HARRISONBURG, VA — Herald Press has signed a book deal with authors Teresa Kim Pecinovsky and Hannah Rose Martin, a move that will relaunch the children’s book line for the publishing house. Pecinovsky, whose bestselling debut book Mother God was named a Foreword Indies finalist, also coauthored The Peace Table, a storybook Bible with Shine Curriculum. This is the first book for Martin, a Mennonite pastor and reading interventionist.
The untitled picture book from Pecinovsky and Martin follows a young child who breaks a neighbor’s window and discovers friendship, transformation, and new beginnings. This poetic tale offers readers a gentle introduction to peacemaking in response to gun violence, where hatred and sorrow are transformed into new life.
Martin and her husband Michael are deeply committed to ending gun violence. Michael is the founder and executive director of RAWtools, which forges guns into gardening tools, and he coauthored Beating Guns with author and activist Shane Claiborne.
“This endearing picture book helps kids learn about conflict while also carefully addressing gun violence and peacemaking,” said Amy Gingerich, publisher and executive director, Herald Press. “As part of our Anabaptism at 500 initiative in 2025, we are thrilled to partner with these authors on this urgent and transformative message.”
The book was acquired by Gingerich and Anabaptism at 500 project editor Mollee Moua. Publication is set for Spring 2025.
Herald Press publishes books that call readers to take Jesus seriously and focuses on acquiring highly readable, practical manuscripts that inform thoughtful faith and action. Herald Press is the trade book imprint of MennoMedia, the official publishing agency of Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA. The Anabaptism at 500 project was created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement coming in 2025. The picture book with Pecinovsky and Martin will be one of three children’s books published in Spring 2025 to relaunch the children’s book line.
Teresa Kim Pecinovsky holds a master of education from the University of Houston and a master of divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Pecinovsky is the author of the children’s book Mother God and coauthor of The Peace Table. A healthcare chaplain, she lives with her family in Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Hannah Rose Martin holds a bachelor’s in education and served for years as a public school teacher. She is a reading interventionist and Mennonite pastor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A wife and mother of two energetic children, Martin has a passion for children’s education that began in the second grade. She enjoys helping children engage their creativity and find their role in the community around them.
