We’ve got so many children’s books for so many ages and sorts of readers, it is hard to select just a few to tell you about. And, of course, we have or can get those older titles that are either beloved favorites or true classics — loving aunts, uncles, grandparents and others who care for little ones may want to gift those old favorites this Easter season. Or any other time, of course. Books make the best gifts, don’t they?

Just ask us and we might have what you are wanting (or we may be able to order it for you quite quickly.) Thanks for allowing us to be your go-to bookseller (or at least one of them) for all kinds of titles.)

Here, then, at our customary 20% OFF BookNotes special discount, are a nice handful to choose from. Order soon and we’ll send them right out, in time for you to share as Easter gifts.

Pippa and the Singing Tree Kristyn Getty, illustrated by P. J. Lynch (Crossway) $16.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59

What a beautiful, wonderful book, written by the great Irish hymn-writer and one of the most lovely, talented, and esteemed children’s illustrators working today. (P. J. Lynch, by the way, for those who are old enough to remember, did stunning illustrations of many books, most notably The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey. We had the slides of that marvelous 1994 book shown on a sheet hung up in our store when we hosted the author here before it became famous. We’ve been fans of the beautiful art of P.J. Lynch ever since.)

This new one published by Crossway is about the glory of nature, worshipping God in the ordinary, and the power of praising God through singing.  While it is Christ-centered and full of Biblical spirituality, it is just lovely for anyone, with beautiful drawings of this happy child swinging on a swing hanging from a truly majestic tree. I was showing it to our inquisitive 2 year old just today and she was enthralled, even if the text is more advanced.  There is a great little epilogue for families about Psalm 104:33 and the call to sing to the Lord.

Psalms of Praise: A Movement Primer board book AND Holy Week: An Emotions Primer board book Danielle Hitchen, illustrated by Jessica Blanchard (Harvest House; $12.99 each // OUR SALE PRICE = $10.39 each

Last Lent season I recall mentioning Holy Week in the “Baby Believer” series, and it is one we recommend for those who want to the various emotions that may appear during Holy Week. It is unique and very good with one word emotions to go along with the passion of the last week of Jesus’s life. And I’m sure we’ve mentioned the Christmas one as well. These are among our favorite board books for toddlers; each has a typical baby learning format — animals, shapes, oppositions, the alphabet, emotions, movements, and the like — with Biblical content. This earlier one, Psalms of Praise, plays with different movements, ideal for little ones who like to jump and walk and sit and skip and clap and lie down. Nice!

Who Is Our King? board book Todd R. Hains, illustrated by Natasha Kennedy (Lexham) $9.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $7.99

The regular FatCat books are lavish, large sized picture books that are sophisticated and racially inclusive — with a dark-skinned Jesus — and we love them. This new pocket one is a very slim board book introducing in the simplest way, the birth, boyhood, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. You’ll find King Jesus’s friends hidden throughout the book — wormy, a spider named Cannonball, Donuts the Mouse, a snail, and, of course, FatCat. I love how the animals adore the true King of the cosmos.

We have all the FatCat books, the handsome larger picture book editions (including the stunning Easter one. Take a look at the publisher’s webpage here showing and describing them all, and swing back here (please) and order any of them from us at 20% off. Superlative!

Jesus Loves the Little Children, All the Children of the World board book Tara Hackney (IVP Kids) $9.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $7.20

What a simple notion — the lovely, life-changing words of the simple children’s song, but with a fresh lyrical adaptation —and with visual twist. It has real photos of real children from all over the world. Multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, each spread shows kids doing something from their culture — in one they are all eating; in one they all have different sorts of hats or turbans; in another they are all in the water. There are a few photos of little babies and there are some of older kids.

“That means you and that means me, made and loved so perfectly.” What a delight.

100 Sheep: A Counting Parable board book Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasson,, illustrated by Margaux Megabuck (flyway books) $10.00 // OUR SALE PRCIE = $8.00

This is a small board book adaptation of the larger children’s picture book, Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons. (That book looks at three of Jesus’s parables with numbers.) This little one is just about the one missing sheep. Where can it be? This retelling of he parable of the lost sheep — by a Jewish New Testament scholar and a Jewish rabbi with interest in interfaith friendship and great children’s storytelling — will also help with counting skills. But more importantly, they say, it shows “that God’s love finds us wherever we go.”  Nicely done.

