- Practical Pointers for Anyone Working with Children

by Paul Butler

Another of the newer Mega Top Tips, which are expanded versions of the very good Top Tipsseries from Scripture Union. This one dealing with Offering the Best Children’s Ministry - Practical Pointers for Anyone Working with Children really is an amazing whistle stop tour of all the differing fields and opportunities of children’s ministry and the things one really needs to know and deal with. I do have to say that I think this would be best utilised either by those new to Children’s Ministry or those churches which are undergoing a change of leadership or focus, as much of it, as one would expect from such a whistle stop, is quite basic. However it perhaps wouldn’t hurt for those more established in Children’s Ministry to have a quick look and see if they are missing any opportunities to expand their work as in that respect it is quite comprehensive.

Review by Melanie Carroll (26/01/12)

Stapled A5 Pbk.
Price: £4.99
Publisher: Scripture Union (SU)
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-27532-8

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The Story of REinspired

- Developing Creative Partnerships Between Churches and Schools

by David Skinner, Paul Haynes and Jane Earl

Taking the key principles in developing a purposeful relationship between the local church and local schools, this book offers experienced insight to inspire more creative approaches to engaging with schools and resourcing RE sessions. The first part takes measurable steps to focus on getting started from a realistic starting point, remaining open to what the working relationship brings forth as respect deepens and partnership emerges. Having that understanding in place, the second part looks at how to apply it to the activities with children; it includes an appendix of session ideas and helpfully addresses some of the challenges that are always present when working with children. Most chapters conclude with reflective questions to prompt the reader to think further and consider these issues in the context of their own setting. Throughout the book the story of the original group of churches that became REinspired helps remind readers that this is tried and tested, whilst encouraging other churches to take positive steps to begin the journey for themselves.

Review by Siân Hancock (16/08/11)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: Barnabas imprint of BRF
Published: 18 February 2011
ISBN: 978-1-841-01771-6

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The Growth of Love

- Understanding Five Essential Elements of Child Development

by Keith J. White

The forward being written by the great Sir Richard Bowlby immediately indicates that this is a book that students connecting child care and theology will want to read. However, White himself downplays his academic contribution on the basis that it is the reflections of a practitioner rather than a substantial research project. Over a hundred years of the White family’s lives have been spent in community with damaged children at Mill Grove, the home at the centre of the book. Therefore White has both depth and humanity to offer the reader in this exploration of child development, not a process to be copied but rather a way of life that allows love to grow.

Review by Naomi Nixon (28/05/11)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: Barnabas imprint of BRF
Published: 09 April 2008
ISBN: 978-1-841-01461-6

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Unseen Worlds

- Looking Through the Lens of Childhood

by Kate Adams

How much of your childhood do you remember? This book is not just a fascinating account of the results of research that has attempted to document and analyse the often unrecognised reality inhabited by young children, but it is also a vehicle for simulation of a reader’s own memories. This is obviously a difficult field, but Adams brings to it a creditable academic rigor, whilst at the same time producing a readable and well organised text.
We are reminded that adults can often dismiss the experiences of childhood as simply ‘It’s just your imagination’, the title of one chapter. Though childhood only found a life of its own in the fifteenth century, it has been transformed a number of times since, to be today very much a product of this age. Fear has taken our children off the streets and into our homes, offering in exchange all that can be accessed though TV and the internet. Adams provides a timely critique of how this has affected children’s dreams and other imaginings. Each chapter concludes with a summary that may give recommendations for those who wish to attempt a more enlightened response with their own children. The book also offers us the opportunity to peep through the lens of childhood, something that may well also illuminate our later life.

