THIS IS PART ONE of a TWO-PART BOOKNOTES. LOOK FOR PART TWO COMING NEXT.

We are sending out ordered items each day and with a full week before Christmas, we’re sure we can get things to you soon. You can send us orders and we’ll attend to them promptly and gladly, at least while supplies last. (It is best to use the website order form; click on the “order” link at the end of the post.) If any are out of stock or not shipping promptly we will certain let you know.

Books that we are special ordering for folks, however –that usually come quickly — are now seriously delayed. Sadly, this mostly due to some breakdowns at the largest book distributor in the country who is dropping balls daily. It’s frustrating that our supply chain is so backlogged; USPS, FedEx, and UPS, though, seem right on time and shipping this season has been good. We’re at your service — don’t hesitate to give us a call any day (except Sunday) from 10:00 am and 6:00 pm, EST.

Here is PART ONE of a two-part list, starting with some children’s books about Christmas, and then some Biblical resources for kids that are fabulous. PART TWO, which will follow, will describe some other good children’s books just for fun. We’ve got these ready to ship but you better act fast before they are gone. Even if you give books throughout the twelve days of Christmas (or on Epiphany, when the wise men gave gifts to baby Jesus) I wouldn’t delay since our inventory on these titles may be disappearing.

All are on sale at 20% off.

NEW BOOKS ON THE NATIVITY and CHRISTMAS

Don’t hesitate to visit older BookNotes (they are all archived at our website) such as this one or this one. Some of those titles described are still fantastic choices. Don’t miss The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus by Todd Hains and the excellent Natasha Kennedy, All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings by Gayle Boss with beautiful illustrations by Sharon Spitz, or the best-seller and splendid Christmas Promise Storybook: A True Story from the Bible About God’s Forever King written by Alison Mitchell and illustrated so whimsically by the respected Catalina Echeverri.  Search for Seek and Find: The First Christmas written by Sarah Parker, which has over 450 things to find and count in the energetic illustrations by Andre Parker and don’t forget Sally Lloyd-Jones’s Song of the Stars (in great hardcover or baby-sized board book.) From lessons plans like Messy Christmas by Lucy Moore & Jane Leadbetter to inexpensive funny ones like The Christmas Surprise by Steph Williams, there are so many to browse through. You can enjoy looking at past BookNotes any tie at our website archive.

Here are a few new ones this year.

Birth of the Chosen One Terry Wildman, illustrated by Hannah and Holly Buchanan (IVP Kids) $18.00 / OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

I hope you know the name Terry Wildman, a Native American who was the lead translator of the recent First Nations Version of the New Testament. We stock that, of course, in hardback and paperback and find it enlightening and wise. Scholars from several tribes, people groups and those with distinct languages were involved in the translation and it offers a delightful, culturally-adept rhetoric to render the New Testament Greek. This lovely children’s picture book has lots of text adapted from the First Nation translation and tells the Christian stories through the faithful eyes of North American indigenous peoples. The art is stunning — really intriguing.

There is a fabulous glossary in tie back showing how Wildman rendered names and places. Jesus was born of Bitter Tears and they laid him on a baby board. The bed of straw was in a feeding trough. The story continues through the attack by Chief Looks Brave (Herod)  and his rule over The People of Iron (Rome.) Christ is rendered Chosen One” and Jesus is called “Creator Sets Free.” I like that the Hebrew of Jerusalem is rendered as Village of Peace. This telling of the story is culturally relevant for First Nations peoples but it is insightful for all of us, helping to see how Biblical languages can be contextualized in astute and clever ways that are faithful to the ancient texts and that speaks afresh. And, frankly, we all know how Jesus Himself grew up to teach us to reach out to those not like ourselves, how His earliest followers were given by His Spirit the task of going into all the world. A children’s cross-cultural telling of this vital story is a great way to prepare them for being sensitive to the marginalized, open to cross-cultural ministry, and to more fully grasp just a little of the expansive power of this Christmas story. It’s a rare book that can accomplish so much urgent work and be so enjoyable.  Wildman is both of Ojibwa and Yaqui heritage and the illustrators are twin sisters who are members of the Miami Nation of Indiana.  Highly recommended.

