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The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith

Aside from a few popular stories like Noah’s Ark or David and Goliath, the Bible is a fairly boring book to read. I’m saying that as someone who has actually read it cover to cover more than once (or twice). Genesis and Exodus are okay; Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are a tough slug, and then there’s all the prophets bewailing Israel’s sins… A little background on the people and places of the Bible helps make it more accessible. The Radical Book for Kids provides that background, making the Bible relevant to a child’s world today.

The Radical Book for Kids by Champ ThorntonI received this book for review; all opinions expressed are my own. This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Radical Book for Kids is a fun-filled explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history, and life. Author Champ Thornton wrote it for boys and girls ages 8 and over. Along with examining some of the most exciting realities in the universe, the handbook is vibrantly illustrated and chock-full of fun facts and ideas. Deep truths are communicated to elementary and middle-school aged kids while stimulating their curiosity and sense of adventure within a gospel-centered framework.

My husband and I had fun flipping through this book. We learned about a few new heroes of the faith and were impressed that a couple Catholic saints were included as well. As a former Lutheran, I looked up Martin Luther. The Radical Book for Kids did a good job of explaining his faith struggles and what he learned.

This power-packed book is “radical” in more ways than you might think! It is “radical” in the sense of the original meaning of the word, “going to the root or origin.” The Radical Book for Kids takes children on a fascinating journey into the ancient roots of the Christian faith. It’s also “radical” in the more modern sense of being revolutionary. Kids read about men and women who learned to trust Jesus and stand for him—displaying radical faith—even when everything seemed against them.

But The Radical Book for Kids is also “radical”—meaning fun or cool—in the eyes of a child. Kids read about ancient weapons (and how to make one), learn about jewels, create pottery, discover ancient languages, use secret codes, locate stars, tell time using the sun, play a board game that’s 3,000 years old—and more. My girls love hands-on activities like this, so we’ll have fun exploring this book.

Check out the table of contents, skip around, or read straight through. However a child chooses to explore it, The Radical Book for Kids will open new vistas for their imagination and help to make straight paths for their feet.

Champ Thornton grew up in the Carolinas. He is presently an associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. Beginning in 2003, he pastored in South Carolina and later served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio. Champ is also the author of God’s Love: A Bible Storybook, and of Bible curriculum for early and upper elementary-aged children. For more about Champ, drop by his website.

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