The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith

by Champ Thornton

The Radical Book for Kids is a fun-filled explorer’s guide to the Bible, church history, and life for boys and girls age 8 and up. Along with examining some of the most exciting realities in the universe, the handbook is vibrantly illustrated and chock-full of fun facts and ideas. Deep truths are communicated to elementary and middle-school aged kids while stimulating their curiosity and sense of adventure within a gospel-centered framework.

This power-packed book is “radical” in more ways than you might think! It is “radical” in the sense of the original meaning of the word, “going to the root or origin.” The Radical Book for Kids will take children on a fascinating journey into the ancient roots of the Christian faith. But it’s also “radical” in the more modern sense of being revolutionary. Kids read about men and women who learned to trust Jesus and stand for him—displaying radical faith—even when everything seemed against them.

But The Radical Book for Kids is also “radical”—meaning fun or cool—in the eyes of a child. Kids read about ancient weapons (and how to make one), learn about jewels, create pottery, discover ancient languages, use secret codes, locate stars, tell time using the sun, play a board game that’s 3,000 years old—and more.

Check out the table of contents, skip around, or read straight through. However a child chooses to explore it, The Radical Book for Kids will open new vistas for their imagination and help to make straight paths for their feet.

Genres: Christian, Childrens, Nonfiction, Theology, Family, Religion, Parenting

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2016

About the author

Champ Thornton (PhD) and his wife, Robben, live in Delaware, have been married since 1996, and enjoy being parents to three energetic teenage children. He is an Acquisitions Editor at Crossway and is the author of numbers of books for kids and families, including The Radical Book for Kids, Why Do We Say Good Night?, Wonders of His Love: Family Advent Devotional, and Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation. He’s also served as host of “In the Word, On the Go,” a ten-minute podcast for families. You can learn more about Champ at www.champthornton.com.

Reviews

[Peter Krol · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I had a drachma for every new Christian children's resource that disappointed me, I'd be about as wealthy as that second guy in the parable of the talents.1 I don't want to be overly negative, but let's please face the brutal facts of this present evil age. Some resources are all hip and no guts. Others are so theologically self-conscious they can't avoid sounding pretentious. Yet others are simply ugly or shoddy. As our Master rightly lamented, "The sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light" (Luke 16:8).

And with what shall we compare the delight that erupts when a new resource defies all expectations of mediocrity, planting itself firmly in the soil of young readers, unto the bearing of much good fruit? I'll tell you. It shall be like the olive harvest on the 15th of Tishri.2 I'm pleased to recommend one such resource to you.

The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith is something of a handbook of the Christian faith for 8-14 year-old kids. With its large size and stunning production quality, it looks and feels like a coffee table book. But it's the type of coffee table book that's more fun than a homemade catapult.3 Kids and their parents won't be able to keep their hands off it, nor would they want to. This book's 67 short chapters cover a wide, and somewhat random, spectrum of topics ranging from character development to church history to science and theology to practical Christian living to Bible reading skills.

And it's that last category that interested me the most. How does this book do at helping young people learn to study the Bible for themselves?

Chapter 1 demonstrates the value of being able to summarize the Bible's teaching, and then it offers such a summary in one sentence: "Through Jesus, God is restoring everything that sin ruined." Chapter 2 then describes "How to Understand the Bible" by concisely explaining all the main genres of Bible books. Later chapters return to each genre, offering suggestions on how to get the most out of studying them:

• Chapter 8 on the Pentateuch
• Chapter 11 on narratives
• Chapter 28 on wisdom literature
• Chapter 34 on the Psalms
• Chapter 41 on the prophets
• Chapter 56 on the gospels
• Chapter 59 on the epistles

Along the way, there are chapters on how to read the Bible every day, how we know the Bible is true, famous trips in the Bible, jewelry in the Bible, money, the calendar, animals, and many more. One chapter offers single-sentence summaries of all 66 books of the Bible, and another recounts the full plot line of the whole Bible. Each of these chapters delivers accurate truth winsomely, motivating readers to dive into the Scripture themselves.

Now these chapters won't satisfy someone looking for a graduate-level education, but they are just great for 8-14 year-olds and their parents. And because parents aren't perfect,4 I must make two confessions:
1. I stayed up late reading the book for this review, and not because I was running out of time.
2. I was surprised by how sad I was when I finished the book. I would love more of it. Lots more.

This book is deep, meaty, biblical, beautiful, delightful, and very sturdy. This thing is ready to take a beating and continue delighting more young disciples.

