Reddit mentions: The best religious fiction books for children

Thanks so much for your interest, and I love answering questions.

To answer your first question, I dont see any of those categories as more important than the others, rather, they just take center stage along different times in the writing process. For me, Characters are always first. Characters are the glue that attach readers to stories; therefore, they must be the foundation of the story. Next, Plot and pacing: Before you can start writing you need an outline, and an outline is made up of plot and pacing. Make sure you don't sacrifice characters at the expense of a plot twist and make sure you story's pacing creates an even number of climax points (1 climax point per 25k words, each building to the book's resolution). Prose and world-building: after you have a group of strong characters and an outline fortified with plot and pacing, its time to set your story in an extraordinary setting and make it come alive with descriptive prose. My style of writing builds the world as I write the first draft. Before I start a chapter, I spend a decent amount of time printing off pictures to have in front of me as I write. Magic system: This book is steampunk, which means that the only magic behind the story is the gravity defying system of travel. In reality, airships are impossible, but in my world, I used fantasy to make the unrealistic commonplace. I worked this in with my world-building in the outline.

If you want a more detailed answer, try my blog. All four articles deal with writing do's and don't's, as well as writing styles. (keep in mind that it is all my humble opinion).

Why have I decided to publish my book? To answer your second question, this is the third book that I have written, but I chose to finally publish this one because my support group gave me the confidence that it was good enough to see the light of day. I would say that a support group is another must for any author. (I use the word support, but what I really mean is a group of people nasty enough to call your writing garbage. Otherwise, only one person will ever like your writing: you.) After 7 rounds of edits, we decided to give it a go and release it on amazon.

Answer to Question 3: I am very proud of Austin Reddington and the wonderful cover art he created for me. It is a scene out of Chapter 10 when the Sun Beam, the ship in the picture, sails out of capital city with our main character to an uncertain fate. I actually asked Austin to create the image to convey a feeling of hope. The story gets a little dark at several points along the way, and I wanted to reassure my readers with the cover that there would be a silver lining behind the storm clouds -- perhaps even a happy ending to boot. I am very pleased with the result. once again, there is more art on my website.

Your final question: Can you name three books (I'm gonna give you authors instead) you adore as a reader, but that make you feel inadequate as a writer? 1. C.S. Lewis 2. Jonathan Renshaw 3. Brandon Sanderson. I grew up with C.S. Lewis, so my favorite book will always be The Horse & His Boy. Jonathan Renshaw was the author that inspired me to start writing stories of my own with his book The Dawn of Wonder. Brandon Sanderson showed me that it is still possible to invent a world that nobody else has thought of before. The less ties to the real world, the more wondrous the journey will be.

I hope this answers all your questions. If not, tell me how I can explain further, and I'll see what I can do.

As hilarious as the reviews are to this book, the fact that this is a children's book teaching hate and prejudice of any kind really kind of disturbed me. Enough to push me to the point of complaining about it. As a parent, and as a fellow human being (though some argue that point with me), I don't think I could let that stand without saying something.
Here is my email to Amazon and their response:

>05/28/13 14:09:45
>Your Name: Valerie
>Other info:Product on Amazon.com
>Comments:Please visit this item on Amazon.com:
>
>http://www.amazon.com/God-Made-Dad-Amber-Parker/dp/0882708627/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
>
>How is it that Amazon.com will sell items whose sole and express goal is to brainwash little children in to
>openly hating gays and lesbians, or children whose parents are gay and lesbian? This book deliberately
>teaches hatefulness, self-righteousness, and instills a prejudice or judgmental attitude in young children.
>
>Is not amazon.com a company that celebrates diversity and the differences that make us human? Is
>prejudice, bigotry, hatred, and homphobia something that amazon.com advocates? Does amazon.com have
>within its policies and as a company held ideal, to promote and propagate this kind of intolerance and
>bigotry?
>
>I understand being neutral politically, and that amazon.com tried to cater to every person in an open and
>free market online; however, at what point do you take products off the shelf due to inappropriate content?
>If it is not okay to have a how-to book on pedaphilia, why is it okay to have a how-to book to openly
>discriminate, hate, and to be prejudiced towards gays and lesbians?
>
>The amazon.com policy for offensive products states, in no uncertain terms, the following guidelines:
>
> Examples of Prohibited Listings
> -Products that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious
> intolerance or promote organizations with such views.
> -Crime Scene Photographs
> -Morgue or autopsy photographs
> -Human Body Parts
> -Products retrieved from a disaster or tragedy site
> -Videos, sound, or other recordings taken without the subject's permission
> - Any product that does not comply with the Prohibited Content standards
>
>As you can clearly see, the referenced children's book that I am referring to obviously violates the first
>premise. I am asking that amazon.com take responsibility for the items on it's website and to follow it's own
>policy regarding offensive products and listings.
>
>Hatred, intolerance, prejudice, discrimination, and bigotry; these attributes are not inherent or intrinsic - >they are taught.
>
>I support freedom of speech and I am against censorship; I even served for six years and two wars to
>protect these very freedoms in the navy. That doesn't mean amazon.com has to condone something so
>clearly disgusting and profit from it, not to mention the simple fact that you are ignoring your own rules and
>policies that specifically states such material will not be tolerated.
>
>Please remove this item from your website.
>
>I appreciate your timely action, and response, in this matter.
>
>Cheers!
>
>Valerie

