8 Ways Kids Can Grow Closer to God

When it comes to growing closer to God, kids (and adults) have no better teacher than Jesus. His eight Beatitudes are a positive, proactive guide for kids to love and serve the Lord as they mature in their understanding of their faith.

In The Beatitudes for Children, each Beatitude is coupled with a kid-sized explanation that makes it easy for them to relate to these powerful statements. There are "real-life" applications that kids and their parents can participate in, which will inspire the whole family to apply the Lord's guidance to their lives.

Enlightening, energizing, and creatively illustrated, The Beatitudes for Children will help you encourage the kids in your life to stay close to Jesus as they grow.

The Ten Commandments have always played an essential role as guiding principles in the lives of adults and children alike. Their simplicity and clarity make them a wonderful tool to pass on an understanding of the Faith to our children.

Elementary-age children will appreciate the positive, real-world examples and vibrant full-color illustrations that bring the stories and pages to life.

Containing Scripture for the adult reader, alongside reverent, yet whimsical explanations designed to hold a child's interest, this book will help families and catechists reinforce a vision of a healthy spiritual life in step with God's plan.

An excellent preparation tool for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Living the 10 Commandments for Children contains a mini-examination of conscience appropriate for children. Free bonus: On the last page of the book, the reader is referred to www.osv.com for additional pages of "Tricky Temptations," scenarios that children can use for their examination of conscience or parents can use as conversation starters with their children.

Here's a delightful way to introduce your little ones to Jesus in the Eucharist. With its captivating writing style and charming art, The Mass Book for Children not only teaches young children the parts of the Mass, but also shows them why joining in this joyful gathering is an experience of love. Entertaining and educational, The Mass Book for Children is perfect for home or classroom. Go to page 52 to find out more about these other books, also by written by Rosemarie Gortler and Donna Piscitelli, illustrated by Mimi Sternhagen, Just Like Mary and Little Acts of Grace.

Isaac Babcock, whom everyone calls Icky, isn't looking forward to starting sixth grade. He's heard about how the eighth graders pick on the incoming sixth graders and he hopes he won't find himself stuffed into a locker on his first day of school. It is already bad enough that he lives in the shadow of his athletic, perfect older brother. But he and his best friend, CeCe, plan to get involved and make new friends. They want to look on the positive side and hope for the best. That is, until they meet mean and grumpy Mr. Thuan, who seems to have it out for them. Soon, they are caught up in a mystery that winds up teaching them something that they hadn't expected to learn this year. Inspired by John Paul II's New Evangelization, Icky, CeCe and the Mysterious Mr. Thuan will challenge children's views of others who are different from them, and give readers some insight into how to apply concepts related to social justice to their own lives.

Why do some people kneel on one knee before they sit down in Church? Or bow their heads when they hear a siren? There's no better way to introduce children to Catholic customs than this little book. It doesn't just explain these little devotions -- it makes children want to do them, too.