You Are Special board book Max Lucado, illustrated by Sergio Martinez (Crossway) $8.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $7.19

I suppose you know that the prolific, upbeat, eloquent, and always tenderly evangelical Max Lucado has done several full sized children’s books, several about this heartwarming story of a wooden creature, little people called Wemmicks, carved by their beloved woodworker, Eli.

This is a lovely little board book adaptation drawn from the larger You Are Special picture book, perfect to tuck into a gift basket for a little one maybe as young as 3 up to maybe 6 years old. It’s a truth a child is never too young to hear, told in a way they will remember. You are special. You are loved.  It is, I might add, a remarkable insight that the mean things said, the ugly stickers, don’t stick to you if they don’t matter so much. That you belong to One who loves you is a deep, deep truth that can help even kids who are bullied or criticized.

Little Prayers for Ordinary Days Katy Bowser Hutson, Flo Paris Oakes, and Tish Harrison Warren, illustrated by Liita Forsyth (IVP Kids) $15.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $12.79

There are oodles of books of prayers and prayer books for children, many spanning the prayer concerns throughout an ordinary day, helping children sense the presence of God in the normal ups and downs of a child’s daily life. Many are good. This — trust me on this — is one of the best.

Knowing or knowing about these three moms gives me great confidence in their wordsmithing and their theological chops. They are all public thinkers, doctrinally aware, liturgically active, with artistic gifts and temperaments. I adore the two that I know personally and respect the third who has done good curriculum development and other ministry at her parish. What a trio of women.

But the proof is in the praying, so reading these little prayers out loud and see their weaving together a profound Christian understanding of life and times, and their lovely language designed for use with little ones — wow. Relevant and plainspoken but not overly informal. Nice phrases but not overdone. They are prayers, after all, not poems.  I’m so impressed. This is a gem of a little book, not too much, sometimes just a little funny, sometimes restrained, always reverent, if very down to Earth. Yay.

Chasing God’s Glory Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, illustrated by Alyssa De Asia (Waterbrook) $12.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $10.39

We’ve suggested this fun one before and our enthusiasm hasn’t waned. In this colorfully illustrated child’s story, the little girl Kayla asked her mom to describe God’s glory. Off Mama and Kayla go, on an bicycling adventure looking for signs of wonder and awe, glimpses of the divine in and around their town. From dancing to daffodils, green peppers and bright sunrises, kind words and loving hugs (and so much more) are reminders of God’s glory all around us every day.

If children can be taught this lovely awareness of the presence of God in and around all things — and maybe if they could teach it back to us — the world would be surely a better placed, enchanted as the philosophers say, filled with the nearness of God and the glory of His presence in the ordinary stuff of life. Love it! Maybe for ages 3 – 8 or so.

This African American and beautifully passionate author is a podcaster and glory-chaser herself; the illustrator is Filipino, living in Manila.

I Am God’s Dream Matthew Paul Turner, illustrated by Estrella Bascunan (Convergent) $12.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $10.39

This colorful and fun and very encouraging children’s book is, in a way, a follow-up to Turner’s creation story When God Made the World and his lovely When God Made You. This one is, as they put it, “a beautiful celebration of the unique, strong, and wonderful traits in every child — and how God delights in each and every one.”

Again, this is a message with a value that we cannot underestimate — this is a great little resource to help a child know he or she is special;  talented and gifted and called and beloved, with unique character traits (even quirky ones) that delight God and will enable them to make their own marker on the world. For children ages 4 – 8.

Spring Sings Ellie Holcomb, illustrated by Laura Ramos (B+H Kids) $14.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99

Some of our customers and friends follow Ellie Holcomb— she is an award winning singer-songwriter (as is her husband, Drew Holcomb.) She has done an adult devotional that is popular (Fighting Words) and a number of great children’s books, such as Who Sang the First Songs, an imaginative retelling of the creation narrative and the great Don’t Forget to Remember.

