Bibles and Books for Children’s Ministry in 2026
I [Lauren] recently had the opportunity to chat with Andrew Hight, Family Ministry Coordinator at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in to talk about children’s Bibles, picture books, and the role story sharing plays in his ministry with children and families.
Over the past several years, Andrew has intentionally built out a small library within his ministry space to reflects the liturgical year, the diversity of his congregation, and the kinds of conversations he wants children to encounter in church. Some of the books he uses are traditional Bible storybooks, while others help children explore themes like inclusion, belonging, communion, Pentecost, and identity.
Andrew has been intentional about the books he chooses to use in Sunday School or during the children’s time in a church service. He says “I don’t like to use books too often during the children’s time, but when I do, it’s normally because I feel like it’s a message the whole congregation needs to hear.” This intentionality has shaped the way books function within his ministry context. Stories have become tools for theological reflection, conversations around inclusion and belonging, and opportunities for the congregation to engage familiar themes in fresh ways.
In some cases, the books have even shaped larger congregational experiences. One Christmas-themed storybook about the flight into Egypt and the Holy Family’s experience as refugees became the inspiration for an entire Christmas pageant, helping the congregation reflect more deeply on themes of hospitality, displacement, and caring for refugees through the lens of the nativity story.
Another theme that came up repeatedly throughout our conversation was the importance of representation in children’s ministry resources. This goes beyond simply avoiding the stereotypical depictions of a blond-haired, blue-eyed Jesus that many of us grew up with. Instead, Andrew has thought carefully about the children actually sitting in his Sunday school classrooms and whether they are able to recognize themselves, their families, and their lived experiences within the stories being shared. Whether it’s choosing Bible illustrations that more accurately reflect the cultural and ethnic context of Scripture, or selecting picture books that explore themes of identity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging, Andrew sees these choices as an important part of helping children understand that they are fully part of God’s story too. In a congregation made up of children and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds, he wants the stories shared in church to reflect the diversity of the community itself. As he put it during our conversation, “I want these books to be storytelling, yes, but also lived experiences as well.”
What follows is a roundup of some of the Bibles, devotionals, and picture books Andrew has found especially meaningful in his ministry context. We hope you’ll find this list and some of his notes helpful for your ministry context too.
Children’s Bibles & Devotionals
Bible App for Kids Storybook Bible
Andrew’s Recommendation: I’ve used this Bible storybook for years now with the kids entering kindergarten, and I keep coming back to it because it’s so accessible for families. The stories are short, the illustrations are great, and the kids actually want to keep reading it. One of the kids in our program apparently read it multiple times over one summer, which I think says a lot. I also really appreciate that the artwork feels more representative of what the biblical world would have actually looked like. The characters aren’t all white, and that matters. Another bonus is that it connects with the Bible App for Kids and the videos online, so families can keep engaging with the same stories at home too.
Publisher’s Description: Based on YouVersion and OneHope’s popular Bible App for Kids, this engaging Bible storybook includes favorite Bible stories, fun illustrations, and discussion questions. Segues between stories guide young readers as they journey to become closer to God and understand the bigger story of God’s Word.
Cuddle up as a family with this book of Bible stories, based on the popular YouVersion and OneHope Bible app that has brought the Word of God into millions of homes around the world.
Children ages 4-8 will
delight in reading about Abraham’s trust, Elijah’s boldness, Esther’s bravery, Jesus’s compassion, Paul’s faithful service, and more!
love listening to the stories in the Bible app as they follow along in their own book
enjoy the bright illustrations that bring the stories to life
grow in their faith as they answer the family-friendly discussion questions
Kids love the interactive Bible App, and this stand-alone book will help you create God-focused family time whether at bedtime, for family devotions, or simply as a fun read-aloud time. This engaging Bible storybook is also a great curriculum choice for Sunday school and children’s church lessons. Guide your kids to be closer to God as you share the stories of His plan for His people and His unfailing love for each of us.
