Resources are powerful tools to encourage our children to grow deeper in their faith and mature in their character. I have found this to be true with my own children, and I hope that you find this to be true as well! Here is a list of resources that I hope you will find helpful. I pray that these will be great tools to bring God’s Word and truths into your home as you create an environment of knowing, loving, and following the Lord with your children.
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The following book reviews are solely my opinion having reviewed and applied principles from them with my children. Be sure to check back for more great resources to come!
Picture Books
The Prayer That Makes God Smile (The Power of a Praying Kid)
By: Stormie Omartian
Harvest House Publishers
Best for ages 5-8
I love Stormie’s books for women, like The Power of a Praying Parent, and this book she wrote for children is a must read in my opinion! Stormie hits on important truths that will help children understand how much Jesus really loves them and how He wants a relationship with them. By her simple explanations and lively illustrations, children will learn how to ask Jesus into their hearts and why it is such an important decision. There is a sample prayer your child can pray at the end of the book and a place to put your child’s name when he/she has prayed to receive Jesus.
A Child’s First Book of Virtues
By: Emily Hunter
Harvest House Publishers
Best for ages 3-7
This delightful book of stories and poems teaches children 15 common virtues such as honesty, compassion, friendship, and honoring parents. The illustrations are sweet and timeless, and it’s definitely a book to keep and pass down to the next generation.
Junior’s Adventures:the Boxed Set
By: Dave Ramsey
Ramsey Press
Best for ages 4-12
This six book collection introduces the concept of budgeting through the ‘envelope system,’ where all money received is divided into envelopes marked Give, Save, and Spend. They teach children to pro-actively find extra work to do when they want something they cannot afford, save up for it, and pay cash for it rather than going into debt because they cannot wait to have it. They teach responsible spending, delayed gratification, the joy of sharing with others, and the importance of honesty and integrity. Our kids and I love reading these books (over and over!), and I have enjoyed watching them implement the concepts.
BRAVE Books
By: multiple authors
Bravebooks.com
Best for ages 4-12
This children’s book series was created to help parents promote conservative Christian values in the next generation through creative stories, interactive discussion guides, and fun family games. Each of the stories tackles a different truth that kids need to understand. Themes such as gender identity, sanctity of life, and family are taught in such a way that even young children can understand the truths through the creative stories, and older kids can go deeper through the discussion guide and games. These books are so relevant to today’s culture and important to help our children discern God’s truth from unbiblical ideologies around them. (Use JOHNSON10 to receive a 10% discount with your purchase!)
Chapter Books
Magic Magnifying Glass: Lost Locket
By: Wendy Ann Mattox
Read aloud: 5-10
Read to self: 7-10
Lost Locket is the first of eight books in the Magic Magnifying Glass Series about a 10-year-old boy named Fin who shrinks to be an inch tall and solves mysteries with all his animal friends. The entertaining story weaves in good character and truths from God’s Word in fun, natural ways that will leave your children coming back to read more and growing in their faith and character!
Cherry-Berry Time Chasers: Wild Wild Zest
By: Wendy Ann Mattox
Read aloud: 5-10
Read to self: 7-10
Wild Wild Zest is the first of two books in the Cherry-Berry Time Series about Max & Maddie (twins) who help run their grandpa’s dessert shop. They go back in time on a scavenger hunt set up by their grandfather to find all the clues and try and make it back in time. This entertaining story weaves in good character and truths from God’s Word in fun, natural ways that will leave your children coming back to read more and growing in their faith and charcter!
Imagination Station
By: Adventures in Odyssey
Focus on the Family
Read aloud: 5-12
Read to self: 7-12
Imagination Station is an entertaining, historical fiction series with 21 books, where two adventurous cousins, Patrick and Beth, discover a time machine that transports them to different times and places around the world. The two cousins are often faced with a challenge or mission in the city they are sent. Fueled by adventure and faith, they work together to overcome challenges and bless those in their path. Not only does Imagination Station teach kids about real historical events, it will encourage them to serve others and follow God’s great purposes for their lives.
