RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Board Books (Ages Newborn – 3)
- God Loves You – by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- God’s Dream – by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- A is for Activist – by Innosanto Nagara (board book version)
- Counting on Community – by Innosanto Nagara
- My First Bible for Children of Color – by Patrice Banks Lee
- God’s Big Plan (board book) – by Elizabeth Caldwell and Theodore Hiebert
- Mine! A Book about Sharing by Caryn Rivadeneira
- We’re Better Together: A Book about Differences by Jennifer Hilton and Kristen McCurry
- Will You Be Friends With Me? by Kathleen Long BostromGod Loves You – by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- Lift the Flap Easter Stories by Andrew DeYoung, Naomi Krueger, illus. by Megan Higgins
- Little Ewe: The Story of One Lost Sheep by Laura Sassi, illus. by Tommy Doyle
Picture Books (Ages 3 – 8)
- Bibles & Bible Stories
- God’s Big Plan – by Elizabeth Caldwell and Theodore Hiebert
- My First Bible for Children of Color – by Patrice Banks Lee
- The Marvelous Mustard Seed – by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Who Counts? – by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible – by Elizabeth F. Caldwell and Carol A. Wehrheim
- Who Is My Neighbor? – by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Children of Color Storybook Bible – by Regina Brundridge
- Big Momma Makes the World – by Phyllis Root
- When God Made Light – by Matthew Paul Turner
- When God Gave Us Words – by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- The Fabulous World that God Made by Joyce K. Ellis
- A Very Big Problem – by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Who Sang the First Song? – by Ellie Holcomb and Kayla Harren
- When God Made the World – by Matthew Paul Turner
- Hiding Baby Moses by Judith L. Ross and ills. Melanie Cataldo
- Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers by Laura Alary, illus. Ann Sheng
- Family Resources
- God’s Paintbrush – by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Prayers for Faithful Families by Traci Smith
- Simple Prayers for Children by Heather Ellis
- Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home by Traci Smith
- Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas by Traci Smith
- Once Upon A Time Not So Long Ago by Jennifer Grant
- Compassion, Friendship, Emotions
- Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too – by Jennifer Grant
- One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different – by Linsey Davis
- Who Is My Neighbor? – by Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Maybe God is Like That Too – by Jennifer Grant
- When I Pray For You – by Matthew Paul Turner
- When God Made You – by Matthew Paul Turner
- Faithful Families – by Megan Rohrer
- Mr. Grumpy Christian – by Megan Rohrer
- Bruno’s Hat – by Canizales
- Simon and the Big, Bad, Angry Beasts: A Book About Anger – by Ian De Haes
- What in the World is Wrong with Gisbert? – by Jochen Weeber
- Where is Home, Daddy Bear? by Nicola O’Byrne
- Awesomely Emma – by Amy Webb
- Catching Thoughts – by Bonnie Clark
- Different Like Me – by Xochitl Dixon
- A Little Blue Bottle – by Jennifer Grant
- When Things Are Hard, Remember by Joanna Rowland, illus. Marcela Calderón
- Little Bear Was Not the Same by Joanna Rowland, illus. John Ledda (Fall 2021)
- The Boy with Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee; illus. Jacob Souva
- Social Issues, Diversity
- Transgender Children of God – by Megan Rohrer
- A is for Activist – by Innosanto Nagara (picture book version)
- A Good Night for Mr. Coleman – by Kathy Izard
- For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World by Michael W. Waters
- Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip – by Michael W. Waters – Illustrated by Nicole Tadgell
- Crocodile’s Crossing: A Search for Home – by Yoeri Slegers
- Gracefull – by Dorena Williamson
- ColorFull – by Dorena Williamson
- Thoughtfull – by Dorena Williamson
- Arthur and the Forgetful Elephant (a book about memory loss) by Maria Girón
- Walking Toward Peace: The True Story of a Woman Called Peace Pilgrim by Kathleen Krull and illus. Annie Bowler
- Rainbow Boy by Taylor Rouanzion, illus. by Stacey Chomiak
- Once Upon Another Time by Matt Forrest Esenwine and Charles Ghigna, illus. by Andrés S. Landazabal
- Mightier Than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World Through Writing by Rochelle Melander; illus. Melina Ontiveros
- Arthur and the Forgetful Elephant Written and illus.by Marc Girón
- Character and Values
- One of a Kind, Like Me – by Laurin Mayeno
- How Much is a Little Girl Worth? – by Rachel Denhollander
- Brian the Brave by Paul Stewart
- No One Else Like You – by Siska Goeminne
- The Story of AND: The Little Word That Changed the World by Sandy Eisenberg Sasso
- Different, Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell
- A Girl’s Book of Rights by Amy B. Mucha and illus. Addy Rivera Sonda
- Holidays and Seasons
- Home by Another Way: A Christmas Story – by Barbara Brown Taylor
- The Night of His Birth – by Katherine Paterson
- The Worst Christmas Ever – by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- Little Mole’s Christmas Gift – by Glenys Nellist
- All the Colors of Christmas – by Mathew Paul Turner
- Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time by Laura Alary; illus. Cathrin Peterslund
- Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter by Laura Alary; illus. Ann Boyajian
- Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas by Laura Alary; illus. Ann Boyajian
- ‘Twas the Morning of Easter by Glenys Nellist, Illus. Elena Selivanova
- Sacraments, Religious Beliefs, Theology
- Where Are You Hiding, God? – by Elisabeth Zartl
- Baptism Promises by Carol A. Wehrheim
- Why is There a Cross? by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- Who Made the World? by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- Today is Baptism Day by Anna V. Ostenso Moore (author) and Peter Krueger (illustrator)
- The World of the First Christians – by Marc Olson
- Dedication Promises – by Carol A. Wehrheim
- Let’s Remember Your Baptism – Compiled by Editors at Paraclete Press
- The Very Best Day – by Roger Hutchison
- Simple Prayers for Children by Heather Ellis
- What is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner; illus. Ying Hui Tan
Early Readers (Ages 5–9)
- Once Upon a Time Not So Long Ago – by Jennifer Grant
- Children of God Storybook Bible – by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible – by Elizabeth F. Caldwell and Carol A. Wehrheim
- Journey to the Heart: Centering Prayer for Children – by Frank Jelenic
Middle Grade (Ages 8–12)
- Holy Bible Illustrated Especially for Children of Color by Nia Publishing Co.
- Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science – by Louis Giglio
- All of The Chronicles of Narnia books by C.S. Lewis
- Amina’s Voice – by Hena Khan
- Daughters of Faith series – by Wendy Lawton
- Mightier Than the Sword – by Rochelle Melander; illus. Melina Ontiveros
- Holy Troublemakers & Unconventional Saints – by Daneen Akers
Young Adult (YA) (Ages 12+ or 14+)
- Queerfully and Wonderfully Made – Leigh Finke, Editor
Book List for Christian Families source: Compassionate Christianity