Help! Which books would be best for my children?

Faced with a choice of twelve titles, how do you know which of our books to buy for your kids? I've jotted down a few thoughts, to hopefully help you make the very best choice for each of the children on your heart :-)

So, here we go:

The Only Way by Gareth Rowe

G. P. Taylor recommends this book! For ages 12+.

“The Only Way is a moving, fast-paced, gripping and genius piece of writing.” - G. P. Taylor

Who should you buy this book for?

• Anyone who loves a good read – especially those who like G. P. Taylor's stories!
• Those who struggle with bullying at school and/or have difficulties at home. Also suitable for younger children who are good readers - but be warned that the story is quite gritty in places. There is some fighting, bullying and a bit of blood too!
• This is a great book for children who know what real life can be like - or to show sheltered children what life can be like for the less privileged
• If you want a subtle Christian message, this is the perfect book - great for worldly wise young people with no previous thought of God

 Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/theonlyway.php

The Birthday Shoes by Mary Weeks Millard

“It made me feel like I was there!” - Susanna

Who should you buy this book for?

• 8-11 year old girls who love shoes!
• Girls with a great imagination
• Friends of girls who go to church, to see what it's all about
• Girls with African background - Emily Jane, the main character, lives in the UK but  'visits' different places in Africa with her magic shoes!
• Girls with disability/illness in the family (Emily Jane's father is disabled)
• Church children who need to build a relationship with God for themselves - Emily Jane discovers this on her adventures

Click and buy now:

www.dernierpublishing.com/birthdayshoes.php

Beech Bank Girls, Every Girl Has A Story by Eleanor Watkins

Shortlisted for Children's Book of the Year (over 12s category), Christian Resources Awards 2011

Chick lit for ages 10-14.

“Really enjoyed it and found it helpful at the same time.- Claire

Who should you buy this book for?

• Girls from any background who love their friends!
• All 10-14 year-old girls who enjoy reading
• Church girls who are growing in their relationship with God
• Perfect for girls struggling with family issues

Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/beechbankgirls.php

 

Beech Bank Girls II, Making A Difference by Eleanor Watkins

Shortlisted for Youth Book of the Year, Christian Resources Awards 2012

Chick lit for10-14s.

“A very exciting, fun to read, really well-written book.” - Taylor

Who should you buy this book for?

• Girls who have children from different cultures in their schools
• Church children who want to make a difference
• Girls with issues of many kinds - these books show that it is perfectly normal to be normal!
• Also great for Christian girls, as these books show quite rightly that it's great to be a Christian!

Click and buy now:  http://www.dernierpublishing.com/makingdifference.php
 

Beech Bank Girls III, Christmas is Coming! by Eleanor Watkins

The perfect Christmas gift for 10-14s!

“An amazing, heart-warming story. A definite 10/10.” - Ellie

Who should you buy this book for?

• Any girl who loves Christmas
• Girls struggling with body image and issues of any kind really!
• Any girl who loves to curl up with a good book

 Click and buy now:http://www.dernierpublishing.com/beechbankgirls3.php

All the Beech Bank Girls appeal to girls from all walks of life - there is a bit of adventure, lots of fun and laughter and sorting out of issues - the girls are also learning and growing in their Christian faith in a very real way through issues they are facing. They are really well-written stories with no waffling, preaching . . . and all are totally cringe-free!

 London's Gone by J. M. Evans

For ages 12+.

“I just couldn't put this book down.” - Gilly

Who should you buy this book for?

• Older girls who love a thrilling drama full of tension - at least up to age 16, but older girls (and women!) enjoy this book too
• Boys who wouldn't shun a book with lots of emotion!
• Those who feel that being a Christian may be slightly embarrassing
• Introducing Christianity to those with no previous church experience

 We have had really good reviews of this book. The Christian element comprises of one character - Arthur - whereas neither of the girls are believers. This is a totally cringe-free story with lots of tension and drama, which you may well enjoy too!
Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/londonsgone.php

The Treasure Hunt by J. M. Evans

For ages 8-11.

“Brilliant.” - Ben

Who should you buy this book for?

• Boys and girls who love mystery adventure stories – this is an up-to-date Christian equivalent of Enid Blyton's Famous Five!
• Kids who are familiar with Bible stories, but need to see faith outworking in experience
• The story is a gentle introduction to the issue of people trafficking

Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/treasurehunt.php

 

Mystery in the Snow by J. M. Evans

Thrilling sequel to The Treasure Hunt.