The Deliverer Has Come: A Christmas Story Sarah Shin, illustrated by Shin Maeng (Waterbrook) $13.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $11.19

This is one of the more exceptional children’s Christmas books this year and we are fans for a few reasons. Sarah Shin is an Korean-American who wrote an exceptional book called Beyond Colorblind which we think is one of the more important books on racial identity issues and questions about multi-ethnic ministry and racial justice concerns. I’m so glad she took up this challenge of telling a Kingdom story about the coming of Jesus into the world.

It asks on the back (importantly) “Are the stories true? Is He here?” That is, the characters in the story are asking, perhaps with many of us, if the Hebrew promises of redemption are true, if the flow and trajectory of the Old Testament Scriptures promising new creation and point to Jesus, and is this baby born truly the Messiah, the Deliverer.

The character in this children’s tale is Anika and she loves stories. “Especially the ones her great-aunt Anna shares about the Deliverer; the One God promised to send.”

It seems this retelling of the Nativity through the eyes of Anika weaves together the longing of Advent and the fulfillment of the joyous Christmas Day. You see, Shin roots the telling of the Christmas story in the great  stories of the past. In this it is almost like the old idea of a Jesse Tree — each story from the Old Testament finds its culmination in the person and work of Jesus. Hooray.

Besides the story’s unfolding and the realization Anika comes to that this star and this birth and this baby are all foretold in her well-loved stories, there is, in the back, a couple of pages of review / celebration, a summary of the many texts in the Hebrew Bible that imagine a coming savior, a Messiah, a Deliverer. That back page spread can be used over and over to look up and tell those stories as you trace the plot line of the coming Deliverer.

Illustrator and artist Shin Maeng — a Korean American who currently lives in bonnie Scotland — offers a distinctive art style and while the story is not particularly about the Asian American experience or context, the visuals will appeal to those who like not only the adventure style illustrations of modern action scenes, but of a uniquely cross-cultural art experience. It seems to me a fun blend of upbeat Disney-esque faces and bright, bright, Asian colors, maybe portraying the ancient Near-East. In any case, it is colorful and fascinating and endearing and very, very helpful in linking the Old Testament plot line to the fulfillment in “the dawn of redeeming grace.” Hooray for The Deliverer Has. Come.

Discovering Christmas: A 25-Day Advent Devotional with Activities for Kids Amanda Bass, illustrated by Marina Halas (Tommy Nelson) $14.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99

We have a few of these left and, to be honest, I think you could use easily use it in the remaining days of Advent and into the 12 Days of Christmas. Granted, it’s a 25-day devotional (written for 4 – 8 year olds) but with the prayers and activities and conversation prompts, you can use this throughout the day, almost any time. Jass is an impressive artist and here she invites us to “journey though the Christmas story as your family celebrates the hope, joy, peace, and love of Jesus’s birth.”

I love the tag line on the back” Watch Expectantly with the Prophets. Share Mary’s wonder. Hear the angels sing. Follow the star. Sit with the animals beside the manger.”

(board book) Carl Laferton, illustrated by Jennifer Davison (The Good Book Company) $9.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $7.99

The nice-sized Christmas board book is taken from the impressive God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook by Carl Laferton and Jennifer Davison. It’s a few pages, telling the basic story. We really like Carl Laferton and this is a good, basic retelling.  Nice.

 

Little Christmas Carol adapted from Charles Dickens, illustrated by Joe Sutphin (Moody Press) $29.99  / OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99

Don’t you love that line by Dickens, “It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.” Although, I suppose you know, the classic story is not just for children. It is one of the profound tales of our culture and not enough of us have read it through. You really, really, should.

This new edition is abridged for younger readers or listeners and has charming black and white, wonderfully detailed drawings of Sutphin’s classic animals (mostly mice.) He has done a number of beloved art books — from Watership Down to Little Pilgrim’s Progress — with his detailed illustrations and we applaud his moving, almost classic, illustrations to enhance this classic tale.

