The Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child's Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story

by Janie Cheaney, Betsy Farquhar, Hayley Morell

A book, too, can be a star, a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe. —Madeleine L'Engle

God loves stories. We understand the world and ourselves in light of His great story. And humans reflect Him in their love to tell and immerse themselves in story. But not all stories are equal—or even good.

Good books awaken us to truth, warn us from falsehood, and provide unforgettable examples. They open our hearts to beauty and wonder. They shape us. In The Redeemed Reader, parents and educators find encouragement and guidance to raise readers who can engage both heart and mind with books and the culture surrounding them.

This book offers insight into how to build discernment in children and provides practical tips, examples, and booklists for their literary journey. Passionate about shepherding imaginations and young hearts, the authors read ahead so that you can confidently choose books for your children.

Readers will discover a deeper understanding of how the gospel shines into children’s books and practical guidance for applying these principles. If you want the imaginations of your children to be formed by what is good and true, The Redeemed Reader will equip you—parents, librarians, and educators—to navigate literary culture in a fallen world and to nurture thoughtful readers.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Education, Books About Books, Family, Faith

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a modern day continuation of Honey for a Child's Heart. I love books about books and this one is very ambitious in its scope. I so much appreciate the thoughtfulness and grace behind this book. I also appreciate that this book highlights so many modern authors and books and helps one navigate all the different genres with discernment but giving freedom depending on personal circumstances. Above all this book gives you the tools to make your own judgements about the books you will read and will give children you love to read.

[Josiah DeGraaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal book on reading that while primarily aimed toward the parents of reading children, is truly valuable for any readers themselves. In an age where books (in particular kid lit) can stir up a lot of controversy in Christian circles, I deeply appreciate the authors' approach that holds biblical orthodoxy in the one hand with gentle nuance and wisdom in the other. It's rare for both qualities to be displayed so well when discussing a variety of topics like this book does. But that's exactly what this book delivers.

[Anna Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is FANTASTIC. I could not stop talking about it to Blake. After reviewing children and YA books for years, the authors have now put together a comprehensive guide on how to teach our children discernment when choosing books, genres, and content. Reading this book helped me articulate my own reasons for why I do or do not continue reading books, so I truly do feel better equipped as a reader and hopefully someday as a parent of readers. The authors are gracious and balanced in their approach (rather than trying to bind anyone’s conscious), and I learned what it means to apply Christian forbearance to authors who do not believe in the Truth yet still release it into their own books. To all my friends with kids who are growing into independent readers— read this book!

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Redeemed Reader, I was not surprised that this first time book by the authors again shone their skill as book reviewers of children’s literature. But Janie, Betsy, Hayley and Megan are more than that! Here the authors gave balanced insight across many subjects related to cultivating wholesome reading. They not only met the secondary title of “Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story” but also cultivated the discernment of this grandmother for her personal reading and what she shares with her family.

Dividing the book into 27 chapters, the authors cover a broad selection of topics. This allows adults to access this resource for specific topics in manageable chunks. I appreciate the discernment expressed in chapters about diversity and historical racism. And the chapters on poetry and classics personally challenged this adult to expand her reading diet.

Speaking of reading diet (dear grandson), I could relate to the comment about third graders only wanting to read graphic novels. I value the discernment that they can expose readers to great works of literature and be invitations to the originals. I realized that as an older adult, I was lacking in knowledge of the plot lines of great works from the likes of Shakespeare and Greek myths. I have added some graphic novel adaptations to my library list to remedy that lack and point me to the originals.

While I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher (and was not required to write a positive review), I whole heartedly give this book 5 stars. Reading a pdf copy had its merits to be able to read the book before publication, but I now excitedly wait for the book being released on September 2! I look forward to highlighting my personal copy and stocking up on copies for Christmas gifts. (Spoiler alert to my family and friends :) The book also comes with lists of starred books with a link to their website to read the reviews with just a couple clicks. Happy reading!

[Nancy B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are few subjects dearer to me as a mom (and a librarian) than this: engaging the hearts and minds of children to love reading. So with a subtitle like this (“Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story”), I thought to myself ‘this book had better deliver.’ And it does. For me, Redeemed Reader is a 5 ⭐️ book because it fully accomplishes what it sets out to do.

(I shouldn’t have been surprised; the book reviews found on the Redeemed Reader web site have been my trusted advisor for years.)

So much about the Story that God has written can be accessed through stories. Redeemed Reader proclaims this message and beautifully demonstrates the ‘how’ by walking through the truth and beauty of different genres (eg fantasy, graphic novels, classics, science fiction) and categories of children’s books. These categories are board books, picture books, easy readers, chapter books, middle grade books, and young adult books.

I love the philosophy of reading presented within these pages. Partly because it aligns so closely with my own reading philosophy but also because it offers a vision for training your children in wisdom by actually engaging with culture through books. (See the guidance around literature as “mirrors” and “windows.” Lovely.) Redeemed Reader also explains that what often purports to be “discerning” actually just avoids hard topics. And the “wholesome” that some celebrate is actually archaic and moralistic. Let the reader understand that old and good are not the same.

I’ve seen a lot of booklists both online and in other popular books, but Redeemed Reader offers some of the best out there. There is also wonderful, practical advice for engaging wisely and winsomely with your public library and for building your own home collection.

