Children's Book Suggestions | Christian Fiction

Some of our favorite Christian-themed books for young readers, from board books and picture books about God's love to chapter books for older readers exploring Biblical stories and Christian beliefs. While the title says "fiction," we've expanded this list to include some popular nonfiction books as well.

Fiction stories with Christian themes are integrated into our general fiction sections and shelved under the author's last name.

Bible stories, books about prayer and faith, and other religious topics are shelved our Children's Nonfiction section starting at the number 220.

Books about Christmas and Easter are shelved at the end of our Christmas and Easter section under the number 225.

Updated October 19, 2024
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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A spoonful of faith
Holliday, Jena
Paper Book
A sweet rhyming picture book that reminds young readers that to make their dreams come true--"a spoonful of faith is all it takes!"--from debut author-illustrator Jena Holliday. An encouraging and hopeful picture book, perfect for anyone nervous about activities such as going back...

Christian influencer Jena Holliday tells a sweet story about using faith to navigate childhood challenges (Picture Books Age 4-8)

Grand Teton stampede
Fulton, C. R.
Paper Book
Isaiah is woken by a thunderous noise while camping in Grand Teton National Park, but when he, his cousin, and his sister investigate the next morning, something seems off when the tracks lead to a broken fence. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Chapter Books is an...

Each books in this series takes place a different national park, perfect for outdoor-loving readers (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

What is given from the heart
McKissack, Pat
Paper Book
CORETTA SCOTT KING - JOHN STEPTOEILLUSTRATORAWARD FOR NEW TALENTWINNER This final, magnificent picture book from three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and Newbery Honor author Patricia McKissack is a poignant and uplifting celebration of the joy of giving. ...

A story about generosity by one of the greatest Black children's authors of the 20th century (Children's Holiday Age 4-8)

Best family ever
Kingsbury, Karen
Paper Book
Now an original series on Prime Video Much-loved storyteller Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family books have captured the hearts of millions who have come to think of the Baxter family as their own. Now Karen Kingsbury and her son Tyler Russell tell the childhood stories of the...

Popular Christian Fiction author Karen Kingsbury takes the characters from her adult Baxter family books and explores the story from the children's point of view (Children's Fiction Grade 3-5)

The Vanishings
Jenkins, Jerry B.
Ebook
When millions disappear around the globe, four kids must face the chaos of the end times alone.A spin-off of the best-selling adult Left Behindseries, The Vanishingscaptures the Rapture and Tribulation through the eyes of a runaway, a rebel, a liar, and a skeptic--four kids who...
A classic Christian apocalypse story from the Y2K era about children left behind following the Rapture (Children's Fiction Grade 3-5)
The Mandie Collection: Volume 1
Leppard, Lois Gladys
Ebook
A collection of bestselling Mandie books 1-5 brings readers--new and old alike--back to where it started; over 6 million sold in the series. Ages 8-13.

For fans of American Girl and Boxcar Children, this historical fiction series features a group of young girls solving mysteries in early 20th century North Carolina (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
Lewis, C. S.
Paper Book
Don't miss one of America's top 100 most-loved novels, selected by PBS's The Great American Read. A mass-market paperback edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in the classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. This edition features cover art by Cliff Nielsen and...

A sweeping fantasy allegory of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Squirreled Away
Nawrocki, Michael
Digital file

A Diary of a Wimpy Kid-style graphic novel hybrid book that uses humor to help kids learn about Biblical history (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

Little pilgrim's progress
Taylor, Helen L.
Paper Book
To most children the record of Christian's pilgrimage is attractive simply as a story of adventure. But now Helen L. Taylor has simplified the vocabulary and concepts for younger readers, while keeping the story line intact. The result is a classic for youth, a delightful book with a message...

Animal protagonists take the spotlight in this retelling of John Bunyan's Christian classic, The Pilgrim's Progress (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The beginning
Thomas, M. J.
Paper Book
A mysterious scroll transports a brother and sister back in time to God's creation of the world in the first installment of this action-packed chapter book series for emerging readers. The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series follows siblings Peter and Mary and their dog, Hank, as...