The House without Lights: A Glowing Celebration of Joy, Warmth, and Home Reem Faruqi, illustrated by Nadia Alam (Henry Hold) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

This is not a Christmas book at all but we had to tell about it as it does capture something of the kindness and peace that should be in the air this time of year. It is a lovely story, warm and inviting, well worth reading to little ones, helping them realize at least two things. First, there are those who do not follow the Christian religion so, obviously, for them Christmas-themed habits (even of holiday lights) are not practiced. And, yes, secondly, there are longings for loved ones and being “home for the holidays” that capture the hearts of people everywhere. In The House Without Lights, a house with new occupants worries that they are not putting up the twinkling lights this year, and it at first is sad. The house soon realizes the new family has much warmth and joy to fill its rooms and its walls have much to see. What a lovely, warm, new family. This house glows with warmth from the inside out.

But then, yes, there are lights, soon enough, as the family celebrates EID. The scenes of this Muslim family sharing a festive meal and hearing their call to prayer is really lovely. A wonderful book to help young children learn a bit about others and their families and their celebrations.  As the author says in a fabulous note at the end, “Eid Mubarak [“Have a Blessed Eid”] to all who celebrate!”

The Light From My Menorah: Celebrating Holidays Around the World Robin Heald, illustrated by Andrea Blink (Pajama Press) $18.95 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.16

Wow, this is fascinating, as a young Jewish book, on a still Hanukkah night, begins a journey on the beam of light from his menorah. It takes him — go with it! — all over the world wherever cultures celebrate festivals of light. In one fantastical journey (no more magical than Santa flying all over the world with reindeer.) Reader’s will learn about Diwali, in India, Christmas lights, the kinase’s seven candles of Kwanzaa, Loy Krathong ( a Thai celebration), and St Lucia day in Scandinavia. What fun.

BIBLICALLY-BASED CHILDREN’S BOOKS FOR FAITH FORMATION

A Little More Like Jesus Zach Williams, illustrated by Lisa Molloy (Zonderkidz) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

Yep, this is a project by the Grammy Award winning artist Zach Williams who is nicely painted, shown with his beard and hat and guitar as he sings to a bus full of kids about being “a little more like Jesus.” As he puts it, this book helps kids “take a ride to patience, peace and faith in God above. Climb on board for goodness, it’s just up ahead. Buckle up for Jesus and hear the things he said.”

It’s a great introduction to the Fruits of the Spirit for ages 4 – 8.

The Long Road Home Sarah Walton, illustrated by Christina Yang (Crossway) $17.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39

This is a rich, handsome book, artful with deep colors and gold embossing. In lovely script on the back it says “wherever you go, my son, I want you to remember that I love you with a never-ending love.” I do not know many books for children that are so evocative about this classic parable of Jesus, called “The Prodigal Son.” They suggest it combines elements of Jesus’s parable and John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress. Designed for children ages 6 – 9 or 10.

Every Body Wonderfully Made Courtney Siebring, illustrated by Irina Avgustinovich (Paraclete) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

What a rollicking, fun, creative party this is, with great, playful illustrations of folks of all sorts — young and old, multicultural and multi-ethnic, abled and otherwise, boys and girls, urban and rural —showing folks at a county fair having a great time. It is a well-done rhyming book showing all the many things we — by using our bodies — can do.

From painting to playing to serving others to imagining growing up to be mothers or fathers, perhaps, to being still, there is so much going on about a child’s worth, purpose, and dignity. Thoughtful Christians these days are speaking much about being made in God’s image, about our calling to steward the creation, about being (as Psalms 139 puts it) “fearfully and wonderfully made.” We give God glory by living well, even with virtues of goodness and beauty, in God’s good world. These lovable characters are celebrating the miracle of their bodies, in the spirit of, and informed by, Psalm 139. Ages 4 – 8.

