How do you choose books for your child to read? Here is some divinely inspired advice to help you make good choices:

“A child's susceptible and expansive mind yearns for knowledge. Parents should stay well-informed so they can provide their children's minds with suitable nourishment. Like the body, the mind derives its strength from the food it receives. It expands and elevates through pure, strengthening thoughts; but it narrows and degrades with earthly, base thoughts.

“Parents, it is you who must decide whether your children's minds will be filled with ennobling thoughts or vicious sentiments. You cannot keep their active minds idle, nor can you expel evil with a mere gesture of annoyance. Only by instilling correct principles can you exclude evil thoughts. Unless parents plant the seeds of truth in their children's hearts, the enemy will sow weeds. Good and sound instruction is the only preventative against evil conversations, which corrupt good morals. Truth will protect the soul from the endless temptations that must be faced.

“Readers of frivolous and exciting tales become unfit for the duties of practical life. They live in an unreal world. I have observed children who were allowed to acquire the habit of reading such stories. Whether at home or away, they were restless, dreamy, and incapable of conversation except on the most trivial subjects. Religious thoughts and conversations were entirely foreign to their minds. By cultivating an appetite for sensational stories, the mind's taste is perverted, and the spirit is not satisfied unless it is nourished with such harmful food.

“Many young people are eager for books. They read anything they can get their hands on. I appeal to the parents of these young people to govern their desire for reading. Do not allow magazines and newspapers containing love stories on your tables. Fill their place with books that help young people build their character with the best material — the love and fear of God, the knowledge of Christ. Encourage your children to store valuable knowledge in their minds, to let what is good occupy the soul and direct its faculties, leaving no room for low, degrading thoughts. Restrict the desire for reading that does not provide good nourishment for the mind.

“What will our children read? This is a serious question that demands a serious answer. It troubles me to see, among Sabbath-keeping families, periodicals and newspapers that contain serialized stories, which leave no good impression on the minds of children and young people. I have observed those whose taste for fiction was thus cultivated. They had the privilege of hearing the truth, of becoming familiar with the reasons for our faith; but they reached their later years devoid of true piety and practical religion. Readers of fiction are tolerating an evil that destroys spirituality, obscuring the beauty of sacred writings.” Adventist Home, pp. 410-417.

To help you find good book options, we have compiled the list below, based on the testimonies of families who are striving to follow divine principles in their children's education:

TRUE STORIES:

Africa, Memories of a Mission, Bob Prouty – (CPB, juvenile)

The Exile, Serpouhi Tavoukdjian, (CPB, Out of print)

The Bible by a Dagger and Other Spectacular Stories, Helen Lee (CPB, juvenile)

The Bible on the Wall – https://lmsdobrasil.com.br

The Story of Mary Jones – Brazilian Bible Society, juvenile, https://lmsdobrasil.com.br

The Story of the Reformers for Children (collection) – http://www.editoraletras.com.br

Whom Shall I Fear, Ann Vitorovich (CPB, biography)

Missionary Adventure, Davi and Angela Tavares (CPB, juvenile)

Adventures of Captain Bates (Pioneers Publishing House)

Adventures in Serra do Mar, Fernando José de Souza (CPB, juvenile)

Ayesha, God's Beloved, Norma R. Youngberg (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Ben Carson, Ben S. Carson and Cecil Murphey (CPB, biography)

Incredible Animals, Great Animal Stories, Lori Peckham (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Challenge in the Waters, Ana Paula Ramos (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Taught by a Tiger, Norma R. Youngberg (CPB, Out of print)

Among the Lions of Angola (CPB, biography)

David Livingston, Ben Alex (LPC Publisher)

Challenge in the Waters, Ana Paula Rany (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

They Believe in God, Biographies of scientists and their creationist faith, Rodrigo P. Silva (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Faithful Through Every Test, Wellesley Muir (CPB, Out of print)

Fire on the Mountain, Norma R. Youngberg (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Fleeing to Freedom, Doru Tarita and Kara Kerbs (CPB, biography)

Furaha, The Story of a Baby Condemned to Death, Oliver Jacques (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

My Grandmother's Stories, Ella M. Robinson (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Breathtaking Stories, Helen Lee (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

