5 Books to Enjoy as a Family This Summer
You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read.
Charlie “Tremendous” Jones)
Summer is a great time for all of us parents to evaluate where are kids are at spiritually, set new goals for them (and for ourselves), and begin working to meet those goals. It’s also the perfect opportunity to squeeze in more reading time!
As you begin making plans and setting goals for your family this summer, here are some wonderful faith-building books that have blessed our family, and we hope will bless yours as well.
Little Pilgrim's Progress
Our kids love this book. We’ve read it several times as a family and our oldest have re-read it many more times on their own. A wonderful retelling of Bunyan's classic, Little Pilgrim's Progress gives the story of Little Christian's journey to the Celestial City and the lessons of faith and obedience he learns along the way. It recasts characters from the original tale as children, making this a delightful story for young readers. (Obstinate and Pliable are two of his playmates from the City of Destruction, etc.). Short chapters make for an easy family bedtime story. Recommended for ages 8+ or as a read-aloud for the whole family.
Adventures in the Big Thicket
Here's another book that’s been read over and over in our house. This collection of short, comical stories featuring Hamhock, the ham-loving bobcat, and his unforgettable friends illustrate verses from the book of Proverbs. The book is out of print and hard to find new, but it’s well worth finding a good used copy. Adventures in the Big Thicket is another wonderful family read-aloud and a great book for kids of all ages.
Escape to Leichtenstein
If you're looking for solid reading material for your 9-12 year child(ren), Ed Dunlop's Young Refugee series is an excellent faith-building adventure series. The trilogy (beginning with Escape to Liechtenstein) follows Hans and his sister Gretchen on their adventures through Europe during World War II. The books are fast-paced, exciting reads that keep young readers on the edge of their seats while teaching them biblical truths about faith, courage, love, forgiveness, and the power of the Gospel. Recommended for boys and girls, age 9-12.
George Mueller: Man of Faith and Miracles
So many books have been written on the life of George Mueller. Here’s a shorter version of the life-changing story of this man of prayer and faith that will stir your heart with faith in a limitless God. If you have older kids or teenagers, this is a good book to read and discuss together.
Hero Tales
Hero Tales is a faith-inspiring collection of stories from the lives of fifteen men and women who gave their lives to God and saw him do amazing things in and through them. Each short chapter ends with questions for discussion. This is an outstanding read-aloud for the entire family.
