Northern California Ecumenical
Media Resource Center

RESOURCE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN and YOUTH,
and CHILDREN'S LEADERS

The resource books in this section are useful for resourcing all of the topics listed below. They should be especially helpful for those teachers who are using the Rotation Model Workshop style of teaching. The letter (T) indicates books for teachers.

-B- (Bible)

RBB-1 BIBLE HANDBOOK FOR YOUNG READERS written and illustrated by Richard and Christine Deverell- (E); Abingdon Press, 1995.

Helps the young reader learn about the books of the Bible, stories, people, and events of the Bible.

RBB-2 SERIES - BIBLE STORIES: AN AWESOME ADVENTURE- originally written in Italy and adapted by the American Bible Society; Illustrators: Marino Valise, Betty Ferrari, Milan Illustrations Agency; (J/JH); Master Books, 2000+.

A series of reference books which contain famous Bible stories from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible. They also contain maps, historical background material, applications for today, and illustrations including prints of art masterpieces.

A THE PROMISED LAND illustrated by Meredith Hartman, Karim Merrada, Loretta Pastva, Albert Hari, and Charles Singer.

Tells how, after leaving Egypt, the Israelites traveled and settled in the Promised Land, adapted to a new lifestyle, warded off their enemies, and began to grow into a prosperous nation of faith. Includes a discussion of the problems in Israel today.

B MOSES: THE DELIVERANCE OF ISRAEL AND GOD'S COMMANDS illustrated by Liam Kelly, Anne White, Albert Hari, and Charles Singer.

Retraces the stages of Israel's great journey from slavery to freedom. Tells of God's gift of the Ten Commandments. Shows how people still are struggling for freedom and obedience to the Commandments today.

C WHO IS JESUS? SON OF GOD, SON OF MAN illustrated by Mariano Valsesia, Betti Ferrero, Milan Illustrations Agency.

A reference book which contains famous Biblical stories of Jesus.

D THE MISSION OF JESUS: GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE illustrated by Mariano Valsesia, Betti Ferrero, Milan Illustrations Agency.

Tells examples of how Jesus traveled around Judea doing good. Also includes the teachings of Jesus.

RBB-3 SERIES - BIBLE ZONE: WHERE THE BIBLE COMES TO LIFE (E); Abingdon Press, 1998+.

A series of teachers' guides for elementary age students with 13 reproducible lessons. Also included are activities for Bible Zones (or workshops) such as art, story-telling, games and Bible skills.

A HEROES AND HEROINES OF THE BIBLE -(1)- (J) Lessons include heroes and heroines from the Old and New Testaments. Old Testament people include: Daniel, Rahab, Hagar, Esther, Jonah, David and Goliath. New Testament people include: Stephen, Paul, Peter, Jesus, and the woman who touched His robe.

B FAVORITE BIBLE STORIES -(4) -(J)

Old Testament stories are: Abraham and Sarah, David and Jonathan, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and His Brothers, Hannah and Samuel, David the King, Ruth, and Job. New Testament parables include The Good Samaritan, The Prodigal Son (Loving Father), The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin, The Unforgiving Servant, The Talents, The Sower, The Bridesmaids, The Great Banquet, etc.

C TOUCHED BY GOD-(5)- (J)

The lessons include stories of Moses and some of the miracles of Jesus. Healing miracles included are: the Centurion's servant, the man with the withered hand, Jairus's daughter, the ten lepers, the man bedside the pool at Bethesda and the man born blind.

D THE WHOLE WORLD CELEBRATES JESUS-(6)- (Pre/K) 13 reproducible lessons for pre-schoolers include: Angel's Message, Bethlehem Bound, Jesus is Born, Shepherds Watched, Simeon and Anna, Follow that Star, Talking to God, A Beatitude Attitude, the Great Commandment, Forgiveness, The Least of These, Birds of the Field, and the Golden Rule.

E NEW LIFE -(7)- (Pri)

Reproducible lessons for primary students include: Palm Sunday, the Lord's Supper, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Do You Believe? Creation, Adam and Eve, the Naming Trouble in Paradise, For Everything a Season.

F GO AND TELL -(8)- (J)

13 reproducible lessons for juniors include: Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Jeremiah, Nehemiah, The Great Commission, Pentecost, Philip and the Ethiopian, Peter and Cornelius, Paul and Silas, Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's shipwreck, and A Love Letter (1st Corinthians 13).

G FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT AND OTHER FUN VIRTUES -(9)- (Pri)

13 reproducible lessons for primary children on fruit of the Spirit and other virtues. Lessons are on : Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control, Honesty, Forgiveness, Obedience, and Responsibility.

H GO FISH -(11)- (J) 13 reproducible lessons for juniors include: Follow me, Calling of Matthew, Philip, and Nathaniel, Twelve Disciples, Witness, Women who helped Jesus, the beginning of the church, Apostles are arrested, Peter heals Aeneas, Tabitha (Dorcas), Barnabas and Saul.

I HOLY LAND CARAVAN -(12)- (J)

13 reusable lessons with reproducibles dealing with Abraham, life in the Holy Land. Includes some stories of Jesus and John the Baptist.

