The most rewarding part of homeschooling and spending my days with our children is growing in our knowledge and understanding of God.
The Bible is the only essential resource for studying God’s Word, but I have found reading supplemental materials to also be valuable. The more I learn, the more I realize I have yet to learn!
That’s why I’ve gathered a dozen books that I’m excited to dive into with my family this upcoming year to help deepen our knowledge, understanding, and faith.
When Do You Read All These Books?
- One handbook I will read myself to use as a resource to further my own understanding and help me teach more accurately.
- Some I will use as reference books to look things up when we have questions and want further understanding of the timeline and historical context.
- Most I will read aloud a little at a time to depeen our Bible study. The kids and I have Bible study time daily as part of our homeschool lessons, and we spend time as a full family reading and/or studying the Bible in the evening before bedtime.
- Some I will allow our children to read on their own as their interest strikes because we’ve built a love for reading good books.
- Some I may assign to the children to read if we don’t get to it as a family and they don’t ask to read it on their own.
- One is an art history drawing book that will be used a little at a time to practice drawing skills along with history and cursive writing.
Books for Deeper Bible Study with Kids
Here are 12 books I’m excited to deepen our Bible Study next year: Most are linked to Christianbook.com unless they’re not available from that retailer, then they are linked to Amazon.
1. God’s Bible Timeline: The Big Book of Biblical History
God’s Bible Timeline: The Big Book of Biblical History by Linda Finlayson
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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God’s Bible Timeline: The Big Book of Biblical History By Linda Finlayson / CF4Kids With color illustrations, pictures, and pull-out timelines, this history book brings the whole Bible to life! From Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning of time to the early church, from the first promise of a Savior to the promise that one day that Savior will return — this book spans all of time. Find out about how the God of all time spoke to his people and still speaks today through his Word. |
Look Inside This Book
2. God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History
God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History by Linda Finlayson
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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God’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History By Linda Finlayson / CF4Kids With color illustrations, pictures, and pull–out timelines, this history book brings the church throughout the ages to life! Learn about the Early, Medieval and Missionary church, passing through key events such as the Council of Nicea and the Reformation – right through to the present day. Find out about the people God used and the impact they had on those around them – including us today! |
3. Grandpa’s Box
Grandpa’s Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption by Starr Meade
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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Grandpa’s Box: Retelling the Biblical Story of Redemption By Starr Meade / P & R Publishing One of the best things in Grandpa’s shop is an old chest filled with small wood carvings. Each represents a Bible story, and they all fit together—just like God’s Word! A terrific way to teach your 9- to 12-year-olds about the big picture of Scripture and God’s plan of redemption for his people. 286 pages, softcover from P & R. |
4. Hero Tales
Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes by Dave & Neta Jackson
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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Hero Tales: A Family Treasury of True Stories from the Lives of Christian Heroes, Volume I By Dave & Neta Jackson / Bethany House Drawn from the lives of fifteen key Christian heroes, Hero Tales is a beautifully illustrated treasury of forty-five exciting and educational readings designed to help foster Christian character qualities in families with elementary-age children. This inspiring collection presents a short biography and three true stories for each hero, including:
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5. The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Poetic Retelling…
The Pilgrim’s Progress: a Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic Tale by Rousseaux Brasseur
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic By Rousseaux Brasseur / Harvest House Publishers The Pilgrim’s Progress: A Poetic Retelling of John Bunyan’s Classic Tale is a fresh retelling of Bunyan’s classic Christian allegory features kid-friendly language in verse form and colorful illustrations that bring this epic journey to life for readers ages 8 years and up. More than just a fantastical adventure, this book will help children gain greater knowledge of key Christian concepts in words they can understand, making it a perfect choice for family reading or a trustworthy alternative to screen time. |
6. The Long Road Home
The Long Road Home: A Tale of Two Sons and a Father’s Never Ending Love by Sarah Walton
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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The Long Road Home: A Tale of Two Sons and a Father’s Never-Ending Love By Sarah Walton / Crossway |
7. The True Story of Noah’s Ark
The True Story of Noah’s Ark by Tom Dooley
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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The True Story of Noah’s Ark By Tom Dooley / New Leaf Publishing The True Story of Noah’s Ark tells the story of Genesis 6-9 through an engaging narrative that’s true to the biblical record as well as detailed computer-generated illustrations by Bill Looney. Featuring a text that covers the timeline of events before, during, and immediately after the flood, along with additional insights and possibilities of what it would have been like to be in Noah’s shoes, this adventure shows how the story of Noah’s Ark isn’t fiction, but rather a historical and biblical true story. 72 pages, hardcover. Includes an audiobook download. |
8. The Real Story of The Exodus
The Real Story of the Exodus by Paul L. Maier
Find it on Amazon:
God cares for His people and provides for our needs, great and small. Share the story of Gods faithful followers and discover how Moses leads the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. Based on real events from the Bible, this book offers realistic, breathtaking illustrations to emphasize the truths of each account.
