Meet John Cummings


Welcome! I'm so glad you're here. I'm the author of Finding Family: A Biscuit & Rye Tail. My passion is creating stories that encourage kindness, courage, hope, and the importance of family. I believe the best children's books entertain while also creating meaningful conversations between children and the people who love them.

Why I Felt Moved to Write Finding Family

In 2017, my wife, Kari, and I became foster parents. At the time, we were already raising two biological children, ages 16 and 14, but we felt God calling us to walk alongside children and families during some of life's hardest seasons. We knew the Lord had placed that calling on our hearts.

Just two months after becoming licensed, we received a call about a newborn baby boy who needed a home. He was only two days old when he was placed in our arms. Today, that little boy is our Rye.

Six months later, the phone rang again. Another baby boy. Another two-day-old newborn in need of a family. Welcome Biscuit.

We never entered foster care with plans to adopt. Yet, as God continued to write our family's story, He showed us that family is about far more than biology. It is built through love, sacrifice, commitment, and choosing one another every day.

Those experiences forever changed my life and eventually inspired me to write Finding Family: A Biscuit & Rye Tail—a story that celebrates the many ways families are formed and reminds children that they are loved, they belong, and they are never without hope.

Why Should People Read This Story

Pain is a universal part of life. Whether physical, emotional, or mental, it has the power to isolate us, reshape our perspectives, and lead us into some of life's darkest moments.

Over the years, our family has welcomed children from many different backgrounds into our home. Through those experiences, we have witnessed firsthand the lasting effects that brokenness, trauma, and loss can have on a child and a family. Pain can wound deeply, distort a person's view of love and belonging, and leave behind scars that are difficult to overcome.

Finding Family: A Biscuit & Rye Tail was written with one simple purpose: to remind readers that family is not defined solely by the people we are born to. Family is also found in the people who walk beside us, encourage us, and choose to love us along life's journey.

Through the adventures of a timid little squirrel named Biscuit and a loudmouthed hare named Rye, readers are invited on a heartwarming journey filled with humor, friendship, courage, and hope. As the two friends navigate challenges beyond their control, they discover that even the most difficult circumstances can lead to unexpected blessings.

My hope is that every reader—whether child or adult—will see a piece of themselves in these characters and be reminded that sometimes a small change in perspective can open the door to a future filled with belonging, purpose, and hope.

The Underlying Message

Do I have an underlying message? I most certainly do. And that message is ultimately about the love of Jesus. Romans 8:15 tells us, "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
Foster care, adoption, caring for a loved one or for that matter, caring for someone you don't even know... It's all a reflection of Jesus' love for us. I have found some of my greatest relationships through those who genuinely share the faith. I am forever indebited to the service, grace and love these, "brothers and sisters," show in Jesus' name.
Taking in those who have no place to go. Nowhere to eat. Nowhere to lay their head, and meeting those needs... well, I believe it makes God smile. It's His love that shows through us and a reflection of how He calls us His own and through this we all become family.

How Can You Help?

Finding Family celebrates the many ways families are formed through love, compassion, and hope.

Throughout my years as a foster parent, I've spoken with many people who have shared a desire to foster or adopt but simply didn't know where to begin or what resources were available. If you've ever considered becoming a foster parent, adopting, or learning more about how you can support children and families in your community, there are organizations ready to help.

As a father of five and longtime foster parent, I've seen firsthand the incredible difference a caring adult can make in a child's life. Every child deserves to feel loved, supported, and valued.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides information to help you find foster care, adoption, and family support resources in your state. Whether you're ready to take the next step or simply want to learn more, I encourage you to explore the resources available.

Thank you for visiting, and thank you for caring about children and families.

God bless,

John Cummings

Find Resources