The Man in the Tree and the Brand New Start: A True Story About Zacchaeus and the Difference Knowing Jesus Makes Carl Laferton, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri (The Good Book Company) $16.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59

I hope you know this ongoing series of picture books called “Tales That Tell the Truth” that are so lively and interesting and compelling, nicely combining text and illustration in such a way that they are truly the best children’s Bible stories around. Some nicely connect Old Testament stories with New, showing a gospel-centered approach and a big picture for the coming renewal God promises. Echeverri’s illustrations are tremendously energetic and, again, in this new one, we are thrilled.

It obviously tells the story of “the man in the tree” but— unlike some that seem to think the point of the story is his stature — it shows Christ pursuing him and then his economic restitution after his meeting with Jesus.

Gathered at the Table: Celebrating Communion Glenys Nellist, illustrated by Anna Kazimi (Zonderkidz) $18.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

We have seen over the years more books coming out for little ones about the sacraments; certainly communion and baptism. We add this and celebrate it because it is one of the most energetic and playful books about communion that we have seen. There are any number that have liturgical symbols or seem a bit formal — appealing, no doubt, to pastors and theological-types in liturgical churches. But for many parents, they prefer books on this tender, complex topic that are as upbeat and delightful books as many others they read to their children day by day. This sense that communion is very special but also somewhat of a real-world, ordinary thing — a thing they should participate in! We couldn’t be happier with the modern expression and the theologically solid content.

For what it is worth, it starts with Jesus’s own last supper and it has nice, colorful, paintings (that will appeal to kids today) of various ways various churches celebrate communion. It shows people in pews, it shows folks lined up to go forward, it shows African congregants outdoors standing in a circle. There is more than one scene of women clergy, some in full priestly robes, others less vested. It nicely explains what different churches call it —you know, such as the Lord’s Supper, Communion, or Eucharist.

Gathered at the Table even has a page about World Communion Sunday (and if your church doesn’t join in the global witness of that glorious day, you should!)  This book  should be in eery church library and every parent’s collection.

Penny Preaches Amy & Rob Dixon, illustrated by Jennifer Davison (IVP Kids) $18.00 / OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

A few of our friends from the Wee Kirk Conference will recall how during a book announcement time up front I read from this and got choked up. Yup. This book is so amazing I find it hard to tell about it without tears.

It is a fun book, upbeat and touching. Penny loves the sermons at her church — how about that! She wants to preach and pretends playing preacher, even if her friends don’t always enjoy playing the part of the congregation. But even as she pretends, her pastor comes to realize she really wants to preach and eventually allows her to use her lapel mic after church one day. Increasingly, Penny began to wonder if she could tell stories that help people think about big things. Could she teach God’s words to others? (And, could I wear that tiny microphone?)

There are a couple of great things going on in this excellent children’s book. Besides the obvious — it affirms the notion that God might call women to the ministry — it tells of a girl who thought she heard God speaking to her. In other words, it invites children (and the adults reading this with them) to be attentive, to be discerning, to learn the art of listening to God. It also has a sub-text (as we say) about discerning the call of God on one’s life — that is, the notion of vocation. In the story pastor Sarah invites Penny to explore how to use her gifts in service to others and then church.

For church leadership there is a lesson here, too — to be about equipping others (including boys and girls) to use their gifts! Oh, if all of us had a Pastor Sarah in our lives. This book is amazing and very, very useful, for girls, of course, but for anyone. I’d say this is for ages 5 to 9 or so….

Not Finished Yet : Trusting God with All My Feelings Sharon Garlough Brown, illustrated by Jessica Linn Evans (IVP Kids) $16.00 / OUR SALE PRICE = $12.80

Oh my, what a moving (and delightful and wise) story this is. You may know the author, Sharon Garlough Brown, for her set of novels in the Sensible Shoes series (about spiritual direction and other matters revolving around the interior lives of the women in the stories)  Brown is herself a spiritual director and one of her novels — sort of an offshoot to the Sensible Shoes characters has one of the characters with a girl named Wren, who is herself an artists, staying at a retreat center as she heals emotionally from some mental health difficulties. If you know those stories you may wonder if that story inspired her to write a children’s picture book version.

