Posts by Betsy Farquhar
*Glory, Too: Poems by Nikki Grimes
Glory, Too: Poems by Nikki Grimes is a beautiful anthology of poetry inspired by Scripture.
Read More*Glory in the Margins: Sunday Poems by Nikki Grimes
Glory in the Margins: Sunday Poems is a striking, and deeply spiritual, collection of poetry worth savoring.
Read More*Painting Wonder by Katie Wray Schon
Painting Wonder, an outstanding example of a picture book biography, is a sure winner for all Narnia and Tolkien fans.
Read MoreThat Book Woman by Heather Henson
Part story of Appalachia, part story of the original Pack Horse Librarians, all story about finding a love of reading, That Book Woman is a feel good story in the best possible sense.
Read MoreBirds of a Feather: Bird Books for Kids
A short list of favorite books about birds and bird-watching.
Read MoreA Wonderful Surprise by Sally Michael
A Wonderful Surprise looks at Easter through the lens of one short scripture passage which children are encouraged to memorize.
Read MoreTrouble Dog by Carol A. Foote
Trouble Dog is a fun nonfiction read to look for at your local library. Young dog owners will especially enjoy!
Read MoreCounting Winter by Nancy White Carlstrom
Counting Winter is a clever picture book that manages to mix counting, nature study, and poetry into one irresistible wintry package.
Read MoreThe Most Beautiful Winter by Cristina Sitja Rubio
The Most Beautiful Winter celebrates new friends, creativity, and seasonal delights.
Read More*Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence
Beyond Mulberry Glen is a deeply satisfying, enjoyable fantasy that would make a great family read aloud.
Read MoreThe Legend of Greyhallow by Summer Rachel Short
The Legend of Greyhallow is a fun, inventive fantasy, perfect for an entertaining, recreational read.
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Kirsten Turner, the 21st c. Packhorse Librarian
An interview with Kirsten Turner, founder of one of the 21st century Packhorse Librarian movements helping the Appalachias
Read MoreThe Prince of Yorsha Doon by Andrew Peterson
The Prince of Yorsha Doon is a fun adventurous romp in the form of a picture book for fans of The Wingfeather Saga.
Read More*Soul School by Amber O’Neal Johnston
Soul School is a well-researched, thoughtful, and joyful exploration of Black literature for children and teens. Highly recommended.
Read More*Go Forth and Tell by Breanna J. McDaniel
Lively and inspirational, Go Forth and Tell shows a woman who took her calling as a storyteller seriously.
Read MoreCoretta: The Autobiography of Mrs. Coretta Scott King by Coretta Scott King
Coretta herself tells the story of her life with Martin Luther King, Jr., in this beautifully illustrated picture book biography.
Read MoreMy Block Looks Like by Janelle Harper
Dynamic and vibrant, My Block Looks Like is a fun ode to life in the big city.
Read MoreJosé Feeds the World by David Unger
José Feeds the World is a cheerfully-illustrated picture book biography about a servant-heart who feeds those in need.
Read More*Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo
*Just Like Millie is a sweet picture book about friendship with outstanding illustrations.
Read MoreA Friend for Eddy by Ann Kim Ha
A Friend for Eddy is absolutely perfect for a story time read aloud to a group of young children.
Read MoreKing & Kayla Series by Dori Hillestad Butler
The King & Kayla series offers up warm, winsome humor (and mysteries, too!) for newly independent readers.
Read MoreTop Posts from 2024
It’s always fun for us to look back and see what you, our readers, enjoyed most during the year. Below are the top posts of 2024 (and book review categories) based upon our web traffic. Do you agree? Did you like them, too? Did you like a different post or category better? If you’ve missed…
Read MoreKaty and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton
Katy and the Big Snow is pitch perfect as a kindergarten/early elementary age read aloud.
Read MoreThe Miniature World of Marvin and James by Elise Broach and illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Large font, vivid illustrations on every page, and a simple plot make The Miniature World of Marvin and James a good fit for new readers looking to build their reading confidence.
Read MoreGlad and Golden Hours by Lanier Ivester
Glad and Golden Hours is a lovely companion to Christ-centered Christmas celebrations, both in anticipation of Christmas Day and during the 12 days following.
Read MoreI Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis
Part of the popular I Survived Series, I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 is a lively introduction to what the Revolutionary War might have been like for one young boy.