9. Life in the Great Ice Age
Life in the Great Ice Age by Michael and Beverly Oard
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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Life in the Great Ice Age By Michael Oard / Master Books So many children have an understanding of the Ice Age from secular sources that showcase primitive cave men who speak in grunts. Looking at the Ice Age from a creationist perspective, children will gain a new view of what the Cro-Magnon and Neanderthal were like and who they really were. Scientific and archaeological topics are covered, all the while showing the people groups as different tribes who dispersed after the fall, yet still hold on to their religion, though others had already fallen away from the knowledge of truth. With colorful illustrations and engaging, informative text, this is a wonderful introduction to “prehistory.” 71 pages, hardcover. |
10. Whale of a Story
Whale of a Story: Adventure on the High Seas by Buddy Davis
Find it on Amazon:
Children’s book with pirates, ships, whales, and Jonah!
- Story of Jonah told in a unique way
- Includes questions for parents to discuss with their children
Join Captain John Fisher and the men aboard the Southern Cross, an Australian ship commissioned to spread the gospel in 1849. After a morning of warding off pirates, the captain tells the Bible story of Jonah and the great fish, and it’s a Whale of a Story! With dazzling illustrations and lots of action, this could be your child's new favorite!
11. Draw and Write Through History
Draw and Write Through History: Creation through Jonah by Carylee Gressman
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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Draw and Write through History: Creation through Jonah By Carylee Gressman / CPR Publishing Draw and write your way through Creation all the way to Joseph, learning about the Ark & animals on it, the Trojan horse, Egypt and the plagues, quail in the desert, David, the Olympics and more! Drawings are shown with step by step illustrations, and writing samples are written out in cursive. Great for supplementing any history program. Ages 8-12. 62 pages, softcover. |
12. The Bible Story Handbook
The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible
Find it on Christianbook.com:
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The Bible Story Handbook By John H. Walton & Kim E. Walton / Crossway How can Sunday school teachers lead kids through challenging Bible stories like Cain and Abel? Commenting on 150 stories, the Waltons examine seven elements in each text—focus, theme, application, place in the Bible, interpretational issues, historical and cultural background, and age-group appropriateness—to help create accurate, understandable God-centered lessons. Includes 2-year teaching plan. 352 pages, softcover from Crossway. |
The list of books for deeper Bible studies with kids could go on and on, but I’ll cut it off there with these 12 books I’m looking forward to using with our homeschool Bible studies next year.
Have you read any of these? Or do you have a recommendation? Connect on Instagram @foodallergyparents!
Where Do You Get These Book Recommendations?
Our main homeschool curriculum for Bible, History, and Literature is Heart of Dakota, and most of these book recommendations came from there. We’re finishing up our second year and have continually been amazed at how many great books are out there!
This is not the way I was educated, but I’m thankful as an adult I can redeem my education, learn alongside my children, and expand my enjoyment of reading by finding so many good books.
More Book & Homeschooling Recommendations
12 Chapter Book Series for Elementary Girls
Tips for Elementary Homeschooling While Traveling
Best Children’s Books about Food Allergies
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