I seriously hope I do not have to enter a store for Christmas shopping this year. I’m so not a shopper and the crowds do me in every time. *shudder* I have been lighting up a path from Amazon to my house and I love those happy packages showing up on my doorstep!
As you’re wrapping toys and clothes and video games, make sure you give your kids something that points them to Jesus. It can be a CD, a book or even a shirt—just something that shows the melding of your spiritual life and every-day life. I make it a point to always give books on Christmas. This year Lydia is getting Grandma’s Attic and Adventures in Odyssey Imagination Station. I’m still on the fence about what to get for Asa.
So. This is a gift-guide that goes along with my 31 Days to the Best Bible Books (<–a gift guide in itself!). Part of great Bible books is devotional books. A devotional book has short chapters that help you interact with, understand and apply God’s Word. These are some of my favorite devotionals for kids and families. Enjoy!
1. My ABC Bible Verses by Susan Hunt
I read this book to the kids during lunch for several weeks and really enjoyed it. Not only do you memorize a verse each chapter, you also read a continuing story with great practical applications. Lydia gave her heart to Jesus when we read this book!
perfect for preschool and early elementary
2. Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd Jones
You know I love Sally Lloyd Jones. Her book, the Jesus Storybook Bible is my absolute fave. This is a simple devotional with similar themes to the Jesus Storybook Bible and illustrated by the same illustrator, Jago. I’ve read the whole thing to myself and it’s gorgeous! Simple one-page thoughts about God and His Word. There aren’t any questions or activities. Just nice ideas to get conversations going.
I gave the leather bound version to my niece when she was baptized recently. It’s a beautiful book that will be a treasure for years to come, I think.
perfect for families
Remember the Adventure Bible? Remember how many different versions and cool extras they have? Well, this is one of them. Lydia and I have read a few chapters together but it’s really designed to do every day–the pages are set up by date. (Maybe we’ll pick it up January 1st?) What I liked about it is that it begins with a fictional story. For me, the story lover, a little fictional story gets me zeroed in and ready to read the whole thing!
perfect for elementary to older elementary
4. Princess Stories: Real Bible Stories of God’s Princesses by Carolyn Larsen
Lydia loves this book. I find her picking it up to read on her own frequently. A must for the little princesses in your life.
Perfect for elementary aged
5. Read and Share Devotional by Gwen Ellis
We read through some of this one a few years ago and enjoyed it. Here’s my review and some cute pics of Asa to boot.
Perfect for prechool and early elementary
6. Adventures in Odyssey Meal Time Devotions by Crystal Bowman and Tricia Goyer
I love this book so much I vlogged it. Asa even asked Jesus into his heart because of this one!
Perfect for families and elementary aged kids
7. Big Thoughts for Little People: ABCs to Help You Grow by Kenneth Taylor
I totally forgot about this book until I started prepping for this post. I went through this one with Lydia when she was in kindergarten. It was perfect as she was learning sounds and it has fun hidden-pictures in it. You can read my full review here!
Perfect for preschool and early elementary
8. Creation Inspirations by Cheryl Pickett
We have read through this book as a devotional because it’s got great activities and fun facts about animals. The kids also like to read it like a regular old book and sit down and just flip through every page. I definitely recommend this one! (My full review here!)
Perfect for families
9. Playtime Devotions by Christine Harder Tangvald
I mainly used this one with Lydia when she was very very little. There are lots of rhymes, songs and fingerplays. This would be a great gift for a new mom because you can even use it with babies!
Perfect for toddlers
10. Truth in the Tinsel by moi!
OK. So, I wrote Truth in the Tinsel. And yeah, it’s a Christmas book. But can I tell you something about it? It’s good. And it works. Each day you read a passage of Scripture from the Bible (not from a storybook or from the author’s memory), make an ornament to go along with what you read and then talk about it. There’s something about using your hands to craft while thinking about the Bible that turns it into a meditation.
Do you have a favorite kids’ devotional book?
affiliate links included. linked to many little blessings.
Can I just tell you that as we were hanging our ornaments on the tree this year, as we hung up Zechariah, my 6 year old boy said, “I popped his mouth because he couldn’t speak.” Amanda. We haven’t done Truth in the Tinsel since it came out. He remembered that from when he was like, what? Three? It DOES work and it IS powerful. My kids remember as we hang up the ornaments we made that one year we did it. We will do it again in a few more years when my littlest of littles is old enough. Thank you!!!!
So cool, Taylor! Isn’t it cool how God’s Word gets planted in their hearts?!
Thank you for telling me!
a
I just bought two of these. Thank you for the resource. My goal in 2014 is to do daily devotions with my kids.
This is my first time pay a visit at here andd i am actually happy to read all at single place.
My favorite devotional, hands down, is Get Wisdom! by Ruth Younts. This year I bought Grace for the Moment by Max Lucado, 365 devotions for Kids. It’s great for my second grader, we’ve had some great discussions following the short read. My kindergartner is just kind of along for the ride on this one, but he’s hearing scripture and hearing the dialogue between myself and his sister. Still valuable I think!
My family and I enjoy and benefit tremendously from the Children Desiring God series by Sally Michael. God’s Names is our particular favorite. The series goes beyond addressing mere morality and behavior. Highly recommended.
Love your website and the simple expression of sharing the Gospel with your children. Beautiful!
If Oh Amanda published a family devotion ebook, I would buy it. Since I already love Truth in the Tinsel, it seems like a no-brainer. But your reading list is good, too.
Ha! Thanks! 🙂
My favorite new Devotional is The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New By Marty Machowski. My kids absolutely love it, and there has been great discussion with it.