Classic Christian Books for Children and Their Parents
If you want one classic Christian book to read with a child, start with The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan Every Child Can Read. It keeps Bunyan's story and much of his wording, drops the long arguments that lose young listeners, and works well read aloud a chapter a night to a child of about ten. For a younger child, try Frances Ridley Havergal's Morning Stars, one short reading a day on a name of Jesus. And if you are the parent looking for help, H. Clay Trumbull's Hints on Child-Training is the wisest short book in the library.
The old writers took children seriously. They didn't think faith had to wait until a child was grown. Ryle told boys and girls they were more bound than anyone to work for Christ. Havergal wrote to children as real disciples who could please Jesus at their lessons and their play. Trumbull told parents that a child doesn't need to be led by slow degrees into knowing God. And they all believed the home was where it mostly happened: Bible stories by the fire, prayer at bedtime, a parent's example day by day.
Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:14
The library doesn't have hundreds of children's books, so here are twelve of the best, first books to read with children, then books for the adults who raise and teach them.
Stories to read aloud
1. The Pilgrim's Progress Every Child Can Read, by John Bunyan
A 1909 edition of both parts of Bunyan's allegory, made for children about ten. The editor changed hard words here and there and left out the doctrinal talks, but the Slough of Despond, the cross where Christian's burden falls, Apollyon, Vanity Fair, Doubting Castle and the river are all there. The second part follows Christiana, her boys and Mercy, with Great-heart as their guide, which children often like best.
One leak will sink a ship, and one sin will destroy a sinner.
The Pilgrim's Progress Every Child Can Read, The Interpreter's House
For help reading it as a family, see our guide to Pilgrim's Progress for kids, the Pilgrim's Progress characters and the chapter-by-chapter summary. Read The Pilgrim's Progress Every Child Can Read.
2. The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable, by Lucy Aikin
The same story, told with only one-syllable words, so a child who is just learning to read can manage it alone. It takes about two hours, and it follows Bunyan closely.
Just as Christian came up to the cross, his load slid from his back, close to the mouth of the tomb, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable, Part I
Read The Pilgrim's Progress in Words of One Syllable.
3. The Two Bears, and Other Sermons for Children, by J. C. Ryle
Eight short sermons that Ryle spoke straight to "beloved children," with stories and questions all the way through. The title sermon retells the children who mocked Elisha. Others are on the little wise creatures of Proverbs 30, on heaven where there is no more crying, on little things, and on seeking the Lord while young.
Children, if you want to go to heaven, you must ask Jesus Christ to let you in.
The Two Bears, No More Crying!
More of Ryle's books are in our J. C. Ryle books guide. Read The Two Bears.
4. The Cities of Refuge, by John R. Macduff
A Sunday talk to young people, short enough for one evening. Macduff starts with the stone shelters he saw on an Alpine pass, built for travelers caught in storms, and then takes the six cities of refuge in Joshua 20 one at a time as pictures of Jesus, the refuge a guilty sinner can run to.
They are six pictures of the Saviour, hung up in the Old Testament picture-gallery.
The Cities of Refuge, chapter II
Daily readings and first doctrine
5. Morning Stars and Morning Bells, by Frances Ridley Havergal
Two little books of thirty-one readings, one for each morning of the month. Morning Stars gives a child one name of Christ a day, Saviour, Friend, Shepherd, Rock, Wonderful, and asks a plain question at the end. Havergal corrected its proofs on her deathbed. Morning Bells gives a motto to carry through the day, about pleasing others, obeying and being Christ's soldier.
Jesus Christ gives us life, not for trying, not even for asking, but only just for believing on Him!
Morning Stars, Our Life
Oh, resist the devil, and do what you know is right, and trust God for all the rest!
Morning Bells, Twelfth Day
See all of Frances Ridley Havergal's books.
6. The Little Child's Book of Divinity, by John R. Macduff
Christian doctrine for small children, told as eight Sunday evenings by the fire, with little Emma on her grandmother's knee asking questions. It moves from God and creation through the fall, Christ, the new heart and the Holy Spirit to judgment and heaven. Read one "night" at a time.