A must read for anyone shepherding kids to find God’s truth in children’s literature.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever been discouraged at troublesome content sneaking into books published for children, The Redeemed Reader is for you.

I loved it, and here’s why: 

1. The booklists. Not only is there a mini list at the end of each chapter, but there is also a much larger list at the end of the book. These are enough reason to buy the book! 

2. Scope. This is maybe the most comprehensive book I’ve read of its kind. So many facets to consider in what books we offer to our kids. 

3. Biblical worldview. It isn’t necessary to agree on every single point presented here to appreciate the authors’ desire in wanting to shepherd young readers toward what is good, true, and beautiful.

For fans of the Read-Aloud Family, The Magic Hour, and Honey for a Child's Heart!

The Redeemed Reader is worth having on your shelf and I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to Moody Publishers for a complimentary review copy. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Margaret Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so much more than lists of quality 21st century children's literature. It contains plenty of those, but it starts by laying a foundation: what we are looking for in literature is God’s Truth wrapped in a quality Story. A solid biblical worldview informs every chapter of the book, yet the constant refrain is that we need to understand and engage our culture. Rather than censoring books, we teach our kids discernment. Rather than substituting titles, we expand our reading repertoire. Of course not all books are worth reading or appropriate for every child! The Redeemed Reader provides thoughtful questions to ask yourself as you consider what books to put before your kids, whether you're considering classics, contemporary novels, Bible retellings, or a whole slew of different genres. You'll want to watch for historical racism, misplaced nostalgia, unbiblical environmentalism, and dark topics that may be too much for your child to handle. Through it all the authors encourage you to discuss the issues with your children and teens. They also delve into the topic of loving your neighbour, including authors (Christian and secular), libraries, and the world. I can't recommend this resource highly enough.

[Emily Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved loved loved this book!

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world that inundates us with advice, every parent needs a curated list of trusted advisors and resources. In our home, one of those trusted sources is The Redeemed Reader, a website for Christian parents and educators that offers thoughtful book reviews as well as topical book lists, cultural reflections, and more. I regularly check The Redeemed Reader’s reviews before selecting books for my kids, and I’m always interested in the commentary and insights that come to my inbox via Redeemed Reader’s weekly newsletter. When the folks at Redeemed Reader announced that they were writing a book, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, and I was thrilled to be welcomed on as an early reader for the book’s launch team. I gladly accepted a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review; that can get a little dicey since y’all KNOW I don’t hold back on my bookish opinions. I needn’t have worried; my already-high expectations were blown out of the water with this gem of a book.

This book was clearly written by a team who knows both their subject and their audience: THE REDEEMED READER explores an extensive range of questions, concerns, and topics related to children’s literature, referencing specific books (and thereby building parents’ TBRs!) for every idea and illustration. This is a book by and for Christian readers, and the message permeating each chapter is that God loves stories; that we as humans understand ourselves and the world in light of His great story; and that stories we read can awaken us to truth, wonder, and beauty—IF we are looking in the right books!

In Part One, the authors establish a framework upon which the remaining chapters rest. We examine the concepts of Truth and Story and how BOTH factor into the books that we (and our children) read; here, we see that “discerning appreciation of literature, from picture books to lengthy classics, comes from learning to recognize these elements and how they resonate.” I appreciated this balanced approach that takes both morality AND quality storytelling into consideration when seeking out good books for our kids. As we get further into Part One, we look at how to cultivate delight and discernment, which are our two primary goals as we shepherd young imaginations. And we end with an exploration of the ways that literature can help young readers understand the ideas of original sin and divine redemption that are foreign to most Americans.

Part Two of THE REDEEMED READER is all about practical application, with deep dives into how to read the Classics (including several pitfalls that can be associated with classic literature, such as misplaced nostalgia or assuming they are “safe” simply because they’re older books [guilty!]) and how to approach contemporary novels (with chapters offering a thoughtful, nuanced approach to hot-button issues such as representation, diversity, and environmentalism). We then get chapters dedicated to readers of all ages, stages, and interests; in these sections, the authors address the questions and concerns that many parents might have as they relate to each genre (particularly those that are harder to navigate, like Middle Grade Humor and YA Romance). Finally, we step back a bit to look at how we as Christians can reflect the light of Christ in our interactions with the bookish community (authors, librarians, etc.), our navigation of books that speak to current events, and even our approach to the curation of our home libraries.

One of my favorite features of this book is the micro booklists at the end of each chapter, as well as the final extended list of starred reviews that the R. R. team considers “library builders” in their respective categories. And the best part is that every title referenced in this book has been reviewed on The Redeemed Reader website; in fact, the book guides readers to a landing page with a full list of linked reviews. This list alone is worth the price of the book!

