14 Powerful Picture Books That Will Ignite Your Child’s Faith

14 Powerful Picture Books That Will Ignite Your Child’s Faith

  

Reading Time: 3 min 14 sec

 

Have you ever searched for Christian children’s books only to shake your head in dismay?  I have only just realized that for most of my life, I have had this thought that Children’s Christian literature is subpar, a chotskies, something you stick in an Easter basket or as an “extra” gift on Christmas morning because you feel like you should.

Even as a child, it seemed like most Christian picture books were trying to portray this cotton candy outlook on life, light but rarely formative.  They were what you read at Grandma’s when you were bored with literally nothing else to do.

 

It is not until now, as a mother, that I realize that alongside the cotton candy are books dripping with gold.  These books rarely make it to the bestseller list and are hidden in out-of-the-way nooks, but they are formative to our child’s walk with Jesus. We are going to be talking about 14 Powerful Books that will ignite your children’s faith.

1. Children Learn Through Experience

2. The Power of a Truly Great Book 

3. How to Read Christian Picture Books 

4. 14 Powerful Picture Books

 

 

1. Children Learn Through Experience 

 

I discovered that reading stories is not just a way to pass the time or to make sure our child is receiving a solid foundation in Christianity, but as a powerful tool in their walk with Jesus.

 

Children learn through experience and even though as parents we would like to open their heads and stick in all the right answers to life’s greatest questions, we can’t.  While we have good intentions, the fact is that all of the knowledge in the world cannot trump experience.

 

My mother loves recounting the story (okay hundreds of them) of myself as a toddler, and my fascination with the stove.  She would constantly tell me, “Alexis, don’t touch that, you will get burned.” But no matter how many times she said it, I didn’t believe her. I reached out touched that stove, and truly experienced the meaning of the word “hot”.

 

Fortunately, through the power of stories (and the graciousness of the Holy Spirit) our children can experience many different situations and see the consequences without ever leaving the comfort of the couch. Books allow us to experience truth without having to walk through the pain.

 

2.  The Power of a Truly Great Book

 

Did you ever read a book as a child that’s truths stick with you to this day?  The book that shaped me, was Anne of Green Gables.  This book which has so captured the hearts of millions of people depicts the beauty of ordinary life.  It showed us how to observe the world around us, how to bask in the beauty of today, how to invest in relationships even when they are messy, how to love well, and how to persevere.

 

Great books invite you to reflect, allow you to discover, spark your imagination, call out the beauty in the world, and inspire you to new heights. Great books read in community, as a family curled up on a couch, give you a shared vocabulary, a way of relating to each other and the world around you. They not only build life-long memories, as you wrestle together, with ideas and concepts, but they allow your child to form their outlook on life.

 

Reading great Christian books together as a family isn’t just a good idea, or something to check off the to-do list, but a simple, yet powerful tool in the investment of your child’s walk with God.

 

We all learn best in the context of a story. 

 

3. How To Read Christian Picture Books

I adore books. I love surrounding my children with life-changing literature. However, if I bought every book I read I would need another house. 🙂

 

The more I read about the spiritual development of children the more I realize the importance of providing select tools for their spiritual development. I look at these picture books as something comparable to what a journal or podcast would be for adults. I would plan to add these titles to your collection over time. 🙂

 

Unlike books for educational purposes, the goal is not to finish. I know shocker, right!  The goal is to allow space to be present to each other, to listen to the still, soft voice of the Holy Spirit, to wonder, and ask questions.

 

As YOU read, don’t hurry to turn the page, but take the time to take in the illustrations. At the end, do not rush to teach or share the moral of the story. Trust that the Holy Spirit is touching your childs heart.

 

Instead, invite discussion. Ask your child what they thought and felt as they experienced this book.  This doesn’t have to be a long-drawn-out affair.  Yes, this can be done with active children. 🙂  Remember that whether you can see it or not the Holy Spirit is at work in the heart of your child.  Enjoy!

 

 

4. 14 Powerful Picture Books 

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What about you? What is your favorite Christian children’s picture book?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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How To Consistently Read The Bible With Your Child

How To Consistently Read The Bible With Your Child

  

Reading Time: 5 min 7 sec

 

I shook my head in despair. This is ridiculous, I thought. I spend more time, energy, and money finding creative ways to teach my children Math and English than I do in fostering their relationship with Jesus.