There is something terrible about the thought of a Judge; but there is nothing but love and joy in the thought of a Father!
The Little Child's Book of Divinity, Third Night
Read The Little Child's Book of Divinity.
7. Brown's Explication of the Shorter Catechism, by John Brown of Haddington
For older children and the parents who teach them. Brown takes each answer of the Westminster Shorter Catechism and breaks it into many small questions, each answered in a sentence with a Bible text. It is long, so use it as a reference beside the catechism, a question a week. Read Brown's Explication of the Shorter Catechism.
True stories for young readers
8. George Müller and Andrew Reed, by Emma Raymond Pitman
Written for young readers and Sunday-school libraries, this double life tells how two men cared for orphans. Müller built the Bristol orphan houses by prayer alone. Reed, a London minister, founded homes for orphans and for the disabled. It is a good first biography for a child who asks whether God answers prayer.
Let the sceptic point to the Orphan Houses on Ashley Down, and say whether they do not afford incontrovertible proof that there is a God, and that He answers fervent, believing prayer.
George Müller and Andrew Reed, chapter VI
For more, see George Müller's orphanage. Read George Müller and Andrew Reed.
9. Lotus Buds, by Amy Carmichael
Carmichael's book about the little children in her care in South India, many rescued from being given to temple service. The first half is full of the children themselves, told with tenderness and humor. The second half lays out the evidence of the secret traffic in children and asks readers to pray. Read the first half to children; the second is for adults.
Sometimes it has seemed to us that we were set to learn and to teach a new and difficult lesson, the sacredness of the commonplace.
Lotus Buds, The Glory of the Usual
See Amy Carmichael's books. Read Lotus Buds.
For parents
10. Hints on Child-Training, by H. Clay Trumbull
Thirty short chapters of plain counsel from 1891. Trumbull separates training from teaching: it isn't enough to tell a child what to do, you see that it's done. He argues for guiding the will, not breaking it, for a calm "must," for denying a child wisely, for respecting each child's nature, and for never punishing in anger.
Will-training is an important element in child-training; but will-breaking has no part or place in the training of a child.
Hints on Child-Training, Will-Training, Rather Than Will-Breaking
A child does not need to be led by degrees into a knowledge of God.
Hints on Child-Training, Training a Child's Faith
Read Who Was H. Clay Trumbull? for the man behind it. Read Hints on Child-Training.
11. Papers on Practical Religion, by Catherine Booth
The first paper in this collection is Catherine Booth's address to parents, and it is bracing. Train children for God from the very start, she says, with loving but real authority, and don't presume God will save them apart from faithful training. She was the mother of eight, and it shows.
I have frequently heard mothers using all manner of persuasion instead of exerting the authority which God has given for the safeguard and guidance of their poor children.
Papers on Practical Religion, The Training of Children
See Catherine Booth's books. Read Papers on Practical Religion.
12. When a child dies
Two books in the library were written by fathers who buried a child: Theodore Cuyler's The Empty Crib and Philip Doddridge's sermon on submission in the death of children. They are in our guide to Christian books on grief, with John Flavel's A Token for Mourners.
More to explore
J. C. Ryle's How Should a Child Be Trained? gives seventeen rules from Proverbs 22:6, but the scan in the library is badly damaged, so read it with patience. For the whole Christian home, marriage, family worship and parenting together, see the best Christian books on marriage and family. Young readers who like true adventure will enjoy the young folks' edition of John G. Paton's story, found in our guide to missionary biographies.
Where to start
- Reading aloud to a child of eight to twelve: The Pilgrim's Progress Every Child Can Read, a chapter a night.
- A child just learning to read: the one-syllable Pilgrim's Progress.
- A daily habit with a young child: Havergal's Morning Stars, then Morning Bells.
- Teaching what Christians believe: Macduff's Little Child's Book of Divinity.
- For yourself as a parent: Trumbull's Hints on Child-Training.
More books are on the children topic page.