Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Cold-Case Christianity for Kids {a Litfuse Blog Tour review}

Some reviews are really easy to write because I love the product so much that the review practically writes itself.

Some reviews are really hard to write because I love the product so much and I know I will never convey how strongly I feel about it.

This review, of Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, is both of those.

We first learned of J. Warner Wallace when watching a series of lectures from Summit Ministries.  Connor and I really liked what we saw, and Connor got the chance to see him in person at the Summit Student Conference last May.

In fact, he came home from that conference with a copy of God's Crime Scene (another J. Warner Wallace title), and received Cold-Case Christianity as a graduation gift from one of our pastors that weekend.  After he read it, I borrowed it from him.  And then with us talking about it (and seeing Wallace in God's Not Dead 2), everyone else (my husband and the other two teens) were interested too.  So I bought the Kindle and Audible versions.

And then... I learned about Cold-Case Christianity for Kids.  I begged to be on this review, and I even ended up buying a second copy of the book.

It truly is that good.

Before I describe the book, let me just say this.  If you are a Christian parent, and you have children between the ages of 8 and maybe 15, you really do need this book.  If you have teens, you need to get Cold-Case Christianity.  If you have kids in both ranges, get them both.

From the publisher:
Between the ages of 8 and 12, kids often start to wonder if Christianity is true.

In Cold-Case Christianity for Kids, detective J. Warner Wallace draws readers into the thrill of high-stakes investigation by showing them how to think rather than telling them what to think. In this children's companion to the bestselling Cold-Case Christianity, detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. Includes author illustrations and links to a website where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit.

Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity.
Doesn't that sound great?

The best thing about this book might be that it goes along with the adult book so well.  I have my teens reading the adult book, and we are working through the "for Kids" book as a group.  The Adult Leader Guide helps me to know exactly what meshes between the two books and gives me help in making this work for all of us.

And that might be the best thing about this book -- the website.  There is so much more than just a book.  Here's a screenshot of Chapter 3:


Each chapter consists of a few different parts.  We are using all of them.
  • There is the chapter itself, which includes plenty of visual appeal.
  • A notebook sheet (the red link above) that you can use for taking notes on the chapter.
  • An activity sheet (the blue link above) that includes something like a crossword puzzle, to review the concepts.
  • CSI activities in the book that get you into the Bible to investigate.
  • A 4-5 minute video that addresses some of the main points of that chapter.
  • The guide I mentioned above, which includes information on the corresponding adult chapters, a general overview of the main points, and discussion questions.
Doing this as a family is simply wonderful.  The teens and I are getting far more information, but the "for Kids" book is fantastic at getting the main points put into fairly simple language.  And the book includes two mysteries to solve... one involves Jesus, and whether or not the stories in the Bible about Him can possibly be true.  The other involves a skateboard.

We are working through the evidence for both cases in a similar way.

Even my teens are interested in the skateboard mystery.

I think for kids who have heard a lot of apologetics types of things, the skateboard mystery helps to keep them interested and aware.  And for kids who haven't done much in the 'how do we know this isn't a fairy tale?' aspect of Christianity, the skateboard mystery helps to bring a today's-world example to help explain the processes.

Go buy a copy.  And enter this giveaway.


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At the crucial age between 8 and 12, many kids begin to wonder if Christianity and the Bible are true. Help your kids become truth-seeking detectives with the help of J. Warner and Susie Wallace's Cold-Case Christianity for Kids. Detective Wallace gets kids excited about testing witnesses, examining the evidence, and investigating the case for Christianity. The book includes author illustrations and links to a website where kids can download activities, fill in case notes, and earn a certificate of merit.

Encourage your kids to investigate the case for Christianity by entering to win a faith examination kit and a copy of J. Warner and Susie's new book.


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One grand prize winner will receive:
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 4. The winner will be announced November 7 on the Litfuse blog.


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Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.  

5 comments:

Jennifer said...

It sounds like something my son would like. I'm interested in the adult book, too.

Debra said...

Jennifer, the books are both great. Very worthwhile. I'm really looking forward to more of his titles. Seeing if I can get Connor to bring God's Crime Scene to me at Thanksgiving. He can have it back after Christmas...

Kate said...

Have you seen the adult book? That appeals to me to use with the kids. :D

Thanks for sharing this on your personal page. I think you should do that more often because I am just too busy to go to all the blogs I'd like to go to! :D

XO,
Kate

Dawn O said...

This looks so boy-friendly and written from a perspective that will grab their interest compared to just a lot of more dry apologetics writing. Thanks so much for sharing!

Lori said...

Thanks for the great review! I am very excited about this. I just purchased the book, entered the drawing, and am ready to check out the website. We will be using this in our homeschool!