Best Children's Christianity Books
The multiple award-winning Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Tullian Tchividjian, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church -- PCA, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Jago's award-winning cover art is a foretaste of the whimsically insightful and richly colored drawings that await you on every one of the book's 351 pages. Lloyd-Jones does it as well as any biblical commentator....The title and subtitle are even better than the book's delightful illustrations and narrative -- because they provide, in one deft stroke, the interpretive key that unlocks the meaning of the whole Bible. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. -- More to Life Magazine In the interests of full disclosure, let me reveal that I had the privilege of reading the manuscript of this book several years ago as a theological consultant to Zondervan, the publisher. I hope that every family, and even people without young children, would get a copy of this book just to remind them of what the Real Story of the Bible is all about.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've tried three or four toddler Bibles, but they ranged from the meaningless and banal (Read With Me Bible For Toddlers) to the downright horrifying in their interpretation (The Story For Little Ones). The Jesus Storybook Bible, on the other hand, seeks to show how God's plan of salvation is unfolding through each story, and largely succeeds in doing so. First of all, there are children's Bibles like the Read With Me Bible that are simply bland. Granted, toddlers are not going to pick up on every nuance of a story from the Bible, but the Read With Me Bible often chooses the wrong points to emphasize, entirely leaving out important points of narrative along the way. One story simply lists miracles Jesus did with no context, failing to communicate that Jesus' miracles actually anticipate and begin to realize a new world, a world where God's Kingdom and rule are breaking into the world in a new and exciting way. This simply displays a level of ignorance about the story of Samson that is beyond belief for someone writing (interpreting) a Bible for children! So, for example, the story of the Exodus is told not as the story of God's great magic show, but instead on the great, mighty, and terrifying rescue of God's people from their slavery, pointing forward also to humanity's slavery to sin and coming rescue in Jesus. But again, the strength of this Bible is that it gets the story right, interpreting the main idea correctly and always pointing toward Jesus."
"For someone who may be familiar with the full version of the Bible and may be concerned about teaching children biblical accuracy, this book may be found a bit frustrating. While the illustrations are whimsical and a great accompaniment to the text, and the story language is simple and easy to follow, there are an awful lot of unnecessary additions."
"I personally like the cover because the picture of Jesus, I believe, is more accurate than the traditional image of a "white" Jesus that we usually see."
"I love this, I have toddlers and want them to know about the happiest, greatest story in all the world<3 Its simple and sweet and I love how each biblical story ends with how that story paves the way for Jesus. Mostly the main message, the good news; God loves the world, loves YOU, no matter what!"
"It’s great to read alternate translations (even kids versions) while retaining biblical accuracy."
Brazilian artist Sergio Cariello has created attention-holding illustrations marked by rich coloring, dramatic shading and lighting, bold and energetic designs, and emotionally charged figures. What David C. Cook couldn't know is that Sergio had grown up in Brazil with a Portuguese translation of that very same Picture Bible. Even though he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a comic artist, he never would have dreamed that he would one day get to work on the Picture Bible itself!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Incredible number of stories (over 200)--this thing is THICK and solid. Similar to the Sistine Chapel, it explains Biblical truths in an engaging, dramatic, and artistic way that is relevant to our culture's art-form (i.e. graphic novels). In the same way it would be unfair to see the Sistine Chapel and complain how Michelangelo painted Cane and Able in the nude. I'd rate this PG depending on the maturity of your child and his/her understanding of Biblical text. Perfect for teenagers or kids you're looking to get hooked on Biblical studies."
"I absolutely love The Action Bible! The Action Bible isn't just for kids, I'm 30 and love it."
"Please consider that this is NOT an exact word for word depiction of the bible."
"Bought for a developmentally disabled adult friend who can read but not well."
"Just looking at the pictures and comic style layout in this book made me want to purchase it. I realize that it uses kid friendly modern day language but as I am reading I often think ," Why didn't the author just use the very familiar Bible scripture?""
"I highly recommend the Action Bible to anyone wanted to get their kids more involved in bible reading."
"The artwork in this bible is well received by them as a supplement to the lessons, they still feel like they are "reading" the bible!"
"As a child when of the hardest things that I endured in being exposed to my faith was the long boring days of bible study and church where I would sit for hours and hours reading page after page of words.There was no appeal as a child to keep my attention thus making it harder for me to what to care."