Champ Thornton has done a great work in writing this book, and New Growth Press has done a great work in producing it. I can't wait for my kids to grow into it, and I'm happy to recommend it to you.
------------
1 You'll have to read chapter 49 of The Radical Book for Kids to see exactly how wealthy this would make me in modern American currency.
2 You need to read chapter 18 to get this one.
3 Chapter 65 this time.
4 A marvelous chapter 38.

Disclaimer: Should a Canaanite with a sickle sword (see chapter 65) visit these here parts, he'll want to know I notified you all that "New Growth Press generously provided a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review."

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s wonderfully thorough and thoughtfully simplified without being dumbed down or condescending. This belongs in every library (even for those without young children.)

[Claire Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both the kids and I enjoyed using this as our morning devotional. Things we liked: variety of topics, interesting facts, solid doctrine, attractive layouts & illustrations. It also spurred on great conversations. I would recommend this book as a supplement to scripture-based readings, but wouldn’t use in place of.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a unique book for kids. Well, grown-ups, too! I am simply amazed at the amount of information - historical, hands-on, Biblical, fun - this book contains. There is character development and theology, some science and living the Christian life, and some good Bible reading or study skills. A superb mish-mash of stuff to entertain and educate as well as enthrall the kids.

Not a devotional book, but a book packed with so much "radical" information that kids can entertain themselves for hours and days - well, even weeks - with this book. Laid out in a fun, compelling manner that is sure to capture the kid's attention and keep it.

The book is attractive and sturdy. So sturdy, in fact, that you'll find it lasts through the raising of your family. That's a real plus. It might even be intact for those future grandkids and you'll be glad to have it around when they come to visit.

I wish this book had been around when my five children were growing up. I highly recommend this as a gift for that tween & teen on your gifting list.

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author and publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated.

[Megan Triplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have really enjoyed going through this book as a family over the last month! While this book intended for Children, I'd highly recommend it for all ages!

[David Goetz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent resource for kids 8-14 or so. I bought a copy for our church's Family Resource Library and have recommended it to all families in our church with late-elementary or middle-school kids.

The book itself is attractive, the writing is accessible and often humorous, the content is theologically rich (the author is a Reformed baptist, if you care about that), the mini-biographies are appropriately detailed and give equal space to both women and men, and the fun stuff is actually fun and attainable.

The book's greatest strengths are how well it fosters wonder at the inexhaustibility of God, the world, and the gospel and how skillfully and indirectly is teaches kids how to read Scripture.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a joy to go through this book daily with my children for the last few months. It’s packed with biblical truth, church history, mini biographies and loaded with fun facts about the Bible. I highly recommend it.

[Lindsey Sieders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our kids love picking this one up - a great book to have sitting on a coffee table.

[Chrys Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never been more thrilled about a children’s book in my life! The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith by Champ Thornton is a fantastic resources for parents wanting to provide their children with a biblical worldview from early childhood. Though this book was written for children who are able to read, it can also be read to our little ones until they are able to read on their own. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through different sections of this book with my two-year-old daughter, and she has been captivated the bright colors and great illustrations on each and every page. Regardless of your child’s age, this book will be one to add to your library.

Aesthetically Pleasing and Theologically Solid

Opening the package containing this book was an exciting process as I unveiled the colorful book. As I was flipping through the pages, I was overjoyed at the prospect of a children’s book containing topics from what it means to be a real Christian to the adapted version of J.C. Ryle’s Thoughts For Young Men. This book is filled with a variety of topics from biographies of saints past (like Augustine), the reliability of the biblical text, the meaning of the burnt offerings in the OT law and how they point to Christ, a summary of the Pilgrim’s Progress, and many more! As a parent, this is a thrilling prospect as I can teach my children topics I hadn’t heard of until after my collegiate years.

Simple Yet Profound

I could say so much more about this book, but I want to say that my most favorite aspect about this book is that the topics discussed above are written for Thornton’s children. This means that parents don’t need a degree in systematic theology or church history to teach their children some excellent aspects of the Christian faith and bible truth. The simplicity does dumb down or hinder the effectiveness of what Thornton is seeking to teach in The Radical Book for Kids—it actually serves his purpose of writing “for kids”.

This Is Not A Children’s Bible Story Book

I would like to offer one warning to people considering this book. It is not a children’s bible. I want to repeat myself with emphasis: It is not a children’s bible. If you want a children’s bible, there are numerous other options for you. This is not the one. This an extremely biblical book based upon many truth from the bible, but it is not a substitute for the actual bible nor is it an easy-to-read book full of bible stories for your children. This is a supplemental resource to your child’s bible intake and will do an excellent job at meeting that specific function.

You Should Buy This Book For Your Kids

The Radical Book for Kids is my most highly recommended children’s resource at this time. I will be reading this book with my children for years to come. If you want to buy your child a vitally important and useful gift this Christmas season, be sure to add this book to your list! You will not regret it!

