Best-selling author Nancy Guthrie and much loved illustrator Jenny Brake team up on this biblical theology of prayer for children.
Nancy explains in child-friendly language what prayer is, how and why we should pray, and the things we can pray about. There is a Bible verse for each topic, and a prayer for children to make their own.
This book will introduce children to the gift of prayer and will encourage them to enjoy speaking to their father God.
What others are saying about the book:
“Nancy Guthrie gives a gift for anyone seeking to help grow their children’s faith especially as it concerns increasing in the knowledge and practice of prayer. Not only is ‘What Every Child Should Know About Prayer’ immensely practical and understandable, but it is intelligently and artfully designed for little readers. A wonderful addition to the resources for children’s discipleship.” - Yancey Arrington, Teaching Pastor, Clear Creek Community Church, Houston
“This is a beautiful book that teaches wonderful truths about the privilege of prayer. Nancy Guthrie writes in such a way that complex ideas are accessible even to young readers. This book is going to be treasured by parents who are eager to help their children talk with their Heavenly Father. I’m excited to use it with my grandchildren!” - Alistair Begg, Senior Pastor, Parkside Church, Cleveland
“‘What Every Child Should Know about Prayer’ is a delightful book with warm and inviting illustrations, as well as helpful guidance on how to talk to God. Nancy Guthrie invites children to pray by teaching them truths about prayer, sharing stories of people who prayed, and providing prayers that children can pray on their own. This book is a wonderful resource for both children and parents!” - Melissa Kruger, Author of Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood
“Praying to God is so simple a child can do it, but grown-ups often make it needlessly complicated. God wants an honest conversation about what’s true and what matters. In this disarmingly profound book, Nancy Guthrie awakens child-like faith. The format of the book is perfect for a child and parents to read at bedtime or breakfast. The illustrations are thoughtful. It will take a child from the pre-school to the graduate school of prayer, from the ABCs to the depths of wisdom. God’s beloved children (of all ages) will find this book boots-on-the-ground practical.” - David and Nan Powlison, Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation
“It will only take a short time to read ‘What Every Child Should Know About Prayer’, but it can provide a lifetime of blessing. Nancy Guthrie skillfully provides everything you need to teach your children to pray. Get prayer right and you give them access to heaven.”- Marty Machowski, Pastor and author of The Ology and The Gospel Story Bible
“There is nothing more important as a parent than teaching your child to pray. With children, you aren’t fighting uphill—they are cynical free. Nancy’s book will get you started on this wonderful journey. I’m going to get a copy for each of my children to use with our grandchildren.” - Paul Miller, Executive Director of SeeJesus and author of A Praying Life
“Little kids need to know that praying is a vital part of life. Nancy Guthrie’s ‘What Every Child Should Know About Prayer’ teaches them to seek God, no matter how young. Read this book to your kids again and again.” ~ Deepak Reju, Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministry, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington and author of On Guard and Great Kings of the Bible
“This is a wonderful book—biblical, simple, engaging, attractive! Just imagine a generation of children enjoying learning to pray, as they read and chat through these lovely pages!” William and Janet Taylor, St Helen's Bishopsgate, London
“Nancy Guthrie has spread a rich feast on the topic of prayer—brilliantly served in bite-sized portions for children! With charming illustrations, ‘What Every Child Should Know about Prayer’ is nothing less than a biblical theology of prayer for children. Read just a bit each night and let God’s Word transform your family’s bedtime routine.” ~ Champ Thornton, Pastor and author of The Radical Book for Kids and Pass it on
Excellent Resource for Anyone Who Teaches Children
Joey Parker
Recently I received two new releases from Nancy Guthrie, Even Better Than Eden and What Every Child Should Know About Prayer. The first is an overview of various themes of Scripture, tracing them through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The second and the focus of this review is What Every Child Should Know About Prayer, a book for children to teach them about prayer. I mention the first book because I have found Guthrie's writing to be a great blessing. The biblical wisdom and attention to Scripture that she gives have made this book very edifying. This ties into her book What Every Child Should Know About Prayer because her biblical knowledge that has no doubt blessed many adults has now taken the form of a children's book.
What Every Child Should Know About Prayer is divided up into six sections. Each point that Guthrie makes about prayer (in every section) covers 1-2 pages, introduces and develops a thought about prayer, provides a Scripture passage to support the point she is making and provides a sample prayer for children to pray. The first section is, God Wants Us to Talk to Him. This section focuses on the importance of prayer and our ability to pray to God anywhere we are and about anything. The second section, Prayer is More Than Asking God For Things, guides children into the depths of prayer. Children need to learn to praise God in prayer, to repent of sins to God in prayer, and to express our needs and feelings to God in prayer.
The third section, God's People Have Always Prayed focuses on six people from the Bible, Moses, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Mary, and Paul. This section is such a blessing because it introduces children to the prayers of Biblical figures and then provides them with a prayer modeled after prayers that these people actually prayed to God! The next section, The Psalms Give Us Words to Pray may be my favorite section of this book. The psalms cover such a range of real life situations, circumstances, and emotions and Guthrie does a wonderful job of helping children to see how this book of the Bible can shape and guide our prayers. The next section, Jesus Teaches Us to Pray, focuses mainly on Jesus' model prayer that he taught the disciples. This is probably already familiar to many children and is a good addition to this book. The last section, Let's Pray, focuses on specific topics that children (and adults) need to learn to pray about.
Each page also contains artwork by Jenny Brake. The artwork is very well done and the style and the layout of the entire book are very appealing visually.
I highly recommend this book to any parents, grandparents, or anyone else who may spend regular time with young children. This is a theologically rich book to teach children about prayer. Also, be sure to check out the two previous releases in the "a Child Should Know" series, Everything a Child Should Know About God and Everyone a Child Should Know. These are two additional resources that families with small children will find to be a blessing.
I received a copy of this book from 10 Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