Adventure Bible (NIV)
Andrew’s Recommendation: We give this Bible to the kids entering Grade 1 because it feels like a really good bridge into having a “full” Bible without it feeling intimidating. There are maps, little fact sections, illustrations, and sidebars throughout, so kids can explore while they’re reading instead of just staring at walls of text. I also like that it gives context to things. It helps them understand the world behind the stories instead of just memorizing names and events. The NIV translation is reader friendly, along with the Common English Bible, those are typically the two translations we use.
Publisher’s Description: Ready for Adventure? Embark on a fun, exciting journey through God’s Word with the NIV Adventure Bible—now in full color throughout! Along the way you’ll meet all types of people, see all sorts of places, and learn all kinds of things about the Bible. Most importantly you’ll grow closer in your relationship with God.
Features include:
Full color throughout – makes learning about the people, places, and culture of the Bible even more engaging
Life in Bible Times—Articles and illustrations describe what life was like in ancient days
Words to Treasure—Highlights great verses to memorize
Did You Know?—Interesting facts help you understand God’s Word and the life of faith
People in Bible Times—Articles offer close-up looks at amazing people of the Bible
Live It!—Hands-on activities help you apply biblical truths to your life
Twenty special pages—Focus on topics such as famous people of the Bible, highlights of the life of Jesus, how to pray, and the love passage for kids, all with a jungle safari theme
Book introductions with useful facts about each book of the Bible
Dictionary/concordance for looking up tricky words
Color map section to help locate places in the Bible
Complete text of the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible
Recommended by more Christian schools and churches than any other Bible for kids!
How Great Is Our God by Louie Giglio
Andrew’s Recommendation: I really love this devotional because it connects faith with science and curiosity in a way that I don’t think we do enough of in church. A lot of kids at this are interested in animals, space, weather, how things work, and this book feeds into those interests really naturally. There are devotionals about cats, planets, the space race, and each one ties back to Scripture and wonder and creation. I like to use it with our Grade 3-5 kids because they’re starting to ask bigger questions about the world.
Publisher’s Description: Invite children to embark on another adventure to discover more about God and His incredible creation. Based on Louie Giglio's popular messages about science and the Bible,? How Great Is Our God?shows kids the awe-inspiring connection between the natural world and the God who created it.
How Great Is Our God? covers numerous topics:
Space and time
Earth and weather
The human body
Animals
Plants
And more!
John 8:12 says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” This mind-bending, not-so-typical devotional will deepen your kids’ awe and appreciation for God's wild imagination and infinitely creative creation, from the pink lake in Senegal to the Earth's trip around the sun to the water-holding frog that can live up to five years without a drink (what?!).
Jesus Storybook Bible Board Book Series
Andrew’s Recommendation: These are really sweet board books for younger kids. Most of them are adapted Psalms or prayers, and they simplify the language in ways that still feel meaningful instead of overly childish. I used one of the Psalm 23 versions while we were talking about David and the Psalms this year, and it worked really well because it translated those ideas of comfort and safety into language younger children could actually connect with emotionally.
Picture Books & Storybooks
What Is God Like? — Rachel Held Evans & Matthew Paul Turner
Andrew’s Recommendation: I like that it approaches theology through curiosity and wonder instead of trying to force simple answers onto kids. It creates space for imagination and questions, which I think is important. Kids are naturally curious about God, and sometimes I think we rush too quickly into trying to explain everything instead of letting them sit in awe for a bit.
Publisher’s Description: Children who are introduced to God, through attending church or having loved ones who speak about God, often have a lot of questions, including this ever-popular one: What is God like? The late Rachel Held Evans loved the Bible and loved showing God’s love through the words and pictures found in that ancient text. Through these pictures from the Bible, children see that God is like a shepherd, God is like a star, God is like a gardener, God is like the wind, and more. God is a comforter and support.
And whenever a child is unsure, What Is God Like? encourages young hearts to “think about what makes you feel safe, what makes you feel loved, and what makes you feel brave. That's what God is like.”
