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Christmas gifts for sciencey kids:
1. Book of Wonders
This hardback picture book has loads of facts and details on all sorts of amazing features of God’s universe – from space to the human body, sea life to geography. It’s hard to age, as the large size and colourful spreads would engage a keen 3-4 year old, but the information would keep an interested 10-11 year old happy too!
2. God made the dinosaurs
This is a book for the true dinosaur enthusiasts! I would suggest 4-10 years would be a rough age marker for this one. There is certainly a lot more depth to the information contained here – even a dinosaur-obsessed toddler might find this book a little overwhelming. But 4-5 years old would be a great age to start with this book.
3. That’s a good question!
Perfect for all primary-aged kids – or any kid asking interesting questions, from ‘Were there dinosaurs on the ark?’, to ‘Will my pet go to heaven?’.
4. How great is our God – 100 indescribable devotions about God and Science
A lovely book of devotions, featuring a Bible verse, an amazing scientific fact about nature, the earth, space or life in general, a Biblical lesson based on that fact, and some incredible photos.
5. God’s Cosmic Cookbook
This book goes into a lot of depth about how the universe was created (or what we know so far…) – with God right at the centre, as the master ‘chef’. Definitely a book for keen 8-12s.
6. 101 Great Big Questions about God and Science
A lovely book featuring prominent scientists with a Christian faith answering all sorts of interesting scientific and philosophical questions. Great for all primary-aged kids, with a focus on the older years, 8-11s.
Christmas gifts for history-buff kids:
1. Charles Babbage and the Curious Computer
This graphic novel is a fun (and fairly short) read for 7-11s. A group of modern-day schoolkids go back in time with their teacher to learn about Charles Babbage and his friends, who were responsible for some of the most important scientific advancements of the nineteenth century. More importantly, the children discover how Charles’ work was defined by his faith.
2. The Hiding Place
My boys couldn’t put this down when we read it together this year! This isn’t one for the faint-hearted, as anyone who knows the story of the Ten Booms will know, but for those who can stomach it, it’s an important, exciting and faith-building read set in WW2. The pictures are fabulous, and the text has enough detail to make this a really gripping read, whilst also being an abridged version of the original.
3. Why did slavery end?
This detailed book for 8-11s explains not only the role of Christians in the abolition of slavery, but also the history of slavery, why the Bible says it’s wrong, and the sad truth that slavery still exists today in many places.
4. ‘Do great things for God’ series
We love this series of female Christians from various parts of history! They’re beautifully illustrated and succinctly written for the 4-8 age group, with just enough text on each page to give a good insight into each woman’s life and ministry.
5. God’s Bible Timeline
This is the most beautiful, helpful reference book for Christian families. It’s hardback, with fantastic colour photos and lots of descriptive text to unlock the historical, archaeological and cultural context of biblical events. There are loads of timelines throughout the book, which show other world events so you can see what was happening around the time of your favourite bible stories.
Christmas gifts for 4-7 year olds:
1. The Beginning Pop-up Book
This is such a beautiful pop-up book which is sure to be a much-loved keepsake for many years to come! Even some of the text boxes unfold to reveal additional pop-up elements. It’s been put together lovingly by hand, and would make a gorgeous Christmas present for a child who is able to be gentle with such a delicate, special book.
2. Seek and Find series
These are such fun, engaging books for this age group! Each page features a different bible story, with loads of different objects or characters to find in the fantastically-busy illustrations. It’s a great series with which to while away time in the doctor’s waiting room or at a restaurant before the food comes. They keep kids entertained for ages – all whilst embedding key bible stories!
3. Animals of Eden Valley series
These are brilliant books, helping small people understand big questions. I love the exploration of these questions that each book contains – it’s not just a pat answer, but a really thorough explanation of what we do and don’t know. The text is in rhyme, and the illustrations bring it to life.
