the good book

Bible Review: NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith Hope and Love

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 26, 2016

NIV Bible for Teen Girls: Growing in Faith, Hope and Love. Zondervan, 2015, 1728 pages. (available in hard- and soft-cover editions) Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 21, 2016

NKJV Study Bible for Kids. Thomas Nelson, 2015, 1536 pages. Hardcover edition Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 10-12 Bottom Line: The ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 8, 2015

*Unfortunately, it looks like this program is no longer available. Consider this review a source of inspiration! If you create something like this, be sure ...

By Megan Saben | Jun 3, 2015

Everything a Child Should Know About God by Kenneth N. Taylor, illustrated by Jenny Brake. 10Publishing, 2014. 188 pages. Reading Level: Picture books, Ages 0-4 ...

By Megan Saben | Apr 11, 2015

*God’s Word by Sally Michael, illustrated by Fred Apps. P&R, 2015. 128 pages. - a joint review from Megan and Betsy Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 31, 2015

God Girl Bible ESV and God Guy Bible ESV edited by Michael and Hayley DiMarco. Crossway, 2014 (latest edition). 1488 pages. Reading Level: ages 12-14 ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 30, 2015

The Story, NIV: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People (Also available in NKJV). Zondervan, 2011. 513 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 27, 2015

Guys Life Application Study Bible NLT. Tyndale House, 2013 (second edition). 1562 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-14 Bottom Line: ...

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 27, 2015

God’s Word for Boys and God’s Word for Girls. Larry Richards, general editor. Baker, 2014 (latest edition), 1713 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Feb 26, 2015

*Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional by Scott James. New Growth Press, 2015. 64 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages ...

Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada

By Megan Saben | Dec 3, 2014

Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada, illustrated by Sergio Martinez. Crossway, 2004. 96 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages ...

*A Light for my Path: An ABC Book Based on Psalm 119 by Davis Carman, illustrated by Alice Ratterree

By Megan Saben | Nov 26, 2014

This book is a "Best of the Best" pick from our Winter Book Fair. CLICK HERE to see more gift ideas! *A Light for My ...

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 20, 2014

The Dawning of Indestructible Joy: Daily Readings for Advent by John Piper. Crossway, 2014,96 pages Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15 Maturity Level: 6 (ages ...

Every Valley by Albert L. Blackwell

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 20, 2014

Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah by Albert L. Blackwell. Westminster John Knox Press, 2014. 160 pages. Reading Level: Adults (16 and up)Recommended ...

*Unwrapping the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

By Megan Saben | Nov 5, 2014

*Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas by Ann Voskamp. Tyndale, 2014. 154 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4 and upMaturity Level: 2 (ages ...

Thinking Christianly–about Everything

By Janie Cheaney | May 7, 2014

Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition series, by various authors. Crossway, 2012-2016, 110-140 pages each. Age/interest level: 16-up. This fall, bright, committed Christian students will pack ...

Family Devotional Time

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 18, 2014

Even though I have some reservations about personal devotional books, expressed here, family devotions are another story. While some formats are “less optimal” than others, ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 17, 2014

The Family Reading Bible: a Joyful Discovery: Explore God's Word Together, NIV. Zondervan, 2010, 2336 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: all ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 17, 2014

The Story: Teen Edition. Zondervan, 2011, 498 pages (paperback). Reading Level: Middle Grades ages 10-13 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom Line: This teen edition of ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 17, 2014

The NIV Jesus Bible, Zondervan, 2014, 1760 pages Reading Level: Middle Grades, 8-10 Recommended for: ages 8-12 Bottom Line: This children's version of the NIV ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 17, 2014

NKJV Ignite: the Bible for Teens. Thomas Nelson, 2013, 1600 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom Line: Ignite offers ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 17, 2014

NKJV Extreme Teen Study Bible, Thomas Nelson, 2012, 1792 pages, for ages 13-18 Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages 12-15 Bottom Line: ...

The Case for Christ for Kids: 90-Day Devotional

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 7, 2014

The Case for Christ for Kids 90-Day Devotional, by Lee Strobel and Jesse Florea. Zonderkidz, 2013, 199 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grade, ages 8-10 Recommended ...

The Doctrines of Grace by Shane Lems

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 7, 2014

The Doctrines of Grace, Student Edition, by Shane Lems. P&R Publishing, 2013, 143 pages, included appendices. Reading Level: Young Adult, ages 12-15 Recommended for: ages ...