Well, yes. You don’t have to know that novel, Shades of Light (or the subsequent devotional that came out of it) to appreciate this but Not Finished Yet is the story of that character, Wren, as a child. She loves Gran’s art studio and she loves talking about so many things with a trusted adult, who listens well, seeming to turn those conversations into sacred moments.

Not Finished Yet is gorgeously illustrated, vibrant and flowing, with engaging text and fabulous art. The key moment, I suppose, is the narrator saying, “Sometimes, Wren and Gran didn’t paint flowers or clouds or birds or trees. Sometimes, they painted their feelings. She and Gran called it “painting prayers.”  Helping children name their feelings and bring them to the fore, before and with God, is immensely useful. This is one of the great children’s books of the year and we very highly recommend it. (And then, for fun, if you want to know what happens to Wren as an adult, you should order Shades of Light as well.)  They say this is for ages 4 – 8 but the descriptions of freight emotions and this simple but sophisticated view of prayer might be useful for older kids.

This Special Blessing for You Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer, illustrated by Denise Hughes (Zonderkidz) $16.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59

I was taken by the phrase, bold on the back cover: “Today is the day the world gets to see the beautiful person God made you to be.” Yep, this is a beautiful book showing that children of all sorts are made in God’s image, loved, accepted, blessed. It is, as a matter of fact, the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6: 22-27 from which this poetic book takes its cue. As readers follow the illustrated story of two children and their larger community, kids will also discover how each part of God’s blessing can be seen in their own lives, as well as “what happens when they live out God’s words wherever they are.” There is a nice note in the back helping adults or caregivers unpack the scriptural meaning behind this blessing, helping you pray it over your little ones.

The text is large and sparse on the page with big, rich color. Help children carry God’s name with them as they love and serve others. Nice.

No Greater Love Dominique Okonkwo, illustrated by Lhasa Lorena (Paraclete) $16.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59

While I’m not always a fan of what seems to be computer generated children’s illustrations, or the fairly typical format of rhyming sing-song phrases. Yet, this book is worth every penny if it communicates to young readers the beauty and goodness of God’s great love for us. As it says on the back, “God’s love is wise and high and deep and long.

How can we plant seeds of faith and guide children on the path to understanding just how much their heavenly Father loves them? What does it look like to share this love with others? To know you are loved with a boundless love because that is God’s nature? Wow, this simple book is utterly profound and truly tender, very simple but nice, explaining the majesty of a God who cares about creation and us. Yay.

Zion Learns to See Terence Lester and Zion Lester, illustrated by Subi Bosa (IVP Kids) $18.00 / OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

This book is so amazing I do hop you consider buying a few as gifts this season. I highlighted it earlier at BookNotes and this is more or less what I said then:

I so, so appreciate all the IVP Kids line, and this one is a stand out. It is written with such joy and warmth, but yet, quietly at times, shouts “every person matters to God — and that means every person should matter to us.” But, of course, that means we have to see — really see — each person in their need and glory, their hurts and their dignity.

Zion is a young black girl who wants to understand and do something with this important message and her father reminds her of this lesson when he takes her to a community shelter at which he works and introduces her to house-less and other hurting folks, his friends from the streets. She decides to help raise awareness and funds through a project at school and it becomes, well…. You’ll see. It’s a great story.

Zion Learns to See is a lovely book for little ones inspired by the adult book by Terence Lester called I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People. There’s a bit of the follow-up in this kid’s book, too, from the one Terence wrote called When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together, which comes with a great foreword by Father Gregory Boyle. Both are by IVP.) Terence is a great author of adult books and now he has partnered with his daughter to do this lovely, inspiring kid’s book.

Just the other day the parent of a black child wrote to me saying that it seems some folks in their area seem more emboldened to be rude and racist; the uptick in nastiness is noticeable and now we need to help our children “see” others made in God’ image. We’re glad for Christian books by authors of color who help us all see better. Yay.