and this was their reply:

> Hello,
>
>Thanks for writing to Amazon. I'm glad to help you today.
>
>I apologize for all the inconvenience you faced regarding this issue.
>
>I thank you for bringing this to our notice.
>
>I feel it’s important and hence have passed on your experience to my supervisor about this. All inquiries are
>reviewed and taken seriously, and we're working hard to ensure a positive shopping experience.
>
>I've also forwarded this to our listing department so that they get aware of this issue and remove this book
>from our website.
>
>However, It will take a bit of time to work on this issue but please be assured that we will take care of this >issue.
>
>Even you can submit a review on this book, To submit a review of an item on Amazon.com, visit the item's
>product detail page and click the "Write a customer review" link.
>
>You'll be asked to sign in to your Amazon.com account. All reviewers must have a password-protected
>Amazon.com account, used for at least one purchase from Amazon.com. Free digital downloads don't
>qualify. If your first physical order has just been shipped, there is also a 48-hour wait period for submitting >reviews.
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>
>One of our aims at Amazon.com is to provide a convenient and efficient service; in this case, we haven't
>met that standard. I'm truly sorry, and I hope you'll give us another chance in the future.
>
>If you have any more concerns regarding this issue please reply to this e-mail, we'll be happy to help!
>
>It is our privilege to have you as our valued customer & would like to thank you for your continued support.
>We look forward to a very warm and fruitful association with you.
>
>Thanks for your patience and understanding.
>
>I hope this helps!
>
>Best regards,
>Asma F

Wait and see, I guess. I do not usually complain about anything, however, in this case I felt compelled to do something. Even if the reviews were hysterical and witty!

TL;DR
I sent an email to Amazon complaining about the book, and I received an email stating that they forwarded my complaint to a supervisor, the listing department, and it seems as if it will be taken down. Maybe.

Copying my response to a similar post from 2 months ago.

I have a 4 year old and a 7 year old and I am mostly trying to focus on inoculating my kids against cult thinking by giving them a broad scientific knowledge and a love for mythology. (We spent a holiday with religious family and it was their first time exposed to dinner prayers and heaven talk and it was quite confusing for them.)

​

Books we currently read:

​

Gods and Heroes Popup book

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLr2vMC9Tjc

The kids love choosing which flaps we'll open and read and we return to this book often. The hercules trials flip book and pantheon of the gods has them enthralled almost every time.

​

The Story of Life

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1786033429/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazing illustrations and easy to read both linearly or by choosing random pages. The pages on bacteria and lif moving onto land

​

The Story of Space

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1847807488/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The subject matter here is slightly more conceptual and I'll be honest the 4 year old gets a bit bored. My seven year old like to listen because he has learnt about the planets at school and has a rough recollection of words like black holes and super giants.

​

Christian Mythology for Kids

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1631775235/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lukewarm reception here. I tried to read a few of the stories but they were a bit too gory for my personal preference. The pages explaining angels, heaven and similar things were a bit more useful to me personally as it gave me simple terminology to help me explain what other family might believe.

​

Magical Myths and Legends

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magical-Myths-Legends-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/0192767356/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1552637566&sr=1-1&keywords=magical+myths+and+legends

Book of short stories. The BEST telling of hercules trials I've ever read for kids! It is so engaging and brilliantly told.

