The book of Psalms has long been a source of comfort and wisdom for followers of Jesus. The book is large, with 150 individual psalms divided into five different sections. We don’t know why, exactly, the compiler of the psalms divided them into five books, but we do know the book is a book of praises — which is what the name of the book means in the original Hebrew. To God be the glory!
What is the book of Psalms about?
Our family is reading through Psalms together this year one last time before they graduate to adulthood, using Bible Road Trip™ Year Two: The Books of Poetry and Prophecy as our curriculum. I will miss my morning times with the boys, studying God’s Word, but I’m so glad we took the time to go through the Bible together a number of times while they were growing up.
So, what is the book of Psalms about? Well, it is about bringing glory to the King of the Universe. There are a number of types of psalms. Bible scholars don’t all agree on the various types, but for the most part, these are the types of psalms (excerpted from my introduction to week six of Bible Road Trip™ Year Two):
- Hymns are songs of praise or thanksgiving.
- Penitential psalms express repentance for sin and beg God for grace and forgiveness.
- Wisdom psalms share truths about God and his world, and about our relationship to the King–they are an expression of absolute biblical reality.
- Royal psalms are about the blood line of the coming Messiah.
- Messianic psalms prophesy the coming of the Messiah–but do not emphasize his blood line as royal psalms do.
- Imprecatory psalms are about God’s justice and wrath.
- Psalms of lament explore pain and injustice–and our trust in a good and holy God even in the midst of our pain.
The psalms are songs of praise to our holy God, and they teach us through their inspired wisdom. It’s important that our children become familiar with the book of Psalms and that they learn to understand the truths hidden within!
Teaching the Bible to your kids doesn’t have to be hard.
The Book of Psalms for Kids
These three books on the psalms are each wonderful, and each fulfill a different purpose. I appreciate that all three include ethnically diverse illustrations so that every child can feel represented. The three volumes together would make a wonderful gift for the children in your life!
Psalms for My Day: A Child’s Praise Devotional
WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever NewTiny Truths Wonder and Wisdom: Everyday Reminders from Psalms and Proverbs
- Psalms for My Day: A Child’s Praise Devotional ~ Bible scholar Alec Motyer used the original Hebrew to translate the Psalms into English in language and cadence that will make even those most familiar with the Psalms consider the meaning of each one for his book Psalms by the Day–a devotional for adults.Children’s author Carine Mackenzie uses this new and faithful translation to create a beautiful 31-day devotional for kids ages 6-11. (Christian Focus 4 Kids, 2019, 86 pages)Each two page spread is beautifully illustrated by Catherine Pape, and contains a one page selection of a psalm. The second page has a short 3-5 paragraph devotion discussing the psalm, what it means, who wrote it, and how it applies to our lives today. This devotion is followed by a short prayer.Your family will be blessed by this devotional reading of the psalms, which is perfect for breakfast or bedtime!
- WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New ~ Pastor Marty Machowski has a fabulous way of making theological concepts fun and engaging for kids. His book The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New is a must-have for every household. It covers systematic theology in a fun and understandable way. (Read my review of The Ology here.)Marty Machowski’s WonderFull (New Growth Press, 2020, 208 pages) is another excellent volume exploring the psalms.With the story of young Oliver woven through the book, Machowski explores each of the 150 psalms. This is a journey you’ll want to take with your kids. Machowski recommends getting a journal and reading each psalm together. His explanations of each psalm are sometimes short, sometimes more in-depth. Your child will definitely come away from this meaty and beautiful picture book with a strong understanding of God’s inspired book of songs written to him and about him.Andy McGuire, who also illustrated The Ology, provides the gorgeous illustrations for this full-color volume.
- Wonder and Wisdom: Everyday Reminders from Psalms and Proverbs ~ Written for 4-8 year olds, Tiny Truths Wonder and Wisdom (Zonderkidz, 2020, 80 pages) is a really cute introduction to the books of Psalms and Proverbs.The book, written by Joanna Rivard, is organized topically. Children are introduced to an idea found in the books of wisdom, then there is a short verse or passage from Psalms or Proverbs. Each idea is covered in a two-page spread, which makes this long picture book perfect for devotional reading.Tim Penner’s illustrations are really cute and add to the interest for your child.
You’ll want to grab one of each of these beautiful books for your family’s library.
Books about Psalms for You
I really love the ESV Illuminated Scripture journals. They are beautiful, with Scripture on one page and a journal page across, leaving plenty of room for notes–each covers a book of the Bible. I received the New Testament set for Christmas last year (yay!), but I started with this wonderful book of the Psalms. These journals make a great gift for teens as well.
ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: PsalmsMr. Pen- Bible Pens, 10 Pack, Assorted Color Pens
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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A Resource to Help Teach Kids About Life in the Womb
Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth
Your kids will love learning about life inside the womb with Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth, published by Christian Focus 4 Kids.
Wonderfully Made is a science- and Scripture-filled picture book for kids ages 5-11. The book is told from the perspective of a mother telling her child about his or her development in the womb week-by-week. In fact, Wonderfully Made is written to help parents meet the theological, scientific, and relational purposes of teaching kids about life in the womb.