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book! Of course, there's nothing like God's Word itself, but I truly believe books like this would have helped me as a younger person have more interest in the Bible. I had attention problems as a child when it came to lessons of any sort. (So pretty much an average child!) It wasn't fun to me, and I zoned out. I never paid attention in classes and I crammed before tests. It was only thanks to my great *temporary* memory that I did so well. (It left me afterwards, unfortunately.) This book is so engaging, I imagine most children will greatly enjoy it, and will be more interested in reading The Bible. I wish I had it as a child!

The chapters are short and interesting. They don't have to be read in order. The reader can skip around, if they chose. The chapters cover all kinds of things, from dividing the books of the Bible into their groups, to an ancient game(modified) which can be printed off, to talking about "Christian" types books like Pilgrim's Progress and Chronicles of Narnia, and even Greek letters. It combines science and history, which are really all about God("His Story"). It discusses manners and how to deal with anger. There's recipes for unleavened flatbread and salt dough for pottery. It has a page that converts money from the Bible into money today and a calendar of holidays in the Old Testament. There are features for Christian people, like Amy Carmichael, and so much more. Really, it's packed full of cool and interesting things that surround God's Word, and it ties into specific verses.

This book is targeted for children 8 and up, but I was fascinated with it, too, so even adults can learn from it and enjoy it. My Grasshopper is 8 and this book is perfect for him. He thrives on learning all things science and history. I even think it would be great for a bit younger, too. Some of it is great for my Firefly(5), but most of it is still a bit much for him.

Overall, I think this book is pretty fantastic!

*I was given a free copy of this book.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, facts and engaging graphics make this a winner of a read. Beautiful hard copy edition with stunning illustrations that will appeal to any age -- even adults. And it's chock-full of interesting tidbits and a diverse combination of topics that will keep young readers returning to its pages again and again. I love the way the author has meshed high-interest, kid-friendly topics with solid biblical history. There are stories and biographies to read, questions to ponder and crafts to make. The starting point for many happy hours of fun.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and New Growth Press for providing me with a copy of this book.

[Jeremy]

Challies reviews it here. Review at WORLD, plus more here.

[Jess McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

2017 - Hands down, one of the best kids' devotional books / life manuals we have ever read with our children. They loved it!
2021 - still a family favorite

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All the roots of our faith grow out of The Tree - The one on which Jesus died in the place of sinners."
Radical originally meant "going to the root" and that is what this book is about. Kids growing down while their growing up, "letting the Bible sink its roots in their hearts".

This book begins by summarizing the Bible into one sentence - "Through Jesus God is restoring everything that is revised." It continues with a compare and contrast chart of Genesis/Revelation. Then proceeds to describe the Bible's books, their genres and what they contain. Other info you'll find - the names of God, good news of the gospel, growing in Christ, martyrs willing to die for their faith.

This book is full of information not just doctrine, but practical things too, such as, How-to clean your room, What to do when I am angry, afraid, have enemies. There are activities - How-to make your own sling, sundial, knots, etc.. Some oddities you might find included - Learn the Hebrew alphabet, Latin words and phrases. There are missionary stories, jokes, biographies of great preachers, science, history and nutrition.

It's like a fun, all-in-one, dare I say "school" book. To be honest, I wasn't really sure about it. The cover didn't really seem that appealing to me. After looking up some information on the book, I decided to try it. I was impressed the first time I opened it. There is enough data to last a long time and keep the interest of any child. It can be read through from cover to cover or the reader can just choose a subject, location, or point of interest and read. It could be used as a family devotional, although it's probably not meant for that, but it does contain Scriptures that support the doctrine and theology covered.

I know this book is geared more towards school age children, but in my opinion a new believer of any age would benefit from this book. Along with the information, there are also a ton of colorful, eye catching illustrations, pictures, etc... I give this book FIVE stars!!

I was blessed with a free copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity for review. I was not required to review positively. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this book that will do it justice? First off the book itself is gorgeous and the pictures do not really show that. It is a good sized book that would look nice on a coffee or end table and the colors pop and are pleasing to the eyes. My kids were drawn to this book from the moment I received it. I actually left it out as one by one each flipped through it and excitedly came and told me about what they had just read. Just for reference, my kids are ages 18 through 6.

This book is set up with lots of illustrations and pictures that make the words really stand out. There is a lot of information and tidbits of truth about history, science, missionaries, great authors, etc. From a section of how to clean your room to how and why the books of the Bible are arranged and then a couple of pages on the stars that God calls by name in the Bible, is just some of the information this book offers. And it never offers anything in a boring or usual textbook manner.

