Partners Recommended Resources The following parenting books were recommended to us by pastor and theater professional Josh Baker, a featured speaker at the 2019 Keeping the Faith conference. This list reflects the depth of his passion and breadth of his wisdom, developed over 20+ years of service to Christian families.
Parenting Resources compiled by Josh Baker
Communication
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman The Five Languages of Apology by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas The Five Love Languages of Children by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell The Love Languages of God by Gary Chapman
Obedience
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours by Dr. Kevin Leman Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller
Personality Study/Why Your Kid Is The Way They Are
Personality Plus: How To Understand Others By Understanding Yourself by Florence Littauer The New Strong Willed Child by Dr. James Dobson (book and DVD format) The First Born Advantage by Dr. Kevin Leman Why You Act The Way You Do by Tim LaHaye
Technology/Entertainment
Fire Bible for Kids (www.myhealthychurch.com)- app based interactive Bible for iPad Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids in a Screen-Driven World by Chapman and Pellicane Parent Chat: The Technology Talk for Every Family by Matt McKee Plugged In (online) Christian media reviews of movies, tv, music, and books. protectyoungeyes.com (website) Right Click: Parenting Your Teenager In A Digital Media World by Art Bamford Safe online Biblical entertainment, games and teaching: jellytelly.com
Teens
Adolescence Isn’t Terminal by Kevin Leman Brio and Breakaway (Christian teen magazines for girls and guys) www.focusonthefamily.com Do Hard Things by Alex and Brett Harris How to Stay Christian in High School by Steve Gerali Help! My Teen Thinks I’m the Enemy by Dr. Bill Maier Relentless Parenting: The Crucial Pursuit of Your Teen’s Heart by Brian and Angela Haynes Surviving The Money Jungle (workbook) by Larry Burkett
Value/Worth
I’m Beautiful? Why Can’t I See It? By Kimberly Davidson True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus (DVD) by Lisa Chan
Marriage/Dating
How To Be Found by The Man You’ve Been Looking For by Michelle McKinney Hammond In-Laws, Outlaws, and the Functional Family by Harry R. Jackson Jr. Letters to Karen: On Keeping Love in Marriage by Charlie Shedd Letters to Philip: On How To Treat a Woman by Charlie Shedd
Grief/Loss
It’s Okay To Cry by H. Norman Wright Remembering My Someone Special (workbook) by Jane Wilke Someone I Love Died by Christine Harder Tanguald The Grieving Child by Helen Fitzgerald Today I Feel Like A Warm Fuzzy by William L. Coleman
Tough Topics
Answering Your Kids Toughest Questions by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions by Elmer Towns Bully Trouble by Tom Toombs But Mom, I Don’t Want To Move! By Susan Miller God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb Talk Now and Later by Brian Dollar The Answers Book for Kids Vol 1-6 by Ken Ham (Answers in Genesis) 801 Questions Kids Ask About God: With Answers From the Bible by Heritage Builders
Divorce
Dinosaurs Divorce: A Guide For Changing Families by Laurene Krasny and Marc Brown Helping Children Survive Divorce by Dr. Archibald D. Hart I Don’t Want To Talk About It by Jeanie Franz Ransom What Children Need To Know When Parents Get Divorced by William L. Coleman
First Time Parents
Congratulations, You’re Gonna Be A Dad! By Paul and Pam Pettit Meditations for New Parents by Gerald and Sara Shenk Your Newborn Promise Project by Callie Grant
Spiritual Upbringing/Raising Godly Children
Adventures in Odyssey (Audio Series) www.whitsend.org or Focus on the Family A Practical Guide to Culture by John Stonestreet and Brett Kunkle Baptism: A Bible Study Workbook for Kids by Richard E. Todd Brave Girls Faithful Friends by Jennifer Gerelds Citizen magazine (online articles now only) www.focusonthefamily.com Clubhouse magazine (clubhousemagazine.com) Focus on the Family website (www.focusonthefamily.com) Giving: A Bible Study Workbook for Kids by Richard E. Todd Home Front magazine (homefrontmag.com) Indescribable: 100 Devotions About God and Science by Louie Giglio Meditations for New Parents by Gerald and Sara Shenk National Center for Biblical Parenting (www.biblicalparenting.org) Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship by Robbie Castleman Playing for Keeps by Reggie Joiner Pray for Me Prayer Guide by Tony Souder Raising Kids to Love Jesus by H. Norman Wright and Gary J. Oliver Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna Rock Solid Kids by Larry Fowler Someday Heaven by Larry Libby Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony Sprout Box Kids (family devotional activity kits) www.sproutboxkids.com Streams in the Desert for Kids (devotional) by L.B. Cowman Sticky Situations: 365 Devotions for Kids and Families by Betsy Schmitt Superbook (DVD Series)
The Case for Christ for Kids by Lee Strobel The Wonder Devotional Book by CEF Press (CEF Mailbox Club) What’s In The Bible? By Phil Vischer (DVD Series)
General Parenting
Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson (book and DVD format) Bringing Up Girls by Dr. James Dobson (book and DVD format) It’s Not What You’ve Got! Lessons For Kids on Money an Abundance by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer My Only Child, There’s No One Like You by Kevin Leman (welcoming home a new baby) Motivate Your Child by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller Parents’ Answer Book by Dr. James Dobson Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof Revolutionary Parenting by George Barna Trophy Child: Saving Parents from Performance/Preparing Children for Something Greater Than Themselves by Ted Cunningham Your Legacy (DVD) by Dr. James Dobson
Single Parenting
Single Parenting That Works by Kevin Leman
General Reading/Good Books To Read To Children
All is Well by Frank Peretti Best of All by Max Lucado Can’t Wait Willow by Christy Ziglar Parables for Kids by Dobson Red Boots for Christmas by Carol Greene The Big Red Tractor and the Little Village by Francis Chan The Children of the King by Max Lucado The Legend of the Three Trees (traditional folk tale, adapted by Catherine McCafferty) The Princess and the Three Knights by Karen Kingsbury The Tallest of Smalls by Max Lucado Today I Feel Like A Warm Fuzzy by William L. Coleman You Are Mine by Max Lucado You Are Special by Max Lucado Your Special Gift by Max Lucado
Holidays Explained
Easter Bunny Are You For Real? By Harold Myra Halloween How Can I Celebrate? (Vision Video DVD) Halloween Is It For Real? By Harold Myra Halloween, Paganism, and the Bible by Bodie Hodge (DVD) Halloween Trick or Treat? (Whitaker Entertainment DVD) Santa Are You For Real? By Harold Myra Thanksgiving What Makes It Special? by Harold Myra Mommy, Why Don’t We Celebrate Halloween? By Linda Hacon Winwood Redeeming Halloween by Kim Wier and Pam McCune The First Christmas by Paul L. Maier The First Christmas Town (DVD) by Answers in Genesis The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne The Legend of St. Nicholas by Dandi Daley Mackall The Legend of the Christmas Stocking by Rick Osborne The Legend of the Valentine by Katherine Grace Bond The Story of St. Patrick: More Than Shamrocks and Leprechauns by The Voice of the Martyrs The Story of St. Valentine: More Than Cards and Candied Hearts by The Voice of the Martyrs The True Easter Story by Ray Vander Laan (That The World May Know)(DVD) What is Easter? By Phil Vischer (What’s In the Bible?) Why Do We Call It Christmas? By Phil Vischer (What’s In the Bible?) (in book and DVD format)