​

Includes:

Mulan

Icarus

Finn MacCool and the Giant's Causeway

The Giant of Mont Saint-Michel

The Lambton Worm

Legend of Robin Hood

Thor and the Stolen Hammer

Vulcan and the Fabulous Throne

Hercules the Hero

Gawain and the Green Knight

​

______________________________

Books I've looked at for the future (slightly older kids) :

The Bacteria Book: Gross Germs, Vile Viruses, and Funky Fungi

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0241316588/?coliid=I1U9SIN1TBSI1T&colid=2Z7CVBNPWSZNY&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

​

How to Be a Scientist

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0241283086/?coliid=I269G89U76154A&colid=2Z7CVBNPWSZNY&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

​

Secret Science: The Amazing World Beyond Your Eyes

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Science-Amazing-World-Beyond/dp/1407188143/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1552637368&sr=1-1&keywords=dara+o+briain+secret+science

Salaam,

How old are the kids in question?

I'm going to assume they're pretty young. I found these websites:

http://www.islamkids.org/

http://www.islamicplayland.com/

http://www.islamicnet.com/quran-kids-games.htm

YouTube is a great learning and entertaining resource as well. Definitely do your research here and take advantage of it. For example I found this video explaining the 5 pillars. It looks cute. It seems like this entire channel is a kids' channel, as a lot of channels on YouTube are nowadays.

There's also this video by another channel about Adam. Seems this channel has a lot of Islamic content for kids.

And here is a full animated movie about Prophet Muhammad.

And then there's this song. I came across it once a long time ago. It kinda creeps me out, but it serves its purpose. Although every single time I think about it, the chorus gets stuck in my head.

On Amazon, looking at books, there's this salaat sticker activity book for kids. There's also classic Disney tales with Islamic twists that you can get, like Snow White or Cinderella, and I'm sure there's more, if anyone in your family likes Disney. :)

For older kids, perhaps you can look for a course on Qur'an/Islam online? Not sure how much it would cost but could be a valuable resource if that's all you got.

Hope this helped somewhat.

> Michael asks his father two questions: 1. Why does his friend have two fathers? 2. Am I adopted?

> His father sensitively addresses both of these questions with love and compassion, and he tells Michael that he needs to pray for his friend and his friend's two fathers. His dad lets him know that he is adopted and that he and his mother love him very much.

What a twist!

Close to my heart! I LOVE reading, and picked it up as a child.

I adore all Enid Blyton books, the Faraway Tree for a younger child and Famous Five for older (I still read the Faraway Tree today!)

Roald Dahl books, particularly Matilda and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

The Secret Garden

The Mrs Pepperpot Omnibus

Being a geek, I adored the Trixie Belden series

I also loved The Babysitters Club :/

I'll try add any more I think of!

Good luck, I'd come up with a more engaging title though. Make sure to document your ideas and when you had them. Apply for trademarks or copyright protection if appropriate. Put it on kickstarter, but you would absolutely need an artist for that. Maybe put a listing on Craigslist.

The idea may be great and original, but your title assuredly is not.

http://www.amazon.com/Hero-Graphic-Novel-Stephen-Lawhead/dp/1576835006

• Monsters Eat Whiny Children - an awesome title.
  
  
• Your Disgusting Head: The Darkest, Most Offensive and Moist Secrets of Your Ears, Mouth and Nose (Haggis-On-Whey World of Unbelievable Brilliance) -- this was is just intentionally weird, but also has a quality and shiny cover.
  
  
• If You Give a Mouse an iPhone: A Cautionary Tail - A parody of the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie books.
  
  
• Cinderella - a photo book story of dogs in costumes
  
  
• Frank and Earnest -- I kept this one because it seems like a subtlety told story about a gay inter-species couple. It's kind of like the Burger King commercials run years ago that were talked about as being interpreted different ways based on who was watching the ad.
  
  
• The Gods from Outer Space: Descent into the Andes -- This is a color large format comic book (semi-thick cover) "based on the work of Erich von Dankin." He's an author who believes aliens visited us in the ancient past.
  
  
• Nobody Listens to Andrew -- When Andrew says there's a bear in his bedroom, you better goddamn believe him.
  
  
• Dick and Jane and Vampires -- This looks and reads like a Dick & Jane book that's been modified to include a vampire in every scene and the dialogue expertly changed.
  
  
• The Zombie Night Before Christmas
  
  
• That's Not Your Mommy Anymore: A Zombie Tale -- This one I bought new.
  
  
• A Die Hard Christmas: The Illustrated Holiday Classic - A Christmas gift for my wife.
  
