Ellie Holcomb Says Creation Preaches the Gospel in Every Bloom and Birdsong
For many, spring is a season of sunshine, blossoms, and welcome warmth. Singer and author Ellie Holcomb sees all of that, too -- but she also sees something more: a divine invitation to share the hope of the gospel.
Holcomb's new children's book, Spring Sings (B&H), points readers to the natural world, where trees, grass, and countless other living things wake up each spring from winter and paint a powerful picture of the gospel -- for children but for adults, too. Laura Ramos illustrated it. Holcomb also released an accompanying album of children's songs, Sing: Spring Songs.
It is Holcomb's fourth children's book.
"Spring Sings is really a book about the song that creation sings every year that reminds us that death is never the end of the story because of Jesus," Holcomb told Crosswalk Headlines.
Families can "literally look out the window and see evidence of the gospel story," she added.
Although Spring Sings technically is an Easter book, Holcomb calls it an "all-seasons book."
"If there's any time that we need the message of the hope of Easter, it is in the winter months that feel just gray and cold -- and long, seasonal depression sets in," Holcomb said.
For many families, winter is a challenging season, marked by a double burden of grief: difficult anniversaries that arrive alongside weeks of dreary weather. That describes Holcomb.
"I've needed to write this book. I have had a lot of really heavy things happen during the winter seasons and for several years now," she said.
In February 2024, Holcomb's niece passed away following a battle with cancer. Holcomb recalls other difficult winters, too, including one when a tornado passed near her house -- which she describes as the "scariest night of my life."
"For me, writing this book truly in the winter, not just the season of winter, but during seasons of deep grief -- the way the earth preaches the story of new life has been the medicine that my soul has needed," she said.
Songwriting comes naturally for Holcomb. She remembers reading Scripture in middle school and high school and "immediately wanting to sing it." She wrote the tracks in Sing: Spring Songs in two days and has performed songs from the album while on tour with her husband, Drew Holcomb.
"There's all kinds of people on the spectrum of faith that are coming to these shows," she said. "And I love the way that the Earth preaches the gospel. It feels very accessible."
She hopes the book and accompanying album will plant "truth and seeds of hope" that "grow into a garden of goodness in little ones' hearts and in the hearts of the adults in their lives."
"It's really easy to feel the chaos and the brokenness of the world, but what is also true at the same time is that on any given day, there are acts of courage and kindness and love and life happening," she said. "And so my hope is that this book would tune kids and parents in to look for the beauty and the goodness growing, and then to cultivate that in their communities."
Photo Credit: ©Capitol Christian Music Group
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published April 03, 2025.
