Christian Living

Dads, Read Wholesome Books to Your Kids

One of my favorite activities is reading books with my two children. They are bookworms, and I love it when I read to them. As a dad, I want to guard my children against things that show or teach something that contradicts the Bible.

I also want to be able to read books that explain the gospel, the Trinity, the Great Mission, the Bible, and creation. I want to ensure that my children read wholesome books and help me as I instruct them.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother;
Proverbs 1:8

Is this something that I thought about before? No, not at all. But now that I have two little children of my own. I am thinking about what they are being subjected to in the books. And a lot of the stuff that is out there is absolute garbage.

I want to obey God and ensure that I am instructing my children, especially my son, in a biblical manner. God has made it clear that I am responsible for my kids and have to teach and instruct them. My wife and I felt convicted about the seriousness of this task ahead of us. I wanted a source where I could search and find books that were both instructional and also had fun and lighthearted stories.

My wife's dream...I want to sell wholesome children's books

It's May 2022. I walk upstairs to speak with my wife. Before I could talk, she said, 'I had a dream last night about starting a business to sell wholesome children's books.' For a moment, I was startled and didn't know what to say. I knew she was frustrated because she had difficulty finding appropriate children's books for our family. She had spent a lot of time combing through children's books. However, she had come across several websites that tried to list children's books that were clean and wholesome. Nothing could be considered a trusted source for wholesome children's books.

Fast forward several months. In the fall of 2022, my wife launched her online bookstore, Big Sky Life BooksFast-forward several months. In the fall of 2022, my wife launched her Big Sky Life Books online bookstore. My wife created amazing book collections comprised of wholesome books. Some book collections are fun and light reading. Other collections discuss essential topics such as the gospel, creation, the Bible, and the scriptures. She created these book collections by researching and combing through hundreds of children's books, looking for books that met her requirements as wholesome books.

What is a wholesome children's book?

Big Sky Life Books sells wholesome books with good values filled with encouraging, uplifting, inspiring messages and characters worthy of emulation. In our wholesome book collections, children will encounter characters who rely on God for protection, grace, and provision and learn timeless life lessons. We strive to select wholesome books showing children kindness, respect for their parents and others, and a good work ethic.

Why do dads need to buy wholesome books for their children? Because the enemy is brutal at targeting and corrupting our children through vile, sinful books. Big Sky Life Books aims to stop the arrows of corruption that the enemy shoots at our families. As a father, I want to be a leader and provide the right books for my children to guard their hearts and minds.

Men, do you know what your children are reading?

We are in a spiritual war in North America. Men are at the forefront of this war. But often, we get busy with other things in our busy week to think about what our kids are reading. Or what they are being read to.

Look, I get it. Kid's books are typically the domain of wives, Sunday teachers, or, generally speaking, females in our lives. But God has made it clear that we, as parents or single parents, are responsible for the instructions our kids receive. It doesn't matter if it's something like a book or a movie. As a man, I encourage other men out there to start taking an interest in what books their kids are reading.

Every book they read impacts their kid's minds. You have seen countless examples of enemies of God, people living in sin who want to influence our kids with their grotesque and worldly views through children's books.

It took me a while to get interested in kid's books. However, as a dad, I know I need to guard the hearts and minds of my two children.

Most guys I know are like, kids' books make me sleepy!

Kid's books made me sleepy. I would go to a bookstore and look at a wall of kids' books, and it would make me feel tired. Also, I always needed clarification on all the different types of children's books sold. I was a typical guy when it came to this stuff. My attitude was my wife knew these things, and I was sure she was doing the right thing by buying the right books.

Can I be honest with you? My attitude back then was when I was on cruise control. That was peacetime thinking. But brothers, I have woken up from my sleep. We are in a spiritual war, and men who are believers are soldiers in Christ's army. As a believer, I know I have a duty to my family and children to teach and instruct them. This also extends to fun-to-read children's books or fictional stories.

The connection between children's books and the need to guard the hearts and minds of kids

As guys, kids' books are not at the top of our priority list. They seem so innocent and trivial. It's not worth a mention and maybe a mere thought.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalms 51:10

If your kids are reading children's books that promote anything that is not biblical, that is a problem. As fathers, we want to guard the hearts of our children even if the children's books seem innocent. Again, look at the books your children read in much greater detail. Toss anything that detracts from the Glory of God and can potentially negatively influence your child.

Benefits of combating worldliness in children's books at an early age

My kids, like your kids, are little sponges. They soak up just about everything. For me, books open up new worlds to explore and think about. For kids, it's no different. But herein lies the challenge for dads. The enemy knows this as well. The enemies of God. Dark forces that want to steal God's glory and corrupt the minds of our children.

Our children are surrounded by the influences of the world everywhere: TV, radio, books, conversations, friends, family, etc. Ultimately, my responsibility as a Dad is to keep my kids' minds focused on what is pure. This is incredibly difficult, as you well know.

But I promise if you put in the time now. When your children are still little, you will set them up for success, impacting your family. It will show that you are faithful in teaching your children. It puts your children on the path to being disciples of the Lord. As a dad, you fulfilled the task of being the primary educator of your children.

I don't know about you, but when I start thinking about how I can make a difference in my children's lives by being attentive, making sure that the books they read as children are appropriate and wholesome, and that it will place them on the path to being disciples of the Lord, it fills me with excitement. Why? because I am fighting in the war right inside my home.

wholesome books on shelf - Books for the Christian family - Father Abraham

Steps a dad can take to introduce wholesome books to their homes

I encourage you to visit Big Sky Life Books. If you have kids under ten years old. Please take a look at the Little Boy, Little Girl, and Teaching Our Children categories. Your kids will love the books, and the conversations that spontaneously accompany the readings will open up the opportunity to talk about God and his plan for your kids.

Stay well, brothers.

~ FA