What’ Is The Bible? by Rachel Held Evans & Matthew Paul Turner
Andrew’s Recommendation: This book does a good job helping kids understand that the Bible is alive and ongoing and connected, not just a collection of lessons or moral examples. I think in children’s ministry we sometimes over-focus on the same Old Testament stories over and over because they’re easy and exciting. David and Goliath, Jonah, Noah, Moses - we cycle through them constantly. But then kids can miss the bigger picture of Scripture and the story of the church itself.
Publisher's Description: Children have been wondering about the Bible for centuries. What do all these long-ago stories have to do with each other—and with me? This whimsical and lyrical book, inspired by the work and ideas of the late Rachel Held Evans and completed by her good friend Matthew Paul Turner, explains that the Bible is a big library of amazing stories about God, the world, and Jesus. When you read those stories, you will understand the world differently—and you can make the world different too.
What Is the Bible? is a spectacular journey, guiding children to see how God's story and our own lives are delightfully intertwined. Kids and parents alike will see that God's story is big enough to be found all over the world and close enough to find in our own hearts. Find It Here
You Will Always Belong — Matthew Paul Turner
Andrew’s Recommendation: I used this book during Pride Month for a children’s message one year and I found it really kind and affirming in the way it talks about belonging and welcome. There are kids sitting in our churches who need to hear clearly that they are loved and that they belong. The language is simple enough for children, but the message lands with adults too.
Publisher’s Description: All that God saw when God designed you was beauty and purpose and everything true.
In a loud and confusing world, every child needs to know they belong, they always have belonged, and they always will belong. This gorgeously illustrated picture book encourages children to recognize their belonging so deeply that they are free to be their most authentic selves, certain that God created everyone exactly as they are supposed to be.
In You Will Always Belong, children will discover:
• The truth that we matter to God and were designed with purpose
• Encouragement towards acceptance and contentment
• The gentle reminder that the people who truly love us love ALL parts of us
Laura Alary’s Liturgical Season Books
Andrew’s Recommendation: I’ve collected a bunch of Laura Alary’s books over the years because they work so well with the liturgical calendar. I rotate them throughout the year depending on the season, so around Advent and Christmas those books come out, then Lent, Easter, Pentecost. I appreciate how these books connect directly to what’s happening in worship and the life of the congregation and make these themes accessible for children.
Rise: A Child’s Guide to Eastertide:
On Easter morning, a child revels in the colors and sounds of celebration. The church is bright with flowers and all the songs are full of hallelujahs. But as she repeats the joyful words, Christ is Risen, secretly she wonders, “What does Easter have to do with me?” Rise: A Child’s Guide to Eastertide follows a child through the fifty days of Easter, as she shares in family and community celebrations, hears stories of the Risen Jesus, notices how the world around her is coming alive again, and ponders how growth and new beginnings are part of her own life. Out of this wondering comes a new way of seeing. Easter is not just about what happened to Jesus long ago. It is about change and transformation here and now. When we let go of things—even our own mistakes; when we look for Jesus and find him in new places; when we fall and get up again; when we share a feast; when we love—that is Easter.
Make Room: A Child’s Guide to Lent and Easter
This unique book teaches children to experience Lent with all their senses, and to see it as a special time for creating a welcoming space for God. Simple activities like cleaning a room, making bread and soup, and inviting a neighbor for supper become acts of justice and kindness, part of a life of following Christ, and a way to make room for God in our lives and in the world around us.
Look! A Child’s Guide to Advent and Christmas
Told from the point of a view of a child, the story weaves together familiar Advent traditions like the Jesse tree and the Advent wreath, biblical stories and characters, and reflections on what these stories call us to do and be. This book reassures children of the presence of God in all times and places and invites them to become part of the holy work of making Christ present in the world.
Refuge by Anne Booth
Andrew’s Recommendation:Refuge retells the flight into Egypt through the perspective of the donkey, and it reframes the holy family as refugees looking for safety and kindness. It opens up such important conversations about hospitality, displacement, and caring for people who are vulnerable. I loved this book so much I used it as the basis for our entire Christmas pageant one year because there was just so much there to unpack with the congregation. I think it helped people look at the nativity story through a different lens than they maybe had before.