So much of parenting can be overwhelming, and that even includes the parts that we find great delight in, such as books! THE REDEEMED READER offers a sense of relief, and it doesn’t just help Christian parents with knowing WHAT to read (though it does do that!); it shows us how to read, how to pick the best books, and how to navigate books that are problematic but not irredeemable. THE REDEEMED READER will challenge your thinking, open your eyes to new ways of approaching books, and empower you to be a thoughtful book shepherd for your children (and maybe even yourself). And while I’ve read a number of books about children’s literature, this one stands apart thanks to its distinct Christian worldview, its practical guide to several timely issues, its inclusion of classic AND contemporary titles, and its nuanced approach to complex topics that few other books of this type have addressed. THE REDEEMED READER is a resource that deserves a place on the shelf of every Christian parent and educator, and it’s a book I know I will be turning to again and again as I continue navigate the literary landscape alongside my kids.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

[I received a complimentary copy of this title. All opinions are my own.]

Books about books are always fun. :)

Choosing solid books for our kids and training them up to be able to choose quality books for themselves someday is of huge importance. “The Redeemed Reader” offers a plethora of advice regarding different issues in selecting books. Additionally, the authors offer reading recommendations through various genres throughout the book and at the end of each chapter. I’ve seen this book frequently compared to a modern day “Honey for a Child’s Heart,” and I believe that to be a fair comparison.

I love the framework of this book in that the authors always go back to God’s Word as the standard and seek to form their reading lives and that of their children in accordance with that. At the same time, the authors acknowledge that there is often room for nuance and some readers may have different convictions in certain areas than others. Wisdom and discernment are always needed.

While a few of the books these authors would recommend, I may not totally agree with, I really appreciate the perspectives given and the incredible lists of books included in this title. Truly, there were so many books that I made note of to remember for my own boys someday, especially some of the middle grade selections!

I loved the commentary on loving your neighbor, supporting your local library, and how to handle library selections we may wish weren’t available as Christians. So good.

If you’re looking for a thorough, Christian read on reading life as a Christian family, I would definitely highly recommend this title to you!

[Kaitlin Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super helpful and covered such a broad range of topics related to reading and helping your kids find good books to read. I especially appreciated how the authors were stalwart on commitment to God’s Word on straightforward issues and gracious about Christian conscience in others. They struck a great balance. I can’t wait to dive into all the included reading lists on my next library trip. Highly recommend for any parent, but also would be a great read for anyone who enjoys books!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this thoughtful compilation on a variety of topics from the Redeemed Reader team. I’ve followed their reviews for quite some time, but this is more of a gathering of the more “thinky” pieces that occasionally appear on their website. The chapters advance a unifying theme that Christians ought to evaluate books primarily on how well they promote Truth and Story. The main goal is not to recommend “clean” books, but to develop readers’ taste and sense of discernment in those areas. I appreciate this approach because it focuses less on scare tactics or hand wringing about how our kids might turn out if we accidentally let them read a book with particular content, and more on how we can help kids thoughtfully discuss and evaluate what they are reading.

If you’re interested in this book primarily for the booklists, it still has those aplenty. There is a list of all the starred review books they have posted on their website at the back of the book, as well as a short list that follows each chapter that encourages further reading on whatever that particular chapter is about. They drop plenty of book names during the written part of the chapter as well, but those do not necessarily constitute a recommendation, as some books are merely being used as examples (sometimes negative) of points they are making. So it’s nice to have a skimmable list of recommendations at the end of the chapter.

Overall I think this book is a great, valuable resource. I love the perspective of conversing with my kids about difficult topics and am happy for the many discussion starters that are provided in this book toward that end.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher but was not required to write a positive review - all opinions are my own.

[Betsy]

I've read it twice already this year! Can't wait to read the next iteration 😉

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a homeschooling mom and lifelong reader, it has been my job over the past ten years to teach my children to read and then to teach them to love to read. Why? Because reading matters – humans learn best through story, and stories open us up to experiences that we have never and perhaps will never have.

Redeemed Reader’s website and newsletter has been a favorite in our house for years in my husband and my quest to fill our children’s time with not just books, but good books, and so when I heard they were coming out with a book, I knew I had to have it. When the opportunity arose to be an *early* reader I knew that was the job for me! (So for you legal types, I was given a complimentary ARC from the publisher, but I was not required to write a positive review.)

This book is geared towards Christians, and those with a Christian worldview who want to teach the children in their lives to be discerning readers, not just junk readers. It was packed to the brim with helpful information on how to create delight about reading and how to lead in discernment in reading. There were many practical tips, such as “As young children begin with soft food and finger foods, we begin with easier texts that are approachable to children, and we read aloud the harder texts until our children can read them on their own.” I highlighted nuggets like that one on almost every page.

There were, of course, wonderfully curated book lists, because how could Redeemed Reader not include lists, but what I also loved was that they included references books on each topic for adults, so that you were prepared to be able to dig in to any topic on which you needed to hear more.

I appreciated their willingness to dive into difficult topics, such as how to handle racism in old literature, what to do when I disagree with a book, or how and why to find diversity in books. These are important things to consider deeply and reading those chapters was akin to having a great discussion with good friends who are willing to get messy to talk about truth.

I also really enjoyed the last third of the book, where they dug into a variety of genres and why they are important – which will really help in my quest to convince my husband that there are more good genres outside of sci-fi.

