Books for Challenging Issues

Sometimes I get a little worried thinking about some of the "big" issues that we need to teach our kids about. But, I have been encouraged by a lot of people to be proactive about it because you would rather your kids learn about it from you than someone else. So, this summer I decided to become a little bit proactive. We love books and a few books had been recommended by people I respect about these difficult topics. Here are the ones I got and that we intend to use with our children.

God Made All of Me - by Justin and Lindsey Holcomb
This the only book from these that I have read with my oldest kids so far, and I really liked it. It focuses on the proper names of body parts, why some parts are private and the difference between a surprise and a secret. A great, basic and age appropriate book and a good foundation for the rest.

Good Pictures, Bad Pictures - by Kristen Jenson and Gail Poyner
This is more of a workbook style book that teaches children about what pornography is, why it is harmful and what to do if you see a "bad" picture. It is intended for kids who are age 6+ and I will admit that I haven't used it at all yet with my children. But, I am glad to have something on hand for when we decide it is time.

The Story of Me and Before I Was Born - by Brenna and Stan Jones and Carolyn Nystrom
These books are a part of series about teaching your children about sex. Again, I haven't used these yet, but I am very pleased with what they have. The first one is a very basic explanation of body parts, growth and development of babies and God's intention for sex as something for marriage alone. The second book goes into more details, including the differences between boys and girls a really simple and age appropriate explanation of act of sex. Again, I haven't read these yet with any of my kids, but I think we will get started on the first one soon.

Again, we haven't used all of these yet, but it makes me feel at peace to know I have something on hand for when I think we are ready or when the kids start to ask more questions.

Comments

The Wind Blows in Sleeping Grass by Katie Powner

A fter years of drifting, fifty-year-old Pete Ryman has settled down with his potbellied pig, Pearl, in the small Montana town of Sleeping Grass--a place he never expected to see again. It's not the life he dreamed of, but there aren't many prospects for a high-school dropout like him. Elderly widow Wilma Jacobsen carries a burden of guilt over her part in events that led to Pete leaving Sleeping Grass decades ago. Now that he's back, she's been praying for the chance to make things right, but she never expected God's answer to leave her flat on her face--literally--and up to her ears in meddling. When the younger sister Pete was separated from as a child shows up in Sleeping Grass with her eleven-year-old son, Pete is forced to face a past he buried long ago, and Wilma discovers her long-awaited chance at redemption may come at a higher cost than she's willing to pay. I really enjoyed this book. The characters in it were interesting and unique. While some thing

This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

When Minerva Jane Jenkins was just fourteen years old, she married a man who moved her to the mountains. He carried with him a small box, which he told her held gold. And when he died fifty years later, he made her promise to tell no one about the box or the treasure it contained. Now at ninety-four, Minerva is nearing the end of what has sometimes been a lonely life. But she's kept her promise. Even so, rumors of hidden gold have a way of spreading, and Minerva is visited by a reporter, Del Rankin, who wants to know more of her story. As an unlikely friendship develops, Minerva is tempted to reveal her secret to Del. But the truth of what's really buried in the box may be hidden even from her. I really enjoyed this book. It is quality historical fiction with a strong narrative voice. I really liked the characters and it was interesting to see how all of the secrets they carried with them affected them. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and how the setting was

The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans. But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures. Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice. This was an enjoyable book to r

The Talens' Tales

Search This Blog