Each boy is quickly embroiled in the conflicts of this time and place, whose populations includes winged seraphim, a few stray mythic beasts, perilous and beautiful nephilim, and small, long lived humans who consider Sandy and Dennys giants. A Wind in the Door: When Charles Wallace falls ill, Meg, Calvin, and their teacher, Mr. Jenkins, must travel inside C.W. A Swiftly Tilting Planet: The Murry and O'Keefe Families enlist the help of the unicorn, Gaudior, to save the world from imminent nuclear war. Many Waters: Meg Murry, now in college, time travels with her twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys, to a desert oasis that is embroiled in war. Troubling a Star (Volume 5) The Polly O'Keefe books The Arm of the Starfish: Characters from Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet and Austin Family Chronicles cross paths in this story that explore the timeless themes of love, chance, and destiny. As revealed in an introduction by the author's granddaughter Léna Roy, the protagonist Elizabeth is close to an autobiographical portrait of L'Engle herself as a young woman. Sandy and Dennys Murry, the "normal" boys in a family of geniuses, suddenly find themselves trudging through a blazing-hot desert, seeking a far-off oasis for shade. Grade 6 Up Fans of the Murry family will welcome this tangental return to the "Time Trilogy" books (Farrar) as L'Engle spins another uniquely metaphysical fantasy, this time using the twins, Sandy and Dennys, at age 15, as her protagonists. What follows is an entertaining description of life in this ancient time and place, when angels and fallen angels walked the earth, and small mammoths could call unicorns into existence. The story is more tension than plot: the tension of the Nephilim, fallen angels whose power on earth seems somehow threatened by the mysterious arrival of the twins; the sexual tension that both Sandy and Dennys feel as they are drawn to Yalith, Noah's youngest daughter; and the tension that readers feel, wondering how those protagonists not mentioned in Genesis (the twins and Yalith) are going to survive the Flood, which is plainly imminent throughout the book.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This story involves the twins, Sandy and Dennys, who unwittingly put themselves inside one of their father’s time travel experiments."
"At my age I am not much of a fan of fantasy or of reading about time travel, but I realize the author was not writing for senior citizens."
"While it's a YA book, it doesn't talk down to kids or act as if all they care about is snogging their boyfriends."
"I devoured this book."
"My son needed this book for English class."
"A required book for my grandson's class."
"With the movie coming out this spring, I thought a reread of this classic would be good, and it was."
"Maybe it's because I kept this in my childhood when religion was as much a part of my life as breathing but revisiting this as an adult made me gag."
Best Children's Christian Bibles
Brazilian artist Sergio Cariello has created attention-holding illustrations marked by rich coloring, dramatic shading and lighting, bold and energetic designs, and emotionally charged figures. What David C. Cook couldn't know is that Sergio had grown up in Brazil with a Portuguese translation of that very same Picture Bible. Even though he knew as a kid that he wanted to be a comic artist, he never would have dreamed that he would one day get to work on the Picture Bible itself!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Incredible number of stories (over 200)--this thing is THICK and solid. Similar to the Sistine Chapel, it explains Biblical truths in an engaging, dramatic, and artistic way that is relevant to our culture's art-form (i.e. graphic novels). In the same way it would be unfair to see the Sistine Chapel and complain how Michelangelo painted Cane and Able in the nude. I'd rate this PG depending on the maturity of your child and his/her understanding of Biblical text. Perfect for teenagers or kids you're looking to get hooked on Biblical studies."
"I absolutely love The Action Bible! The Action Bible isn't just for kids, I'm 30 and love it."
"Please consider that this is NOT an exact word for word depiction of the bible."
"I highly recommend the Action Bible to anyone wanted to get their kids more involved in bible reading."
"The artwork in this bible is well received by them as a supplement to the lessons, they still feel like they are "reading" the bible!"
"I got a copy to suggest it to our Youth Director at our church."
"I also have a friend and I have a hard time trying to tell him about God because he really hates it wen I tell him about God."
"If you've got any one that you want to share the truth of the Bible with and they need a little coaxing, have this book lying around."
Best Children's Christian Biographies
Ben Carson used to be the class dummy. Gregg Lewis is an award winning author or coauthor of more than fifty books, including Take the Risk and The Big Picture with Dr. Ben Carson, Tom Landry: An Autobiography, Forgiving the Dead Man Walking with Debbie Morris, Jesus M.D., and Safe at Home.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is a great middle school book for a biography assignment."
"My students are hanging on every word, and my students and I are inspired and motivated by Ben Carson's story. There are mentions of Ben Carson praying and his reliance on the Lord is explained. The mentions are subtle, and to remain compliant to the rules of public school, I explain to my students that people find inspiration, motivation, and comfort in different things."
"Since it was February black history month, we originally searched for Bill Cosby, as she likes his TV show. We were so enthralled with Ben's story, that we put his biography movie "Gifted Hands" starring Cuba Gooding Jr in our Netflix queue...we can't wait to watch it!"
"Dr. Carson has a passion for public service as a physician, and a real desire to youth INSPIRED to "THINK BIG" and achieve their full potential."
"Bought this version for my grandchildren, after I read the adult version."
"but rather as the story of a young man who against all odds got to where he is today; a happy, productive and successful human."
