Preschool age
I Can’t Believe My Eyes!
Joshua Cooley & Hannah Green
How do autumn leaves help us understand God? How can kites teach us deep biblical truth? How can one small pondering from a child spark a theological exploration of some of the deepest mysteries of the universe?
A book illustrated as beautifully as the truth it conveys, I Can’t Believe My Eyes! is the kite-flying adventure of a father and son as they tackle the age-old question, “Is God real?”. The dad forgoes his to-do list for the day for a superior duty. Sweeping leaves can wait. There’s a wonderful truth to teach and explore together.
As a parent, I was reminded of the importance of taking every opportunity with my children to slow down and help them discover who God is. Especially when they are presenting me the chance to do so. Young readers will resonate with the simple analogy of the wind as a way of exploring how even the things we cannot see have a profound impact on our lives.
Primary school age
Hey God, can I ask you something?
Brad Emery
For better or worse, children ask a lot of questions. And parents are not always ready for what’s suddenly asked, or prepared to give an answer. This was me the other day, driving home from preschool when my daughter suddenly had to know, “Why didn’t God make two suns? One for me and one for my sister. I don’t want to share the sun with her”.
While this book doesn’t quite address why God expects my daughter to share the sun, Hey God, can I ask you something? does cover a wide range of questions that young believers might be wondering about.
Written with primary school children in mind, Brad Emery wanted to provide a resource with Bible-based answers that was easy to navigate and visually engaging. From creation, to the trustworthiness of the Bible, to suffering and to the resurrection, it’s a great starting place for kids who are beginning to explore their faith for themselves.
It’s great for those who want to equip young people with another place to turn to for biblical guidance and clear explanations of some of the common questions Christians ask. As a mum, cool aunty, godparent and friend, I can think of so many young ones who I’d love to give this to.
Teenage readers
The Mythical Life of the Good Christian Girl
Polly Jane Butterworth
Growing up in a Christian home is an amazing privilege, however it comes with its own set of challenges for young people. When everyone in your life expects you to be a certain way because you’re a Christian, or have come from a good Christian family, what does that mean for those moments of doubt, temptation, negative feelings and life choices? It can certainly be a lot of pressure!
As a high school chaplain, Polly Butterworth works with teenage girls every day, helping them to explore their faith and discover who they are in Jesus. She has written this book for every young Christian girl who has struggled with the feeling that they have a certain image to uphold.
Written with warmth and humour, Butterworth breaks down the different ways that girls can feel inadequate or as though they’re falling short of what a “good Christian girl” should be. She helps them understand the dangers of believing these myths, and uses Bible stories and testimonies to encourage them to rest in and rely on the grace of Jesus rather than their own abilities.
For teen girls with the privilege of growing up in the home of people who love Jesus, this book will ground their faith in the promises of the gospel and help them to be themselves as they find their joy in the Lord.
