No matter what homeschool camp you find yourself in, we all have one thing in common–our children need to read good books. A love of reading is valuable beyond words. No only does it teach us about a variety of topics, it also draws us into different worlds. Here are a few Christian book series to put on your children’s reading list this year.
3 Christian Book Series to Put on Your Children’s Reading List This Year
Children’s Christian Book Series 1: The Wally McDoogle Series
The Wally McDoogle Stories have been around for a while (the 1990s to be exact), but they have recently received a facelift. The new illustrations might make those who judge a book by it’s cover more apt to pick them up again. These books are recommended for ages 9 through 12. Each book starts with a Bible verse and continues with a story showing what Wally learns about the Christian life. These books make Christian living practical for young readers. Another great thing about them is that Wally is a writer, so it may encourage your children to write as well!
My 13 year old son read My Life as Crocodile Junk Food (The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle)
My 7 and 9 year olds read My Life as a Smashed Burrito. They said, “We thought the book was funny, especially when their canoe tipped over and they fell in the water. Wally had to be kind to his worst enemy, Gary the Gorilla, who made fun of him. He also learned the value of teamwork.”
My 9 year old also read, My Life as Alien Monster Bait (The Incredible Worlds of Wally McDoogle)
I enjoyed My Life as a Broken Bungee Cord, a book about learning to put your trust in God alone. I could relate to Wally’s fear of heights. He learned not to go by feelings alone, but by what the Bible says.
Children’s Christian Book Series 2: The Wingfeather Saga
Another Christian book series to put on your children’s reading list this year is The Wingfeather Saga. Our family discovered The Wingfeather Saga when Andrew Petersen began reading On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga)
With everything shut down for quarantine, Andrew Petersen wanted to give people some quality entertainment. Due to copyright laws, even though he was the author, he could not keep all of the book uploaded for people to listen to at any time. Luckily, you can get a copy of the first two books to read on your own. The first book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness (The Wingfeather Saga)
The third and fourth books will be rereleased early this fall and, unless plans have changed, Andrew Petersen indicated that he will read those aloud then. There is something special about hearing an author read his own books. Our family looked forward to this thirty-or-so minute session every night during the quarantine and we are anxiously awaiting the release of the new titles.
The Wingfeather Saga is a tale of a magical world and the epic battle of good versus evil. It is full of action and heroic characters that are both male and female. It will capture the imagination with unfamiliar animals, places, and difficult situations. Through it all, there is an underlying current of love and devotion, as well as a sense of purpose as they talk about their “Maker.” Although not outwardly Christian, at least in the first two volumes, Andrew Peterson is himself a Christian author and artist.
In keeping with the creative tradition, try looking at some Wingfeather Saga fan art or make some of your own. This was highly encouraged during the read alouds, as I am guessing it will be again during the next installment.
Children’s Christian Book Series 3: The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls
The third Christian book series to put on your children’s reading list this year is The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls. We found this beginning chapter book series while wandering around the convention center at a local homeschool convention. In it, the brother and sister duo, Peter and Mary, along with their dog, Hank, discover ancient scrolls that enable them to travel back to biblical times. The scrolls are in their Great Uncle Solomon’s library. In each book, the characters are transported to a famous Bible story and have to discover the secret of the scroll so they can get back to modern day. Of course, while doing so, they learn valuable Bible stories and life lessons.
My girls (ages 7 and 9) love these stories, though they are recommended for ages 6 through 9 and grades 1 through 3. There are still new ones being written, with the next one expected very soon! So far, the stories cover creation and the fall, Noah’s ark, the Exodus, Rahab and the walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lion’s Den, and the birth of Jesus. The newest book, The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls: Miracles by the Sea, Book 8 (The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls (8))
My 9 year old says, “You should read this book if you like adventure stories and want to learn about the Bible. My 7 year old says, “You should definitely read these books because you can learn about God!”
What’s On Your Reading List This Year?
These are 3 quality book series that you might want to consider for your homeschool this year. One of the things I am looking forward to most is reading with my children–both for the quality time and for the great literature! I hope that you find some wonderful living books, quality books that bring stories to life, to include in your family reading this year. I would love to hear what they are!
What are some of your favorite books? What will you be reading this year?
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