For all of my friends that have heard me wax on about reading aloud and teaching Truth through story, this is the book I will point you to from now on so that you never have to listen to me about that again! (OK, I will probably talk about it again. :-P)

[Bethany G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so very much to Redeemed Reader for the ARC of their wonderful new book! It has been such a delight and truly helpful read. Even though August is such a busy month preparing for the new school year, reading this book came at a perfect time. I have been regularly referencing Redeemed Reader's book reviews for the last several years now, and it has been a much trusted guide as I find new books for our school's library collection. I have so appreciated their guidance and recommendations, and especially their mission to help believers learn to read with discernment. I am so thankful their reviews don't tell me what to think: they present the book's content and thoughtful comments on how to engage as believers with the material. They ultimately leave it up to the parents/educator's discretion, and this book did a fantastic job explaining how to do this in more depth, as well as how to help children become discerning readers and seekers of Truth. They gave specific examples for how to evaluate and interact with various genres and subject matters, ultimately deriving from Truth and Story. Thank you so much Redeemed Reader! I am SO excited to continue using this book as a resource at our school, and to recommend it to parents!

[Brittany Roberson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What books should we be reading with our children? What do we do with messy books? What about environmentalism and fantasy and graphic novels? How can we love our local libraries?

Friends, these questions and more (basically any question you’ve had about books) you’ll probably find it discussed right here in The Redeemed Reader. It’s a book written about books by four friends who have been reviewing books from a Christian worldview for years.

I specifically appreciated the mature perspective displayed in this book to not just automatically discard a messy book with difficult topics, but to utilize those books to engage in gospel conversation with our kids. To point them to Truth and to the Story of the gospel.

I have learned a lot through this book on these different subjects - and also have added several books to my library haul from their recommendations (there’s a whole booklist of recommendations at the back of the book!).

You can read this book from front to back like I did, but I also think it’s great to pick and choose the topics that are currently applicable to your family and their reading journey.

[Brianna Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars
The Redeemed Reader is a helpful and compelling guide for parents navigating their child’s reading journey. I long for my children to love reading but also to read widely with discerning curiosity and The Redeemed Reader gives many suggestions and innumerable resources on how to facilitate this. The authors write with experience and humility, offering parents and teachers wisdom while also recognizing differences in opinion, family culture, and convictions – all without sacrificing foundational Biblical and Gospel Truth. The book is thorough yet accessible; I appreciated the variety of genres, topics, and styles covered in The Redeemed Reader. I gained some new insights and felt encouraged on our family’s reading journey. I highly recommend this book for parents, teachers, youth leaders; it would be a fantastic addition to home or church libraries (and even comes with tips on how to organize and manage such libraries)!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in order to write an honest, unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sarah Dixon Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up from 4.5 stars.

Add The Redeemed Reader to your school supply list this autumn.

This helpful resource is a collaborative effort by the book reviewers at RedeemedReader.com, published by Moody Publishers. Janie Cheaney, Betsy Farquhar, Hayley Morell, and Megan Saben consider the practice of reading from every possible angle. Their goal is to help guide parents as they read with their children.

“What do these young souls need from us, the shepherds of their imaginations? They need Truth and Story, recognizing that Truth is always measured against God and His Word, not our own understanding. Story is that nearly undefinable quality of artistic excellence, particularly as it hearkens back to the Story of Christ rescuing His bride,” the authors write.

But just as you wouldn’t purchase a ruler to do what a calculator might for math class, don’t expect The Redeemed Reader to practice discernment for you.....

The rest of this review will be available at StoryWarren.com in the next week or so.

I received an ARC of this book and was not required to write a positive review.

[Grete Telander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have come to appreciate the Redeemed Reader website especially as my kids have gotten old enough that I cannot pre-read everything before they do. I was so excited about the release of the book! I appreciate how the authors make me think about even topics where we do disagree, and I love the book lists. I will refer to this book regularly for book recommendations. It is definitely a different approach than the Read Aloud Handbook or the Read Aloud Family, the authors have a lot of ideas to share about reading as a Christian in contemporary America that are outside the scope of these popular reading-about-reading books.

[Madison Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it! It’s such a helpful resource for guiding my kids toward becoming thoughtful and discerning readers. I loved all the book recommendations—it’s given me so many titles to watch for and add to our home library.

The only small thing I’d note is that the authors and I have slightly different approaches when it comes to boundaries. Some of their guidance around books with LGBTQ themes or magic/witchcraft is a little different from what we practice in our family. I completely understand their perspective—they’re encouraging older kids to explore ideas with parental guidance to better help them understand other POVs —but in our home, we choose to draw a few deeper lines.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, but would be better suited to Christian parents who are new to the whole stories-are-soul-food thing—very little here I hadn’t heard before. However, eminently practical, and filled with lists of books. Some of which I knew, many I didn’t, which is the best kind of booklist. Of the ones I knew, I very rarely differed with their opinions. In fact, in general, very solid opinions. Will be good to reference from time to time.

The worst of it is, now I’m even more motivated to go out and buy books than I was before.

[Jamie Guertin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the ideas about how to teach discernment in a young reader. Looking for gospel arcs in the great stories is my new favorite lens. Reading lists for ages - after renting from the library, will buy my own for our bookshelf as a reference.

[Pam Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 🫶🏼. Some chapters didn’t flow as well, maybe because it’s written by several authors; but really good book!

[Stephani Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic resource for anyone wanting to think more deeply about the books they're encouraging kids to read! Loved the lists throughout the book. So helpful.

[Brittany Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this one!

