Books are a favorite Christmas gift in many families. Since most of the editors at TGC are parents, we’re always on the lookout for books that will both delight and edify the children in our lives. The good news is there are recently published volumes for all ages we’d love to recommend.
The TGC editors have compiled a list of book recommendations, sorted by age group. We hope that whatever the age of the children you’re shopping for this Christmas, you’ll find enjoyable and beneficial books to help them grow in wisdom and knowledge of the truth.
Board Books (Ages 0–2)
Tiny Hands Hymns, Prayers, and Promises edited by Hannah Estes (P&R, 2023). Illustrated passages to help you teach your youngest children to sing, pray, and believe.
Does God Sleep? A Book About God’s Power by Amy Gannett (B&H Kids, 2022). This book in the Tiny Theologians series uses playful rhymes to introduce young children to wonderful truths about God’s omnipotence.
What Are Mouths For? by Abbey Wedgeworth (The Good Book Company, 2023). This book is written on a level perfect for toddlers, but it articulates profound theological truths. Part of the Training Young Hearts series.
God Speaks to Me by Kristen Wetherell (Crossway, 2023). Even the littlest among us can begin to understand theology. This board book teaches about general and special revelation in simple language. Part of the For the Bible Tells Me So series.
Picture Books (Ages 3–7)
The Size of Everything by Alyssa Clements (Tyndale Kids, 2023). This book teems with interesting facts about God’s creation, organized in order of size from microscopic to galactic. It’d make a great gift for kids who love nonfiction.
African Heroes: Discovering Our Christian Heritage by Jerome Gay Jr. (New Growth, 2023). Written to inspire families with stories from a beautiful mosaic of African theologians, philosophers, and martyrs.
Count Yourself Calm: Taking BIG Feelings to a BIG God by Eliza Huie (The Good Book Company, 2023). A beautiful book peppered with encouragement from the Psalms that will train your family to bring their emotions to God.
Lucy and the Saturday Surprise by Melissa Kruger (TGC/Crossway, 2023). Through an engaging story, kids will learn the dangers of envy and the joy of contentment. Part of the TGC Kids series.
The Ten Commandments for All God’s Children by Harold L. Senkbeil (Lexham, 2023). This volume in the FatCat series will help your children learn and love the Ten Commandments. It shows how Jesus fulfilled God’s law and includes a family prayer through the commandments.
Middle-Grade Books (Ages 8–12)
The Prince and the Blight (The Dream Keeper Saga Book 2) by Kathryn Butler (Crossway, 2022). Lily McKinley returns to the Somnium Realm for a new adventure. In her quest to help her friends heal from a mysterious disease, she sees what it means to trust God even when he feels distant.
Lost in the Caverns (The Dream Keeper Saga Book 3) by Kathryn Butler (Crossway, 2023). After the death of Prince Pax, Lily McKinley embarks on a journey through the Desert of the Forgotten to recover her ability to dream and to spread Pax’s message.
Out of the Shadow World by Colleen Chao (Moody, 2023). Young cancer patient Pax Jackson and his friend Jayni get taken on a magical adventure. This whimsical story wrestles with suffering and opens up opportunities for joy, even in this imperfect world.
The Really Radical Book for Kids: More Truth. More Fun by Champ Thornton (New Growth, 2023). This is an engrossing sequel to The Radical Book for Kids (New Growth, 2016). With a mix of biographies, activities, and apologetics, it will capture the child’s imagination (and the adults’ too).
Young Adult Books (Ages 13–15)
Do Not Be True to Yourself: Countercultural Advice for the Rest of Your Life by Kevin DeYoung (Crossway, 2023). This brief book intended for high schoolers offers a call to serve God faithfully and not to become self-seeking.
Anxiety: Finding the Better Story (31-Day Devotionals for Teenagers) by Liz Edrington (Rooted/P&R, 2023). Understanding what anxiety is can make a big difference for a teen. Understanding what God says about anxiety is the path to finding peace in Jesus.
How Can I Be Sure What’s Right and Wrong? by Chris Morphew (The Good Book Company, 2023). This book is part of the Big Questions series that offers well-reasoned, engaging answers to apologetic questions.
God’s Great Story: A Daily Devotional for Teens by Jon Nielson (Crossway, 2023). This book contains 365 days of devotional thoughts intended to take teens on a journey that hits selections of the whole canon. A useful tool for encouraging spiritual growth for your teen.
Social Media Pressure: Finding Peace Alongside Jesus by John Perritt (New Growth, 2023). In this convicting devotional, Perritt opens God’s Word for teens and shows them what social media habits teach about our hearts. The “practice” sections in each devotional give wise counsel for building new smartphone habits.
Family Read-Alouds (All Ages)
Glorifying and Enjoying God: 52 Devotions Through the Westminster Shorter Catechism by William Boekestein, Jonathan Landry Cruse, and Andrew J. Miller (Reformation Heritage, 2023). This valuable resource divides the catechism into 52 brief devotions for a year’s worth of Lord’s Days.
Faith Builder Catechism: Devotions to Level Up Your Family Discipleship by Kevin Hippolyte, Jared Kennedy, and Trey Kullman (New Growth, 2023). When playing a video game, we learn to inhabit the game’s world step by step. The same is true with our faith. The interactive questions, answers, and devotionals in this book will help your family establish building blocks of faith, one level at a time.
Little Pilgrim’s Progress (Illustrated Edition) by Helen L. Taylor, envisioned and illustrated by Joe Sutphin (Moody, 2021). It’s hard to imagine a better or more beautiful introduction to Bunyan’s classic work.