Picture Book Apologetics Series by J.D. Camorlinga

The Picture Book Apologetics Series contains eight books (at the time of writing this review). Each book follows James and Ruth, a brother and sister who are believers that love God. In each book, they encounter skeptical animals and kindly give reasons for the faith they profess. Topics range from ontology, absolute vs. relative truth, the historicity and resurrection of Jesus, the problem of evil, heaven and hell, and Biblical reliability. .

Reading Level: Ages 6+
Read Aloud Age: 4+

There are not many apologetic books written for young readers in terms of age-appropriate content/explanations, correct page-text length, and interesting illustrations. This book series is fabulous and fits that bill! It is our family favorite series for addressing big topics and doing so in a way that brings the explanations to the child’s level without overwhelming him or her. Some books in this series are easy enough to grasp that my four-year-old could keep up with them as a read-aloud (e.g. ‘Possums, Pooch, Toad, Crow, Skunk). Others require a bit deeper thinking but were perfect for my 6-year-old (eg. Absolute vs. Relative truth in the Chameleon book). In book 4 and onward, the illustrations change from colored pencil to brighter graphics. The illustrations in the first three books were well done, but we love the changes which kept our attention even better. The theology is solid throughout, but book 6 regarding hell was intentionally kept broad. It does not go into eternal conscious torment, annihilationism, or conditionalism, but a parent could easily add in those details.

Another wonderful feature are practical exercises at the back of the book for parents to continue the conversation. Some are examples and one was a fun activity. There are even graphics and text blurbs to help parents grasp the topics with recommended adult readings. Some authors recommended may not have aged well over time, and one is not a believer (author noted that was done to show a secular perspective). Overall, this series is a valuable resource for kids and parents alike!

Things to Note:
Chameleon eye rolls (Book 2); Jesus is pictured from behind with a whipped back (Book 3)

This review is written by Good Book Mom contributor, Emily Russell. To learn more about Emily, click HERE.

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