Spring Sings is a l medium sized book, thick board book like pages with a real cover, showing that Eastertime and Springtime both invite us to delight in God’s gifts and to realize — as she puts it — “each bird and bloom is a reminder that God’s love can make all things new.” Spring is singing once again — this book celebrates that in vibrant ways. Poetic and evocative, yet for little ones. Very nice.

The Story of God’s Love for You Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zondervan) $19.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

We have highlighted this before and we wish that more people knew about it. I hope you know the best-selling Jesus Storybook Bible — “…where every chapter whispers His name.” It is our biggest selling Bible for preschoolers and is so well-written and enjoyable (and captures so well the unfolding drama of the whole Scriptural story) that we are always happy to recommend it even to somewhat older children.

Because so many like giving it, the publishers came up with a brilliant idea— they took the text of Sally Lloyd-Jones’s Jesus Storybook Bible and removed the fabulous children’s artwork (by ) and dressed it up with just a touch of cool, handsome graphics, and reissued it, with a ribbon marker, as a gift book for older kids or teens. They don’t have to know it was first a kiddie Bible as the eloquent storytelling is good for all ages.

Naturally, we highly. Recommend having The Jesus Storybook Bible for little ones, but this hand-sized edition (with the same texts) designed for youth is a treasure in its own right. Hooray.

God With Us: Bible Stories on the Road to Emmaus Matt Mikalatos, illustrated by David Shephard (Waterbrook) $17.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.39

I’d say this is good for little children, but, frankly, it is ideal for older kids and even teens. Written in graphic novel style with wonderful cartoons and word bubbles, it might appeal to those hooked on Marvel Comics and the like. We’ve got other Marvel type Bibles (think of the best-selling Action Bible and its various spin-offs) and the set of Manga Bibles we’ve mentioned.) So while this isn’t a new idea, it is an absolutely fabulous volume, a short children’s Bible storybook that is full of coherence and wonder.

One of the things that I like about this — besides trusting the theology, vision, and storytelling chops of Matt Mikalatos — is how it tells the big story of Scripture from creation to resurrection by way of the famous walk on the road to Emmaus. Believe me, your hearts will be warmed within you as you read.  It is clever and faithful to the Luke text as it tells us that Jesus used the Hebrew Scriptures to teach about himself. This is such a wonderful passage and we simply must teach it and its methodology (linking the story of Jesus to the story of God’s people in the Old Testament) to our children.  Matt and David hit a home run, too, with the upbeat details in the unfolding story.

As it says on the back cover, “this intriguing, funny, and heartfelt journey explores Scripture from Creation to the Resurrection through the eye of curious children (and grown-ups) walking with Yeshua on the Road to Emmaus.”  Hooray.

All the Tales from the Ark Avril Rowlands (Lion Children’s) $9.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $7.99

Except for a small black and white illustration that graphically enhances the start of every chapter, this is not a picture storybook, but a chapter book type of volume for young readers. The print is not tiny and it would be delightful to read out loud, too.

These are upbeat and clever fictional stories of what might have happened on the ark In one scene, Mr. Noah talked with God about his issues with the animals.

Listen God, it’s not too late. You need a lion-tamer for this job, or a big game hunter, or a zoo keeper. And I’m scared of spiders and we’ve got two on board.

This fairly thick paperback has forty fun and quite original stories, an older book that won awards in the UK years ago. There were originally three volumes of these tales and in All the Tales from the Ark we get all three volumes in one paperback. We are delighted to recommend them to you now.

Grit and Grace: Heroic Women of the Bible Caryn Rivadeneira, illustrated by Katy Betz (Beaming Books) $14.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99

Speaking of creative re-telling of Biblical accounts, if the All the Tales from the Ark one is playful and fun, this one, while fun, is exceptionally profound in many ways. It reimagines through creative first person narratives what seventeen women of the Bible would say if they were telling their own personal stories.

Designed for pre-teen girls to connect them with the women of the Bibles, we think this is one of the most imaginative and engaging books of this sort for middle-schoolers. Boys or girls.

Great, thoughtful writers we admire — Amy Julia Becker, Jen Pollock Michel, Jennifer Grant, and Tracey Bianchi, for instance, all rave about it  It really is fantastic.