"Ben Carson's story is inspiring on several levels: It tells the story of a boy who went from "the dumbest kid in fifth grade" to become a world renowned neurosurgeon; it challenges children to become readers who pursue excellence in their endeavors; it demonstrates that a living faith in God can help a person find his way; and it reveals how a single mother with little education and mental health issues can have a tremendous impact on her sons."
"This is a great book written for elementary/jr."
Best Children's Christian Early Readers Books
Answers questions about Christ that even adults struggle to answer.You meet skeptics every day. SPANISH BIO: Lee Strobel tiene una licenciatura en periodismo de la Universidad de Missouri y una maestria en estudio de leyes de la Universidad Yale. Es autor de exitos de ventas del New York Times de casi veinte libros y ha sido entrevistado por numerosos programas nacionales de television, incluyendo 20/20 de la cadena ABC, Fox News y CNN. Cuatro de sus libros han ganado el premio Medalla de oro y uno de ellos fue el ganador del premio Libro cristiano del ano 2005 (el cual escribio junto a Garry Poole).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a great book to start with."
"Great book for parents to read and then explain to younger kids!"
"Lee Strobel does an excellent job examining the facts."
"My kids and I really enjoyed reading this book."
"We are reading this to our granddaughter's (ages 12 and 14 1/2) for our daily devotions."
"Purchased as a Christmas gift."
"This book had a lot of good evidences for Christ."
Best Children's Christian Inspirational Books
– Alex and Brett Do Hard Things is the Harris twins' revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential. Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life. It is crystal clear, to the point, interesting, funny, challenging, encouraging, and an easy read.” – Lisa R., age 15, Australia “Adult expectations for youth are too low. Or as the Harris brothers would say, ‘Rebel against low expectations.’” – John Piper, bestselling author of Don’t Waste Your Life “The message of Do Hard Things is going to awaken the dreams and passions of thousands of young people all over the world. I recommend it to any and every teen who has a desire to turn their life around and make a difference.” – Ashley W., age 13, Georgia “Alex and Brett capture the passion and potential of our generation perfectly in this book. And not just for those wanting to launch successfully into adulthood, but also for discontent twenty- and thirty-somethings who long to be catapulted into significance.” – Ted Slater, editor of Boundless, Focus on the Family “I'm not exactly a teenager anymore. I can't recommend it highly enough.” – Shannon Ethridge, bestselling author of the Every Woman's Battle series “This book is a wake up call to a generation that is down in the dumps. I'd recommend it to anyone, young or old.” – Douglas A., age 17, England “ Do Hard Things is the textbook for anyone who works with teens; it’s a philosophical and foundational must-read.” – Timothy Eldred, executive director of Christian Endeavor International. The twins have been blessed to travel and speak in major cities around the world and have been featured nationally on ABC, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR, as well as in publications like the Wall Street Journal , Wired magazine , and The New York Times.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's written from a very religious perspective though so if that's gonna be a problem for you then now you know."
"This book really gets teens excited about owning not just their faith but their future as a whole."
"Great book for teens going through some rough times trying to grow to be independent while being frustrated by overbearing parents."
"What an amazing read."
"Great book and a simple read for any teen."
"Really challenges teens to think more responsibly."
"I recommend this book to any teenager."
"They maintain that "it's almost gotten to the point that people expect less of teenagers than they do of toddlers" and "our teen years give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for huge accomplishments - as individuals and as a generation." It's not often you find a book written by a couple of teenagers that can reach across generational lines and motivate genuine change, but the Harris twins deliver exactly that book."
Best Children's Jesus Books
The multiple award-winning Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. Tullian Tchividjian, Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church -- PCA, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Jago's award-winning cover art is a foretaste of the whimsically insightful and richly colored drawings that await you on every one of the book's 351 pages. Lloyd-Jones does it as well as any biblical commentator....The title and subtitle are even better than the book's delightful illustrations and narrative -- because they provide, in one deft stroke, the interpretive key that unlocks the meaning of the whole Bible. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. True, that's to be expected when you combine the mesmerizing illustrations of Jago and the award-winning writing of Sally Lloyd-Jones, a Brit with an uncanny knack for storytelling. -- More to Life Magazine In the interests of full disclosure, let me reveal that I had the privilege of reading the manuscript of this book several years ago as a theological consultant to Zondervan, the publisher. I hope that every family, and even people without young children, would get a copy of this book just to remind them of what the Real Story of the Bible is all about.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've tried three or four toddler Bibles, but they ranged from the meaningless and banal (Read With Me Bible For Toddlers) to the downright horrifying in their interpretation (The Story For Little Ones). The Jesus Storybook Bible, on the other hand, seeks to show how God's plan of salvation is unfolding through each story, and largely succeeds in doing so. First of all, there are children's Bibles like the Read With Me Bible that are simply bland. Granted, toddlers are not going to pick up on every nuance of a story from the Bible, but the Read With Me Bible often chooses the wrong points to emphasize, entirely leaving out important points of narrative along the way. One story simply lists miracles Jesus did with no context, failing to communicate that Jesus' miracles actually anticipate and begin to realize a new world, a world where God's Kingdom and rule are breaking into the world in a new and exciting way. This simply displays a level of ignorance about the story of Samson that is beyond belief for someone writing (interpreting) a Bible for children! So, for example, the story of the Exodus is told not as the story of God's great magic show, but instead on the great, mighty, and terrifying rescue of God's people from their slavery, pointing forward also to humanity's slavery to sin and coming rescue in Jesus. But again, the strength of this Bible is that it gets the story right, interpreting the main idea correctly and always pointing toward Jesus."