 

Our family would go through seasons where my kid’s Bible reading was sporadic at best. I would find myself rushing through a daily devotional too, if I’m honest, check it off the list and make myself feel better.  I deeply desired to raise children who knew and experienced a relationship with Jesus; but my actions were not reflecting my values.  I felt dissatisfied and discouraged.

 

Thankfully, I stumbled onto the biography of Susanna Wesley, called 7 Women: And The Secret Of Their Greatness by Eric Metaxas. She was the mother of Charles and John Wesley, evangelists who were powerfully used by God and who were also the founders of the Methodist church.  She was a mother of 19 children and practically raised them single-handedly (their father was gone a lot). 

 

Metaxas wrote that there was so much noise in her house that to spend daily time with Jesus, she would often throw her apron over her head to limit the distractions. Now that is a mom I can relate to! 🙂  Even more importantly, she was known for her consistency in helping her children create the habit of spending time with Jesus each day.

 

If she can do it with 19 kids, while parenting single-handedly, so can I.  After years of trial and error, here are three steps that have transformed how I read the Bible consistently with my children.

 

1. Reading The Bible: Finding Your Rhythm

2. Reading The Bible: The Right Tool

3. Reading The Bible: Listen And Respond

Reading The Bible

 1. Reading The Bible: Finding Your Rhythm 

 

As I read The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom as a child, one of the aspects that struck me was how each morning the family would get dressed, eat breakfast, and start their day centered around the Bible.  Corrie’s father would read scripture aloud, and they would follow it with prayer.

This was a great example of a rhythm. They had three things that started their day. Get dressed, eat breakfast, spend time with Jesus. Those were the priorities, and everything else had to wait.

 

Yes, life with kids can be unpredictable. Okay, who am I kidding? It is always unpredictable. That’s where a rhythm is so genius. Instead of planning our day around the clock and getting frustrated when life happens, we plan our day around our big rocks, the 2-3 things that must happen every day.  We take our time, finish a task, we just move on to the next thing on the list.

 

So, when the dog decides to throw up on the carpet or there’s no milk for breakfast etc. you don’t have to stress out.  You know that when you return, time with Jesus is your focus.

 

Yes, there will be days when reading the Bible with your child does not happen (or anything else for that matter). And that’s okay… that’s life.  But what is amazing is that after implementing a daily rhythm, how life transitions from a reactive to a proactive approach.  Instead of struggling to make devotions happen each day, a rhythm serves as a flexible placeholder for time with Jesus each day.

 

2. Reading The Bible: Find The Right Tool 

 

Finding the right tool for the right season makes all the difference in the world. There will be seasons where a long family devotion at home isn’t realistic. That doesn’t mean you have to throw in the towel and just wait until the season passes until you get back into God’s word.

 

You can spend time with God using a variety of tools. There are different resources for different seasons. During one season, scripture set to music might be drawing your child to God. Embrace it. Reflect on the words. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to your child.

 

In Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey, authors Stonehouse and May, explain it like this:

Being Christian is rooted in a relationship with Jesus, and relationships are unique; they begin in different ways and at different times for different persons. But however they begin, healthy relationships grow and change across the years. We want to honor the uniqueness of each child’s experience with God, and we want to participate with God in encouraging the development of that relationship, their spiritual formation.”

 

Talk to the Holy Spirit. What are you and your children drawn to right now? What are you interested in? Trust the Holy Spirit is leading you.  Your child can interact with God’s word through audio, video, activities, songs, prayer, art, and even nature.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

  1. Jesus Storybook Bible
  2. The Visual Bible: Matthew and Acts
  3. Praying In Color: Kid’s Edition
  4. The Jesus Storybook Bible Audio
  5. Listening To Worship Music and Drawing

 

3. Reading The Bible: Listen and Respond 

    A crucial part of reading the Bible consistently with your child is the interaction with the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a living, breathing book.  It is meant to be read actively, not passively. We do this by first inviting the Holy Spirit to speak to us through his word and second responding to what we have read.