“When we acknowledge and praise what is good and true and beautiful in a literary work, we are shining a gospel light on both Christian and secular authors. We can rejoice in the common grace present in the work of any author or illustrator. This is a wonderful witness and encouragement to authors, both saved and unsaved.”



This book is an amazing resource for the busy parent who doesn’t have time to read everything their kids are reading and wants to make sure that their children’s imaginations are tapped and encountering truth!

The Redeemed Reader is first and foremost a website doing for kids books what I’m seeking to do with my own book reviews: help readers make good choices about what they’re reading. Their team of reviewers provides insights on a broad spectrum of books from classics to picture books to easy readers, YA novels, nonfiction, and more.

They approach their reviews from a biblical perspective: “Not, This art is actually kinda Christian, but rather, Here’s what I realized as a Christian encountering this art.”


Their website is great, but I’m glad they chose to publish this book as well. Not only do they tackle every genre of books and offer booklists at the end of every chapter, but they talk about how to develop discernment in your kids and provide good questions to ask them while they’re reading.

“Anywhere we read of goodness, hope, light, loving one’s neighbor, good triumphing over evil, forgiveness and redemption, healthy family relationships, friendships, and beauty and order in creation, we see Truth, and our hearts rejoice.

Books that hold the most Truth not only show that we need a savior, but that there is a Savior, and therefore we have hope. They point to our deep desire for peace with God and with one another.”

They acknowledge that these themes don’t just show up in Christian labeled books but that we can find threads of the capital T Truth (God’s Word) and capital S Story (grand biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, restoration) in lots of secular works. I’ve found that to be true as well.

At The Redeemed Reader, their goal is to help train children to pick up a book and enjoy what they’re reading while still discerning truth.

“Good stories keep the soul awake, forewarning it of danger and populating it with heroes and heroines whose examples of courage and character give us strength to see ourselves standing against similar foes and refusing to yield to evil. Story has always been and remains our greatest tool in crafting wise and great people.”

I love the heart behind their work as well as the outcome. I am wary of all the book options available to my third grade speed-reader— I can’t read everything she’s reading and still have time to read myself. I love that I can look things up on their website or offer her books from their curated book lists (with all kinds of categories) and know that what she is putting in her mind tells the story of reality, even if it’s the fallenness of the human condition, and that there is hope and redemption in the end.

“We can disagree with the characters’ conclusions and evaluate their personal choices. We can debate whether they understand the reality they’re living in. We can try to discern what the author believes about free will and personal responsibility and human nature. Good literature allows readers to get inside another person’s mind and understand the world from another point of view.

By entering the story, readers gain sympathy for a well-written fictional character, even as they learn to recognize the flaws in their reasoning and choices.”

One of the big takeaways for me was how they recommended readers handle ‘messy books.’ In short, these are books that deal with sin and might make readers uncomfortable.

“books that honestly reflect the human condition are often messy because sin is messy.”

They don’t want us to categorically avoid these books because we are not called to be comfortable, but to be discerning— which is a concept I really agree with.

I loved their evaluation system for messy books. They give a list of ‘P’s’ to ponder when determining if a book is right for your child (or yourself):

- Plot Point vs Political Point: “Is the objectionable (or problematic, or messy) content in the book necessary to drive the story, or is there a clear agenda driving the inclusion of this content?”

- Pleasure or Pain?: “Does the story also show repentance, disgust at sin, or the negative consequences of sin? Or is the sinful act/thought seen to be only pleasurable or desirable?”

- Preparation: “Is the audience prepared for the content, both developmentally and experientially?”

- Proportion: “What is the proportion of messy content to the rest of the book? One throwaway line about a character’s two moms requires a different response than a book in which the protagonist comes out as a lesbian.”

- Pandering: “Is the author simply pandering to a childish audience… to today’s publishing trends rather than to add depth?”

- Protagonist: “Is the protagonist promoting or celebrating unbiblical behavior and beliefs with no evidence of repentance or maturation, or is the villain the renegade?”

- Promise: “Explicitly or implicitly, is the story promising redemption and rescue from sin? Or is it promising rewards for sin?”

- Problematic or Productive: “Productive messy books illustrate biblical traits like compassion, truth-telling, and repentance. Problematic books do not… [and] present unbiblical lifestyles as normal and acceptable.”

They do a great job of being careful in their recommendations and how they offer them. It is not a formulaic science based on a child’s age. Discernment takes thought, consideration, prayer, and most importantly time in God’s Word to develop. Not all the books they recommend will be right for your family; this is (appropriately) not a copy and paste system.



After they discuss messy books they looked at several contemporary issues that come up in literature that we need to know how to handle, including racism, environmentalism, diversity and sexuality, identity, and dystopian themes.

I wasn’t surprised that these are popular topics, but I think reading their discussion about them made me realize how subtly and easily the corresponding underlying beliefs about God, his world, and his people these worldviews require can be inserted into a story.

They were very thoughtful in their communication about how these show up in books, what questions to ask, and why it matters that we think about it.



The next section of chapters goes through specific genres and what to look for or avoid in each one. The genres they cover are picture books, easy readers, humor, poetry, sci-fi and dystopia, fantasy, and romance.

