New children’s book by Jill Stevens uses ice cream as a metaphor to teach kids about diversity, kindness, and God’s universal love.
August 2025 — Author Jill Stevens invites readers of all ages to step into The Ice Cream Shop: A Story of How God Loves Us All, a heartwarming new children’s book that blends faith, understanding, and everyone’s favorite treat—ice cream—into a delightful and meaningful lesson about love and acceptance.
Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written, The Ice Cream Shop helps young readers understand the diversity of religious beliefs in a relatable and engaging way. Using the colorful variety of flavors in an ice cream shop as a metaphor, the book shows that just as everyone has a favorite flavor, people also express their faith in different ways—yet all are loved equally by God.
The inspiration for the book came from a powerful experience earlier in Stevens’s life, when she witnessed people being judged and mistreated simply because of their beliefs. It left a lasting impression and sparked in her a deep desire to understand where love (or hate) comes from. Over time, she came to believe that fear often stems from a lack of understanding. Combining this realization with the idea that everyone relates to ice cream in their own way, Stevens created a unique and accessible way to share a positive, inclusive message with young readers.
After the sudden passing of her younger brother last year, it was his daughter who encouraged Stevens to turn her idea into a book. “Her suggestion sparked something in me,” she says. “I agreed right away—it was time to share this message.”
Written for parents and children to enjoy together, the story resonates with anyone who values love, kindness, and inclusion. With its universal message, the book aims to inspire readers of all faiths to embrace diversity and treat others with respect.
This book is about love, acceptance, tolerance, inclusion, kindness—and of course, ice cream!”
Jill Stevens
Stevens, who cherishes her three grown children and six grandchildren, hopes her book will open conversations between families and help instill in young readers a spirit of understanding and compassion. Her favorite ice cream flavor, fittingly, is coffee—proof that everyone has their own unique taste.
The Ice Cream Shop: A Story of How God Loves Us All is now available wherever books are sold.