    This is KEY. If we are not careful, we can fall into the trap of reading to get it done or to feel good about ourselves. But what God is inviting us into through scripture is soo much better.

    Reading The Bible

    He is inviting us into a deeper relationship with him.  That comes from responding to what the Holy Spirit is highlighting to us (and our children) through the text.

    When you read the Bible with your children, remember that it is all about a relationship. The relationship between your child and God. Allowing space for the Holy Spirit means that as parents, we need to emphasize more silence and less teaching. This forces us to acknowledge that we are not the God of the universe, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher.

     

    How To Read The Bible With Your Child 

    a. Invite God’s presence. Ask him to speak to you and your child through his word.

    b. Read the story or passage slowly. Notice anything the Holy Spirit might be highlighting.

    c. At the end of the passage, spend some time in silence.

    Give the Holy Spirit elbow room to speak to you and your child.  THIS IS CRUCIAL. This is where your child responds to the reading. You are training your child to take the time to listen to the Holy Spirit.

     

    Do not jump over this step even if it feels uncomfortable.  When you allow space for the Holy Spirit meditation on scripture goes from head (what I know about God) to heart. The Holy Spirit uses the active, living word of God to transform our hearts.

     

    c. Ask your child what caught their attention as you were reading. It could be something from scripture or an event that happened that day.

    d. Finish by closing in prayer and thanking God for his active participation in your lives.

     

    The key to reading the Bible consistently with your child involves establishing a daily rhythm, finding the right tool for the right season, and actively responding to what you have read.  You got this, Mom!

     

    If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families. 


    What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to teaching your child to love Bible reading?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!   

     

    28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

    28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

      

    Reading Time: 2 min 1 sec

     There is something magical about poetry books for kids. Poetry can spark your imagination, let you envision worlds the eye cannot see, and it can stir your heart with its powerful emotion.  Poetry strips away time and space and allows you to experience the world in whole new ways.   

     

    The thought of poetry can strike most of us with feelings of inadequacy. Why does poetry have to feel so complicated? We were all taught that within poetry is this hidden message that if you are reflective (and brilliant) you will be able to grasp its meaning.  It doesn’t work. I reflected the fool out of more poems than I can count and I still walked away scratching my head.

     

                             Why does something so beautiful need an army of interpreters?

     

    So, I staged a revolt.  I knew that if I waited until I felt confident, I would NEVER introduce my children to poetry. So, we started out our poetry journey by taking small steps. Even though I promptly made a ton of mistakes, I learned a couple of things along the way. 

     

    Set yourself up for success by starting with picture books written in rhyme.  Not only are the pictures mesmerizing but the cadence of the words makes it a very easy read.  After you feel confident, add beautiful poetry books for kids that are short, funny, and relatable.  Here is one of our favorite poems called The Naughty Four O’Clocks by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

     

    There were some naughty flowers once, who were careless in their play;

    They got their petals torn and soiled

    As they swung in the dust all day.

     

    They went to bed at four o’clock

    With faces covered tight, To keep the fairy Drop O’ Dew

    From washing them at night.

     

    Poor Drop O’Dew! What could she do? She said to the Fairy Queen,

    “I cannot get those Four O’Clocks, To Keep their faces clean.”

     

    The mighty Storm King heard the tale; “My winds and rain,” roared he,

    “Shall wash those naughty flowers well, As flowers all should be.”

    So raindrops came and caught them all

    Before they went to bed, And washed those little Four O’clocks

    At three o’clock instead.”

     

    Flowers who are tricked into taking a bath? What could possibly be more captivating than that? 🙂  The poem is simple, imaginative. and colorful.  It struck delight in the hearts of my children. You can check out this article to find out my requirements for choosing beautiful poetry books.

     

    My goal is to help my children fall in love with poetry. To accomplish that objective, I want to remove all the stumbling blocks that might interfere. Does that mean that my children will never be able to appreciate the finer nuances of poetry?  No, but it does mean that in the early years we are intentional about establishing a strong foundation of curiosity and delight.

     

    Here are twenty-eight suggestions to help you get started in developing a love of poetry for kids in your homeschool.  These are all books that we have read together and enjoyed. 