As Haley Gray Scott puts it,

Witty. Imaginative. Reverent. As a mom of two girls, I’ve wanted to teach my daughters to be confident, courageous, and kind, because God sees them and their life matters. I’m truly delighted to have Grit and Grace as a resource…

Psalms of Wonder: Poems from the Book of Songs Carey Wallace, illustrated by Khoa Le (flyaway books) $20.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $16.00

When we first saw this we were simply overjoyed, almost stunned by the beauty of the retelling of these Psalms accompanied by rich, deep, artful illustrations. Carey Wallace, we reminded you, then, was a novelist we admired who had done a spectacular, large, colorfully told and creatively illustrated book of saints. (She has since released on Eerdmans, an amazing book called The Discipline of Inspiration: The Mysterious Encounter with God at the Heart of Creativity; $26.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $21.59.)

Anyway, this lush collection of full page (or sometimes two-page) paraphrases with art on the facing page, include several in each of six categories — Songs of Wonder, Songs of Courage, Songs of Comfort, Songs of Joy, Songs of Protections, and Songs of Love. She tells us that Psalms are songs we sing to God. This could be given to readers of almost any age. About 30 Psalms in all.

Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World Helen Lee, illustrated by Shin Maeng (IVP Kids) $18.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $14.40

I adore the editor, writer, speaker, and leader, Helen Lee. Her illustrator, Shin Maeng, also illustrated The Liberator Has Come, a book by Sarah Shin, another author we adore. This is a great pairing even if it is Helen’s first picture book. Kudos to them both.

This is one of my favorite recent children’s books as it tells the gentle story of a girl and her grandfather who read the newspaper together each morning— fetched by their lively dog Kendo — looking for things to pray about. The devout Asian-American grandfather helps his granddaughter make a poster-board of things the Kim family prays about, and she increasingly is learning not only to care for the world’s global needs but to search for God’s hand in things.

One day she notices a photo of a sad boy in Turkey and wonders about the backstory. More, she wonders if God will hear their prayers for this refugee. The artwork here is so compelling and the story, while still lovely and sweet, turns a bit poignant. And so, the lesson here is creatively told and nuanced with wisdom, but assuring us all — children and adult readers — that God hears every prayer.

There are mentions of tragedies throughout the world but the real theme is different ways to pray and a few sentences she forms as prayer. This is a spectacular story and I only hope it inspires other families to pray clearly and compassionately for things happening around the world. What a nice model of how to do that.

There’s a neat note from the author at the end that adults will love. She gives a shout out to the legendary Window on the World book and mentions a few quick things. You’ll learn that the dog Keedo is named after the Korean word for “pray.” And you’ll be reminded of important Bible passages such as Romans 8:26, Psalm 34:18, and James 4:8. She explains the Korean practice of tongsung kido and affirms Asian and African habits of praying together, simultaneously. This is a good touch — kudos, Helen, IVP Kids, and artist Shin Maeng.

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 do not tire of us celebrating this “Tales that Tell the Truth” series, a gospel-centered set of books that so playfully and yet so faithfully tell Biblical stories, often relating several key passages or incidences and showing how they connect to point us to Christ and his death and resurrection and Kingdom coming. From God’s Very Good Plan to the Easter one, The Garden, The Curtain, and the Cross (also by Laferton and Echeverri and similarly $16.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $13.59) and so many more, we love them all. (See the full list here at the publisher and then come back and order any from us — all at 20% off.) I think they are about the best children’s Bible story books we’ve ever seen. (A few, you will notice, have been done in board book format, and if you want those, be sure to say.)

This is an especially fun one and it is about Zacchaeus.

I love how it starts:

There are three things you need to know about Zacchaeus. One: he was very short. Two: he was very rich But three… he was not very happy.”

I like how the back cover describe it:

Find out why Zacchaeus ended up in a tree, why Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the tree, and how Bacchus changed completely (and ended up much happier.) And discover the difference that Jesus can make to you, too!