RBB-4 THE BIBLE, LIVE!: EXPERIENCE-CENTERED ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN by Israel Galindo (K/E); Judson Press, 1999.

Structured around the church year, the book gives children an experience-centered approach to learning. Most of the activities are for children from grades two through six.

RBB-5 READER'S DIGEST CHILDREN'S BIBLE LIBRARY by Anne de Graaf; Illustrator: José Perez Montero; (E); Reader's Digest Young Families, Inc. 1987. (Gift)

Several books from the Reader's Digest Children's Bible Library. There are brief favorite stories adapted from Scripture with colorful illustrations.

A GENESIS - IN THE BEGINNING- Includes stories of Creation, Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Abraham and Isaac.

B EXODUS - MOSES LEADS THE PEOPLE- Includes stories of Moses and the Exodus, the Ten Commandments, and Leviticus.

C DAVID - FROM OUTLAW TO KING- Includes early stories of David, David and Saul, David and Jonathan, David and the Philistines, and David the King.

D GOSPEL - THE EARLY YEARS OF JESUS- Includes the birth of Jesus, Simeon and Anna, Jesus' Boyhood, Baptism and Temptation, Jesus and the Disciples, and the Wedding of Cana.

E MIRACLES - HEALING MINDS AND BODIES- Includes Jesus and the Money-Changers, the story of Nicodemus, the Woman at the Well, Jesus rejected in Nazareth, People Jesus Healed, the Calling of Matthew and the Other Disciples, the Sermon on the Mount. and the Widow of Nain.

RBB-6 THE GOLDEN BIBLE ATLAS WITH RELIEF MAPS IN FULL COLOR by Samuel Terrien; Illustrator: William Bolin; (E); Golden Press, 1968.

This classic book of maps for children contains beautiful illustrations and easy-to-read maps from the beginning of the Bible in ancient times through the Holy Land in the 1950's.

RBB-7 FAMOUS BIBLE PEOPLE: SARAH, ESTHER, AND MARY by Warner A. Hutchinson; Illustrator: Ted Menten; (E) Abingdon, 1981.

A resource book of puzzles, mazes, word searches, and other activities to go with a study of Sarah, Esther, or Mary

RBB-8 THE PILGRIM BOOK OF BIBLE STORIES illustrated by Diana Shimon; (J); Pilgrim Press, 2003.

Children’s Bible stories with colorful illustrations. Includes many stories that are usually ignored. Side panels provide background information on artifacts and customs, writings, and beliefs.

RBB-9 IDEAS A TO Z series: 26 FUN-FILLED LEARNING ACTIVITIES ON BIBLE CHARACTERS by Phyllis Vos Wezeman, Anna L. Liechty, and Judith Harris Chase; (E/JH); Kregel, 1998.

The series provides an in-depth look at Bible characters and themes--making learning fun for children without watering down Scripture. Each letter of the alphabet is a topic for learning about the featured Bible character.

A PETER- To study Peter, the letters A through Z have a different theme and a different learning activity such as drama, music, puppetry, and storytelling. The variety of themes are centered on Peter's Master, Jesus, and the challenges and rewards of learning to walk in His footsteps.

RBB-10 A PILLAR OF PEPPER AND OTHER BIBLE NURSERY RHYMES by John Knapp II; Illustrator: Dianne Turner Deckert; (K/E); David C. Cook, 1982.

Poems in a nursery rhyme form that enchantingly present comments on Bible stories.

RBB-11 CHILDREN OF BIBLICAL LANDS: FOUR ILLUSTRATED STORIES FOR CHILDREN- edited by Martha Bettis Gee; (E); Service Center, 2005.

Four lands described in the Bible- Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, and India- are the locations of stories about young people today. These children live with war and deprivation, but also live with hopes and dreams for their future.

RBB-11T CHILDREN OF BIBLICAL LANDS: TEACHER'S GUIDE- by Martha Bettis Gee; (T); Service Center, 2005.

This guide helps children learn about the cultures of these four Biblelands. It includes recipes, songs, and stories.

  RBB-12  ONE WINTRY NIGHT - by Ruth Bell Graham; Illustrator; Richard Jesse Watson; (J/JH); Guideposts, 2000 (Gift).

            When a young mountain boy is caught alone in a sudden snowstorm, he takes refuge in a cabin his grandfather had helped to build.  The woman living there takes care of him and spends the hours they are snowbound telling the “Christmas Story from Creation to Resurrection.”

           
RBB-13    CHILDREN’S ATLAS OF THE BIBLE:  A PHOTOGRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF JOURNEYS IN THE BIBLE FROM ABRAHAM TO ST. PAUL by Henry Wansbrough - (E/JH); Barron’s Educational Series, Inc., 1997.
       
A vivid account with maps and photographs of the epic journeys of Abraham and his descendants through the Bible lands.  Stories include the Exodus, conquests made by ancient empires, and the spread of Christianity under Paul.

RBB-14    KNOW YOUR BIBLE by Mary Alice Jones - (E); illustrated by Seymour Fleishman; Rand McNally & Company, 1965.
       
Noted Christian educator, Mary Alice Jones, has written this helpful book which contains fascinating facts about the Bible—how it came to be written—what it means today-with maps, charts, and many illustrations.