Sugar Creek Gang
By: Paul Hutchens
Moody Publishers
Read aloud: 5-10
Read to self: 7-12
Sugar Creek Gang is a 36 book series told from a young boy’s perspective about his “gang” of friends who live in a small Indiana town in the 1950’s. The boys go on exciting adventures and grow in their understanding of their need for Jesus and the importance of sharing their faith with others.
Meet the Daniels Sisters: 3-Book Set (Faith Girlz)
By: Kaitlyn, Olivia, and Camryn Pitts (with Janel Rodriguez Ferrer)
Zonderkidz
Read aloud: 7-10
Read to self: 7-12
This chapter book series is about a family of four fun and adventurous sisters who recently lost their mother. They live with their father, who is a pastor, and their aunt, who moves in to help take care of them. Each book is about one of the sisters and a lesson she learns as she begins to use the gifts God has given her to bring Him glory. I love how the girls talk kindly to each other, and although they have lost their mother, there is clearly a strong family identity between them and their father. The girls demonstrate lots of wonderful character qualities that make them a great role model for young readers. There are also many lessons of faith woven throughout the chapters to encourage girls in their walk with the Lord, so I highly recommend this series!
Best Family Ever (A Baxter Family Children Story)
By: Karen Kingsbury
Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
Read aloud: 7-12
Read to self: 8-12
Bestselling novelist, Karen Kingsbury, a, wrote a collection of adult fiction books about the Baxter Family and recently began writing the children’s version of the Baxter family with her son. In their first book, the Baxter Family children are introduced and lessons in faith, character, and family relationships are taught as the children learn they must move and leave their life in Ann Arbor. My 9 year old daughter fell in love with this story and claims this is the best book she has ever read. She cannot wait for the next one in the series to come out, and I am thrilled to find a series filled with Christ-like characters and encouragement to grow in relationships with God and family.
Elsie Dinsmore
By: Martha Finley/A Life of Faith Series
Zonderkidz
Read aloud: 8-12 girls
Read to self: 10-14 girls
This American classic, popular 100 years ago, has been updated and put into modern language for our children’s generation to enjoy. The series begins with 8 year old Elsie Dinsmore who lives on her wealthy grandfather’s plantation in the mid-1800’s without her parents. Her mother has died, and she is hoping her father, whom she has never met, will come back for her. This series contains many characters, and you get to know the “character” that each one has, and how that “character” directly shapes their entire life. Elsie’s strong faith and godly character make her a great role-model for young girls. The series has eight books and ends when she is a grandmother.
Christian Heroes: Then & Now
By: Janet Benge
YWAM Publishing
Read aloud: 7-12
Read to self: 9-13
This popular missionary series includes true stories of missionaries such as Hudson Taylor and Amy Carmichael who impacted history by sharing the message of Jesus with people from different nations. The stories of these heroes are filled with faith and hope and inspire young readers to live their lives completely for God and His ways. The series has 47 books, each one a unique story of a missionary’s life.
Allegories:
Blotch: A Tale of Forgiveness and Grace
By: Andy Addis
B&H Publishing Group
Read aloud: 5-10
Read to self: 7-10
This is a short allegorical story about a boy named Blotch and a kingdom of characters with blotches all over their bodies from their many wrong-doings. Blotch goes on a mission to find out how to get rid of their blotches and on the way meets different villages that hide their spots, pretend they aren’t there, and blame others for them. Finally he meets the king who could finally take his stains away once and for all. A family discussion guide is included for each chapter to go deeper in teaching your children the truths of the gospel.
Hind’s Feet on High Places: Children’s Edition
By: Hannah Hurnard, adapted by Dian Layton for children
Destiny Image Publishers Inc.