  
• Beware Beware -- I can't find pictures online other than this one. It looks like a 1700s family and caught me off guard by being super creepy as the warnings persist to beware as a child goes into the forest. There are gnarled images discernible in the forest. Nothing actually happens in the story, but it creates suspense for a small child.
  
  
• Charlie The Acidophilus -- A book about maintaining good gut health. It includes a CD of the song, 'Do the Acidophilus Hula.' It was apparently written by a grandmother for her grandchildren. I think it might be self-published.
  
  
• Cooking with Heinz Ketchup
  
  
• Barbie Voyage to Rados -- These Barbie books are story books that use photos of Barbie dolls positioned in different scenes. This particular story is far out.
  
  
• Jalapeno Bagels -- A story about a Mexican bagel shop. It's by a local author about a real bagel shop
  
  
• Super Cilantro Girl -- Her teeth turn green, her hair becomes cilantro, and she flies over the border wall to rescue her mother who has been deported.
  
  
• Learning How to Learn - a serious book about how to teach children from L. Ron Hubbard the Scientology founder. It's just a freakish curiosity. It reminds me that I foolishly gave away another book, a lusciously produced book about dinosaurs from a creation museum.

I read some probably bad Christian pirate books when I was a kid. I remember loving the first one, and not really enjoying the second one so much. No idea if the series continued from there. It does "honorable pirates" pretty well. I guess it isn't really fantasy, but it's definitely not historical fiction, haha.

If you want something that's more explicitly fiction and less overtly Christian, Wheel of Time has an entire faction that lives on the sea. They're actually called the Sea Folk. Pretty neat stuff. If you want it, Wheel of Time probably has it; if it doesn't, the answer is always Malazan.

Thanks for the update - we're really glad you're happy with the meat!

Ever so sorry about the delivery issue. We'll be sure to speak to our courier before his next delivery. We hope you manage to whip up some tasty meals with the meat you have and next time, don't forget the bacon!

The reviews on Amazon are quite entertaining too.

From Mrs Betty Bowers (America's Best Christian):

>Your Grade Schooler will Hate at a 10th Grade Level with this Bedtime Story!
>I know we all worry that our children don't hate enough - or don't feel sufficiently superior to be pompous and rude to their little classmates. Thank the Lord we now have this book to teach them that God wants them to smugly put down their friends' families. Glory! "God Made Dad & Mom [& Step-Moms 1 through 4]" is worth it for the cover illustration alone: It reminds mixed-race tots that even if your father is black, the Lord wants you to be a blond, blue-eyed Caucasian. A "Bringing Integrity To Christian Homemakers" Book Club selection for June 2013!

CONGRATS!!

I loved anything and everything by Steven Cosgrave

Morgan and Me (Serendipity Series)

Edited to add Tamora Pierce. Her tortall books are just perfection and I don't know why they aren't movies yet

The beginning of season one was not anticipated. You were only watching it because it was the big show of the week. The week before that, someone was posting the set to Serenity http://www.amazon.com/Serenity-New-Girl-Town-Serenity-Barbour/dp/1593109415 and before that was the infamous Clarissa series, which are both super fucked up if you follow the story so the /co/mrades who first dove into the viewership of FiM had been hardened into not giving a fuck and just critiquing on the merit of the show. It was a pleasant surprise when we discovered the entire first season to be as good.

It seemed at first that season 2 would be a rapturous carnival of retconning and product placement since the fanbase (and the profit) was there this time, but I have been overwhelmed not by how voluminous the response to what the fans wanted but at how fan creativity has evolved because of season two's impact on it.

Mom-to-be here (so you can take what I say with a grain of salt)
I am trying to soak in as much parenting advice and was listening to a podcast yesterday that was talking about the children's book "What am I feeling"
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1535938188/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2V34757CRE7S&psc=1
I have not yet gotten the book, but it sounds like it could be a good resource to help teach feelings. (I didn't think about having to explain feelings to a child before listening to the podcast. I know I have a lot to learn!)

The Legend of The Candy Cane

I used to love this reading this book as a kid. It'll be great if you're of a Christian persuasion. still a good book nonetheless

My daughter loves the Brick Bible version and the other books in the series. I don't know if it is what you are looking for, but it is pretty comprehensive, and the Lego pictures are very well done.

Absolute favorite book is A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr. It's everything I love about sci-fi. Book series that I grew up with and still love are Dangerous Angels by Francesca Lia Block, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, and The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis.

Mazel tov! We didn't even decide our son's name until a few hours after he was born. I decided I wanted to meet him first before naming him for life. I know a few people that didn't announce a name until the bris.