How God Used a Thunderstorm by Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn

By Megan Saben | Oct 17, 2013

*How God Used a Thunderstorm and Other Devotional Stories by Joel R. Beeke and Diana Kleyn, illustrated by Jeff Anderson (Building on the Rock Series). ...

Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt and Cory Godbey

By Betsy Farquhar | May 6, 2013

Sammy and His Shepherd by Susan Hunt and Cory Godbey. Reformation Trust, 2008. 56 pages. Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 0-8 Geared for slightly younger children ...

cover of Cassie and Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design

Cassie and Caleb Discover God’s Wonderful Design by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt

By Betsy Farquhar | May 6, 2013

Cassie and Caleb Discover God's Wonderful Design by Susan Hunt and Richie Hunt. Moody, 2013. 96 pages. Reading Level: Devotional, ages 4-8 Susan Hunt and ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 28, 2013

Rock Solid Faith introduces teens to the principles and characters of the Bible in a generally helpful way. Rock Solid Faith Study Bible for Teens. ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2013

NIV Faithgirlz! Bible. Zonderkidz, 2012, 1504 page. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-12 (especially girls!) Bottom Line: The Faithgirlz! Bible, geared ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2013

*The HCSB Illustrated Study Bible for Kids. Boardman and Holman, 2007, 1104 pages. Recommended for: ages 7-12. Available in a variety of covers to appeal ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2013

Kids' Devotional Bible, NIrV. Zonderkidz, 2006, 1664 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, ages 8-10 Recommended for: ages 6-10 Bottom Line: The Kids' Devotional Bible is ...

Sorting Out the Children’s Bible Market

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2013

Yesterday’s post addressed the general subject of children’s Bibles and how to evaluate them for the particular needs of each child and family. But all ...

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 3, 2013

*The HCSB Illustrated Study Bible for Kids. Boardman and Holman, 2007, 1104 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 10-12 Recommended for: ages 10-14 Bottom Line: ...

Choosing Your Child’s First REAL Bible: Some Considerations

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 2, 2013

Last Tuesday we looked at a range of new Bible storybooks and early reader “Bibles.” On Friday, we picked our way through the field of ...

Toddling into the Word: First Bible Storybooks and Early-Reader Bibles

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 26, 2013

What could be more appropriate for Holy Week than a survey of children’s Bibles and Bible storybooks? That’s what I foolishly thought, treatment but this ...

By emily | Jan 14, 2013

THE CHURCH: On to Glory! This is our last part of the yearly study! For those of you who make it this far, congratulations, and ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 48

By emily | Dec 31, 2012

THE CHURCH: It’s hard for most of us to think of the church as a “real” family. But it is! And this week we'll read ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 47

By emily | Dec 16, 2012

THE CHURCH: By Faith Alone If the long history of mankind's failure to keep God's law, from Adam to us, were not enough to prove ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 46

By emily | Dec 3, 2012

THE CHURCH: Christ the Center We've moved now from Acts to the Epistles, and this week we'll talk about how Paul, Peter and the other ...

O Come, Emmanuel

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 30, 2012

Every year advent takes me by surprise--otherwise I would have posted this last week! Family advent readers come down from the shelves this time of ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 45

By emily | Nov 26, 2012

THE CHURCH: To the uttermost ends of the earth Again, the gospel finds fertile ground as it spread through all the earth! Study Guides: pdf. ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 44

By emily | Nov 19, 2012

THE CHURCH: To the Gentiles The gospel, now spreading out of Jerusalem and into Samaria, is now extended even further--from Jews to Gentiles. Great news ...

By emily | Nov 12, 2012

THE CHURCH: From Jerusalem to Samaria Now that the Holy Spirit is directing their hearts and minds, early Christians spread the gospel from Jerusalem and ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 42

By emily | Nov 4, 2012

THE CHURCH: Resurrection and Pentecost Study Guides: pdf. download, Sorry guys...this will return next week! pdf. download, Ages 9-13, Week 42 Make-Your-Own-Story-Bible Resources: .pdf download: ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 41

By emily | Oct 28, 2012

MESSIAH: The Lamb of God ?By the end of the week, the worst thing that they could ever imagine had happened. And they were right: ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 40

By emily | Oct 21, 2012

MESSIAH: The Last Week ?During Jesus's last week, His enemies finally get the upper hand. It's a week of sorrow and suffering for Jesus--a week ...

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing: Savoring Sally Lloyd Jones’ New Book

By emily | Oct 20, 2012

This October, the team that brought you The Jesus Storybook Bible released a unique new book, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. At 224 pages, ...

