The Case for Christ for Kids

Many of you are familiar with former atheist, Lee Strobel, investigative reporter and legal editor for the Chicago Tribune. In his book, The Case for Christ, he details his own investigation of Jesus, the claims of the Bible, and his conversion to Christianity. The Case for Christ for Kids is a pared-down, readable version of his popular book for adults, aimed at eight- to twelve-year-olds.

The Case for Christ for Kids is written in three sections. The first section, "Who Was in the Manger?" explores Jesus' claims to be the Son of God. In Part Two, "Did His Friends Tell the Truth?" Strobel discusses various conspiracy theories skeptics have used to try to disprove the disciples' stories. The third section, "Can a Dead Man Come Back?" gives historical evidence for the resurrection.

Strobel begins the book with a story to engage readers, and at the end of the book he revisits the same story. It is a compelling tale of a poor family who were determined to love and follow Jesus despite their circumstances. At the end of the book, Strobel presents Jesus as a friend asking the reader to trust Him for Heaven and walk with Him in the meantime. Strobel imagines Jesus saying, "Come on--walk with me," and leaves readers to ponder the question, "Which step will you take today?"

Strobel addresses the book directly to the reader in a pleasant, conversational tone, and he has included lots of cartoon-style, black and white images to support the text. The book also includes scripture references, word definitions, and bulleted information boxes to summarize important concepts. There are questions for readers to think about, and space to write down "Case Notes" throughout each chapter.

What I Like: Like his adult book, The Case for Christ for Kids is well-written and does an excellent job facing tough questions and providing logical, thorough answers. I appreciate Strobel's tone, and the fact he treats his young audience as intelligent, thinking readers. He is not afraid of questions, and his journey shows us we don't need to fear questions our children may ask either.

I also like the way Strobel directly invites his readers to say "yes" to a journey with Christ. This book would be perfect for children who are interested in learning more about Jesus, but it is also a great resource for children who have grown up in church but are just reaching an age of questioning. Also, Strobel's respectful tone makes this book ideal to give to non-Christian friends and relatives. Christians, adults and children alike, will be better able to answer questions non-Christians may ask them after reading The Case for Christ for Kids.

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent!

Age Appeal: 8-12

Publisher Info: Zonderkids, 2006; ISBN: 978-0-310-71147-6 ; Paperback, $7.99

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Special Note: Parents may want to have The Case for Christ on hand, in case the kid version leads to more in-depth questions. The adult version is much more thorough, and includes relevant reading lists.