Top 10 Children’s Books For Teaching Faith Practices

Here are 10 amazing children’s books that I love (it was hard to narrow it down to only 10!). Some of these books directly relate to faith and the Bible, while others I use when teaching faith practices like kindness, compassion, and justice. I ensured there was diversity in my author selection and many of the books below also reflect diversity in their illustrations. These books are often stated for ages 3-7 years old, but eh, I think children’s books are for all ages! When reading these books to my own children or in the church to your children, I find new meaning each time and my life is continually shaped by children’s books. So don’t be ashamed, fill your shelves with excellent children’s books just like you would with good poetry. God can speak to us through these books! Also, these are great gifts for baptisms, Easter, and Christmas, a little nod to religion on these special occasions. Happy book browsing!

1. God’s Big Plan written by Elizabeth F. Caldwell & Theodore Hiebert and illustrated by Katie Yamasaki

This story is a beautiful depiction of God’s global world.  It shows rich diversity when retelling the story of Babel from Genesis.

2. Crocodile’s Crossing, A Search for Home written and illustrated by Yoeri Slegers

This is a story about immigration and reveals some of the hardships refugees face when leaving home and looking for a new home. The illustrations are as powerful as the words.

3. Who Is My Neighbor? Written by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Denise Turu

This is a new twist on the age-old biblical question and parable, who is my neighbor. It teaches kindness, empathy, and community.

4. Does God Forgive me? By August Gold and photo illustrations by Diane Hardy Waller

All of August Gold’s books are amazing faith-based books. She uses the story to explore hard faith questions in a perfectly age-appropriate way.

5. Who Counts? Written by Amy-Jill Levine & Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrated by Margaux Meganck

This is a great retelling of 3 popular parables that focuses on God’s love vs our shortcomings.

6. It’s Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr

I cannot recommend the author Todd Parr enough! Every book he writes is whimsical and fun but hits at important themes of our lives. This book explores the goodness in being uniquely you. This author was recommended to me by a child psychologist and I personally have a small collection of several of his books covering topics of adoption, peace, and fear.

7. Being You: A First Conversation About Gender by Megan Madison, Jessica Ralli and illustrated by Anne/Andy Passchier

This is a book about gender identity. This book gave me the language I needed to have these conversations with young children, so we might better welcome and love all God’s children and the genders they identify with. While a board book, implying it’s for babies/toddlers, this book covers the complex and beautiful topic of gender identity and I think gets even more age-appropriate as children grow, so I would say keep reading this book well beyond the toddler years. God made each of us, and this book celebrates bodies and gender diversity.

8. From Sesame Street We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Jane Kates and illustrated by Joe Mathieu

While published in 1992, this book addresses issues of our day around race and diversity. This book acknowledges how humanity is beautifully different and unique and yet as many commonalities. This book will age well for generations to come.

9. What is God Like? by Rachel Held Evans and Matthew Paul Turner and illustrated by Yin Hui Tan

This book introduces God to children with lots of wonderings and questions. This book comforts children as we think together about God who is love. The illustrations are just fantastic too!

10. When God Made You by Matthew Paul Turner, Illustrated by David Catrow

I love how this book explores the beauty, uniqueness, and power in being simply you- the you God created. The illustrations capture you to imagine who the girl is in the book, but make you wonder about yourself and how God created you!

What children’s book is a must-have on your shelf?

-Written by Brittany Porch

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