Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: character, Character Concepts, Character Training, Crossroads of Character, giveaway, Marilyn Boyer

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 5 months ago by katafus.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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August 3, 2012 at 11:32 am
LauraNthree
Participant
Does anyone have recommendations for a character or devotional book for a 6 year old boy and 3 year old girl? I was going to purchase A Child’s Book of Character Building but after reading some reviews decided it is not the book for us. I’m looking for something that will inspire discussion and help me disciple my son who made the decision to receive Christ about 6 months ago. I am very against anything with a hint of legalism so it gets tricky because alot of character or devotional books seem behavior based rather than heart-based. (Trying to teach kids to be “good” Christians as opposed to helping them cultivate a strong relationship with God) It would be nice to have something to read with my daughter in the evenings also…although we do have a Children’s story Bible we read from and that might be fine for now.
Thanks in advance, I hope that makes sense!
August 3, 2012 at 4:33 pm
MamaSnow
Participant
I understand what you are saying, and I tend to stay away from character type books that are too behavior based for the same reason. (I didn’t care for A Child’s Book of Character Buiding for this very reason). This year for “personal develoment” we are using the book “Missionary Stories with the Millers” which my dd6 is really enjoying, and from some of the comments she’s made I think she is beginning to understand what it really for means to trust in Jesus. We are also using SCM’s reader “Hymns in Prose for Children” both for reading practice, but I also lump it under character development because it is a beautiful book that inspires thought of God. I haven’t used it yet, but next year I have Sally Michael’s “God’s Names” slated for this spot – again with the idea to inspire thought of God and deeper trust in God. As they get older I hope to use other biographies of missionaries and Christian heros as well. I personally find these kinds of books inspiring in my Christian walk and love for/trust in God, so want to read them with my kids with the hope that it will do the same for them.
For your littlest one, we have some of the picture books by RC Sproul http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=rc+sproul+childrens+books&sprefix=RC+Sproul%2Caps%2C257 and have the rest on our wish list, as well as a couple of these simple picture book biographies http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/product/little-lights-set(with the rest on our wish list too). We also have several of the illustrated Lamplighter books http://www.graceandtruthbooks.com/category/illustrated-lamplighters-ages-2-7(and have heard wonderful things about the ones for older kids too, although mine aren’t quite there yet.) All of mine (ages 6, 4, and 2) enjoy these.
Hope that gives you some ideas!
Jen
August 3, 2012 at 4:46 pm
MissusLeata
Participant
For the same reasons, I’m hoping to find some books that teach kids God’s Character. We like Big Truths for Little Kids, which is based on the Westminster Chatechism, but it’s short and I can’t use it all the time for devotions. Has anyone used “The Mighty Works of God”? It sounds interesting, but I haven’t gotten it yet. I’ve alost been thinking of “God’s Names” but haven’t bought it yet either..
August 3, 2012 at 5:30 pm
ourLittleFlock
Participant
Have you looked at Leading Little Ones to God? It seems to be a classic, but I confess I’ve only glanced at it. I just recently found this book with true accounts of children’s answered prayers. I am always inspired to see the hand of God at work and I think it promotes an atmosphere of prayer in our home. Amazon has a free sample for Kindle so you can read a few of the stories.
http://www.amazon.com/Asking-Father-ebook/dp/B007MVB68U/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344014209&sr=1-5
Another book I just found the other day, but haven’t seen is called Seeing God’s Purpose (there’s also Seeing God’s Wisdom) I was intrigued, but haven’t seen these first-hand either.
http://www.kingsleypress.com/seeing-gods-purpose-by-devern-fromke.html
We’ve used a devotional by Maxine Randall called Bright Gems for His Crown and that has worked for us. We also started reading a book called God Made Them Great by John Tallach that we’ve enjoyed.
~Kim
August 3, 2012 at 5:53 pm
Corie
Participant
I recently purchased A Child’s Book of Character Building 1 and 2, and I’m not sure it is going to be for us, either. I hadn’t put words to it, but I think it may be for reasons similar to yours. We have read Missionary Stories with the Millers, and we all loved it! We have Wisdom with the Millers and plan to do that this year. We will also be doing Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends.
If anyone has not read The Jesus Storybook Bible, I highly, HIGHLY recommend it. I think I would have to rank that book as our family favorite out of all of the storybook Bibles and devotionals we have, and we have many. 🙂 I have seriously considered giving it as a gift to adults; I love it that much. We have also done Big Truths for Little Kids, and we still go back and review from time to time. I like to use it alongside our other Bible readings. We also have Mighty Acts of God. I thought I loved it at first, but there were several typos that drove me a bit batty, and for whatever reason, it kind of fizzled for us. It is on our shelf right now, and may or may not come back out in the near future. We are currently reading through The Story for Kids. I am so-so on it, but my children seem to be enjoying it.
August 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm
bethanna
Participant
we like Keys for Kids from Children’s Bible Hour. They have both behavior and heart type stories. They have a website but I don’t know how to post a link.
August 3, 2012 at 9:30 pm
bethanna
Participant
we like Keys for Kids from Children’s Bible Hour. They have both behavior and heart type stories. They have a website but I don’t know how to post a link.
August 4, 2012 at 12:13 am
Britney
Member
I second the Jesus Storybook Bible! It is hands down the best Bible book we have ever bought! We sent a copy to the orphan we sponsor through our church and we give it as a gift to all the children in our family. There have been times it has brought me to tears! It truly makes Jesus so personal for my kids! LOVE IT!
August 4, 2012 at 4:41 pm
swelb21
Participant
I’m loving all these “reformed” titles! So great!!!

August 4, 2012 at 6:39 pm
andream
Participant
we have read and loved missionary stories with the millers also. We are currently reading, “Storytime with the MIllers” to my 4 and 7 year old. I like it b/c the stories are short enough that my 4 year old will listen and retain something and my 7 year old likes it, too. We read one chapter per week and she always begs for the next one. Last year we did “Leading LIttle Ones to God” and I liked it also. I think this year I will do one called, “Just Mom and Me Having Tea” with my daughter for some one on one sweet character builiding time. Oops, just noitced your oldest is a boy! Maybe you can keep that one in mind for when your daughter is older ; )
August 4, 2012 at 6:39 pm
andream
Participant
we have read and loved missionary stories with the millers also. We are currently reading, “Storytime with the MIllers” to my 4 and 7 year old. I like it b/c the stories are short enough that my 4 year old will listen and retain something and my 7 year old likes it, too. We read one chapter per week and she always begs for the next one. Last year we did “Leading LIttle Ones to God” and I liked it also. I think this year I will do one called, “Just Mom and Me Having Tea” with my daughter for some one on one sweet character builiding time. Oops, just noitced your oldest is a boy! Maybe you can keep that one in mind for when your daughter is older ; )
December 12, 2013 at 12:09 pm
katafus
Participant
I second the vote for Leading Little Ones to God, although we haven’t read about any specific character traits in that book yet. (We’re not even half way through it, though.) I really, really like the way the book presents foundational doctrines.
As for character, we’ve been using Crossroads of Character by the Boyer family.
I’m actually giving away a free copy on my blog this week, if you’re interested. I also did a review of their preschool character curriculum. They also have character curriculum for older kids, all the way through high school.
Here’s the giveaway and review: http://www.yankeehomestead.com/2013/12/10/giveaway-crossroads-character/