Bible Basics: A Baby Believer Counting Primer Book Review

by Heather Bock

Before you read, I’d be so grateful if you’d head over to thejenweaver.com/writers-contest to vote for me by clicking “like” under my picture in the writers contest I entered. I can’t make it without you! The contest is for my book review for Jen Weaver’s book A Wife’s Secret to Happiness, which is here, if you’d like to read it!

Also, don’t miss the giveaway at the end of this post for this book!

My book review this week is a little different than normal. Instead of a Christian living book like Parenting by Paul David Tripp or The Broken Way by Ann Voskamp, today I want to introduce you to a little board book called Bible Basics: A Baby Believer Counting Primer. 

The concept for this book is that many children’s books exist to help a young child learn to count–but why count ladybugs and ducklings when we could be teaching our kids counting with some basic Bible facts instead? Young children’s malleable minds are amazing at memorization, and they could memorize the four gospels and two natures of Jesus along with the first ten numbers.

I like this idea, and with the beautiful illustrations created by Jessica Blanchard, I can imagine toddlers could gravitate toward this book and end up learning their first Bible vocabulary. I’m not sure, though, whether the words in this book will engage such a young listener. Yes, it gives words like Pentateuch, which a toddler could memorize for future understanding. However, the other vocabulary surrounding the new word is at such a high level that the child will not be able to either memorize or understand it.

For example, under the three persons of the Trinity, a beautiful quote by Augustine is given: “Glory to the Father who created us, Glory to the Son who redeemed us, Glory to the Holy Spirit who sanctified us; Glory to the most high and undivided trinity, whose works are inseparable, whose kingdom without end abides, from age to age, forever. Amen.” I assume the other words given are for the benefit of the adult reading and not meant to be read to the child.

As long as parents of toddlers are aware of this, I still recommend it to them. The pictures and creation of a memory peg (vocabulary memorized that other information can later be hung upon) make the book worth it.

However, I more recommend this little board book to older children. For the past few months, I’ve been going through a catechism with my children (ages 4, 7, and 9) since we follow the classical model of learning where memorization is stressed during the time when children’s minds are particularly good at this. The catechism is teaching my kids the basics of our Christian faith, and I am glad for it.

I must say, though, that it’s a bit slow going. I haven’t taken the time to use mnemonic devices to help them. I haven’t put the facts to song or chant. I haven’t done anything except drill them each day. My kids will eventually learn them this way, but when I put aside my catechism list for a while to use this book, the learning began to speed up pretty quickly. I believe it’s because of the eye-catching pictures that they remember easily.

I admit that the eight beatitudes are taking a little longer, but they’re getting them, too.

What’s more, my kids are enjoying this memorization a lot more than they did with my plain catechism sheet. I only wish I had other books like this for the other information I’m working on with my children.

If you’re a parent of growing children, I hope you look into this book!

Book Giveaway

If you liked the idea of this sweet book, I’m actually giving away one copy of Bible Basics by Danielle Hitchen. Here’s what you need to do to enter my giveaway:

To enter the drawing, subscribe to my blog:

• Click the button “follow” in the above right column under my picture and type in your email address.

To earn more entries, or if you’re already following my blog,

• Share this post via social media. Each share to a different social media venue earns you one entry (up to three).
• Let me know in a comment where you’ve shared.
• Notify me of your name.

Giveaways are open to residents of the continental U.S. and Canada only.

I will announce the winner next Saturday, so look for it! If I don’t hear from the winner within a week, I will draw another name. Thank you!

DISCLOSURE (IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FTC’S 16 CFR, PART 255: “GUIDES CONCERNING THE USE OF ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS IN ADVERTISING”): MANY THANKS TO THE BLOGABOUT NETWORK FOR GIVING ME TWO COPIES OF BIBLE BASICS: A BABY BELIEVER COUNTING PRIMER IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST OPINION.