PJ library is great! You can also get yourself this ready for Chanukah.

Wish we had a meal train, I just spent a lot of time cooking and driving my wife around!

There's this but I have no idea of its quality: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Mythology-Kids-Chrystine-Trooien/dp/1631775235&ved=2ahUKEwj55Kvb-qveAhUoTd8KHViRC7IQFjALegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw11c17Bt8mOosO2qNVUetvq

Honestly, your best bet might be Veggie Tales.

I left all my Fables trades back at my parents house so that my kid sister could read them, but if I go back to visit and reread them and the typeface is Comic Sans I'm going to be so angry at you for pointing this out...

I don't recall ever having an issue with the lettering in it, though, and I've given up on comics before because of issues like that taking me out of the flow of the narrative...

EDIT: Also your monthlies seems to be sadly lacking in Batwoman, which has by far been the best of all the bat-titles I've read visually and has been pretty decent story-wise to boot.

Also, I just read that you own all of Serenity... Are you talking about the spin-offs from the Whedon Firefly universe or the ridiculous Christian manga? I'm kind of hoping it's the latter.

I dunno. I'm betting it's because it's somehow strongly nostalgic for me -- it readily reminds me of my parents reading aloud to me as a kid. The Chronicles of Narnia, in particular, stick out to me as high points in my childhood listening experience. (Btw, if you haven't heard the Narnia series as read by Kenneth Branagh, Lynn Redgrave, Jeremy Northam, Derek Jacobi, Michael York, Alex Jennings, and Sir Patrick Stewart -- you simply must.)

I think if you enjoy radio productions, you'll likely enjoy Dale more, but if you like the idea of a famous person/great voice just reading you a story, Fry is where it's at.

(Also recommended: Neil Gaiman reading his Graveyard Book himself. NOT the "full cast" version, but just Neil himself. link )

EDIT: Correct link syntax

Not sure if this interests you but Steward does a reading of The Last Battle from The Chronicles of Narnia in this box set. Although I dont know if you like CoN its still quite the fantastic reading.

https://www.amazon.com/Chronicles-Narnia-Complete-Box-Unabridged/dp/0694524751

This one!! link

The book is intended to teach children the basic tenant of reincarnation (Buddhist tradition), but 7-year-old, no-idea-what-being-trans-is me was blown away by that last part :)

For offering a variety of perspectives The Mountains of Tibet is a wonderful story.

It follows the life of a woodcutter.When he dies he is given a choice. He can become part of ``the endless universe some call heaven'' or be reincarnated. He chooses reincarnation and is shown many possibilities for his next life before choosing one.

Christian Mythology for Kids https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631775235/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_gMNlzb3BBCBJV

Also, edit:
http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/153220-books-about-christian-mythology-for-non-christians/

I am also looking for similar books as I'd like my 3 year old to understand cultural references. According to the linked discussion, an illustrated children's Bible should be fine if used as just a source for the stories as they were told.

...[closes book] "And that son is why we must pray for our fallen brothers and sisters, who believe that homosexuality is 'good' and 'natural.' Remember: just because you believe that something is true or right does not make it so." [Lifts bible from nightstand] "That is why we must always turn to the Word of God, for it is the infallible truth. Now son, let us turn to Leviticus 18:22."

I'd suggest Christian Mythology for Kids. Does a good job of explaining everything in a non-believing way: Christian Mythology for Kids https://www.amazon.com/dp/1631775235/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pQMoDb69WASB9

Christian Mythology For Kids could be useful too.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1631775235/ref=ox_sc_saved_image_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

A friend of mine is Atheist and he had the same problem. His wife ended up writing this book: https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Mythology-Kids-Chrystine-Trooien/dp/1631775235

http://www.amazon.com/God-Made-Dad-Amber-Parker/dp/0882708627/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top Dem reviews

The Chronicles of Narnia?

I don't remember a dog, but I haven't read them in quite a while.

We bought Christian Mythology for Kids. We have it in the bookshelf along with Norse Mythology, Greek Mythology, and Egyptian Mythology.

pure Christian sauce

It's an adorable commercial. Out of morbid curiosity, though, I'd like to read the offending posts just to see how rabid the racist posts were. In the past I've read Reddit posts decrying miscegenation as moving forward the demise of whites, which, I guess, they see as impending.

As an aside, here's something that demonstrates the sliding scale of bigotry.

This is actually real. WTF.