One way to instill godly principles in your children is to read them Christian books from an early age. Even babies and toddlers benefit from hearing God’s truth daily, and colorful picture books are a great way to expose them to Biblical principles.
As the editor of Christian Children’s Book Review, I see a batch of books published for children of Christian families. Some are boring at best, but here are some gems no family should be without.
adeline By Kathryn Rathke. In this charming tale, a girl who loves Valentine’s Day learns a lesson about the ultimate Valentine: God. For children 4 years and older. (Baker Books, 2004)
animal friends bible by Matt Miter. With vivid illustrations, googly-eyed animals, and rhyming text reminiscent of beloved nursery rhymes, babies, toddlers, and preschoolers will love this volume. This book is a great way to start introducing Biblical stories like Balaam and his donkey, the Egyptian plague, how the ravens fed Elijah, and more. (Multnomah, 2007)
Big thoughts for little thinkers by Joey Allen. This is actually a series of four books: The Scripture, The Gospel, The Trinity, and The Mission. Here’s a smart talk about what the Bible is and specific Christian principles, explained in a way that young children (ages 3-7) can understand and enjoy. (New Leaf Press, 2005)
God’s Wisdom for Girls by Elizabeth George. If you have a girl, one of the key things you can teach her is what a Proverbs 31 woman is. George does an excellent job of explaining this important passage to girls ages 5-8. (Harvest House Publishers, 2000)
i can talk to god by Debby Anderson. When it comes time to teach your children to pray, this book is an excellent tool. The images are bright and colourful, and the truths of how to pray (and how God might answer) are told in an engaging and fun way. For children from 2 to 5 years old. (Crossway Books, 2003)
I would be your hero Y I would be your princess by Kathryn O’Brien. For children ages 4 to 8, these books (one designed for boys and one for girls) explain divine characteristics and how important they are. I would be your princess won the Gold Medallion Book Award in recognition of excellence in evangelical Christian literature. (Standard, 2004 and 2005)
Bible storybook for girls Y Bible storybook for toddlers by Carolyn Larsen are excellent choices for children ages 6 to 9. Each one tells Bible stories in an engaging way, and there are study sections to help children understand important Bible concepts. Best of all, there are ideas for parents on how to discuss these concepts with their children. (Baker Books, 1998)
Baby, God made you By Amy Warren Hilliker. I started reading this book to my daughter when she was a little girl. She is now two years old and she still loves it! The text is extremely simple and establishes an important fact: God made you and loves you just the way you are. For children 4 years and under. (Zonderkidz, 2004)
Children’s Bible verses by Stephen Elkins is a great way to introduce God’s word to even the smallest babies. With sweet illustrations of children and babies, plus remarkable quotes from the Psalms, this is an excellent first “Bible.” (Broadman and Holman, 2003)
parables that Jesus told by Ella K. Lindvall. In simple words and colorful images, this book retells five parables, each ending with a brief explanation of how to apply the story to real life. The book is designed for children ages 4 to 8, but many younger children will enjoy it as well. (Moody Publishers, 2000) Sidney and Norman, the story of two pigs by Phil Vischer. Sidney and Norman pigs are opposites. One is messy, the other clean. One seems to always succeed, the other never. Then both meet with God. One pig learns that God loves him just the way he is, while the other learns that God loves everyone… even the messy neighbors. (Tommy Nelson, 2006)
The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is an ideal Bible for children ages 4 to 8, detailing 43 stories from Genesis to Revelation. Each story in some way relates to Jesus and who he is, giving children an overview of what God is. The text is interesting, as are the illustrations. (Zonderkidz, 2007)
The Lord is My Shepherd by Hans Wilhelm. The greatness of this book is its simplicity. The text of Psalm 23, one of the most beautiful and comforting passages in the Bible, is paraphrased in child-friendly language that closely matches a modern translation. This book is another great way to introduce even the youngest children to God’s Word. For babies and up. (Scholastic, 2007)
wait till then By Randy Alcorn. Any parent who wants to explain what happens to us when we die, how to deal with the death of a loved one, and how to cope with severe disappointment will want to read this book with their child. Beautifully written and illustrated, for children ages 9-12. (Tyndale, 2007)
Will: God’s Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh. Very few Christian books are specifically aimed at children, so Will is a welcome addition. For ages 4-8, this book teaches children about the armor of God in a kid-friendly way. (Thomas Nelson, 2006)