    1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids 

    2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids 

    3. Short Poetry Books For Kids 

    4. Poetry Books For Older Kids

    1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

     

    2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

     

     

    3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

    4. Poetry Books for Older Kids   

     

    Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey. 

     

     

     

    What about you? What are your favorite poetry books for kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! 

    How To Inspire A Love Of Poetry In Your Children

    How To Inspire A Love Of Poetry In Your Children

      

    Reading Time: 4 min 57 sec

    This month in prep for Valentine’s Day, we will be talking about the ins and outs of children’s poetry. Have you ever felt intimidated at the thought of teaching poetry to your children? Me too! I have found that though I love the idea of poetry, actual comprehension and enjoyment has escaped me most of my life.

     

    Poetry can feel like a dreaded acquaintance. You know, that person who tries to impress us with their vast knowledge of the complexities of the English language? After every conversation, you walk away feeling exhausted, the frustration of “why don’t you just say what you mean?” still spinning in your head.

     

    I blame Anne of Green Gables among many others with my fascination with poetry. In the opening scene of Anne of Green Gables, the mini-series, you see her walking through a forest quoting The Lady of Shallot, with such rapt attention, that you can’t help but be intrigued.

     

                                            “There she weaves by night and day                                                                                            A magic web with colors gay.                                                                                                  She has heard a whisper say,                                                                                                  A curse is on her is she stay                                                                                                      To look down to Camelot                                                                                               She knows not what the curse may be,                                                                                          And so she weaveth steadily,                                                                                               And little over care hath she,                                                The Lady of Shalott.”

    -Alfred Lord Tennyson

    Poetry gave Anne a voice, a way of embracing beauty in an otherwise dreary existence. She showed us that beautiful words woven together could spark imagination, and produce great emotion in the hearts of its readers.

     

    Several years ago, I knew I wanted to introduce my children to the art of poetry, but I had absolutely no idea how to go about it. I had made a lot of mistakes. Looking back, I feel bad for my poor children (don’t worry this story has a happy ending) after all the shenanigans I put them through.

     

    Years later, despite our misadventures, I now have children who love poetry, to the point where they are starting to write their own. WIN! When it comes to kid’s poetry here are four-time tested ways to help your child embrace a love of poetry.

     

    1. Know Your Audience

    2. Consistency Is Key

    3. Golden Resources

    4. Spark Wonder

     

     

    1. Know Your Audience

     

    The wonderful thing about poetry is that it is not age-specific. Meaning, you can start by introducing your baby to poetry right now! 🙂 Children have a natural appreciation for the cadence of poetry.  All you have to do is listen to them playing hopscotch or jump rope and you will know what I mean.

     

    When I decided that we needed to add poetry into our homeschool day, it was full speed ahead. I started reading poems aloud several times a week. The books I chose were excellent, age-appropriate, and beautiful… for another child.

     

    You see I had failed to consider the uniqueness of my children.  I was in such a rush to introduce them to the finest pieces of poetry, that I forgot that beautiful words, at this age, mean nothing, if they aren’t interesting, or if they aren’t understandable.

     

    Poetry should be enjoyed, it should spark a memory of laughter, delight, and imagination.  A huge red flag that something is wrong is when it becomes just another thing to check off the to-do list.

     

    I had to stop and realign my expectations with my goal. The goal was to develop  a love for poetry, not read all the classics before the age of seven. 🙂 So that meant, focusing on funny, short, poems that centered around topics that were interesting to them. We also read a lot of picture books that were written in verse form which eased our transition into more formal poetry. 

     

     2. Consistency Is Key 

     

    One way to set yourselves up for success is by choosing a time when your children are most engaged to explore poetry. We focus on poetry one day per week and then sprinkle it in whenever we have time. That consistency has been an integral part of developing a love of poetry.  The children know what to expect and it becomes a natural part of our rhythm as a family.

     

    I have also found that giving them something to do with their hands really helps them pay attention. We either utilize Poetry Tea Time (more on that later) or I pull out fidgets, coloring books, or K-nex as a way to keep those little hands busy.

     

    I would encourage you to ask yourself a couple of questions:

     a. Do I have any unrealistic expectations when it comes to poetry?

    b. What topic(s) most enthrall my children?

    c. What is the best time (time of day/day of the week) to introduce my child to poetry?

