Kids naturally seek out real life heroes, don’t they? Whether they are celebrities, sport stars, or just the older child next door, our kids are always seeking others to look up to. Christian books for boys that give examples of everyday men that the Lord worked through are easier to find than ever before.
Teaching kids about Christian history through literature is a wonderful way to allow them to really understand the way our relationship with the Lord affects our choices, and to see how godly character looks in the life of a young man.
I love the men of the Bible, and I suggest reading through the Bible with your boys for the hero stories in Scripture!
Note: A ‘hero story’ in literature focuses on a person with some redemptive qualities who struggles for good. Not all ‘heroes’ are good all of the time! In fact, none are–all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We know, though, that God chooses to work in those who are weak to his glory–that way we know HE is the great one, not the ‘hero’!
When my boys were growing up, we read SO many wonderful stories about real life heroes from Christian history. I’m going to highlight some of our favorite stories that were specifically written about men!
Do you have girls? You’ll also want to check out Christian Books for Girls: Real Life Heroes.
Christian Books for Younger Boys
When my boys were little, I introduced them to real life heroes from Christian history with the Little Lights series from Catherine MacKenzie. They loved these little picture books that had simple text on one page and a sentence for them to try reading on the next. The stories focused on how God used imperfect children (who became men) to his glory. Ms. MacKenzie has steadily expanded the series and you can now read to your young children about a number of real life heroes.
The Lightkeepers set from Irene Howat was also a popular read in our home. Each book tells the stories of ten boys who served the Lord. They are perfect for bedtime reading! The books include:
- Ten Boys Who Made a Difference
- Ten Boys Who Used Their Talents
- Ten Boys Who Changed the World
- Ten Boys Who Made History
- Ten Boys Who Didn’t Give In
From Shirley Raye Redmond, Brave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God is a fabulous volume with one Christian figure per spread. Your child will have a one-page illustration to see while you can read aloud a short biography of a man who glorified God.
C.S. Lewis: Can you imagine? (Little Lights)
Eric Liddell: Are you ready? (Little Lights)John Knox: Who will save you? (Little Lights)John Calvin: What is the truth? (Little Lights)Martin Luther: What should I do? (Little Lights)Hudson Taylor: Could somebody pass the salt? (Little Lights)George Müller: Does money grow on trees? (Little Lights)David Livingstone: Who is the bravest? (Little Lights)Lightkeepers Boys Box Set: Ten BoysBrave Heroes and Bold Defenders: 50 True Stories of Daring Men of God
Christian Books for Older Boys
For young men ages 8-16 or so, I love using historical fiction, fictionalized biographies, and narrative biographies to allow them to meet real life heroes of the faith.
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther is my debut novel for teens about the Father of the Reformation. Martin Luther contended for the veracity of Scripture and changed both the Church and history. His story is really exciting and I’d be so honored if you’d share it with your boys!
My Who What Why series of Christian biographies and history are a lot of fun for kids! Help them see the who, what, and why of God’s hand of providence in history.
Christian Focus Publications also has an engaging, constantly growing line of Trail Blazers novels. The books closely follow the stories of the main character, but with fictionalized dialogue. We used the Trail Blazers line as family read alouds with our boys from the ages of 7 and 8, and by upper elementary and through middle school, I was assigning them as individual reading for school.
Catherine Mackenzie’s Christian Heroes Just Like You is a wonderful devotional volume with 21 stories of Christian men throughout history.
The books below will give you plenty of great options for Christian books for your boys about real life heroes.
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin LutherWho was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)Who Were the Abolitionists? (Who, What, Why)What Was the Underground Railroad? (Who, What, Why)Why Did Slavery End? (Who, What, Why)Christian Heroes: Just Like You (Biography)Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A Spoke in the Wheel (Trail Blazers)William Tyndale: The Smuggler’s Flame (Torchbearers)Wilfred Grenfell: Courageous Doctor (Trail Blazers)David Brainerd: A Love for the Lost (Trailblazers)Jonathan Edwards: America’s Genius (Trailblazers)William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter (Trail Blazers)George Whitefield: The Voice that Woke the World (Trailblazers)Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Trailblazers)Martyn Lloyd Jones: From Wales to Westminster (Trailblazers)Hudson Taylor: An Adventure Begins (Trailblazers)Martyn Lloyd Jones: From Wales to Westminster (Trailblazers)Richard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the Dark (Trailblazers)Robert Murray McCheyne: Life is an Adventure (Trailblazers)George Muller: The Children’s Champion (Trailblazers)John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Stopped (Trailblazers)Michael Faraday: Spiritual Dynamo (Trailblazers)John Calvin: After Darkness Light (Trailblazers)Eric Liddell: Finish the Race (Trailblazers)John Knox: The Sharpened Sword (Trailblazer)John Newton: A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers)Augustine: The Truth Seeker (Trailblazer)Billy Graham: Just Get Up Out Of Your Seat (Trailblazers)Paul Brand: The Shoes That Love Made (Trailblazers)Ulrich Zwingli: Shepherd Warrior (Trailblazers)John G Paton: South Sea Island Rescue (Trailblazers)C.S Lewis: The Story Teller (Trailblazers)Bill Bright: Dare to be Different (Trailblazers)John Bunyan: Journey of a Pilgrim (Trailblazers)Robert Moffat: Africa’s Brave Heart (Trailblazer)Adoniram Judson: Danger on the Streets (Trailblazers)Titanic: The Ship of Dreams (Trail Blazers)Francis & Edith Schaeffer: Taking on the World (Trailblazers)John Chrysostom: The Preacher in the Emperor’s Court (Trail Blazers)Samuel Rutherford: The Law, the Prince and the Scribe (Trailblazers)Jim Elliot: He Is No Fool (Trail Blazers)John and Betty Stam: To Die is Gain (Trail Blazers)Thomas Clarkson: The Giant With One Idea (Trailblazers)Jack Turner: Truth in the Arctic (Trail Blazers)William Carey: Expecting Great Things (Trail Blazers)Charles Simeon: For Christ in Cambridge (Trailblazers)Olaudah Equiano: Emily J. Maurits (Trailblazers)Polycarp: Faithful unto Death (Trail Blazers)John Wycliffe: According to the Word (Trail Blazers)
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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I would love to win “When Lightning Struck”.
