Your kids will love the Redemption Tales series. These biblical fiction books from Marty Machowski trace salvation history through Scripture!
I really love biblical fiction for kids.
After all, the world of the Bible is a foreign place for our children.
Camels? Cobras? Polecats? Most of our kids have little experience with these animals of the Holy Land. I, myself, had to look up polecats to find out what they are.
If it is difficult for our kids to relate to the animals of the Holy Land, imagine how much harder it is for our kids to envision what it was like to live through biblical events. Helping our children understand what it was like to live through the biblical stories can be a valuable exercise. Biblical fiction, done well, can be a wonderful tool to help kids understand the background, culture, and story of the Bible.
Even better, well done biblical fiction can help your kids understand the overarching story of God’s redemption of his people!
Biblical Fiction Books Your Kids Will Love
Marty Machowski’s Redemption Tales series from New Growth Press is an excellent way for children to gain an entertaining overview of the story of Scripture. Even better, the books continually point to God’s great plan for our salvation through Jesus. They are a wonderful gift for middle grade (ages 8-12) readers.
Each book has seven chapters, told from the perspective of young animals. The stories in the first two books are selected to explain a type, or shadow, of Jesus in the Old Testament connects to the salvation events in the New Testament. The second two books explain how Jesus became incarnate–fully God and fully man, how he atoned for the sin of believers, and how he will one day return for his people.
While the animal stories in each book are clearly fictional, the biblical stories told throughout are faithful to Scripture, and often contain direct biblical quotes, such as when Jesus is speaking.
Each chapter contains a marvelous illustration or two, drawn by artist Blair Files.
Who is Daniel the Dove?
Throughout the Redemption Tales, Daniel the Dove serves as a first-person omniscient narrator. He appears suddenly throughout each chapter to explain how the chapter’s biblical events relate to God’s plan for salvation.
Daniel appears and disappears freely, knows the past and the future, and understands God’s plan for the redemption of his people through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Daniel’s commentary is very helpful. While the books allude to the possibility that he is a divine figure, like the Holy Spirit, that is never stated in the books. I am glad, because I would not be comfortable recommending the books were that the case.
As they are written, I would have no problem giving my children (now my grandchildren) the volumes and explaining that Daniel is a helpful literature device.
Daniel the Dove is a narrator who speaks with the voice of a faithful theologian, helping the young animals–and us, the readers–better understand how the events of the Old Testament foreshadow the coming of Jesus and the New Covenant.
Truth Behind the Tales: Bible Studies to Help Kids Understand
The back of each Redemption Tales book has a short study for each chapter, followed by a section with answers to the study questions.
Each “Truth Behind the Tales” section contains:
- A Bible story to read from Scripture.
- 5 discussion questions with references so your family knows where to look for the answers in the Bible.
- Scriptures for further study: Your family can look up several verses or passages to help kids better understand the salvation story through the Bible.
The Answer Key has a brief explanation of the answer to each study question.
Redemption Tales
Check out what pastor and author Marty Machowski has to share about the origins of his series, Redemption Tales.
Redemption Tales: Book One | The Shadow and the Promise (New Growth Press, 2024)
The Shadow and the Promise covers redemption history from Genesis to the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus.
Redemption Tales: Book Two | The Prophecy and the Hope (New Growth Press, 2024)
The Prophecy and the Hope covers redemption history from the wilderness wandering in Exodus through Isaiah’s prophecy about the coming Messiah, Jesus.
Redemption Tales: Book Three | The Light and the Life (New Growth Press, 2025)
The Light and the Life covers redemption history through the Gospels up until Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Redemption Tales: Book Four | The Death and the Victory (New Growth Press, 2025)
The Death and the Victory covers redemption history from Jesus’ arrest through John’s prophecy recorded in Revelation.
I highly recommend going through the books in order, as it is the best way for kids to really grasp how God’s plan for our salvation was intricately laid out from the beginning of time.
Purchase Redemption Tales by Marty Machowski
Thank you to New Growth Press for sending me a copy of The Death and the Victory for review. I purchased the first three books so I could read them all and gift the set to my oldest grandchild.
Be sure to scoop up this wonderful series. Your children will want to read it over and over again!
More Marty Machowski Books
Marty Machowski has been a pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania for over 30. He is currently the executive pastor. Marty and his wife, Lois, have six children and several grandchildren.
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.
Books Make Great Gifts!
Teach the kids about the Bible and Christian history…
…with fun books they’ll love reading!
Introduce your children to engaging stories written in an engaging narrative they’ll want to read. As they learn more about God’s Word and gain real-life heroes, they will learn to apply Scripture to their own lives. And, give yourself the gift of a book that will help your kids learn and love the Bible.
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