A couple thoughts that stuck out to me were:

- help your children pick their ‘book friends’ like they would pick their real-life friends— it might be time to break off with a book or series if the main character isn’t showing characteristics you would want in a real friend

- “Think of poetry like cinnamon: no one wants to eat cinnamon plain, but no one wants to eat pumpkin bread, apple pie, or a cinnamon roll without it!”

- a good question that science fiction often explores in some way is- ‘Am I becoming more like my machine? Or more like Christ?’

- “It’s important to nudge our kids toward healthier romantic reading and never leave the impression that romantic love conquers all, justifies all, and lasts forever. Only one kind of love does that.”



The last few chapters are for practical application.

They offer guidance in finding the right Bibles for your kids. Their recommendations were ones we’ve already been using with our kids and recommending to others as well! (The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible, The Biggest Story Bible, The Ology, The Kingdom and the King Storybook Bible)

They talk about how we can encourage authors, secular and Christian; how we can love on our libraries by requesting good books and checking them out; how we can use books to help us understand things happening in the news; and how we can curate our own libraries at home.

I love public libraries and it was a good reminder that we alert our libraries to what we are interested in and want to read more of by checking books out. They take note of what is in circulation so help make your library better by checking out the good books!

That last one about home libraries was particularly helpful for me because I’m about to have a new bookshelf built in my house and I’m preparing to inventory all my books and make a system to let people in my life check them out! They had some great ideas for how to decide what books to donate or keep and offered some suggestions for books to make sure you have for members in your family.

“The goal of managing a home library is to bless your family and friends and to encourage them to explore and use it. The purpose is not to have every title you could possibly ever want, nor to have every book always readily available, but simply to be able to find it.”

If you want to browse their book reviews on their website, look for the *starred books because these are the ones they recommend without caveats or considerations (other than age considerations). Other books are still recommended but they offer some insight on what to be aware of before picking it out for your specific child.

You can browse their site by age group, genre, subject, special topic, and over 175 curated booklists like ‘recommended graphic novels’, ‘books for young horse lovers’, ‘for 16-year-old girls’, ‘family read alouds’ etc.

They also have a way to contact them if you would like a book reviewed that isn’t on their website.



Lastly, though perhaps I should have put this at the beginning of the review:

“Remember, the only required book is the Bible. May you never be too busy to read it. Our booklists are recommendations, not requirements.”



Recommendation

I think this would be a great book to add to your personal library if you can. If you can’t, at least bookmark their website as an easy reference when you’re looking for and monitoring books for your kids.

Kids’ imaginations are wonderful, but also very impressionable— we have a responsibility to engage them and allow them to think about hard things, but also protect them from things they aren’t ready to read yet.

The Redeemed Reader is a fantastic resource to guide us as parents, guardians, or librarians with the children in our care, directing them to what is good, true, and beautiful— to what points to Truth and echoes the greatest Story of all.

Definitely read this book and check out all that The Redeemed Reader has to offer! I know I'm going to be telling people about this all the time!


**Received a digital copy of this book from Moody Publishers**

Book Review Blog | Facebook | Pinterest | StoryGraph

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Redeemed Reader blog is my first stop for book recommendations or reviews, and I've been looking forward to this book. Of course, the book lists are what I looked at first, (so many new titles to find at my library!) but The Redeemed Reader is so much more than book lists. From a thoughtful look at how Truth and Story together create great books, to considering how to deal with historical racism and "messy" books, there is so much to learn and discuss. I especially enjoyed the chapters on loving my library and curating my personal library. This is a book I will dip into again and again.
I received an ARC, all opinions are my own.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-partly biased review as I’ve followed their blog for years and find it so valuable in what’s out there for children’s literature. They’re all about “reading ahead” for us and when people ask where I hear about certain books it probably came from them.
I don’t agree with everything they preach here but I did feel like I took a mini children’s lit course. Lots of good info and I can’t wait to get the physical copy from the library to look up all the books they mentioned.

[Sarah Mowery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember when I first stumbled across redeemedreader.com, but for over a decade that website has influenced which children’s books have made their way into our home and the hearts of our family more than any other resource. When I was growing up, my book-loving mom owned and regularly referred to Gladys Hunt’s "Honey for a Child’s Heart." Now I have a book too: "The Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story."

"The Redeemed Reader" is written by four Christian women who love books and children for Christian parents and educators who also love books and children…and who want the children they love to love books too. In Part One the authors explain the criteria they use to evaluate children’s literature: Truth and Story. As they define it, Truth merits a capital T when it aligns with the wisdom of the Bible, and Story merits a capital S when it contains elements that God uses in His grand narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. How does one discern which books contain Truth and/or Story? That’s what the rest of the book is about.

After laying their foundation, the authors offer advice on cultivating discernment and delight and discuss reading levels and genres. These initial chapters are sprinkled with snippets of wisdom. “Be wary of historical fiction that puts twenty-first-century attitudes in the minds of historical characters,” they write. “Feminism has a way of sneaking into otherwise realistic narratives, sometimes to ridiculous lengths.” In another section they maintain, “The Bible is our first resort, always, for ‘teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness’ (2 Tim. 3:16‒17). But literature that truthfully reflects life as it’s lived in the world can be a useful secondary resource—even if we’re a little uncomfortable with the content. [Books] that don’t necessarily fall in line with Christian teaching can still be worth reading and talking about if they realistically reflect the world—especially the power and effects of sin. That’s why we call them ‘discussion starters.’”