Our kids should feel a sense of joy and goodness when they know they belong to Jesus. And it doesn’t hurt to see the facts of economic justice that flow out of this transformation having been touched by Him.  Kudos once again to Laferton for telling the story so well, and to the marvelous Echeverri, who’s whimsical work set these “Tales That Tell the Truth” apart with verve and grace. Hooray.

The Prince of Yorsha Doon Andrew Peterson, illustrated by Kristina Lister (Waterbrookj) $14.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $11.99

Okay, this is a fun, adventurous picture book by the widely appreciated and deeply respected literary lover, author, sing-songwriter (and founder of the Rabbit Room and their publishing imprint.) It says on the back, “Decode mysteries, unlock secrets, infiltrate a palace, and discover hidden treasures.”

And that’s just the start as your young readers journey with a reluctant hero (who, they say, “evades enemies, protects and priceless treasure, rescues and prince, and learns the importance of friendship.”

If you followed any of Peterson’s four volume Wingfeather Saga you may recall that a fifth volume came out, Wingfeather Tales, and this is a picture book adaptation of one of the stories in that supplemental Tales book. What fun. Their right be a moral to the story, a value or principle taught, but, come on: it’s a rip-roaring adventure tale. With one heck of a great title: The Prince of Yorsha Doon.

I Am The Spirit of Justice Jemar Tisby, illustrated by Nadia Fisher (Zonderkidz) $18.99   // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

When we announced this earlier we noted that we could hardly believe how good it was. Again, we want to celebrate this fine book commemorating and teaching us about — in fabulously creative prose — Christian leaders who stood against racism over the years of America’s battle with her original sin. Although it is a kid’s picture book edition of American historian Jemar Tisby’s latest (The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race and Resistance; $29.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99) I Am… could wisely be used in any black history class for families or children, or to supplement any homeschooling history class for little ones. It certainly is a wonderful stand-alone volume and I think should be in every church library.

The prose is glorious as it shows how the Holy Spirit of God works as the spirit of justice through so many who fought for justice. Only in the marvelous appendix do you see who each of the characters portrayed are. Naturally, you’ll see Crispus Attucks and Harriett Tubman and Frederick Douglas and Ida. B Well… and some whose names are not as well known. Even without those historical details, though, the lovely writing of those who “erupted like a volcano, igniting faith in the souls of those who risked everything to deliver freedom to all” makes this a keeper.

Stories of I Am the Spirit of Justice Jemar Tisby, illustrated by Jemar Tisby (Zonderkidz) $18.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.19

This is a hardback full of youth-oriented descriptions of many of the characters Tisby teaches about in his adult book The Spirit of Justice. Each chapter is a different person, spanning four centuries from the colonial era to today.  There are over 40 short biographies of these justice activists and faith leaders.

I’ve read and we have stocked oodles of books about black history for youngsters and I think this may be the best I’ve ever seen. Kudos to Zondervan for releasing this, and thanks to Jemar — recent PhD in history that he is, significant adult scholar of several riveting books — for taking the time to share this information for older children. It’s fabulous.

As it say on the back cover of Stories of I Am the Spirit of Justice, “Each chapter explores how the work of these remarkable figures can inspire us today.” Most of us need all the help we can get. Don’t miss this one.

Bless the Earth: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World edited by June Corner & Nancy Upper Ling, illustrated by Keum Jin Song (Convergent) $22.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $17.60

With Earth Day a few days after Easter this year, it’s a perfect time to celebrate God’s good world and the healing the resurrection promises. In any case, this is lovely, anytime. They describe the beautifully illustrated collection of poems and prayers like this:

Bless the Earth shows the miracle of our planet Earth through beautiful imagery and delightful poetry, calling all people, young and old, to care for our wonderful world. This sweet and welcoming anthology for ages 3 to 8 [I might say 4 – 10) knits together our common humanity and helps us understand how to respect our neighbors — humans, plants,, and animals alike — and reimagine a world that is healthy and whole.

