From time to time, books arrive at YCW Towers that may be of interest and value. Here are some that have arrived on the doormat that you may want to consider adding to your library.
Teach Your Children Well: A step-by-step guide for family discipleship
Sarah Cowan Johnson (IVP)
Surveys suggest that 50 percent of young people brought up in a Christian home leave church when they are 18, but the stats improve to 82 percent for those who stick around when their parents are engaged in church. This is like a workbook with a biblical philosophy of parenting, combined with lots of ‘how tos’ and ‘what to dos’ with children that will help you be a family where fruit is more likely. It’s US-based so you will need to translate to a UK context, but some wise approaches.
When Anxiety Roars: Partnering with your child to tame worry and anxiety
Jean Holthaus (Revell)
Written by someone with decades of experience of assisting parents and children, this book gives a thorough understanding the of how the body and mind works in normal circumstances and explores how anxiety comes and how it may be combatted. The author is aware of the many different challenges the child may face and their own make up and background which can make an anxious response more likely. Includes exercises for the carer to try out at various points to embed the learning and throughout interacts with scripture to ensure that the learnings from science and psychology are passed through a biblical grid.
Raising Them Ready: Practical ways to prepare your kids for life on their own
Jonathan and Erica Catherman (Revell)
If your child doesn’t seem ready for the adult world, but their birth certificate suggests they really ought to be, this book will be a help. Organised in three sections: ‘Ready’, ‘Set’ and ‘Go’, it gives you some practical instruction on how to assess the stage of their development, and tools to enable you to help them increase their mindset and skills to help you feel more comfortable easing them out of the nest. The book includes science, experiences of the authors and insights gleaned from parenting their two sons. This is a very thorough look at all the elements of domestic and social life that might be accomplished at the various ages of your child. I have never known any parent look at child development in this way but it’s hard to imagine there not being many ‘a-ha’ moments as you consider its contents.
Draw near: Your creative spiritual journal
Sophie Killingley (The Good Book Company)
OK, so this is not a book as such, but is beautifully produced and worthy of a mention. It is a planner, diary and tool for self-reflection that gives you space to say what you want.
It can be used to log daily to-dos, outline long-term plans, make notes as you go and engage in your daily prayer and study time. The week-over-two-pages format has lovely design and, if you are at all creative in your planning, you will love it.
Stand Up, Stand Strong: A call to bold faith in a confused culture
Sara Barratt (Baker Books)
Sara writes: “God created us for this cultural moment and placed us in this time in history for a purpose.” Anyone seeking to serve children and young people is wise to know a little about the culture they inhabit. None of us can truly know everything, but this book gives is a good basic overview of how the good news of Jesus interacts with the world and how we can stand against it. You might expect topics such as identity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, addiction and media to be included, but the topics are handled in a biblical and thoughtful way that will give you some ministry clues. Sara is keen that young people are able to stand for Christ in spite of the challenges and this book will help you fulfil that aim with your young people
God and the Transgender Debate: What does the Bible actually say about gender identity
Andrew Walker (The Good Book Company)
Walker, a US-based professor, looks at this topic, which is becoming one that many Christians are looking to understand. He is urging understanding of the science and the theology surrounding the issues that concern those who are uneasy with their biological sex, and looks for the Church to respond to those for whom this is an issue with compassion, love and truth. You may think it’s a relatively rare issue, but for those whom it affects, it is a big one. Having youth and children’s workers who have done some reading and thinking is a big bonus for these young people.
Gender Identity and Faith: Clinical postures, tools and case studies for client-centred care
Mark Yarhouse and Julia A Sadusky (IVP Academic)
Although designed as book for those in clinical practice, the approach to gender issues by these two psychologists will be of interest to anyone who has sought to counsel someone who has questions about their gender identity. The client-centred care in the subtitle is key language as the counsellor looks to understand where the client is coming from. Maybe this won’t suit every Christian, but the case studies and reflections from real-life examples will make this a valuable tool for anyone looking to understand this complex issue.
Restoring the Shattered Self: A Christian counsellor’s guide to complex trauma
Heather Davediuk Gingrich (IVP Academic)
Broken homes and troubled starts to life mean many children and young people require therapeutic input of some kind to rebuild their lives. This is a specialist book for counsellors but written at a level that would work if you knew that a child you were caring for had such a background. It would give you an insight into the depths of the work required. The author is a practitioner and shares how her approaches could be used by a reader trained as a counsellor.
Extracted
Rich Castro (Reformation Lightning)
This epic novel 400-page novel aims to interest the young person who enjoys adventure stories with a little mild science fiction and doesn’t mind some faith issues explored at the same time. It concerns 15-year-old Trey, an American who has moved to England but is then thrust into an adventure in an alternative reality on the brink of war. It moves at a fast-moving pace, with action and terror – the sort of book a teenager who gets hooked won’t be able to put down.
The Author’s And
Dawn Bush (Austin Macauley Publishing)
Jo is a girl who didn’t think she fitted in, so much so that she thought that Jesus had missed her out when he was giving out talent. But she eventually discovers words and stories. This beautifully illustrated children’s book (around primary age) of 50 pages outlines her journey and gives a child’s-eye view of how the author of everything cares for everyone.