Read aloud: 5-13
Read to self: 7-13
This has been one off my favorite Christian allegories to read with my family, because it ministered to my heart so much, and my children loved it too! The story is about a girl named Much Afraid who left her fearing relatives to meet the Shepherd in the High Places where “perfect love casts out fear.” This story teaches great spiritual truths about God’s perfect love for us and how He uses trials and suffering to teach us to surrender our lives and be completely dependent on Him.
Terrestria Chronicles — The Sword, the Ring, and the Parchment
By: Ed Dunlop
Sword of the Lord Publications
Read Aloud: 7-12
Read to Self: 8-14
After hearing great things about this series from my sister-in-law, we bought the first book for my son for Christmas, and he loved it! This allegorical tale shares the story of a servant of an evil blacksmith who was saved by one of the king’s servants and given a mission by the king. Along his journey, he learns through his mistakes the true value of his sword and receives unconditional love and forgiveness. This action-packed series will leave your kids wanting more while gleaning God’s truth at the same time!
The Prince Warriors
By: Priscilla Shirer
B&H Kids
Read aloud: 8-13
Read to self: 8-18
The Warrior Series is about a group of boys who enter a mysterious land where they are led by a guide who helps them travel through unfamiliar territories, save other warriors, and battle evil creatures. With each battle, the warriors learn how to better use their armor and trust their guide’s instructions from “The Book” to stand against their enemies. This book is a great allegory to help children and teens understand the spiritual battle around us and our need for God’s wisdom from His Word to stand firm against our enemy.
By: Tedd Dekker & Rachelle Dekker
Scripturo
Read aloud: 8-10
Read to self: 9-12
And They Found Dragons is an action-packed trilogy about a small twelve-year-old boy named Jack who must fight dragons that have taken over the earth. It isn’t until he learns the secret of the dragons, that they represent human’s fear, that he can truly learn to fight the battle through perfect love that casts out fear. Check out the sequel as well: The Dragons Among Us.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia)
By: C.S. Lewis
Harper Collins
Read aloud: 5-13
Read to self: 8-13
The chronicles of Narnia (The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe) is about siblings who are escaping the war and moving in with a professor in England. They play hide and seek and discover a wardrobe that leads them to Narnia. There they meet fauns, beavers, a white witch, and other characters who explain the trouble happening in Narnia, and finally Aslan, the lion who will save them for the terrible witch. This is a story of redemption and beautifully paints the picture of God’s great love for his children who do not deserve it but choose to trust in Him.
Little Pilgrim’s Progress: From John Bunyan’s Classic
By: John Bunyan, adapted by Helen L Taylor for children
Moody Publishers
Read aloud: 6-13
Read to self: 7-14
This classic allegory was adapted for children and is filled with wonderful truths about the Christian life. The characters are amusing and help children recognize sin as they try to get little Christian off the oftentimes rocky but straight path towards the king. Children will be encouraged to recognize temptations in their own life and remain unresolved to walk down God’s perfect path with His help..a path that leads to righteousness, peace and ultimately the loving arms of their Savior. We read the audio version while driving, and my kids never wanted to stop driving!
Of Nature and Kings
Rivers Houseal
Nogginnose Press
Read aloud: 5-13
Read to self: 8-13
Of Nature and Kings is about a boy who discovers his family has a secret when strange things keep happening in his world. As the secret unfolds, the family must go on an adventure full of suspense to find out if the problem at hand can be resolved. This book has many positive elements including children who are respectful to their parents, reconciliation, and an overall trusting in “Father Above. ” I also like that magic and sorcery are shown in negative light.
The Adventures of Clara and Anton: The Dragon Fighter
Stefan Waidelich
Amazon Media
Read aloud: 6-12
Read to self: 7-12
The Adventures of Clara and Anton is about a boy sent on a mission to find a lost princess. When he finds her, she must break free from her captives and realize her true identity and the power she has within her as a child of the king. This book is a beautiful picture of our human struggle to realize who we truly are in Christ and the power we have to conquer the giants in our life through Him. (*side note- this book was translated from German, so you will find that the quotation marks and some of the other punctuation look different)