Read MoreGifts for Grownups, Round 2
Even though your Redeemed Reader team is reading a plethora of books for children and teens, we do also read grownup books, too! A few years ago, we crowd-sourced an outstanding list of gift suggestions for adult readers. We benefited from that list ourselves. Today, we bring you part 2, based on our own reading…
Read More📚Amazon Black Friday BOOK Deals (2024)
We resist posting much Christmas content before Thanksgiving, but we also know that *many* of you are watching those Black Friday deals. Side note: since when did “Black FriDAY” become “Black Friday WEEK”? I digress. A gazillion children’s books are currently on sale on amazon right now. Since we’re reading ahead for you, we’re gonna…
Read MoreFrindle and The Frindle Files by Andrew Clements
The Frindle Files brings Nicholas Allen, from Frindle fame, back into the limelight in this lively follow-up for middle grade readers.
Read MoreNeighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy
Vividly illustrated, Neighborhood Sharks brings readers up close and personal with one of nature’s most fearsome apex predators.
Read MoreWho Built That? Bridges by Didier Cornille
Who Built That? Bridges is a clever picture book-in-translation that illustrates ten famous bridges and the construction process and engineers behind them.
Read More*Big Book of Math by Katherine Hannon
The Big Book of Math is a timeline book absolutely filled with mathematical figures, faces, and facts, all situated within the context of a biblical worldview.
Read MoreHome Is Right Where You Are by Ruth Chou Simons
Home Is Right Where You Are: Ruth Chou Simons takes inspiration from Psalm 23 in this gentle, loving reminder to her reader that the Lord is with us wherever we go.
Read More*A Wondrous Mystery: Daily Advent Devotions by Charles Spurgeon
Joyful and thoughtful, A Wondrous Mystery offers 30 devotional readings drawn from Charles Spurgeon’s sermons.
Read More*Promises Made Promises Kept: A Family Devotional for Christmas by Marty Machowski
Promises Made Promises Kept is a short, engaging, 2-week Christmas devotional that invites families to look at God’s promises in the Old Testament that are fulfilled in Jesus in the New Testament.
Read More*Something Sad Happened: Helping Children with Grief by Darby A. Strickland
Something Sad Happened is a childlike look at what grief feels like, how we cope with it, and what the Bible has to say.
Read MoreAbsent Fathers in Children’s Literature: A Problem?
Are absent fathers a new problem in children’s literature? Or are they a long-used plot device?
Read More“More Pages” Does Not Equal “More Rigor”
Long works (more pages) do not necessarily equal more rigor.
Read MoreA Scarecrow Dressed Up: An Educator’s Response to AI-Generated Homework
Nearly every piece of writing I’ve read that’s been AI-generated has lacked oomph, substance, an opinion.
Read MoreA World Wonder by Laura Wifler
A World Wonder cheerfully celebrates the real world wonders and reminds readers to fully invest in both their work and the people around them.
Read MoreChoosing Biographies: Practical Considerations
Some practical considerations to keep in mind when choosing biographies for your children or students.
Read MoreJack Zulu and the Girl with the Golden Wings by S. D. Smith
Jack Zulu and the Girl with the Golden Wings is an exhilarating installment in the Jack Zulu series, but it will leave you wanting more!
Read MoreChoosing Biographies: Start with Your “Why”
What is the most important question in choosing biographies? We’ve got the answer!
Read MoreThe Minor Miracle by Meredith Davis
The Minor Miracle is a light-hearted, fun read with lots of heart, perfect for fans of comic books, superheroes, and friends.
Read More3 Devotionals for Teens (or Families with Teens)
These devotionals for teens are not all specifically for “teens,” but all are accessible to teens, all are grounded in God’s Word, and all have merit.
Read MoreWorld More Beautiful by Angela Burke Kunkel
World More Beautiful brings to life the world and art of Barbara Cooney, creator of beloved picture book classics like Roxaboxen and Miss Rumphius.
Read More*The Wilderking Trilogy by Jonathan Rogers (20th anniversary editions)
Aidan, fifth son of a Lord of Corenwald, befriends Feechies, defeats a giant, and leads a loyal group of followers in this middle grades fantasy retelling of the biblical story of King David.
Read MoreEvan Miller Is Waking Down by Jerel Law
Evan Miller Is Waking Down is an interesting addition to the dystopian fiction landscape that is thought-provoking and clean.
Read More*Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton
A modern classic, Cry, the Beloved Country movingly illustrates how faith and culture intersect in Apartheid-era South Africa.
Read More*Indescribable Atlas Adventures by Louie Giglio
Indescribable Atlas Adventures is a large format picture book full of interesting details about the world God made, including people, places, and animals.
Read MoreElf Dog and Owl Head by M. T. Anderson
Clay befriends a strange elf dog in this tale that mixes friendship and the fae.
Read More*Risen Hope: The Church Throughout History by Luke Davis
Risen Hope is an engagingly written church history resource from Christian Focus for middle grades and teens.