Favorite Stories, compilation (CPB, Children's/Young Adult)

A Star Player's Move, Herbert de Almeida (CPB, biography)

King, The Preacher Who Couldn't Preach, Kimber J. Lantry (CPB, story)

Yesterday's Tears, Dorothy Comm (CPB, Out of print)

Leo Halliwell in the Amazon, Olga S. Streithorst (CPB)

Mary Among the Savages of Calabar, Virgil E. Robinson (CPB)

A Thousand Shall Fall at Your Side (CPB, biography)

Modern Miracles, Loron Wade (CPB, Christian living)

Mission Below Zero, Adventures in Alaska, Milton L. Torres (CPB, children's/YA)

Mission in the Pacific, E. L Martin (CPB, out of print)

Naila and the White Crocodile, Norma R. Youngberg (CPB, out of print)

Born to Preach, Henry Feyerabend (CPB, history)

On the Trail of the Pioneers (CPB, stories)

The Ox Who Kept the Sabbath, Bradley Booth (CPB, children's/YA)

The Cat Who Saved the Train, compilation (CPB, children's/YA)

The Man Who Jumped from the Clouds, Wellesley Muir (CPB, children's/YA)

My Desert, Allyson Firme (Editora Ados)

The Miracle on the Mountain (Bradley Booth, CPB, children's/YA)

The Cave Millionaire, Doug Batchelor (CPB)

The Mystery of the Abandoned Lighthouse, Suzanne Perdew (CPB, children's/YA)

Time Has Not Erased It, Don R. Christman (CPB, out of print)

The Valley of Decision, Leola Woodruff (CPB)

Bread Upon the Waters, Melvin Northrup (CPB, biography)

Lost at Sea, Grenville Lee Dunstan (CPB, biography)

Pilgrim in a Strange Land, Virgil Robinson (CPB)

Scattered Pearls, compilation (CPB, out of print)

Persecuted in China (Bradley Booth, CPB)

Portal of the Gods, Thurman C. Petty (CPB, children's/young adult)

Arrest Him, Miriam Wood (CPB, out of print)

Clever Little Princess, Eric B. Hare, (CPB, out of print)

Prisoner of War, M. M. Stump (CPB, out of print)

Prisoners in China, Vinnie Ruffo (CPB, out of print)

Who Was Ellen White, Marye Trim (CPB, children's/young adult)

Reborn from Pain, Marcelo Cunha, (CPB, biography)

Mountain Rescue and Other Stories, Christopher Blake (CPB, children's/young adult)

One More Step, Fernanda Lima (CPB, biography)

A Special Voice, Ullanda McCullough-Innocent (CPB, out of print)

Others: Youth Inspiration also offers excellent reading material. Find older editions in used bookstores.

BIBLE AND RELIGION:

The Beautiful Stories of the Bible, collection (CPB, out of print)

The Bible Kids – Márcio Dias Guarda (CPB, children's/young adult)

The Prophets' Gang, Eduardo Rueda (CPB, children's/young adult)

Bible Trivia and Quizzes, Rafel Escandón (CPB, children's/young adult)

God Loves Me in 28 Ways – Charles Mills, Linda Koh (CPB, children's/young adult)

Bible Challenge – A. D. Santos Editora

War in Heaven, The Good Triumph Over Evil, Ariane M. Oliveira (CPB, juvenile)

Jesus Tells Me So – Cristina Macena and Thiago Lobo (CPB, juvenile)

In Heaven – Cristina Macena and Thiago Lobo (CPB, juvenile)

Treasure Map, Jesus' Secrets in Revelation, Eduardo Rueda (CPB, juvenile)

The Pilgrim, John Bunyan (Christian World Publisher)

The Book of God, Discover How the Bible Came to You, Tim Lale (CPB, juvenile)

The Great Adventist Movement (Pioneers Publisher)

What Is the Bible? An Introduction to the Book of Christian Faith, Sue Graves Brazilian Bible Society (CPB, juvenile)

My Bible Friends collection (CPB, out of print)

Wisdom for Children – https://lmsdobrasil.com.br

Life of Jesus – EGW (CPB)

Biblical Zoo – Ethel Maxine Neff (CPB)