The Biggest Story Family Devotional Douglas O’Donnell, Kevin DeYoung, illustrated by Don Clark (Crossway) $29.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99

Several years ago this team did a major children’s Bible called The Biggest Story. The wording was, with a few exceptions, simply brilliant and the vision of an unfolding drama of redemption whispers shades of everything from Sally Lloyd-Jones’s The Jesus Storybook Bible to The Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New Testaments by Marty Machowski, say, informed by the big picture method of reading the Bible found in the likes of The Drama of Scripture or The True Story of the Whole World by Craig Bartholomew & Michael Goheen. These do not center the virtue of the Bible characters as if Daniel’s bravery or Joshua’s courage are the point. No, the story puts God as the main character as the trajectory of the Bible points to the redemption of all things coming in the Kingdom of Jesus, the Christ. These are not random Bible stories for kiddies, but wise tools to help children understand the plot and vision of the Bible for our contemporary worldviews.

Anyway, this brand new (and hefty) new volume turns the content from the Biggest Story not a daily reading devotional. Each devotion has tons of activities, including five Bible readings, brief “Big Picture” introductions, memorable gospel connections summaries, a line to an animated video retelling, and discussion questions for families to ponder together and a short prayer.

There are over 100 devotionals, but over 500 Bible readings… it isn’t a whole year’s worth, but, man, there is a lot, with a lot of theologically solid substance.

Don Clark is an artist and cofounder of Invisible Creature, a widely respected and award winning design studio. It’s super classy.

The Book of Belonging: Bible Stories for Kind and Contemplative Kids Mariko Clark & Rachel Eleanor (Convergent Books) $24.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $19.99

This has been one of the most talked about children’s resources of the year and we are proud to recommend it. As a very classy and artfully done children’s Bible that highlights women of the Bible and seems to offer a wise and balanced vision of the Biblical story as one that leans towards peace, justice, reconciliation, human dignity and God’s grace for all, it is exceptional. Just exceptional! The view of God and the nature of redemption it offers is solid and good. Here is some of what I wrote about it when we invited people to pre-order it last fall. Hooray.

There are so many great new children’s books coming that it is hard to know what to highlight but we certainly want to celebrate this forthcoming release that already has considerable buzz. The Book of Belonging is (as they explain) designed for families seeking a Bible storybook that reflects the diversity of God’s people and for readers seeking a more expansive and wondrous view of God. I don’t really want to label it “progressive” and many religious books these days feature a multiethnic caste of colorful characters. But the exceptionally thoughtful text and rich illustrations present “some of Scripture’s most important and overlooked stories — including many female-centered ones — alongside old favorites reimagined to convey greater inclusivity, diversity, and historical representation.”

Taking a cue, perhaps, from the “wondering” approach of resources like “Godly Play” or the lovely children’s Bible Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible by esteemed educators Elisabeth Caldwell and Carol Wehrheim, this Book of Belonging offers more than narratives, but and guided wonder moments, mindful practices, and other creative ways to engage the text of Scripture. With the theme of “belovedness” that appears, children will learn who God is and the fact of their being loved and delighted in. As the authors like to say,  “When it comes to the love of God, everyone belongs.”

This gentle, gracious Bible story book offers forty-two Bible stories with aesthetically-pleasing colorful illustrations on every page.They would want you to know that the art showcases a variety of body shapes, ages, abilities, and skin colors and, also, uses historically accurate depictions of Jesus and God’s people, including original Hebrew and Greek names with historically accurate depictions. This is great.

Mariko Clark is a Japanese American author, mother, and storyteller on a mission to help kids embrace diversity and wonder.

God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook – 140 Connecting Bible Stories of God’s Faithful Promises N. T. Wright, illustrated by Helena Perez Garcia (Tommy Nelson) $24.99 /  OUR SALE PRICE = $19.99

If this isn’t the coolest thing for kids and families — heck, for anyone! — this season, I don’t know what is. We had heard Tom was doing a children’s Bible story book and, of course, we were thrilled. It is fantastic, just fabulous. I respect his Biblical insight and his theological worldview that shapes his deep understanding of the interconnectedness of Scriptural episodes, so this book which will amplify the unfolding nature of the drama is sure to be a fabulous resource for any family wanting to not only get the stories right, but the Story.