Read MoreHow Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford
In this award-winning picture book, we learn about MacNolia and her fight for the National Spelling Bee championship as a Black girl in 1936.
Read MoreBuilt to Last by Dan Santat and Minh Lê
In this beautiful picture book, two boys want to build something that will last, but their final product is not what they first expect.
Read MoreWhat the World Eats: A Roundup of Global Food Books
If you’re traveling the world with us this summer, consider looking for one of the books below, like What the World Eats, in your local library and reading/eating through it with your children!
Read MoreKailani’s Gift by Dorian Lazo Gilmore-Young
Kailani’s Gift features a young girl who wants to honor her grandparents for their 50th wedding anniversary by learning tinikling.
Read MoreGlobal Prayer Resources: Operation World and Window on the World and More
How can we better pray for our brothers and sisters around the world? Operation World and Window on the World help us pray for God’s people wherever they may be found.
Read More*Rwendigo Tales by J. A. Myhre
Dr. Myhre wrote the engaging Rwendigo Tales, a middle grades series with spiritual overtones, based upon her experience as a doctor serving in Africa.
Read More*Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
Where the Mountain Meets the Moon is a lovely story about gratitude and Chinese mythology for middle grades.
Read MoreKentucky Derby Book List: Books for Young Horse Lovers
Books about horses for horse lovers of all ages, boys and girls, just in time for the Kentucky Derby events this weekend.
Read MoreOffsides by Lori Z. Scott
In Offsides, Dani just wants to play soccer and have the best senior year ever, but she’s suddenly alert to the signs of a sex trafficking ring right in her own community.
Read MoreThe Looking-Glass Illusion by Sara Ella
The Looking-Glass Illusion brings the story from The Wonderland Trials to a clever and satisfying conclusion in this fantasy series for teens.
Read MoreJulie Fogliano, Children’s Poet
Julie Fogliano’s poetry for children expects them to read between the lines, to appreciate a delicate, spare language. And it works. She understands the essence of childhood.
Read MoreSmall Poems and Peacock by Valerie Worth (and illustrated by Natalie Babbitt)
Small poetry books full of small poems and small drawings: just right for small hands and small listening ears.
Read MoreThe Book Scavenger Series by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
The Book Scavenger Series is an engaging middle grades mystery series for book lovers and puzzle aficionados.
Read MoreLauren Castillo’s Art: Nana in the Country, It’s Not Time for Sleeping, Twenty Yawns, The Ramble Shamble Children
Lauren Castillo’s bold outlines and childlike compositions make these books accessible to young readers and their parents, too.
Read MoreDune: Book vs. Movie
Reading Dune (with teens) vs watching the movies (with teens): a Christian reader reflects.
Read MoreArc of a Scythe Trilogy by Neal Shusterman
The Arc of a Scythe Trilogy is a thought-provoking dystopian series for mature teens; it has problematic elements, but raises good questions about the essential nature of humanity.
Read MoreRecent Picture Books from New Growth Press: My First ABC Book of Bible Verses, Something Scary Happened, Our Great God
Three recent picture books from New Growth Press help parents and care givers disciple and nurture children.
Read MoreRecent Christian Picture Books: God’s Signpost, The God Contest, and The 10 Commandments
Three recent Christian picture books show children more about who God is and how He instructs us.
Read MoreThe Sacred Sacrifice by Hannah Paris
In The Sacred Sacrifice, Paris is proposing we use Bach’s St. Matthew Passion in Lent and Easter much like we enjoy Handel’s Messiah during Advent and Christmas.
Read More*African Heroes by Jerome Gay, Jr.
African Heroes introduces children to heroes of the faith who are from Africa in this vibrantly illustrated picture book from New Growth Press.
Read More2024 Newbery Buzz #5: Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins
Today, we’re looking at a book by a favorite author, wondering if it has what it takes: Hope in the Valley by Mitali Perkins.
Read More2024 Newbery Buzz #2: Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus
Today, we’re looking at a solid historical fiction option, wondering if it has what it takes: Nothing Else But Miracles by Kate Albus.
Read MoreScythe (Arc of a Scythe #1) by Neal Shusterman
Scythe is the first in a gritty dystopian trilogy about a society in which no one can die… unless a scythe gleans him or her. And scythes have a quota to fill….
Read More2024 Newbery Buzz #1: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
A First Time For Everything has already won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. Could it also win the Newbery?
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Elizabeth Farquhar (Teen Writer)
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual conversation about books. Our guest today is Elizabeth Farquhar, a teen writer.
