Aileen has spent many years overseeing the Early Years program at our church. I asked if she would provide some occasional reviews or recommendations of books and other resources that have stood out to her and proven a blessing to the children. Here is her first roundup.
A few years ago, I realized I had been missing a unique opportunity in our Early Years program (which is our program for infants, preschoolers, and kindergarteners). Books have always been a part of our classrooms. I’ve seen many times how an unsettled child becomes still and interested when an adult opens a book and tells a story.
While there are many wonderful children’s classics that certainly have their place, I began to ask why we weren’t being more intentional about the stories we offered. Wouldn’t it be better to fill these early teaching moments with books that reflect God’s truths?
This shift led me to begin to look for and to curate a collection of books that help to teach simple truths to little hearts—stories that are not only engaging and fun, but also reflect some of the core truths we are teaching in those classrooms. I thought I would take the opportunity to share a few of our favorite board books, which are meant for children aged 0-3. I hope this list will be helpful to you as you look for books for your children’s ministry or for the library you keep for your little ones at home.
One of my favourite sets is the Training Young Hearts series by Abbey Wedgeworth. This collection includes six books: What Are Hands For?, What Are Mouths For?, What Are Feet For?, What Are Eyes For?, What Are Ears For?, and What Are Feelings For?. They are available individually or as a set. These interactive books highlight the good things God created our bodies for—like clapping, jumping, and running. It also gently addresses how we can misuse our bodies with sinful behaviour—like hitting, biting, or stomping. Each book then points children to Christ and teaches the forgiveness of those sins in simple terms. The way these books distill deep truths for little hearts is brilliant. Not only are they a huge favourite among both our kids and teachers, but they also serve as an excellent training tool in the home. (Buy the set or individual volumes at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The second series I recommend is Big Theology for Little Hearts by Devon & Jessica Robyn Provencher. There are currently nine books in the series: God, The Gospel, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Creation, The Church, The Bible, Heaven, and Prayer. Each book introduces big ideas from the Bible, such as who God is, the nature of the Holy Spirit, and what the Gospel means. These books are a great way to help your little one begin building a solid foundation of theology. With simple, colorful illustrations, they serve as good conversation starters for introducing important truths to little ones. (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
The last book I’ll recommend today is His Grace is Enough by Melissa Kruger. This rhyming board book, full of colorful and engaging illustrations, lays out the truth of the gospel in easy-to-understand and simple terms. It uses age-appropriate and relatable examples of sinful behavior, ending with a straightforward gospel presentation. This book is an excellent tool for introducing the gospel to little hearts, making it a good resource for parents looking to share God’s grace with their little ones. (Buy it at Amazon or Westminster Books)
I hope to provide recommendations for older children in the near future!