     

    3. Golden Resources

     

    When you are first starting out, poetry can feel like a chore, until you find the right resource.  I started reading so many poetry books only to put them down because they didn’t meet our requirements.  I cannot stress this enough, sparking a love of poetry in your child is more important than finishing a resource.

     

    Here is what we were looking for in a poetry book:

    a.) Short poems (one page in length)

    b.) Understandable rhyme

    c.) Captivating Illustrations

    d.) Interesting or fun topics

     

    That doesn’t sound that complicated but we went through a huge stack of poetry books before we found one that truly fit us.  For instance, the series Poetry for Young People is amazing (we love it now) but not the best fit for early elementary age children. 

     

    The day we found a poetry book that fit our family it was like a light bulb went off. My children wanted to read it EVERY SINGLE DAY!

    One of those books is Laura Ingalls’s Wilder’s Fairy Stories. It is by far my favorite poetry book for kids.  It is a small collection of fairy poems with beautiful illustrations. This is a must have for our personal library! The words are so captivating that my children instantly fell in love with this book. 

    4. Spark Wonder

     

    One of my favorite ways to include poetry in our weekly rhythm is through Poetry Tea Time. This is a magical time that sparks wonder, delight, and amazing family memories.  Each week, we gather together to eat yummy food and drink hot chocolate as we read and discuss poetry. The addition of snacks fosters the idea that reading poetry together is special.   

     

    Poetry Tea Time can be as formal or informal as you desire. When my kids were younger, they would arrive in full costume, ready to participate in a formal tea.

    I have hosted Poetry Tea Times for penguins, pirates, knights, and princesses.

    There was a time when I never really knew who was going to be showing up to tea. And by celebrating poetry through pomp and circumstance we have created lifelong family memories. WIN!

     

    I make a conscious effort to read poems slowly and with emotion. At the end of every reading, we take a couple of minutes to wonder about the poem. We might wonder about the characters, the setting, the author. We might talk about a word or phrase that caught our attention, what emotions the poem sparked, and what we might add to the story.

     

    This is an organic discussion, meaning I never drag it out, some conversations last three minutes others last longer. I have found that when my children enjoy poetry, they take the lead on diving deeper into what we are reading.   They have memorized, recited, illustrated, and wrote stories that are based on the poems they have enjoyed.

     

    When you take the time to know your audience, set realistic time limits, find those golden resources, and spark wonder you might be surprised at how poetry isn’t intimidating at all. 🙂

     

    You can grab your own copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Fairy Poems for your collection here.  It is a book you will be reading to your grandchildren. 

    Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey. 

     

     

    What about you? What are your favorite ways to foster a love of poetry in your home? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! 

    100 History Books That Will Delight Your Kindergartner

    100 History Books That Will Delight Your Kindergartner

      

    Reading Time: 1 min 3 sec

     

    You might be asking if there are 100 history books that will delight your kindergartner? It might be hard for you to imagine history as delightful if your primary introduction was through textbooks.  Let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to get excited about historical events when they are reduced to a paragraph of dry facts.

     

    We all want to make learning engaging and FUN for our children. We want to spark their imaginations, engage their emotions, and inspire them to explore and learn from the events and lives of the men and women who shaped our world.  What better way to make that happen than through captivating picture books?

     

    What I love about picture books is that history comes alive through their engaging storylines and beautiful illustrations. Picture books spark wonder and encourage your children to imagine themselves participating in actual events.  You feel the bitter cold of Valley Forge, your mouth waters at the smell of the first thanksgiving, you hear the urgency of the Gettysburg Address, and your body aches as you travel the nation for women’s right to vote.

     

    Your entire family, no matter their age, can learn something new and get inspired to dig deeper into events that shaped history.  Picture books can be the gateway to new worlds. 

     

    Here is a list of 100 History books that will delight your kindergartner. I hope that you will enjoy diving down rabbit holes and experiencing the amazing lives of men and women throughout history.

     

    100 History Books

     

    For more amazing ideas, check out this 100 Things: A Treasure Trove of Ideas round-up post compiled by fellow blogger, Eva at Kid Minds. 

     

    Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey.

     

     



    What about you? What is your favorite history book for children?   Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

     

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