake. When Jonathan was only three years old, his gift was obvious. He enrolled in a high school level art class when he was in the third grade. He can paint a picture of a bird that looks like it could fly right off the paper. I knew from the beginning that Jonathan could illustrate my book. It was a little tricky convincing Ambassador International that I had a grandson who could illustrate it, but after sending them several examples of his artwork, they gave him the contract.

It’s always good to chat with you, Janice. We wish you all the best on the launch of your book, Outside ABCs!

GIVEAWAY!

Janice is giving away a copy of Outside ABCs to one of our readers. For your chance to win, enter the contest by leaving a comment on this post by September 17th.

For Further Reading…

Check out a book review of Outside ABCs here.

Children’s author and educator Sue Irwin has written nature features, and biographical and how-to craft articles for various magazines, including AppleSeeds and Highlights for Children, and she’s a frequent contributor to Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. Her board book, Hey There, Blue Bird, Why Do You Chirp? is on its way, and she’s thrilled about its upcoming release (in August, with B&H Publishing, 2026) – and more coming in 2027. Sue hosts W2I’s monthly Time2Write sessions, and she invites you to connect with her here.