At Haven Today, we focus a lot on books that will lead adults to Jesus, or help adults to understand and love Jesus more. But we can’t forget about the kids. I did a quick poll of friends and a few others sources and rounded up the results of a very unscientific poll: the top five books that lead children to Jesus.
- The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones
This book gets recommended to me more than any other out there. One friend described reading it as “a quiet time for me, too.” Instead of being a book about what kids should or shouldn’t do, based on Biblical characters, Lloyd-Jones really focues on what God is saying about us, him, and Christ in each story of the Bible. (Here Charles Morris talk to Lloyd-Jones: Go to Program Archives, scroll down and then click on her name for a series of interviews.) - God’s Names by Sally Michael
Sally Michael, the co-founder of Children Desiring God, a ministry at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, where pastor John Piper preaches, writes a book for older children (eight and up) that explains what God’s different names mean. Each chapter includes scripture references, topics to discuss with parents, and activities to do. - Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones
If we put The Jesus Storybook Bible on here, we had to put Lloyd-Jones’s newest book, a devotional for children. - Leading Little Ones to God by Marian M. Schoolland
Pair children’s Bibles with this book that explains what God is saying in the Bible about his holiness, what it means to be a sinner, and more. - Write Your Own
One of my friends is writing her own book of Bible memory verses for her daughter. “If she can memorize ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ word for word, why not something a little more useful?” she asks. I was floored by her submission. What a great idea.
This is just a list to get you started. What others would you add to it?
P.S. Here’s one for parents navigating the wide world of children’s books: Honey for a Child’s Heart by Gladys Hunt. After helpful chapters on why books are important and how to make decisions about books, she offers lists of books separated by children’s ages and book topics, including one list on nourishing your child’s spiritual life.