4. Tales that Tell the Truth
This is such a solid set of books for 4-8 year olds – you can’t go wrong, whichever title you buy! The books cover Old and New Testament stories, as well as the Christmas and Easter stories. With hardback covers and beautiful illustrations throughout, they make brilliant gifts for the kids in your life.
5. Mighty Girl, Mighty God series
My Mighty Girl, Mighty God series tells the amazing stories of women in the Bible using beautiful rhyming language and engaging illustrations by Andy Gray. If you want to develop gender equality in your child’s heart, make sure it’s on their shelf!
Bibles which make awesome Christmas gifts
1. Diary of a Disciple (Luke’s Story and Peter and Paul’s Story)
OK, so not technically a Bible as the two volumes of Diary of a Disciple only cover Luke’s gospel and Acts. But they’re super engaging and would make a fabulous Christmas present for any 8-11, especially one perhaps a little disengaged with (or not ready for) the full, unabridged bible.
2. Children’s Rainbow Good News Bible
Yes, this is the Rainbow bible we all had as kids – but recently updated! It looks fab. The intros to each book are soooo much more user-friendly and succinct, plus there are helpful bible reading guides and key verses to colour. Love it!
3. NIV Bible for Young Explorers with Bear Grylls
This brand-new Bear Grylls bible for Young Explorers (NIV) is a great choice for kids who need an unabridged bible full of adventure and fun. Lots of additional notes and interesting facts make this a good choice for active kids.
Buy from Amazon
4. The God Files NIV Bible
We love the code-cracking and other activities in the God Files NIV Bible. It takes the angle of a detective reading the bible and searching for clues to discover who God is and what our response might be.
5. The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories
Maybe a rogue choice, as it’s 40 years old, but I absolutely LOVE the wording in this bible. It’s not a full, unabridged version, but makes a really nice stepping stone between a child’s bible (e.g. the Jesus Storybook Bible) and a full bible. 365 stories is actually quite a lot, it turns out, so there’ll be plenty in here that your child hasn’t heard before – and yes, loads of women are represented – woop! The tricky passages are told with great care and sensitivity, not dumbed-down for kids, but told in a way they can understand.
Christmas gifts for tweens and teens
1. Christian Poster Company
Honestly, pretty much anything from The Christian Poster Company is a total win with my 13yo who LOVES arty things for her room. Nick has a really wide range too, so plenty of choice for all personalities and ages. Highly recommend!
2. The Quiet Time Kickstart
The Quiet Time Kickstart is a brand new release for December 2024 – think Couch to 5K but for Bible reading. Not specifically aimed at teens, but it’s so short and easy to follow, not to mention nicely designed, that any teen wanting to get into regular Bible reading will find it super helpful.
3. Heroes of the Faith
Heroes of the Faith features inspiring stories of 50 Christian men and women from all walks of life, backgrounds and professions, who lived for Jesus in extraordinary ways. With engaging stories and colour photos, this is a classic coffee table book to dip into or work through systematically. Definitely one to encourage and challenge your Christian/not-yet Christian tween or teen!
4. Big Questions books
This series is super helpful for any tween/teen working out what they believe and how to join the dots of what they’ve been taught about Jesus. My 15yo son has found Chris’ engaging, clear style super helpful over the last few years. Aimed at 11-14s.
5. 10 Questions Every Teen should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity
For hot-topic apologetics, these ten questions/answers from @crosswaybooks are my number one choice. McLaughlin has a great back-and-forth style, where she plays devil’s advocate and looks at each topic from different angles. Plus, she uses Disney illustrations for pretty much every topic. Topics include diversity, being good without God, science, sex, gender and heaven/hell. Heads-up: the author writes from a more conservative point on the evangelical spectrum.
Christmas gifts for tweens and teens
1. Say What?!
This is the most joyful, faithful outline of the gospel for kids that I’ve seen. And the board book version is just perfect for very little ones, combining the best parts of the narrative with enticing pictures and robust pages. A super Christmas, baptism or new baby gift!