CHILDREN’S BIBLES

We have dozens of children’s Bibles and there are many we adore. If you’ve got children, you need several, of course. From the already-mentioned Jesus Storybook Bible to Desmond Tutu’s wonderful Children of God Storybook Bible to The Biggest Story Bible Storybook by Kevin DeYoung with very stylized, ultra-hip design by Don Clarke to the wondrous “I wonder…” approach of Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible, to the classy, Lion Children’s Bible for somewhat older readers. I hope you recall our recommendations last Christmas time of The Peace Table: A Storybook Bible (produced mostly by Mennonites and one of the most innovative and captivating children’s Bibles you’ll find) and the must-have God’s Big Picture Storybook by Bible genius N. T Wright. We have both of those at 20% OFF, too.  We do have a lot for all ages and styles — call us if you want to chat.

Here are four that are fairly recent.

God’s Stories as Told By God’s Children a Bible for Normal People project, various illustrators (The Bible for Normal People) $39.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $31.99

This is a tremendously interesting brand new children’s Bible that I’d recommend for families with older elementary age readers — the art is very well done and it is designed expertly (man, I like the look) but it is remarkable because of two or three important features. There is nothing quite like it in print.

Firstly, The Bible for Normal People is an honest and non-fundamentalistic Bible teaching ministry (founded by Peter Enns, who we like a lot. His book How the Bible Actually Works is sensible and helpful, avoiding literalistic assumptions or overly simplistic readings, with a bit of a sub-text that the Bible, and faith, is about entering a wise and just way of life in relationship with God, not dogma or certitude about the details.)  So this is, if not exactly “progressive”,  a fabulous alternative to books which are overly pious or even dishonest in their covering up the complications in the messy Biblical narratives. How can we help kids adore and live into the Word of God if we give them a simple or even weaponized version? This Bible storybook gets us honest and serious, making contributions to children’s Biblical teaching that you hardly find anywhere.  It even notices when the Bible story or text actually is a conversation and invites children into that conversation. Hooray for this.

Secondly, it is done by — get this — a batch of ordinary women and men who are, mostly, leaders, activists, scholars, and thinkers, some who identify as evangelical, some who are  highly liturgical, some who are Anabaptists, some who are progressive, from around the world. Each contributing author has a particular strength in helping kids grapple with the meaning of the Biblical texts — Shane Claiborne on the Sermon on the Mount, for instance, First Nations leader Randy Woodley on the “new heavens and new Earth” — and by drawing on some of the best and most passionate leaders today, readers can’t help but be challenged to care deeply.  It is gentle, informative, a bit provocative, and very, very engaging.

From Marlena Graves to Randy Woodley, Pete Enns to Brent Strawn (one of the leaning Old Testament guys writing today) Brad Jersak to Ellen Davis (famously of Duke Divinity School, and another absolute leader in helping people care about the Old Testament.)  We get mystics like Richard Rohr and peace activist/pastors like Aussie Jarrod McKenna and even a Catholic scholar of the postmodern philosopher Zizek, Marika Rose.

Again, what other children’s Bible has readings from liberationist Miguel A. De La Torre or Egyptian Presbyterian Safwat Marzouk or Messiah University professor and anti-racism activist Drew Hart or Shannon Evans, author of Feminist Prayers for My Daughter and, recently, The Mystics Would Like a Word? Even if you don’t have kids, you’ve got to see this.

Aside from the extraordinary substance found within this collection of global faith leaders, activists, and Biblical scholars, remember that these edgy thinkers and writers have been invited to write for children. This is a children’s story Bible, after all, and is — as the subtitle puts it — “as told by God’s children.” All of these authors (and the various illustrators) know they are God’s beloved and want to help kids (and others) enter into the big story of God’s work as revealed in the Scriptures. They want to unlock the Good Book for engaged and serious reading. There are discussion questions— fairly open-ended and quite thoughtful — and a few good sidebars for inquisitive readers. And there are QR codes for more info. What a resource this is! Don’t miss it.

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

This has been one of the most eagerly awaiting children’s Bibles to come out in a while and we were thrilled to describe it back before Christmas. With just lovely writing and fabulously rich illustrations it is designed well and we can’t say enough about it.

One of the themes is — obviously — belonging; God loves us so and God brings us into a community of care and courage.n everyone has dignity and this grand story in Scripture shows us what it means to truly belong, to be secure, to be loved.