Quiet Time for Kids

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 19, 2012

“Thy word have I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin . . .” (Ps. 119:11) More than anything, Christian parents want ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 39

By emily | Oct 14, 2012

MESSIAH: The Road to Jerusalem ?Life is good for the disciples and the people following Jesus this week. Christ is healing the sick, online raising ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 38

By emily | Oct 7, 2012

MESSIAH: Signs and Wonders When Jesus brought the Kingdom of Heaven near, he did more than teach. He healed the sick and raised the dead. ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 37

By emily | Sep 30, 2012

MESSIAH: The Kingdom of Heaven ?What is the kingdom of heaven? And what did Christ teach us about it during His earthly ministry? We'll learn ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 36

By emily | Sep 23, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah–Jesus’ Baptism and Temptation ?Why was Jesus baptized if he didn't need to be born again? And why did the Devil bother tempting ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 35

By emily | Sep 16, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah–Jesus' Birth and Childhood The Messiah is here! Study Guides: pdf. download, use the older version this week for Ages 4-8 (I'm out ...

By emily | Sep 8, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Messiah--The Forerunner In Malachi's book of prophecy, God has fulfilled another promise. He's brought His people back out of Babylonian captivity and into ...

By emily | Aug 26, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Daniel Daniel is the prophet among kings. Rather than speaking to God's people primarily, God sends Daniel to witness to the pagan kings ...

By emily | Aug 22, 2012

Once again, this week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We’ve been covering the scope of the entire ...

By emily | Aug 13, 2012

Once again, this week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We’ve been covering the scope of the entire ...

By emily | Aug 12, 2012

Hey guys, this is just a quick note to say that we're not quite finished with the Bible Challenge this week. Since we're working with ...

By emily | Aug 8, 2012

This week Janie and I have the honor of hosting Evan Hughes as our artist-in-residence. We've been covering the scope of the entire Bible in ...

By emily | Aug 5, 2012

Big news about our Bible reading challenge! 1) While Carl is away, we have enlisted Evan Hughes, illustrator of William Boekestein's books among others, to ...

By emily | Jul 30, 2012

Guys, I want to apologize. This week has been extra busy as we've prepared for 50 Shades and dealt with technical woes. We also still ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 22, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Jonah, Amos, Hosea Anybody for minor prophets? When naming the books of the Old Testament, that's the category where we often stall out, ...

By emily | Jul 16, 2012

THE PROPHETS: Elijah ?The great days of the kings are over. God promised to divide the kingdom after Solomon's time, doctor and (surprise!) that's just ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 26

By emily | Jul 9, 2012

THE KINGS: Solomon's Fall ?It's clear this week that although Solomon was the pinnacle of earthly kings, he wasn't the King the Israelites were waiting ...

By emily | Jul 2, 2012

THE KINGS: Wisdom Solomon was the wisest earthly king ever before or ever since. Where did he get that wisdom? And how can we get ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 24

By emily | Jun 25, 2012

THE KINGS: Solomon and the Temple This week we come to the apex of Israel's earthly glory: Solomon's reign as symbolized by the construction of ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 23

By emily | Jun 17, 2012

THE KINGS: David's Fall David sees something he wants. Something he really, really wants. And now we see writ large why, though he is called ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 22

By emily | Jun 11, 2012

THE KINGS: David We've already seen King Saul and what happens when he follows his own heart instead of God. This week we'll see how ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 8, 2012

Summer- camp stories are a staple in children's literature--we reviewed one worthy example on Tuesday. But for today, let's look at "real life." Do your ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 21

By emily | Jun 3, 2012

THE NATION: Failure Thanks to Janie for covering for me this week! I've been on a very blessed reprieve this week, but Janie and Carl ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 20

By emily | May 27, 2012

THE NATION: Saul The people wanted a king, so God let them have their way. Saul is crowned, and everything is coming up roses for ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 19

By emily | May 20, 2012

THE NATION: Samuel First and Second Samuel represent a transition period from the time of the judges to the first earthly king of Israel. Before ...

Bible Reading Challenge – Week 18

By Janie Cheaney | May 13, 2012

THE NATION: RUTH Happy Mother's Day! This week's Bible Reading Challenge is actually appropriate for the Mother's Day--as long as we include mothers-in-law. How do ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 17

By Janie Cheaney | May 6, 2012

THE NATION: FAILURE! Remember that promise the people made to Joshua after his farewell speech: "We will serve the Lord"? Well, they did, sort of. ...