"Along with "God's Love" by ChampThornton, "The Bible's Big Story" by James Hamilton, "The Biggest Story" by Kevin DeYoung and "What's in the Bible With Buck Denver?""
"I love this, I have toddlers and want them to know about the happiest, greatest story in all the world<3 Its simple and sweet and I love how each biblical story ends with how that story paves the way for Jesus. Mostly the main message, the good news; God loves the world, loves YOU, no matter what!"
"It’s great to read alternate translations (even kids versions) while retaining biblical accuracy."
"I was delighted to find out that not only did we finish it but she also brought it back to me after a few weeks and wanted to read it through a second time!"
"So many of the versions out there are just the regular bible verses with colorful kids pictures incorporated."
"Every single Bible story is tied to Christ and points children to the understanding of God's overall plan of redemption and salvation through Christ."
"They were 3 months when I. started reading to the twins."
Best Children's Christian Prayer Books
In this widely popular, exciting story for the advent season, readers follow ten-year-old Jotham across Israel as he searches for his family. Arnold Ytreeide is a fine storyteller who cares deeply about spiritual growth in families.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The story was perilous, and scary a few times to my sensitive 7 year-old, but he's frightened by the abominable snow-monster on the Rudolph movie :) For those wondering, it's fiction, but brings Biblical truths into the story. Jothan had stayed briefly with Bartholomew during Jothan's Journey, and we heard of events during that stay from Jothan's perspective, now we're hearing the same events from Bartholomew's perspective, which is interesting."
"My 7 & 9 year old have been intrigued by this book and it's been a great addition to Advent."
"Ytreeide’s stories are page turning cliff hangers."
"A few friends suggested this series."
"We read about Tabitha last year, and this year really enjoyed reading about Jotham as well."
"There are a few parts that may required editing due to graphic text and ideas for younger children; however, we found no issue with reading it to our young child."
"It may not seem good at first but the final chapters are great!"
"A beautiful book, highly recommended."
Best Children's Noah's Ark Books
Each boy is quickly embroiled in the conflicts of this time and place, whose populations includes winged seraphim, a few stray mythic beasts, perilous and beautiful nephilim, and small, long lived humans who consider Sandy and Dennys giants. A Wind in the Door: When Charles Wallace falls ill, Meg, Calvin, and their teacher, Mr. Jenkins, must travel inside C.W. A Swiftly Tilting Planet: The Murry and O'Keefe Families enlist the help of the unicorn, Gaudior, to save the world from imminent nuclear war. Many Waters: Meg Murry, now in college, time travels with her twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys, to a desert oasis that is embroiled in war. 3 by Madeleine L'Engle; illustrated by Hope Larson: Visit the world of A Wrinkle in Time in this standalone story! The Polly O'Keefe books The Arm of the Starfish: Characters from Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet and Austin Family Chronicles cross paths in this story that explore the timeless themes of love, chance, and destiny. Dragons in the Waters: The follow-up to The Arm of the Starfish has Simon and the O'Keefes trying to find a stolen painting and a murderer, all while trapped aboard a ship. As revealed in an introduction by the author's granddaughter Léna Roy, the protagonist Elizabeth is close to an autobiographical portrait of L'Engle herself as a young woman. Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007) was the Newbery Medal-winning author of more than 60 books, including the much-loved A Wrinkle in Time . Two companion novels, A Wind in the Door and A Swiftly Tilting Planet (a Newbery Honor book), complete what has come to be known as The Time Trilogy, a series that continues to grow in popularity with a new generation of readers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I devoured this book."
"I absolutely love this book."
"Interested in reading more from the series."
"Well the book was confusing at times and the characters un appealing sometimes, I love Charles Wallace so much and the story line was great!!!"
"A quick read, this was my first exposure to fantasy books when I was a kid."
"Now I remember why I loved this so much as a girl!"
"The other 1 star reviews have already covered the absence of plot and character development."