Also, it is about the only children’s Bible that we know of that emphasizes women of the Bible and is crafted in a way to enhance the goodness and beauty and wonder of these true stories. They avoid violence and feature God’s gentle, liberating power, even using women and girls (as the texts actually show, so they aren’t making this up!)  It is not only for girls —I really believe this! — but it certainly is ideal for girls, maybe ages 6 or 7 up to 12 or so. It’s a gorgeous volume, with some very good historical matters portrayed well (including Hebrew and Greek names.) It’s very highly recommended.

The Biggest Story Family Devotional Kevin DeYoung (Crossway) $29.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $23.99

If the first two listed above might be most popular among those with more mainline denominational tastes or those who have concerns that some Christian traditions (and their children’s resources) might imply some acceptance of violence and even brutality, this book features well the core message of God’s redemptive power to, through His mercy and grace, to overcome sin and bring saving faith to the people of God. (In an earlier children’s book, DeYoung described Christ’s work, drawing on the promise of Genesis 3, as the “snake-crusher.”) DeYoung is a vibrant PCA pastor, active in such as the gospel coalition, so he may not like the progressive scholarly behind the first two options. Yet, we appreciate his big The Biggest Story Bible Storybook and this family devotional edition breaks down the stories of that vivid and contemporary looking story Bible with daily readings, discussion questions, family stuff and closing prayers.

This is a great idea, adapting a big children’s Bible into a useful daily reader for families. It is a sturdy hardback, sans dust-jacket, and very handsomely done, with some playful quirks and artful design. Evangelically solid and rather Reformed insights between the lines, inviting us all to grace and gratitude for God’s faithfulness and salvation.

Love God Greatly Bible Storybook Love God Greatly illustrations by Angie Alape Perez with art from children from around the world (Tommy Nelson) $19.99 // OUR SALE PRICE = $15.99

This one is quite new and very special for a couple of reasons. There is an adequate amount of text making it interesting for even elementary kids — I’d say ages 5 or 6 to 11 or 12 — and there are fabulous art pieces (beside the more conventional illustrations by Perez) and prayers from real kids from around the globe. Love God Greatly is a mission agency that is trying to make God’s Word accessible to women and children in every nation, “regardless of where they live or what language they speak.” You can imagine their challenges and joys a s they continue to help people “love God greatly with their lives.” They are doing transition work and encouraging Bible study one by one by one.

These captivating children’s illustrations — most are really quite striking — showcasing how they understand God’s work found in 40 cherished stories from the Old and New Testaments. I like the big graphics that name the Bible story on each facing page. A winner!

AND — FOR ALL THE GROWN UPS ON YOUR LIST:

Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus Wesley Hill (IVP) $20.00 // OUR SALE PRICE = $16.00

I’ve reviewed this book about the theology of resurrection and the way more liturgically-shaped congregations celebrate the season more thoroughly a few weeks back but want to underscore it’s value here, now. This series about the church calendar is succint and moving and this one is fantastic. It’s small, too, making a nice gift for nearly any one.

The newest in the great “Fullness of Time” series of hand-sized, succinct hardbacks, Easter is, I suppose, the one many of us have been waiting for. Advent, Christmastime, Epiphany, Pentecost and Lent have all been published (with Ordinary Time coming next year) and yet we’ve been especially eager for this. How excited and glad I was when I heard that Wes Hill was invited to write it. Edited by Esau McCaulley, each of these have been very good, each in their own way, by robust practitioners of the distinctive habits of the church year. Each offers a historical and theological overview of the church season under consideration and draws out practical stuff to do in order to more appropriately and fruitfully experience the blessings of each particular season of the liturgical calendar.

Easter, the season of resurrection, of course, carries a message and realty that we can simply never get enough of. Obviously I hope nearly everyone on our mailing list orders this. It’s that important, and Wes Hill does such a fine job, it deserves your attention. I mean that.

As I started to read Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus I’ll admit to you, dear readers, that I was a tad reluctant. I wanted to read this fresh, for the first time, on Easter. Alas, an occupational hazard here on the frontlines of bookselling, I had to read it early.

Read the rest of my review here, or, just order it now. You won’t regret it…  Soon we will shout “He Is Risen!”

 

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