2. Jonah and the Big Fish (or anything by Authentic!)
This is an example, but honestly everything I’ve seen from Authentic’s 0-3 range has been superb: colourful, tactile, engaging and very, very practical. Little ones will love the touchy-feely aspect of this book, and others in the range are waterproof, for added God-fun at bathtime.
Check out the full range from Authentic
3. The boy who shared his sandwich (Little Me Big God series)
Again, this is an example, but the whole Little Me, Big God series from The Good Book Company is well worth investing in for little ones. Firstly, they’re super cheap (£2.99 each – bargain!) – they’re not board books, but they’re printed on thick paper, so they feel solid enough, and just bursting with colour. I love the language, which has been carefully crafted to be short and keep a toddler’s attention span, but points to Jesus and the relationship we can have with him.
4. God’s love is bigger
This is a beautiful book, full of words and images that a very young child will relate to – from transport to animals – all helping them understand how much God loves them. It will really connect the dots from the word ‘go’, creating a solid foundation for toddlers on which to build further learning and understanding as they grow up.
5. What are feet for? (Training young hearts series)
This board book series is so engaging for toddlers. With chunky pages and simple words, it helps young children to see how God created them, and what he created them for. It will reinforce the often-repeated messages we try to communicate to our children about using their hands and feet for good purposes, and not to hit or kick – a lesson that, in my experience, goes on for many years! – but from the point of view of God having created their bodies for good.
Devotionals for kids/families
1. Exploring the Bible
If you’re looking to lead your kids systematically through the bible in a bitesize, accessible way, this is your guide. Over the course of a year, you will go from Genesis to Revelation in daily devotions – each one a short bible reading followed by a couple of questions – with a special space each Sunday to jot down notes from church.
2. Soul Fuel for Young Explorers
This exciting book, by Christian adventurer Bear Grylls, provides engaging and relevant biblical thoughts for older children. My son loved reading this independently when he was 10/11, but younger children could also enjoy it with a parent/carer.
3. What’s Up?
These devotionals by cbeebies presenter and actor Joanna Adeyinka-Burford are engaging and lively in style. Each one takes a slightly different format, with a whole variety of different methods used to help kids understand and apply a bible verse or principle: commentary, personal story, fun facts, creative prayer exercises, questions and more.
4. Busy Family Devotional
OK, can I recommend my own book?! Since I wrote it to fill what I saw as being a gap in the market…yes, I think I can! These are weekly devotions to take your family through the bible from Genesis to Revelation. Each one is simple but focused: a short commentary, three questions, prayer prompt and optional memory verse.
Christian fiction for kids
1. Gladstone Tales
An exciting, enchanting trilogy of the adventures of a group of kids and a gargoyle who comes to life! Read my full review here.
2. Survival Guide to Church
This is a hilarious series which my twins loved last year (when they were 9). They’re super relatable for kids, and a great poke at some of the eccentricities of church life, as well as offering great deep dives into theology through the questions posed by the main characters, Jack and Bea. They’re not difficult reads – short, with plenty of illustrations – so I reckon a 7 year old could enjoy these, but my boys at 9/10 still enjoy them.
3. Celery Brown
These are brilliantly-written tween-girl stories, which capture the excitement of a Holy Spirit-fuelled life – along with the natural scepticism of a tween who has yet to be convinced…
4. Inkwell Chronicles
Imaginative fantasy adventures along the lines of Narnia and Lord of the Rings – in fact, Lewis and Tolkien are even featured as regular characters in these books! My 10yos absolutely loved book 1, and kept asking me when book 2 was coming out! As soon as it did, we read it immediately – they were on the edge of their seats throughout these exciting stories, where ‘ink’ is currency.
5. Joy Vee books
Honestly there is nothing Joy Vee writes that my kids haven’t absolutely LOVED. The Treasure Man and its sequel Love from Sienna are brilliant for 8+ as Sienna and her family discover what it means to live and love like Jesus did. The Letters she Never Sent and They Whisper About Us are more for 11+ – my now-13-year-old daughter, who isn’t always massively into reading, was kept totally gripped by these.
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