Great news -- our church is embarking on a carpentry project to build bookshelves for our Sunday School program. Because we want to fill the shelves with new books and DVDs for kids and their families.
What are your recommendations for some good books and films for the kiddos?
7 comments:
If they are still in print and you can find them, McGee and Me is a great video series. They may look a little dated (I think they were mainly from the early to mid 90's), but they are still relevant and the kids love them. They are appropriate for 4-6 grade mainly, but I have used them successfully up through 8th grade because the stories are entertaining.
They are published by Tyndale House, a Presbyterian-affiliated publishing firm, so they are not scary theologically. They mainly focus on making good choices (being kind to the unpopular kid, not succumbing to peer pressure to steal something, not cheating, etc).
There is another video series that I've used with junior and senior high, but I can't remember the name of it offhand. If I find it, I'll post again.
Here is the McGee and Me website:
http://www.mcgeeandme.com/
I think I'm wrong about Tyndale's affiliation - I just saw some scary things on their corporate website (Does Left Behind ring a bell?). I must be thinking of a different publisher.
The video series I mentioned really is not scary theologically. We used it in a Roman Catholic parish with no qualms (which is more than I can say about some Catholic series that were published for kids). About as deep as it gets theologically is that God loves you even when you screw up and even when you struggle to do the right thing. And that when you do screw up, you are forgiven.
It would be helpful if you could give me some age ranges. Also, are these books you expect the kids to read at church, or is this supposed to be more like a library for church members, where families could check out items to take home?
For the preschool/young elementary set, you really can't go wrong with VeggieTales videos. The stories are well-told, funny, and the songs are catchy and fun. WRT books for that age set, are you looking specifically for Bible stories, or just stories with Christian values? For preschool/early readers, you could go for books like "The Velveteen Rabbit", the Beatrix Potter books ("Peter Rabbit"), Aesop's Fables, and maybe even classic fairy tales.
For older kids, the "Little House on the Prairie" books are great for family reading, and the TV series is out on DVD. I'm sure the Waltons is out on DVD too. If your church isn't afraid of Harry Potter, those are WONDERFUL books with lots of possibilities for discussions on faith. I'm sure the C.S. Lewis Narnia series would be welcome. I also can't forget the Roald Dahl books ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "James and the Giant Peach," etc.).
I have yet to find anyone of any age who didn't appreciate all the Charlie Brown holiday specials :-).
Again, if you can give me more information on what you're looking for, that would help. Also, do the films for older children need to be rated G? There are some really good PG movies, but I know our church will not buy them for any age group. Rent them for the youth group, yes -- buy them to borrow, no.
Obviously the Narnia series, both the books and the videos. BBC has a good series on them (skip the study guide-- too revisionist) and of course the Disney version.
The movie Amazing Grace is wonderful for older tweens. Remember the Titans might be another great addition (and love the music!)
I have no idea if its in print, but either Augsburg or Concordia did a great book about baptism, Water Come Down by Walter Wangerin aboput how all creation rejoices wheb God welvcomes a new membver to his family. The illustratio0ns are simply gloriious.
PS I just checked Amazon. It's still there, plus you get thebonus of a review destined for your stupid cristian files. You'll know it when you see it
The fundie fulmination seals the deal that it's a GOOD book, IMHO.
Why is it that some of the more exciteable types from the Anabaptist traditions can't leave this subject alone? I mean, if baptism is meaningless apart from the recipient's "making a decision for Christ"/the mysterious "age of accountability, and if our churches have other ritual mechanisms, like confirmation, to recognize older children's/adults' intentions to follow the Christian path -- then why not leave us alone in our delusions about pouring water on babies' heads? If it's as pointless as they claim it is, why do they care so much?
I'm reminded of the old country song, "I Don't Care Where You Go, As Long As It's Away." Yes, we know you don't much care for infant baptism. You're on the record. We're doing it anyway. So go away now.
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