April Graney is a teacher at Cookson Hills, a children’s home and school for at-risk students in Oklahoma. She is the author
of The Marvelous Maker: A Creation and Redemption Parable and the ECPA Christian Book Award Finalist The Marvelous Mud House: A Story of Finding Fullness and Joy. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, April loves studying and teaching the Bible.
Her greatest joy has been raising five children with her husband Tom in their crazy, loud, happy house at New Life Ranch, a summer camp and retreat center in Oklahoma where they have served for over twenty years. She wrote her newest book, If Jesus Came to My School, to encourage parents of children who are sharing the love and light of Jesus in their schools.
Visit April Graney online
If Jesus Came to My School
In this beautifully illustrated picture book, a young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion. In this whimsical tale, a young girl imagines what it would be like if Jesus visited her school as a boy. She would show Jesus around her classroom, introduce her friends and teachers, listen to story time, and eat lunch together! But Jesus wouldn't stop at learning and sitting in class. He'd invite the lonely to join in on games and find a way to love and get along with everyone. Soon the young girl realizes that even though Jesus doesn’t attend her school, he can live through her: I can be his hands and feet To spread his love to all I can share and help and give So no one feels too small! Through rhyming text and vibrant illustrations, children will be inspired to make a difference in their schools through their actions. Because as they treat each other right and classes become families, Jesus truly will be in their school.
- ISBN: 0593796551
- Publisher: Multnomah
Interview with April Graney 2025
When did you feel called to become an author?
I recently found in my baby book that I wrote and illustrated my first little children’s picture book about all the things God made when I was in 1st grade! I always dreamed of having a book on the shelves in stores. But it wasn’t until I was nearly 40 that the Lord gave me the inspiration for my first picture book, The Marvelous Mud House, that released in 2017. We had taken a family trip to Kenya, and the story was about a mother and son who we met there. Since then, I have continued to pray for the Lord to guide and direct my writing and continue to give me ideas for my next book. It has been exciting to see how he opened doors that seemed impossible at the time, doors that I could never have opened myself. With this new book, If Jesus Came to My School, I’m really looking forward to the chance to talk with students, parents, and educators about shining the love and light of Jesus in their schools all across our nation.
What did you learn while writing this book?
I’ve learned a lot about student’s religious freedoms in public schools and the organizations who are supporting Christian parents, students and educators. I already knew about Moms in Prayer International and the valuable work they do forming groups of moms praying for children in schools. But I also learned about organizations like Christian Educators and Teach 4 the Heart, who support Christian teachers in private and public schools. Then there are so many organizations working with Christian students to start Christian clubs in their schools as well, like Decision Point. I’ve learned that the freedoms available in schools aren’t always understood by Christians or school administrators, so we have a lot of encouraging things to share about our freedoms in the classrooms at school. My desire is that Christians will be known in our schools as the most loving and positive-filled kids in school who will work to make sure everyone feels valued, safe, and included in our schools.
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
The toughest part is the waiting periods. Waiting on agents, waiting on editors, waiting for contracts, waiting for artwork, waiting on marketing, the waiting never ends. It was a 4-year process between writing my first book and seeing it in my hands. It’s been nearly 5 years since I had the idea for If Jesus Came to My School, and after signing my contract in 2023 I wasn’t allowed to pitch any other works anywhere, so that was difficult on me.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
I search for recipes a lot. We live an hour from any large city, but we love good food. So, I’m always looking for ways to recreate some of our favorite restaurant foods at home. Recently searches included: McDonald’s breakfast hours, does pizza have lots of sodium, and for some reason the local movie theater’s listing is always at the top of my search history bar. Though I rarely go to movies, maybe once or twice a year. I like to keep up with what’s playing apparently.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I would have loved to meet and be friends with Barbar Robinson, who wrote The Very Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I teach middle school English, and I read this every Christmas with my students. I love all of the hyperbole, alliterations, metaphors, and similes. It’s a fantastic read that makes us laugh through it all. I also really appreciate the poetic genius of Mary Ann Hoberman. Her book, The Seven Silly Eaters, is one of my favorite picture books.
What’s your go-to drink while writing?
For years, Dr. Pepper was my morning coffee. While I don’t drink it for breakfast anymore, I do try and have at least one daily for my mental and emotional health! If I’m on a writing retreat, I always try to have coffee and Dr. Pepper readily available!
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Relax, the kids will turn out fine! We had 5, and the youngest is graduating this year. It was a wild, fun ride!
