| One way to instill Godly principles in your children is to | | | | these concepts with their children. (Baker Books, 1998) |
| read them Christian books from an early age. Even | | | | Little One, God Made You by Amy Warren Hilliker. I |
| babies and toddlers benefit from hearing God's truth on | | | | began reading this book to my daughter when she |
| a daily basis, and colorful picture books are a great | | | | was an infant. Now she's two, and she still loves it! The |
| way to expose them to biblical principles. | | | | text is extremely simple and establishes one important |
| As editor of Christian Children's Book Review, I see a | | | | fact: God made you and loves you just the way you |
| lot of books published for children of Christian families. | | | | are. For children 4 and under. (Zonderkidz, 2004) |
| Some are ho-hum at best, but here are a few gems | | | | Little One's Bible Verses by Stephen Elkins is a superb |
| that no family should be without. | | | | way to introduce even the youngest babies to God's |
| Adeline by Kathryn Rathke. In this delightful tale, a little | | | | word. With sweet illustrations of children and babies, |
| girl who loves Valentine's Day learns a lesson about | | | | plus notable quotes from Psalms, this is an excellent |
| the ultimate Valentine: God. For kids 4 and up. (Baker | | | | first "Bible." (Broadman & Holman, 2003) |
| Books, 2004) | | | | Parables Jesus Told by Ella K. Lindvall. In simple words |
| Bible Animal Friends by Matt Mitter. With vivid | | | | and colorful images, this book retells five parables, |
| illustrations, googly eyed animals, and rhyming text | | | | ending each with a brief explanation of how to apply |
| reminiscent of well-loved nursery rhymes, infants, | | | | the story to real life. The book is designed for 4 to 8 |
| toddlers, and preschoolers will love this volume. This | | | | year olds, but many younger children will enjoy it, too. |
| book is a great way to start introducing Bible stories | | | | (Moody Publishers, 2000) Sidney and Norman, the Tale |
| like Balaam and his donkey, the Egyptian plague, how | | | | of Two Pigs by Phil Vischer. Pigs Sidney and Norman |
| ravens fed Elijah, and more. (Multnomah, 2007) | | | | are opposites. One is messy, the other neat. One |
| Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers by Joey Allen. This is | | | | seems to always succeed, the other never does. |
| actually a series of four books: The Scripture, The | | | | Then they both meet God. One pig learns that God |
| Gospel, The Trinity, and The Mission. Here is intelligent | | | | loves him just the way he is, while the other learns that |
| talk about what the Bible and specific Christian tenants | | | | God loves everyone...even messy neighbors. (Tommy |
| are, explained in a way that young children (ages 3 to | | | | Nelson, 2006) |
| 7) can understand-and enjoy. (New Leaf Press, 2005) | | | | The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones is an |
| God's Wisdom for Little Girls by Elizabeth George. If | | | | ideal Bible for kids 4 to 8, detailing 43 stories from |
| you have a girl, one of the key things you can teach | | | | Genesis through Revelation. Each story in some way |
| her is what a Proverbs 31 woman is. George does an | | | | relates to Jesus and who he is, giving children the big |
| excellent job of explaining this important passage to 5 | | | | picture of what God is all about. The text is engaging, |
| to 8 year old girls. (Harvest House Publishers, 2000) | | | | as are the illustrations. (Zonderkidz, 2007) |
| I Can Talk with God by Debby Anderson. When it | | | | The Lord is My Shepherd by Hans Wilhem. The |
| comes time to teach your children how to pray, this | | | | greatness of this book is its simplicity. The text of |
| book is an excellent tool. The pictures are bright and | | | | Psalm 23-one of the most beautiful and comforting |
| colorful, and the truths of how to pray (and how God | | | | passages in the Bible-is paraphrased in kid-friendly |
| might answer) are told in an engaging, fun way. For | | | | language that clings closely to a modern translation. |
| kids 2 to 5. (Crossway Books, 2003) | | | | This book is another great way to introduce even the |
| I'd Be Your Hero and I'd Be Your Princess by Kathryn | | | | youngest children to the Word of God. For babies on |
| O'Brien. For children 4 to 8 years old, these books (one | | | | up. (Scholastic, 2007) |
| designed for boys, the other for girls) explain Godly | | | | Wait Until Then by Randy Alcorn. Any parent who |
| characteristics and how important they are. I'd Be Your | | | | wants to explain what happens to us when we die, |
| Princess won the Gold Medallion Book Award in | | | | how to deal with the death of a loved one, and how to |
| recognition of excellence in evangelical Christian | | | | cope with serious disappointment will want to read this |
| literature. (Standard, 2004 and 2005) | | | | book with their child. Beautifully written and illustrated, |
| Little Girl's Bible Storybook and Little Boy's Bible | | | | for kids 9 to 12. (Tyndale, 2007) |
| Storybook by Carolyn Larsen are excellent choices | | | | Will: God's Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh. Very few |
| for kids 6 to 9. Each tells Bible stories in an appealing | | | | Christian books are targeted specifically to boys, so |
| fashion, and there are study sections throughout to | | | | Will is a welcome addition. For 4 to 8 year olds, this |
| help kids understand important biblical concepts. Best | | | | book teaches children about the armor of God in a |
| of all, there are ideas for parents on how to discuss | | | | kid-friendly way. |