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Josiah DeGraaf (Director of Young Writers Workshop)
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual conversation about books. Our guest today is Josiah DeGraaf, director of the Young Writers Workshop.
Read MoreMooses with Bazookas by S. D. Smith
Mooses with Bazookas is a light-hearted, funny romp through humorous letters and stories; they remind us not to take ourselves too seriously!
Read More*Daughter of Arden Trilogy by Loren Warnemuende
The Daughter of Arden Trilogy is an epic retelling of an older fairy tale; in its new version, strong echoes of Christian faith mingle with a romance, a war, and a quest.
Read More*Journey to Bethlehem by Leland Ryken
Journey to Bethlehem is a lovely anthology of historic Christmas poetry, hymns, and devotionals. Starred review!
Read MoreGift Books for Grown-Ups
Redeemed Reader exists to “shed a gospel light on books for children and teens.” But you know what? We read books for grown-ups, too! We asked a few friends of Redeemed Reader to help us curate a dynamite list of books for grown-ups that would make great gifts this year. You might also consider this…
Read MoreNiche Nonfiction for Teens (AKA “Living Books”): A Book List
Living books for teens make great gifts, especially niche nonfiction in subjects they love!
Read MoreBetsy’s Favorite Books, Old and New
Betsy shares her favorite books that are featured in our Winter Book Fair.
Read MoreChristian Christmas Picture Books Round-Up
Four Christian Christmas picture books that celebrate the birth of Christ. One uses the biblical text; others are more imaginative.
Read MoreTomie DePaola Christmas Picture Books Round-Up
Four Christmas picture books by Tomie DePaola, three of which are about the Christmas story and one of which is about Strega Nona.
Read MoreA Stubborn Sweetness by Katherine Paterson
“A Stubborn Sweetness” is one of 15 short stories that celebrate the truth, beauty, and goodness of the real meaning of Christmas.
Read MoreWicked History Series: Henry VIII, Leopold II, and Rasputin
The Wicked History series offers a lively, interesting, and well-researched option for learning about the villains of history
Read MoreWhich Version of The Diary of Anne Frank Is Best?
Is The Definitive Edition of The Diary of Anne Frank better than the “original”?
Read MoreThe Weary World Rejoices, edited by Melissa Kruger
The Weary World Rejoices is a collection of Advent readings from the Gospel Coalition that relate to the Advent wreath. For teens and up.
Read MoreAwaiting the Manger by Ocieanna Fleiss
Awaiting the Manger, an Advent devotional for teens and up, uses stories from the Old Testament to point to the coming of Jesus.
Read MoreHe Came Down From Heaven by Laurel Sauder
He Came Down From Heaven offers 25 days of biblical readings and cultural enrichment for families who celebrate Advent.
Read More*Seeds of America Trilogy by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Seeds of America Trilogy powerfully examines some of the complex ideas of the American Revolution: freedom, justice, and equality for all.
Read MoreFever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
Yellow fever sweeps through Philadelphia, challenging young Mattie to the core in this historical fiction novel for young teens.
Read MoreBack Porch Book Chat: Carolyn Givens (Author, Publisher, Reader)
Back Porch Book Chat: A casual conversation about books. Our guest today is Carolyn Givens.
Read MoreRetro Reads: The Rescuers by Margery Sharp
The Rescuers by Margery Sharp offers fun, old-fashioned storytelling that bears little resemblance to the Disney movie. The Rescuers by Margery Sharp, illustrated by Garth Williams. New York Review Books, 2016 (re-issue). 160 pages. I can sing every word of the songs from the animated Rescuers movie—truly, one of the classics of its genre. So, it…
Read MoreWhile Everyone Is Sleeping by Sarah Mackenzie
While Everyone Is Sleeping is a sweet bedtime book, perfect for cozy nights.
Read More*Charis in the World of Wonders by Marly Youmans
Charis in the World of Wonders is a richly satisfying novel of a young Puritan woman who learns much about the world and herself through hardship and perseverance.
Read MoreCode of Silence and Back Before Dark by Tim Shoemaker
A heart-pounding mystery series, with hidden twists and turns at every corner and a powerful message. Note: this is a guest review. See below for more information! Code of Silence Series by Tim Shoemaker. Zonderkidz. Reading Level: Teens, ages 12-15 Recommended For: Ages 12 and up; note considerations below. The Code of Silence series, written by Tim…
Read MoreImpossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung
Impossible Christianity is a breath of fresh air for those Christians feeling weighed down by false guilt over unbiblical expectations. Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung. Crossway, 2023. 160 pages. When I was a brand new college graduate, I read Transforming Grace by Jerry Bridges with a friend. And it transformed my life. Impossible Christianity reminded…
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