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I’ve found I really need time with my women friends. Whether it’s walking together, having coffee, a Bible study, or a girl’s weekend at a lake house, it’s good for my soul and necessary for my emotional well-being.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
This summer, I’ll be reading middle grade novels to prepare for next school year including Brady Hart and the Big Fake Out by Jill Osborne and then probably some other marketing for authors type books like How to Sell 1000 Books a Month by Susan Neal.
What can we look forward to next?
I have written a children’s 5 day devotional for the You Version Bible App based on If Jesus Came to My School that should release around the time kids are going back to school this coming August!
I recently found in my baby book that I wrote and illustrated my first little children’s picture book about all the things God made when I was in 1st grade! I always dreamed of having a book on the shelves in stores. But it wasn’t until I was nearly 40 that the Lord gave me the inspiration for my first picture book, The Marvelous Mud House, that released in 2017. We had taken a family trip to Kenya, and the story was about a mother and son who we met there. Since then, I have continued to pray for the Lord to guide and direct my writing and continue to give me ideas for my next book. It has been exciting to see how he opened doors that seemed impossible at the time, doors that I could never have opened myself. With this new book, If Jesus Came to My School, I’m really looking forward to the chance to talk with students, parents, and educators about shining the love and light of Jesus in their schools all across our nation.
What did you learn while writing this book?
I’ve learned a lot about student’s religious freedoms in public schools and the organizations who are supporting Christian parents, students and educators. I already knew about Moms in Prayer International and the valuable work they do forming groups of moms praying for children in schools. But I also learned about organizations like Christian Educators and Teach 4 the Heart, who support Christian teachers in private and public schools. Then there are so many organizations working with Christian students to start Christian clubs in their schools as well, like Decision Point. I’ve learned that the freedoms available in schools aren’t always understood by Christians or school administrators, so we have a lot of encouraging things to share about our freedoms in the classrooms at school. My desire is that Christians will be known in our schools as the most loving and positive-filled kids in school who will work to make sure everyone feels valued, safe, and included in our schools.
What is the toughest part of writing in your genre?
The toughest part is the waiting periods. Waiting on agents, waiting on editors, waiting for contracts, waiting for artwork, waiting on marketing, the waiting never ends. It was a 4-year process between writing my first book and seeing it in my hands. It’s been nearly 5 years since I had the idea for If Jesus Came to My School, and after signing my contract in 2023 I wasn’t allowed to pitch any other works anywhere, so that was difficult on me.
If someone were to look at your Google search history (all for research of course!), what types of things would we find?
I search for recipes a lot. We live an hour from any large city, but we love good food. So, I’m always looking for ways to recreate some of our favorite restaurant foods at home. Recently searches included: McDonald’s breakfast hours, does pizza have lots of sodium, and for some reason the local movie theater’s listing is always at the top of my search history bar. Though I rarely go to movies, maybe once or twice a year. I like to keep up with what’s playing apparently.
If you could have coffee with an author, dead or alive, whose work you admire, who would that be? What would you ask him or her?
I would have loved to meet and be friends with Barbar Robinson, who wrote The Very Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I teach middle school English, and I read this every Christmas with my students. I love all of the hyperbole, alliterations, metaphors, and similes. It’s a fantastic read that makes us laugh through it all. I also really appreciate the poetic genius of Mary Ann Hoberman. Her book, The Seven Silly Eaters, is one of my favorite picture books.
What’s your go-to drink while writing?
For years, Dr. Pepper was my morning coffee. While I don’t drink it for breakfast anymore, I do try and have at least one daily for my mental and emotional health! If I’m on a writing retreat, I always try to have coffee and Dr. Pepper readily available!
If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Relax, the kids will turn out fine! We had 5, and the youngest is graduating this year. It was a wild, fun ride!
What do you enjoy doing when you are not writing?
I’ve found I really need time with my women friends. Whether it’s walking together, having coffee, a Bible study, or a girl’s weekend at a lake house, it’s good for my soul and necessary for my emotional well-being.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
This summer, I’ll be reading middle grade novels to prepare for next school year including Brady Hart and the Big Fake Out by Jill Osborne and then probably some other marketing for authors type books like How to Sell 1000 Books a Month by Susan Neal.
What can we look forward to next?
I have written a children’s 5 day devotional for the You Version Bible App based on If Jesus Came to My School that should release around the time kids are going back to school this coming August!
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