LANGUAGE:

Discovering the World: Children's Dictionary – Ciranda Cultural

Larousse Junior School Dictionary – Larousse

HUMAN BODY:

Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Human Body – Girassol

Human Body – Ciranda Cultural

The Human Body – Knowledge in Action Series – Girassol (Images, pop-ups and sounds)

NATURE:

If God Made It... If God Didn't Make It... – Michelson Borges

Encyclopedia of Nature – Girassol

My First Encyclopedia of Nature – Girassol

Encyclopedia of Nature – Ciranda Cultural

Discovering the World: Nature – Ciranda Cultural (Children's and Young Adult Encyclopedia)

Little Guides to Nature (Platano Publisher, Portugal)

ANIMALS:

Guess What It Is: Wild Animals – Girassol (With flaps and windows)

I Love Animals! – Girassol (Stickers and Activities)

I Love Nature! – Girassol (Stickers and Activities)

Animals – Open the Window Series – Girassol (With flaps and windows)

Animals of the Jungle, Seas, and Mountains: with Stickers – Girassol (Stickers)

Farm Animals – Girassol (Stickers)

Animals and Their Homes – Girassol (Detailed and enlarged illustrations, captions with step-by-step explanations, 4 pop-ups)

Talking Animals – Braulho Forest Series – Lafonte (With real animal sounds)

Butterflies, Their Characteristics and Habits – Ivan Schmidt (CPB, Children's and Young Adult)

Animal Games – http://publifolha.folha.com.br/catalogo/livros/136780/

Playful Puppies – Ciranda Cultural (Games, activities, 50 stickers)

Little Bunnies and Their Friends – Ciranda Cultural (Games, activities, 50 stickers)

How Animals Grow: Butterfly – Girassol (Photos, simple explanations, stickers)

How Animals Grow: Dog – Girassol (Photos, simple explanations, stickers)

How Animals Grow: Duck – Girassol (Photos, simple explanations, stickers)

How Animals Grow: Frog – Girassol (Photos, simple explanations, stickers)

Discovering the World: Animals – Ciranda Cultural (Children's and young adult encyclopedia)

Discovering the World: Animal Curiosities – Ciranda Cultural

Hide-and-Seek: Animal Kingdom – Publifolha

Noisy Farm – Noisy Forest Series – Lafonte

Young Animals – Ciranda Cultural

Noisy Forest – Lafonte

Animal Families – http://publifolha.folha.com.br/catalogo/livros/136299/

Felines – Deadly Creatures Series Ciranda Cultural (Ages 6 to 8 – Games, activities, stickers)

Cute Kittens – Ciranda Cultural (Ages 3 to 5 – Games, activities, 50 stickers)

My Little Book of Animals, Lafonte

Nature – Animals –http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-524637537-livro-filhotes-1001-fotos-animais-_JM

In the Air – What Animal Is It? Series – Sueli Ferreira de Oliveira, Michelson Borges – http://www.cpb.com.br/produto/detalhe/14641/no-ar—serie-que-bicho-e?-

In the Sea – What Animal Is It? Series – Sueli Ferreira de Oliveira, Michelson Borges –http://www.cpb.com.br/produto/detalhe/15101/no-mar—serie-que-bicho-e?-(+-de-45-adesivos)

Birds, Their Characteristics and Habits – Ivan Schmidt (CPB, children's/YA)

Animal Games – http://publifolha.folha.com.br/catalogo/livros/136780/

Animal Families – http://publifolha.folha.com.br/catalogo/livros/136299/

Hide-and-Seek: Animal Kingdom – Publifolhinha

The Atlas of the Animal World – Publifolhinha.

100 Things About Dogs and Puppies – Girassol

GARDENING:

My First Gardening Book – Dorling Kindersley – Publifolha

ENVIRONMENT:

Deserts – Planet Earth Series – Ciranda Cultural (ages 6 to 8)

Tropical Forests – Planet Earth Series – Ciranda Cultural (ages 6 to 8)

Oceans – Planet Earth Series – Ciranda Cultural (ages 6 to 8)

Polar Regions – Planet Earth Series – Ciranda Cultural

Discovering the World: Farm – Ciranda Cultural

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