Publisher’s Description: Everyone may already know the story of how Jesus was humbly born in a manger, but Refuge is a lyrical depiction of what came next: the new family's travels through the desert, fleeing Herod's soldiers in order to find a safe place to welcome their son into the world. A poetic and refreshing look at the classic Christmas story that's never been more relevant, Refuge asks readers to consider the modern day implications of being forced to flee your home country.
‘Twas Series By Glenys Nellist
Andrew’s Recommendation: I found one of these books online years ago and ended up slowly collecting the whole series because I liked them so much! They use the rhythm and structure of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, which makes them really fun to read aloud. Some are more story-based and others almost work like family devotionals. I’ve used them during children’s time and in Sunday school, and they’ve been a great addition to our classroom library.
About the Series: Written for children aged 5-10, the Twas series consists of four titles, each written in the familiar language and rhythm of the Clement C Moore classic. Find the Series Here
A Church for All By Gayle Pitman
Andrew’s Recommendation: This is a really simple book text-wise, but the illustrations are what make it so powerful. The whole point is that the church is made up of all kinds of people, and the artwork actually reflects that. There are people of different races, ages, abilities, gender expressions, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I’ve used this one while talking about stories like Peter and Cornelius and the expansion of the early church because I think it connects really naturally - the church becoming bigger and more inclusive. This book reinforces what kind of community we want the church to be.
Publisher’s Description: On Sunday morning, we gather together. We are every color. Every age. Rich and poor. Our church is open, affirming, and accepting. We believe in love instead of hate. There’s room for everyone! This book celebrates a spiritual community that embraces all people―no matter their age, race, class, gender identity, or sexual orientation―in love and faith.
Josie Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit By Esau McCaulley
Andrew’s Recommendation: I used this one for Pentecost last year and absolutely loved it. It’s such a sweet story, but it’s doing a lot at the same time. On one level, it’s teaching kids about Pentecost and the Holy Spirit, but on another it’s talking about identity and beauty and being made in God’s image through Josie’s experiences as a young Black girl. I think books like this are really important because they reflect actual lived experiences that many kids in our churches have. Especially in diverse congregations, representation matters. I want kids in my classroom to seem themselves in the stories we read.
Publisher’s Description: A celebration of God's creativity and diverse design, Josey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit takes young readers on a joyful, faith-filled adventure.
Josey is spending the day with her dad, getting her hair braided at Monique's Beauty Shop and picking out a beautiful red dress for Sunday. Why? Because it’s Pentecost―a day to celebrate! Along the way, she begins to wonder why people are so different from one another. Her dad explains that our differences are not a mistake; instead, they are part of God’s wonderfully creative plan for the world.
With its vibrant illustrations and heartwarming story, this book beautifully showcases the diversity of God’s creation, inviting children and adults alike to celebrate the beauty all around them. Included is a special note to parents and caregivers, offering practical tips for discussing the themes of the book with children, making it a meaningful read for the entire family.
About Andrew Hight
Andrew currently serves as the Family Ministry Coordinator at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kitchener were he has been a part of life and mission the church since he was a baby. During his middle school and teenage years, Andrew participated in, and volunteered at family ministry events, including Sunday school, Christmas pageants, Family Nights, and Camp K.
After graduating high school, Andrew felt called to learn more about society’s justice and equity issues. Through his studies, Andrew developed a deep passion for justice-centred initiatives and ensuring that social programs address the root causes of inequity. In 2015 he moved to Toronto to complete an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Diversity and Equity Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University. At Toronto Metropolitan University, Andrew was elected arts representative to the student union and served as president of the Arts and Contemporary Studies Course Union and ARTeries, a yearly undergraduate research conference.
In 2019 Andrew returned to Kitchener to complete his Master of Arts in Critical University Studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. Upon graduating, he officially joined our team at St. Andrew’s with a vision for creating a welcoming, affirming, and equitable Christian education program for all.
Andrew loves to get together with friends for dinner or coffee at local spots across downtown Kitchener in his spare time. When he has time to relax, he loves watching reality shows on Bravo, and searching for rare copies of DC comics from local collection shops and thrift stores.