“I would definitely recommend it.” - Joshua

Who should you buy this book for?

• Boys and girls who love adventure, cats, and the snow!
• Kids who need to know that they are as important to God as adults
• Children you would like to introduce Christianity to in a fun, relevant way!
  
  
  Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/mysteryinthesnow.php

Both the above books are also great for reluctant readers as they are quite slim volumes, but keep the pace going, with a hook at the end of every chapter!

I Want To Be An Airline Pilot by Mary Weeks Millard

A victorious, heart-warming story for 8-11s.

“I really enjoyed this book, it's one of my favourites.” - Kemi

Who should you buy this book for?

• Boys and girls who enjoy stories about children from other cultures
• Kids who do not realise that God loves them
• Children who lead comfortable lives, to see how many others have to manage
  
  
  Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/airlinepilot.php

 
Living in Hope by Mary Weeks Millard

The thrilling to sequel to 'I Want to Be an Airline Pilot', for 8-11s.

“This is the best book I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone.” - Sophie

Who should you buy this book for?

• Boys and girls who need to know that prayer changes things
• Kids who are growing in their faith
• Children who know someone who has been abducted, or who have family problems themselves

Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/livinginhope.php

NEW! Under the Tamarind Tree by Mary Weeks Millard

The final book in the Rwanda series for 8-11s.

“It shows us how God helps us in our lives. I would recommend this book to my friends.” - Jacob

Who should you buy this book for?

• Children struggling with a house move
• Church and non-church boys and girls who need to learn to trust God for themselves
• Boys and girls who have friends with a disability, or who have a disability themselves
  
  
  Click and buy now: http://www.dernierpublishing.com/tamarindtree.php
  

 

Deepest Darkness by Denise Hayward

A thrilling, moving story for 8-11s.

“This is one of the best books I have read – EVER!” - Maddie

Who should you buy this book for?

• Children who struggle with fears of any kind
• Kids for whom the concept of prayer is new, or needs exploring
• Boys and girls who enjoy thoughtful stories. Many have been deeply moved by this book.
  
  
  Click and buy now:

http://www.dernierpublishing.com/deepestdarkness.php

If you would like any more help in choosing books, please don't hesitate to contact us :-)

May the Lord sow many seeds through your gifts this Christmas!

10 Reasons to buy Christian fiction for children

10 good reasons to buy excellent, relevant,fun Christian fiction for children

1. Children make sense of their world through stories - and most of them love reading a good book!

2. Stories with Christian characters can encourage and inspire children in their own faith

3. We remember stories better than straight information - Jesus told stories!

4. It's great to encourage children to read books with Christian values

 

5. A novel is a non-threatening gift for children from non-church families

6. Kids who know all the Bible stories see faith being outworked in up-to-date situations

7. Children can lend books to their friends (for no extra cost!)

8. Like to have spiritual input but can't due to distance? A Christian novel is the perfect gift!

9. Like more family time? Read a Christian novel together, then discuss the issues

10. Words are powerful – a book may sow seeds that will bear fruit in years to come

Buy one today:

www.dernierpublishing.com/youthf.php

From £4.99 Free p+p to U.K. addresses.

Or visit your local bookstore

Author profile - Denise Hayward

I hope you enjoy reading about our authors - today, with no further ado, I am delighted to introduce you to Denise Hayward, author of 'Deepest Darkness'!

"As a child I loved reading, and I read all the children’s classics – The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Alice in Wonderland, Heidi, Little Women etc. I also enjoyed Enid Blyton – she gets a bad press now but she drew me into books. Two books that really impacted me were Helen Keller’s autobiography and The Diary of Anne Frank. Probably more than any other book The Diary of Anne Frank inspired me to start writing. For my 13^th birthday I bought a note book with some money I’d had and began to keep a diary. I think I began by trying to record the boring intricacies of my day but quite soon it became a place to write what I thought and felt, how I processed the world. Those early diaries read rather embarrassingly now! I have never been faithful to writing my journal every day but I have more or less kept it up ever since. I still have days when I write reams and occasionally let several days, even weeks, lapse.