When he did a program at our store promoting the then new (now classic) How God Became King — okay, he preached in our back yard, and played some guitar — he emphasized this interconnection of Scripture, the echoes of uses of the Old Testament in the New. The coherent narrative hinting (or outright promising) new creation coming. When I see this children’s Bible I can hear him, right here in Dallastown.

I like the feature where, after the telling of the Bible stories, the phrase “What else in God’s big story links up with this?” nicely appears and there are one or two little colorful circles with a word and a page number to show how those themes show up in other stories. I’m not saying it is like the old Thompson Chain Study Bible (ha!) but it sure is a very nice feature that captures something about Wright’s deep familiarity with the whole coherent plot of God’s written Word. And, more importantly, helps you and our child see the wonderful echos and connections between Bible stories.

There are other children’s Bibles these days that show the interconnectedness of the overall biblical plot, and we are grateful. There are some that may have a more edgy sort of artistic appeal to young parents, or a higher quality of illustration, but this one has fairly typical art for kids. More could be said about what might have been done better and while it may not be my choice for the best looking design, the look is still quite engaging and good. The fabulous text is on the left of the spread and the vivid picture is on the right (with a hint of color or symbol or a bit of the picture spilling over just a bit onto the page of text, which is a nice, integrated touch.) Still, this is one of the great releases of 2024 and I’ll be awarding it a “Best of” book later when we do that list. For ages 6 to 10 or 11, I’d say. Every church library should have at least one.

The Really Radical Book for Kids: More Truth, More Fun Champ Thornton , designed and illustrated by Scot McDonald (New Growth Press) $29.99 / OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99

This big book came out at the end of 2023 and while it isn’t brand new, now, it sure deserves to be highlighted here again. When, a number of years ago, we first saw The Radical Book for Kids, I was so excited my eyes almost popped out. When The Really Radical Book for Kids came, I was even more excited and more pleased. What great, evangelical content in a book full of oddball games, neat stories, secret codes, curious experiments, unusual food to make, and lots and lots of Bible teaching. It is not only for boys or the bored, adventurous older elementary kid, but it will attract those who may not love long stories and wordy messages. I bet you know kids like this. This book is a blast anti could be a life-saver.

Champ Thornton is an acquisitions editor at Crossway, so he has seen some books over the years. He is theologically trained and now a parent of three energetic teenagers. He knows what it looks like to captivate young hearts, minds, and imaginations “with the wonders of God’s Word and world.”  Enjoy.

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TO PLACE AN ORDER 

PLEASE READ, THEN SCROLL DOWN TO CLICK ON THE “ORDER” LINK BELOW.

It is helpful if you tell us how you want us to ship your orders. And if you are doing a pre-order, tell us if you want us to hold other books until the pre-order comes, or send some now, and others later… we’re eager to serve you in a way that you prefer. Let us know your hopes.

The weight and destination of your package varies but you can use this as a quick, general guide:

There are generally two kinds of US Mail options and, of course, UPS.  If necessary, we can do overnight and other expedited methods, too. Just ask.

• United States Postal Service has an option called “Media Mail” which is cheapest but can be a little slower. For one typical book, usually, it’s $4.83; 2 lbs would be $5.58. This is the cheapest method available and sometimes is quicker than UPS, but not always.
• United States Postal Service has another, quicker option called “Priority Mail” which is $8.70, if it fits in a flat-rate envelope. Many children’s books and some Bibles are oversized so that might take the next size up which is $9.50. “Priority Mail” gets more attention than does “Media Mail” and is often just a few days to anywhere in the US.
• UPS Ground is reliable but varies by weight and distance and may take longer than USPS. Sometimes they are cheaper than Priority. We’re happy to figure out your options for you once we know what you want.

If you just want to say “cheapest” that is fine. If you are eager and don’t want the slowest method, do say so. It really helps us serve you well so let us know. Keep in mind the possibility of holiday supply chain issues and slower delivery… still, we’re excited to serve you.

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