Book One
Hope, Joy,and theClues About God
Ages 6–10 · 56 pages · 13 full-color illustrations
When kids at school say that believing in God is silly, eight-year-old twins Hope and Joy decide to find out for themselves — and start noticing clues everywhere.
Looking for more clues? Get the free activity pack ↓
The book
Four clues, one big question answered.
Hope and Joy learn that big questions don’t always have easy answers, but discover they can search for clues that point to the truth. They find clues in an unkind moment at the playground, a line of falling dominoes, a bicycle chain, and a windy afternoon.
For parents: the first three clues are children’s versions of the classic moral, cosmological, and design arguments for God. The fourth shows that, like love, some real things can’t be seen.
The book closes with seven discussion questions, a short prayer to share together, and a note for parents and caregivers.
Ages 6–10 · 56 pages · 6 chapters · 13 full-color illustrations
Why we wrote it
Many people believe in God, but are not always sure how to explain why.
We want to help children and families discover there are good reasons to believe in God.
Kids who grow up in the faith sometimes walk away from it later. According to a 2025 Pew Research study, the most common reason people give for leaving their faith is that they stopped believing its teachings. We hope this book can be a first step in helping children (and adults) begin to understand some of the reasons why we believe in God.
Our prayer is that this book sparks curiosity, thoughtful questions, and meaningful conversations about God.
About the authors
Casey and Jordan Willis and their twin daughters, to whom this book is dedicated, can often be found playing board games or traveling somewhere new. They also have three dogs who insist on being part of everything they do. Rufus is all three of them rolled into one.
As their daughters grew older and began asking questions about God, Casey and Jordan realized they wanted to be able to say more than “because that’s what we believe.” So they went looking for the reasons behind their faith, and the Shining Truth Series came out of that searching. Now they hope other families can find that same confidence.
The series
Same twins. Same dog. More clues to find.
Book One
Hope, Joy, and the Clues About God
Is God real if you can’t see Him? Hope, Joy, and Rufus gather clues. Some of them are hiding in plain sight.
Available now →Book Two
Hope, Joy, and the Clues About Jesus
If God is real, who is Jesus? Hope, Joy, and Rufus are back, this time looking for clues about a man who lived two thousand years ago.
In progress
Book Three
Hope, Joy, and the Clues About the Bible
Can we trust a book this old? Hope, Joy, and Rufus go looking for clues. This time, some of them are buried in the ground.
Planned
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Order
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Hardcover
$19.99
- Premium satin paper edition
- Free US shipping
- Optional signed copy
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The hardcover is also available from Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon, Bookshop.org, and other retailers. Order it here for the premium satin paper edition, free US shipping, and an optional signed copy.
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Get the free activity pack.
Six printable puzzles and games for curious kids, inspired by Hope, Joy, and the Clues About God. Plus a note when there’s a new book or series update.
Contact
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Whether you are ordering a stack of books, wondering if the series is right for your child’s age, or just want to say hello — we’d love to hear from you.
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