I love this series so that my son has godly heroes to admire and sees real life struggles of Christians.
These look awesome!
Great giveaway! We love reading real life stories!
Super awesome giveaways but even better lessons!
Exciting stories about positive role models are just what my kids need. They love to read, but we’re running out of books!
I love this kind of book!
I would love to share these encouraging stories with both of my boys. And also share them with my Sunday School class.
Thanks for sharing these! I’ve been looking for some Christian biographies to read aloud to my son and daughter, so I’m excited to check out some of these resources!
These books would be perfect for my 10 year old son and daughter. Thank for letting us all know about this series!
I’m excited to read these books with my kids so they get a glimpse of what impact one could make when Jesus lives in us!
I love finding new books to read and share. I have four boys and three nieces, so I would put these to great use!
My son loves reading about real life people.
My boys are avid readers, but sometimes I worry about finding enough “good” reading material. Thanks for letting me know about these books ~ I’ll have to check them out!
We have a few Trailblazer books and love them as family read alouds. Would love to win some more great “true hero” books.
As a child, we went to the library every week, checked out books and took them home. As an adult, I buy books and read them. I read to my children every evening before bed, and I read to my grandchildren when I get the chance. I wish every child would develop of love of reading.
I love when my kids can learn about real people in exciting ways.
They look like great decent books for Christian families. The heroes are perfect for kids.
This sounds exactly like something my son would love!
These books will help my grandson understand what walking with and living sacrificially means. Thank you!
Thanks for another great article and opportunity to win great books!!
These books look amazing. I am really excited about this giveaway. My children would love to have the opportunity to read these books.
Super cool books and not just for the kids 🙂
Love it when m ::) son reads about real heroes. So many life lessons for becoming a man that pleases God.
I have 8 yr old with a heart for God who love to read. I really think thus would be great for them
These books will teach kids about historical figures they wouldn’t learn about in school.
Would love to have these for my grandson. We have a limited income, so it’s hard to purchase the books I’d like him to read.
These would be great books for my son. We’ve been studying the heros of the faith a lot lately and I’d love for him, and eventually my daughter, to be able to read about them on their own.
This year we are actually adding in studies about missionaries and other historic people who have made a difference in our world, and these books would be an amazing addition to that study. Thanks so much for such a great opportunity!
Thanks for this list – even if I don’t win. Always looking for titles to read to/with our boys.
Thank you! Awesome giveaway bundle! I homeschool 2 daughters and 1 son!
I love ideas for books for my kids to read. books with Real life, Christian heroes are the best!
My kids would love these books. I love your website. We’re using your armor of God lapbook bundle now.
What excites me is having them to stay on my book shelf so they can reread them and the younger kids not reading age can enjoy them later! I have a son that reads anything he can get his hands on and it is always good to have great choices for rereads! 😁
Looks like a great set of books!
Such great titles!
I ordered “When Lightning Struck!” last year and am excited to read it with my boys this fall. They were already very inspired with the little lesson I gave on Martin Luther for our children at church on Reformation Day. One of my boys created a LEGO version of Martin Luther. 🙂 Thanks for all your efforts and heart for making God known.
Thank you Danika! I have three children who love the Torchlighters series, so this would be great for reading time and road trips! I love all the different heroes that my kids already know about and love!
Thank you for the chance to win the giveaway! These books look great! Having both boys and girls and believing that we can learn much from Christian giants of the faith, these books would be a fabulous addition to our reading list.
Thank you so much for the lovely giveaway! God Bless you!
Some great people for my children to learn about in history.
I would love to win this giveaway! Great reads for my children and myself together!
I have four boys ages 4 to 9. I am always trying to find this type of materials to put in front of them.
These are great book recommendations. Thanks!
I love reading books like these aloud to my kids!
Stories about real people have a deeper impact on us than fiction. I want my children to read lots of stories about real people that have met our very real Lord.
Thanks for the list and opportunity to win books!
My son loves to read and is interested in learning more about these heroes after watching shows about them.
What excites me about these books is that they are about real people. They are examples that illustrate following God that can help my child to understand what that looks like.
I’m excited about having good stories about real people for the kids. We’re just starting to get into non-fiction, so this is a great start. Thanks for the suggestions!
These are amazing
This is a remarkable way to spark little minds & hearts to grow in Christ! I’d love to share these wonderful books with some little people today! ♥️
as always, your books are amazing! Thanks for sharing your talents with us!
I love that these are real stories about people who weren’t perfect, but allowed God to use them to do great things for His kingdom.
What a great set of books! And yes! Christian Heroes are who our children should be looking up to!