I don’t remember when I first wanted to write children’s stories, probably some time in my early twenties. I just know that for a long while I wanted to and then eventually began to put some of the ideas I had in my head onto paper. From the time I was a young teenager I wanted to be an actress, and from the age of 16 acting was a total obsession for me. It was all I wanted to do. I did eventually go to drama school and then had a summer season in the children’s theatre in Butlins. It’s a long story but I learned a lot about myself I didn’t like during that summer. I had been reading Christian books such as Jackie Pullinger’s ‘Chasing the Dragon,’ and Joni Eareckson’s autobiography. I may, at times, have called myself a Christian up to that point but I was not a follower of Jesus and these books brought that home to me. Anyway God sought me out, thankfully, and aged 23 I became a follower of Jesus. And he very clearly led me out of the acting world. It seemed hard at the time but I am glad He did. I wouldn’t have survived as a Christian in that world. That’s not the case for everyone but it certainly was for me.

I think it was probably around that time that the possibility of being a writer began to take hold of me. I certainly began writing more seriously then. I think my first completed work was probably a one woman play about Eleanor Roosevelt. I hoped to tour it around schools but didn’t get much interest – they kept telling me what women they would like a show about. I’ve never been very good at writing on demand. It has to mean something to me. However it began, somewhere in me I knew I wanted to write children’s stories. Of course I discovered writing them is far easier than getting them published! It always seemed like I was playing a game that I didn’t know the rules of.

The inspiration for Deepest Darkness came when my husband, Frederick, and I had a holiday in Canada. We caught the train from Toronto that crosses Canada to Vancouver, on the west coast. We stopped off at the Rockies on the way over then continued on to Vancouver. From there we hired a car and drove around Vancouver Island. We walked in the Rockies, went whale watching, stayed in an old loggers cabin and took boats out to see Grizzly bears along the coast. Throughout the journey the thing that struck us was the wildness and the unpredictability of it. The reality that as we walked we could very possibly stumble across a bear was exciting and scary! All the while, as we faced a wildness that doesn’t exist anymore in Britain, I felt God stirring things in me, facing fears. Not just the fear of stumbling across a bear but a certain fearfulness that gripped me. My fear was not as raw and controlling as Abi’s [from Deepest Darkness] but certainly controlled aspects of my life. God had long been dealing with fear in me. But there is simply something about walking in wilderness that touches something deep. Not just about me, but about the reality that God is not a tame God, and actually, in the depths of who I am, I don’t want Him to be anyway.

But it was in a small place on the west coast of Vancouver Island that the story began to stir in me. Our hotel was virtually on the beach, we had a room looking out to the sea. The beach was beautiful, to me it was paradise. The dark rocks in the sea, the long sandy beach. Behind were mountains and forests. All that part of Canada used to be temperate rainforest but most of it has been logged and there is very little original forest left. But there is some and from the road there was a boardwalk into the edge of the forest. As we walked I wept, the colours, the variety of green and the ancientness of this forest, deeply touched my heart, deeply spoke to me of the One who is the Ancient of Days.

One morning on the beach, the line ‘When I was a child of 9 or 10 I came to this island full of fear,’ popped into my head. And it stayed there. It became a matter of discovering who this person was and what had happened to her. In many ways Dave, Abi’s father, contains strands of my story as much as Abi herself. For me, Deepest Darkness is as much about discovering God is far bigger and wild and real and good than we ever imagine, as it is about one young girl facing her fears and finding God cares. He is enough. He made this wild, incredible planet that He cares deeply about. And yet He knows me and He cares. He intends life to be fully lived and embraced, He doesn’t want us cowering or making a life for ourselves that we can manage. He is too wild for us to tame and life is too huge for us to control but He holds us and lights our way."

Deepest Darkness really is a beautiful book; thoughtful, exciting, inspiring and equally suitable for Christian children or those with no church background. If you would like to read the first chapter, you can do so online:  http://dernierpublishing.com/deepestdarkness.php

Here is a little bit about the book, with some reviews:

 

Ten-year old Abi suffers from terrible nightmares and her life is ruled by fear. On holiday in Canada, she makes a new friend who shows her that true light shines, even in the deepest darkness. Facing her fears one by one, Abi opens up her life to the light and finds a freedom that she never thought possible.

“This is a brilliant story all about a girl called Abi. She's got a fear of everything, but a trip to Canada brings a new friend and some important answers. This is one of the best books I've read – EVER!” - Maddie

“It is a fantastic adventure and God is really real.” - Natalie 

 

“I enjoyed the story very much. I felt for Abi and all the characters, and was really excited while reading the book.” - Polina 

 

"Deepest Darkness' has deeply touched my daughters. There is something about it which has  struck a chord with them." - Jo

Deepest Darkness is available from all good bookshops everywhere (shop locally if you can!) or direct from our website. It costs £5.99 - if you need to order it, here is the ISBN: 9780953696352