One might expect a book about books to elevate reading to a place of supreme importance. Not this book. These women are passionate but refreshingly balanced: “Reading is only a tool; it should never be an idol. Our ultimate priority is to know the Lord and nurture our children to do so likewise, not to read all the right books.” Later they reiterate, “The Bible is the only required read.”

In “Part Two: Raising Readers” the authors begin by discussing the classics. They note misplaced nostalgia—the old days were not always better—and rightfully assert that one must also read older titles with discernment. Another chapter is dedicated to three heavyweights in English literature—the KJV Bible, Shakespeare, and Pilgrim’s Progress—and their retellings. One of my favorite chapters in the book asks, “Are graphic novels literature?” To that question the authors give an enthusiastic but qualified yes. They write, “Graphic art should be understood as its own medium, not a dumbed-down version of literature.” Why? A good graphic novel is able to show, not tell. They admit that some graphic novel adaptations lose the literary value of the originals but also comment: “Graphic novel adaptations of "Watership Down" or "Beowulf" could spark an interest that will lead to more reading. Even if it doesn’t, your reader now has a deeper knowledge and appreciation of a work of literature. That is no small thing!” It isn’t! After reading this chapter, I went to our local library and checked out graphic novel adaptations not only of "Watership Down" and "Beowulf" but also "Macbeth" and "The Illiad," and those stories dominated our dinner conversation the following day!

I appreciate the perspective of the authors regarding historical racism in children’s books. Instead of substituting classic books that contain racist elements, the authors recommend introducing children to books from a variety of time periods and traditions. And what’s to be done with “messy books,” that is, books that grapple with sin—either the sins of a character or sin in general? “The question we must ask ourselves is not ‘Does this book have X kind of content?’…The real question is ‘Why is this particular content in this book?’” After all, as they acknowledge, the Bible itself is a rather messy book.

I found the discussion of environmentalism in children’s literature very thoughtful. The authors defined environmentalism as “the misguided idea that the environment ought to take precedence over human needs and wants,” and maintained a Biblical position with regard to the creation: “It is not our calling to redeem all of nature, and to presume we ought to, or even could do so, would be folly and a waste of invaluable time and energy. Instead, we seek to be faithful in our calling as stewards, not saviors of the earth.” While the authors approached diversity and identity and representation carefully, I found the chapters on those subjects less thoughtful. In our self-absorbed society, far too much is made of representation in literature. I’m a middle-aged wife and mom who’s connected with a myriad of literary characters—from hobbits to orphans to queens—not because they represent me but because I’m able to relate to them, even though at face value we have little in common. And when it comes to so-called “banned” books, I would have liked to have had it noted that “banned” is an inflated term. There are and were countries in which it is or was illegal to own certain books. In the United States today, a book may be challenged and deemed inappropriate for a school library shelf, but in almost every instance a disgruntled parent or student could visit their local bookstore or shop online and have that title in his or her hands in a matter of days. If a book was truly banned that would not be the case.

Chapter 15, “The Emerging Reader,” contained this valuable instruction: “It’s worth helping your children pick their book friends the same way they pick their real-life friends. If there are traits in book friends that you wouldn’t want in real-life friends, it’s time to break off the relationship and find better friends.” Chapter 16, “Just for Laughs,” contains brief overviews of three series I’ve never read—Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, and Dog Man. Chapter 17, “Delight and Wisdom: The Joy of Poetry,” includes this delightful remark: “Think of poetry like cinnamon: no one wants to eat cinnamon plain, but no one wants to eat pumpkin bread, apple pie, or a cinnamon roll without it!” Chapter 19, “The Horns of Elfland,” cautions: “Most children’s fantasy does not portray necromancy as a good thing. However, as we are discussing magic in stories, it is worth noting this is an issue in children’s nonfiction. We have noticed a growing collection of supernatural ’nonfiction’ targeting young readers.” And I very much appreciated the vision for Christian romance presented in Chapter 20: “It is all right to love happily ever afters, but let’s not forget that our ‘ever after’ will not occur on this side of eternity, no matter how much romance we experience.”

In the final chapters the authors encourage their readers to love the authors of the books they read and to love their local libraries. And what about the library within one’s home? There’s a chapter devoted to managing and curating one’s home library too, and once again, the authors’ perspective is Biblical and reasonable: “The goal of managing a home library is to bless your family and friends and to encourage them to explore and use it. The purpose is not to have title you could possibly ever want, not to have book always readily available, but simply to be able to find it.”

Here’s a quote from Chapter 15, “The Emerging Reader,” that triggered a bit of nostalgia in my own heart: “The best easy readers will become part of your family culture, just like favorite board books and picture books because they’ll be cherished and quoted from now on.” Our family’s days of board books, picture books, and easy readers is largely past. But thanks in large part to redeemedreader.com, those days were filled with books that we will always cherish and still quote. Now "The Redeemed Reader" book has even better equipped me to judge books objectively. I also trust that the its lengthy booklists will prove priceless in directing my children and teens to chapter books that will also become part of our family culture. Thanks, Janie, Betsy, Hayley, and Megan! Your book is not only an invaluable guide for parents and educators seeking to shepherd children’s imaginations, it’s also a pleasure to read. It had me at the “In which we are introduced” of “The Chapter Before the First” and at every quotation that preceded each chapter thereafter. I read it with my library holds account, Amazon cart, and Christmas gift idea list all open, and I know I will refer to it—and recommend it—regularly in the years to come.