Review by Paul Scott (30/03/11)

Paperback
Price: £19.99
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers from Gardners Books
Published: 15 July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-849-05051-7

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From the Ground Up

- Understanding the Spiritual World of the Child

by Kathryn Copsey

This accessible book will be an inspiration to all who work with children. It starts with the child and the nature of children’s spirituality, what it means to be made in God’s image; moving on to child development and the innate ‘hungers’ (developmental needs) that emerge; followed by the impact life experience and world view can have upon spirituality. The biblical reflections on children show how Jesus demonstrated upside-down values, the importance of a child-centered approach and how that can ‘repair damaged spirituality’. Copsey concludes setting this within the urban context and shares some stories of children met through the work of CURBs which helps the reader visualize what this looks like in practice.
Raising the profile of children’s work, Copsey advocates the need for a child-centered attitude - prayer support, home group focus on understanding children (how Jesus saw children); she challenges others to consider have you ever thought… Why kids can’t sit still in church? Why it’s important to address a child by their name? Reminding Christian communities that in welcoming a child you welcome Jesus and challenging them to become more family aware as a church – get to know your families.

Out of print at BRF but still available from CURBS at £7 plus p&p, details on their site. www.curbsproject.org.uk Editor

Review by Siân Hancock (10/03/11)

Paperback
Price: £7.00
Publisher: Barnabas imprint of BRF
Published: 20 May 2005
ISBN: 978-1-841-01386-2

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More Core Skills

- Extended Learning Skills for Church-based Children's Ministry

by The Consultative Group on Ministry Among Children

This is as always an excellent book from Barnabas. It has a lot of detail and everything you might possibly need. I particularly like the suggestions for worksheets and help for those with a particular special need as this can be daunting for volunteer church teachers and ministers. This book has also covered a whole range of possibly challenging situations that those working with children might meet, giving advice and help on how to cope and solutions for use every day.

Review by Annette Rose (29/11/10)

A4 Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: Barnabas imprint of BRF
Published: September 2010
ISBN: 978-1-841-01700-6

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A Child Sees God - Children Talk About Bible Stories by Howard Worsley
ISBN: 978-1-843-10972-3 Price: £14.99	Published: 15 April 2009
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Faith in Education - A Tribute to Terence McLaughlin Edited by Graham Haydon
ISBN: 978-0-854-73853-3 Price: £15.99	Published: 09 November 2009
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Called by Mind & Spirit - Crossing the Borderlands of Childhood by Gavin Knight & Joanna Knight
ISBN: 978-1-441-13761-6 Price: £14.99	Published: 25 February 2010
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Through the Eyes of a Child - New Insights in Theology from a Child’s perspective by Edited by Anne Richards & Peter Privett
ISBN: 978-0-715-14088-8 Price: £19.99	Published: January 2009
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Children's Spirituality: What it is and Why it Matters by Rebecca Nye
ISBN: 978-0-715-14027-7 Price: £8.99	Published: November 2009
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Top Tips on Prompting Prayer - Practical pointers for anyone working with Children and Young People by Sarah Bingham and Vickie Blyth
ISBN: 978-1-844-27322-5 Price: £2.99	Published: 18 January 2008
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Pretty Much Everything You Need to Know About….. - Working With 5 – 7s by Colin Draper, Helen Franklin and Sara O’Shea
ISBN: 978-1-844-27305-8 Price: £8.99	Published: 18 January 2008
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Understanding Children Understanding God by Ronni Lamont
ISBN: 978-0-281-05820-4 Price: £12.99	Published: 18 October 2007
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Rural Children, Rural Church by Rona Orme
ISBN: 978-0-715-14126-7 Price: £5.99	Published: 16 February 2007
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Where are the children? by Margaret Withers
ISBN: 978-1-841-01361-9 Price: £7.99	Published: 18 February 2005
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Fired Up...Not Burnt Out by Margaret Withers
ISBN: 978-1-841-01209-4 Price: £5.99	Published: 18 May 2001
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Core Skills - Developing and Extending Key Skills for Children’s Ministry by the Consultative Group on Ministry Among Children
ISBN: 978-1-841-01507-1 Price: £12.99	Published: 22 September 2006
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Every Child : A Chance to Choose - The Challenge of Children’s Evangelism by Penny Frank
ISBN: 1-842-91053-1 Price: £4.99	Published: 02 February 2002
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Guide to Tailored Teaching for 5-9s by Sue Price
ISBN: 1-842-91035-3 Price: £4.99	Published: 02 February 2002
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