My Family’s Top 5 Favorite Bible Story Books

My husband and I always struggle to know what to read to our kids at night. Finding the bedtime book that is not too short, not too long, or has easy stopping points AND has a teachable lesson or moral of the story is tough, y’all! However, thanks to a good friend’s recommendation (and all the books Amazon recommended on top of that!) I think I’ve found some TREASURES worth sharing.  

Here’s my run down of wholesome, kid-friendly reads to make quarantine a little more bearable. If you’re thinking ahead, these would also be great Easter gifts! You can also see us showing all the books over on Facebook!

#1: The Ology

This gets the number one spot on my list because it is packed with goodness and scripture. The second reason it’s my favorite is because it is broken into chapters, and then the chapters are broken into smaller segments, which makes it perfect for bedtime when you need to find a good stopping point. It takes biblical concepts and puts them into easy-to-understand language for kids, without watering down the truth or weight of the story.

#2: The Garden, the Curtain, and the Cross

This book is a short one, but it explains the gospel in the most brilliant, simple way. My kids absolutely love this one because it’s basically a very clever summary of the bible. Their favorite quote of the book is “Because of your sin, you can’t come in.” It illustrates how the fall of man prevents us from being in union with God, but that because of His grace and Jesus’ sacrifice, we are reunited. 

#3: The Donkey Who Carried A King

My 2nd grader summarizes this one for me in my video overview of these books on my Facebook, because this one is his top pick! The story is from the perspective of a young boy who kept getting picked last when he would play games with his friends. His grandpa tells him the story of a Donkey who was always carrying ordinary things, but then one day was chosen to carry Jesus. This book is on the longer end of the spectrum, just an FYI in case you’re starting bedtime with already heavy eyes! 

#4: Jesus and the Lions' Den

After reading that title, you might be thinking “Wait, I thought it was Daniel and the Lions' Den?” You’re right! But that’s what is so neat about this book. It teaches kids how to find Jesus in scripture, and see how each story in the Old Testament reflects the prophecy of Jesus’ coming to save us. For example, Daniel is ridiculed and persecuted for speaking the truth and praying, just how Jesus was during his time on earth. This kind of storytelling is called “typology” and this is a wonderful book to help introduce this method of study to your kids at a young age!

#5: The Friend Who Forgives

The title of this one says it all. This book tells the story of Peter’s denial and how Jesus forgave him. 

I’m always looking for good reads to help build my kids’ library up! So if you have more suggestions, send them my way!