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 November 2, 2023
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County)Oregon City Public Library
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Counting on Naamah : a mathematical midrash on Noah's ark
Lyons, Erica
Paper Book
Rosie Revere Engineer meets Noah's Ark! What if Naamah, Noah's wife, was actually a math and engineering whiz? Enjoy this fun, zany, and girl-powered take on the traditional Noah's Ark story. Included in Best Jewish Children's Books of 2023, Tablet Magazine Included...

A math-themed picture book that combines the story of Noah\'s Ark with basic STEM skills. (Picture Book Age 4-9)

Early Sunday morning
Millner, Denene
Paper Book
Early Sunday Morning is the first offering from Denene Millner Books, the new children's line published under Agate's Bolden imprint in partnership with Denene Millner, the noted parenting authority, editor, and New York Times bestselling author. Love and family....

A young girl prepares to sing her first solo with her church choir (Picture Books Age 4-8)

What is given from the heart
McKissack, Pat
Paper Book
CORETTA SCOTT KING - JOHN STEPTOE ILLUSTRATOR AWARD FOR NEW TALENT WINNER 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 lion, the witch, and the wardrobe
Lewis, C. S.
Paper Book
A beautiful hardcover edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, book two in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia.  The full-color jacket features art by three-time Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator David Wiesner. The interior includes ...

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

Squirreled away
Nawrocki, Michael
Paper Book
Mike Nawrocki, co-creator of VeggieTales, is back, this time with some furry friends!In the first installment of this hilarious new chapter-book series, ten-year-old Michael and his friend Justin sneak into the Dead Sea caves near the archaeological dig where Michael's dad is working. Michael...

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)

The green ember
Smith, S. D.
Paper Book
Heather and Picket are extraordinary rabbits with ordinary lives until calamitous events overtake them, spilling them into a cauldron of misadventures. They discover that their own story is bound up in the tumult threatening to overwhelm the wider world. Kings fall and kingdoms totter. Tyrants...

A gentler take on the Redwall series, with animal protagonists in a medieval European-inspired setting centered on a Christian worldview (Children's Books Grades 3-5)

Little pilgrim's progress
Taylor, Helen L.
Audiobook
Fifty-five years ago, Helen L. Taylor took John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress and simplified the vocabulary and concepts for young readers while keeping the storyline intact. The result was a classic in itself, which has now sold over 600,000 copies. It's both a simple adventure story and a profound...

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.
Audiobook
A mysterious scroll transports a brother and sister back to the time of God's creation of the world in this chapter book for emerging readers.The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls series follows siblings Peter and Mary and their dog, Hank, as they discover ancient scrolls that transport them back to key...

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)

Pilgrim's progress
Schmidt, Gary D.
Ebook
National Book Award finalist and two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Gary D. Schmidt recaptures the classic tale of one man's spiritual journey in this contemporary retelling of John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, masterfully illustrated with watercolors by artist 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 is fired by only one passion: to avenge his father's death by crucifixion by driving the Roman legions from his land of Israel. He joins an outlaw band and leads a dangerous life of spying, plotting, and impatiently waiting to seek revenge....

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
Millions have been awed by this riveting true-life spy story of a Dutch factory worker going undercover to take Bibles behind closed borders. Let this captivating illustrated edition for readers ages 9 to 12 introduce the young people in your life to one of the heroes of the faith--and the...

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)

Eve and Adam and the very first day
Kimmelman, Leslie
Paper Book
"Gloriously beautiful and tender." --Kirkus Starred Review In this unusual retelling, the biblical story of creation is told from Eve's perspective and explores what it might have been like emotionally for the world's first two people to experience everything for the very...

A vibrant retelling of the story from the book of Genesis. (Children\'s Nonfiction Age 4-7)

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)

Saint Valentine the Kindhearted
Bustard, Ned
Paper Book
We celebrate Valentine's Day with flowers, candy, and cards for the people we love. But have you ever wondered why we do this on February 14? Learn all about Saint Valentine, a man whose life of kindness and love inspires us each year to let others know how much they mean to...

A book about St. Valentine with an emphasis on his religious origins and ties to modern Christian faith. (Holiday Book Age 5-8)

He is risen : rocks tell the story of Easter
Rokus, Patti
Paper Book
This unique and unforgettable picture book uses rock art and simple text to tell children the story of the miracle of Easter--the resurrection of Jesus. Through the arrangement of a few rocks and powerful words directly from Scripture, the entire Easter story is told in He Is Risen:...

This striking story of the resurrection is told using photos of rock sculptures. Find more picture book retellings of the Biblical Easter story at the end of the Easter section in EAS 225 (Children's Holiday Age 4-8)

Bare tree and Little wind : a story for Holy Week
Perkins, Mitali
Paper Book
A lyrical, captivating retelling of the Palm Sunday and Easter story from National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins, author of Rickshaw Girl, that is sure to become a beloved tradition for families of faith. Little Wind and the trees of Jerusalem can't wait for Real King...

Award-winning author Mitali Perkins retells the story of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to the resurrection. (Holiday Picture Book Age 3-6)


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