You can also learn more about Wonderfully Made over at the book page.
Head over to the Thinking Kids Press store for your free Wonderfully Made posters, Bible memory verse cards, and lapbook!
They’re a great companion to the book Wonderfully Made, and the perfect way to teach your kids about life in the womb!
Autographed from Danika Cooley: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
Amazon: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
Amazon UK: Wonderfully Made: God’s Story of Life from Conception to Birth
Christian Book: Wonderfully Made: God’s story of life from conception to birth
Grab a Pregnancy Resource / Gift Bundle of 10 or 15 copies and save!
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This look awesome!!
Thank You for this lovely and inspiring giveaway.
Joan
I am very excited about these 3 books because Psalms is one of my favorite books of The Bible!
I love reading to my kids. These books look fun.
These books look like what every home needs! I look forward to reading these to our children each morning to build that time with God. Thank you!
I’d love to win these for my grandkids!
I have a copy of The Ology and we enjoyed it. Psalms is a great book. We generally read 1 a week.
These look wonderful! What a blessing.
for my kids. more teaching of the bible
These look like awesome books to read with my kids. Thank you for the opportunity to win these!
So many great books! Love the giveaway as well! Someone will be blessed!
Thank you for the many resources and ideas! FYI the link to the calendars on the proverbial homemaker appears to not be working tonight.
I am mostly excited because this prize consists of three books–and I have three grandchildren 🙂 Their mother has recently begun homeschooling the kids and I’m certain her family would really appreciate these books on the Psalms.
Wow these books look so wonderful! Thank you for sharing them. I love all the books you recommend. ❤️
Thank you for listing the specific types of Psalms. I knew of a few, but not all of them. It is going to be fun reading Psalms together as a family and trying to figure out which category each chapter falls under.
“WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New” has been on my wishlist! Our church is preaching through the book of Psalms each week, and my son and I have been memorizing some of the psalms to music. Would love this resource as well!
Psalms is perhaps my favorite book of the Bible for reading over and over again especially in times of stress so I am very excited to discover all of these resources to introduce my children to the Psalms, thank you so much!
These look fantastic. I always appreciate help getting more scripture into my children’s lives. I remember the first few times I read to them out of Proverbs they had a hard time following, I would be interested to see how these books could help.
I’m so excited there is a fun way to engage kids in the Psalms, while I still love just reading them aloud to my girls, I know there is so much more depth in the Pslams and I’m not always sure how to dig it out in morsels they will understand!
These books look awesome. Thank you for sharing.
These look so wonderful! My daughter is studying Psalms with her church school class.
These look wonderful! I’m excited to read them with my kids.
The books look like something my entire family will appreciate! We spend a lot of time at home now and there is nothing better to do than stay in the Word! THANK YOU!
These bonds look wonderful. Can’t wait to dive into them with my kids.
These look like great resources.
Thank you for the information. I can use these in my Family Childcare.
These look great. Thank you for sharing them.
These look like awesome books. I have always wanted to teach my kids about the Psalms since I did a Bible study on them a couple of years ago.
We love picture books in our house and we love Scripture so books that combine both are super exciting!
I would love to give these to my grandkids!
I have been doing a study on Proverbs and LOVE the idea of doing something with my guys!
I’d love to win these for my niece. They sound like nice books with great pictures.
The Psalms is one of my favorite books of the Bible-my go-to! I can’t wait to share my love for this book of the Bible with my children.
These would be perfect for my grandchildren.
Psalms is referred to so many times in our church services. Children need to understand the meaning of them. Thank you for a wonderful opportunity to speak truth to our children.
These books look beautiful! Would love to check them out with my kiddos!
I’m excited to try to win these! They look great!
Thank you for the giveaway! These books are wonderful.
I love reading scriptures and learning about biblical history.
I love that they have scripture. My kids would enjoy them.
I did most of ( we left out a couple of sections in the end) The Ology with my kids and they loved it. Look forward to doing more books by Marty Machowski
Another set of Beautiful Books, this time the Psalms!
These books look wonderful and would be helpful in teaching Bible classes as well as reading to my own “grands.” I study in the Psalms quite frequently. Thank you!
I’ve been looking for great quality books for my kids. Thanks so much for all these great posts!!
The books you are giving away, would be perfect gifts for me to give to my grandchildren!
This is a great give away! Im so excited and hope to win! Thank you so much for the opportunity!
I love reading to my kids and if it is Bible stories it is even better.
Psalms lead to peace. Our kids need some of God’s peace and reassurance too. These books sound perfect!
Wonderful time to promote Peace as we rest for the holidays….and keep the Psalms on our lips!
What could be better? More of God, less of us. Thank you for a nice giveaway
I am excited about these books as I know my son and daughter will love these.I also would love to read them to my Sunday school class!
My littlest is named Oliver. I think he’d love the stories about a boy named Oliver woven into WonderFull.
My children often struggle with knowing what or how to pray and the Psalms can be a great help. Also, I always enjoy getting them new books that point them to God and these look great!