A Magic Treehouse-style time travel story about two siblings and the scroll that transports them to their favorite Bible stories (Christian Fiction Grades 3-5)

Ways to make sunshine
Watson, Renée
Paper Book
From Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson, the first book in a young middle grade series about Ryan Hart, a girl who is pure spirit, kindness, and sunshine. Ryan Hart can be and do anything. Her name means "king", that she is a leader, and she...

A modern story inspired by Beverly Cleary's Ramona books, this series features familiar Portland-area landmarks and seamlessly integrates the Hart family's Christian faith into descriptions of their everyday life (Children's Fiction Grades 3-5)

The Door in the Dragon's Throat. The Cooper kids adventure series
Peretti, Frank E.
Digital file
A mystery as old as the desert sands... When teenagers Jay and Lila Cooper and their archaeologist father travel to Nepur, an uninviting land of deserts and danger, they must search to uncover the truth behind an ancient legend. Locals claim that inside a dark cavern called...

A classic Christian fiction adventure story set in an archaeological ruin, great for fans of the Indiana Jones movies (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

John Bunyan's Pilgrim's progress : a retelling
Schmidt, Gary D.
Paper Book
This volume offers a superb retelling in contemporary language of John Bunyan's beloved classic, masterfully illustrated with fifty watercolor paintings by Barry Moser.

An illustrated retelling of John Bunyan's Christian classic The Pilgrim's Progress by an award-winning children's author (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

The bronze bow
Speare, Elizabeth George.
Paper Book
In this Newbery Medal-winning novel, Daniel bar Jamin will stop at nothing to seek revenge for his father's death at the hands of the Roman Empire. After Daniel bar Jamin's father is crucified by the Roman Empire, Daniel wants nothing more than to rid his land of Israel of...

An award-winning historical fiction novel by the author of The Witch of Blackbird Pond, telling the story of a young boy who comes to Christianity during Jesus' final days (Young Teen Fiction Grades 5-7)

God's Smuggler
Andrew, Brother
Ebook
Sixty years after Brother Andrew's first trip, his classic, thrilling account of smuggling Bibles across closed borders will inspire new readers.

A memoir by a Dutch Christian who smuggled Bibles into Communist countries during the Cold War (Children's Nonfiction Age 9-12)

What is God like
Evans, Rachel Held
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER . The late, beloved Rachel Held Evans answers many children's first question about God in this gorgeous picture book, fully realized by her friend Matthew Paul Turner, the bestselling author of When God Made You. Children who are...

A book answering children's questions about God by the late writer Rachel Held Evans (Children's Nonfiction Age 3-7)

How to Pray
Greig, Pete
Ebook
2021 ECPA Award Finalist in the Christian Living Category"An instant spiritual classic." ―Christianity TodayIs prayer the most challenging area of your Christian journey? It doesn't have to be. Pete Greig, one of the founders of 24-7 Prayer International, is...

A fun, interactive guide to helping elementary-age kids develop a daily prayer habit (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-11)

What are the ten commandments?
McDonough, Yona Zeldis
Paper Book
Learn the story behind the ten laws that have been the guiding light of Judeo-Christian belief. Not just about Moses, whose origin story leaves open questions, this book looks back at the time when the commandments were written, how the belief in one all-powerful God set the...

The popular Who HQ series includes a couple of books featuring Bible stories, including the Ten Commandments and the life of Jesus (Children's Nonfiction Age 8-11)

Saint spotting, or, How to read a church
Raschka, Christopher
Paper Book
A church is a weighty thing, isn't it? Its doors are heavy and hard to budge. Its walls are made of stone. And there may be strange or even scary pictures inside. How can a small person make sense of these intimidating places? Two-time Caldecott medalist Chris Raschka shares his mother's...

A Caldecott medalist explores the beauty and mystery of a Catholic church. Catholic readers might also be interested in our books on saints and sacraments, which are shelved in Children's Nonfiction in the 230s (Children's Nonfiction Age 4-8)

Lullaby for the King
Grimes, Nikki
Paper Book
An awe-inspiring Christmas tale from multi-award-winning poet Nikki Grimes. The caravan traveled through wilderness, uphill and down, for hours that spun into days. Then at last, glittering diamond-bright, Bethlehem appeared through the haze. With...

Acclaimed poet Nikki Grimes tells a story of animals processing to Bethlehem for the birth of Christ. Find more picture book retellings of the Biblical Christmas story at the end of the Christmas section in CHR 225)


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