Books I Am Willing to Pay My Children to Read!

“Whoever tells the best story shapes the culture.” I agree with Pastor Erwin Raphael McManus here. 

Words influence us. We see the importance of words in the Bible. One way God chose to preserve His message is through written word and He invites us to follow His lead.

I am so grateful for people who follow God’s lead by writing down important messages they learn from Him. The Bible even talks about the importance of writing something down. Here are a few examples:

Matthew 13:52 (AMP) “​​He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things that are new and fresh and things that are old and familiar.”

Romans 15:14-15b (NLT) “I am fully convinced, my dear brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness. You know these things so well you can teach each other all about them. Even so, I have been bold enough to write about some of these points, knowing that all you need is this reminder.”

There is only one living book and I pray my daughters thirst for it daily: the Bible. This is like no other book, so it is in its own category. All these other recommendations are secondary. Still, I hope our children remain readers and include many titles in their repertoire. 

I love to read and anytime a book significantly impacts me, half the joy comes in sharing the recommendation with others! A few years ago, I started a bookshelf for our daughters where I collect books that are too good not to share. Many of these books I read as an adult, but they are also appropriate for younger readers. 

Today, I laid these books out with a basic outline: beginning in 5th grade and going through senior year of college, which book do I most want them to read each year? 

I hope they read more than one book per year, and I’m sure this bookshelf will keep growing, but here is a picture of what it looks like today. 

Spending time with a good book is similar to spending time with a mentor. The stories settle deep in our soul and influence the way we choose to live. The lessons I gleaned from this list of books are so important to me that I am willing to pay our children for their time to read these books! 

A publisher once told me “Books are missionaries.” They go into places we may not have access and they connect deeply with people who read them in very private settings: in their bathroom or in their bed, in their home or anywhere else they travel. Books can absolutely change lives if God chooses to use that means. 

This is just a glimpse at the books that have shaped me. I am not including any of the books I hope my daughters read if they become mothers someday. (I have documented those books in My 10 Favorite Parenting Books.) 

We are still a few years away from our oldest entering 5th grade, but I wanted to share these with you, in case you and your children want to read them as well!

5th Grade: Love Does by Bob Goff. His stories are hilarious and inspiring and point back to the heart of Jesus.

6th Grade: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. This true story about a child experiencing Heaven and living to tell about it reminds me to live with an eternal perspective.

7th Grade: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore. I hope our children read this as middle schoolers to enlarge their hearts to others’ stories and circumstances.

8th Grade: The Ishbane Conspiracy by Randy Alcorn. I have never read The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, but I am told this story is similar, but for younger readers. This book was impactful to me as a young teen because it heightened my awareness of the Devil’s schemes against me and it inspired me to be on guard.

9th grade: Castaway Kid by R.B. Mitchell. I don’t believe you can make it through this book without crying. This is a true and redemptive story of God taking what the Enemy meant for evil and using it for our good. Rob Mitchell shared his story with me on Incredible Story of Overcoming.

10th Grade: The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson with John and Elizabeth Sherrill. This true story shares the many miracles David witnessed while evangelizing to gang fighters, drug addicts, teenage runaways, and prostitutes in New York City. 

11th Grade: The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom with Elizabeth & John Sherrill. Faith and forgiveness are taught through heroic Corrie sharing her story of living through WWII and surviving a Nazi death camp.

12th Grade: The Digital Invasion by Dr. Archibald D. Hart and Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd. This book is fascinating to read, and full of wisdom and caution for how to steward our technology so it doesn’t hurt our relationship with God and others. I refer back to this book often and I hope our children do as well. Dr. Sylvia Hart Frejd was a fascinating guest on Mastering Technology so it Does Not Master You.

Freshman Year of College: Letters to a Young Therapist by Mary Pipher. This is the first recommendation that does not have a Christian author, but Mary’s gift of writing makes me think of Proverbs 16:21b (NIV) “Pleasant words promote instruction.”

Sophomore Year of College: The Powerful Purpose of Introverts by Holley Gerth. Whether the reader is an introvert or extrovert, this book benefits all of us by helping us to better understand ourselves and those we love. Holley teaches about mental health within a biblical worldview, which is crucial for budding adults to understand as they may be living independently for the first time. This also helps the reader grow in interpersonal relationship skills, which will benefit them at school, at work, and at home. Holley was a joy to host on the Powerful Purpose of Introverts.

Junior Year of College: Essentialism by Greg McKeown. Greg and I do not share the same faith, but his book may be one of my all time favorites! When I read it, it guides me how to live out Hebrews 12:1-2a (AMP) “. . , stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity].”

Senior Year of College: Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons. Her subtitle sums up the book and the importance for reading it as the reader transitions into a new phase of life: “Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose.” Rebekah and her husband, Gabe, joined Mark and me for a discussion on Rhythms of Renewal.

Honorable mentions of books for various ages: Home Experience, Life: Beautiful Magazine, I Said This, You Heard That, A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible Study, Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, The Mommy Manual, For the Children’s Sake, The Five Love Languages, Thrilled to Death, Moms on Call, Things I Wish I’d Known Before My Child Became a Teenager, and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. For more book recommendations ranging from children to adults, see
My Favorite Gift Ideas for Kids 0-8
My 10 Favorite Parenting Books
Five of My Favorite Books on Sexual Intimacy in Marriage
7 Ideas for Screen-Free Time with Kids
Gifts for Children’s Easter Baskets
Favorite Easter Activity with Kids
Children’s Recommended Books and Resources
Need Summer Reading Ideas?
Summer Reading Recommendations, Part Two.

Your turn: Which ones did I overlook? Which books would you include on your own bookshelf for your children? I can’t wait to read your recommendations!

Happy Reading!

Sincerely,

Laura