[Falon Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d give this a maybe a 3.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed the book lists and I found some of the chapters helpful however I think there are better books to read about books. I will definitely be utilizing their website to check their reviews on certain titles and while I really appreciated their hearts behind this book there were some things I disagreed with. All in all it was good read and I will be taking time to think about why I’m pushing back against some of what they shared in this book and maybe after reflection I will change my review and give a higher rating but for now I’ll stick with 3 stars.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cup of tea, meant to be sipped slowly, relished with delight, and one flavored with so many tantalizing aromas that it will immediately become your best friend in whom you can share the delights of children’s literature, find new cozy reads, and analyze, evaluate, and discuss new literary finds across a spectrum of juvenile focused texts.

I loved this book as it was like meeting an old friend I hadn’t seen in a while, one who puts into words those exact thoughts I had on the exact subjects. I started reading, and I started sharing what I was reading before I was barely through Chapter 1. Kudos to three well-read ladies who say it with grace and wit. “Reading levels are bunk”.

'Redeemed Reader: Cultivating a Child’s Discernment and Imagination Through Truth and Story' is not meant to be read all at once, and don’t skip the introduction, there are so many rich anecdotes found in introductions, and this book is no exception.
'Redeemed Reader' is, “…a place for Christians to engage with culture through children’s books.” Though the quote below is taken from their website and quoted in their book it is the main crux of their book.

“At Redeemed Reader, we want to shape redeemed readers who engage both mind and heart in dialogue with the culture around them. Humans are story-loving and storytelling; that’s the way God made us. He Himself is a storyteller (and we may infer, a story-lover); why else would He create a universe as a stage and a tumultuous cast of varied and prolific, plot-making and plot-reacting characters called humanity? But every story has a shape and a theme, and as we grow, we need to learn to recognize what a story is trying to tell us.5”

I wish more Christian College Children’s Literature courses were engaged around this idea of Story and Truth. Mine certainly was not and I did not have a real grasp of the way Story and Truth interact in literature. I knew it was there, but not how to truly find it and pull it out, or even how to share it except through rich children’s literature I had read as a child.

I have raised two passionate readers and have five more rising on the steps their siblings raised. 'Redeemed Reader' shares chapters on different genres, and what to watch for, appreciate, and also discuss at each literary stage. Each child reads differently, at different speeds and even picks up reading at different ages, but if we keep sharing a love of books, and by books, good books that promote Story and Truth, then with the Lord’s help they will come to naturally pick up and enjoy books that share those same ideas. This is true in my home, even my husband and I gravitate towards different genres within children’s literature and learned to read at different ages.

What are TRUTH and STORY and what do they play in reading literature? Those of us who are avid Charlotte Mason educators know all about ‘Twaddle’ in children’s literature, and the Redeemed Reader team also talks about the spin offs, trite tales, and highly moralistic reads with no story. “Story at its core, reflects the experience of the human condition, while Truth within the story points to God’s ultimate reality…Sometimes it is hard to separate Stories from Truth because the Story narrative can be exceptionally well-told. Even when the conclusion is flawed, we can still delight in the craftsmanship.”

While reviewing 'Redeemed Reader', I did find that it was helpful to read either one of the post-chapter book recommendations while reading that specific chapter or even reading just a piece of literature and then make the connections between both Truth and Story, and the relating chapter questions. I used 'Frontier Wolf' by Rosemary Sutcliff, an author who has been one of my teatime friends since my early teen years, but I digress. I keep a Reading Journal, so I put my thoughts on Truth and Story found in Frontier Wolf in the reflections and quote sections. Books should not just be read and nothing within the pages thought about after the closing of the covers, but should be books that when the pages close, we sigh, because we are parted from a new best friend, and who would want to hear about what we loved and lost between the pages of those classic, picturesque, or modern tomes? 'Redeemed Reader' has a passion for sharing good books full of Truth and Story, both within these pages and on their website as well, with the next generation of readers, so that we don’t end up as a society who completely live on simple reads, and overly agenda(ized) kids lit.

What I loved most about this book was that it is like an addendum to the classic 'Honey for a Child’s Heart' by Gladys Hunt, it fills in all the information for why we read books, why we gravitate towards 'lists', and what happens if we like Pilgrim take the greener or wider ‘literary’ paths, will those books truly fulfill our longings, or just leave us empty and emphatic towards anything related to books? 'Redeemed Reader' also lays out excellent questions when talking about discernment in books, especially as our children get older and start branching out on their own. Will they be able to recognize Truth and Story, or the lack of it, and can they lay books down or never pick some up, even if peer pressure and society say, ‘read on’? Thank you, ladies, for this timely resource, and for allowing me to review before the masses converge upon it. We should have tea again.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I wrote a review based on my personal thoughts after reading 'Redeemed Reader'.