Thoughtful, insightful, and engaging, this book is great for the whole family and would make a starting point for meaningful family discussions. This will stay on my coffee table for years to come.

I received a copy of this book for free from Litfuse. I was not required to leave a favorable review and all views expressed are my own.

[Nicole Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Radical Book for Kids: Exploring the Roots and Shoots of Faith by Champ Thornton is just that. I definitely plan to start incorporating this book into our homeschool, because it teaches foundational aspects of the faith and about the Bible that I deeply desire to for my kids' worldview, (and let's be honest, my own as well-- flipping through it, I'm realizing how much I still want to learn).

When I received this book in the mail to review (Thank you, Litfuse!), my 9-year old immediately was drawn to it and snatched it up to start reading the first chapter. Things I look forward to going through with my kids are the glimpses at the lives of famous Christians like St. Augustine and Martin Luther, language tidbits and what things mean, basic apologetics, and why we do the things we do as Christians.

The goal of this book is to help children "grow deep roots of faith," and I can't think of anything I want more deeply for my kids than this, to know and love and experience the great love of "the radical Rescuer of rebels."

This book is going to be a great companion to our catechism study, devotional, and our memory work. (And it would make a great gift book, too, as it is really a visually pleasing book for adults and children alike).

[Crystal Carney · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading through "The Radical Book for Kids", I have found that this book is different than any other children's book that I have read. I have three children(13, 7, & 5). This book goes deep into the context of the Bible & is an amazing book that helps you understand your life and the life of those the Bible was written to.

This book would be great in a church library. I wouldn't say this book is Just a children's book,it is a great resource for any age.
The chapters aren't very long, each one is about 2-5 pages. You will learn something in the pages of this book, whether you have only 5 minutes or the whole afternoon!

I recommend this book to anyone who is looking to further their child's(or their own) knowledge of the Bible. It would make a great gift!

*Disclaimer*
I received this book free from the publisher for my honest opinion. I am not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Matthew Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Radical Book for Kids" is a book you give your kids when they are too old for a Bible story book yet still too young for the book you're reading. I wish I knew all of this stuff when I was 10! I wish I had this book when my kids were 10! I can think of 10 kids that I want to give it to right now.

When I got my advanced copy, I read parts out loud to my family, and they chuckled, hooted, and hollered at all the right places, and they didn't realize that they were learning something important. That's a mark of a great book!

I got to interview the author here: http://matt-mitchell.blogspot.com/201...

[Dogeared Wanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to pick my top ten favorite resources for family Bible time, this one would definitely make the cut! Sixty-seven chapters cover a wide range of themes, including ancient languages, Bible history, faith, fun facts, knowing God, following Jesus, how-to crafts, life questions, church history, and understanding the Bible better.

It's PACKED with pictures and graphics that keep children engaged, and each chapter works well for a devotional or simply read on its own. It's hard to estimate the age range for this book because I loved it as much as the kids did! This book would make a great gift as well.

📚YES study questions, verses, or additional resources mentioned throughout

[Sassa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not just for kids! Adults also can learn and be inspired by this book. I am keeping this in my library and giving copies to my grandchildren. It is full of absorbing facts, simple but instructive activities and faithful, Bible-based lessons. Wonderful for private reading or to share in a classroom.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a collection of short devotionals rather than a cohesive book like I had anticipated. I prefer the latter myself. The book offers further reading suggestions on topics of interest in some areas which I appreciated. We made the unleavened bread from this book for first communion as we read about the Passover from another Bible.

[Melanie Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to explain this book - but it's worth it's weight in gold. It covers such a wide variety of topics - church history, Bible knowledge, Bible topics, Bible history, famous Christians, how-to topics and more. I absolutely loved going through this book with my 8 year old and 12 year old. We learned so much and had so many great discussions! I highly recommend it!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best kid's book I've read. It has doctrine, biographies of great Christians, practical Christian teaching, apologetics, fun building projects, and so much more! It's basically the coolest book ever! Adults will love it as well!

[Debs Daniels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This information is well presented for kids. I thought it lacked the relationship side of things, which leaves it feeling like religion. It also assumes the child watches the new Disney Star Wars, which I would not allow in my household... especially for an 8-year-old.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! My 8 year old daughter and I have looked forward to reading this book every night.

[Josh Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the best! The content is great. The illustrations are top notch. Highly recommend this.

[Shasta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is wonderful. I can easily see usung this with the kids in our congregation.

[Petra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every family should have this book in their home for the kids! Treasure trove of information.

[Emily Geyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did a lesson a day for morning time

[Tammy Sauder Hodel]

Suggested by World