Interview with Avengers Illustrator, Sergio Cariello

By emily | May 2, 2012

Who is Sergio Cariello? With The Avengers movie opening in theaters this weekend, I invited Sergio Cariello--a Marvel comics illustrator who worked on Avengers comics--to ...

By emily | Apr 29, 2012

WEEK 16: THE NATION--HOME AT LAST Joshua is installed as leader of the Israelites, and it's time for them all to enter the Promised ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 15

By emily | Apr 23, 2012

WEEK 15: BLESSINGS AND CURSES This week we're reading through Deuteronomy, in which the Israelites are almost ready to enter the Promised Land. Moses ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 14

By emily | Apr 15, 2012

THE NATION: Sacrifice How can an unholy people approach a holy God? Leviticus helped God's people answer that question many years ago, and even though ...

By emily | Apr 8, 2012

No new material this week. We're celebrating the risen Lord--in my case by worshiping and then taking a Sunday nap! If you don't want to ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 13

By emily | Apr 1, 2012

THE NATION: TABERNACLE It's clear God's people can't keep the law. They aren't worthy to be His people. So, is God going to ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 12

By emily | Mar 25, 2012

THE PEOPLE: FAILURE! After receiving the law from God on Sinai, this week we learn about how the Israelites experience ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 11

By emily | Mar 18, 2012

The Lord leads His people to the same mountain where he spoke with Moses from the burning bush--Mt. Horeb, also called Sinai. Israel is in ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 10

By emily | Mar 11, 2012

THE PEOPLE: Deliverance This week we go deeper into Moses' story, and how God used him to bring His people out of slavery and on ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 9

By emily | Mar 4, 2012

THE PEOPLE: Moses Today we look at how God grew Israel's family into a new "people", and how God worked deliverance for them ...

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 8

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 26, 2012

This week we look at that boy with the amazing technicolor dreamcoat! But what's really important about Joseph is not his fancy coat. God has ...

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 12, 2012

Last week as you recall, we made a switch from "Problem" mode to "Promise" mode--we made the problem, God will fix it. Abraham was the ...

By emily | Feb 5, 2012

Thanks again to picture book illustrator, Kevin Luthardt, for creating our Story Bible art today! To read more about him and his advice for your ...

By emily | Jan 29, 2012

Study Guides: .pdf Download: Ages 4-8, Week Four .pdf Download: Ages 9-13, Week Four Make Your Own Story Bible Resources: .pdf Download 1: Story Bible ...

By emily | Jan 22, 2012

Wow, week 3! This week we'll be studying Noah, so put on your rainboots! Study Guides: .pdf Download: Ages 4-8, Week Three .pdf Download: Ages ...

By emily | Jan 15, 2012

Can't believe week two is already here! Study guides: .pdf Download: Ages 4-8, Week Two .pdf Download: Ages 9-12, Week Two FYI: The Make-Your-Own-Story-Bible directions ...

By Janie Cheaney | Jan 6, 2012

I was raised in a denomination that took the Bible very seriously: “We speak where the Bible speaks, and are silent where the Bible is ...

By emily | Jan 2, 2012

ONE STORY, ONE BIG ADVENTURE Judging by the success of Sally Lloyd Jones' The Jesus Storybook Bible and R. C. Sproul's new book, What's in ...

Thoughts on A Christmas Carol: Reading and Watching

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 7, 2011

Charles Dickens, unlike other great authors like Herman Melville, had the good fortune of enjoying widespread fame and popularity during his lifetime. A Christmas Carol ...

He’s Coming!

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 29, 2011

In the fundamentalist church where I grew up, we never did advent. I never even understood what the word meant until well into my twenties, ...

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 1, 2011

If you're just joining us, here's the Introduction, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. For the Project Gutenberg online version, go here. The worst ...

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 19, 2011

Introduction Part One Slackers and Interlopers Right away, Christian learns that salvation is not for sissies! The sleeping men have for various reasons failed to ...

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 13, 2011

This is Part One of our read along of The Prilgrim's Progress for high school age and up. Here's the Introduction. The City of Destruction ...

By emily | Aug 11, 2011

In my last post of this series, I looked at two ways that the Lord wrote Christ in the Old Testament: historically and symbolically. As ...

By emily | Jul 7, 2011

In my previous post, I tried to show that Sally Lloyd Jones uses two broad ways of finding Christ in the Old Testament: 1) historical ...

By emily | Jun 16, 2011

Will, God's Mighty Warrior by Sheila Walsh, Ages 4-7, 32pgs. “This book is a favorite with my boys, 2 and 5. They really like ...